Chapter 253 Shenmu Villa
Chapter 253 Shenmu Villa (Part )
There used to be a special winding road leading up the mountain, which could even be used by horse-drawn carriages. However, it had not been repaired in nearly twenty years, and the road was covered with half-human-high weeds, which had completely submerged the road.
"Sister, there is a snake in the bushes, I dare not go up!"
Cui Mei was afraid of snakes. She felt there were snakes in the grass and she didn't dare to move forward. Brother Xiao and her sister had already walked a long way away, and she suddenly became anxious.
Cui Yu turned around and smiled: "You are riding on a horse, what are you afraid of? Even a snake can't bite you."
"The snake will jump and bite me!"
Xiao Xia found it funny and said, "I'll take her up the mountain!"
He urged his horse to the foot of the mountain, dismounted and said, "You ride my horse, I will lead the horse up."
Cui Mei refused to dismount. She urged the horse forward and stretched out her arms. Xiao Xia held her arms and lifted her onto his horse.
"Hold on to the saddle, and I'll lead the horse up."
Xiao Xia was walking in front, leading the two horses. Cui Mei felt relieved and rode on the horse with a smile on her face.
Cui Yu looked at Xiao Xia silently. She thought that Xiao Xia would ride a horse up the mountain with his sister. In fact, there was nothing wrong with that. But Xiao Xia did not do that. He had a good sense of propriety.
He has deep emotions and is definitely not a frivolous man. Cui Yu immediately developed a liking for him.
Although the mountain is not high, the terrain is complex, with deep valleys and dense forests. The woods are lush and there are many century-old trees. There are also streams flowing out of the mountain, and there are cliffs dozens of feet high on the other side.
It was May, which is June in the Gregorian calendar, and the weather was already a bit hot, but once we entered the mountains, the temperature suddenly dropped by at least 7 or 8 degrees, and there was a cool breeze. It was really a great place to escape the summer heat.
Xiao Xia couldn't help but laugh and said, "A mountain is not famous for its height, but for the presence of immortals; a river is not famous for its depth, but for the presence of dragons. With both mountains and water, this is really a good place."
Cui Yu smiled and said, "It should be said that a mountain is famous not because of its height, but because of the monks living there; a temple is sacred not because of its size, but because of the gods living there. Why did you change it, young master?"
Xiao Xia laughed and said, "It's not a modification, it's just a reference."
"But I think your reference is better and more grand, and the momentum comes out immediately."
Cui Mei pouted and said, "Of course, monks can't be as dignified as gods!"
Soon, the three of them reached the top of the mountain. There was a flat land of seven or eight acres on the top of the mountain. It should be a villa. The house was gone, but the foundation was still there. The gaps between the bluestones were full of weeds, and there were pine forests all around.
Xiao Xia walked to the front of the cliff. In front of him was a straight and tall sacred tree, and in front of him was an emerald-like lake. To the north was an endless forest, to the south were large wheat fields, and in the distance were villages and houses. A small river connected the dark green and light green together like a jade belt.
Cui Yu walked forward slowly and sighed softly, "What a beautiful picture of a paradise!"
"Miss Cui, do you like painting?"
Cui Yu nodded. "We have been learning painting, playing the zither, reading, writing, and embroidery since we were young. We work very late every day. The requirements are very strict. We can only go out to play a few days a year."
At this moment, they suddenly saw someone riding a horse and waving to them at the foot of the mountain.
"Sister, it seems like you are calling us!"
Cui Yu nodded: "Master, let's go back!"
"Let's go!"
Xiao Xia smiled and said, "This time you sisters will ride on one horse together, and I will lead you down the mountain!"
It was almost noon when they returned to the camp. The warriors had hunted a dozen deer near the forest in the north and were busy washing, skinning and grilling the meat by the river.
There are no mountains to the north of Yang Zhao's manor, but there is a large forest, covering an area of nearly 4,000 acres. Part of it extends into Xiao Xia's manor, covering several hundred acres. This area was actually the royal hunting ground of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. Later, the hunting ground moved to another location, and this hunting ground was divided into four manors. Xiao Xia's Shenmu Manor is not the largest in area, but it has the best feng shui and scenery.
After lunch, Xiao Xia was about to go talk to his eldest brother, but he saw Cui Mei holding a small bow and arrow and looking around in front of his tent. Xiao Xia walked up to her and asked with a smile, "What are you doing here?"
"Didn't Brother Xiao say he would teach us archery?" "What about your sister?"
"Sister is taking a nap!"
"How can I teach you all by yourself? Wait for your sister to come, and I will teach you together, okay?"
Cui Mei lowered her head, feeling a little depressed, "Okay!"
She turned around and went back to her tent. Xiao Xia smiled and said, "Xiao Mei, can I perform a magic trick for you?"
Cui Mei turned around suddenly and blinked her big eyes, "What kind of magic trick is this!"
Xiao Xia took out a golden needle, placed it on the palm of his hand, rolled up his sleeves, and said with a smile: "Watch it!"
He clenched his fist, and suddenly opened his palm, and the golden needle disappeared. He turned his hand over, and the golden needle was still not there, as if it had disappeared out of thin air. Xiao Xia clenched his fist again, opened his palm, and the golden needle appeared on the palm of his hand again.
Cui Mei clapped her hands in joy, "Interesting! Big brother's tricks have gotten better!"
"Interesting, isn't it? Go back and rest for a while. We'll go archery together by the lake this afternoon."
Cui Mei was in a good mood and went back happily jumping.
The trick is of course very simple, using the flexibility of the finger muscles to transfer the golden needles between the palm and the back of the hand, which is naturally acquired through practice.
At this time, someone suddenly asked from behind: "Excuse me, sir, are you the new owner of Shenmu Manor?"
Xiao Xia turned around and saw a middle-aged man in low-rank official uniform standing not far behind him with two followers.
Xiao Xia nodded, "I am the new owner of Shenmu Manor!"
"So it's General Xiao. I'm Guan Tao, the manager of the imperial farmland in Liquan County. I received a notice from the court saying that Shenmu Manor has been granted to the general."
Xiao Xia smiled and asked, "Who was the original owner of the manor?"
"It was originally the imperial manor of the Northern Zhou Dynasty, and was later granted to General Yuchi Jiong. After his rebellion was suppressed, the manor was confiscated by the court and became an official farm."
"How many acres of wheat fields are there in front?" Xiao Xia asked again.
"There are 3,300 acres, all of which are tenant farmers. After paying taxes, the profits are divided in half. This is the current situation. Sir, you need to re-sign a tenant agreement with the farmers. I suggest that you do not increase the rent. There is a lot of land here. If you unilaterally increase the rent, these farmers will stop farming and suffer great losses."
"How much money does the harvest in a year bring?"
"Based on 30 coins per dou, your annual income is about 1,500 coins."
Xiao Xia was stunned. "Only 1,500 strings of cash?"
Guan Tao smiled bitterly and said, "General Xiao, 1,500 guan is not a small amount. There are about 20 tenant farmers. On average, each family earns 60 guan per year."
Xiao Xia nodded, "That mountain is mine too!"
"That's right! The lake and the mountain belong to the general."
“If I want to fence off the mountain and the lake and not allow outsiders to enter, is there a problem?”
Guan Tao smiled and said, "Of course there is no problem. The tenant farmers here are eager for the general to fence it off."
"Why?" Xiao Xia asked puzzled.
"If it is enclosed and turned into a private manor, it will need people to take care of it and maintain it, someone to raise horses, someone to clean the house, etc. Generally, a manor needs to hire 20 to 30 people to take care of it, which is the minimum. The one who is close to the water will get the moon first. Wouldn't the tenant farmer's family have another income?"
So that's how it is. Xiao Xia said happily: "After I clean up the manor, I can hire them first!"
(End of this chapter)