Chapter 296 - Chapter 296: Way to Punish
Chapter 296: Way to Punish
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The bamboo baskets carried by the farmers were all filled with five or six piglets. When they arrived at the entrance of the manor, a farmer said quickly to Ruyi, who was waiting there, “Manager Zhou, our families sent a total of 23 piglets. According to your instructions, we kept a sow and a male pig ungelded. We have now sent them over. Where’s your pigpen? We’ll carry them over for you.”
“Thank you, thank you! Everyone, follow me this way.” Ruyi politely led them towards the pig farm not far from the foot of the mountain.
When they arrived at the pig farm, Ruyi took out a large scale. After putting the piglets over the scale, he asked the farmers to help lock the piglets in the pen.
The farmers looked at the stone slabs in the pen and widened their eyes. The farmer who spoke quickly said, “Oh my! Look, there are stone slabs in this pigpen. Aiya! The pigs live better than us! ”
One of them looked around and curled his lips. “That won’t do! How can we pad the grass and fatten the pigs?”
“That’s right! It’s a pity that so much manure was wasted.” The villagers who sent the chickens and ducks said.
“So much land has been opened in the manor. What will you use to water the land?”
“Steward Zhou, it looks like you don’t know how to farm!”
Someone even taught Ruyi how to pad the pig grass and step on it.
“Thank you for your kindness.” Ruyi pointed at the cesspool. “Our method of fertilizing is different from yours. Look here. This is where the cesspool is discharged. A large cesspool has been dug outside the wall. There’s another special cesspool outside. It’s much better than putting it in for pigs to step on. Also, pigs don’t grow quickly in wet pigsties. It’s not easy for the pigs to get sick if the pigs’ pens are clean.”
When everyone heard this, they revealed looks of disbelief. “Is there a need to be so particular about raising pigs? Our pigpen is dirty, but we still raise pigs and kill them to sell for money!”
Ruyi smiled and said, “If you don’t believe me, you can wait and see if my pigs grow quickly.”
An uncle smiled amiably and said, “Alright, I’ll learn from Steward Zhou when the time comes.”
Ruyi smiled and nodded. “As long as you’re willing to learn, we’ll teach you.”
Everyone smiled politely. Ruyi knew that it was not easy to get them to change their usual breeding method, so he did not persuade them. After paying the money for buying piglets from the villagers, he paid for the chickens, ducks, and geese. The farmers happily took the money and left.
He bought forty chicks and fifty ducks and geese in total. Ruyi asked a few older children to classify them and fence them with bamboo to raise in the clearing outside the chicken pen.
The children threw the tender green wild vegetables they had cut back into it to feed the chicks, ducks, and geese.
A thin little girl said timidly to Ruyi, “Uncle, my mother taught me that the vegetables the chicks eat have to be cut thin before they can be fed.”
Ruyi squatted down to touch her withered hair and smiled. “Oh! Do you know how to raise chickens? What’s your name?”
The little girl glanced at Ruyi timidly and whispered, “Uncle, my name is Little Yezi.”
“Little Yezi, can you help Brother and the others take care of the chicks in the future?”
“Yes!” Little Yezi looked at Ruyi with sparkling eyes and nodded heavily.
Ruyi said to Shui Sheng and the others, “Shui Sheng, there’s a pit behind the chicken pen. Take the little stutterer and find some earth dragons to raise inside.”
Shui Sheng looked at Ruyi curiously. “Uncle Steward, can an earth dragon be raised?”
“Yes, just leave some rotten vegetable leaves and grass in the pit. The earth dragons that are fed to the chickens and ducks have to be boiled and dried. Then, mix them in the rice bran and vegetable leaves to feed.”
Shui Sheng remembered it and said to Ruyi, “Got it, Uncle Steward. Then I’ll bring my younger brothers to dig for earth dragons.”
“Alright, don’t go to the pond. Be careful not to fall in.” After Shui Sheng and the others agreed happily, they ran away with the bamboo basket.
Ruyi looked at the sensible children and decided to bring Seven Pounds up to the farm when he was free. He would play with these children so that he wouldn’t develop an ignorant outlook.
Ruyi wanted to return to the manor. He asked a crippled uncle weaving baskets in the courtyard, “Uncle Zou, do you know how to raise pigs?”
Uncle Zou put down the bamboo strip and smiled. ‘Yes, I used to raise them when I was at home.”
Ruyi looked at him and asked curiously, “Uncle Zou, where do you live? Why were you wandering in West City?”
Uncle Zou patted his crippled leg and said sadly, “Steward Zhou, my hometown is near the capital. My leg was crippled during the war. Sigh! I’m a bachelor and don’t want to go back and drag my brother down, so I lived in West city. It’s inconvenient for my leg. The older I get, the harder it’s to find work. Fortunately, I met Madam to help me. I can live a few good days before I age.”
“Uncle Zou, don’t worry. As long as everyone is fine, life will get better. I’ll leave the pig farm to you. I’ll get a few boys to help you.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll fatten up those pigs.”
Ruyi arranged the farm and returned to the field to see that the grain seeds had been scattered. Everyone was packing up the wicker baskets and bags. He said to them, “Everyone, go back and eat and rest for the night. Tomorrow morning, go to the wasteland over there with those short-term workers.”
Everyone agreed happily. They were very satisfied with their new lives. They did not have to worry about starving if they could not find work when they went out. After doing work, they would have hot food when they returned. The place they lived in was also clean.
Ji Xiang looked around the construction site and saw that the people brought
by Craftsman Zou were meticulous. Only then did he return to the farmstead from the construction site in relief.
Zhou Jia returned to the government office from the Intoxicated Immortal
Restaurant and took out 50,000 taels of silver. He placed the money in front of Li Yu. “Yu’er, the meat you wanted has been cut and brought back. I thought about it just now and felt that it’s safer to ask for money to repair West City after handing it over.”
Li Yu thought for a moment and nodded. ‘You’re right. Let’s do as you say!”
Zhou Jia put the banknotes and the written note into the box and said angrily to Li Yu, “We had to let that dog go tonight. If Chu Feng hadn’t come to greet me, I would have sentenced him to death.”
Li Yu looked at him and said, “I’ve already asked Zhao Cai to monitor him. When we find a suitable opportunity, we’ll hang him at the entrance of the Wang family. ”
When Zhou Jia heard this, he thought for a while and thought of a method. “Yu’er, your method is too risky. I have a way to make the Wang family swallow their grief in silence.”
Li Yu looked at Zhou Jia and asked in confusion, “Xiao Xi, tell me what method you have.”
Zhou Jia smiled slyly. “Even if that dog is put back, he won’t be obedient for more than a few days. I heard Sir mention a prescription in the past. It’s concocted from patchouli, Five Flavors Seed, and Yang Locking Grass… Used in appropriate amounts, it is good medicine that can be used to treat illnesses. After preparing the concoction, you can add a secret medicine called Yin Rising Stone. It’s a poison that harms people imperceptibly. I’ll ask Sir to help make that medicine. When Wang Chun goes to the brothel, I’ll get Zhao Cai to sneak in and give it to him so that he can be a groom at all times.”
When Li Yu heard this, she also felt that Zhou Jia’s method was better. “I’ll get Zhao Cai to keep an eye on him and find an opportunity to attack.”
Zhou Jia nodded. “Tell Zhao Cai to be careful. After he succeeds, get him to set off for Tongzhou to accompany Ah Qing to the capital to prepare for the exam! ”
Speaking of Li Qing, Li Yu was a little worried. “Ah Qing is not long from the autumn examination. I wonder how his preparations are.”
“Don’t worry, as long as nothing goes wrong, he will definitely ace it this time.” Zhou Jia patted Li Yu and comforted her.
Li Yu looked at him and nodded. “I know. I’m just a little worried. Go to the bank and send this away first!”
“Alright, it doesn’t matter if it takes a while. I’ll be back soon.” Zhou Jia took the box and walked out..