Page 1117

Chapter 1117: 037 Carriage Pollution (Chapter 2)

Not only Lizheng, but even the carriages of several other village heads were spoiled with filth, reeking and dirty.

Those were the latest carriages they had spent a great deal of silver to purchase.

Furthermore, it was the winter season, and inside those carriages were clean, thick, new cotton quilts.

The more luxurious ones even stocked the freshest pastries and the most refreshing tea, just like Lizheng Hua Hui’s carriage.

But now, whether they were good carriages or inferior ones, all had been blessed with dung.

The only one unscathed was He Guangming’s ox cart. Seeing their own fine carriages contaminated, while He Guangming’s dilapidated ox cart remained perfectly clean, many village heads grumbled resentfully.

Lizheng was so angry he cursed his mother and secretly decided that of the one thousand five hundred taels of silver to be distributed later, only five hundred would be given to He family village, and he would keep the remaining thousand for himself!

Lin Yuan took a sip of tea to moisten her throat, a smile playing on her lips as she watched several people working.

He Guangming looked at Lin Yuan with a touch of embarrassment and said, "I really must apologize to the two of you. My family does not have fine tea leaves, please pardon me."

Lin Yuan shook her head and smiled indifferently.

Xia Zheng waved him over with a smile, patting the stool next to him. "Village Chief He, please, don’t worry about it. Come, take a seat and rest a while."

"No no, I’m not tired, not tired at all." He Guangming had seen his fair share of distinguished people, but he had never encountered anyone like Lin Yuan and her companion, who neither sought flattery nor minded whether the tea was good or bad, and even joked with him, a commoner.

Seeing his unease, Lin Yuan covered her mouth and laughed, "Village Chief He, are you feeling shy? You didn’t seem so constrained when you introduced me just now."

At the mention of the recent event, He Guangming felt even more embarrassed. Now, he realized that what had happened was likely arranged by the two of them.

"Village Chief He, please take a seat. There were many things inconvenient to say in front of so many people just now. Now is a good opportunity to have a few words with you." Xia Zheng patted the stool again, gesturing for him to come closer.

Assured that there was something Xia Zheng wanted to ask, He Guangming let go of his reserve, took the stool, and sat opposite them. "If the young master wishes to ask anything, I, He Guangming, will surely answer everything I know."

Xia Zheng and Lin Yuan exchanged a glance, with Xia Zheng speaking first, "This piece of land doesn’t look barren, and I heard you mention that someone was cultivating it. What exactly is going on?"

As he talked about the grapevines, the pain on He Guangming’s face flashed by, he shook his head and sighed, "Oh, this matter, it was also my doing wrong. You may not know, but before you two arrived, we sold this land to an old wealthy man. His children had all moved away, not living with him. Lizheng somehow heard that he wanted to buy a piece of land to retire on, and went to him, selling this broken plot of our village. Ah, I was strongly against it at the time, but no matter what I said, the old wealthy man wouldn’t listen and spent a total of two thousand five hundred taels of silver! "

He Guangming looked at Lizheng, who was puffing and sweating while working, with a resentful gaze and continued, "Let’s not talk about how much of that silver was given to the commoners of He family village; I just feel terribly sorry for that old wealthy man.

Afterward, I made enquiries everywhere and heard that our village land was suitable for growing grapes, so I took out my savings to plant grapes for the old wealthy man.

Unfortunately, he did not live much longer and became ill at the end of last year.

His son took him back to their ancestral home, and I heard that as soon as they entered the door of the old home, he passed away.

Ah, it’s like the leaves returning to their roots. "

Lin Yuan frowned tightly, not expecting such a story in play. It seemed that after the old wealthy man had died, his children returned the estate and the land to the village.

Indeed.

Looking at the vast expanse of grape trellises before him, He Guangming sighed, "That old wealthy man was from a rich family, and his son cared even less about these houses and land.

Moreover, I heard the old man say before he died that he was very fond of the grapevine yard outside.

So, his son believed that the old man lived happily here in his late years and decided to return the deed for the estate and the land to me, not taking a single cent. "

Having said that, He Guangming glanced at Lin Yuan and sighed, "Actually, at the beginning, I didn’t plan to sell this land again, but just now over there, I don’t know what came over me, I suddenly spoke up.

Miss, young master, I can see that you both are clever people, but please do not be deceived by Lizheng.

If you want to farm the land, it is best not to choose this one. This land truly is not fit for crops."

Hearing this, Lin Yuan chuckled and said, "Who told you I wanted to farm crops?"

Hmm? He Guangming was taken aback. He seemed to recall that Lin Yuan had mentioned not planting crops. He thought she was just naively unaware, but now it appeared that there was indeed an ulterior motive.

Xia Zheng initially did not understand Lin Yuan’s intentions either, but after having heard her theories on grape cultivation, he had begun to guess a few things.

"You only mentioned wanting to plant grapes just now, but even if sold, such a large vineyard can’t make much silver," Xia Zheng mused.

"You couldn’t be planning to gift this land to Consort Guiren, could you?

I remember that Consort Guiren has her own ideas about winemaking.

Could it be that you want her to make... "

Lin Yuan nodded and said with a smile, "Clever, I indeed plan to have Consort Guiren use these grapes to make wine, and you know what, I have a feeling that this wine will certainly be a blockbuster hit!"

Xia Zheng was thoroughly impressed by Lin Yuan’s cleverness; if she said it would be a hit, it was bound to be one.

But He Guangming was confused and had never heard of making wine from grapes; wasn’t wine made from grains?

However, how to make grape wine was not what concerned him. The only clear thing he understood was that the grapevine yard cherished by the old wealthy man could be preserved and wouldn’t be torn down.

Perhaps that was the reason he had blurted it out earlier. Maybe there was some predestined arrangement at work, and the old wealthy man also hoped they would buy this land.