The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 289 Rewards

Chapter 289: Chapter 289 Rewards

Wang Yongzhu saw that the young servant was in such a hurry, she pondered for a moment, picked up her packed belongings, and walked out.

Outside the Wang Family’s gate, a carriage was waiting. "Miss Wang, please get in the carriage! It’ll be faster this way!"

Wang Yongping was worried and wanted to follow her, but the young servant stopped him: "Wang Family Brother, our shopkeeper only asked for Miss Wang to go alone."

Wang Yongping found this strange and naturally refused to agree.

It was Wang Yongzhu who spoke up, "It’s okay, Fourth Brother, I trust Shopkeeper Wu, nothing will happen! Let’s go!"

As she said this, she gave Jinhoo, who was standing behind Wang Yongping, a knowing look.

Jinhoo nodded to show he understood.

The carriage sped along the road, nearly bouncing Wang Yongzhu out.

The young servant wiped the sweat from his forehead while apologizing, "Miss Wang, I am really sorry, it’s just that we are pressed for time, your delay..."

What could Wang Yongzhu say? She could only bear with it.

If she had known a carriage ride would be this exhausting, it would have been better to walk.

Hurrying along, they didn’t head towards the tavern, but directly towards the newly built dye workshop by the riverside at the edge of town.

At the entrance of the dye workshop, lanterns were hung and colorful decorations displayed, and carpets were laid on the ground, with an incense table set up on them, surrounded by people looking on with excitement.

"Oh my, look at that! The Auspicious Dye Workshop hasn’t even opened yet, and today they put on such a grand display. What’s going on?"

"Did you see? Early this morning, a bunch of people came from the county town, riding on tall horses, each armed with a saber. The noble in the center, I heard, is from the palace—"

"This Shopkeeper Wu really has connections that reach the sky, how did his opening of a dye workshop attract people from the palace?"

"You all don’t know? I heard that last time Miss Wang of the Wang Family created some unique fabric that caught the eye of a noble lady in the palace. These people are said to be the noble lady’s emissaries to bestow favor upon Miss Wang!"

"Master Heaven! Such a blessing is unheard of!"

"Isn’t it just! Oh my, the ancestral grave of the Wang Family must be emitting plumes of green smoke now, receiving favor from a noble lady in the palace!"

...

From inside the carriage, Wang Yongzhu caught snippets of the conversation and understood some of it, but most of all, she felt somewhat incredulous.

Then she heard a commanding shout: "Stop!"

The carriage came to an abrupt halt, and Wang Yongzhu almost crashed into the carriage wall, but fortunately, she steadied herself in time.

She then heard the young servant’s cautious and obsequious voice: "Esteemed sir, the Lady Wang inside is the one you wished to see."

"Get out for inspection!"

And then the young servant lifted the carriage curtain: "Miss Wang, please get out!"

Wang Yongzhu adjusted her clothes and hair, then slowly descended from the carriage to see two fierce-looking men blocking the way.

After Wang Yongzhu alighted, the two men searched the carriage, and then one of them, holding Yongzhu’s parcel, nodded at her, "Come with me!"

Wang Yongzhu looked at the young servant.

The young servant hurriedly nodded.

Only then did Wang Yongzhu follow the man. Along the way, she saw dozens of men blocking the crowd from getting too close to the Dye Workshop.

The doors of the Dye Workshop were wide open. She walked in to see Shopkeeper Wu accompanying a lavishly dressed man around the workshop, explaining something to him.

The man approached the richly dressed gentleman and said something to him; it was then that the gentleman turned his head and glanced over, revealing a young man with a pale, beardless face.

After saying a few words, Shopkeeper Wu hurriedly bowed and assented, then trotted all the way to Wang Yongzhu.

"Follow me, prepare to receive your reward!" he said as he led Wang Yongzhu out the door and knelt before the incense table.

Wang Yongzhu hesitated for a moment, then knelt behind Shopkeeper Wu.

The young man, after a short while, came out holding a tray, stood in front of the incense table, and in a sharp, nasally voice, with a distinctly arrogant tone, slowly began, "Are you Lady Wang’s Daughter?"

Wang Yongzhu lowered her head, "In response to your honor, I am!"

"Your ancestors must have accumulated virtue for you to merit such fortune. The fabric that you submitted was seen and greatly admired by our Empress. Out of mercy, hearing that your household was comfortably off but fell on hard times with your father and brothers bedridden with illness, compelling you to dye fabric to support your family, she found you a filial daughter. In sympathy, she specially bestows a few items upon you!"

Wang Yongzhu was startled, but immediately recovered and said, "I thank Her Majesty for her heavenly grace! I am deeply grateful!"

The man then raised the tray in his hands, and under the sunlight, it gleamed with several ingots of gold and a few pieces of jewelry, shining brilliantly, evidently of exceptional quality.

The onlookers around them held their breaths, not daring to make a sound.

They watched as the man put the tray into Wang Yongzhu’s hands and turned to walk back to his position.

Wang Yongzhu carefully held the tray and seeing Shopkeeper Wu kowtow, constantly chanting, "Thank you for the boundless grace of Her Majesty!"

She followed suit.

After kowtowing, she carefully rose and then invited the man to sit down inside the dye workshop.

The man looked somewhat impatient, "Enough, let’s leave the matter at this. Make sure you carry out your duties with all your heart and do not let down the Empress’s profound favor!"

"Yes!" Shopkeeper Wu quickly promised.

Upon reflection, Wang Yongzhu spoke up, "Your Honor, I truly do not know how to properly thank Her Majesty for her kindness. Fortunately, these past days, I have dyed two new patterns. May I ask you to evaluate them and see if Her Majesty might like them?"

The man, who had seemed listless, perked up at her words, "Oh? What patterns? Bring them here for me to see."

Wang Yongzhu carefully placed the tray respectfully on the table next to her and then said, "My bundle—"

"Someone, bring the items she’s brought forward," the man ordered.

Immediately, someone answered, and in no time, the man who had led her in brought the bundle forward, the wrapping already undone, presumably checked.

Wang Yongzhu took the bundle, placed it on the table, and pulled out a piece of fabric, signaling to Shopkeeper Wu, "Shopkeeper Wu, I’ll need some help."

Shopkeeper Wu quickly stepped forward, and together they unfolded the fabric slowly, revealing a picture of white plum blossoms under the moonlight before the man.

At first, the man looked disinterested and was slouching, but as the fabric unfolded, he gathered his composure, straightened up, and after a while, he even stood and walked over to examine the fabric, scrutinizing it for some time before nodding in satisfaction.

"What else is there?"

Wang Yongzhu folded the fabric carefully and then unfolded another piece, this one with a design of Magnolia flowers on a deep blue background, resembling the night sky, with the winding branch of a Magnolia blooming quietly in the night.

After looking at the two pieces of fabric, the man was very pleased.

He glanced at the bundle and saw another piece. "What is that?"

"That is a new crimson fabric I’ve dyed," Wang Yongzhu replied, opening the bundle to reveal the deep red hue.

The man’s eyes suddenly blazed with eagerness, he leapt forward, "What’s this?"

"Crimson red!"

"This color is excellent! How much of this fabric do you have?" The man became excited.