The Farm Girl and the Executioner (Rebirth) 85

Chapter 85: Washing Clothes by the Stream

After washing the clothes, Jiang Huaizhen went to hang them up to dry.

Lin Shuang swallowed the steamed bun in a few bites, nimbly packed up her things, and the two of them, with Old Madam Jiang and Ping’er, got on the carriage and rushed back to the village.

The house in the city, they could come and stay whenever they were in the city.

They had fields and land at home, and the piglets in the pen were fattening up. If they missed a meal, they would oink and squeal. And there were the chickens and rabbits, which couldn’t be left alone for a moment. And she had to go back and prepare for the medicine field.

It was already more than a month after the White Dew, and if they didn’t plant the few mu of medicine field soon, they would miss the farming season.

As for the medicine seedlings, she had already thought about it. A part of them would mainly be from wild seedlings. She would go up the mountain to dig up wild seedlings, such as coptis and gastrodia, and transplant them to the medicine field.

The other part would have to be bought from a seed shop.

In some prefectures and counties, some medicine markets and medicine gangs had “seed shops” that specialized in medicinal herb seeds and seedlings from the north and south. There was no such seed shop in the prefectural city, but there was one in Yinzhou. She would have to find time to go and take a look.

After the first batch of medicinal herbs was planted, if they produced seeds, they could select the good ones for the next season.

Since the beginning of this year, she and Jiang Huaizhen had reclaimed four mu of wasteland one after another, plus the previous one mu of dry land. These lands could all be used to plant medicinal herbs.

According to the government’s policy, newly reclaimed land was tax-free for three years. Ordinary medicine fields and farmland had the same tax rate, and they just had to report it truthfully.

Before returning to the village, the two of them went to the blacksmith’s shop to buy an iron plow.

Jing Lei’s hoof had long since healed and was just right for use.

After they got home, Jiang Huaizhen quickly installed the iron plow and led Jing Lei down to the fields.

Old Madam Jiang thought of the words she had said to her in the morning and, after holding it in for two days, she finally couldn’t help it.

“You don’t even rest when you get back. Even a donkey is not as diligent as you.”

Lin Shuang covered her mouth and snickered.

She was also a diligent person. Seeing this person go down to the fields, she also carried a foot plow and a hoe and followed her to the fields.

Ping’er went crazy as soon as she returned to the village. After cutting the pig grass with the old woman, she ran out of the valley, either to find Dongzhi or Dahua and Xiaohua. Now, no one in the village dared to provoke her, so there was no need to worry.

But the old woman had told her that she had to come back for lunch and was not allowed to have a free meal at someone else’s house.

As for dinner, there was no need to say. Because as long as Lin Shuang was at home, dinner would definitely be sumptuous. The little girl was now growing like a weed and couldn’t resist her cravings and hunger. She would run back to wait for dinner before it was time.

The valley was surrounded by mountains on three sides, and the flat land was about twenty mu. The four mu that had been reclaimed this year, plus the previous three mu, was only seven mu.

These newly reclaimed places had been overgrown with wild grass before. Although they had been cleared when the land was reclaimed, the root systems underground were well-developed. For the first plowing, the grass roots that were turned up had to be scraped together and burned as fertilizer.

Jiang Huaizhen was walking in the fields with her pant legs rolled up, revealing a pair of fair ankles. Jing Lei was walking in front, and the copper bell on his neck was tinkling. The newly reclaimed wasteland still smelled of grass. In the soil layer turned over by the iron plow, the cogon grass roots were as tangled as a spider’s web.

Wherever the man and the horse, with the iron plow, passed, a few fat grasshoppers would occasionally be startled and would jump into the grass.

And there were the corners that the ox could not plow, which had to be plowed with a foot plow. Lin Shuang was in charge of these.

“Huaizhen,” Lin Shuang straightened up and wiped her sweat. “The room we were going to build for Ping’er, I was thinking that the child is still small. Why don’t we expand it into two large rooms? We can use them for drying and processing medicinal herbs in the future.”

The plowshare hit a rock with a “clunk,” and Jiang Huaizhen stopped.

She took off her conical hat and fanned herself, revealing her slightly flushed face from the sun. “Should we hire someone to help?”

“We have to,” Lin Shuang said, leaning on the foot plow to catch her breath. “When this batch of medicinal herbs in the fields is planted, we’ll find someone to start work.”

“Alright.”

Jiang Huaizhen agreed, and the plowshare plunged into the soil again.

Jing Lei snorted, and the copper bell began to tinkle again.

After plowing for over one mu, the two of them sat on the ridge of the field to rest.

Jiang Huaizhen was drinking water from a bamboo tube and suddenly said, “It’s autumn now, and there are more and more merchants on the official road. We’re not selling flatbreads there anymore. Should we ask Uncle Liu… or maybe the Zhao family if they want to sell sauce flatbreads?”

Hearing her suddenly mention Old Man Liu from the tea shed on the official road, and also the Zhao family, Lin Shuang’s hand, which was wiping her sweat, paused.

She quickly suppressed the slight tremor in her heart and gave her a soft smile. “Alright. When we’re done plowing, we’ll go to Zhoutoupo.”

She knew that Jiang Huaizhen was thinking of the girl named Zhao Mei’er.

She had thought that this matter had been over for a long time, but she didn’t expect that she still remembered.

She even thought of helping that family.

Whether Zhao Mei’er deserved to die or not, Jiang Huaizhen could not control or judge, but it was indeed she who had carried out the sentence.

Before that, she might not have had much of a burden about the execution, because after she had entered this profession, she could only believe in the justice of the law. As long as it was a case judged by the Ministry of Justice, she was responsible for the beheading.

Once the balance in her heart was tilted, it was difficult to be calm.

Lin Shuang looked at the rolling mountains in the distance and suddenly realized that since her rebirth, she had only been rushing forward. Selling flatbreads, selling dolls, buying a house, and managing her connections, she had forgotten that there was still a stone in the heart of the person beside her.

Jiang Huaizhen had always been like this, cool and aloof on the surface, but softer than anyone else in her heart.

Just like back then, it was this same softness that had saved her for two lifetimes.

…

It took them three days to tidy up the few mu of dry land.

Deep plowing and exposing the soil to the sun, the qi of heaven and earth would mix, and then the good grain would grow.

This was not like the north, where the land had to be planted immediately after deep plowing. This period of time was just enough for them to prepare the medicine seeds and seedlings.

Lin Shuang had promised Jiang Huaizhen that after they had finished plowing, they would rest for a night and then go to the official road to find Old Man Liu.

But who knew that Jiang Huaizhen would get her period in the middle of the night? Lin Shuang felt sorry for her and told her to rest well and not to go with her. She got up in the morning, took Ping’er with her, and rode her horse to Zhoutoupo.

Seeing Lin Shuang, Old Man Liu was overjoyed and ran out of the tea shed to greet her. “Girl, are you here to set up your stall?”

“Where’s Little Jiang? Why isn’t she with you?” Before she could answer, he slapped his thigh. “You don’t know, Little Jiang’s reputation is so great now. The story of you saving people during the flood has already spread throughout Changping County. There are not many people in our surrounding villages who don’t know Little Jiang now.”

With that, he went from Little Jiang to the sauce flatbreads. “For the past half a year, many passing merchants have asked me why the sauce flatbread stall is gone. I told them that it would only be back in the autumn. Now it’s good. I’ve finally been waiting for you.”

Lin Shuang was at a loss for words at this string of words. Just as she was about to speak, Ping’er poked her head out from behind her. “Grandpa, the roof of this tea shed is leaking!”

The little girl pointed to the bright hole in the thatched roof.

“Cough, I was just planning to mend the roof in a couple of days,” Old Man Liu said with a smile, stroking his beard.

Only then did Lin Shuang answer his question from just now. “We’re busy at home. I’m afraid we can’t take care of the official road.”

Old Man Liu was stunned for a moment. When he understood what she was saying, he said anxiously, “How can you not take care of it? Those flatbreads are so delicious. It would be a pity if you don’t make them.”

Seeing that there was no one in the shop, Lin Shuang asked, “Uncle Liu, is there anyone in Mei’er’s family who wants to make this flatbread?”

Hearing this, Old Man Liu’s heart skipped a beat, and he quickly said, “Girl, you’re not thinking of giving this business to Mei’er’s family, are you?”

Seeing Lin Shuang nod, the old man’s eyes suddenly reddened, and he turned and wiped his face with his sleeve.

But he was also worried. “If we knew how to make your flatbreads, we would have made them long ago. To be honest with you, at the beginning of the year, a few families saw that you hadn’t come and also tried to set up a stall here, also selling sauce flatbreads. Unfortunately, many people came with high hopes but left disappointed. They only sold a few a day, and they left after a few days.”

Seeing his reaction, Lin Shuang quickly said, “As long as they are willing to do it, they can get the sauce and oil pastry from us. They can also use our frying pan from before. With our sauce and that frying pan, I guarantee that the taste will be exactly the same.”

Hearing this, a pool of tears gathered in Old Man Liu’s cloudy eyes, and he thanked her repeatedly.

And hearing her words, which only mentioned Zhao Mei’er’s family, he also understood that they wanted to help Mei’er’s family, so he told her about Mei’er’s family matters.

“That child… that child has a bitter fate… her mother has been sick for many years, coughing up blood. Her father carries large bags at the Li family’s dam, and his back is almost broken at the end of the day… she also has a younger brother and a younger sister. The younger brother was sold to a wealthy family as a study companion, and the younger sister is now twelve years old and is a diligent child… if you’re really willing to help, my old sister can bring her granddaughter to kowtow to you tonight!”

“That’s not necessary,” Lin Shuang said. “Please just help me tell them. If they decide to do this, they can just go to Whitewater Village to find us when they have time.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll remember. When my son comes over tonight, I’ll have him go and tell my old sister.”

After bidding him farewell, Lin Shuang went to the city again, planning to tell Lu Erqiao and Wang Zhimei about this. They were both in the sauce flatbread business. If she didn’t greet them in advance, and they found out on their own one day, they might be unhappy.

Lu Erqiao smiled. “Zhoutoupo is far from us. They’re doing business with the passing merchants. We won’t clash. Just go ahead and do it. Why do you have to make a special trip?”

Lin Shuang: “I still have to say it. We’re in business. We have to discuss everything. We can’t have any misunderstandings.”

“You, alright. I know about this. You don’t have to run around. I’ll tell Zhimei later.”

“Then I’ll have to trouble you, Auntie.”

“Where’s Huaizhen? You two are always together. Why isn’t she here today?”

“She’s on her period. I didn’t let her come with me.”

Lu Erqiao understood instantly and smiled. “Women have this trouble. Let her rest well.”

With that, she lowered her head and asked Ping’er, “Does Ping’er want a flatbread? How about Auntie makes you one to take back?”

Ping’er was not so shy this time and said in a low voice, “I want one. Thank you, Auntie.”

She couldn’t eat much, and the few people left at home didn’t have much of an appetite for sauce flatbreads now. She wanted to take it back and share it with her little friends.

“Oh, oh, oh, this child is so good. Auntie will make it for you now.”

After getting the flatbreads, Lin Shuang bid farewell to Lu Erqiao, took Ping’er on her horse, and returned home.

When she got home, she heard from the old woman that Jiang Huaizhen had gone to the stream to wash clothes. After feeding the horse, she hurried over.

Sure enough, she saw a plain white figure from a distance, sitting on a rock and pounding clothes. Her black hair was loosely tied up with a wooden hairpin, and a few strands of hair were lifted by the mountain wind, like the brushstrokes of a watercolor painting.

Lin Shuang walked up and squatted in front of her, opening her hands.

Jiang Huaizhen looked up at her, smiled, and then obediently placed the mallet in her hand.

Lin Shuang glared at her. “You’re still so restless when you’re on your period.”

The corners of Jiang Huaizhen’s lips curled up slightly, and she didn’t refute. She bent down and scooped some water from the stream to rinse her hands.

She didn’t ask Lin Shuang about Zhao Mei’er’s family’s flatbread business. Lin Shuang was a reliable person. No matter what, there would be no mistakes in her hands.

She stood up and stretched lazily.

The stream was clear and reflected her stretched figure. Her long, slender legs were hidden under the coarse cloth skirt, and then up to her flat abdomen, and then up to her full chest, creating a perfect figure.

Lin Shuang was pounding the clothes, and her gaze couldn’t help but sweep over her a few more times.

She couldn’t help but feel a sense of satisfaction and pride.

Because such a perfect person was hers. These few nights, they had slept in the same bed, their ears and temples rubbing together, and she had lingered on this body.

No one could snatch her away.

“When I have time later, I’ll build a small pavilion here. When we wash clothes here next time, we won’t have to worry about the sun or the rain,” Jiang Huaizhen said.

Lin Shuang thought this was a good idea. “You can just build it. I’ll support you with real money.”

Perhaps it was because of the sun, the shade, and the cool breeze, but Jiang Huaizhen was in a very relaxed mood and rarely talked back to her. “No. There are plenty of pine and bluestone on the mountain.”

Lin Shuang said, “Don’t you have to buy tiles?”

“We’ll build a thatched pavilion,” Jiang Huaizhen said. “I don’t want your stinky money.”

Lin Shuang narrowed her eyes and said to her, “Alright, you. You even dare to dislike silver. You’ve grown some guts, haven’t you?”

With that, she threw down the clothes in her hand, stood up, and went to grab her.

Seeing this, Jiang Huaizhen turned to run.

Lin Shuang had no intention of letting her go and ran after her.

Jiang Huaizhen only ran a few steps and then stopped, turned around, and Lin Shuang bumped into her arms.

She immediately hugged her waist tightly.

“Why did you stop running?” Lin Shuang tightened her arms, wishing she could rub her into her own body.

Jiang Huaizhen looked down at her. “I was afraid you couldn’t catch up and would cry.”

“I wouldn’t cry,” Lin Shuang hummed.

She looked up and went to kiss her.

Jiang Huaizhen looked around and, seeing no one, she lowered her head slightly and gave her a light peck on the lips.

Lin Shuang’s heart’s dandelions, with this kiss, suddenly scattered all over the sky.

She called out in a voice soft and syrupy, “Jiang Huaizhen…”

Jiang Huaizhen pressed her forehead against hers and rubbed it hard. “I’m here.”

Lin Shuang pecked her on the chin, then let go and turned to continue to wash the clothes.