Three Kingdoms: A Million Soldiers Grown from the Fields

Chapter 21 Four Hundred Acres (Please continue reading)

"Mr. Zixu!"

"Mr. Zixu."

"I have met Mr. Zixu."

To Zhang Xian's surprise, as he entered the village elder's house, a group of people he had never seen before bowed to him.

He didn't know why, but with the mindset that having more friends means having fewer enemies, he returned the greeting when someone bowed to him.

Just as he was about to return the greeting with a clasped fist salute to a burly man who was eight feet tall and had a thick beard but seemed much more reserved, several loud laughs came from the inner room. The voices laughed as they moved towards Zhang Xian.

"Mr. Zixu, I have missed you dearly these past few days."

Guo Huai approached Zhang Xian and bowed respectfully, which surprised Zhang Xian greatly. He did not expect that the person who came would be the head of the Guo family. He even saw the beautiful woman from the hospital room that day, Guo Tang and Guo Tang.

Wait, your whole family came? Why? Are you here for a meal from my family?
Zhang Xian was completely baffled, but his body reacted quickly, returning the greeting with a bow: "It is actually Patriarch Guo in person. I am truly sorry for not greeting you properly."

He also cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to the people behind Guo Huai.

Guo Tang lowered her body slightly, her face as warm as a spring breeze, while Guo Tang beside her bowed and clasped his hands like a little adult.

“Oh, Zixu, why do you say that? I just saw that the weather has improved recently, so I brought my family here for a spring outing. How could I let Zixu come to greet me?”

“If Zixu says so, then you are being too polite to me. Hahaha, let’s not talk about this anymore. Come, Zixu, let me introduce you.”

Guo Huai laughed a few times, then affectionately took Zhang Xian's hand and introduced him to the villagers from his hometown.

"Zixu, this Zhou Da, also known as Zhou Renkuan, is a nephew of the powerful Zhou family in Zhending. He is currently the head of Erxiang Township. You should try to get to know him better in the future, as his family is quite well-connected in the salt and iron business."

Zhang Xian understood; Guo Huai was introducing him to several clan members from Changshan.

So he followed suit, cupping his hands and saying, "Greetings, Brother Renkuan."

Zhou Da smiled and returned the greeting: "Brother Zixu, you are indeed a handsome and dignified man, worthy of being called a contemporary hero by Patriarch Guo. Brother, you should visit my hometown more often when you have time. I have quite a few fine wines here."

"sure."

After exchanging pleasantries, Guo Huai led him to the next man, a tall, robust man.

"This is Li Zhao, Li Boquan, from the Li family of Zhending. He is currently the head of the kiln pavilion and can move around."

Zhang Xian's eyes flickered. He seemed to understand something from Guo Huai's introduction of the two. The Zhou family was introduced in detail, while the Li family's introduction was brief. It seemed that this was a reminder of the differences between families.

Although he understood, he still maintained proper etiquette: "Greetings, Brother Boquan."

Compared to Zhou Da, Li Zhao seemed much more reserved. He quickly clasped his hands in return and said, "I am unworthy of being called an elder brother by Mr. Zixu. If Mr. Zixu thinks highly of me, you may simply call me Boquan."

Zhang Xian smiled but didn't say anything, only patted him on the shoulder.

After several more rounds of introductions, Zhang Xian had gotten to know almost all the people who had come with Guo Huailai.

The rural areas of Zhending were mostly controlled by powerful families or wealthy households in Zhending County, which was not much different from his previous knowledge.

The saying "imperial power does not extend to the countryside" means this: the highest level of imperial authority that can be commanded is the area where the emperor's authority stops, and in some cases, it doesn't even reach that area.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, and following Guo Huai's few definitive remarks, the township head, village head, and other officials who had come to the village rose to take their leave.

These people came quickly and left quickly; in no time, only the Guo family and Zhang Xian remained in the old villager's house.

The eldest son of the village elder brought in many soft couches and placed them in the courtyard. Zhang Xian and the others knelt down, and Guo Huai then smiled at Zhang Xian and said, "Zixu, please don't be offended. Most of these people have heard of Zixu's reputation and that's why they kept pestering me to bring them here to visit."

"What are you saying, Patriarch Guo? I haven't thanked you for your help in making the introduction. As the saying goes, a local official is more powerful than a distant one. Being able to exchange a few words with them allows me to live comfortably even in the countryside."

"Haha, 'A local official is more powerful than a distant one' is indeed a brilliant saying. Zixu is truly talented. But Zixu, do you look down on Huai?"

"Why do you say that, Patriarch Guo?" Zhang Xian feigned surprise. "You address all of you as elder brothers, but you still use a distant form of address for Huai."

Zhang Xian laughed and said, "I was being impolite." He straightened up, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother Ziren."

"Haha, that's good, that's perfect!"

Guo Huai laughed heartily and beckoned to Guo Tang beside him: "Tang'er, you haven't thanked your Uncle Zixu for saving your life yet, why don't you kowtow and express your gratitude?"

"Yes, Father." The eight-year-old boy huffed as he got up from the soft couch, knelt on the yellow earth, and kowtowed three times to Zhang Xian.

"Thank you so much, Uncle Zixu, for saving my life. I will definitely be filial to you in the future."

His words amused not only Guo Huai, but also Zhang Xian. He got up, helped the little boy up, and put him back on the soft couch.

"Haha, then I'll be waiting for you to be filial." He put him down, patted his head, and then reached out to check his neck and pulse.

It was all a sham, so he didn't test it for long. After about ten seconds, he reached out and pulled his hand back. Although it was a sham, he could indeed tell that Guo Tang had recovered very well.

"Hmm, the recovery is going quite well, but your body is still a bit too delicate. Your family doesn't lack food, so from now on, you can have a meal after waking up and washing up in the morning. It doesn't need to be much, just an egg and a cup of boiled milk."

"Eat breakfast around noon, with a mix of meat and vegetables and noodles until you are 80% full. Have a light lunch until dusk, supplemented with fruits and vegetables. Exercise regularly, and you will be healthy and free from all diseases."

"Can you remember it?"

Zhang Xian smiled and patted Guo Tang's head again.

The little girl nodded seriously: "Hmm, I didn't remember, but my sister definitely remembered."

Guo Tang grinned and pointed to Guo Tang, who was kneeling beside him and looking in his direction.

Zhang Xian glanced in the direction the finger was pointing, and instantly the idiom "face like a peach blossom" found its perfect embodiment.

The girl blushed and lowered her head, her hands clasped together on her knees, twisting the hem of her silk dress.

"Do you remember?" he asked.

After a while, he heard a soft "hmm".

Zhang Xian got up and sat back down on his soft couch: "Brother Ziren, sister-in-law, and Tang'er can also use Tang'er's diet. Health is the most important thing. If you are healthy, you will not easily get sick."

Guo Huai nodded with a smile: "Of course I'll listen to Zixu."

He then beckoned, and the steward Guo Fu handed him a wooden tablet with both hands.

“Brother Zixu, I have taken care of your household registration. Now I hand it over to you. From now on, you will be registered in Changshan Zhending.”

"In addition, I have also done the things you asked Guo Fu to do for you, Guo Fu."

"Master," Guo Fu bowed and whispered from behind Guo Huai.

"Give Zixu all the Earth Books to him. Also, have you settled everything we brought today?"

"Master, they've all been sent to the Zhao family's house," Guo Fu replied, taking a small box from a wooden chest and handing it to Zhang Xian.

“Brother, look, the 200 mu of land you wanted is too small. I’ve taken the liberty of adding 400 mu for you, including 180 mu of cultivated land, which is not far from here, only about ten li away.”

Guo Huai stroked his beard as he spoke, but Zhang Xian's eyes narrowed involuntarily as he listened.

'Is Guo Tang's life really that valuable?'

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(End of this chapter)