The sun is like fire, sweating is like rain.

In the midst of the powerful shouts of the trumpet, the shirtless strong man carried the soil and stones under the scorching sun, running back and forth. Beads of sweat rolled like pearls on his forehead, and his sweat-drenched bronzed skin shone metallic in the sunlight.

Working in such hot weather is originally extremely hard, especially the construction party has strict requirements for the construction period and quality, and it is even more torturous for the workers. Generally speaking, the quality of the project under this strict requirement is put down first, and most of the staff are resentful in their hearts.

But on this site, that didn't happen. Although the workers worked hard, there were not many complaints, and everyone was so motivated that they rushed to complete the work without even the urging of the supervisor.

The reason for this is not unusual, most of these workers are recruited from the surrounding villages, and the water conservancy project was originally built to defend their homes, and the faster and better it is built, the better it will be for them. In the past, this kind of work was compulsory labor for everyone, and even they had to bring their own food, and the imperial court would not provide financial support for this kind of work, and occasionally regarded it as a kind of forced labor to force the people to complete. This time, all the young and strong people who work regardless of their residence, can get wages and food according to their daily attendance, transport earthwork and stones, and plan to plan, if the workload exceeds the assessment standards, they can get bonuses, and under the material stimulation, people's motivation is naturally enough.

In addition to this, another important factor is that Gu Shiren, the son of the Gu family, lives on the construction site, and is covered in the shack of the embankment, where he eats and lives with the workers. Everyone eats a pot of rice, sleeps in the same shack, and even Gu Shi will participate in the construction and work with the workers. Of course, he could not do any heavy work, but after all, he was a famous old man, and he actually worked with a farmer, sweating and covered in mud, which was enough to make these workers willing to drive him.

A twenty-eight-year-old peasant girl with a delicate face, with a handkerchief wrapped around her head and a wooden bucket in her hand, walked on the embankment. Looking at a group of shirtless men, the girl's face flushed slightly, lowered her head and bit her lips lightly, and quickened her pace. A man who knew her greeted warmly: "Ah Luo, are you here to bring us soup?" ”

The girl didn't look up, but lowered her head and replied, "Yes, my mother cooked soup for your uncles and brothers to relieve the heat." ”

"Aunt Ah Fu is so nice and brings us soup every day. I just carried a stone up and was thirsty, so I put a bowl to drink. ”

But the girl ignored him, and walked on. Another man on the side smiled and said, "You pickled goods also want to drink the first bite of the eighth sister's soup?" Don't pee and look at your virtue! The eldest girl's head soup is reserved for the reader. In the future, Aunt Afu's family will change the door to the court. Immediately after, there was a burst of laughter.

These country men are not of high quality, and they are mostly vulgar on the construction site. If it is a married woman, most of them will fight back with more meat, but this girl is still an unmarried body, how can she stand such words. Moreover, a large number of shirtless men had to speed up their pace, and in a panic, they almost fell to the ground several times.

It's not difficult to find Gu Shi, the only man wearing a shirt on the construction site is him. Although a Confucian shirt has long been lifted and the hem is rolled up to make a short fight, it is still much stronger than those shirtless. But when the girl saw Gu Shi in a shirt, she was more shy than she was when she looked at those shirtless men. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his face was like red, his hands trembled and he held a coarse porcelain broken bowl in front of Gu Shi, the words in his dream last night were all stuffed in his heart, and he couldn't say a word.

Gu Shi took the bowl very happily, drank all the mung bean soup inside, took out a handkerchief that was not too white to wipe his mouth, and handed the bowl back to the woman.

"Girl, give the soup to the others, it's hot for everyone, just to relieve the heat." When you order your brother to come to the shack to study tonight, don't send him. It's too dark at night, there are too many people here, and it's not safe for a girl's house. ”

"Hmm." The woman bowed her head in response. Gu Shi held the bowl, but the girl didn't pick it up. After a stalemate for a moment, the girl said, "Gu Gongzi...... Your clothes...... The wash ......"

"No, it's like this on the construction site, no matter how clean it is, it will get dirty quickly, so you don't have to worry about it. Besides, if you hire a washerwoman on the construction site, just leave it to them to wash. ”

"No, those mothers-in-law are clumsy, and the child's clothes will be washed if they are handed over......" The girl said so many words in one breath, and her face turned even redder. Obviously, he is not so afraid of life on weekdays, and he has met Gu Shi for several days, but he can't face it calmly.

At this moment, a man's voice sounded: "Shouchuang, this is your mistake." The girl's family is sincere, and you shouldn't refuse people thousands of miles away and live up to the kindness of others. A girl's family offered to wash your clothes, how could you not agree? Don't be afraid, girl, the official turned around and gave an order, his clothes can only be washed by you, and others are not allowed to touch them. Also, the girl's family sent her younger brother to study, so don't interfere indiscriminately. I'm worried that it's not safe for her to go home, so I'll send her home, and even use this official to teach? ”

This voice is not unfamiliar to the woman, she looked for the sound, and quickly knelt down on the ground and said, "The folk girl greets the master of the blue sky." ”

Fan Jin, who was dressed in an official uniform, walked hand in hand with Xue Wu, who was wearing a bright red jacket and skirt. The crowd automatically separated, and the two had already walked quickly in front of Gu Shi. Gu Shi looked at the closeness of Xue Wu and Fan Jin, his face sank slightly, he turned his head away from Fan Jin, and said coldly: "You promised me, don't interfere in the affairs of the river work, what are you doing here?" You should have this time to catch the fugitives instead of making trouble here. ”

"Haven't you heard that the fugitive slave matter has been settled? Luo Wu was captured alive, and it was time to ask and behead him in a few days. As soon as he is taken, the others are irrelevant. I'm here just to see what's going on on the construction site, and rest assured, I won't interfere with your decision. I am very relieved that you work, knowing that your brother regards the river workers as bigger than the sky, and he eats and lives on the river workers without saying anything, and no one will give him face. He used the labor and materials to do it himself, and even the strips from the governor's yamen did not recognize it. With such a desperate San Lang as you, I am naturally very relieved about the river work. But it's because I'm relieved that I'm going to come and see how you're living. If a competent river commissioner like you falls ill, who will I find to replace him? Besides, I would like to ask you what else you need here, and if there is anything you need help from the yamen? If you have difficulties, just ask, and the officer will figure it out. You also know that now the yamen is not like in the past, and it has some money in hand that can help you solve some problems. ”

Gu Shi snorted, "Are you talking about public debts?" I've heard about it too. Borrowing money from the gentry in the name of the government, this method of killing chickens and taking eggs is really bad for you to think of? If I say that I have difficulties, I will naturally have them, but I will find a way to overcome them, and I will not use your public debt money. I am responsible for the affairs of the river work, and I will not give anyone face, including you. If you want to talk to someone, you should just watch it as soon as possible, and if there is a problem, just talk to me. Now I'm going to work, and I don't have time to greet you. ”

Fan Jin smiled, "Brother Gu, please take care of it, and the official will go around by himself." This girl, will you show me the way? ”

The girl named Ah Luo was flushed, trembling and leading the way, but she didn't dare to look at Fan Jin. Xue Wu took the barrel from her hand and held it in his hand. The girl couldn't compete with her, so she had to thank her. Xue Wu smiled generously: "This girl, is Master Fan very scary?" Why don't you even dare to look at him? ”

"No...... No. The eldest lord is a white bread man, and he is the living bodhisattva of our Jiangning, how can we be afraid of the eldest lord? It's just that we, the little people, don't know how to be polite, and I'm afraid that we'll offend the big man. ”

Fan Jin smiled: "This girl is too polite. I've heard some things about you, Ling Zun died in the flood, and the mourning hall pulled you to grow up, so you all support the people and things that control the water. If there is no ding at home, I will come to deliver soup, which is very good. After that, I will send someone to give you a sum of money as a reward, and in the future, I will give you two years of free rent. As a county magistrate, it is my duty to educate the people and teach you things. You don't dare to look at me, but you can just listen. If you want something, no matter how difficult it is or how far away it is from you, you should try your best to get it, even if you can't get it, you should try your best, if you don't dare to try it in the first place, then it is completely hopeless. ”

Luo's face was red, and his heart was pounding. This is different from the idle people in the village chatting, but the parents are telling themselves these things in a serious way, what does he mean?

Xue Wu pulled out a hairpin from his head at this time and inserted it into the girl's head, "Miss Luo, you are very beautiful, dress up well, and ensure that many descendants will chase you." Don't be so shy, don't worry about anything, believe in yourself, you can do it. ”

Ah Luo's footsteps were light, and even she didn't remember walking home like this, Fan Jin and the beautiful girl said a lot, her mind was dizzy, and she didn't remember a few words. There is only one sentence that comes to mind over and over again: they are really good people.

The two who sent the girl home began to walk on the construction site, Xue Wu was born in the courtyard after all, and he was not as shy as Ah Luo. She didn't care about seeing the workers working shirtless, only Fan Jin was in her eyes, she didn't care about these people, and she couldn't get into her eyes.

"Retreat, why are you helping that girl? Gu Shi is already married, is it really a good thing for her that you help her like this? If you talk about being small, I think it's better for you to take her in, so that she can live happily. At least I bet that even if she really entered the Gu family, Gu Shi would not put down her work in the yamen and accompany her out for a walk to make her happy. ”

"I know Gu Shi best, he is a gentleman, and he will definitely not do irresponsible things. As long as he and the girl become a good thing, he has to give someone a name. You've taught her so much, as long as you're not too stupid, this marriage can be done. Although Gu Shi didn't like me, he was really good at controlling the water, and in the heavy rain a few days ago, several townships were flooded, and the embankment he built was solid and undamaged. This person is also upright and temperamental, and he is selfless in terms of materials, and no one sells face. Such a talent is hard to find, and it is also appropriate to give him some sweetness. ”

"But he has a wife, and that girl can only be small."

"As long as the two are in love, what does it matter if they are small? Gu Shi will not treat concubines harshly, and as long as the male owner of the family is willing to be the master of the concubine, the concubine will not be angry. ”

Xue Wu glanced at him and smiled, "Oh? What does it mean to retreat is that if I am angry in the future, you will not be the master for me? ”

The hands of the two of them were tightened, and Fan Jin said softly: "Wu'er, it's actually me who can't stand you." Originally, it was easy to come out to play, but it turned out to be arresting Luo Wu again, inspecting the river workers, and mixing play with official business, which was really insincere. ”

"Don't say that, you are now issuing public bonds in Shangyuan, no one has done this before, and it is the first in the entire Ming Dynasty. At such a critical time, no matter who they are, they have to work in the yamen to deal with various situations. But you took me out to play, and I was content. If we really go to the lake and climb the mountain, those officials won't drown you with saliva. Besides, which lake can you swim in and which mountain can you climb? ”

Xue Wu sneered as he spoke, Fan Jin looked at the smiling appearance of the beauty on the side, his mood was also agitated, and he whispered: "You are so beautiful." ”

"Then you say, am I beautiful or godmother?"

Fan Jin was speechless.

Fortunately, this embarrassment did not last, and Xue Wu smiled: "Okay, I won't tease you." As soon as I came back from Huguang this time, my godmother confessed to me, and swore that she seduced you, and it had nothing to do with you, and promised not to communicate again in the future, so I don't blame her. It can be seen that the godmother is sincere to you, otherwise she would never defend you like this. You are not allowed to lose your godmother, otherwise even I will ignore you. ”

"Wu'er...... You're not angry? ”

"Angry is naturally angry, but I escorted Xiangye's family back to my hometown this time, which can be regarded as an eye-opener. In the past, I was sent to Jiangning, and I thought that I had seen countless dignitaries and nobles, and I thought that the so-called wealth was nothing more than that. It wasn't until this trip that I saw what it meant to be rich and noble, and I understood how far apart I was from Miss Zhang. In the past, I still wanted to fight with her, although she is more beautiful than me, but I can serve you better than her. This time I saw her means and power, I didn't dare to have this thought, as long as she twisted it casually, I would be crushed, and you couldn't even find me. ”

Fan Jinyi frowned, "Shun Qing is difficult for you?" ”

"Not really, or rather disdainfully. It's just that the housekeepers and mothers-in-law of the Zhang family are enough to deal with me. With smiles on their faces and good words, they ruined me. If it weren't for the fact that I had already practiced invulnerability in the courtyard, and my mind was narrower, I would have either found a short-term vision by myself, or how far I went, and I would never have the idea of marrying into a high gate again. ”

She sighed when she said this, "Three slow voices still want to go to Zhang's mansion to be an aunt." But I don't know how much sin the Zhang family has to suffer, the eldest lady's scheming methods are beyond my reach, there is a godmother to help me, and I will have someone to bully me when you help her bully me in the future. ”

It was nearly noon, the sun was getting poisonous, and the two of them went down the river embankment and walked towards the distant woods. After walking for a while, Xue Wucai said in a low voice: "Actually, before coming back this time, the eldest lady told me that she can't take care of you now, so she wants me to do it for you." Since she said so, I will not be polite to her, I will be a concubine in the future, and now I will be the wife of the house for a few days to share your worries. You have the above arrangement for Jiang Ning, tell me, and I will help you plan a thing or two. ”