The Nobleman

"Brother, time for early work!" Not long after, someone shouted from outside.

This person was Zhao Datou's son, named Tie Niu, who also worked in the cattle shed. Meng Yuan liked his simple honesty and took good care of him, sometimes even sharing a sheep testicle with him. Their relationship was therefore quite good, and Tie Niu called Meng Yuan to work together every day.

Meng Yuan went out and headed to the cattle shed with Tie Niu.

There wasn't much work in winter, just shoveling old manure, providing water and adding grass. There were very few other chores. After all, winter was the slack season, and the fields didn't need tending.

But that Manor Head Li was truly inhumane. He couldn't stand anyone resting for a moment. Seeing that Meng Yuan was capable, he pushed work onto him relentlessly. Besides castrating sheep and cattle, he had him shovel manure, cut grass, level earth, and sweep snow. The only thing left was for him to sleep with his wife on his behalf.

Even Old Man Jiang, the only veterinarian in the manor, couldn't be idle. As long as there was nothing to do in the manor, he was sent to nearby villages for private work, and his second son had to follow him, with all the money earned going to his second son.

Even a child like Jiang Tang had to weave as many grass ropes and bamboo baskets as the manor women, and all the finished ones went to his eldest son, Li Dabiao, to sell.

There was absolutely no meat in the three meals a day, and rations were often withheld. He resold the manure from the manor and also peddled chicks and piglets, truly both stingy and greedy.

The villagers had no choice. That Manor Head Li was an old servant who came with the Princess Consort's dowry and had also curried favor with Steward Liu of the Royal Residence. His father and son truly had absolute power in the manor.

After working for over an hour, everyone washed up a bit before going to the mess hall for breakfast.

Jiang Tang was already waiting. She took out two dried dates, wanting to give them to Meng Yuan, but he glared them back.

After eating, Meng Yuan was just telling Tie Niu about testicle-pulling techniques when he heard the urgent sound of a gong outside, which meant summoning the villagers.

Everyone came to the front of the manor's main hall and saw a carriage, along with two mounted guards.

Two small maidservants got out of the carriage first, followed by the main person.

That person was wearing a light-colored cloak with a circle of white fox fur around the edge of the hood. Her hands were tucked into her sleeves. She had a beautiful appearance, around twenty years old, stood straight, and surveyed everyone.

"Miss Xun Mei, why have you come? Wasn't it always Steward Liu in previous years?" Manor Head Li, who usually barked orders, bent over and stepped forward to flatter her.

Meng Yuan had heard of this woman. She was a capable maidservant by the Princess Consort's side and was deeply favored by the Princess Consort.

However, looking at her imposing demeanor, she didn't look like a maidservant at all, but rather a proper mistress.

"The New Year is approaching, and the Princess Consort ordered me to come and take a look." Xun Mei's voice was as serene as snow plum blossoms. She stepped towards the main hall.

Manor Head Li quickly followed her in. The other villagers didn't know what to do and just stood outside foolishly.

Meng Yuan saw clearly that this Miss Xun Mei was likely here to check the year-end accounts.

Indeed, after waiting for a while, they saw Manor Head Li come out of the main hall and call people in for questioning, but he didn't go back in himself. And the people who came out after being questioned were all beaming with joy, while the faces of Manor Head Li and his son became increasingly grim.

After waiting for half an hour, Meng Yuan, Old Man Jiang, and Jiang Tang also got a chance to go inside.

That Miss Xun Mei had already taken off her cloak and was looking at the account books in front of a low table, with her other hand still using an abacus.

"Are you the new veterinarians?" Xun Mei didn't even look up, just asked while manipulating the abacus.

"Replying to the esteemed one, that is correct." Meng Yuan replied.

"Have you been bullied or mistreated in the manor?" Xun Mei asked again.

"The Princess Consort is generous to us, and no one has bullied us." Meng Yuan had long wanted to overthrow Manor Head Li and his son, but he didn't report them casually.

In Meng Yuan's opinion, that Manor Head Li had probably already made the accounts look good. And even if he reported them, it would only be minor matters of reselling manure and chicks and piglets. With Manor Head Li's status as a dowry servant, he would likely be safe today.

"How much monthly allowance does the manor give you?"

"Replying to the esteemed one, we have been in the manor for a month and haven't received any yet."

"Do you know if the pasture manor has used the Royal Residence's name to oppress nearby villagers?"

"We are new here, so we haven't heard of it."

"Seeing that you reply smartly, have you studied?" Xun Mei looked up and at Meng Yuan. Seeing that although Meng Yuan's clothes were tattered, they couldn't hide his handsome and intelligent appearance, she looked at him a few more times before bending down to calculate again.

"I studied before and know a few characters." Meng Yuan said.

"Can you calculate accounts? Can you use an abacus?" Xun Mei asked again.

"I've read a few books on arithmetic." Meng Yuan replied.

"Now there are chickens and rabbits in the same cage. There are eight heads above and twenty-six feet below. How many chickens and rabbits are there?" Xun Mei directly gave a test question.

Meng Yuan didn't even need to count on his fingers; he immediately had the answer. But he pretended to think, paused for a few breaths, and then said, "Is it five rabbits and three chickens?"

That Miss Xun Mei smiled slightly, with a hint of appreciation, and said, "The Princess Consort is benevolent and will not let her servants go hungry or cold. You are a newcomer here, work hard, and there will always be a day when you rise."

Meng Yuan understood. This meant that since he could read and calculate, he was already a potential "upper-class servant," but because he was too new, he had to wait a little longer.

"Thank you, esteemed one." Meng Yuan quickly thanked her, but he didn't know when he would be promoted.

"I am not an esteemed one. You and I are the same, just working for the Princess Consort." Xun Mei seemed to have a good impression of Meng Yuan. She took out a small porcelain bottle. "Working is hard, but there is always a time to pick up books again. I happened to bring a bottle of chilblain cream. Treat the chilblains on your hands."

"Thank you, Mei-jie." Meng Yuan stepped forward to take it, already changing his address. He was truly climbing the ladder.

Xun Mei beckoned, and the small maidservant beside her took out three pieces of broken silver and gave them to the three of them.

Weighing it lightly, it was about one tael. No wonder the people who were questioned earlier came out beaming with joy; it turned out they had received a reward.

"The New Year is approaching, this is what the Princess Consort ordered, everyone gets some. But you are new, so I gave you a little more, don't spread it around." Xun Mei smiled. Seeing that the three of them were so moved they were about to cry and shed snot, she let them leave.

Meng Yuan didn't have a chance to use his flattery skills and couldn't help but feel disappointed.

Coming out of the main hall, Manor Head Li and his son outside had gloomy faces and were staring intently at Meng Yuan and Old Man Jiang.

Old Man Jiang was startled and whispered, "We didn't say anything."

Manor Head Li waved his hand impatiently.

Meng Yuan didn't say anything, but he had his own thoughts.

Princess Consort Xun Mei personally distributing the New Year's rewards showed that she was preventing anyone from intercepting and taking a cut. This also indicated that the Princess Consort was not only kind but also capable.

It was clear that the people above were good, and it was the greedy and cunning Manor Head Li and his son below who were causing problems in the execution.

Secondly, Xun Mei isolated Manor Head Li and his son and asked the villagers about the affairs of the manor. This was to carefully understand if there was any deception or concealment in the pasture, showing that the Princess Consort also knew the character of the people below and was taking precautions to nip problems in the bud and give them a slight warning.

As expected, after checking the accounts, Miss Xun Mei walked around a few more pens, and then strictly ordered Manor Head Li not to mistreat the villagers, not to withhold food and drink, and not to cause trouble in the name of the Royal Residence.

Manor Head Li and his son didn't dare to breathe heavily and readily agreed. However, as soon as Xun Mei left, they burst into laughter, not avoiding anyone at all.

Meng Yuan observed with a cold eye, guessing that Manor Head Li and his son had definitely committed more than just these minor offenses, which was why they couldn't help but be smug as soon as they passed the test.

However, Meng Yuan hadn't caught any solid evidence, so it was difficult to bring them down.

After a busy day, they finished work and returned to their dwelling.

After a quick wash, Meng Yuan was pulled by Jiang Tang into her small thatched cottage.

With a single lamp flickering like a bean, the two sat side by side on a long bench. Meng Yuan dipped his finger in water and wrote Jiang Tang's name on the broken table.

Jiang Tang wasn't very attentive in her learning. After tracing a couple of strokes, she whispered, "That Mei-jie today was really pretty."

"You'll be even prettier than her in the future." Meng Yuan stated the truth. This girl had a good foundation, just a bit thin and weak. If she was well-nourished, she would probably be a beauty in a few years.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tang lowered her head. Even in the faint lamplight, her face was visibly flushed.

The shyness of a young girl was certainly pure and lovely, but it also truly made one unable to feel any desire to tease.

"Brother, how do I use this?" Jiang Tang took out a small porcelain bottle. This was the chilblain cream Xun Mei had given Meng Yuan, which Meng Yuan had casually given to Jiang Tang.

It was just chilblain cream, how else could it be used? This girl was full of tricks at such a young age!

Meng Yuan took the porcelain bottle, and Jiang Tang quickly extended her hand.

She wove grass ropes and bamboo baskets every day, and her delicate palms were full of small cracks from the cold, which made Meng Yuan's heart ache.

He applied the ointment to the cracks on her hands, gently rubbing it in, and said, "Next year, I won't let you get chilblains again."

Jiang Tang nodded happily, and then she applied the ointment to Meng Yuan's hands, humming an off-key shepherd's song.