The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 897 - 875: Very Familiar

Chapter 897: Chapter 875: Very Familiar

The messenger from Luojiang County had arrived in Yizhou City, and County Magistrate Tang said to Madam Tang, "My lady, with the unpredictable chills and warmth of spring, it seems like I’ve fallen ill."

Madam Tang became anxious, "You’re ill?"

County Magistrate Tang nodded gravely, "That’s why I will be closing doors and recuperating for the next couple of days; the external affairs will trouble you."

Upon hearing this, Madam Tang eyed him suspiciously and scrutinized his complexion. Seeing his rosy cheeks and noting no issues with his voice, she rolled her eyes in annoyance, "If you want me to cover for you, just say so. Why scare me? Where are you planning to go?"

County Magistrate Tang said, "I’m taking a trip to Luojiang County."

Madam Tang’s brow furrowed slightly.

County Magistrate Tang hastened to reassure her, "It’s nothing serious, just a case that requires my attention there."

"What kind of case requires secrecy from Governor Ming and everyone else?"

County Magistrate Tang gave her a pleasing smile, and Madam Tang sighed, asking no further.

As a couple of many years, Madam Tang had become familiar with his stubborn moods. For trivial or bizarre cases, he was quite willing to share a laugh about them with her at home, but as for major cases, until they were solved, he would sooner die than speak a word.

Madam Tang waved him off, "Go on, then. How long will this trip be?"

County Magistrate Tang thought it over and realized it couldn’t be short because Yang Heshu’s letter mentioned that the item had been found; but it couldn’t be long either since the situation within the city was uncertain, and his prolonged absence would raise suspicions.

County Magistrate Tang wanted to investigate the Prince of Yizhou’s suspected rebellion, but he didn’t intend to prematurely force his hand—if the prince truly rebelled, their entire family, no matter where they were from, wouldn’t stand a chance of leaving Yizhou City alive.

A rebellion being a rebellion, would anyone care what your father did for a living, or where your family hailed from?

So County Magistrate Tang weighed his options and said, "At most, three days."

Madam Tang then felt reassured, as long as it wasn’t like last time, when he was gone for half a month.

The couple exchanged some whispers and then went to wash up and sleep, having to wake up early the next day to quietly leave the city.

Meanwhile, over at Luojiang County, the people had just finished their evening meal, and Ms. Cui pulled Manbao aside for a talk, "Shall we let them talk and we have a little chat ourselves?"

Manbao had only just met Sister Cui and wasn’t quite familiar with her, but she was naturally sociable. Anyway, County Magistrate Yang wouldn’t possibly tell them what those documents in the bundle were about tonight, and speaking with Madam Yang wouldn’t be bad either. So Manbao nodded, "Madam Yang, after you."

Sister Cui laughed and said, "I’m a few years older than you, you can call me Sister Cui. It’s our mother-in-law who gets to be called ’Madam’."

The maid Daya chimed in with a smile, "Miss can call our eldest grandmother ’Eldest Grandma Yang’."

Manbao then realized that the Yang Family must have many members, with the Old Madam and Madam still alive, hence their ranks had not been elevated. She nodded and straightforwardly shifted to calling her "Sister Cui."

Sister Cui smiled and asked, "Have you known your husband since Lord Yang came here to serve as the county magistrate?"

Manbao nodded, "Since Lord Yang took office here."

Sister Cui quietly counted the years and laughed, "That would be three or four years then."

Manbao did her own calculations and nodded, "About that."

Then the conversation lulled, and suddenly no one had anything to say, creating an awkward atmosphere.

Manbao scratched her head, recalling what her sister-in-law had said—new brides always feel awkward because they can’t integrate into the family right away, so they need to be treated carefully to foster good relations later on.

Therefore, Manbao considered for a moment and then took the initiative to start a new topic, "Sister Cui, are you planning to stay in Luojiang County for the long term?"

Ms. Cui paused as she racked her brain for topics that could keep the conversation going without offending the other party, and then nodded, "Yes, wherever he is, that’s where I naturally have to be."

Manbao nodded, "That’s good, it’s better for husband and wife not to be apart, after all, you’re family. Like my Fourth Brother, he often separates from my sister-in-law..."

So Ms. Cui started chatting with Manbao, and from her she learned how they got to know County Magistrate Yang and became friends;

And Manbao learned that Ms. Cui had several sisters at home, that County Magistrate Yang had a very good reputation in the capital, with talent and looks, known as an outstanding son-in-law candidate, and that Ms. Cui had beaten quite a few others to secure an engagement with him;

The two chatted with such enthusiasm that they completely lost track of time.

When County Magistrate Yang returned to the backyard and found Manbao still there, he cleared his throat and walked into the room, asking her, "Aren’t you tired after being in the woods for two days?"

Manbao quietly stuck out her tongue and said goodbye to Ms. Cui.

County Magistrate Yang then turned and called a servant, "Wantian is outside, escort Miss Man out and have Wantian send her back."

The servant complied, leading Manbao outside.

Manbao waved at County Magistrate Yang, "See you tomorrow then."

County Magistrate Yang also waved back with a smile.

Ms. Cui, watching from the side, saw his smile and her gaze flickered subtly. Turning back to Manbao, she had already bounced out.

County Magistrate Yang turned to Ms. Cui with a smile, "Let’s wash up and rest as well."

Ms. Cui hurriedly got up with a smile, "Yes, I’ll serve you, Lord."

Although the last two days had been exhausting, their biological clocks were set, and Manbao awoke at the usual time. She pushed the door open and peeked into the yard where Bai Shan was just stretching and calling for water, while Daji had already washed up and was practicing his martial arts in the yard.

After both had cleaned up, they met in the yard and Bai Shan said, "Bai Er is still asleep. I called him, but he wouldn’t wake up."

From the side, Daji added, "Master Zhou Si is also asleep."

Manbao waved her hand, "Let them sleep. County Magistrate Tang won’t arrive until the afternoon anyway. Let’s go to the study to find a book to read?"

Bai Shan, thinking they had nothing else to do, nodded in agreement.

Wantian was guarding County Magistrate Yang’s study. Seeing them arrive, he led them into the study. Watching them pick out a book each from the bookshelf and then leaving, he closed the door again, "Young Master Shan, Miss Man, aren’t you going to have breakfast first?"

Bai Shan looked up at the morning light and asked, "Is your family starting breakfast now?"

Not yet, Wantian laughed, "It will be a few more moments, but if Young Master Shan and Miss Man are hungry, I can go to the kitchen and call for some food."

Bai Shan waved his hand, "No need, we’re not that hungry right now."

He looked around and asked Manbao, "Where would you like to read?"

"How about the garden? I remember that the county elder’s home has a rockery, and from there one can see lots of flowers and plants. It’s very pretty. Let’s go there to read."

"Sure."

Bai Shan, leading Manbao, headed to the garden. Wantian didn’t follow, letting them go on their own—after all, they were already very familiar with the county official’s mansion and needed no one to show them the way.

The rockery wasn’t small; at its top were two large round stones suitable for sitting, forming a fairly spacious platform. Bai Shan climbed up first, then pulled Manbao up, advising her, "Make sure you hold on tight. I won’t be responsible if you fall."

Manbao retorted, "Just make sure you don’t fall."

Ms. Cui, who was just stepping out to visit the guesthouse that morning, paused at the sight and couldn’t help but ask the maid beside her with a smile, "Are our two young guests very familiar with our estate?"