Chapter 452 - 446_1
Zhao Erhu had just gotten home and was busy getting up to speed on his family’s situation. He went to the fields to check on the crops, then had Zhao Dahuo and Wu Qiang come over to clarify what had happened these past days and get an update on the situation in Xin’an City. Learning that under Magistrate Ceng Lu’s administration the people’s lives were becoming increasingly difficult, he could only sigh.
"There’s nothing to be done about it, but as long as we act with integrity and sit with dignity, we don’t have to worry about Magistrate Ceng Lu or Lord Wei coming to trouble us. Not to mention the connection with the Jiang Family, my time in the Capital City wasn’t spent in vain. I believe Magistrate Ceng Lu knows better than to deliberately make things difficult for us. Lord Wei is simply relying on Magistrate Ceng’s power, so he’s of little concern," Zhao Erhu said.
"In that case, Erhu, shall we reopen the tavern and grocery stores in the city? These are all very profitable businesses, it’s a real pity to keep them closed," Wu Qiang said, moved by Zhao Erhu’s words and genuinely considering Zhao Erhu’s best interests.
Zhao Erhu, however, had his own considerations and shook his head. "Let’s not. Taverns, places that serve food, are too easily meddled with. We’d better keep them closed for now. Besides, I have other matters to attend to and can’t spare the attention. In a few days, I have to make a trip to the south. I’ll tell you the details later," he said.
Lin Yue had just finished her bustling work since returning from the Capital City. Naturally, visitors wanting to drop by wouldn’t be few. Everyone was keen to hear Lin Yue talk about the people and things in the Capital City. Lin Yue was not stingy; even those she wasn’t too acquainted with were treated well, and she gave each a handful of fruit to take home as they left.
"My dear, you must be tired. Sit down and rest," Zhao Erhu said as he came in and saw the mess on the floor, with melon rinds and fruit peels scattered everywhere, indicating that quite a few people had visited that morning.
"I was just sitting and chatting, what’s there to be tired about? I’m just a bit thirsty," Lin Yue replied.
Hearing this, Zhao Erhu did not hesitate to pour Lin Yue a glass of water. "Then have a drink right away. It’s rare for someone from the village to visit the Capital City, so it’s natural we’d have many visitors just after coming back," he said.
"Yes, I told everyone that the Capital City is just much bigger and more bustling than our Xin’an City, nothing too out of the ordinary, otherwise they’d still be dragging the conversation out of me," Lin Yue said with a smile, then shared the current state of Xin’an City with Zhao Erhu.
"Ah, our family isn’t affected much. Even with the tavern and grocery shop closed, we can live comfortably off the crops and the dividends from the Capital City. But it’s harder for the rest of the village. They were already struggling, and now there are all sorts of exorbitant taxes. In any case, we’ll help out where we can; they’re all neighbors after all," Zhao Erhu lamented.