Great Tang Idyll

Just as Zhang Xiao'bao planned, by the time the hundreds of people harvested more than half of the fields in a hurry, rain came crashing down. The workers immediately left the fields and hid in the tents specially set up for them and they ate the prepared food.

The masters of the Zhang and Wang manors also gave wine to their own residents to drink. The cost was covered by the manors, and the bosses didn't need to pay for it. The children and the elderly were also given an extra portion of porridge cooked with pine flower egg and lean meat. This was also provided by the manors. Of course, the money used to pay for this extra food was already earned back through tripling the work price.

However, the Ge family's residents and hired workers didn't agree with this. The Ge family's residents know that they can't compare their own manor to the other two manors, and they have long been used to it. Fortunately, the food was good; they were given two dishes and one soup. They pretended that they didn't see that there were others who had five dishes.

The workers were also given two dishes and one soup. This time, no one complained and they thought it would be the same as noon. When they saw wine, the more curious ones asked about it, and they learned that it was provided by the masters of their manors. Each and everyone of the workers were both envious and jealous.

They were also residents, but they were from manors in the San'shui County. They had already heard that the masters of the two Zhang and Wang manors were good to their residents, but they didn't think much of it before. Now that they have seen it with their own eyes, they wished that they could immediately become a resident of either one of the manors here.

Some people who ran slowly were largely drenched, so they were pulled into a small separate tent so that they could put on new clothes.

"This brother here, I saw that those two manor's residents all wear the same clothing, why is that? Other than the different characters on their chest, the workmanship and the fabric came from the same place, right?"

A worker watched those who had changed their clothes come out. Even those that didn't get changed were also given a set of clothing to hold onto. The worker asked a Ge manor resident who was next to him.

"You only noticed this just now? It's been like this for so many days already. Didn't you see the people who were handing out the clothes looking at something under the light? They were looking at the name on the clothes. They first got someone to measure each person's body and record down their name, and then they went to the clothing store to get the outfits made. The same fabric, the same style, and the outfits only differed between men and women. All of the cost was paid by their masters. Even the shoes too."

This Ge manor resident watched other people drink wine, yet he could only take a sip of the soup. He answered his question.

"They're that good? How about your manor?" The asker looked at the happy appearance of the Zhang and Wang manors' residents and enviously asked the Ge manor's resident.

"Things are not bad for us too. The amount of grains that we have to pay this year is reduced by half. Yesterday, our master sent someone to measure our body size too. The shoe sizes were also sent. We will be able to put on new clothes in a few days. This is thanks to their two manors." The Ge manor resident was equally happy when he talked about clothes.

The asker was stunned for a moment, "Why didn't you thank your master, but instead you thanked the other two manors?"

"Without them, we wouldn't have had a good harvest. Without the Between The Water And Clouds and the market, our master would not have thought of us. Our master was afraid that we would run away, so he could only learn from their masters. It's not just our Ge Manor that is like this, but also the nearby Li Manor."

The Ge manor residents have long since understood this point. The kids on the manor went to the Zhang and Wang manor's school to study. Now their master had agreed with the other side to send the food to their manor and let them cook it. Although it was slightly worse than the other side's food, it was still much better than the meal the children would have brought from home.

The asker heard other people enjoying their meal, and he didn't bother to say anything else. He lowered his head and focused intently on eating. It was not easy to have a good meal. If they were allowed to take the food home, it would be even better.

Compared with the leisurely working people, the ten plus grain shop owners were listless and sad at the same time.

"We still couldn't harvest everything. What should we do nows? Let's see how much there is in total. Worse comes to worse, we won't plant any ourselves. Hopefully there is enough to give to others, otherwise we will have to lose a lot of money."

Sitting in the tent, Boss Wang watched others eat and drink. He couldn't stomach any of the food in front of him. He drank two large bowls of wine, drooped his face, and he seemed to be muttering to himself.

"It seems that there is not enough. Even if we don't plant any ourselves, we still have to pay others compensation. If we do the calculations, it would be about six thousand taels. We already imprinted our finger prints onto the documents. How much can we make from the rest? Six thousand taels, and we still need to pay the workers. It costs more than 600 taels to pay for the lanterns, meals, and sickles. The sickles are good and are very efficient, so they can't possibly be sold for just one tael each, right?"

Boss Lu heard what Boss Wang said, and he also stood to the side and started calculating how much money they would lose this time.

The other people have heard what he said too. After so many days of struggling, not only did they not earn a profit, but they also had to pay money. It was not that they didn't have the money to pay, but it was an embarrassment.

"Everyone, listen to me. Do not worry. Isn't there still a section that is not harvested yet? How about this, we will still use the originally agreed price of sixty-five coins, and we will help you recover the amount you lost. Don't forget that our manors also collected some rice during the day. I think that if we subtract out the amount that we need to save as seeds, it would be the same amount that you didn't manage to harvest."

Housekeeper Zhang listened on the side and explained his Young Master's arrangement in a timely manner. He had an almost blind admiration for his Young Master and Young Miss--- what was the end result for every single person that came to cause them trouble?

Just like what his Young Miss said, that small bridge was the Nai'he Bridge1. Those who do good will be able to reincarnate as a good person, while those who do evil will be thrown into a pot of oil and be tortured. Heaven and hell was separated by just a single thought, and there was no escape.

The grain shop owners didn't know what Housekeeper Zhang was thinking, but when they saw there was hope, they were happy again.

"Housekeeper Zhang, what you said is true?" Boss Jin asked carefully with a look of expectation.

"It's true. The Zhang and Wang manors are not planning to harm you. You can harvest the rest and still be able to earn money. The sickles are also good; take them back and use them. They're better than the original ones."

Housekeeper Zhang said sincerely.

"Good people, you are all good people. We are the bad ones. We didn't have any good intentions when we came here. Should we still give you shops in the Capital City in exchange? Don't worry, we won't lie about a single coin this time. We will report the price as is."

At this time, Boss Wang interjected. They no longer had to pay compensation money, and they would be able to earn a bit and not lose pride. In the future, he will never come here to cause trouble again. The manors here were too wicked.

Housekeeper Zhang smiled, and said, "You can give us anything. Choose whatever is convenient for you. The manor will collect whatever you give. Oh, the rice that has been soaked in the rain--- what do you plan to do with it? If you're willing to sell it to our manor, we will use it to make wine yeast starter. As for the price...?"

"It's fine to sell it at the price of normal grain, or perhaps lower than that." When Boss Jin looked at the rice, which would be hard to sell after transporting it away, he quickly offered a price.

Wang Juan and Zhang Xiao'bao had just finished their studies and were chatting on the couch.

"There's one more thing. Just now, the housekeeper got someone to report back that those owners are willing to sell the rice that has been drenched in rain." Zhang Xiao'bao thought about it, and this was the only arrangement left for him to finish.

"Aren't we saving it for making wine starters?" This was what Wang Juan had planned.

"I don't want to use such good grains to make wine. Before we leave tomorrow morning, get people to bring the rice back. Once the rice is steamed, it can be used to make rice cakes or popped rice. The grains are better than normal rice. Whether it's making wine starters or using it to make wine, it's still a waste. Hmm, make more popped rice and then mix it with sugar. Compared to the amount we will earn selling rice seeds at the Little Luo'shui later on, we will probably earn around the same amount selling sugar coated popped rice."

Zhang Xiao'bao turned over and said to Wang Juan.

Wang Juan stretched out her hand to pinch Zhang Xiao'bao's face, "Let me take a closer look at you. Why are you so smart? People bought it at the price for seeds, but you bought it back from them at the ordinary price for grains, and then after processing them, you can sell them at the price of seeds again. If they know what you did, they will die from regret."

"This is the difference between raw material supply and processed products. What we have to do in the future is to find more processing methods. Go to bed; we need to get up early tomorrow, and we will go to Little Luo'shui after making the arrangement. We can get a boat, and I'll row the boat while you can just sit. I'm really good at rowing. I can make the boat dock sideways with just a swing of the oar."

"Stop bluffing. Are those people who earn a living on the river not better than you? Can you swing with a single oar and send the boat off the shore?" Wang Juan replied.

"That, I can't, can you?" Zhang Xiao'bao admitted his shortcomings.

"Of course, I just need to push against the shore with an oar and then in just a bit, I can send the boat away from the shore."

The surface of the water rippled as the boat passed by; a handful of bread crumbs caused fish to gather together. The fairyland in the painting was once far away; the dreamland in the poem was never encountered. The thin dark clouds pierced through the sunlight; the surging blue water reflected the residual green. The crowd of chirps indicated their direction of flight; the autumn geese flew in two lines across the river and through the rain.

Early in the morning, Zhang Xiao'bao and Wang Juan woke up and rushed to the Little Luo'shui River, and arrived there at noon. They were there just in time to see the sun shining through the clouds, while the rain drizzled down like silk threads. The boats were swaying as the fish peeped out their heads, the geese called in the empty sky, and groups of people were heading south.

"It's so beautiful. Xiao'bao, make a camera. I want to take a photo of this sight. It is really beautiful. Look at the mountain and water, it seems fake---it seems like a watercolor landscape painting."

"A camera is not good. It's better to film it, which would be more artistic and you don't need to do any follow-up processing after importing it into the computer. Alright, that's decided. The scenery here needs to be maintained. Once we create one, we will film this place."

Zhang Xiao'bao still had a bit of sense in him and he knew that this idea was similar to dreaming.

"Let's go. What do you think we should say once we arrive at the place where talented men and women gather and hangout?" Wang Juan watched the wild geese leave, and she pulled Zhang Xiao'bao to the shore. She planned to go to the First Near Water.

"Is it possible to say ‘we're just taking a look, we won't talk' ?" Zhang Xiao'bao replied seriously.

Translator's Notes

1. Nai'he Bridge

This is the bridge one must cross when entering the Underworld.(back in , Wang Juan mentioned she etched the drawings of the guardians of the Underworld, the Ox-head and Horse-face, on the Little Bridge).