Chapter 261 Digging a Ditch

"What's wrong with doing some work?" Chu Anlan said, "I spend money every day to support them, can't I give them something to do? Stop nagging and lead the way to your fields.

It's late, and it's going to rain.

We saw on the way here that most of the ditches of other families had already been dug.”

Aunt Hua looked at Ye Wanqing with an embarrassed look.

Ye Wanqing's eyes were gentle: "The servants all liked the noodles Aunt Hua made last time. They pointed out the fields for us. Aunt Hua, please make another bowl of noodles for everyone."

"I want to eat noodles too!" Ye Chenxi said, "Aunt Hua, my sister and An Lan have eaten the noodles you made, but I haven't."

Aunt Hua smiled from ear to ear: "Okay, okay..."

She went back to her room and said a few words to Alan, then found a lot of hoes, shovels and bamboo baskets in the house and distributed them to the servants.

Because there were too many people and too few hoes, Aunt Hua temporarily found the hoes she had bought before and temporarily assembled a few hoes and shovels.

After finishing, he led the group to the fields.

There were more people in the fields than when we came in the afternoon, and the sounds of talking and children laughing were everywhere.

And the locusts are still flying around in swarms.

When locusts flap their wings, they make a buzzing sound that is enough to make your scalp tingle.

If you walk too fast, locusts may even hit you in the face.

Ye Wanqing was hit in the face by locusts several times.

Seeing this, Chu Anlan simply held her in his arms and used his wide sleeves to shield her from most of the locusts.

Ye Wanqing looked down at the road beside her feet and couldn't help laughing: "Do I look like I'm here to cause trouble?"

"No." Chu Anlan held her hand carefully: "You look like the master who came to inspect the fiefdom."

Ye Wanqing paused and chuckled.

Chu Anlan also laughed.

The two were laughing when Aunt Hua in front of them stopped and pointed at a few fields: "There, there, and there... these are all my fields.

The pears by the field are probably almost ready to eat, pick them if you like..."

Upon hearing this, the servants began to look for a suitable place to dig a ditch.

Ye Chenxi was holding a small bamboo basket full of grapes and standing next to Aunt Hua: "What is that tall grass growing by the field?"

Aunt Hua pointed to a place and said, "That one?"

"Yes." Ye Chenxi said, "That's it. There are a lot of them by the river, in large patches."

Before Aunt Hua could speak, Chu Anlan came over holding Ye Wanqing's hand and said, "That's sugarcane."

"Sugar cane?" Ye Chenxi suddenly realized: "So, this is what sugar cane looks like? The sugar cane I ate when I was a child was all cut for me by the maids. I have never seen a whole one."

"Then I'll take you to the field to have a look." Aunt Hua said, "It's edible now. I'll go cut two for you."

Ye Chenxi's eyes lit up: "Thank you Aunt Hua!"

He called Yaolin and skipped away with Aunt Hua.

On this side, the servants had a clear division of labor. Some dug, some transported, and they were full of energy...

The clouds were dark and birds and insects were flying low.

As evening approached, it became even hotter and more muggy.

In the bustling fields, County Magistrate Cheng Zhe came over here with a large group of people.

Before the people arrived, the voice came first: "It's going to rain soon, why are the prince and the princess in the fields?"

A dozen or twenty people walked through the path in the field.

The already narrow path suddenly became congested.

Ye Chenting walked in front, stopped and said something to the person behind him, then came over alone.

Cheng Zhe greeted them from a distance before leading his people away.

Lu Jilian also left with them.

Ye Chenting came over with his attendant. When he got closer, he asked, "Is this Aunt Hua's field?"

"Yes." Ye Wanqing asked, "Second brother, aren't you going with County Magistrate Cheng and the others?" Ye Chenting replied, "I saw you guys here, so I came to take a look first and then go look for them later."

Ye Wanqing said, "I saw many yamen runners cutting bamboo in the bamboo forest by the river."

"Tonight may be a sleepless night." Ye Chenting said slowly: "After digging the ditches, we need to organize yamen runners, rural soldiers and young and strong men to burn locusts in the fields.

Let’s put out as many as we can before the rain comes.”

"Then... will Second Brother come back home tonight?" Ye Wanqing asked, "I'll have someone keep the door open and prepare food and hot water."

"You don't have to worry about me." Ye Chenting said gently: "After helping Aunt Hua, go back early.

The road here is all muddy, and if it rains, the carriage won’t be able to move forward.”

Ye Wanqing's eyebrows moved slightly: "Okay."

Ye Chenting looked at Chu Anlan again: "Protect Qing'er and take him home as soon as possible."

"I understand." Chu Anlan replied with a smile.

Ye Chenting glanced at Ye Chenxi who was peeling sugarcane with difficulty at the edge of the field, smiled, and looked away.

Coincidentally, Ye Chenxi also looked back and waved at him happily: "Second brother!"

Ye Chenting retracted his gaze: "Okay, Master Cheng and the others have gone far away, I should go now."

Ye Wanqing warned: "Second brother, be careful about everything."

"rest assured."

Ye Chenting responded and followed Cheng Zhe and his group in the direction they left with his attendants.

Ye Wanqing looked at the direction where her second brother left: "The birds are flying lower and lower..."

"Is it going to rain soon?" Chu Anlan asked.

"Yeah." Ye Wanqing nodded: "Before the rain falls, the wind is very humid, and the wings of birds and insects are contaminated with moisture and become very heavy."

"Isn't it very convenient to catch locusts at this time?" Chu Anlan asked.

"That's true." Ye Wanqing looked at the vast fields: "So you see, the locusts can't fly high anymore."

Chu Anlan stretched out his hand and caught a locust, and was very happy: "It's really easy to catch!"

As he spoke, he jumped around enthusiastically catching insects, regardless of the fact that he was still wearing fancy clothes.

Qianxi stood beside Ye Wanqing and whispered, "There are so many spots of mud on the prince's robe...

This robe took half a month just to embroider..."

"Let him be." Ye Wanqing smiled faintly: "As long as the prince is happy."

"I am just crying for myself in advance." Qianxi raised her sleeves and pretended to wipe her eyes: "Tomorrow, it will be my turn to do the laundry."

Upon hearing this, Ye Wanqing couldn't help but wonder: "When did I arrange for you to do the laundry?"

"It's none of the princess's business." Qianxi drooped her eyes and said, "I was joking with the maid who was doing the laundry, and I made a bet, but I lost.

Therefore, I will help her with a day's work tomorrow."

It turned out to be the case.

Ye Wanqing laughed: "Then I can't help you. But, what did you bet on?"

"It's just an insignificant matter." Qianxi straightened up: "I am willing to accept the loss of the bet, and I will not cheat and embarrass the princess."

Ye Wanqing smiled: "Okay."

Ying Xiang asked from the side: "You have been out for a long time, are you thirsty or hungry?"

"I'm not thirsty or hungry." Ye Wanqing said, "Come with me to see the ditch they dug."

Beside the field.

The servants were all young and strong men. Although it was their first time doing farm work, they did it very skillfully.

The ditches were dug neatly and beautifully, and the soil was compacted firmly.

A servant asked: "Princess, is it okay to dig like this?"

Ye Wanqing took a look and said: "The ditch is fine, but the excavated soil can be poured a few feet further to prevent it from being washed back by water when it rains."

Upon hearing this, the attendant carried the soil further away.