Chapter Fifteen: The Tian Family

  What's everyone's recommended collection for tonight's third shift?

  Mei Li covered her cherry-like mouth in surprise, unable to speak for a long time. The fat man wearing a straw hat, holding a hoe, with the back of his blue linen shirt soaked with sweat, and his pants legs rolled up, who was using the hoe to strike the soil, was actually the young master who used to be idle and indulgent?

  "Is... is that person the young master?" Mary trembled as she stretched out her index finger to point at a farmer in the distance. If there was any difference between this person and the farmer, it would be that this person was fatter than an average farmer. Farmers were already lucky if they could eat their fill, having to work every day, so how could they be fat?

  Xiao Mantou nodded and said: "Yes, yes!"

  "Master, you really are a farmer now? Madam thought Master was just joking!" Mei Li was delighted. Compared to that young master who spent all day going out and having fun, this young master who was sweating in the fields seemed much more pleasing to her eyes.

  "At first, we didn't believe it either, but when we arrived at the Zhuangzi, Young Master personally oversaw everything. If Madam and Old Master knew how serious Young Master was about this matter, they would definitely be very pleased." Xiaomantou said softly.

  Dazhu had always taken a liking to Meili, so as soon as she appeared in his line of sight, he took notice and guessed that Meili must have been sent by the mistress to deliver a message. He elbowed the young master who was working with his head down beside him and said: "Young master, Miss Meili from the mistress's side has arrived!"

  "Oh?" Zhangsun suddenly straightened his waist, raised his head, stretched out his hand to rub his sore waist, being a farmer is really not easy!

  "Master, the field work is almost done, you can go up now!" Yang Damao persuaded and said, he had lived for more than 40 years and had never seen a young master like him working in the fields.

  Chang Sun Chong has been following these farmers every day, and when he first came, he was white and chubby. After being exposed to the sun for several days, his skin turned dark and became a black chubby boy.

  "Alright, today's work is done, tomorrow we can divert the water." Zhangsun Chong took off his straw hat and looked ahead, seeing that there were only a few meters left to go, he didn't persist anymore.

  Chang Sun ran to the end of the field, carrying two shoes, walked to the riverbank, and sat on a stone by the river to wash his feet.

  "Young master, madam will be heartbroken if she knows you've gotten sunburned." Mei Li took a closer look and saw that the delicate-skinned young master had turned into a dark charcoal color, her heart aching with sympathy. She quickly grabbed a handkerchief to wipe Long Sun's face.

  Chang Sun Chong noticed that Da Zhu was looking at Mei Li with a different gaze, especially when he saw Mei Li wanting to wipe his sweat. With the principle of not bullying a friend's wife, he quickly dodged and used his own sleeve to wipe it off, saying: "No need, I'll do it myself. By the way, Mei Li, how are my mother, father, younger brother and sister?"

  Mei Li smiled and said, "Madam, the old master is fine, it's just that Miss and the other young masters often mention Big Young Master, saying they'll come to visit him when he's free."

  "Fine, they want to come, let them come!" Chang Sun Chong said with a smile, "Let's go, my mother and father don't have anything to say to me?"

  "Madam wants young master to take care of his body, and properly nourish himself; as for old master's words, he said that you must not neglect your studies, diligently practice calligraphy, copy a book every ten days, and also compose a poem." Meili smiled mischievously, "If you neglect your studies, young master will have to go back, and won't be allowed to come to the countryside again."

  Changsun thought to himself, writing poetry is easy, I remember a lot in my mind, it's just this copying of books that's a bit tiring. But for the sake of being able to stay on the farm for a longer period, I'll endure the tiredness!

  "Alright, I know, Dazhu, you take Sister Mei out for a walk, I'll head back home to write some poetry and show it to my dad." Changsun Chong said as he turned around and left, plucking a dogtail grass from the roadside and biting on it, walking slowly back home with his hands behind his back, humming a little tune.

  Dazhu watched Dashiye's actions and secretly felt a chill: "Dashiye is indeed kind, knowing to create an opportunity for me."

  He is indeed studying agriculture at a farm, planting rice, so let's copy out the poem "Tianjia"!

  Back home, Xiao Mantou was told to grind the ink and write: "Nan Shan once planted beans, scattered pods fell in the wind and rain. Empty-handed with a bundle of firewood, nothing to fill the cauldron."

  After the ink was dry, he folded it up, put it in an envelope and handed it to Xiaomantou, saying: "Tomorrow let Meili take it back, as for copying books, now time is short, next time I'll give it to her again!"

  After finishing dinner, Zhangsun Chong went to the nursery yard for rice seedlings. The seedlings had grown to about 6 cm tall and were a lush green color. In another five or six days, they could be transplanted. Indeed, following the instructions for cultivation, the seedlings grew very well without any pests or withering.

  Dazhu took Mei Li for a walk outside, making her laugh so hard that she was shaking all over. When they came back in the evening, Dazhu had one of Mei Li's handkerchiefs in his hand, it seemed like he had quite a harvest today!

  The next day, Mei Li brought back the poem written by Zhangsun Wuji to their home in Chang'an City.

  "Mei Li, how is Young Master doing at the villa?" asked Dou Shi hastily as soon as Mei Li returned.

  Mei Li smiled and took out an envelope containing a poem written by Zhangsun, saying: "The young master is doing well at the farm, just got a bit darker, but he's also more robust. This is a poem written by the young master, please take a look, madam."

  Dong took it out and read it carefully: "Nan Shan once planted beans..." Every word, every sentence seemed to reveal the busy farmer who had worked hard for a year but only harvested some bean pods without any grain to cook, living in poverty with no hope, destined to starve to death.

  Duan's wife was unknowingly shedding tears, just as Zhangsun Wuji arrived at Duan's courtyard and saw from the window that she was in distress and weeping.

  Apart from that unfilial son, Changsun Wuji did not know why the lady would be crying and said: "Lady, why are you facing the window, secretly grieving? Has that little rabbit's bastard done something wrong again at the villa?"

  Dugu saw Zhangsun Wuji coming in, and hastily wiped away her tears, turning to smile, scolding: "If Chong'er is a little rabbit, then what are you?"

  Chang Sun Wu was feeling depressed, ever since he had a son, his position as a husband in his wife's heart had declined.

  "I'm so angry! Just you wait and see how I'll teach that little rascal a lesson!" Zhang Sun was furious, his son had learned well, but... the prodigal son returns, it's hard!

  Dong Shi shook her head, patted Zhangsun Wuji's chest and scolded: "I'm not sad because of Chong'er, but because I saw the poem written by Chong'er! I heard Mei Li say that my son learned from the old farmer how to plow the field, cultivate rice, and personally experience the life of a farmer, and wrote such simple and touching poem."

  Chang Sun Wuji was half-believing and half-doubting, took a look, widened his eyes, and said: "Good poem! No wonder the lady would shed tears, I also feel heartbroken after reading it. When we followed the previous emperor to rebel, it was because we hoped that the people of the world would no longer suffer from war and live a good life. But year after year of drought and disaster, the court is overwhelmed, and I don't know when the people can live in peace and happiness."

  "Sir, don't worry, the Emperor is wise and the ministers are diligent. The people will definitely live a good life. Look, even our useless son has started to care about the country's affairs, our Great Tang has hope." Madam Dou said with relief.

  Changsun Wuji was greatly encouraged at this moment, he was straightforward and ambitious, naturally having a great desire to make a big show. Previously, following the Holy One on eastern and western expeditions, although he was cleverer than others, he was not good at marching and fighting. Fortunately, he had always been loyal to the current Holy One, and being a relative, the Holy One had always held him in high esteem.

  He is not good at marching and fighting, but governing the country and bringing peace to the nation is his strong suit. He must make efforts on his own to live up to the emperor's trust and favor.

  "Hmm, in five more days, it's the Double Ninth Festival, and I can take a day off. I'll ask His Majesty for another day off, and my wife and I will go see how our son is doing as a farmer, and how he came up with such good poetry." Changsun Wuji felt deeply delighted, carefully putting the poem in his pocket.

  Chang Sun Wuji had high hopes for this son and naturally wanted to see his transformation with his own eyes.