The Lucky Heiress

“Get dressed already!” Xu Zhengyong’s motions became frantic as he put on his clothes.

If one person was scolding him, it was risky enough but when two people were nagging him together, he needed to hurry, or his father would get his whip.

After Xu Zhengyong was dressed, he smiled at Wei Ruo and said, “Ruoruo, it’s been a long time. How come you’re shorter now?”

Hearing his words, Wei Ruo wanted to jump up and give him a good smack on his forehead.

“It’S not because I’ve gotten shorter, you’ve just grown too fast!” Wei Ruo said

irritably.

Over the past year, Wei Ruo herself had grown taller, which was a normal rate of growth for this time of her life.

However, compared to Xu Zhengyong, her growth was far less. Xu Zhengyong was at the age when boys grow tall rapidly. Having drilled in the army for half a year, and training hard every day, his height had soared.

Originally, he was only half a head taller than Wei Ruo. Now, he had grown more than a head taller, and Wei Ruo only came up to his shoulders.

Even amongst females, Wei Ruo was not considered short. Simply, Xu Zhengyong had grown too fast and too tall.

Xu Zhengyong scratched his head: “That’s true.”

Turning to Xiumei, he asked, “Junior sister, look how tall I have become now.

Don’t you respect me as your senior brother?

Xiumei retorted gruffly, “What’s the use of being only tall? You’re not getting any smarter. In this cold weather, you’re wearing so little. Even if you get a cold, no matter how tall you are, you’ll still need medicine and it will cost money.”

“Junior sister, you’re not fair. My height is advantageous. I’m strong now. I can knock down two of those short Japanese pirates with one punch!” Xu Zhengyong demonstrated with his fist.

-Where did you find Japanese pirates to fight with? I heard recently they’re quite peaceful and not causing trouble,” Xiumei argued.

“Those little brats, if it weren’t for our shipbuilding technology being insufficient, I’d go straight to their home base! rd destroy their lair so they wouldn’t have the chance to disturb our land anymore!”

Xu Zhengyong bristled with indignation when he talked about the Japanese pirates.

Hearing his voice, the wet nurse coming from the house said to Xu Zhengyong, “It’s cold outside, why don’t you ask the young lady to come in?”

Xu Zhengyong hurriedly complied: “Ruoruo, hurry in before you catch cold. If you freeze, my mother would chop me up for firewood!”

Wei Ruo laughed, “Nanny, it’s not that cold these past few days. Let me stay outside and get some fresh air. It’s boring to stay inside all day.” “Alright, then I’ll go get a chair for you,” the wet nurse quickly went back into the house to fetch a chair for Wei Ruo.

Xu Zhengyong said with a laugh, “See, Ruoruo’s words are always the most effective. She speaks once and it matters more than a hundred words that I say.”

Wei Ruo said, “If you wouldn’t be so mischievous, others might listen to you

more.”

Xu Zhengyong chuckled and scratched his head.

From the side, Xiumei muttered, “Xu Zhengyong, don’t tell me you’re acting like this in the military too? I fear your subordinates won’t respect you!

-Rest assured, I have a lot of prestige among my subordinates in the army. My position isn’t only due to the crossbows Ruoruo provided. It’s also due to my hard work and wisdom. My subordinates know that.”

Xiumei laughed, “If you hadn’t mentioned wisdom, I would believe the rest.

But, this wisdom part, 1 really can’t believe.

“You’re just refusing to admit that I’m better than you!” Xu Zhengyong retorted.

“Whether or not you’re better than me is beside the point. I am your senior sister, you are my junior brother. You can’t blur the lines or twist the truth,” Xiumei argued back.

At this point in the conversation, Wei Ruo and the wet nurse understood and no longer needed to listen to the rest of their banter. It was bound to turn into a quarrel about seniority that wouldn’t stop for a while.

Wei Ruo and the wet nurse leisurely drank tea on the side and chit-chatted. “Nanny, after the New Year passes, you must help me keep an eye on things. You know what I mean,” Wei Ruo said.

She knew that once the New Year was over, certain matters needed to be brought up.

She had already mentioned her plan to the wet nurse before. However, the wet nurse had been hesitant.

The wet nurse was unconditionally supportive of Wei Ruo in everything else, but on this matter, she had always been hesitant.

The wet nurse said, “Miss, maybe we shouldn’t be so hasty on this matter. A delay of two years won’t be a problem. Maybe by then, Xiaoyong will have truly made some achievements.”

-I understand, but we always need to plan ahead. We can’t be too passive,” Wei Ruo insisted.

The reluctant wet nurse agreed, “I understand. I will pay attention to this matter.”

Xu Zhengyong, who was in the midst of happily arguing with Xiumei, suddenly leaned in and said, “Ruoruo, look at how fierce Meimei is. In the future, I’m sure no one will want her. Why don’t you betroth her to me?”

Before Wei Ruo could answer, Xiumei’s fist landed on him, “Xu Zhengyong! Are you asking for a beating?”

Xu Zhengyong laughed and said, “Why would this be asking for a beating? We played husband and wife when we were young, didn’t we?” “Stop talking nonsense! That was just child’s play! How dare you bring that up!” Xiumei was so angry she wanted to sew Xu Zhengyong’s mouth shut. Wei Ruo and the wet nurse knowingly turned their heads and continued their conversation.

###

The warmth of the sun in the third month signaled the arrival of spring.

Farmers started to become busy.

The plantation near Xiaoyang Mountain in Xingshan County was still growing sweet potatoes this year, while the management had been handed over to Agui and Xiaoba by Wei Ruo.

After the publicity created by selling sweet potatoes last year, many hills in Xingshan County started growing sweet potatoes as well.

Wei Ruo was not stingy either, she told everyone that they could propagate sweet potatoes using cuttings from the vine, therefore anyone who wanted to plant sweet potatoes just needed to buy some sweet potatoes as seed tubers.

The herbal field managed with Xie Yingying was not yielding much yet due to its long growing cycle. The Xie family’s servants in Xingshan County were managing it well and would have the chance to harvest some in the summer. If gathering them worked out, the profit should be quite substantial as medicinal herbs were in high demand.

In Government City, the laborers in Wei Ruo’s plantation started to work from dawn to dusk.

Plowing, seeding, watering, weeding – plenty of work awaited them.

The field of wheat also needed tending. The wheat was already lush and green, which was a joyful sight.

The labors were very motivated. Their employer treated them well, providing them with ample food, clothing, and comfortable accommodations. Anyone with a shred of gratitude would know to work hard in return.

Even those who lacked a sense of gratitude had a sense of crisis. There were many people out there who were having a hard life and wanted to work in their employer’s plantation. To keep their jobs, they had to work hard too..