What nonsense was Madam Jin spouting?
Xi Tian was still so young, and she was already bringing up betrothal matters?
Setting aside whether Uncle and Aunt would agree, he didn't even know how to broach the subject with his father, the Emperor...
"This matter cannot be rushed; I have a plan!" Xiao Jin Heng sat down and took a sip of his tea.
Madam Jin opened her mouth, about to persuade him further, when a shout suddenly came from the courtyard...
"Little County Princess, you are the savior of Dashui Village, our great benefactor! The villagers don't have many good things, but these eggs and salted duck eggs, please accept them..."
"That's right, Little County Princess. You don't know, but even before your family moved here, Dashui Village suffered a locust plague. Oh, those things are so destructive to crops! They would fly over and devour the wheat ears!"
"Indeed, with the Little County Princess blessing Dashui Village, no matter what disasters or difficulties we face in the future, we will overcome them!"
"..."
Hearing the commotion, Xiao Jin Heng walked to the door and saw the villagers of Dashui Village surrounding Little Xi Tian and Old Man Yun, offering gifts and expressing their gratitude as if they were about to kneel and kowtow...
Little Xi Tian's eyes curved into crescents, and she smiled, "Uncles, aunts, we also live in Dashui Village, and we also farm. If we don't drive away the locusts, we'll have to drink the northwest wind in the autumn! So, you don't need to thank me!"
Alas, being surrounded by so many people made Little Xi Tian a little embarrassed...
County Magistrate Chen's eyes narrowed with joy. It seemed he hadn't misjudged earlier; arranging for Xiao Ran to be betrothed to Jing De was a very wise decision.
As long as Little Xi Tian was with the Yun family, they would surely prosper more and more in the future.
Seeing County Magistrate Chen secretly chuckling to himself, the village chief sidled up to him. "Um... um, Your Excellency the County Magistrate, you see, Dashui Village suffered a locust plague. Could the government issue some grain or silver? Or, at the very least, could the public grain for this year be exempted for the people?"
County Magistrate Chen: "???"
You good-for-nothing Village Chief Jiang, were your crops eaten by locusts, or did they go moldy?
Since the fields were saved, why were you asking me for disaster relief funds?
"No!" County Magistrate Chen snorted coldly.
Village Chief: "..."
In the kitchen, Niu Cai Xia, with Zhao Xiao Jie, was busy preparing dinner. Scholar Jiang leaned against the doorframe, gazing intently at Niu Cai Xia, a faint smile curving his lips...
"Dad, Daddy~!"
Outside the kitchen, a tender voice called out.
Scholar Jiang turned his head and saw Little Jiu Hong toddling over...
Her small body, like a little ball of meat, wobbled as she walked, her little hands reaching forward, clearly wanting Scholar Jiang to pick her up.
Scholar Jiang let out a sound, his handsome face flushing slightly, and he coughed, "Cai... Cai Xia, Little Jiu Hong is here..."
Niu Cai Xia glanced back, then scooped up a ladle of water and poured it into the pot.
Mother said they would have pickled cabbage stewed with potato strips for dinner, with a few slices of fatty pork added. Although this dish wasn't particularly good with wine, it was very appetizing with rice...
"Daughter, let Mother hug you!" Niu Cai Xia wiped her hands and walked out of the kitchen.
Unexpectedly, Little Jiu Hong didn't go to her mother but clung tightly to Scholar Jiang's leg, raising her little head, "Dad, Daddy, Daddy~!"
Scholar Jiang: "..."
Niu Cai Xia: "..."
It was quite awkward.
"Daughter, don't call out randomly; he's not your dad!" Niu Cai Xia's pretty face darkened slightly as she bent down and picked up Little Jiu Hong.
"Waa, waa, wuwuwu, wa wa wa..."
Little Jiu Hong squirmed in Niu Cai Xia's arms as if she had taken the wrong medicine, her little hands constantly reaching towards Scholar Jiang, "Wuwu, Daddy, Daddy~!"
Just then, Little Xi Tian ran into the kitchen looking for food. Seeing the scene, she let out a "puchi" laugh, "Mr. Jiang, Little Jiu Hong likes you so much, why don't you just take her as your goddaughter? When she grows to four or five years old, you can be her godfather and her teacher. Isn't that killing two birds with one stone, hehe..."
As the saying goes, a gentleman helps others achieve their desires, while a villain snatches what others love.
In the Yun family, everyone could see that Scholar Jiang liked Cai Xia. They went to buy loaches together, fetched water together, and were always together, very sweet...
Scholar Jiang's expression froze. He turned his face away, "County Princess, Your Excellency, you jest. I've only known Little Jiu Hong for a few days. It's probably not appropriate to suddenly take her as a goddaughter!"
"What's not appropriate?" Little Xi Tian walked over with her hands behind her back, glancing at the crying Little Jiu Hong. "Mr. Jiang, you can see that Jiu Hong can't do without you now. If Mr. Jiang has any compassion, he shouldn't let the child cry like this, should he?"
Scholar Jiang: "..."
Your Excellency the County Princess, isn't this moral blackmail?
Niu Cai Xia stood by the side, coaxing her daughter. Seeing Jiu Hong crying so sadly, she looked weakly at Scholar Jiang, "Um... um, Mr. Jiang, why don't you hold my Jiu Hong!"
Scholar Jiang's face turned as red as a big apple. After a mental struggle, he finally took Little Jiu Hong.
And then, the moment of miracle arrived...
The instant Little Jiu Hong was embraced, she stopped crying. Her big, watery eyes widened, and her fair, porcelain-like face broke into a smile. She snuggled tightly against Scholar Jiang's chest like a silly doll, "Gaga, Daddy, Daddy good~!"
At that moment, a string in Scholar Jiang's heart was fiercely tugged...
If he were to find such a cute daughter, it seemed he wouldn't lose anything.
Looking at the beautiful Niu Cai Xia before him, Scholar Jiang's eyes trembled slightly. He lowered his head and kissed Little Jiu Hong, "My goddaughter is so good!"
As soon as he said this, Zhao Xiao Jie, who was watching the spectacle at the door, let out a dry heave...
"Ugh! Mr. Jiang, are you saying Little Jiu Hong is good, or her mother is good?" Zhao Xiao Jie understood everything.
Scholar Jiang: "..."
So, why did the respectable Yun family hire such an incompetent maid?
In the main hall of the house.
Zhao Gui Hua crossed her arms, staring coldly at Yun Jin He and Murong Qing. Sun Tian Xiu and Yao Jin Sheng stood in the corner like two little chicks, not daring to make a sound...
"Mother!" Yun Jin He's mouth twitched, his face filled with embarrassment. "Your son has already explained that the Imperial College is undergoing renovations, and all students are on holiday, so, so..."
"I'm not talking about that!"
Zhao Gui Hua slammed the table angrily, stood up abruptly, and pointed at Murong Qing, "Why are you still clinging to her?"
Yun Jin He: "..."