The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 928 - 926 Xiao Wu

Chapter 928: Chapter 926 Xiao Wu

The young servant originally made up his mind to help out here today, but then was sent out to buy two items and met another errand boy on the way.

He couldn’t help but say, "Xiao Wu, are you stupid? So many noble patrons today, and you’re staying with just one family? That family doesn’t seem wealthy. Look at the guests, apart from the ones who arrived initially that looked well-off, the rest are just ordinary. How much profit can there be? Are you dumb? You’ve only run two errands all morning, how much money can you make? Look at us, we’ve already run seven or eight errands today, and I’ve received forty or fifty Large Coins already."

"That’s right, Brother Xiao Wu, quickly deliver those things and come with us. There are plenty of noble patrons waiting for service over there. If we work hard all day, we might earn one to two hundred Large Coins!"

...

The other errand boys also tried to persuade him, having been in this business for years. In past years, they might have competed for guests.

But this year, hearing noble patrons from the Capital City were watching, this year’s Dragon Boat race was different. People from nearby counties rushed to watch; far more attendees than usual. Even they, the errand boys, were not enough to serve everyone.

Plus, Xiao Wu usually conducts himself well and has a good relationship with everyone. People thought to let him earn some money too.

Xiao Wu smiled, "My leg hurts a bit today, I can’t take on that much work, afraid of delaying time and angering the noble patrons, which would be bad. Better to just run errands for this family, anyway, it’s not much work, and I can handle it."

After hearing Xiao Wu, everyone stopped persuading him. After all, running errands for noble patrons requires quickness.

If he took a job and dawdled, angering the noble patrons, who could bear the consequences?

They had to pat Xiao Wu on the shoulder, feeling his luck was not good this year, and then scattered.

After everyone dispersed, Xiao Wu dusted off his clothes and hurried back to the viewing stands.

He had just handed over the items, having previously helped here, diligently enough for everyone to notice. This time, when sent to buy things, they directly gave him money.

Xiao Wu understood, returned, and honestly reported the accounts, saying how much was spent on each item and how much was left, handing it all to Old Granny Wu.

Old Granny Wu counted the money, saw the things matched up, and satisfied, stuffed Xiao Wu with a plate of white sugar cakes, "Take these and eat. After today’s work is done, I’ll take you to get a reward from our mistress."

These white sugar cakes were white, fragrant, sweet, soft like cotton.

Xiao Wu was pleasantly surprised to receive the sugar cakes, wanted to eat but couldn’t bear to, looked around, painfully shared them with the people helping.

Say no more, those working below didn’t lack food, not to mention Old Granny Wu and Old Lady Li, even Lady Qi’s maid, had tasted far better things, didn’t think much of these.

However, seeing Xiao Wu was considerate, they had a slightly better impression of him.

Seeing he couldn’t bear eating them, Old Madam Ding simply gave him a piece of cowhide paper, "None of us eat these, if you can’t bear to, wrap it up and take it home for your family to taste."

Xiao Wu thanked Old Madam Ding, wrapped the sugar cakes, carefully tucked them in his bosom.

Seeing his young age and thinking of his family, who wouldn’t feel sorry?

A maid of Lady Qi gave him melon seeds to peel and eat.

Wang Yongzhu happened to come down and instructed Old Madam Ding to prepare some pastries and wrapped a small package of tea leaves, saw Xiao Wu standing honestly nearby, and signaled him to come over.

He handed the things over to him and instructed him to follow the message bearer, deliver them and return.

He specially reminded him, once there, don’t talk much, don’t look around, just deliver and come back.

Xiao Wu listened carefully, repeated once, then carried the things and followed behind the message bearer.

As they walked ahead, Xiao Wu grew more anxious, this, isn’t this the road to the most central position?

He met a few familiar errand boys along the way, they were about to greet but were stopped by Xiao Wu’s signals.

Those boys saw Xiao Wu following behind, reached the largest, best viewing stand, and exploded.

They looked at each other, "How did Xiao Wu get there?"

"Did he manage to connect with some noble patron?"

...

Xiao Wu had planned to befriend the message bearer, but after a few words, the bearer unceremoniously said, "Kid, you’re lucky today for landing such a good job! With this fortune, just shut your mouth and don’t pry around, or risk losing your life!"

Xiao Wu felt a chill in his heart and dared not speak.

At that moment, arriving under the stands, the message bearer told him to wait below and went up himself.

Standing below, surrounded by well-armored guards and neatly dressed servants and young servants, many Xiao Wu recognized, all untouchable in their eyes, addressed as "sir" outside.

Today they were meek as quails, obediently standing below, not daring to breathe.

Especially those guards, looking at him like daggers.

Xiao Wu’s legs nearly gave out.

Fortunately, the message bearer came down soon, spoke to the guard at the stairs, the guard nodded, "Same routine, body search first, only then can go up."

The message bearer nodded repeatedly, "Naturally."

He gestured Xiao Wu forward.

Xiao Wu nervously approached, was roughly searched by the guards, even the sugar cakes tucked in his bosom were checked.

People beside checked the food boxes too; once cleared, they returned the things to Xiao Wu, waved him to go up.

Xiao Wu dared not breathe at this point, carefully carried the food box upstairs, saw the large viewing stand had only two or three tables.

At the central table, sat two or three noble patrons, one being the patron whose family Xiao Wu helped earlier, the gentleman who came off the carriage with them.

The other two unfamiliar, he didn’t dare look closely.

Only saw the county magistrate accompanying below, his heart thundering.

Unknowingly what was said, it caused bursts of laughter.

The message bearer quietly approached, spoke a word to the gentleman Xiao Wu had seen before.

Imperial Doctor Du sat bored at the table, the pastries were famous ones from the county’s inns and pastry shops, appealing to the eye, others yearned to eat but couldn’t.

Yet he showed no interest.

After so many years in the inner palace of the Capital City, bored with royal confections, how much more these?

Now he preferred simple street foods from his childhood.

Only, such supposed coarse pastries, how could they appear here? Coupled with this tea, although Governor Chen’s private stash, ordinary to Imperial Doctor Du accustomed to Cloud Mist Tea.

Nothing satisfied his taste, the conversation dull, Imperial Doctor Du would, but for considerations, have left for home.

Thus hearing Wang Yongzhu sent him some pastries and tea, it felt like liberation, albeit unsaid, he grumbled, "This kid! Am I lacking food and drink from my role here? Worried I can’t adapt? Troublesome!"

Governor Chen, holding back laughter, wanted to say, Dr. Du, perhaps hide your smile first before speaking?

Meanwhile, gained interest in Imperial Doctor Du’s uninitiated closed-door disciple, wanting to truly meet them someday given their ability to please the ever-temperamental Imperial Doctor Du.