stingy landlady

Chapter 174 Li Shi Wants to Take a Concubine (3)

Xu Hong thought for a moment and said:

"Miss! Then I won't be going up the mountain this time. I'll arrange for someone to take care of things there! I'll go out and visit a few woodworking workshops. I'll check on the furniture makers in the county town and the prefectural city, as well as some traveling merchants!"

Only when someone places an order do we know the exact dimensions the wood should be cut into! This way, the woodworking workshop won't waste materials!

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, all the female workers will be given a holiday to go home for the Lantern Festival. On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, they will start work together with the newly recruited female workers!

Guizhi brought her two maids, Jixiang and Ruyi, with her this time. She left Jinxiu at home to look after the house and help Zhou Niangzi with chores, such as learning needlework or cooking. This way, Guizhi could keep track of the important and minor matters at home when she returned.

Ping An and Xi Le also went to Huanghua Village with Gui Zhi, because when Gui Zhi went out to run errands, the two of them could help drive the carriage or run errands.

Now that Zhou Niangzi's child, Zhou Yun, could be left alone, Old Man Zhou could help take care of the child. Guizhi had withdrawn the helpers, and Zhou Niangzi was busy at home again! Zhou Qiong was still with Li Shi, tidying up and playing with Guiling.

Xiahe continued to cook for the farmhands and helped manage the vegetable garden in the western depression.

Although Qiuju and Pan Qiang were busy working among the plants, they had relatively free time! They would hand over accounts and money to Li every day, or every other day when they were busy.

Chunlan continued to serve Dazhu's family. Occasionally, when Dazhu's family ate, Chunlan would also serve them food. Ever since Li Shi mentioned taking a concubine, Chunlan tried her best to avoid encountering Dazhu!

But the more she tried to avoid it, the more she couldn't. That day, Chunlan had just placed the food in the living room and turned to leave when Dazhu walked in. Well! A magnificent hug followed! And right in front of Li Shi.

"Hahaha! Chunlan, Chunlan! You always hide when the master comes in, but you couldn't hide this time, could you? Look, you even got a hug!"

Li laughed heartily, looking like she was enjoying the show!

Dazhu felt a soft mass bump into his arms, and upon closer inspection, he saw Chunlan blushing as she pushed him away, calling out:

"Madam! You're making fun of me again!"

He turned around and ran out!

That night, Dazhu was still savoring the feeling of holding Chunlan in his arms! Before he knew it, his body was reacting. He cursed himself inwardly and turned to embrace Li Shi! But he felt something was missing!

Recalling Chunlan's every little detail, Dazhu realized he had never paid attention to this woman before. Ever since Li reminded the two of the matter of taking a concubine, Dazhu's gaze had been unconsciously following Chunlan.

Whether intentional or unintentional, Chunlan bumped into Dazhu today! Dazhu deliberately held Chunlan for a while before letting go. Looking at Li Shi sleeping soundly beside him, still oblivious, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly! Alas! He didn't know if this woman was truly foolish or had ulterior motives!

Chunlan tossed and turned in the darkness, unable to sleep. She was a woman, and she had experienced married life! She had longed for men, but after being hurt by her husband, she unconsciously kept her distance from men, always afraid of being hurt again!

Chunlan had never harbored any romantic feelings for Dazhu before, but ever since Dazhu helped her resolve the troubles caused by Li Shi, Chunlan has unconsciously begun to pay attention to this gentle, kind, and understanding man!

Today, Dazhu held her for a while, but Chunlan still lingered in that warm and safe embrace! It wasn't until Madam Li burst into laughter that Chunlan realized this was Madam Li's man! Only then did she resolutely push Dazhu away and run out!

After that, the two would often bump into each other, intentionally or unintentionally, and they would talk to each other. Dazhu would always greet them with concern!

Chunlan felt that something was wrong with her! So, when Guizhi came home, Chunlan had a private talk with Guizhi.

Chunlan hesitated and said:

"Third Miss! I know I shouldn't tell you everything! But I don't know what to do?"

Guizhi asked with concern:

"What happened? Chunlan! Speak your mind, don't hold back!"

"Third Miss! Madam once approached me, wanting to take me as a concubine! I am an unlucky person, therefore I refused!"

Chunlan looked up at Guizhi as she spoke.

What's my dad's opinion?

Guizhi didn't know what to curse in her heart! This mother of hers! She's really living the good life, so idle she's practically throwing in a tantrum! Fine! She's still her own mother, so she can only curse her in her heart! If it were anyone else, she would have slapped her twice to bring her to her senses! She's just asking for trouble, isn't she stupid!

Chunlan said carefully:

"Master, the master has also rejected the madam!"

Guizhi breathed a sigh of relief after hearing this and said:

"Okay! I understand! Chunlan, what did you want to talk to me about today?"

Chunlan boldly said:

"Third Miss! I'm afraid of things going wrong and rumors spreading. I'm just a lowly servant, but I'm worried about the impact on Master and Madam!"

Third Miss! Please take me with you this time! I can do anything!

Guizhi had always known that Chunlan was adept at reading people's expressions and seizing opportunities; she was worried about unpleasant rumors spreading later. Fine! Since Madam Li is so free, let her keep busy!

Gui Zhi found the large pillar:

"Dad! I'm short-handed over there! My mother's free too, so I'll transfer Chunlan to Huanghua Village! Let her cook for herself. Anyway, none of us sisters are home, so it'll be easy to cook for just a few of you! Let Xiaoqiong look after Fourth Sister, she can lend a hand too!"

Dazhu also felt he was losing control of himself lately, constantly thinking about what Chunlan was doing, whether Li Shi would make things difficult for her, whether she was alone at the stove, and whether he could see her if he went there. He even wondered when he could give her another hug…

Dazhu was somewhat surprised to hear that Guizhi wanted to transfer Chunlan away, but then he understood. Chunlan must have sensed something and was afraid of trouble, so she wanted to avoid him. Oh well, let her go!

"Guizhi! Chunlan is a good woman! It's good to let her go with you! Your mother has been too idle lately! You two go, I'll go talk to her!"

Li was indifferent to cooking for her family. However, she was still somewhat anxious because she hadn't found a suitable girl to be Dazhu's concubine.

Every day, watching Wang Yifei's concubine apply makeup and dress up, I felt a little uneasy! I was afraid that Dazhu would also bring home such a beautiful and charming woman!

The ice had thawed in the blink of an eye! Having learned from experience, Dazhu no longer needed Guizhi to remind him and planted small green vegetables in both vegetable gardens and the vegetable patch on the east side early on!

I bought cow dung and spread it as fertilizer in the dry fields. I saved some wheat seeds before the New Year, and I plan to plant spring wheat early this year!

Li didn't have to work in the fields and was bored at home. Knowing that her family's farmhands were busy in the fields, she wanted to go and see what was going on! Zhou Qiong stopped her from going:

"Madam! You're pregnant! My mother says it's best not to go anywhere! Stay home and take good care of yourself! There are only working people outside, nothing much to see! It's just a bit crowded and noisy!"