Chapter 704: The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor
Chapter 704: A Distinguished Guest Arrives at Shen Ji's Door (1)
Master Liu found it amusing and teased, “Others treasure their sons like jewels, but you’ve turned your daughter into a gem!”
Han Zhiyun, adjusting the blanket around his one-year-old daughter with tenderness, said, “A daughter can only enjoy the comfort of her parents’ knees for a short time. Naturally, we want to cherish her as much as we can!”
The sentiment resonated with the other two fathers present. While many might place more importance on sons, they didn’t share that view. In their perspective, a daughter is far more precious than a son, who often just brings trouble, whereas a daughter is a source of warmth and affection.
Han Zhiyun glanced at Mo Qingze and Mo Yan and continued, “Seeing Brother Zi Yu and Miss Yan, I realize I’ve missed out on the joys of raising a daughter. Since the older one is beyond help, at least I have a younger one. If she turns out to be as filial as Miss Yan, I wouldn’t trade her for ten sons.”
It seemed that Han Zhiyun was inspired by Mo Yan and her father. He appeared to genuinely aspire to be a model father and to raise a model daughter.
Everyone enjoys compliments, but being praised in such a way by Han Zhiyun made Mo Yan and her father a bit embarrassed. They modestly thanked him and invited him inside. By late October, the weather was already freezing cold.
This time, Han Zhiyun had also passed the imperial examination, placing notably higher than Mo Qingze, at 44th. Since his exam results were usually not as good as Mo Qingze’s, he asked Mo Qingze the same question Master Liu had.
Mo Qingze attributed his lower ranking to nerves affecting his performance. Han Zhiyun, though skeptical, chose not to press further.
Knowing that Mo’s family had received distinguished guests, the villagers refrained from crowding inside and instead chatted and laughed among themselves in the yard. They greeted each other courteously whenever they met.
Although the Liu and Han families were not quite accustomed to the rough, enthusiastic welcome from the villagers, they responded politely. They noted that the villagers spoke highly of Mo’s family and felt that Liu Yang Village was remarkably simple and sincere, not at all like a makeshift village assembled from various places.
Soon, under Yang Bao’s invitation, village heads from four or five nearby villages came with gifts to congratulate Mo’s family. Even though these gifts were modest—a bag of candy or a box of snacks—they were the most respectable presents they could offer.
Mo Yan and her father were not at all dismissive of the modest gifts and courteously welcomed them into a small guest room they had temporarily set up. They served fine tea and water, with Yang Bao accompanying them.
“How about it? Was my suggestion correct?” After the father and daughter left, Yang Bao closed the door and said smugly to the other village heads.
The village heads exchanged glances and still seemed reluctant, “The County Princess and Scholar Mo are indeed kind and benevolent. Since that’s the case, they’ll support the construction of the school wherever it’s built. Why must it be in Liu Yang Village?”
If they could have the school built in their own villages, it would greatly benefit their communities, so why should they give up on such an opportunity?
Yang Bao shot them a stern look and declared loudly, “Just because the County Princess and Scholar Mo are from Liu Yang Village, the school must be built here. Only in this way can we secure the most support from the Mo family! Besides, Liu Yang Village has good feng shui. Building the school here will benefit the students. What can your villages offer in comparison?”
The other village heads fell silent.
Before the refugees settled in, Liu Yang Village was the smallest and poorest among the villages. After over a hundred households moved in, it became the largest village, yet it was still the poorest compared to others.
(The End of this Chapter)
TRANSLATION COMPLETED To Read advance Chapters, Please read it on Patreon or Ko-fi. Your support helps us continue bringing you great content!
►►CLICK HERE FOR LISTS OF CHAPTERS◄◄
No comments: