AWB Chapter 185 I Don’t Want to Owe You Too Much
Chapter 185 I Don’t Want to Owe You Too Much
Chapter 185 I Don’t Want to Owe You Too Much
It had stopped snowing for quite some time since the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and the snow on the farm had almost melted.
As the saying goes, "It's not cold when it snows, but it is when the snow melts." Therefore, the two little rabbits can only stay in the main room of the east courtyard and dare not show their heads easily.
Xu Rongrong cleared out a corner of the main room, put a thick mattress in the rabbit nest, and covered it with thatch.
There was a charcoal brazier next to it, which made the room warm.
Two rabbits lay leisurely on it and drank goat milk.
Perhaps they had recovered from their initial shock, so after eating and drinking, they were willing to lie on Xu Rongrong's palms and nuzzle her palms with their wet noses.
The soft and cute little thing simply melted Xu Rongrong's heart, and she took care of it more personally and attentively every day.
Mu Rong watched her increasingly skillful movements, with a faint smile in the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.
Such a harmonious scene made Mu Ai, who had something to report, unable to move for a moment.
Because, from his perspective, this is a family of four...
Mu Rong caught a glimpse of him from the corner of his eye. "What's going on? Why are you so sneaky? Come in and answer me!"
Muai: "..."
Is this my fault?
But he wasn't as courageous as Mu Lu, so he could only complain in his heart, while busy saying, "Master, the snow on the farm has been almost cleared, and the manager is waiting over there. I wonder when you are going to go over and check it out?"
Xu Rongrong, who was stroking a little rabbit's fur, looked up at the words and said, "My Lord, you're going to check on the farm? Then please go ahead." Seeing that she looked like she couldn't wait for him to leave, Mu Rong laughed. "I don't know anything about farming... They're not clearing it out for me. Do you remember what I told you before, that there's some good land on the farm that could be used for a herb garden? You're just sending me there like that, but don't you want to go and check it out yourself?"
"Oh..." Xu Rongrong blushed a little.
She had been living so comfortably at the farm these past few days, and now she had two adorable rabbits, that she had completely forgotten about the herb garden...
It's rare that he still remembers it.
As soon as Mu Rong saw her expression, he knew that his little girl must have been having too much fun these days.
So he smiled and tapped her forehead: "Hurry up and change your clothes."
Xu Rongrong was suddenly knocked, and she jumped up in fright, tossing the two little fur balls in her arms into Mu Rong's arms, and quickly went to the bedroom. Mu Rong was used to handling swords and knives, and had never carefully cared for such a small thing. He stared at the little rabbit in his hands with a look of nervousness.
The two little ones also stared at him.
It just so happened that they had been fed well in the past two days, and Mu Rong was no stranger to them, so they were not afraid.
His palms were a little rough, not as soft as Xu Rongrong's, so they nudged him with their little noses in dissatisfaction, with a hint of disgust.
He used more force on the tip of his nose, which made Mu Rong's hands and heart itch.
He had never been treated like this before. He felt so uncomfortable that he wanted to throw him away.
But when he thought of how much his little girl loved them, he didn't dare to move them rashly.
For a moment, the whole person froze.
Finally, Mu Ai, who was about to suffer internal injuries from holding back, called for Mrs. Xiao in time and rescued his own master. ...
The farm under the name of the Marquis's Mansion is just to the north of the house. Go out of the door, go around the main road, and walk north along the ridge of the field for only a cup of tea, and you will see a neatly-knitted and bare field.
At first glance, it seems as if there is no end in sight.
The manager of Zhuangzi has been waiting here for a long time.
Although he received the news on New Year's Day that Zhuangzi was going to change owners, the new owner was the marquis's fiancée.
But after all, there are differences between men and women, so he only met Xu Rongrong when he got off the carriage on the day she came.
After that, there was no chance to get close to this new master.
Now that I finally got the opportunity, I worked very hard.
"My surname is Lu. I have been working on this farm since the old Marquis of Weiyuan was in power. Therefore, the farmers here politely call me Manager Lu. The fields in front of you are about ten hectares, and I am in charge of them. If you have any questions, please ask directly." Xu Rongrong thanked him and asked some questions related to rain, land and production.
Growing medicinal herbs is similar to growing crops; all that is required is fertile soil and sufficient rainfall.
Steward Lu had already memorized these questions, so he answered, "Our farm is divided into two parts. The land near the mountain is cultivated along the mountain. The sunlight is limited every day, so I have ordered people to plant various orchids according to the preferences of the nobles in the capital. In addition to supplying the daily needs of the Marquis' Mansion, I will also cultivate some rare varieties in the greenhouse and sell them in shops in the capital. The rest of the land..."
He glanced at Mu Rong's face and paused. "Because my energy is limited, and the daily needs of the Marquis' Mansion are provided by the other two manors, this place has been left idle..."
When Manager Lu spoke, the first half was well-organized, but the second half was hesitant.
Xu Rongrong glanced at him with a strange expression. She caught a glimpse of the regretful look on Manager Lu's face, as if he was lamenting that such good land was left unused.
But in fact... this piece of land in front of us is the most fertile and largest of the three manors! Most of the manor's annual revenue comes from here, but now, under the arrangement of the Marquis, it has been forcibly declared useless.
Manager Lu is speaking up for justice for this piece of land.
"I think this place is in a good location. Why not use it to grow crops and vegetables?" Xu Rongrong asked.
"The county lady also knows about farming?" Manager Lu was a little surprised.
"I only have a vague understanding of it."
Just as Manager Lu was about to speak, Mu Rong interrupted him, "This location is not good. There are no main roads in front or behind. It is far less convenient for transportation than the other two farms."
"I see." Xu Rongrong nodded.
For her, growing herbs was different from growing food; it didn't require large-scale transportation. She leaned down slightly, grabbed a handful of soil with icy bits on it, and gently twisted it in her hands.
"Be careful not to catch a cold." Mu Rong whispered.
"How could I be so squeamish?" Xu Rongrong laughed. Then she said to Manager Lu, "The land here is very fertile. It's a shame to leave it like this."
Manager Lu: "Who said it wasn't?"
After saying this, he rolled his eyes at Mu Rong in his heart.
Xu Rongrong raised her hand to shake off the broken dirt in her hand, then turned to look at Mu Rong: "My Lord, are you really willing to give me such a good place to grow herbs?"
Mu Rong smiled and said, "As long as Rongrong likes it, why would I be reluctant to give it up? Besides, this place was originally reserved for you. If you can make a living from herbal medicine from this long-abandoned farmland, it will not be a waste."
Xu Rongrong gazed at the endless farmland. The light and rainfall were perfect here. But her only experience with farming was in the courtyard of the Marquis's mansion in her previous life, and even then, it was thanks to Xu Xiangnan's help. Now... managing such a large expanse of land, she felt a little daunted.
If they failed, all the farmers in the village would not have enough food to eat.
Thinking of this, she lowered her head and said, "But I don't have much experience. I'm afraid I'll let down the Marquis and everyone else's trust."
"Rongrong, why don't you underestimate yourself? You are an extremely intelligent woman and proficient in herbs. No one is more suitable than you. What's more, doesn't Rongrong have a helper in her house?" Mu Rong said with a smile.
"Help?" Xu Rongrong was surprised.
"Rongrong won't forget Xu Xiangnan, right? When the Xu Mansion was building the flower garden, I asked him to come over from the Marquis' Mansion to help, and he's stayed at the Xu Mansion ever since. But actually, in addition to growing flowers and plants, he's also quite experienced in herbal medicine. You might as well let him give it a try. I believe that with the two of you here, the Southern Suburbs Herb Garden will sooner or later become famous throughout the world."
When he spoke, he was full of confidence in her.
Xu Rongrong was stunned.
It turns out that he knew Xu Xiangnan's abilities?
Previously, when she saw Xu Xiangnan appear in the flower garden of Xu Mansion, immersed in studying flowers and plants, she felt that his talent was wasted and even thought that Mu Rong did not understand his true value.
But today it seems...
He actually knew it a long time ago.
What about her previous life? When she suddenly started growing herbs in the Marquis's mansion, the aloof Xu Xiangnan suddenly offered her a helping hand.
Was he feeling pity for her, an unfavored concubine?
Or is it the same as in my current life, was it arranged by someone?
She stared at Mu Rong in a daze, not moving at all.
Manager Lu, who was standing by, was a little confused when he saw this, so Mu Rong waved his hand and asked him to leave.
There is no one else here.
Seeing his little girl looking dazed, Mu Rong smiled and waved his hand in front of her eyes: "What do you think? I have such confidence in Rongrong, but Rongrong is not thinking of backing out now, right?"
As soon as Xu Rongrong came back to her senses, she was dazzled by the smile in front of her.
Thinking of Mu Rong's confident words, he also remembered Manager Lu's hesitation just now.
How could Xu Rongrong not understand this? What about the abandoned fields and asking her for help? He had already secretly arranged some of it...
He knew that she was going to open a medicine shop, and he must have known that the "Mr. Tao" hidden behind the medicine shop in the Eight Alleys of the Capital was himself.
This manor was built to solve her supply worries.
Thinking about how he had planned everything from sending her a New Year's gift on New Year's Eve to inviting her to come to the southern suburbs, and how every step of the way was for her, she suddenly found it difficult to look the man in front of her in the face.
So she lowered her head and lowered her voice:
"Thank you for your kindness, my Lord. This farm is very much to my liking, but I also have a request. If you can agree to it, I will accept this farm."
"Rong Rong, please speak."
"Please, my Lord, take back the other two farms in the southern suburbs and return them to the Marquisate. I will use these farms to cultivate medicinal herbs, but if they produce nothing within a year, please take them back. If they do produce anything, I will split all the profits with you in half."
Mu Rong raised the corners of his mouth when he heard this, but the smile in his eyes was gone: "Rongrong, do you really want to settle this with me so clearly?"
Xu Rongrong murmured, "I just don't want to owe the Marquis too much."
If you owe too much, it will be even harder to extricate yourself.