The Country Maiden: Fields and Leisure
Chapter 942 - 940: Masterful Mind Craft

Chapter 942: Chapter 940: Masterful Mind Craft

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, then quickly agreed with his hands folded.

Old Lady Li’s husband gave a few more instructions before heading back.

When they returned to the resting place, they saw Song Chongjin and Gu Zikai holding teapots, along with Lang Hao carrying a food box, and a group of people gathered around.

After today’s dragon boat race, everyone subtly took the two as leaders, making the atmosphere much more harmonious.

"What delicacies did your family send?" Due to the previous competition, everyone was quite familiar, and didn’t stand on ceremony at this moment.

Some brought their water bottles over. This resting spot previously had only a kettle of locally brewed tea leaves, and there were so many people that it wasn’t enough to quench everyone’s thirst.

Most families sent food, but few sent water. Many were still thirsty, and upon seeing water, poured some for themselves first.

After drinking, their faces looked even worse than Gu Zikai’s earlier.

Someone directly spat it out: "What the heck is this? Why did your family send this water? It’s actually salty?"

Song Chongjin didn’t say anything, but Gu Zikai couldn’t bear it, "This is the Song Family’s secret recipe. We’ve sweated so much, this is good for us. I drank it just now, and I don’t feel as fatigued. Drink if you want!"

Saying this, he was about to ask Lang Hao to take the water kettle away, truly absurd. This was sent by Lady Wang, he cherished it. If it weren’t for today’s teamwork in the competition, he wouldn’t have allowed them to take it away. Instead, they complained, let them die of thirst then.

The other students, half-believing and half-doubting, drank the water, and sure enough, after a few cups, it quenched their thirst and gave them strength.

Immediately, they knew Gu Zikai wasn’t lying, and everyone scrambled to finish off the two large kettles of water.

Even the snacks were snatched up quickly.

With something in their stomachs to settle them, they weren’t as tired and began to tease.

"I say, Brother Song, truly having a virtuous wife at home, look at this delivered water, and these snacks, indeed we can’t compare!"

"Nonsense, haven’t you heard? Brother Song’s wife is someone even those Little Ren from Baiyun Academy can’t win against."

"Speaking of Baiyun Academy, thinking of their expressions earlier brings me satisfaction! Especially seeing them fall into the water and being fished out, oh, thinking of that, I can eat three bowls of rice tonight, it’s truly satisfying!"

...

Speaking of Baiyun Academy’s students, everyone perked up, especially since they didn’t even get second place, only finishing third, and were dragged into the water by their own teammates, it felt comforting no matter how one thought about it.

We’re ordinary people, not saints, who wouldn’t be happy seeing their arch-rivals humiliated?

If outsiders were present, we’d have to feign and reluctantly say a few words of respect for Baiyun Academy, but now with no outsiders, we were unrestrained.

Song Chongjin, however, was more mature and steady, coughed twice: "Watch what you say!"

There were no outsiders in the room, but there were outside, truly spreading rumors wouldn’t be good for everyone.

With Song Chongjin’s reminder, they let out laughs and didn’t dwell much on it, instead talking about the first place reward coming soon.

In past years, the rewards were just banners and such, filling an entire room.

Then the Yamen would invite an opera troupe, performing for three days on the grandstand, and the entire town could watch.

On the night of the competition, Lord County Magistrate would host a banquet at the restaurant for the top three teams as encouragement.

Why would people from neighboring Lin County travel far to Jing County, mostly to watch the opera.

Ordinary people had little entertainment, watching opera was a luxury for most.

Especially in towns like this, many had never properly watched an opera, if they could see a private troupe perform a couple of old plays they’ve sung for decades during the Lantern Festival, it was quite nice.

The opera troupes the Yamen personally invited were large, perhaps with a few famous actors, and there’d be new plays every year, inviting several troupes to perform, after three days everyone would have had their fill.

These days were almost a celebration for the entire city.

This was why Song Chongjin sent word through Old Lady Li’s husband, saying they didn’t need to set a table for the evening.

Soon, someone came to notify them to prepare, they’d need to go out shortly, the adults would be presenting the awards.

Outside, the area near the grandstand was packed, everyone waiting eagerly to see what this year’s prize would be.

On the grandstand, Lv Wenguang led Jing County’s officials in, taking their positions on one side.

After a moment, Governor Chen and Zhu Haoran slowly made their entrance.

First, they exchanged a few courteous words, then announced which academies had won the top three places, and called forward the representatives to collect their awards.

As Changqing Academy students stepped onto the grandstand, the people below couldn’t help but applause, cheering loudly.

So loud were they, it drowned out Governor Chen’s speaking voice.

Governor Chen wasn’t upset, waited for everyone to calm down, then announced Changqing Academy had won first place, presenting them with a banner, and announced besides the traditional three days of opera and a celebratory banquet, Changqing Academy’s winning team could visit Zhu Haoran and himself for academic guidance in the coming days.

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted.

For these academy students, what are banners, operas, banquets compared to the solid opportunity for academic guidance from Governor Chen and Zhu Haoran.

Each couldn’t help revealing expressions of surprise, the tiny bit of resentment towards Governor Chen completely disappearing.

Students from other academies, upon hearing this, their eyes turned red with envy.

What was this? This was opportunity! Being able to consult with Governor Chen and Minister Zhu was a great honor.

If nothing else, it’s good just to become familiar!

Especially Baiyun Academy’s students, their faces turned green with anger, they desperately wanted to win the championship precisely because of the rumored reward from Governor Chen, just Governor Chen alone made them eager, not to mention adding Zhu, an Assistant Minister of Rites, responsible for the imperial examination.

Nevertheless, Song Chongjin’s lips curved in a mocking arc, Governor Chen truly had an exceptional mind, earlier set up numerous obstacles to make things difficult for Changqing Academy, causing widespread complaints against him.

Yet with a mere sentence, who now remembered their grievances? Instead, everyone was tearfully grateful!

As Governor Chen finished speaking, he signaled Changqing Academy to step forward to receive their awards.

It should’ve been the helmsman to receive the awards, but today, on account of performance, contribution, from any perspective, Song Chongjin deserved the most credit.

The helmsman wasn’t one to steal someone’s achievements, insisted Song Chongjin go forward to accept the awards, everyone agreed.

Song Chongjin helplessly stepped forward, standing before Governor Chen and Zhu Haoran, bowed and saluted: "Student pays respect to the two esteemed gentlemen!"