Chapter 29

Life gradually improved, and Wang Ju's emaciated figure also began to recover. Winter came, and Wang Ju kept the sheep in the pen for the winter, no longer needing to manage the crops. His dark skin gradually became somewhat fairer.

He put on a new hemp robe, but the fur coat sewn by his aunt was somewhat glaring. However, overall, he looked better than before.

"Not bad, not bad, you have the air of a young gentleman," You Tao said, patting Wang Ju's shoulder.

Wang Ju, however, looked strangely at the group of young men and women: "Everyone, it's freezing outside..."

"No problem, we brought enough luggage."

As they spoke, their servants or maids unloaded the luggage from the ox cart, including tents, beds, blankets, charcoal stoves, charcoal, various daily necessities, and even cosmetics.

Do they plan to have a party at Wang Family Village every day?

Well, the ideas of these second and third-generation rich kids were beyond his comprehension in his previous life, and probably still are in this life.

Actually, the reason is very simple.

Few people know the truth.

But could the person who wrote "The setting sun sends the returning geese, the evening mist rises in layers" be any less? If the writer was only thirteen years old, could he still be seen as a poor child?

Moreover, the young men and women who came all had good relations with the Zhu family. They didn't know the truth, but they could see the changes in Zhu Jun.

Is this theory of hardship a good way to educate children?

Thus, their parents didn't oppose their coming to Wang Family Village.

In fact, these young people came just to relax and play, not to learn the lesson that "enduring hardship leads to greatness."

"This room is quite cozy," Yang Du said.

Building a new cave house was a good thing, but it was too large, with six big rooms. Wang Ju asked Zhu Qing why it was so big.

Zhu Qing answered, "A house lasts a hundred years, a cave house lasts a thousand. Don't forget, you still have three oxen."

Such a long-term plan... Wang Ju was speechless.

Build it, then, it's not my money anyway.

Just as the cave house was completed, the matters in Yan Prefecture were also settled. Cheng Kan finally agreed to a compromise.

Actually, if he was still not satisfied, even Wang Ju would look down on him. Yes, this case did tarnish his reputation. But in the end, it was just a matter of political achievements. Throwing out three chips, what a great political achievement. Moreover, if it came to an investigation, Lu Gongbi would also bear some responsibility.

The Black Bee Bandits were finished, with only a few still hiding. Most were killed or captured, not enough to pose a threat.

Wang Ju could now focus on his studies and grow up in peace.

However, moving into the new cave house, it was too large and empty, making Er Niu feel scared at night.

So the three siblings continued to share one bed. They were all young, so there was no need to be shy.

Wang Ju made a simple fireplace, a new thing, but it only connected two rooms. One room was reserved for Zhu Jun.

"Zhu Erlang, why are you unhappy?" Wang Ju asked, seeing Zhu Jun's gloomy expression.

"Don't mention it, it's depressing for everyone," Li Wan Yuan said.

"What happened?"

"Do you remember Xiang Yu?"

"Of course, isn't she the top courtesan in Yan Prefecture?"

"Exactly. Not only is she not a pure courtesan, but she also has a lover. Guess who her lover is?"

In the Song Dynasty, many pure courtesans were indeed pure, but some were not. After all, they lived in such places, and the concept of chastity was relatively relaxed. Even in the folk, many people were willing to marry a concubine as a wife. Wang Ju had heard a rumor that during the Lantern Festival in the capital, many young men and women would meet and copulate in the willow groves under the state bridge after watching the lanterns. So it was normal.

But this wasn't the reason for everyone's anger.

Li Wan Yuan continued, "Her lover is the bandit leader Song Ji."

"It's him?" Wang Ju was also stunned.

His beloved turned out to be the mistress of a notorious bandit. How could Zhu Jun not feel disheartened?

Wang Ju patted his shoulder and said, "Zhu Erlang, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a man named Zhu Sheng. On the road, he saw a woman carrying a bundle, walking very laboriously. He went to help her and found her to be a beautiful young lady. He fell in love with her and asked why she was walking alone so early in the morning. The young lady said, 'My parents are greedy for bribes and sold me to a wealthy family. The main wife is very jealous and often beats me. I can't bear it, so I ran away.'"

It really happened.

"Zhu Sheng asked where she was going. The lady said she didn't know. Zhu Sheng suggested, 'Why don't you stay in my study temporarily?' The lady said, 'If you really want to keep me, don't tell anyone.' Zhu Sheng agreed, and they lived together. Soon, Zhu Sheng met a Taoist on the street. The Taoist asked him strangely, 'What have you encountered?' Zhu Sheng said nothing. The Taoist said, 'You are surrounded by evil, how can you say nothing?' Zhu Sheng still denied it. One day, he went to the study and found the door closed. He suspected what the lady was doing inside, so he climbed over the wall and peeked through the window. He saw a green-faced, fanged demon laying a beautiful human skin on the bed and painting it with a brush. After finishing, it put the skin on like a coat and transformed back into the beautiful young lady."

"Ah," the women screamed in fright.

"What happened next?" You Tao asked.

"There's no more," Wang Ju laughed.

You Tao was speechless for a long time before saying, "Wang Xiaolang, not all beautiful women have evil hearts."

"It's just a metaphor. Appearance is important, but character is truly important. By the way, what happened to Xiang Yu?"

"The authorities received information and sent officers to arrest her, but found that Xiang Yu and her maid were accompanying Song Ji back to his hometown for ancestral worship. The officers went to Song Ji's house but found that the three had not returned. They must have been taken away by Song Ji. The authorities had to issue a warrant for the four. But I can't understand why Xiang Yu would fall for him?"

"Would you break the command of your parents and the words of the matchmaker to marry her openly? Even if you could, you wouldn't be able to compete with him. Don't be不服气 (unconvinced), men who are bad are liked by women..."

"That's not right."

No one thought Wang Ju was inappropriate in talking about men and women. They were all mature, and some young men might marry at twelve or thirteen, like Emperor Zhenzong, who hid Liu E in the palace before he even had facial hair... But this view was not mainstream.

"Although Liu Sanbian is good at writing short poems, think about what happened to his wife. It's precisely because of such a rogue and his talent that he is liked by almost all courtesans. Although Song Ji is a bandit, he has experienced much, acts decisively, is intelligent, and has some talent and wealth. Such a man is not comparable to you young men. Or, if I grow up a bit more, I might be able to tame this woman."

Everyone cursed him and then laughed uncontrollably.

Actually, Wang Ju was speaking to Zhu Jun.

But only Zhu Qing truly understood. This young man was not a great evil, but he was not gentle either.

"You're right, not only should you tame her, but you should also whip her," Meng Xiaoniang said.

Whipping her and dripping wax, Wang Ju imagined a queen version of Little Meng, with Xiang Yu tied in front of her, and he broke out in a cold sweat.

The others were also left speechless by her words.

"Did I say something wrong? Look at this enchantress, clearly a bad woman, yet she makes you all lose your minds."

"Right, right," everyone nodded and bowed.

"If someone treated you like that?" Her friend Hu Xiaoniang asked.

"It depends on who it is," Meng Xiaoniang said, glancing at Little Wang Ju.

Such boldness made Wang Ju break out in a cold sweat again.

Note: According to Song Dynasty regulations, concubines and maids were on "contracts." Generally, after five years, a concubine would be returned to her family. Because these women, who served as concubines in large households, were considered to have been trained and had experience, many common families preferred to marry such women as wives.