Chapter 12 Want to Go Out_1

"I fear that one day, father, mother, and brother will all abandon me like my grandfather did. The mere thought of that day coming makes my heart feel as if it's being scorched by fire."

Upon hearing this, Nurse Li quickly comforted, "Miss, you don't have to worry about these things. Their affection for Miss Ruoruo is due to blood ties, but their affection towards you has been forged over the past decade or so, which is true and unerasable by anyone!"

"Miss Ruoruo has been living in the countryside for over a decade with no formal education and upbringing, she's been able to hide it well these few days since entering the manor, but it will eventually reveal itself. Right now, they are just newly reunited and owe her a sense of guilt, Madam and Young Master naturally tolerate her, but as time passes, this tolerance will be worn away."

Nurse Li analyzed the pros and cons for Wei Qingwan.

Wei Qingwan shook her head, "If she were rude and barbaric as you say, I wouldn't be as concerned, but I've seen Wei Qingruo's demeanor at the dinner table and it doesn't resemble a typical countrywoman's crudeness, the situation you described may not happen..."

Nurse Li showed a worried face, "Miss, you must not always think in the worst direction, rest assured, I've seen Miss Ruoruo's true colors when teaching her manners these few days, I'm sure her docile appearance in front of Master and Madam is all pretend."

"Really?" Wei Qingwan's heart couldn't help but flourish with joy.

"Absolutely!"

"Nurse, I know I shouldn't wish ill on my sister, but I'm truly too frightened... now I'm like duckweed in the pond, the slightest incautious move, and I don't know where I will drift to..."

"I understand, Miss. You have a kind heart and wouldn't have such thoughts about others if you hadn't suffered so much recently. Rest assured, there are some things the old slave can handle for you, you don't have to worry or be upset."

"Mmm..."

Reassured by Nurse Li, Wei Qingwan felt somewhat better.

She then went to sleep under the care of Nurse Li and Cuihe.

###

Early the next morning, Wei Ruo went to find Madam Yun to talk about her intention of going outside.

Just planting some crops in the courtyard was far from enough for Wei Ruo.

Firstly, more experience was needed for her spatial upgrade; secondly, she needed to earn more capital for her own survival to ensure she could survive after leaving the Wei family.

Therefore, Wei Ruo now needed to find ways to expand her own enterprises, and first, she had to go out.

As a lady from a big family, she couldn't just go out casually, she must get permission from the person in charge of the family to go out.

"Where do you want to go, Ruoruo?" Madam Yun asked patiently instead of getting angry.

"I want to go around the county town and look at the villages and farmlands there, would that be convenient?"

"Visiting mountain villages nearby is no problem, but you can only go to the northwest. You can't go to the southeast of the city, and certainly not the seaside. Those damned Japanese pirates could show up at any time to stir up trouble. Here's an idea, our family owns a terraced hill in the north of the city, you can go and check it out." Madam Yun explained.

"Alright, that suits me."

"Shall I accompany you after checking the account book?"

"There is no need to bother, I can go there myself."

"That is not appropriate, Ruoruo, you are a lady now, and you can no longer run around casually. Even though the inside of the city is not as dangerous as the outside, it is still not safe enough for a girl."

"Then mother can find someone to accompany me, there is no need to trouble yourself to accompany me. Mother has a whole family to manage, I should not delay you further or make you tired."

To have Madam Yun accompany her would inconvenient her plans.

Madam Yun: "Ruoruo is really thoughtful, aware of what affects your mother."

Uh… that's not what she meant.

"Mother, please let me go by myself." Wei Ruo said.

"Alright then, I know you are still not used to life inside the manor, so you can go and have a look, but you must not run around, you understand?"

"Yes."

With Madam Yun's approval, Wei Ruo quickly prepared to go out.

Madam Yun arranged a carriage for her, with a nurse and a guard accompanying Wei Ruo.

The nurse was the other nurse who had been sent to pick up Wei Ruo, Nurse Zhang.

Upon knowing that Wei Ruo was going to the countryside again, Nurse Zhang couldn't help but grumble.

What's the matter with this Miss? Isn't she fed up with the countryside life after so many years? Now that she's back in the manor as the lady of an official family, why does she still think about the countryside? Isn't she afraid of making a fool of herself in Xingshan County, let alone when she goes to the Capital City later?

Despite her reluctance, Nurse Zhang had to comply as it was Madam's order. When facing Wei Ruo, she still kept a smile on her face.

Wei Ruo traveled by carriage out of the city. Out of the north gate, she could see rolling hills in the distance, almost all of them were terrace farmed.

Xingshan County was located in the southeast near to the sea. The wasteland outside the city was mostly saline-alkali soil, which was not suitable for farming. Therefore, residents who lived there mostly made a living by fishing. Now with the rampant Japanese pirates, fishermen fled to the city.

The northwest was hilly, with many hillocks and slopes and scarce farmland. Therefore, hardworking people developed terraces on the hills to grow rice.

However, terracing required much more manpower than farming in flat fields and its cultivation was also more difficult.

Even though a large number of terraces were developed, it still wasn't enough to meet the demand for food.

The carriage stopped in front of a small hill. Xiumei helped Wei Ruo off the carriage.

Nurse Zhang pointed to the hill in front of her and said to Wei Ruo, "Miss, this is Mantou Mountain, it is part of the Military Prefecture's property."

"Does the whole mountain belong to us?"

"Yes."

"Do we have any other properties?"

"No, the Military Prefecture has spent only five years in Xingshan County, so our foundation here is a bit thin. But your grandfather is the Earl of Loyalty in the Capital City, making his wealth far more considerable than ours." Nurse Zhang replied.

Nurse Zhang was excited, but Wei Ruo clearly knew that the family's wealth in the Capital had been nearly exhausted and all that remained was an empty shell of Earl Residence.

Wei Mingting was still somewhat capable, at least he had become a sixth-rank Colonel now. He was able to afford some property, unlike his two elder brothers, who only knew how to ruin the family belongings left by their ancestors.

"I'm going to walk around." After saying that, Wei Ruo started walking along the path at the foot of the hill.

Nurse Zhang had no choice but to follow behind.

After walking a distance, Nurse Zhang felt tired and she couldn't help but complain internally.

Just what is she up to? When does it end?

Oh her old bones!

Noticing Nurse Zhang's struggle, Wei Ruo suggested letting her rest in the carriage first. But Nurse Zhang refused, she didn't trust Wei Ruo.

She had no clue what this country girl would do, and didn't want to get herself into trouble later.

After a while, Wei Ruo finally stopped in front of a hill that wasn't yet developed into farming land.