396 Workshop
When the majestic group of people arrived at the entrance of Hu Family Village, it caused another commotion. A few young people who were specially patrolling saw someone coming from afar and hurriedly called Village Chief Hu.
When Village Chief Hu and the others arrived at the village entrance, the group had just ascended the mountain from the foot of the mountain.
The path built in the village stretched all the way along the river. There was no need to take a long detour like before.
It could save an hour of travel time.
Third Aunt Hu happened to be pounding the soil outside and followed suit. Without thinking, she said, “What are you making a fuss about? Isn’t that Donkey Zhang’s family?”
“I saw a mule cart. It looks a little like Uncle w.a.n.g’s, but I didn’t see Auntie w.a.n.g. Third Aunt, could it be that you miss Auntie w.a.n.g so much that you said she was inside?” Someone said with a deliberately smile.
Third Aunt Hu rolled her eyes. “Why do you have to make it sound so disgusting? I don’t think anyone would ever miss Donkey Zhang!”
“I think Auntie w.a.n.g might not be inside. Their children are all studying in town.”
In their eyes, studying was the most important thing. Even if it delayed some farming matters, they could not delay their studies.
After all, the tuition fee was very expensive.
Even if they had saved up some money, they did not dare to let all the children in the family go to school.
They did not have the capital, let alone the guts.
As they were talking, Old Madam w.a.n.g said to Little Ah Yu, “Tell those uncles who are hiding, to go to the front and tell the village chief and the others that we’re coming. A group of people are surrounding there. Are they treating us as bandits?”
Little Ah Yu lifted the curtain of the carriage and stuck her head out to look up.
“Uncle Chi She, please go to the front and tell Grandpa Village Chief not to be afraid. Little Ah Yu is back!”
Ouyang Changjing’s secret guards chuckled in their hearts when they saw that Chi She had been discovered.
It seemed that the secret guards of their Chang Nation were indeed inferior to their West Wind Nation.
With this meager ability to hide, they still dared to mimic others to be a secret guard?
Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly heard the little girl’s crisp voice.
Little Ah Yu said sincerely, “Uncles, aren’t you tired? Come down and rest.”
The secret guards of the West Wind Kingdom: “…”
That’s not right. Not only did they hide their figures, but they had also hidden their auras.
Under their disguise, even if someone walked right in front of them, it was very easy to ignore their existence.
Why did this little girl seem to have discovered them?
No, it must be this little girl who was deliberately being naughty.
However, seeing that they did not come out for a long time, Little Ah Yu simply took the opportunity to get off the mule cart when it stopped in front.
She scooped up her dress, stuck out her b.u.t.t, and stuck her head down.
She met the eyes of the two secret guards under the carriage.
“Are you exercising?”
The two secret guards: “…”
Ouyang Pei’s voice came from the carriage. “How careless. Receive your punishment later when we stop.”
“…”
How could this be reasonable?
Village Chief Hu learned that Old Madam w.a.n.g had actually brought a few officials over to patrol the school.
They were originally a little uneasy, but after thinking about it, they understood that Lord Zhang had probably come to cheer them on.
As long as Lord Zhang’s official said that their school had pa.s.sed the inspection, the people from the other villages would be more at ease sending the students over in the future.
A few elders discussed in private if they should give those officials some gifts.
Everyone expressed that this was a necessary favor.
Only Elder Ma was especially unhappy. “We’re opening a school, and our job is to teach and educate people. In the end, the school hasn’t even officially opened yet, and you’re already doing something shameful. If other students find out in the future, what prestige will there be left to speak of?”
The faces of the elders turned green and white.
“Old Ma, your words are too biased. We just want the school to open smoothly for the sake of the children. If those officials want to stack the deck against someone and insist that our school did not do well, what will happen?”
“That’s right. Even if Lord Zhang is a good person, who knows if these officials are good? It’s not uncommon to see people who obey on the surface but disobey on the inside.”
“In any case, I don’t agree.” Elder Ma said righteously, “If you insist on sending the gifts, then go ahead. However, don’t look for me in the future when it comes to the school. I find it unlucky!”
Everyone was speechless.
Heh, this stubborn temper.
In the end, it was Old Master Hu who decided to a.s.sess the situation first.
Otherwise, it would not be good if their plan backfired.
Ouyang Changjing claimed that he was attracted by the reputation of the General Temple, so he took the liberty to come.
Village Chief Hu was naturally overjoyed. He did not expect their General Temple to become so famous.
This was also thanks to the fact that the w.a.n.g Family in Nanhe Town would usually mention it to everyone after Village Chief Hu requested it.
For example, if the children at home did well in their studies, they would say that the Great General in their village was blessing them.
Or perhaps if they were healthy, they would say that it was the atmosphere left behind by the Great General that affected them.
As time pa.s.sed, one or two curious people would go to Hu Family Village to take a look.
Old Madam w.a.n.g did not expose them and only brought her people to look at the sugarcane fields.
Hu Family Village was surrounded by mountains on three sides, so there were many mountainous areas. The sugarcane was basically built on the mountainous areas that were not easy to grow food on.
From winter to spring, the sugarcane grew. Now that it was the last season of the sugarcane, they had to collect all the sugarcane on the mountain.
Then, they would make cane sugar.
In an empty s.p.a.ce not far from Third Aunt Hu’s house, a large structure had already been built. That was their cane sugar workshop.
However, the workshop had just been built and was not officially used.
Zhang Zhan distributed the grain seeds provided by Hu Family Village to the various towns and villages. They were also mixed with a portion of the grain seeds sent by the Imperial Court.
The harvest of the autumn grain given by the Imperial Court last year was not bad. They were currently planting vigorously.
The various families had long planted the grain seeds and grown good seedlings. Now, everyone was busy transplanting those seedlings to the fields.
The farming season was about to arrive. The farmers of Hu Family Village were not very anxious about the cane sugar workshop. Instead, the few landowners who had signed the doc.u.ments would invite people to ask from time to time.
“Auntie w.a.n.g, we’ve already asked the carpenter to slowly make everything we need in the workshop according to the blueprint you gave us previously. They’ll send it over in two days.” Third Aunt Hu’s third son introduced.
Village Chief Hu’s eldest son, Hu Daliu, also said, “Auntie w.a.n.g, during this period of time, our own family has also tried to make cane sugar, but the amount of sugar produced is not high, and there are also many impurities. It’s different from what you made previously.”
“Of course it’s different. The method of sucrose is simple, but there are many twists and turns involved. It’s no different from being a human,” Old Madam w.a.n.g said. “If it’s really so easy for people to control it, how can our village maintain our footing? Alright, don’t just stand here. Follow them to the school first. It’s fine to leave the workshop for a few days. Don’t delay the school’s matters. Let the children attend school as soon as possible.”
Hu Daliu’s emotions were written all over his face. “Auntie w.a.n.g, you really care about the children.”
It seemed that the villagers’ usual evaluation of Auntie w.a.n.g was still inaccurate.
Old Madam w.a.n.g: “All of you are chattering so loudly that my head hurts. Hurry up and settle the school matters. I’m just chasing this group of busybodies away so that my ears can get some rest.”
Hu Daliu: “…”