Miss and farmhand

The Huang family never skimped on their guests, providing food and lodging. They even prepared a side room near the kitchen for Master Zhao and his apprentice to stay in, and it would take quite some time to finish the painting and decorating.

As night fell, the courtyard fell silent, with a few starlight lanterns hidden behind the window railings, as if the lights themselves were whispering secrets.

The apprentice brought water in from the kitchen to soak his master's feet. Master Zhao sighed contentedly and said, "Did you remember what I told you?"

The apprentice muttered something and tidied up his own shop, merely responding without expressing any opinion.

What Master Zhao disliked most about him was his taciturn temperament. He couldn't say a kind word and was like a block of wood all day long. Even when he was given the benefits, he didn't know how to flatter or be grateful to his master.

He kicked, splashing the foot-washing water onto his apprentice's back, soaking the entire piece of cloth. In the early spring chill, it suddenly felt icy cold.

"Two firewood deliverymen in the kitchen also said this family is strange; they can't have a son, and they don't take concubines. A house full of women, but only one man. Isn't that ridiculous? But rich families are strange all the time; we'll just observe and not comment. The important thing is that you must seize this opportunity these next few months. Your master isn't asking you to do anything illegal. If the nobleman likes you, just be obedient, do whatever he asks, and please him. For a family like that, keeping one or two workers like us is a piece of cake. The garden doesn't need anyone to look after it, right? With this job, your master can retire comfortably, and you can graduate. Don't you think so?"

Master Zhao's words were as eloquent as a theatrical performance. He was self-consistent, placing himself in a very low position, just trying to make a living and enjoy his old age.

After soaking his feet, he slipped on his cloth shoes and went to bed. His apprentice poured him the foot-washing water as usual, without seeming to complain.

What complaints could he possibly have? In the end, he still benefited much more from this.

Master Zhao recalled Huang Chu's appearance during the day. He prided himself on being worldly-wise and familiar with the customs of wealthy families. An unmarried girl so openly meeting men from outside the family. He'd heard she was seventeen and still unmarried. After all, she was a childless, sonless family; he knew the rules better than him.

He actually felt a sense of mockery and disdain, as if what use was the magnificent garden built by the Huang family, who couldn't produce a son? In his eyes, it was nothing more than a piece of fat meat. If he were ten years younger, this wonderful opportunity wouldn't have fallen to his blockhead apprentice; he could have taken care of it himself.

The young lady, Huang, was a bit older, but she didn't act like a pampered young lady who had always been confined upstairs. She was quite bold, and when she spoke to him, she sounded more like a mature woman, very considerate...

Could it be that she prefers these rough, working men, which is why she hasn't married yet? But the matter of two pens is enough for her to come and return them in person. Perhaps giving the pens is just an excuse, and her real purpose is to strike up a conversation with him.

Master Zhao's dark, thin chest bulged as he fantasized about a discerning young lady from a wealthy family who would recognize his talent and appreciate his abilities. She would send him money and connections to help him escape his artisan status, perhaps by making him a shopkeeper or recommending him to the capital as an official craftsman. From then on, he would be rich and powerful, surrounded by wives and concubines...

He was half-asleep, his eyes half-closed, humming happily in his sleep.

When the apprentice returned with the water, he saw his appearance, his eyes darkened, and he finally turned off the light and went to bed wearing his still damp and cold clothes.

……

Huang Chu couldn't sleep well that night; the shock of reuniting with the man during the day was too great.

She couldn't remember if in her past life a man and his master had come to work at her house.

I have absolutely no recollection of it.

In her previous life, at this time she was busy taking care of her mother and entertaining Luo San who came to the house. She had only visited the central part of the garden and had never been to the covered walkway.

She then thought of the marriage certificate between the man and her. The master's surname was Zhao, but the man's surname on the marriage certificate was Huang. How could this be?

When the man married her, he was no longer working for Master Zhao. Huang Chu vaguely knew that he owned a shop at the dock, dealing in seafood, and was very wealthy.

It's only four years from now.

What happened in these four years that has changed so much?

But it doesn't seem like a bad thing.

Huang Chu was determined not to let anything happen to his parents in this life, and not to let himself be sold again. So the man could continue on the path he had taken in his previous life. No matter what happened, he would be the head manager in four years, rich and powerful. As long as she wasn't there, he wouldn't buy any luminous pearls, much less lose his life because of them.

There would be no cause and effect between them, and she would no longer owe him anything.

Having made up his mind, Huang Chu still couldn't sleep soundly.

She seemed to be dreaming.

The dream began with a man's face, which terrified Huang Chu. She thought her rebirth had only lasted a day, and she had returned to her previous life. Then she quickly remembered that the man from her previous life was dead. She then found herself in a corner of her father's garden. The man seemed not to see her, walking straight past her with a limp. Huang Chu looked down at his leg and saw that his entire instep was swollen. There was no color in the dream, but Huang Chu instinctively feared that deep shadow, feeling that the man was badly injured. She panicked, wanting to reach out and pull the man to find a doctor for him, but as soon as she reached out, she woke up.

She spent the entire morning recalling the dream. For no particular reason, she was simply convinced that it was about a time in her past life when the man worked at her house, and that the man couldn't see her in the dream because she wasn't actually there.

The man's foot isn't injured yet. Will he ever get injured again in his life?

Huang Chu felt a pang in her heart.

Because there were guests at home, Huang Chu could no longer be allowed to bring breakfast to her room; she had to go down to the main hall to entertain the guests. However, only Huang Chu and Luo San arrived.

Luo San asked, "Why don't I see your master?" Mama He replied with a smile, "Master is having dinner with Madam in her room."

It seems yesterday's talks went well. At least if Dad takes the initiative to avoid suspicion, Luo San can't possibly be so eager for the male head of the household to come and keep her company.

Sure enough, Miss Luo's expression stiffened.

Huang Chu felt that He's mother was sitting exceptionally straight today, even with a hint of swagger.

She coughed, reminding Mrs. He to tone it down, then offered to accompany her aunt for a stroll in the garden. Luo San naturally agreed, otherwise he would have nothing else to do.

Huang Chu knew she was just using Luo San as a cover, hoping to catch another glimpse of the man in the garden, and she was constantly worried that something might have happened to him. But she couldn't admit it. They had agreed they were no longer related, and the man wasn't reborn like her with his previous memories; she was starting to suspect she was meddling.

While accompanying Luo San on a stroll through the garden, they didn't reach the covered walkway. The two wandered through the garden, making it difficult to see what was happening on the other side of the walkway.

"Mother," Luo San asked, pointing to a path, "what's behind this?"

"The mountain is behind us, and the academy is on the mountainside. This is the back gate. There wasn't one originally, but when Father was building the garden, he said it was connected so that he could come back to see Mother whenever he wanted, instead of having to take a detour from the front."

"Oh." Luo San stood at the intersection and stopped, looking at the nearby flowers and plants, and walked closer and closer to the back door.

Huang Chu couldn't help but say, "Aunt, let's not go that way."

"What's wrong? I haven't run into anyone again."

"It's impossible to meet him. Father hasn't been to the academy these past few days either; he's been keeping Mother company while she recovers from her illness."

Luo San snapped a sprig of orchid in half, glancing at Huang Chu. Huang Chu, unfazed by her gaze, continued to smile.

"What will happen to the students if your father doesn't go to the academy?"

"Isn't there also Uncle? The students like Uncle more. They say that Father always gets carried away when he's lecturing, rambling on about trivial matters. Uncle is much more down-to-earth, and you can learn real things from him."

"Is that so?" Luo San had no idea.

She met Master Huang yesterday, but had no recollection of him at all. She only felt that he was a rigid and silent man, and that he was like her shadow when he was with the shrewd and sophisticated Shen Yurui.

"That's right. Mother also said that Uncle is much more reliable, and you can learn real skills from him."

"Fine, you're talking behind my back. I'll tell the master later!"

A clear voice rang out from the end of the road.

Huang Chu was shocked again.

She turned around and stared at the man walking in through the back door, holding several scrolls in his hands, his face beaming with smiles.

"Why aren't you calling out to anyone? Are you just standing there? Whose guests are these? Why aren't you introducing them?"

The man's tone was affectionate but not excessive; his demeanor and tone were natural and open, as if it were the same as always.

Huang Chu's lips trembled, but he finally called out, "...Senior Brother Zhu."

The person who came was Zhu Xiaoxu, with whom she had a marriage agreement in a previous life, but ultimately missed her chance.