A Good Country Wife
Chapter 452 - 446_1

Chapter 452: Chapter 446_1

Zhao Erhu had just gotten home and was busy getting up to speed on his family’s situation. He went to the fields to check on the crops, then had Zhao Dahuo and Wu Qiang come over to clarify what had happened these past days and get an update on the situation in Xin’an City. Learning that under Magistrate Ceng Lu’s administration the people’s lives were becoming increasingly difficult, he could only sigh.

"There’s nothing to be done about it, but as long as we act with integrity and sit with dignity, we don’t have to worry about Magistrate Ceng Lu or Lord Wei coming to trouble us. Not to mention the connection with the Jiang Family, my time in the Capital City wasn’t spent in vain. I believe Magistrate Ceng Lu knows better than to deliberately make things difficult for us. Lord Wei is simply relying on Magistrate Ceng’s power, so he’s of little concern," Zhao Erhu said.

"In that case, Erhu, shall we reopen the tavern and grocery stores in the city? These are all very profitable businesses, it’s a real pity to keep them closed," Wu Qiang said, moved by Zhao Erhu’s words and genuinely considering Zhao Erhu’s best interests.

Zhao Erhu, however, had his own considerations and shook his head. "Let’s not. Taverns, places that serve food, are too easily meddled with. We’d better keep them closed for now. Besides, I have other matters to attend to and can’t spare the attention. In a few days, I have to make a trip to the south. I’ll tell you the details later," he said.

Lin Yue had just finished her bustling work since returning from the Capital City. Naturally, visitors wanting to drop by wouldn’t be few. Everyone was keen to hear Lin Yue talk about the people and things in the Capital City. Lin Yue was not stingy; even those she wasn’t too acquainted with were treated well, and she gave each a handful of fruit to take home as they left.

"My dear, you must be tired. Sit down and rest," Zhao Erhu said as he came in and saw the mess on the floor, with melon rinds and fruit peels scattered everywhere, indicating that quite a few people had visited that morning.

"I was just sitting and chatting, what’s there to be tired about? I’m just a bit thirsty," Lin Yue replied.

Hearing this, Zhao Erhu did not hesitate to pour Lin Yue a glass of water. "Then have a drink right away. It’s rare for someone from the village to visit the Capital City, so it’s natural we’d have many visitors just after coming back," he said.

"Yes, I told everyone that the Capital City is just much bigger and more bustling than our Xin’an City, nothing too out of the ordinary, otherwise they’d still be dragging the conversation out of me," Lin Yue said with a smile, then shared the current state of Xin’an City with Zhao Erhu.

"Ah, our family isn’t affected much. Even with the tavern and grocery shop closed, we can live comfortably off the crops and the dividends from the Capital City. But it’s harder for the rest of the village. They were already struggling, and now there are all sorts of exorbitant taxes. In any case, we’ll help out where we can; they’re all neighbors after all," Zhao Erhu lamented.

Lin Yue knew Zhao Erhu was kind-hearted. "I was thinking the same, but if we’re going to help, we have to plan it carefully. We can’t get involved in thankless tasks," she said.

Zhao Erhu nodded. "Of course. People’s hearts are the most difficult to gauge. I’m willing to help because we’re all from the same village, but not if it affects our family. And certainly not those who don’t appreciate it."

A day passed in a flurry of activity. The next day, Li Xun and several others came by as promised. Lin Yue cooked a big meal in their honor, and Zhao Erhu even went to the mountains to get some game to add to the dishes. Zhao Erhu and Li Xun got along quite well; everyone enjoyed the banquet, which was full of merriment.

The following day, Lin Yue and Zhao Erhu visited the city to see off Li Xun and his company. They also wanted to visit various places and deliver gifts brought back from the Capital City. They visited Jimin Hall, Zhao Xinglin, and especially Songshan Academy, where Dalang and the others were studying under the same master. In respect, the first place Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue visited was the master’s home.

Lin Yue knew where the master lived quite by chance. Dalang and the others’ master was Scholar Zhang, who, back when Lin Yue was a market stall holder, often bought food from her along with his wife and daughter-in-law. Lin Yue, keen on making connections, naturally maintained good relations. Now that Scholar Zhang was teaching Dalang and the others, and considering his family’s regard for her, he treated them with special affection and care.

"Madam Lin, you’ve come. Please, come in," Chen Family’s Lady Zhang greeted Lin Yue and her husband warmly and instructed the maid to inform her mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhang of the Lin Family.

"No need today, we still have other matters to attend to. We’ll come by another day to disturb you. We recently visited the Capital City, and these are gifts we brought back specially delivered," said Lin Yue who knew Scholar Zhang would not be at home and with Zhao Erhu, an external male, being with her, it wasn’t appropriate to stay long. They left the gifts and departed for Zhao Xinglin’s place.

"Erhu, sister-in-law, you’re back, come in," Zhao Xinglin said wearily as he opened the door, his face lighting up with joy upon seeing Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue, quickly inviting them inside.

"Oh! Erhu, sister-in-law, you’ve come. When did you get back from the Capital City?" Han Family’s Lady, hearing Zhao Erhu and Lin Yue, also hastened out to greet them with a smile.

"We got back the other night. We specially brought some special products and things from the Capital City for you," Lin Yue said while Zhao Erhu handed over a large package to Zhao Xinglin.

"Brother Xinglin, you’re at home? I thought you’d be at the government office at this time. Why the long face, is there something troubling you?" Zhao Erhu asked as they entered, his guess already forming that Zhao Xinglin, previously valued by the old Magistrate Chen, might not be faring well with the new Magistrate Ceng, given that he was not one to curtsy and scrape and his upright nature was unlikely to help.

"Ugh! Don’t ask. I was dismissed by Magistrate Ceng a month ago. I’m now idly at home, needless to say, no more duty at the government office for me," Zhao Xinglin said with a weary wave of his hand and a sigh. He hadn’t held the position of arrest officer for long and didn’t expect that, not long after feeling dignified, the new Magistrate would find endless fault with him, criticize him daily, and eventually flimsily accuse him of wrongdoing to dismiss him. He couldn’t even be a constable anymore. His family depended on his earnings for their livelihood, but beyond his martial arts, he had no other skills.

Zhao Erhu was startled by Zhao Xinglin’s situation and genuinely surprised; he had assumed that Zhao Xinglin would at most be troubled and blamed by Ceng Lu. He didn’t anticipate it being so severe that his position would be terminated. "What happened? I know you’ve always been dedicated to your duty, Brother Xinglin. Why would the Magistrate dismiss you? Was there an unintentional mistake?" he asked.