"Shut up, you really think I don't know your scheming mind!" Feng Jin said with cold sarcasm, looking at Ling Mohan with disdain. "Aren't you just worried about getting yourself involved? Why bother making so many excuses."
It was her own foolishness that she almost forgot, Ling Mohan was an imperial tutor before, and had also served as a civil official. His mind must have had all seven apertures.
Calculating against her was not an easy matter.
His thoughts exposed, Ling Mohan sheepishly touched his nose.
"I have to consider the bigger picture..."
Feng Jin shot Ling Mohan a fierce glare and ignored him as she walked out. "I'm going to pick some fresh vegetables."
She had been eating dried vegetables for the past two days and was starting to lack vitamins.
After picking some fresh vegetables from the detached residence, Feng Jin brought back some vegetable seeds.
It was too troublesome to keep going back and forth to the detached residence of the Ling Estate. She had been considering for the past two days whether to reclaim the empty land behind the East Courtyard and plant some vegetables. Picking them fresh as she ate them would be more convenient than running back and forth.
Upon returning to the Ling Estate, Feng Jin ordered people to take tools to the back courtyard to cultivate the barren land.
Feng Jin sat in the pavilion, tasting the freshly picked fruits. These peaches were quite juicy and sweet, just a little small.
"Sister-in-law, this citrus is delicious. It's very sweet and not sour at all," Ling Wan said, handing Feng Jin a peeled orange.
"Not bad. There are many oranges in the detached residence, and we can't eat them all. Tomorrow, we'll pick some to sell. Fruits are scarce this season, so these oranges will surely fetch a good price."
Feng Jin started calculating again. Everything else was illusory; only money was truly important.
"I'll go with you tomorrow to pick some oranges to sell, sister-in-law."
Compared to the two of them relaxing under the pavilion and eating fruit, the stark contrast with Gu Beichen and Ling Muzhu, who were working under the scorching sun, was too obvious.
The sun was fierce, and under the blazing sun, Gu Beichen was sweating profusely, his stray hairs dampened and sticking to his cheeks.
"I'm not doing this anymore!" Gu Beichen threw the hoe onto the ground and ran to the pavilion, picking up the teapot and drinking water in large gulps. His dry throat finally felt more comfortable.
If he continued any longer, he would surely lose half his life.
Feng Jin glanced at Gu Beichen and said irritably, "You dare to stop working? Look at Ling Muzhu. He hasn't even said he's tired. You're just too much trouble!"
Now, Ling Muzhu, after her modifications, had been reborn, as if he were a different person.
Yet Gu Beichen was still as annoying as ever. The difference was truly significant.
"If I keep working, I'm going to die of exhaustion!"
"This is simply a lack of exercise. Look at Ling Muzhu. His body was weaker than yours before. Look at him now. Can't you have some ambition? People should look forward."
"I think I'm quite content as I am, and I don't need to look forward at all. I refuse to fall for your provocation. You can give up on this idea!"
Gu Beichen said with an air of arrogance. He was well aware of Feng Jin's little schemes and didn't think he would be as easily fooled as the naive Ling Muzhu.
"Fine, if you don't want to do it, that's okay. However, I don't keep idle people here. Cai Qing, have someone pack the things for Duke Gu and send his bill for the past few days back to the Zhennan King's manor. I'd like to see if the Zhennan King will default on the payment!"
Feng Jin made up her mind, dropped the words, and stood up to walk out.
Seeing that things were not going well, Gu Beichen put down his teacup and strode forward to block Feng Jin. "Don't, please. Let's discuss this properly. Don't be impulsive. Impulsiveness is the devil. It's just work, I'll go now. I love working the most."
To show his determination, Gu Beichen quickly picked up the hoe he had thrown down and started working even more diligently than before.
Ling Muzhu glanced at Gu Beichen. He had deeply experienced Gu Beichen's predicament before and expressed his profound sympathy.
If only he had known this would happen, why had he been so reckless in the first place!
Look at him now; after several trials and tribulations, he had become much smarter. Work more and talk less.
Feng Jin lounged leisurely on the reclining chair, enjoying the autumn sun like a wealthy landlord, occasionally getting up to check on their progress.
"Ling Muzhu, this plot of land of yours..."
"Sister-in-law, have I not done it well? I'll do it again immediately!" Ling Muzhu's tone was tinged with worry.
"Why are you so nervous? You've done a good job turning the soil. Just fetch some water and pour it on. After you're done, go rest."
"Yes, sister-in-law. I'll go now!"
As soon as he heard that he could rest soon, Ling Muzhu became as energetic as if he had been injected with chicken blood and worked even harder.
"Can I rest now too?" Gu Beichen asked, his voice filled with envy and eagerness.
Feng Jin glanced at the messy plot. "You haven't even cleared all the weeds. You want to rest... Go over it again. Talk about resting after you've finished hoeing!"
Feng Jin stretched. After sitting for an afternoon, her back was starting to ache.
"Cai Qing, you stay here and supervise Duke Gu hoeing the land."
"Yes, Young Madam."
After taking a few steps, Feng Jin seemed to remember something and turned back to Cai Qing. "If Duke Gu dares to trouble you, send the ledger to the Zhennan King."
"Yes, Young Madam. Your servant has noted it down."
Gu Beichen suppressed the anger in his heart and raised the hoe in his hand, gesturing at Feng Jin.
"Cough... cough..." Cai Qing coughed lightly to remind him, "Duke Gu, Young Madam asked me to supervise you. Anything you do, I have to report back to Young Madam when I return."
Gu Beichen's mouth twitched uncontrollably. As expected, like master, like servant. What goes up the beam dictates how the lower beams are built. Feng Jin's disciples were bound to be as difficult as her.
"You little girl, you're learning from Feng Jin to be so formidable. Be careful you don't end up unmarried in the future."
"It's good if I don't get married. This servant doesn't plan to marry anyway and wishes to follow my Young Madam forever."
In the past, Cai Qing had indeed thought about performing well in front of her masters and receiving their favor to marry and leave the estate.
But now, she only wished to serve by the Young Madam's side. She was no longer interested in marriage.
"By following your Young Madam, you can learn to be good..."
Gu Beichen said earnestly, "I still advise you not to try to learn from your Young Madam. You, like this..."
Gu Beichen babbled on and on, completely forgetting what he was supposed to be doing. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
"I'm done. I'm going back first. Duke Gu, you can take your time."
Ling Muzhu dropped his hoe, brushed the dirt off himself, and leisurely left.
"He's gone, so I'm not doing this anymore either. You must treat us equally," Gu Beichen said, wanting to sneak past.