CHAPTER 53: CHAPTER 53 I DON’T WANT SUCH GOOD FORTUNE 11

Anning looked helplessly at Xiao Yuan who had come to help in the fields again.

Xiao Yuan had come to help daily for the past few days, bringing his own provisions. In the evening, at dinner time, he would not stay to eat but rode back home.

He would work in the fields all day but never again mentioned that he liked Anning.

Every day he silently worked hard, occasionally stealing glances at Anning during breaks, but he did not speak any frivolous words.

This made Anning have a rather good impression of him.

Anning had also told Xiao Yuan not to come and help anymore, but Xiao Yuan said it wasn’t for anything else; he just wanted to see how high the yield of the crops he planted would be, his motive was to prevent the common people from suffering from famine.

What else could Anning say?

She could only let him be.

Besides helping in the fields, Anning had also developed Detoxification Pills.

Her body had accumulated too many toxins; she dared not detoxify all at once. While the effects would be good, the potency and strength of the medicine would be too much for her body to handle.

Anning first began to nourish her body, enhancing the quality of her physique, and only when her body was well-prepared did she start to detoxify bit by bit.

Then, Xiao Yuan saw the birthmark on Anning’s face fade more each day.

Several months later, the birthmark on Anning’s face had completely disappeared, and she regained her original appearance.

And the wheat and rice in the fields were also ready for harvest.

Xiao Yuan arrived at the Bai family’s fields before dawn, said nothing, and picked up the tools to help Anning harvest the rice.

When the first rays of sunlight appeared in the eastern sky and the horizon was tinged red, Xiao Yuan straightened up and wiped his sweat.

He saw a scene so beautiful that it would be unforgettable for a lifetime.

In the golden rice field, Anning, dressed in a simple gray dress, was bending down to harvest.

Her shiny black hair was pulled back, secured with just a wooden hairpin, looking exceedingly simple and unadorned.

Yet her face was more radiant than a hundred blooming flowers.

Due to the exertion, a few beads of sweat rolled down Anning’s fair skin, glistening as they slipped down her cheeks and fell into the golden rice field.

Such a delicately perfect face, filled with solemnity and earnestness.

Together with the golden fields and the red clouds on the horizon, this scene was more moving than the world’s finest painting.

Xiao Yuan clutched at his chest, feeling somewhat breathless.

His heart was pounding as if it would burst out.

Anning tied up a bundle of rice and set it aside, took a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and continued to work diligently.

Xiao Yuan, feeling parched, took the water bottle from his waist, took a big gulp, and then bent down and worked hard.

Before it was fully light, the two of them had finished cutting the rice.

Then, it was time to transport the rice back to the Bai family’s threshing yard and then thresh it.

Xiao Yuan stayed the entire day.

Only in the evening, when the threshing of the rice from one acre was completed and the yield was counted, did Xiao Yuan look at Anning with unrestrained joy: "Congratulations."

Anning was also smiling.

Her smile was so bright and radiant, more illuminating than the moon overhead: "Congratulations to us both."

Bai Desheng and Zhang Yue Mei also laughed heartily.

This one acre of not so fertile land had yielded over 600 pounds of rice under Anning’s cultivation.

This was over 600 pounds! You see, Bai Desheng and Zhang Yue Mei also used to farm, and the most fertile land could produce at most about 200 pounds of rice a year. This yield was three times as much from a single acre of land. This was undoubtedly a tremendous merit.

Anning laughed for a while before saying to Xiao Yuan: "Why don’t you eat something at my house before you go?"

Just this sentence made Xiao Yuan feel so overjoyed he almost felt like he could fly.

He was even happier than when the yield had been measured.

He excitedly rubbed his hands together: "Yes, I..."

He was so nervous he couldn’t even finish his sentence.

Zhang Yue Mei looked at Bai Desheng, and the couple shared a smile.

In the evening, after Xiao Yuan left, Zhang Yue Mei went to look for Anning.

Anning had just taken a bath and was sitting in the courtyard’s recliner, combing her long hair.

Zhang Yue Mei brought a stool and sat next to her: "Ningning, that Xiao Yuan is not bad, I see that he has feelings for you, what do you think?"

Anning stopped what she was doing, looked up at the bright moon in the sky, and softly said, "What do you think, mother?"

"I and your father are thinking, if you find him acceptable, then, then agree to him."

Zhang Yue Mei looked at Anning, her face full of affection: "Your father and I are getting old, we can’t be with you forever. If we both pass away, you would be all alone without anyone to take care of you. Xiao Yuan is really sincere towards you, and he is someone who can endure hardship and values loyalty. Being with him, I can’t promise wealth and prosperity, but a simple life may also be a kind of happiness."

Zhang Yue Mei really had no confidence in her heart.

They had been paying attention to the situation in the Capital.

Imperial Concubine Tian was becoming more and more presumptuous, and Emperor Shengping was increasingly heeding her advice.

It was said that Imperial Concubine Tian had tried several times to harm the Crown Prince, and it was only through the efforts of many Ministers that the Crown Prince’s life was saved.

Zhang Yue Mei really didn’t know if things continued this way, whether the Empress and Crown Prince would be killed by Imperial Concubine Tian early, and whether Anning would never have the chance to acknowledge her ancestors.

She and Bai Desheng had prepared for the worst.

If the Empress and Crown Prince were to die early, they would definitely not let Anning go to the Capital, nor would they reveal Anning’s true identity.

Then, they would certainly need to find a place for Anning.

The two of them observed for many days and finally felt reassured about Xiao Yuan.

Anning turned her head and saw the sorrow on Zhang Yue Mei’s face, she smiled faintly: "If father and mother think he’s good, then he must be. I’ll listen to you."

Zhang Yue Mei was delighted.

She understood that Anning had agreed.

"Good."

Zhang Yue Mei wiped her tears joyfully: "I will talk to your father later, and ask Xiao Yuan to find a matchmaker tomorrow to propose marriage."

The next day when Xiao Yuan came to help Anning harvest wheat, Bai Desheng called him aside.

When he heard Bai Desheng ask him to find a matchmaker, his joy and excitement were almost indescribable.

He nodded eagerly: "Father-in-law, don’t worry, I, I will go back and find the best official matchmaker to propose marriage, and I will definitely prepare a generous dowry..."

Bai Desheng waved his hand: "We are not in-laws yet."

Xiao Yuan chuckled awkwardly: "Yes, what father-in-law said is right."

When the matchmaker arrived, Anning had already harvested the wheat in the field and recorded the yield.

The wheat yield was also good, each acre produced over 500 to nearly 600 jin.

Zhang Yue Mei and the matchmaker went to discuss the marriage, while Anning was in her room organizing the observation records and final yield of the past few months.

Xiao Yuan gently knocked on the window from outside.

Anning pushed open the window and saw someone crouching below it, looking as pitiful as a tail-wagging puppy.

Anning was amused by Xiao Yuan and quietly adjusted her clothes before stepping out.

Xiao Yuan was standing under the osmanthus tree, nervously peering around.

Anning slowly walked over, and he hastily straightened his hair and clothes, clumsily pulling out a box: "This is, for you."

Anning took the box and opened it.

Inside the box was a jade carved hibiscus flower hairpin. The jade was good, but the carving was not very skilled.

She looked at the hairpin and then at Xiao Yuan: "Did you carve this?"

Xiao Yuan’s face instantly blushed: "Yes."

Anning smiled, her fingers gently touching the Jade hairpin: "I really like it."

She took down a wooden hairpin from her hair and handed the Jade hairpin to Xiao Yuan: "Put it on for me."

Xiao Yuan took the hairpin, his hands fumbling around Anning’s head for a long time without knowing how to proceed.

Ultimately, it was Anning who guided him to put on the Jade hairpin.

After the hairpin was secured, Anning asked Xiao Yuan: "What’s the reputation of the local county magistrate? What is his character like?"