After dinner, they chatted for a while before retiring to their respective rooms for the night. Since they had caused a commotion during the day, Ye Ziāan did not bother her any further, and she slept peacefully through the night, waking up feeling refreshed and invigorated.
"I donāt need to put on makeup today. Weāre not going anywhere, and itās uncomfortable to be wearing makeup all day." She quickly spoke as she saw Ye Ziāan ready with an eyebrow pencil in his hand.
"Really? You look very nice with light makeup."
"So you mean I donāt look good without makeup?" Yang Chuxia raised her eyebrow and asked.
Ye Ziāan hurriedly put down the eyebrow pencil and laughed, "You look good in any way. Without makeup, you have a refreshing look, and with makeup, you have a refined look." He continued, "Since youāre not wearing makeup today, let me comb your hair first."
"Alright!" Combing her hair was no easy task for her. Initially, when she didnāt have a maid, she would simply tie her hair with a ribbon. Occasionally, Ms. Wang would help her with it. Later, when she got her own maids, they would help her with her hair. After their marriage, Ye Ziāan took over this task.
Ye Ziāan seemed to be getting better at it, and soon he finished a round bun. After inserting two hairpins made of hibiscus jade, she looked even more radiant.
"You look so beautiful!"
"You look great too!" They saw the deep affection in each otherās eyes through the bronze mirror.
After breakfast, Ye Ziāan went to the study, followed by Mu Shaoling.
Yang Chuxia did not plan to disturb the two, and as she recalled that it was now August 24th, the familyās sugarcane harvest would be in a few days. So, she called Xiuāer and Mingcui and Ming Liu, her maids.
"Ming Liu, stay at home. If the young master asks, just tell him I went to the sugarcane field. Mingcui and Xiuāer, come with me."
"Yes, maāam."
Hearing about going to the sugarcane field, Xiuāer brought a sickle and a basket.
Yang Chuxia laughed when she saw this, "Itās good to bring them along. I guess we can eat some by this time."
"Thatās what I thought. In previous years, the sugarcane would ripen in September. Now itās just a few days away from September, so it should be edible."
Then, she said to Yang Chuxia, "Maāam, later, chop a few more stalks for the young master. Sugarcane is sectioned like bamboo, and it carries the same auspicious meaning."
Upon hearing this, Yang Chuxia realized that it was true. Bamboo represented promotions in rank, which was a good omen. Although she didnāt believe in it, as long as it involved Ye Ziāan, she was willing to believe it.
"Youāre becoming smarter, you know. I never thought of that myself." Yang Chuxia laughed, "When the young master succeeds in his exam, Iāll reward you handsomely."
So, the group chatted and laughed on their way to the sugarcane field.
Today, they began to plant sugarcane in the entire field, as they finally had enough seeds. Theyād eat a little each year and save the rest for planting in the following years. It took about two or three years before they had enough seeds to plant one or two acres. At the beginning of the year, Mu Shaofeng, their boss from the neighboring town, sent someone to the south to bring back more seeds for Yang Chuxia.
Now, the Yang Family had planted two acres, and Ye Ziāan had planted another two acres.
Since sugarcane was not native to Funan, it was a rare novelty, which is why the Yang Family had assigned two young men to watch over the field day and night.
Upon seeing Yang Chuxia coming, they hurriedly greeted her.
"Donāt mind us. Weāre just taking a look." Yang Chuxia waved her hand at the two, then led Xiuāer and Mingcui to walk around the sugarcane field, examining it carefully.
The sugarcane had grown quite tall by now, and the leaves at the bottom had been stripped clean, revealing the purple skin inside, section by section.