Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
No matter how much Xu Ke tried to think back, he could not be sure if he had said something wrong. Embarrassed, he began apologizing.
“Why so formal?” Jiang Pengji turned away. “You didn’t do anything wrong. You’re right that if word spreads, others would say I’m stingy.”
Xu Ke was not wrong. But Jiang Pengji did not care about her reputation because she could not stop people from gossiping.
“I guess you’re open-minded and optimistic, so you don’t care what others say.”
Jiang Pengji was silent as she went to ask the System a question.
“System, I think there’s a huge misunderstanding here. I am sure that I did not criticize him.”
System: “Heh, this is the difference between a gentleman and a hooligan.”
Jiang Pengji: “...”
F*ck!
Xu Ke noticed that his young master was not only savvy with matters of business, but she also had an eye for good woodwork.
During their outing, Jiang Pengji had bought quite a bit of wood and tools. Was she planning on building something?
Xu Ke had many ideas, but he did not voice them. He was quiet as they hit the road. He had a feeling that Jiang Pengji would not make him wait long before she revealed her plans to him.
He sat outside the carriage and watched the scenery. When his eyes came upon a familiar sight, he froze.
It had only been a few days, but it felt like a lifetime ago. They were passing by the field in which he had tried to escape but was instead caught by Liu She and his guards. He had become Liu Lanting’s page boy after that.
They were still some distance away from the farm, but they could see smoke coming from the village. He could also see the silhouettes of farmers working the fields and children chasing each other. An old farmer sat at the entrance and smoked tobacco from a long-stemmed pipe. The scene looked peaceful.
Jiang Pengji pulled aside the carriage curtains and looked out. The stream’s audience watched the scenery.
Baba Biedawo: “Feels like my old home. I remember when I was a kid, the village was was not very developed. When it was time to eat, every house would have smoke rising from it. When I saw the smoke, I knew it’s time to go back.”
Tonghuashun Yise: “Yup, my old house was like that too. When I was a kid, there was no such thing as daycare. We were left to run around in the mountains alone. Now, my village only has old people. The younger ones have all gone out for work...”
Rensha Wangka Shoucan: “I grew up in a city. I’ve had pork but have never seen a live pig.”
Once the topic about home came up, the screen filled with the audience’s nostalgic comments about their childhood homes.
Zuimengde Hashiqi: “My village changed a lot. There are many factories now, and it’s much more developed, but the scenery isn’t the same as it was when I was a kid. I can’t see the clear blue skies anymore, and the fields are now filled with weeds.”
Jiang Pengji leaned against the small table in the carriage as she looked out the window, bored. She switched between watching the scenery and reading her viewers’ comments.
The coachman rushed the horses and did his best to reduce the carriage’s rattling to minimize any potential motion sickness for the young master.
After a little while, Xu Ke announced that they had arrived.
Jiang Pengji regained her senses and got ready to leave the carriage. She dodged Xu Ke’s attempt to help her down and jumped off the carriage.
In order to move easier, she had abandoned an expensive broad-sleeve outfit for a simpler one.
She was sick of expensive and complicated clothes.
“Let’s go.”
Jiang Pengji smiled and took the lead. When the children saw them approaching, they ran back towards their homes.
Her audience started feeling nostalgic when they saw the farm. But Jiang Pengji grew up in an advanced city, so the farm was a new experience for her. Compared to the cold and unforgiving city she was used to, the farm seemed to give a sense of warmth.
Jiang Pengji’s guards were dressed simply like peasants so as not to draw attention to themselves.
The village head had not seen Jiang Pengji before, but thankfully, their carriage carried the Liu emblem. The village head knew that the people in the carriage were from the main house. Once he realized who the boy in the simple clothes was, he was rendered speechless from fright.
“At ease. I’m here to see those people I sent here a few days ago. No one tried to escape, right?”
Jiang Pengji shot Xu Ke a mocking gaze. He looked awkward.
Even if Liu She had not brought his men to prevent Xu Ke from escaping, Jiang Pengji would still have caught him because she had also ordered some men to keep a lookout.
The village head kneeled and answered her with fear. He was worried that he would offend this Langjun and bring trouble to the village.
Dongqing looked peaceful, but corrupt officers ran amok. Many nobles exploited ordinary civilians, and their lives were tough. Not only did they have to bear the burden of exorbitant taxes, but they also had to deal with bandits, too.
But this village was much more peaceful than others. The Lius were compassionate, and they had money and a good social standing. Bandits had to think twice before raiding this village, so the villagers lived in relative ease.
If one of the villagers offended the young master, their remaining days would be hell on earth.
About 20 people had been sent to the village. Other than Xu Ke, the others had remained there. The village head had not received any instructions, and he had not dared to make his own decisions. He had just ordered a few strong men to watch over the new men to prevent them from escaping.
“If there are none who have escaped, that’s good. Go call them over,” Jiang Pengji told the village head.
“The coming days will be tough on you,” Jiang Pengji said to Xu Ke. “I’ll need you to stay here and watch over their training. First and foremost, you will need to set them on the right path. Then you can delegate work to those you can trust. I’ll allow you to borrow some books from the residence during your stay here... I wouldn’t want you to fall behind in your studies.”
Xu Ke was still young, and he should not neglect his studies just because he had some work cut out for him.
A good superior ought to give their subordinates time to advance themselves.
Although Jiang Pengji did not show it, she thought that Xu Ke was the perfect person to be her assistant.
Jiang Pengji and Xu Ke spent the afternoon discussing and editing the training manual. The manual was roughly done, and Xu Ke just had to execute it. If anything arose during the training, Xu Ke would come up with the appropriate measures to resolve the situation.
Xu Ke blushed from the high expectations Jiang Pengji had placed upon his shoulders.