The eyes of the crowd widened like bronze bells, their mouths agape in large and small "o" shapes. Madam Liu's actions were truly rebellious and shocking for this era.
It would have been surprising if they weren't astonished.
Madam Liu had long anticipated everyone's reaction. She dared to speak her mind and wasn't afraid of being gossiped about. "The First Lady said that even though I am a married woman and have given birth, I still have my own value. I am still like a flower, with the right to pursue my own happiness! I don't steal, I don't rob, I don't harm others, and I borrowed seeds from Ma San with his consent. I didn't force him."
After speaking, she sat down with a thump and began to eat her rice ravenously.
Her words were out, and her heart felt at ease. The reactions of others no longer concerned her.
Madam Liu was indeed fierce and formidable, but Ma San hadn't expected her to be so exceptionally fierce.
Seeing everyone staring at Madam Liu with immense shock, Ma San felt as if needles were pricking him from below. He stood up abruptly and declared, "I... I did agree to lend seeds to Madam Liu, and she didn't force me. However, from this day forward, I... I want to be responsible for her. I want to marry her as my wife, be her husband, and be the father of her child."
*Hiss~* The crowd, still reeling from one bombshell, was immediately sent into an even greater frenzy.
Their bowls were still in their hands, but the food in their mouths was forgotten, unchewed.
"Hooray!" Bai Sheng led the applause, and Lu Ye joined in.
The crowd finally snapped back to reality, immediately putting down their bowls and chopsticks and applauding wildly, "Hooray! Hooray!"
Zhao Dazhuang shouted, "Ma San! You're a good man with backbone!"
The crowd erupted in laughter.
Madam Liu glanced at Ma San, then stood up and laughed heartily, "It depends on your performance. If you don't perform well, don't even think about being the father of my child!"
Ma San chuckled, his mouth splitting into a grin that reached his ears, "I... I will definitely perform well! I'll perform well tonight!"
The applause from the crowd became even more enthusiastic!
Yang Ming and Huang Gousheng, still young and innocent, were blushing at the scandalous scene, but they didn't fall short in their applause.
The children who had been confined to their rooms couldn't bear the lively commotion outside and ran out, shouting and jumping without understanding what was happening, their little hands clapping until they were red.
Under the cheers of the crowd, Madam Liu and Ma San set a auspicious date.
The servants' quarters were built below the sand embankment, divided according to the number of people in each household. Zhao Dazhuang's family of three was allocated two rooms, Hu Daniu's family of three was also given two rooms, and the remaining Tian Guihua, Madam Liu, Huang Gousheng, and Ma San each received one room.
Knowing the relationship between Ma San and Madam Liu, Huang Gousheng actively offered to swap rooms with Ma San, so that Madam Liu and Ma San could have adjoining rooms, making it convenient for them to visit each other.
The First Lady mentioned that they would expand the housing later, allocating two rooms to those who were married and established, and then adjusting flexibly based on the number of people in the household. In any case, they would never be short of housing.
No one doubted the First Lady's words.
Huang Gousheng saw Ma San smiling so broadly every day that his mouth was crooked, and he couldn't help but feel envious.
Sister Liu, although she had previous experiences, was diligent and capable, and also forthright and spirited. She was definitely someone who could live a good life, and she and Brother Ma San were a perfect match.
Alas, he wouldn't think about it anymore and just get to work. The First Lady had said that if they worked hard, their desires would be fulfilled. Huang Gousheng shook his head and picked up his carpenter's plane again.
At the last meeting, he hadn't thought of anything to say. In the past few days, he suddenly realized that Hongshu Slope would eventually be developed into a village with an increasing number of residents, and there would be many people needing custom furniture. He planned to ask the First Lady to build a carpentry workshop where he could sell the furniture he made.
This way, he could also earn money for the First Lady.
With his life goal set, Huang Gousheng worked with renewed vigor.
Recently, there had been many joyous occasions at Hongshu Slope, with pregnancies and weddings. Madam Ji, seeing that her son was fast approaching the age of an old man, was also filled with worry.
Her son was good in every aspect, except for his marriage, where he never listened to her. Previously, when she nagged him too much, he threatened to remain unmarried his entire life.
She knew her son well; his words were his bond. Madam Ji dared not gamble.
Over time, she gradually let fate take its course.
However, to put it bluntly, if Ma San could find a wife, her son surely could. In every aspect, her son was more outstanding than Ma San.
Madam Ji felt reassured and went to chat with her old friends.
Two to three miles from Huangsha Village, at the mine.
Over twenty male and female stone workers were using shoulder poles or baskets to move the stones brought out from the mine.
Madam Pang and Wang Donghua were among them, both covered in dirt and frequently sighing and clutching their waists from exhaustion.
Several overseers, accompanied by the mine supervisor (the mine head), walked over. One of the short, shifty-eyed overseers' gaze lingered on Wang Donghua.
Wang Donghua wiped the dust from her face, tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and looked at the mine supervisor with a hint of flirtation.
The mine supervisor's surname was Jiang. Although he was nearing forty, so what? He had money. Even if she, Wang Donghua, became a bed warmer, her life would be much better than it was now.
Supervisor Jiang glanced at the stone workers outside, his face gradually showing anger. He sternly questioned the overseers, "What's going on? Why are there only these few workers left in the mine? If the work schedule is delayed, all your heads will roll!"
The leading overseer, Huang, looked fearful. He immediately stepped forward, bowed, and said, "Your subordinate just found out that a place called Hongshu Slope, a few miles away, has recruited many workers. The wages... are quite high, which is why many of our mine workers have left."
Supervisor Jiang frowned upon hearing this, "Hongshu Slope?"
"Yes, it's said to be a newly prosperous farming household," Overseer Huang nodded.
Wang Donghua's heart leaped with joy. She knew about the situation at Hongshu Slope. She could tell Supervisor Jiang, but it had to be private and confidential.
"Don't just say 'it's said,' I want accurate and detailed information!" Supervisor Jiang said angrily. "Huang Zhong, send someone to investigate the situation at Hongshu Slope thoroughly and then report back to me."
"Yes!" Huang Zhong respectfully accepted the order.
Lu Dagang was also among the stone workers, and he heard everything clearly.
This was truly wonderful news. He would tell Lanlan about it as soon as he got back tonight. She would probably be very happy.
Ever since the humiliation at the magistrate's house last time, her temper had become increasingly bad. She spent all day thinking about how to get revenge on Lu Ye's wife, but she had no way to do it.
Lu Ye had the support of Prince Yu behind him, and his household had a water well, plus so many more supporters. Meanwhile, their family's water well was almost dry, and more and more people were defecting from their family. It seemed their Zhang family was on the verge of ruin.