The Marquis' Wife
Destination village chief and clan elder
Later that night Lu Xiang helps Adelia to liven up the fireplace and burn coal for the barbeque. He had ordered some seafood from the villa owner and was ready to wait for his wife to bake some meat and seafood to eat.
Adelia had prepared barbeque sauce from home and was beginning to busy grilling meat, mushrooms and seafood, the aroma of roasted meat with barbeque seasoning making the mouths of those who kissed it full of saliva.
Lu Shan was even impatient and approached his brother who was busy on the grill while hugging the stuffed pillow, his mouth was like chewing meat seen in his eyes making Lu Xiang and Adelia smile.
"Sister, is it still a long time?".
"Awhile more. Sitting with Lu Cheng there, it's very hot". Adelia helped Lu Xiang flick through meat and seafood and mushrooms to cook evenly.
Lu Shan shook his head and kept looking at the barbeque meat while occasionally swallowing saliva.
Before long, Adelia put the ripe barbeque on the plate and brought it to the couch. Lu Cheng who was cool playing on the swing immediately joined his sister already following Adelia.
The two little ones carefully devoured the barbeque while occasionally blowing on the still hot barbeque.
Adelia cut the barbeque into small pieces and bribed Lu Xiang who was busy grilling.
"It's tasty".
Adelia smiled proudly. Barbeque sauce is indeed his flagship sauce, he is often asked to make barbeque sauce by his friends when they want to side by side, so there is no doubt about the ability of the woman in making barbeque sauce.
The view of the stars and bright moon accompanied by colorful lanterns makes the night feel very pleasant and soothing. Lu Xiang and Adelia sat on the cot chair in front of the villa after putting Lu Shan and Lu Cheng to bed.
Lu Xiang hugged his wife to enjoy the view of the moon while enjoying fruit wine, a quiet atmosphere but not lonely because of the sound of waves that make the soul feel light.
"A very quiet night" Adelia commented.
"Yes. So soothing without any interference from anyone. We have to take Adelia on vacation often, here there is no Miao family, Lu Family or crazy matchmaker who makes the head become dizzy".
"Haha. It's because you're too much of a charm as Lu Cheng said".
"Sadly, your husband is indeed so dazzling even though I am not spread charm but still many are interested". Lu Xiang defended himself.
Adelia laughed again and looked back at the stars in the sky. "Lu Xiang's".
"Pur".
"When we get old, let's build a villa here and enjoy our old days together".
Lu Xiang was stunned then smiled gently lovingly. "Yes. Let's build a little villa for both of us and enjoy the rest of our lives here".
The breeze and the sound of the waves bear witness to the promise of the two men.
&&&
On the second day of the Lu Xiang family's vacation, they toured the city buying interesting trinkets sold by locals ranging from necklaces, rings or bracelets.
Lu Xiang chose some for his wife and Adelia chose some knots and skewers made of jade for her husband.
Lu Cheng chose writing equipment and some folklore books while Lu Shan focused on the typical food of Shuzhou city.
Adelia also bought some woven fabrics or would-be clothes made of satin and silk to make spring clothes, she had prepared spring clothes for her family but did not miss having more clothes.
"Hurry home soon". Lu Shan complained disappointedly. The two-day holiday felt so fast, he even felt that they had just arrived and already wanted to go home.
"Sister Xiang should not take long off school. We'll be on vacation again sometime".
Finished lunch the Lu Xiang family returned home, returning to Cheng city reluctantly. Their first vacation was so much fun that they forgot it was time to go back.
Lu Cheng and Lu Shan looked at the gates of Suzhou city that were getting further away then let out a long sigh. The journey home felt faster than the beginning of departure, although Adelia was still nauseous in the middle of the journey but her body did not go limp so much as to require her to lean on Lu Xiang's shoulder.
The horse-drawn carriage came to the house in the afternoon. Lu Mei and Lu Yan who were the new servants that Adelia had chosen were already waiting for them along with Lu Fang and Lu Feng.
"Welcome back mister, mistress and young master" They greeted respectfully.
"We're home. Is there a problem while we're on vacation?" Lu Xiang clasped Adelia's hand which was coming down from the carriage.
"There's no problem as long as you go sir, it's just that some people come to visit wanting to meet you, they say that they're Miao's village chief and his elder".
The expressions of Adelia and Lu Xiang changed slightly. Adelia thought that the Miao family was back to act, but Lu Xiang thought that they had a certain purpose, perhaps regarding the title of Xie Hsien that he had.
Since the new year, Adelia and Lu Xiang no longer visit the village of Miao, even after obtaining a bachelor's degree Xie Hsien. The yamen officers did not visit Miao village to report on the achievements that Lu Xiang had achieved because the man had changed his residence in the exam file.
Perhaps because of that, the village chief Miao and the elder chose to come alone to Lu Xiang's residence because the man did not come.
"Lu Xiang's. Do you think the Miao family is making trouble again?" Adelia sat in the living room and thought about what the village chief Miao was visiting.
Lu Xiang nodded. "I don't think so, as the arrival of the village chief concerns the title of Xie Hsien".
"Hm? Whyyyy?".
"When uncle Huanran became a scholar, the village chief asked for a percentage of the land tax-free. I think that's what village chief Miao is for".
Adelia. Yes, because the village head will support students who want to potentially pass the exam. He remembered from the memory of the owner of the body that the Miao village chief helped the Miao family farm when harvesting so that they would not have to pay others. Before Adelia married, she and her two uncles worked in the fields and of course it was not enough to manage the rice fields that covered dozens of hectares.
Adelia is speechless. "But you didn't have any support from the clan or from Lu Xiang village? Do they dare to ask for a share of the land tax-free even if they give nothing?".
Lu Xiang smiled sinisterly. "That's because I don't have a family". For a scholar, the support of the village and the clan is very important because if something happens that can damage the reputation then the clan can help but that does not apply to him, from beginning to end he did not expect any help from the clan or the village and did anything alone.
Adelia's getting speechless. Why do people come like ants one by one, do they like sweet food?. Why do they shamelessly ask for something even before they give something as well?, he was not the way people thought like that.
"If that's their goal then they're so shameless, do you want to give it to Lu Xiang?".
Lu Xiang was silent for a moment then nodded, leaving Adelia stunned. "I think that the land tax money that does not need to be paid can be used for children to go to school, in Miao village only Miao Sheng and I can go to school".
Adelia fell silent, she felt embarrassed for thinking narrowly. This life is not only for yourself but also to help others, if everyone behaves like Miao villagers then the rich will become richer and the poor become poorer. Adelia's face heats up, a modern attitude that rarely cares about non-self affairs lingering in her soul until she rarely thinks something is useless to her.
"Sorry Lu Xiang. I'm thinking narrowly, you're right that tax money can help kids go to school and become respectable scholars".
"Don't apologize, dear. What you think is also true, I do this also for myself and our family. Even if they don't help us if we get into trouble at least they won't help people who want to take us down". He was able to think so because of the teachings of Zhao Fan who had been struggling in government and came out.
Adelia nodded in understanding. "How much do you want to give Lu Xiang?".
"Halfly, about 15 hectares.1 hectare of land can produce rice as much as 3 tons more and a tax of 40% it is 1.2 tons if it is plucked then one harvest produces 18 tons of rice that should be paid for taxes, it is enough for two children to study in elementary school".
The harvest tax did look big, it happened because the Murong kingdom was in a truce with the Yuan Kingdom. The land tax was lower on Emperor Yi's government compared to his father's leadership which set the land tax at up to 55%.
18 Tons equals 180 quintals. 1 paddy quintal sold 1 parchment coin then total all 18 silver coins. Yeah, that's enough to fund two kids for school.
"Well then, but what if they don't use it for education?" Adelia has an impression of being an unjust village chief and prefers the Miao family even if they are wrong.
Lu Xiang smiled mysteriously. "I'll handle it, baby. They won't be able to manipulate the money for their own benefit". Not his type who does the kindness secretly, he helps the village because he wants a good reputation so there is no way he let the villagers do not know what he is doing.