Chapter 78

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Chapter 78: The Medicinal Field

Tian Chongxi’s words struck Zhang Xiaohua like a bolt of lightning, leaving him stunned. What… what was going on?

Zhang Xiaohua turned to look at Ma Jing, only to see that guy eating and laughing, as if he had already hidden Little Peach Blossom in a golden house. His smile was deeply hidden behind his thin, dark wrinkles, and the excitement in his eyes was visible even in the dim light of the dining hall. There was even a flush of red on his forehead.

It seemed that Zhang Xiaohua had figured something out, and his heart was full of anger. Although he was a country boy who hadn’t seen much of the world, he wasn’t someone to be easily manipulated or bullied. He hadn’t done anything to offend Ma Jing except for advising him to wash his feet and pay attention to his personal hygiene. Yet Ma Jing had schemed against him, causing Tian Chongxi to greatly despise him. This was truly hateful.

Clenching his teeth and fists, Zhang Xiaohua walked towards Ma Jing. But after just a couple of steps, seeing Ma Jing’s smug expression, a thought suddenly occurred to him, quenching his burning anger like cold water. If he confronted Ma Jing, Ma Jing would naturally deny everything. How could he argue his case? Moreover, these people around him were generally scoundrels who knew their alliances well. How could they possibly help him? Even if he went over and hit Ma Jing, what then? Wouldn’t he be kicked out before even learning any martial arts?

These successive questions calmed Zhang Xiaohua down. He stopped, looked at Ma Jing without speaking, and returned to his seat to eat quietly.

Among those people, aside from Ma Jing, who was watching stealthily, no one else paid much attention as they were busy gossiping. However, the middle-aged man in the tight-fitting clothes heard everything clearly. He even noticed Zhang Xiaohua’s subsequent actions. When Zhang Xiaohua sat down quietly, the man finally withdrew his gaze and continued eating.

After dinner, Zhang Xiaohua went back to Tian Chongxi’s room to retrieve his belongings and moved them back to Ma Jing’s room. However, Zhang Xiaohua wasn’t foolish enough to confront Ma Jing directly about why he had done this. That night, instead of listening to Ma Jing’s ramblings, Zhang Xiaohua walked slowly around the courtyard, thinking as he walked.

Although this incident was minor, it taught Zhang Xiaohua a profound lesson, giving him a new perspective on the world. He realized that relationships between people weren’t just about harmony or hatred, there were many strange dynamics. Different people would do different things, perhaps out of kindness, malice, or just to toy with him or watch him for amusement. In essence, the human heart is inscrutable. You may know a person’s face but not their heart. Every word should be carefully considered before trusting it. Bad people don’t always look like bad people!

However, from that day on, every night before bed, Zhang Xiaohua would open the window, whether it was sunny or rainy.

A few days later, Zhang Xiaohua’s lazy and carefree days came to an end. Although others envied such a life, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t like it, so he gladly accepted the task given to him by Tian Chongxi.

This task might have been challenging for the young servants in blue clothes and small hats, but for Zhang Xiaohua, who had grown up working in the fields, it was not challenging at all.

Early one morning, Zhang Xiaohua put on the blue clothes and small hat that Tian Chongxi had given him and, full of energy, followed Ma Jing out. His task was to quickly learn everything about working in the medicinal fields from Ma Jing.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s eager expression, Ma Jing couldn’t help but secretly despise him in his heart. A true country bumpkin, itching to work after a day of idleness. Just a lifelong farmer’s material. Thinking back to how he had tricked Zhang Xiaohua a few days ago and remembering his frustrated expression, he secretly laughed in his heart. Humph, who says that only I, Ma Jing, am the most laughed at in this Huanxi Villa? Isn’t there another little country bumpkin and he was still played in the palm of my hand?

Although Ma Jing looked down on him and could tease Zhang Xiaohua on ordinary days, he didn’t dare to be careless in the medicinal fields. He meticulously explained what needed to be done and what to pay attention to. He knew very well that the medicinal herbs in Huanxi Villa were of utmost importance. If he tripped Zhang Xiaohua up now or omitted some detail, and something went wrong later, it wouldn’t just be Zhang Xiaohua who would be punished, he himself wouldn’t escape responsibility. Ma Jing understood this very clearly and thus didn’t dare to withhold any information.

Zhang Xiaohua naturally didn’t know Ma Jing’s true thoughts. He initially thought that taking care of medicinal herbs would be very difficult, but as he listened along the way, he realized it wasn’t much different from farming, just with some minor differences. So he carefully noted everything down, and with a small medicinal hoe and shovel, followed Ma Jing to loosen the soil and weeded. It was quite easy. At the end of the day, when Ma Jing asked him questions, Zhang Xiaohua’s answers satisfied him. Moreover, Zhang Xiaohua’s work was extremely proficient, which slightly reassured Ma Jing.

So, after two more days, Ma Jing reported to Tian Chongxi that Zhang Xiaohua could work independently. Tian Chongxi could hardly believe his ears. Newcomers to his servants’ team usually needed to be guided for a long time before they could be left alone. Was Ma Jing trying to fool him? Thinking about Ma Jing’s usual behavior, he became even more convinced.

However, after taking Zhang Xiaohua around for a day, Tian Chongxi really believed that Zhang Xiaohua could work independently and felt a bit guilty for having doubted Ma Jing. After asking Zhang Xiaohua detailed questions, he understood the reason. Growing these medicinal herbs was no different from farming. Most of the young attendants previously recruited by Huanxi Villa were from relatively well-off families around Pingyang City. How could poor farm children be qualified to be favored by Huanxi Villa? Zhang Xiaohua was an exception, a poor farm boy who had experience in farming. The other attendants under him used to be arrogant at home, how could they work in the fields? This created the illusion that working in the medicinal field was very complicated and difficult.

Realizing this, Tian Chongxi couldn’t help but sigh deeply. Habitual thinking can harm people, ah.

Afterward, Zhang Xiaohua finally escaped his idle and decadent days and returned to the fields he was familiar with. The small medicinal hoe and shovel were truly adorable and much more convenient than the large hoe he used at home. With his current strength, Zhang Xiaohua could easily complete a day’s work. Life was indeed pleasant.

But there was an even more delightful surprise for Zhang Xiaohua yet to come.

One morning, Zhang Xiaohua was again watching the middle-aged man in martial attire practice his fist stances. However, after finishing his practice, the man didn’t leave immediately but walked up to Zhang Xiaohua and said: “Your name is Zhang Xiaohua, right?”

Zhang Xiaohua blinked and nodded, then heard something incredibly pleasant: “The Young Lady has instructed me to teach you martial arts when I have time.”

Zhang Xiaohua’s mouth dropped open: “Really?”

The man smiled and said: “Yes, really. My name is He Tianshu. You can call me Captain He. Wait for me here after dinner tonight. I’ll start teaching you today.”

Zhang Xiaohua was still in a daze, clearly overjoyed.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s silence, He Tianshu understood his feelings. He patted Zhang Xiaohua on the shoulder and turned to leave, leaving Zhang Xiaohua alone to process the news he wanted to hear the most in his life.

The Young Lady was truly a kind person. Zhang Xiaohua almost wanted to rush into the inner courtyard and pay his respects, but thinking of its complexities, wouldn’t he get lost or be mistaken for a peeping tom and get kicked out? He then dismissed the thought. His gratitude towards Ou Yan was beyond words. In an instant, he placed this unseen and nameless young lady on the same pedestal as his sister-in-law, Liu Qian.

Zhang Xiaohua spent the entire day in a mix of anxious anticipation and excitement. He nearly made several mistakes in the medicinal field, which jolted him back to his senses. How could he lose himself over such a small beginning? Stay calm, stay calm, he kept reminding himself while diligently working, occasionally glancing at the sky, why did the sun seem to move so slowly today?

In the agony of waiting, the sun finally set. Hearing Tian Chongxi’s shout in the distance, Zhang Xiaohua immediately dashed out of the medicinal field, leaving his calm demeanor far behind. Zhang Xiaohua still had a long way to go to achieve a tranquil state of mind.

After hurriedly finishing his dinner, Zhang Xiaohua arrived at the outer gate early. The moonlight was like water, but Zhang Xiaohua’s mood was like boiling water. His long-cherished wish was finally about to come true, and who could remain calm at such a moment? But why hadn’t He Tianshu come yet? He had almost finished eating when Zhang Xiaohua last saw him. Usually, he finished his meal early and came out quickly. Why was he so slow today?

Zhang Xiaohua paced back and forth under the moon, anxiously waiting.

After an unknown amount of time, he finally heard footsteps approaching from the courtyard. Zhang Xiaohua quickly went to greet him. Sure enough, it was He Tianshu. Zhang Xiaohua said excitedly: “Captain He, you’re here.”

He Tianshu looked at Zhang Xiaohua and said sternly: “Xiaohua, although I’m teaching you martial arts, I am not your true master. ‘Captain He’ is just a title, do you understand?”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded in confusion and He Tianshu continued: “Even though I’m not your real master, I will teach you everything I know. It’s up to you how much you can learn.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded again, and He Tianshu went on: “So, let me tell you the first thing today, martial arts practice requires a calm and focused mind. It’s taboo to be restless and distracted. Look at yourself now. How can you focus on learning martial arts when you’re in such a state?”

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua immediately understood. He realized how scattered his thoughts were today, completely overwhelmed by this good news. He quickly composed himself and calmly said to He Tianshu: “Thank you, Captain He, for teaching me.”

Satisfied with Zhang Xiaohua’s response, He Tian Shu nodded and said: “That’s better. From now on, no matter what happens, you should remain as calm as an ancient well. Follow me.”