stingy landlady

Chapter 114 Borrowing Food

After Xu Hong pushed Lin Qian into the house, Gui Zhi closed the door behind him. Then she said to Da Zhu:

"Father! There are currently thirty people in Huanghua Village. Two hundred mu of paddy fields have been cleared and are now being plowed!"

The seedlings must be quite tall by now. When I went back last time, they were still a bit short. Seven or eight days have passed in a flash; they must have grown considerably. I guess we can transplant them tomorrow, Uncle Xu Hong!

Xu Hong nodded:

"Yes, Miss! Master, the seedlings were this tall last time Miss went there!"

As Xu Hong spoke, he gestured with his hand to indicate that it was about an inch high.

"So much time has passed, but when I went to check this morning, it was already time to plant rice seedlings! We were planning to arrange for people to plant them as soon as we got back!"

"This is a good thing!" Dazhu said, glancing at Xu Hong.

"Xu Hong used to be an experienced farmer, these shouldn't be a problem for him!"

Guizhi asked:

"Dad! Our wheat harvest is bountiful. What are your plans?"

Dazhu didn't really want to discuss this issue in front of so many people.

"Guizhi! Get to the point! Don't be a child and ask such questions! Your father hasn't made up his mind yet!"

Just as Guizhi was about to speak, Xu Hong spoke up:

"Sir! It's like this, we have a large population and high expenses! Miss said our wheat harvest is bountiful, and she hopes you can lend us two thousand catties of wheat. We'll give you the money as soon as we have a little more money!"

Xu Hong forced himself to finish speaking, and couldn't even lift his head.

If this were a real battle on the battlefield, Xu Hong would never be afraid of anyone! But borrowing grain from others already puts him at a disadvantage, so it's really tough on him!

Guizhi gave Xu Hong an approving look:

"Uncle Xu Hong! Isn't it difficult to adapt to life on the battlefield and back to ordinary life? After all, the differences are quite significant!"

Xu Hong suddenly looked up:

"Miss understands me! A scholar will die for one who understands him! Xu Hong thanks Miss for knowing and understanding me!"

Lin Qian was also surprised, thinking to himself:

"What an intelligent girl! Her wisdom is almost supernatural! Oh no! There's a next line: Extreme intelligence is bound to bring harm!"

Lin Qian hurriedly cupped his hands to Da Zhu and said:

"My lord! My name is Lin Qian. I was once a strategist under the Prince of Zhenbei. Due to illness, I retired and was settled in Huanghua Village by the Prince! A few days ago, I was honored by Miss Guizhi's kindness in not minding that I am a cripple. She appointed me as the manager of Huanghua Village!"

Dazhu listened attentively and said:

"Since you once served under the Prince, you must have real skills! It's inevitable that you'd get injured in battle! Guizhi is still a child, so please forgive any shortcomings, Mr. Lin!"

Guizhi also looked up at Dazhu. Those were well said! They didn't fit Dazhu's usual honest and unassuming image at all!

After Dazhu finished speaking, he looked at Guizhi, winked at her, and tossed his head, a half-smile on his face. Guizhi thought to herself:

"Alright! This really isn't an imposter father!"

Lin Qian remained calm and collected, taking in the entire interaction between the father and daughter!

"If you have time, sir, you may visit Huanghua Village yourself. The landlord has written Miss Guizhi's name on the document!"

Xu Hong then took the land deed out of his pocket at the opportune moment.

Guizhi took the land deed, which was both annoying and unavoidable, and handed it to Dazhu after examining it carefully.

After carefully reading it, Dazhu returned it to Guizhi!

"Keep it safe! Tomorrow, bring two thousand catties of wheat from the warehouse, but I must see it in person to be at ease!"

Lin Qian interjected:

"Master! I see that the vegetable garden is surrounded by newly planted fruit trees. I wonder where you bought them?"

Guizhi immediately said to Dazhu:

"Dad! Let Brother Pansen go with us tomorrow! I need to borrow him for a few days. He's a local, so I'll ask him to help me find some fruit tree saplings in the nearby villages!"

"Dad! I'm broke right now! I have so many people to support and so much land to cultivate! Ask Brother Pan to find me some free fruit tree saplings. I'll have them planted first. Black cat or white cat, as long as it catches mice, it's a good cat! Hehe!"

Dazhu flicked Guizhi on the head, "Now you're complaining about being poor to your father! Why didn't you complain to the Prince back then!"

Guizhi said weakly:

"Father! If I plead poverty with you, you'll feel sorry for me! If I plead poverty with the Prince, who do you think I am? Just an unrelated person!"

Dazhu felt sorry for his daughter, hugged her briefly, then let go, and said to Guizhi:

"Guizhi! You are my daughter, Wang Dazhu's daughter. If your father doesn't care about you, who will?"

Guizhi was moved to tears.

"I knew Dad was the best!"

Lin Qian and Xu Hong watched the tender father-daughter relationship. Xu Hong couldn't help but cough lightly, drawing their attention.

"Master! Miss! I think we should write an IOU for this wheat loan! People say even close brothers should keep clear accounts!"

Da Zhu waved his hand.

"Why write an IOU? My daughter wouldn't ask me for two thousand catties of wheat, she could ask for twenty thousand catties! Hehe! Guizhi! If your father has it, he won't hesitate to ask!"

Lin Qian also chimed in:

"My lord! Master! It's best to treat family and friends equally, and to value money above all else!"

Guizhi looked at Dazhu, and Dazhu was also looking at her. The two smiled at each other.

"Uncle Lin Qian! Uncle Xu Hong! Since my father is so generous, let's..."

Guizhi deliberately drew out her words, glancing sideways at Dazhu. Seeing Dazhu instantly tense up, she then said:

"We can't take advantage of my dad, can we? Write an IOU! Uncle Lin Qian picks up the pen, and I'll sign it!"

As Guizhi spoke, she took out the calligraphy supplies she had been using for practicing calligraphy these past few days.

Lin Qian wrote the IOU in a flourish, and then signed his name as the debtor before handing it to Guizhi.

Xu Hong reached out and quickly took the hand from Guizhi. Seeing Lin Qian's name, he decisively signed his own name on the back as well. Only then did he hand it to Guizhi, who signed her name without hesitation and handed it to Dazhu.

Dazhu saw the signature and then looked at the two of them:

"Guizhi is my most beloved daughter! You are all wonderful! Yes! Excellent! Guizhi has good judgment! You can't go wrong following Guizhi!"

Guizhi scolded:

"Dad! Is that how you praise your daughter? Shouldn't you be humble, humble!"

Lin Qian smiled and said:

"Master! This isn't your fault! As the saying goes, one's own children are always the best, but another's wife is always the best!"

Xu Hong and Da Zhu both looked at him. Xu Hong said:

"Haha! Lin Qian, oh Lin Qian! Clever all your life, but foolish for a moment! Haha!"

Lin Qian didn't think he had said anything wrong!

Dazhu glanced at him resentfully and said:

"You can say only the first half of the sentence, but it's really inappropriate to say the second half to the child!"

"Hahaha!" Xu Hong burst into laughter at an inopportune moment!

Lin Qian immediately blushed, bowed, and begged for mercy:

"Boss! Headmaster, a slip of the tongue! A slip of the tongue!"

Guizhi rolled her eyes at him and said to Dazhu:

"Dad! Brother Pansen is going to Huanghua Village tomorrow, so we'll be short one person to farm! How about we transfer someone back from Huanghua Village?"

"No need! Losing one person won't reduce the workload much! With so many people working hard, we can finish it! Let Pansen go help you! I'll go with him tomorrow!"