Chapter 46
Tangerine’s Special Usage
Du Xiao Li followed Hong Jie and arrived outside the courtyard. Seeing Luo Qi and Leng Er, who were waiting under a tree, she waved towards them.
“Done talking?” The two walked over and asked.
“En.” Du Xiao Li nodded and said, “We can go back now.”
“Xiao Li, since you’ve come to an agreement with madam, those tangerines of yours by all means can’t be sold anymore. Understand?” Hong Jie reminded.
“I know, rest a.s.sured Hong Jie.” Du Xiao Li said. “Just the tangerine trees are planted a bit far, if possible, when you want them, come in the mornings, or notify me the day before. That way I can pick them and wait for you all.”
“I will tell madam.” Hong Jie replied.
Arriving at the back door, those old servant women were already waiting there, holding Du Xiao Li’s basket. Seeing Du Xiao Li, one said, “Total of forty catties. Madam said, seeing that you’re young, to give you twenty copper coins for a catty. Eight hundred copper coins altogether. Here are some silver fragments, hold them tight.”
While saying that, she took out some silver fragments to give Du Xiao Li.
When Du Xiao Li had heard that woman say eight hundred copper coins just now, she’d thought that she would really give herself that many, and it really scared her. Fortunately, they chose silver fragments.
“Alright, I’ll just send you all off from here, in the future, if you need me for something, you can just directly tell the guards at the gate that you’re looking for me.” Hong Jie walked them to the gates and said.
“Thank you Hong Jie, goodbye Hong Jie!” Du Xiao Li waved her hand at Hong Jie, before heading towards the fruit market with Luo Qi and Leng Er. She sat back onto the horse carriage, and they headed back to Du village.
Returning back at Niu Jing’s house, Du Xiao Li got down from the horse carriage. Seeing Han Ming Yi and Ji Liu Feng lying under the eaves, she waved towards them, yelling: “Big brother Yi, big brother Liu Feng.”
“Girl, how come you returned this early today?” Seeing Du Xiao Li come back, Ji Liu Feng, who’d gotten a hold of a guifei couch from somewhere, sat up and asked.
“The county magistrate madam had all the tangerines bought.” Du Xiao Li walked in and said.
Han Ming Yi asked sat up and asked, “And then you just came back?”
“Yep!” Du Xiao Li moved two stools over and gave one to Luo Qi. Afterwards, she came to Han Ming Yi’s side and sat down, saying: “Let me tell you all something.”
Du Xiao Li told them about Li Xue Mei wanting for herself to sell all the tangerines to her, and asked, “Say, what do you all think she’s buying that many tangerines for?”
“Isn’t that simple, to gift to others.” Ji Liu Feng said.
Ji Liu Feng although was born into a martial family, his head was more quick-witted than his old man’s. Towards the matters of the court, he also saw things rather clearly. As soon as he heard Du Xiao Li’s words, he immediately understood Li Xue Mei’s intentions.
“To gift to others? Do you need that many to gift to others?” Du Xiao Li glanced to Han Ming Yi and asked.
Han Ming Yi nodded, agreeing to Ji Liu Feng’s words, saying: “This tangerine you discovered, no one has ever seen before. If used as gifts, it can also be considered unique and unmatched. This Sun Zheng, as the county magistrate, most likely has a lot of interactions with the other officials. Currently, the emperor is unrestrainedly punishing corrupted officials. A lot of people all do not dare to give bribes or accept bribes. Money and whatnot, they all didn’t dare to send out. But if it’s giving tangerines, then it was nothing more than just a plain fruit. It wouldn’t be counted as bribery. It was both special and could also be used to draw in relations.”
“There’s even this kind of connection inside?” Du Xiao Li thought of how she’d also seen this kind of thing before in the past. Just, she didn’t expect that now, her tangerines would become the bridges between these officials. “Then, if a certain official were to get dragged down, would I also get implicated?”
“You won’t.” Han Ming Yi said, “Your tangerines, although are special, for the most part, wouldn’t be counted as wealth. So even if Sun Zheng were to get arrested, no one would came looking for you.”
“Then I’m relieved.” Du Xiao Li let out a breath. She didn’t expect that after getting closer with Han Ming Yi, discover that his character was quite good, and also he was not like before, where he would ignore her when she tried talking to him. Now, whatever she asked, he would always give her an answers. Especially these a.n.a.lysis on politics, he would explain them quite well.
“You’re just a little girl, what are you thinking this much for?” Ji Liu Feng saw Du Xiao Li’s appearance and teased.
“Of course I need to consider! In this feudal society, with the imperial power above all else, officials hold the life and death of ordinary commoners like us. Dealing with officials, one can’t just go against them, so of course I need to consider these things.” Du Xiao Li somewhat dejectedly said, “Just like today’s matter, that madam was merely just notifying me of the matter. Regardless of whether I agree or not, she’d taken a fancy to these tangerines, so I can’t just say no. Sigh……”
This feudal society really isn’t as good as the harmonious society of her past life!
“Then just establish a power that will make her not dare to treat you like such.” Luo Qi suddenly spoke.
Sweat. “Then how busy would everyday be, how tiring would one’s life be, I still prefer this farming life.” Du Xiao Li immediately shook her head rejecting.
Having obtained this kind of easy and comfortable life with great difficulty, no fighting and killing, she didn’t want to ruin it. But she didn’t expect that not long in the future, she’ll have no choice but to abandon this kind of life.
“You thinking about these now is indeed still early.” Ji Liu Feng said, “Besides, you’re a girl, after you grow up and get married, these troubles, you can just throw to your husband to worry over. You can just focus on a.s.sisting your husband and educating your children.”
This reasoning again! Du Xiao Li pouted and said, “I don’t wanna!”
Just then, Leng San walked out from the house. Du Xiao Li saw him and said, “Leng San, you can get down from the bed now! How’s your body recovering?”
Pract.i.tioner of marital arts, their wound’s recovery rate seemed to all be faster than normal people’s.
Leng San had long known that Du Xiao Li had saved himself. He slightly smiled at her and said, “It’s already much better. Thank you!”
Du Xiao Li waved her hand and said, “You don’t need to thank me. You’re big brother Yi’s bodyguard, and Leng Er’s brother, so of course I can’t just watch you die and not save. However, your recovery rate really is shocking.”
Leng San laughed. He naturally can’t say that’s because he’d used the top quality injury medicine used in the imperial palace. “It’s all thanks to doctor Niu’s superior medical skills.”
“Regardless of reason, having the body recover sooner is always a good thing. Alright, big brother Luo Qi and I will head back now, need to prepare the afternoon meal.” Du Xiao Li got up and said.
Speaking of food, the gluttonous bug in Ji Liu Feng’s stomach began stirring again. “Girl, when will you make food for us again? Last time, after eating your cooking, then eating grandpa Niu’s cooking, I simply can’t eat it anymore!”
Coincidentally, Niu Jing came out from the house and heard Ji Liu Feng’s words, saying: “Alright then, since you can’t eat it anymore, then in the future, all the food will be cooked by you.”
“Hehe, grandpa Niu, the things I say, how can you take them seriously, no?” Ji Liu Feng didn’t expect that he would be caught by Niu Jing and immediately smiled apologetically.
“Hmph!” Niu Jing didn’t bother with Ji Liu Feng either. He looked to Du Xiao Li and said, “Li girl, when will you also make a meal for this old man?”
Last time, Han Ming Yi and the others ate their meal at Du Xiao Li’s place. After coming back, they continuously had her cooking skills praised to the heavens, making him depressed for a long time.
“That’s right, that’s right, how about you cook here this afternoon, well?” Ji Liu Feng asked.
“I also want to eat.” Han Ming Yi spoke. Afterwards, he even glanced twice at Luo Qi. This guy was together with her everyday, annoying just thinking about it.
Du Xiao Li looked at the all the people here. She couldn’t help twitching her mouth. Letting her cook here, she can’t guarantee that after cooking, she’ll still have the strength to eat.
Suddenly an idea appeared in her mind. If they eat like that, then she won’t get too tired!
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