Ch. 196..200: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 196-200

Chapter 196: Chapter 196: Wishful Thinking (4)_1

Having said that, she started crying again.

"What troubles are there? We can’t let formalities stand in the way. We’re all family after all, no need for such courtesy. Also, take some fruits back." Ma Dalang personally separated some of the candies and sweets that he had brought back and crammed them into the basket on the table.

Mrs. Yan, watching this unfold, felt heartbroken. Just as she was about to speak up, Ma Dalang immediately glared fiercely at her.

Mrs. Yan pouted, reluctantly taking out half a jin of meat from the kitchen and tossing it into the basket.

"Little sister, we have many mouths to feed in our family, so please bear with us." She said to Mrs. Bao with a sarcastic smile.

Mrs. Bao pretend not to care about her attitude, now that she had what she wanted, "Thank you, brother and sister-in-law, this is more than enough for the three of us."

Hearing that, she got up from the floor and wiped her face with her hand, then picked up the basket and cradled it in her arms.

"You should head home. Once we’ve made the sugar cakes tonight, we’ll send a piece over." Ma Dalang said loudly, as if fearing the neighbors might not hear.

"Thank you, sister-in-law and brother." Only then did Mrs. Bao leave cheerfully, carrying the basket.

"Why did you give her so much?" As soon as Mrs. Bao left, Mrs. Yan couldn’t hold back any longer, and started berating Ma Dalang outright.

"What do you know, woman’s point of view." Ma Dalang glared back at her and without looking back, headed into the room on the left to find Ma Zhicai.

Mrs. Yan muttered and cursed under her breath and grudgingly began to prepare dinner, cursing Mrs. Bao all the while.

When Master Hui Zhen arrived at the Lin household with seven or eight martial monks, the family was busy making sugar cakes and stuffed pastries.

"Little girl, give some to this old monk." Having tasted a bite of pork pie, Master Hui Zhen still wanted more.

"Don’t worry, I have prepared for you guys." Lin Ziyin laughed and distributed the meat pies to the martial monks.

The monks thanked her with a hearty laugh and without any manner started eating what they got, "This is way better than what we have at the temple."

"You lot are just too greedy. The food at the temple has improved so much in comparison to the past, yet you guys are still not satisfied" Master Hui Zhen scolded them half-seriously.

"Amitabha, it’s all thanks to the benefaction of Lin Sir." A little monk said with his mouth packed full of food, shaking his head from side to side.

"Little girl, in a few days, I’ll send you a couple of people to guard the house." Master Hui Zhen was brief in his conversation and the main intention of his visit was to do a favor to Lin Ziyin.

"Guards?" Lin Ziyin looked at him, baffled.

"Monks, Jue Xin, Jue Ming, Jue Wu, and Jue Hui, were all secular disciples at my temple, originally they were orphans I had taken in. Any day now, they should leave the mountain, I will then send them to you." Master Hui Zhen said, casually, while eating a roasted chicken then as if remembering something, he vigorously wiped his right hand on the kitchen towel, then pulled out several sheets of paper from his clothes and handed them to Lin Ziyin, "That’s their indenture. Little girl, I’m warning you, you must treat them well."

There’s even an indenture? Lin Ziyin was surprised as she accepted the papers. When she looked, it really was an indenture.

"You laypeople always have so many tricks up your sleeves and always think too much about others. Monks Jue Ming and others were afraid you might overthink things, so they proactively drew up an indenture for you. This way, you won’t have to second-guess in the future." Master Hui Zhen shook his head as he explained.

Lin Ziyin did not mind his nagging, that’s right, she was a layperson and to be reassured of their services in the future, she liked holding onto their indenture.

"Master, to repay your kindness, I’ll give you another gift." Lin Ziyin said with a glowing smile.

"What else are you hiding? Just bring them all out." Master Hui Zhen glared at her contemptuously.

With a faint smile, Lin Ziyin explained her plan to set up some warm sheds, "The temple has many monks and they follow a vegetarian diet. If you all also set up a few warm sheds, you will have more than enough to eat during winter."

Chapter 197: Chapter 197: Wishful Thinking (5)_1

"You’re too cunning, you little thing!" Master Hui Zhen gave her another glare, "You waited until today to tell me such good news. If it wasn’t for me bringing you people, were you not going to tell me at all?"

"That’s correct, the method I taught you to make the greenhouse in the monastery, you cannot divulge to outsiders. I still count on making money from the greenhouses." Lin Ziyin was not afraid of him, answering with a bright smile.

"The ordained ones live with emptiness, the monastery will never divulge." Master Hui Zhen guaranteed, taking a big bite of the roast chicken.

Indeed, two days later, the folks of Jue Ming from the monastery showed up at Lin Family’s place in layman’s clothes. They told Lin Ziyin that even the monastery had asked for a favor from Prince’s Tomb and obtained some oilcloth. They would come to learn in a couple of days.

Lin Ziyin arranged for them in a courtyard, feeling very excited. Now that there are four martial arts masters in the house, their safety is much more assured.

From then on, whenever Master Hui Zhen came to the Lin family, he received even more benefits.

"Ziyin, folks of the village asked me to inquire if you’re thinking of renting out your black lands?" The villagers asked Lin Changshu to enquire, but to their disappointment, Changshu seldom went out, so they had no chance to meet him. Therefore, after a group discussion, they directly summoned Lou Zheng.

Lou Zheng had also been pondering about the Lin family’s lands. In his view, the Lins had so much land that they would not be able to manage on their own. He was also willing to help gather information on behalf of the villagers. After all, as a village officer, it was his responsibility to hope for a better life for all the inhabitants of the village.

"I have plans for those lands, and I don’t intend to rent them out." To his surprise, Lin Ziyin directly rejected his kind gesture.

"Can your family manage all that land?" Lou Zheng asked in surprise.

"Yes, we can." Lin Ziyin responded with a smile, "I have my plans."

"Alright, as long as you’ve got plans. I was just trying to help out the villagers." Lou Zheng responded somewhat bitterly. Alas, the villagers were bound to be disappointed.

"By the way, after the beans have been harvested, I will need people to help in the fields. The wages will be calculated as before. I wonder if anyone is willing to help." As he was about to leave, Lin Ziyin gave him a glimmer of hope.

"Great, I’ll inform everyone right now." Lou Zheng, cheering up, immediately left.

Once they heard the news from Lou Zheng, the villagers were indeed disappointed. However, on hearing that the Lin family would still need manpower for farming, they cheered up again. That was fine too. After all, with so much land in their own village, relying solely on the Lin family for cultivation wouldn’t work. They would definitely have wages in the future.

In order to work for the Lin family for a few more days, all the villagers harvested their crops with all their might after the Mid-Autumn Festival. Meanwhile, Lin Ziyin was also not idle. She had already begun to have people apply oilcloth to the finished firewalls, with the bamboo frames in the field being hard to find items from the Northern Land.

Hei Yi and Hei Er dared not slack a bit and came to help, accumulating experience. The monastery also needed to learn the technique, so some of the martial monks came over to lend a hand.

With enough hands, the speed of the project picked up immediately.

"Zige, are you going to the fields to help again?" After a while, as everyone was almost done with their fields, seeing Lin Zige going towards the black land with a maid, they all greeted her with a smile.

Lin Zige responded with a smile as well.

She understood that things had changed. In the eyes of all the villagers, the Lin family had become an enticing piece of cake. But since they were all from the same village, Lin Zige never put on airs before everybody. Whenever someone initiated a friendly gesture, she was always eager to reciprocate.

Chapter 198: Chapter 198: Wishful Thinking (6)_1

"Everyone else in the house is busy, and there’s a lot to do in the fields. I’m going over to boil some water for everyone." Lin Zige answered with a smile.

"You really are capable." Someone joked with a hint of envy, "After today’s work in the fields is done, will Ziyin still need help?"

The biggest concern for villagers was having nothing to do after the busy farming period.

"Yes, Ziyin said that in a few days we’ll to start sowing, and we’ll need a lot of people to help." Lin Zige responded in her good-natured and patient manner.

"By October, the weather will be turning cold, what can be planted in the fields then?" someone asked, surprised.

"I don’t know." Lin Zige truthfully admitted, shaking her head.

She was as curious as the villagers about what Ziyin said about greenhouse cultivation and maintained a skeptical attitude.

"Ziyin is really capable!" Regardless of what he was growing, as long as Ling Wang Village and Ding’an Temple followed his lead, it must be something good. The entire village was practically convinced of this. Some even considered following Lin Family’s example, hoping to reap the benefits.

Lin Zige allowed the villagers to speculate, while she walked towards the wasteland with the maid.

Just when she was about to leave the village boundary, she ran into the one person she least wanted to see.

"Step aside." Seeing Ma Zhicai’s hypocritical face, Lin Zige felt a surge of anger. Taking into account the troubled relation between Lin Family and Ma Family, the maid beside Zige went on alert.

"I’ve already apologized. Although I was wrong, it’s not like we hate each other. We’re fellow villagers after all, can’t we at least nod hello?" Ma Zhicai put on a sincere tone.

Some villagers noticed Ma Zhicai greeting Lin Zige. Several onlookers arrived, attracted by the spectacle.

They clearly saw Ma Zhicai’s difficulty and heard his words. Even though many villagers didn’t like what Ma Zhicai, the only scholar of the village, had done in the past, many approved of his demeanor that day. Conversely, Lin Zige’s refusal to let the matter rest made some villagers criticize her.

As Ma Zhicai said, they were all fellow villagers. Without deep-seated grudges, it should suffice for one side to apologize and let the matter rest. Lin Zige was seen as petty in this respect.

"Master Tongsheng, you’ve already said hello, shouldn’t you step aside now?" Lin Zige impatiently stated, the contempt in her eyes clear for all to see.

"I’m sorry." Ma Zhicai looked extremely awkward, but he didn’t argue with Lin Zige, and hastily stepped aside to leave the road.

"Be careful." Just as Lin Zige and her maid walked forward with their basket, Ma Zhicai suddenly grabbed her arm and tried to pull her into his embrace.

"Let go of me, you beast." Lin Zige never expected that Ma Zhicai would dare to make a pass at her in broad daylight. She struggled vigorously, but Ma Zhicai held her arm tightly and wouldn’t let go.

"Mistress." The maid behind her also panicked. The villagers were even more scared and their tools rolled down the path.

There was a horse galloping down the path. Nobody knew what set it off, but it was racing towards them at quite a speed.

If Ma Zhicai hadn’t held Lin Zige, she would definitely have been hurt by the horse’s charge.

As the horse ran past, it kicked up a cloud of dust behind it.

"Slap." After the horse had passed, everyone snapped out of their shock, and a loud slap resounded throughout the place.

Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Wishful Thinking (7)_1

Everyone’s heads turned abruptly, and when they got a clear look at the deep print of a slap on Ma Zhicai’s face, they all sucked in a cold breath.

"Zige, I meant no harm, I just saw the horse get startled and wanted to save you," Ma Zhicai said with a grievance, rubbing his face where handprints were evident.

Lin Zige blushed furiously as she glared at him, "Who needs your help anyway? Everyone is here. If you hadn’t grabbed me, I would have gotten out of the way already. Do you think everyone is as wimpy as you?"

"I..." His sense of grievance deepened when he heard her words, "Zige, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I acted out of urgency earlier and treated you improperly. But don’t worry, I, Ma Zhicai, am responsible for my actions. Since I’ve compromised your innocence, I will certainly make matters right for you."

Innocence? This situation was becoming serious. Prompted by his words, everyone finally noticed Lin Zige’s disheveled appearance. As it turned out, in the forceful tussle earlier, one of Lin Zige’s sleeves had been torn and her arm was exposed.

Seeing everyone staring at her arm, Lin Zige immediately used her basket to cover herself, her eyes red with anger. She was both ashamed and furious, and wished she could murder Ma Zhicai to vent her anger.

Had that guy not clung onto her so desperately, how could her sleeve have been torn? This shameless rogue, truly a leopard never changes its spots, even resorting to such despicable tactics.

"Who asked for your explanation, stop pretending to care," Lin Zige threw her basket, no longer intending to work in the barren land, she turned around and left with the servant.

The servant girl silently followed behind her, filled with worry and guilt.

"Zige, I really didn’t mean to grab your arm. I will take responsibility for you," Ma Zhicai shouted after her retreating figure, utterly unconcerned about the injury on his own face.

Hearing his words, the villagers all wore peculiar expressions. Perhaps rural folks weren’t as concerned with propriety as the wealthy, but for unmarried girls, apart from their faces and hands, no other part would be exposed in public. And from how it looked just now, Lin Zige’s arm must have been touched by Ma Zhicai.

Physical contact between members of the opposite sex with no established relationship, this situation was escalating.

Watching Lin Zige hurry back home, none of the villagers felt like getting back to work.

Everyone was busy speculating, how would the Lin Family handle this matter? And what would be Wu Dayou’s reaction, being Lin Zige’s fiancé?

Would Wu Dayou back out of his engagement with Lin Zige and would the Lin Family once again consider an alliance with the Ma family?

A series of speculations stirred up the villagers, they couldn’t care less about their work in the fields, one after another, they followed Ma Zhicai back to the village to see the spectacle.

"Big sister, why are you back so soon?" Guo Huiniang had just come out from the backyard when she saw Lin Zige hurriedly returning home.

"Sister-in-law," Seeing her family, Lin Zige burst into tears.

"What happened?" Guo Huiniang panicking, noticing Lin Zige’s torn sleeve, which left her more frightened and confused. "Who bullied you outside?"

"Sister-in-law," Lin Zige just hugged her and wept, saying nothing.

Her crying brought all the women busy in the kitchen, everyone came out to see.

"What happened to her?"

"Zige, what on earth happened?"

"Who bullied you?"

...

Mrs. Bai and the others looked at her anxiously.

"Bring her inside first," The crying eventually drew the old master over, "Stay by her side, servant from Cui Family, go call Master Lin Changshu, Dayou, and Ziyin back home."

Being wiser for his years, the old master instantly guessed that something big must have happened. After carefully questioning the servant girl who was with Zige, about what happened on the road, he responded promptly.

Lin Changshu and Wu Dayou were busy at the oil mill. When they heard from a servant that something had happened to Zige, they were so scared that they rushed home without even changing their clothes.

Lin Ziyin, on the other hand, was busy on the other side of the Heihe, "The greenhouse must have an arc-shaped structure. Feng City is located in the Northern Land, where snowfall is heavy in winter. With an arc-shaped roof, it is easier to clean the snow, and it also has better load-bearing capacity, besides, it also makes the interior appear larger."

Manager Hei and the temple monks nodded their heads in agreement, as they followed Lin Ziyin in the work, they gained increasing confidence in greenhouse planting. Lin Ziyin explained every detail clearly, as the greenhouse construction progressed, they learned more about the common practices of greenhouse cultivation.

"In a few days, the chicks the lady ordered will be delivered." Manager Hei politely informed.

"Ding’an Temple does not raise chickens, you can contact the dung man to purchase and ferment the manure, and then use it as fertilizer," Lin Ziyin suggested, "You can also get the pig manure from the butcher who raises pigs."

"Amitabha." The monk clasped his hands in thanks.

"Miss, there’s been an accident." Recently, as Lin Ziyin had prohibited the servants from calling her ’miss’, everyone had changed their address.

"Speak slowly." Lin Ziyin frowned at the servant.

The one who came to report was Li Da. He was so out of breath from running all the way, that Lin Ziyin’s reproof finally calmed him down. After catching his breath, he reported the incident that occurred at home, giving a detailed account.

Upon hearing the report, Lin Ziyin’s face turned extremely grim. The Ma Family, they just wouldn’t give up, would they? Ma Zhicai was eloquent, promising to take responsibility for Zige? Wishful thinking!

Chapter 200: Chapter 200: The Showdown(1)_1

"Manager, Master, there is some trouble at home. I need to go back and check it out immediately. I am sorry." After hearing Kong Er’s words, Lin Ziyin greeted a few people around him and decided to go home immediately.

"Although it is a matter in the Miss’s family, since I am here, too, if the Miss doesn’t mind, I would like to go and see." Hei Yi, who was on the side, had naturally heard what Kong Er said. He had seen the eldest daughter of the Lin Family on several occasions. She was not flippant. According to the servants, it seemed like she had been set up. There were many instances of good people being wronged in the back courtyards of large households. As a butler, Hei Yi, even as a man, was somewhat acquainted with such matters.

Remembering the repeated instructions from Prince Ling and Si Jinhan not to let the Lin Family suffer any grievances, he immediately volunteered to step in.

"Butler, you are kind to be concerned. Please." Lin Ziyin did not refuse his goodwill.

Hei Yi was Prince Ling’s man, a well-known fact in the village. With him present, the Ma Family likely wouldn’t dare to cause a ruckus.

As it was a matter of ordinary people, it was not appropriate for the monks of the temple to get involved, let alone to go forward and gawk. Therefore, the martial monks of Ding’an Temple all stayed behind to continue working in the field.

Anxiously worried, Lin Ziyin rides the ox-cart and rushes home with Butler Hei.

"What, are you trying to beat a man to death? Without Zhicai, Zige would be dead." Before reaching the house, Lin Ziyin and his group heard the sharp voice of Yan Family’s lady, "You all saw clearly. It was our Zhicai who saved Lin Zige. How dare you beat him? This is unreasonable."

"I’ll beat you, you ill-intentioned wretch." Wu Dayou’s voice sounded even angrier.

"Hold Dayou back." Lin Changshu seemed more rational, but Lin Ziyin could still hear the anger in his voice.

"Everyone, stop!" At a crucial moment, it was the village elder who had the authority. The noise at the door seemed to diminish a bit.

At this time, Lin Ziyin also jumped down from the ox-cart and arrived at the front door.

Indeed, there was a big commotion at home, and it seemed like all the villagers had gathered. Many villagers were pointing at the Lin Family and commenting.

Lin Ziyin, with no patience to listen to everyone’s comments, squeezed through the crowd with a stern face and Butler Hei, "Excuse me, please make way."

Upon hearing his voice and seeing his unhappy face, along with Butler Hei’s intimidating stare, everyone was scared and immediately moved aside to give way.

Walking along the path cleared by the villagers to the doorway, Lin Ziyin finally saw what was going inside. Lin Zige was crying inconsolably, her eyes red and swollen, leaning against Guo Huiniang. Wu Dayou, wielding a practice stick, glared at Ma Zhicai who was trying to put on a pitiful face. Lin Changshu and Wu Dali, among others, trying to hold him back hard for fear of any mishap.

The Yan Family’s lady was throwing a tantrum on the ground, her face covered with tears and snot. To those who were unaware of the situation, it would seem like the Lin Family was bullying them.

"Ziyin, you are back just in time." Seeing Lin Ziyin, Ma Dalang immediately walked over, rubbing his hands, "The incident has happened. Zhicai had good intentions, but it turned into this. But don’t worry, we, the Ma family, are reasonable. Since Zhicai caught Zige’s arm, we definitely would not tarnish her reputation. We, the Ma family will take responsibility."

Knowing that Lin Ziyin was now holding the power in the Lin Family, the obsequious look on Ma Dalang’s face was unbearable for anyone to watch.

"Responsible for what?" Lin Ziyin asked with a cold laugh.

Stumped by her ridiculing question, Ma Dalang was taken aback. Her reaction was off, Lin Zige’s arm was touched by Zhicai. Many villagers had witnessed it. Could she be so unconcerned about it?