Ch. 406..410: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 406-410

Chapter 406: Chapter 406 Wheat Harvest(4)_1

"I’ll go and report back immediately," Hong Ying replied, noticing her mistress’s frail condition. She asked cautiously, "Miss, are you feeling unwell?"

"I’m fine," Lin Ziyin shook her head, "I’m just thinking about something. Follow me over to the machinery and we’ll talk about it there."

Hong Ying nodded, going outside to beckon Lun Luo and Qiaoqiao. Together, they accompanied Lin Ziyin to the Machine Yard.

The Lin family owned harvesting machines. Even though the two machines were not as powerful as the modern ones, they were conspicuous in the ancient times, being small steam-powered harvesters.

"Miss, the machines are ready. We can start them now if you wish," Long Feishou, brimming with excitement, reported. He had a certain reputation in the Capital City. While he possessed some skills, they were rendered insignificant in front of truly talented individuals. What set him apart, however, was his prowess in stealing, unmatched by any.

The higher you climb, the harder you fall. Egged on by his peers, he audaciously attempted to steal the Nine Dragons Cup from Prince’s Residence. This reckless act led to his capture and consequently, his banishment to the Northern Land.

Initially, he thought his fate was sealed in the harsh Northern Land. But soon after his arrival, he was bought by Lin Ziyin. In the beginning, Long Feishou was no match for Qian Xuan’s knowledge or Jue Ming and Shaohui’s martial prowess. He struggled with farming as well and lived in constant fear of being sold to Border City should Lin Ziyin lose her temper.

Fortunately, Lin Ziyin started inventing a series of astonishing machinery. They required meticulous and skilled hands to repair and operate; making Long Feishou believe that they were custom-made for him.

Every time Lin Ziyin introduced a new machine, Long Feishou was able to operate it intuitively. Lin Ziyin even predicted that with training, he would excel in machinery.

Being essentially a man from the underworld, Long Feishou valued brotherhood. He was immensely grateful towards Lin Ziyin for recognizing and appreciating his skills. So much so that he spent most of his time immersed in machines out of his own volition.

Aside from harvesters, he could assemble from parts machines like tractors, plows, multi-functional sowing machines, etc., showcasing his talent.

Noticing his giftedness, Lin Ziyin promised to hire a few skillful apprentices for him in the future. Knowing that he would not only have secure employment but also become a master to apprentices motivated him to further immerse himself in the workings of machinery.

"The climate is dry and straw can catch fire easily. The harvesters are steam-powered, so you must go to an area without straw to replace the coal," Lin Ziyin reminded him.

"Rest assured, Miss, the coal replacement site is near the water source and someone will be supervising. Nothing will go wrong," Long Feishou solemnly replied.

"Have you sorted out the cooling system?" Lin Ziyin asked, bending down to inspect the machine.

"All in order," Long Feishou replied, scratching his head, "The books that you gave me last time have been extremely helpful."

Lin Ziyin smiled at him, "Study them well. In the future, you’ll be training a lot of apprentices."

"I understand, Miss. I will work hard," Long Feishou answered bashfully, his eyes shining with eagerness.

In the autumn, Lin Ziyin thought, more prisoners would be sent over. She would have to buy skilled workers then, given the shortage of laborers in the estate.

"Miss, someone has come to see you," Qiaoqiao came in to report.

Chapter 407: Chapter 407 Wheat Harvest(5)_1

"Who is it?" Lin Ziyin asked.

"It’s Little Pang and Zhou Dasheng." Qiaoqiao had been in the Lin family for a long time and had come to know pretty much everyone in the village. The Zhou family had previously bullied the Lins, and Qiaoqiao had developed a deep dislike for them, particularly after they tried to pin something on Lin Ziyin last time. Earlier when Pang came knocking, she had wanted to send them away, but these two were summoned by the old master.

Having no choice, Qiaoqiao reported to Lin Ziyin, leaving it to her to make the decision.

"I will go out to see them." Lin Ziyin stood up and announced. The courtyard was full of machinery, making it inconvenient for people to come in. Lin Ziyin was all too familiar with just how troublesome the Zhou family could be. So when they came to her door, she knew she had to meet them face to face.

"Ah, Ziyin!" Little Pang zeroed in on Lin Ziyin as soon as she saw her and immediately tried to grab her hand.

"Just stand still and speak, you scared her half to death by jumping at her like that." Qiaoqiao stepped in front of Lin Ziyin, blocking her.

Little Pang’s plump hand, poised in mid-air as it failed to grab Lin Ziyin, looked quite odd.

She attempted to move past Qiaoqiao to talk directly to Lin Ziyin, but was blocked again by Qiaoqiao. Little Pang was anxious, but she dare not argue with Qiaoqiao as she knew Qiaoqiao was Lin Ziyin’s maid, and her influence was strong. Having come to Lin Ziyin with a request, she naturally couldn’t afford to offend her favorite servant.

"It’s hot outside, and your body is just recovering. Why are you out in the sun?" With nothing else to say, Little Pang tried to steer the conversation away from the real issue.

Behind Lin Ziyin, Hong Ying held an umbrella over her and watched Little Pang silently. Lun Luo’s gaze, even more malicious, looked at Little Pang as if she were a walking corpse.

Under the three hostile stares, Little Pang felt a chill run down her spine.

"Speak your mind." Lin Ziyin had no time for small talk and urged her to get to the point.

Zhou Dasheng too was afraid. He knew exactly how formidable the servants of the Lin family were. Seeing Lin Ziyin’s impatient gaze, he quickly nudged Little Pang’s chubby waist, "Speak up, didn’t you hear the lady’s question?"

Little Pang was also anxious inside, she was well aware of how oppressive her family had been in the past. Now visiting the Lin family with a request, she felt a certain loss of face.

"If there’s nothing important, I’m going back inside." Lin Ziyin had been waiting for a while and had not heard anything important from the couple, so she prepared to turn around with a frown.

"Wait, wait." Seeing Lin Ziyin about to leave, Little Pang cried out in desperation, her voice rising, "Ziyin, dear Ziyin. I know we’ve done horrible things to the Lin family in the past and I’m sorry, we’re all very sorry. Now, life is tough for us and, appealing to our shared village bond, and appealing to our remorse, would you please allow us to do some work for you? We have many in our family who can work and we promise not to slack off. If we do, feel free to kick us out right away." With her agitation, she was somewhat incoherent.

So they were here to ask for work, Lin Ziyin paused slightly.

Qiaoqiao glared at Little Pang and Zhou Dasheng after hearing this, "Now you’ve realized your mistakes? After all the disgraceful things you’ve done, you still have the nerve to come before the lady."

"Let them do some work during the harvest." Before Lin Ziyin could respond, the voice of the elderly master was heard.

Lin Ziyin and the servants turned to see the elderly master leisurely walking up the road in his white gown.

"Thank you, uncle." Little Pang swiveled her hefty waist around in excitement to thank the elderly master, a gesture quickly followed by Zhou Dasheng. They were both elated. Once the old master of the Lin family voiced his opinion, Lin Ziyin, being the obedient one, would surely not object. Thinking of the future wage they would receive from the Lin family and how it would improve their living conditions, Little Pang’s plump face bloomed into a smile. "Rest assured, uncle, we will work hard and promise not to slack off."

Chapter 408: Chapter 408 Wheat Harvest(6)_1

"The wheat harvest doesn’t start until tomorrow, you guys go home and get your tools ready." Indeed, Lin Ziyin didn’t say anything else upon hearing Grandpa’s words.

"Ah, Auntie will surely be there early tomorrow." Little Mrs. Pang replied enthusiastically, tactfully pulling Zhou Dasheng and leaving.

They left just like that? Qiaoqiao watched the departing couple with a pouted mouth, feeling a mix of melancholy and resentment in her heart.

"Don’t blame grandpa for meddling." Seeing no displeasure on Lin Ziyin’s face, Grandpa still explained, "Life in the village is different from the city. The Zhou Family had wronged the Lin Family before, but they also apologized. Most of the village folks are working for us now. If we keep holding a grudge about the past, it’s us whom people will talk about. Moreover, the Zhou Family is just a bit avaricious in their day-to-day dealings. But if they are willing to change, give them one chance for the sake of village harmony. It’s just short-term work anyway, if they act up again, just don’t hire them in the future. Village folks will not blame us."

The remark seemed to be explaining more to Qiaoqiao and the other village girls like Hong Ying and Lun Luo.

"Grandpa, I understand." Lin Ziyin responded with a faint smile. Living in the village indeed differed from city life. If one kept harping on past grievances, people would inevitably gossip about the Lin Family.

Don’t underestimate rural rumors. Sometimes, a tiny incident might isolate a family from the rest of the village. Based on the Lin Family’s current stature, such isolation wouldn’t occur, but Lin Ziyin didn’t want any gossip regarding the Lin Family being unsociable over a minor issue with the Zhou Family, thus potentially bringing down the good reputation the Lin Family had built over many generations.

She might not care, but Grandpa and her brother really valued the family’s reputation and the relationship with villagers.

Well, it’s just hiring a few more temporary hands. Given the labor shortage at home anyway, why not just give the Zhou Family a chance. As Grandpa said, if they dared to slack off, the Lin Family simply wouldn’t hire them again.

Hearing this, Qiaoqiao, Hong Ying and Lun Luo felt a bit ashamed. They only wanted to prevent Lin Ziyin from being wronged, but they did not take into account some of the traditional customs in the countryside and almost damaged her reputation. Thinking about this, the three girls secretly vowed to think more carefully in the future.

Seeing Lin Ziyin was not displeased, Grandpa, knowing she understood his intentions, happily ambled off to the field with his hands behind his back.

The wheat harvest was a big deal, and many villagers had followed Lin Ziyin’s footsteps and planted wheat, albeit in smaller quantities. After all, the yield from the spring wheat in the Northern Land usually isn’t very high, so people didn’t have high expectations.

However, this year’s spring wheat growth was exceptional, and they imagined the yield from each acre of field could be at least four stone.

With such anticipation, on the second day, the entire village plunged into the frenzy of the wheat harvest. Villagers working for the Lin Family could choose not to take more than two days of vacation for the harvest.

Most villagers chose not to take leave. A day’s leave would see a deduction from their wages. As the Lin family pays high wages for work that isn’t very tough, it would be better to use their wages to hire people for the harvest.

People waiting for work at the marketplace had heard the news and flocked to Shili Village in droves.

After each villager had found manpower and negotiated the price, the vibrant wheat harvest began with either the elderly in the family overseeing the work or men from the family taking leave to supervise.

Those who had come in search of work were hoping to get a job at the Lin Family. After all, the Lin Family owned vast lands, and if employed by them, one could work for seven to eight days.

Chapter 409: Chapter 409 Wheat Harvest(7)_1

But when everyone saw the Lin’s family two harvesters "tuk tuk" going into the fields, everyone immediately lost hope. With the speed of these machines, how could they ever compete with their human power?

Many people even started worrying. What if the Lin’s machines were promoted in the future? Would there be any work left for those who relied on physical labor?

Fortunately, despite the speed of the machines, manual labor was still required.

Zhou Dasheng, along with his two sons and the younger Mrs. Pang, were working hard among Lin Family’s long-term and temporary workers, regardless of the scorching sun overhead.

Yesterday, they had received Lin Ziyin’s answer and returned home unable to hide their joy.

"What’s there to be happy about? Isn’t it just a few days of temporary work? It’s as if the Lin Family bestowed us with charity. We aren’t particularly interested either," Zhou Ming, the eldest son, was quite unhappy at the time.

"Mom, would the Lin Family be kind enough to let us work, or are they trying to set us up?" Zhou Fa, the second son, also disapproved of going to work for the Lin Family.

"What could you possibly know!" Zhou Dasheng glared at his two sons. Despite being suppressed at home by his mother and wife, he was still authoritative in front of his sons. Zhou Ming and Zhou Fa didn’t dare to make a fuss after being glared at by him, even though, deep down, they felt wronged.

"Why are you so short-sighted?" The Pang Family matriarch angrily scolded her two grandsons, "Can you compare the current Lin Family to before? Haven’t you noticed who they have backing them? In the Northern Land, who could be more powerful than Prince Ling and Ding’an Temple? Open your eyes and see the reality, every family that works for the Lin Family is wealthy."

Just because they’re rich, doesn’t mean the Lin Family likes us, Zhou Ming and Zhou Fa thought grudgingly. Who doesn’t want to be rich? Look at the village, with the change of weather, everyone has started building new houses. Although these houses can’t compare to the Lin family’s, they are all constructed with green bricks and tiles. Many villagers have even verbally competed to enlarge their courtyards in the future.

The two brothers have reached the age to start looking for brides, it had them anxious right down to the marrow. To put it bluntly, even if a matchmaker sees the houses in the village, no one would be willing to consider the two brothers as potential grooms.

"As long as you have a good working attitude in the Lin Family, you need not worry about lack of work in the future. It was my old self who didn’t handle things properly," Mrs. Pang said, growing slightly heartbroken, "Your father passed away early, so as a woman raising a son, can I afford to not be a bit frugal?"

"Mother." Seeing his mother’s anguish, Zhou Dasheng felt a lump in his throat, and was on the verge of tears. The younger Mrs. Pang didn’t even dare to breathe heavily. She was genuinely afraid of this elderly lady, who was not only her aunt but also her mother-in-law.

"Nevermind, just remember to work hard now, don’t be sneaky or lazy. Good days are always ahead. That Lin girl isn’t simple, but she’s not an ingrate either. If you’re good to her, she won’t make things difficult for you. I’m truly old." After saying this, she disregarded everyone’s expressions and went straight back to her room to lie down.

Zhou Ming and Zhou Fa, who had been spurred and scolded, were not completely foolish. They also wanted better lives for themselves and their future descendants, like the other kids in the village who were studying in the private school of the Lin Family, so the family of four busied themselves in the field like their lives depended on it.

"Mung bean tea is here." Cui Da and Kong Yier, with their tea servings, came over to call everyone.

The younger Mrs. Pang, plump and sweaty, was thirsty. However, even when she heard Cui Da’s call, she didn’t put down her work and continued diligently stuffing the sacks.

The wheat harvested by the machines had to be put into sacks before it could be transported out.

With the two harvesters constantly moving back and forth in the field, there were sacks placed at intervals on the cleared ground, with the younger Mrs. Pang responsible for tying the sacks. It wasn’t heavy work, but it required speed to facilitate the subsequent removal of the wheat.

"Tea time." Cui Da, leading a maid, brought a teapot and cups over.

"Thank you, thank you so much." The younger Mrs. Pang was somewhat taken aback. This was the first time someone from the Lin Family had been so polite to her.

"Mung bean tea can dispel summer heat. The young lady specially asked us to brew it for you. You’re sweating a lot, drink more. There is also pot of boiling water beside; feel free to help yourself." Cui Da didn’t know whether the younger Mrs. Pang had truly mended her manners, so while she delivered the tea, her manner wasn’t overly friendly.

Even so, the younger Mrs. Pang was still quite delighted.

Chapter 410: Chapter 410 Men and Women are Different (1)_1

Upon seeing Madame Pang finish her tea and resume sewing earnestly, Cui Da found her more likeable than before.

Having the advantage of machinery allowed for quick and easy efforts. When other families in the village were still tirelessly harvesting wheat in the fields day and night, Lin Ziyin’s family had already finished gathering wheat from their hundred and so acres of land.

Zhou Dasheng, Madame Pang, and their two sons felt somewhat regretful. The Lin family paid high wages and they’d made nearly five hundred wen in just four days of helping out, almost half a tael of copper coins. When they thought about how back at the marketplace, hard work for an entire day only got them twenty wen, and a woman like Madame Pang didn’t even have a chance to work, the family deeply regretted their past actions.

"Manager Cui, if there’s any need for help in the future, don’t forget about us," Zhou Dasheng told Cui Da, a brave face. Previously, the Zhou family would never have respected Cui Da, a lowly servant. But after working with the Lin family for a few days, they found that although Cui Da and others were marked out as low status, the Lin family never looked down on these servants. Even Lou Zheng and other workers respected people like Yu Shaohui.

Furthermore, Cui Da and Hong Zhong took care of most of the farm work. Whether or not they could find work here depended on these two. Therefore, the Zhou family never dared to look down on Cui Da and others again.

"Yes, manager Cui, we are committed to our work, so please don’t forget us if you need help," many temporary workers also came over and said with a smile of flattery.

"If you’re not afraid of hard labor, there’s plenty to do," Cui Da said. "But no matter how long you work, you’ll still be considered temporary workers."

The Lin family had its own private school and pharmacy. Anyone who worked at Lin’s mills could send their children to school and, get low-cost medical consultations and medications if they were sick. Many people were willing to break their heads to work for the Lin family just for these two perks.

Additionally, Lin Ziyin was very generous. All servants or long-term workers bought by the Lin family and their children also enjoyed these benefits.

Cui Da said this in advance to prevent anyone from taking advantage of their long-term work at Lin family and causing problems.

Upon hearing that there was more work to do, Madame Pang quickly squeezed her plump body into the crowd, "We will certainly remember manager Cui’s words. We are willing to be temporary workers if there is work. We’re all people from the same village. We won’t slack off and cause trouble."

Zhou Dasheng echoed his wife’s sentiment.

Hearing her loud voice, Cui Da couldn’t help but glance at her. Madame Pang saw this and her smile became even more flirtatious.

"Fine, after Tie Niu has tilled the land, we’ll need some people to dig ditches and fertilize. If your family is willing to work hard, you can all come tomorrow," said Cui Da. Having recently heard why their master allowed Zhou Dasheng’s family to work, he was more than happy to grant Madame Pang’s request.

If they try to slack off while working, well, he wouldn’t be so easy on them.

Upon hearing the opportunity to work, Madame Pang jumped with joy as if she had won a prize. Zhou Dasheng also patted his chest, promising that his family would work hard.

Brothers Zhou Ming and Zhou Fa, standing nearby, looked at each other and quietly took a deep breath. Having work to do was what they wanted, they had the energy, and as farmers, they were used to earning their keep on the land. As long as they were willing to work hard, they wouldn’t have to worry about not living in a tiled house in the future.