Picking Up a General to Plow the Fields

Chapter 169: Cui Shao Xi’s gift (1)

Lian Fang Zhou was indeed short of people, specifically professional talents like Qin Feng and Su Zi Ji! Since these two people had been deputies of an official previously, they would likely be very talented.
But would they be willing to listen to her?

“Our house is just an ordinary household, Qin Feng, Su Zi Ji.
Is it really okay to stay in our house? Our small temple can’t accommodate a big Buddha!” Lian Fang Zhou said with a smile.

Cui Shao Xi raised his eyebrows at the two of them: “You two go outside and wait.”

The two replied ‘yes’ and stepped out respectfully.
Lian Fang Zhou glanced at them and sighed inwardly.
She was really lacking this etiquette!

Although she needed their talent, she really didn’t know if she could keep them!

For people like this, if they were slaves to a large family with good manners and etiquette, they would be happy.
In the country, they would always be dealing with vulgar, blunt people.
Would they be willing?

If they were not reconciled, wouldn’t they be full of contempt.
Who knew what would happen then?

Of course, there was nothing wrong while Cui Shao Xi was suppressing them and they didn’t have a home to go back to.

However, Lian Fang Zhou took the cotton planting very seriously and was absolutely unwilling to leave it to someone full of dissatisfaction and unwillingness in their heart.

They worked as agricultural officials and likely had a good understanding of this aspect, which was almost worse.
If they did something secretly, it was likely that Lian Fang Zhou would not be able to discover it.

In a word, the risk was too great!

“Fang Zhou, don’t worry!” Cui Shao Xi hurried to say.
“They have committed crimes and were sold as slaves by the government.
They will be slaves their entire lives.
If their masters beat them to death, what can they say? If they dare to escape, it would be a heinous crime! Moreover, these two are not only very capable, they are loyal and honest.
They spent their time wandering around in the fields and were not gregarious.
I sent people to inquire about this matter clearly! Since they were sold, they have suffered from hardship.
If you are willing to take them in, they will be able to go back to their old profession, this is a grace to them! They will be too grateful to make trouble, they will certainly not give birth to evil thoughts in their hearts!”

“Really?” Lian Fang Zhou asked, eyes wide.

“Naturally this is true!” Cui Shao Xi sneered, “Unless they don’t want to live!”

Lian Fang Zhou mediated, turning it over and over in her mind.
She gritted her teeth silently.
Well, just keep them! She really was short of people and even if they weren’t afraid of her, they were afraid of Cui Shao Xi.
Presumably, they knew their current status and that it was impossible to escape.
It would only hurt them with no benefit at all.

“Then let them try!” Lian Fang Zhou said with a nod.
“If it works, then you have really helped me a lot!”

She hadn’t quite said thank you but Cui Shao Xi waved his hand and smiled.
“No thanks, no need to say you’re welcome! Then, they should come in?”

Lian Fang Zhou nodded with a smile and Cui Yi, who was very eye-catching, called out the door: “You two, come back in!”

Qin Feng and Su Zi Ji walked back in properly and knelt down again without waiting for instructions.

Lian Fang Zhou said: “Even though Young Master Cui said you are mine, you have seen my home.
Our family is just ordinary countrymen and we work in the fields! If you don’t want to, I won’t force you.
You can follow Young Master Cui back to make other arrangements.
Young Master Cui won’t blame you for this!”

She said this, looking at Cui Shao Xi.

Cui Shao Xi nodded and said, “Yes, if you don’t want to say, I will take you back and make another arrangement.”

“But if you stay, you will forget your past life and work hard! If you do something to hurt me, I am not soft-hearted! I do not have much but what I do have, I care about! If you work faithfully, you will not be wronged in the future.
Think about it carefully!”

Lian Fang Zhou glanced at them indifferently.

Qin Feng and Su Zi Ji were swept away by her gaze, their hearts full of unconscious awe.

It was impossible for them to move.
What kind of country girl was this?

They glanced at Cui Shao Xi, who’s face was gentle and kind, with a smile a the corner of his lips as he looked at Lian Fang Zhou and thought inwardly: this girl was so graceful, it was no wonder that the son of the Cui family would treat her like this!

If they returned to the Cui family house, it would be impossible to return to their old identities and they would likely be ridiculed and bullied by the other slaves!

If this was the case, then it was better to find a remote place in a rural area.
Although the living conditions were not as grand, there was a sense of comfort in the heart.
They wouldn’t have to deal with insults and piercing eyes!

Both of them had the same idea and when they looked at each other, they knew the other’s decision.

“This slave is willing to stay, please accept, Miss!” Both of them said together, knocking their heads to the ground.

“Don’t you want to think about it longer? This is a major event that will impact your life!” Lian Fang Zhou didn’t agree immediately but said temptingly, “Don’t be afraid, just speak honestly! Young Master Cui and I are not unreasonable!”

The two shook their heads and Qin Feng said, “Miss, this slave has thought about it and this slave is willing to stay and let the Miss direct him!”

“So is this slave!” Su Zi Ji said also, “From now on, Miss will be the master of this slave.
Miss is first in everything, there are no two minds!”

“I think the two of them are good, Fang Zhou, don’t worry!” Cui Shao Xi smiled.

Lian Fang Zhou smiled at him and nodded at the two of them, saying lightly: “Since this is your choice, you have to take responsibility! Don’t say later that I did not give you the opportunity to choose if you change your minds.
Our family is poor and the money we are using now is borrowed, I can’t help this.
So even though it is a bit superfluous, I still need to make it clear from the start!”

Qin Feng and Su Zi Ji agreed again and again.

Cui Shao Xi frowned, dissatisfied.
“Fang Zhou, want are you saying? You are too careful! Isn’t it just ten thousand taels? I—”

Seeing Lian Fang Zhou narrow her eyes, it seemed that these words were off.
Cui Shao Xi laughed and said, “Well, if you lose it next year, don’t you still have the year after that? And the year after that? If you want to borrow money again, I will give it to you! When you earn enough, you can pay me back then, okay?”

Cui Shao Xi’s teasing tone made Lian Fang Zhou want to laugh and cry at the same time, but she couldn’t do both in one breath.

Lian Ze chuckled softly.

Cui Yi rolled his eyes secretly, turning his head and saying silently to himself: This is not my charming and graceful master, he must be possessed!

Qin Feng and Su Zi Ji couldn’t help but be silently in awe and carefully added two more points of respect to Lian Fang Zhou.