The Princess of Northern Land

Chapter 199 - 199 199 Wishful Thinking (7)_1

?Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Wishful Thinking (7)_1 Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Wishful Thinking (7)_1 Everyone’s heads turned abruptly, and when they got a clear look at the deep print of a slap on Ma Zhicai’s face, they all sucked in a cold breath.

“Zige, I meant no harm, I just saw the horse get startled and wanted to save you,” Ma Zhicai said with a grievance, rubbing his face where handprints were evident.

Lin Zige blushed furiously as she glared at him, “Who needs your help anyway? Everyone is here. If you hadn’t grabbed me, I would have gotten out of the way already. Do you think everyone is as wimpy as you?”

“I…” His sense of grievance deepened when he heard her words, “Zige, I really didn’t mean anything by it. I acted out of urgency earlier and treated you improperly. But don’t worry, I, Ma Zhicai, am responsible for my actions. Since I’ve compromised your innocence, I will certainly make matters right for you.”

Innocence? This situation was becoming serious. Prompted by his words, everyone finally noticed Lin Zige’s disheveled appearance. As it turned out, in the forceful tussle earlier, one of Lin Zige’s sleeves had been torn and her arm was exposed.

Seeing everyone staring at her arm, Lin Zige immediately used her basket to cover herself, her eyes red with anger. She was both ashamed and furious, and wished she could murder Ma Zhicai to vent her anger.

Had that guy not clung onto her so desperately, how could her sleeve have been torn? This shameless rogue, truly a leopard never changes its spots, even resorting to such despicable tactics.

“Who asked for your explanation, stop pretending to care,” Lin Zige threw her basket, no longer intending to work in the barren land, she turned around and left with the servant.

The servant girl silently followed behind her, filled with worry and guilt.

“Zige, I really didn’t mean to grab your arm. I will take responsibility for you,” Ma Zhicai shouted after her retreating figure, utterly unconcerned about the injury on his own face.

Hearing his words, the villagers all wore peculiar expressions. Perhaps rural folks weren’t as concerned with propriety as the wealthy, but for unmarried girls, apart from their faces and hands, no other part would be exposed in public. And from how it looked just now, Lin Zige’s arm must have been touched by Ma Zhicai.

Physical contact between members of the opposite sex with no established relationship, this situation was escalating.

Watching Lin Zige hurry back home, none of the villagers felt like getting back to work.

Everyone was busy speculating, how would the Lin Family handle this matter? And what would be Wu Dayou’s reaction, being Lin Zige’s fiancé?

Would Wu Dayou back out of his engagement with Lin Zige and would the Lin Family once again consider an alliance with the Ma family?

A series of speculations stirred up the villagers, they couldn’t care less about their work in the fields, one after another, they followed Ma Zhicai back to the village to see the spectacle.

“Big sister, why are you back so soon?” Guo Huiniang had just come out from the backyard when she saw Lin Zige hurriedly returning home.

“Sister-in-law,” Seeing her family, Lin Zige burst into tears.

“What happened?” Guo Huiniang panicking, noticing Lin Zige’s torn sleeve, which left her more frightened and confused. “Who bullied you outside?”

“Sister-in-law,” Lin Zige just hugged her and wept, saying nothing.

Her crying brought all the women busy in the kitchen, everyone came out to see.

“What happened to her?”

“Zige, what on earth happened?”

“Who bullied you?”

…
Mrs. Bai and the others looked at her anxiously.

“Bring her inside first,” The crying eventually drew the old master over, “Stay by her side, servant from Cui Family, go call Master Lin Changshu, Dayou, and Ziyin back home.”

Being wiser for his years, the old master instantly guessed that something big must have happened. After carefully questioning the servant girl who was with Zige, about what happened on the road, he responded promptly.

Lin Changshu and Wu Dayou were busy at the oil mill. When they heard from a servant that something had happened to Zige, they were so scared that they rushed home without even changing their clothes.

Lin Ziyin, on the other hand, was busy on the other side of the Heihe, “The greenhouse must have an arc-shaped structure. Feng City is located in the Northern Land, where snowfall is heavy in winter. With an arc-shaped roof, it is easier to clean the snow, and it also has better load-bearing capacity, besides, it also makes the interior appear larger.”

Manager Hei and the temple monks nodded their heads in agreement, as they followed Lin Ziyin in the work, they gained increasing confidence in greenhouse planting. Lin Ziyin explained every detail clearly, as the greenhouse construction progressed, they learned more about the common practices of greenhouse cultivation.

“In a few days, the chicks the lady ordered will be delivered.” Manager Hei politely informed.

“Ding’an Temple does not raise chickens, you can contact the dung man to purchase and ferment the manure, and then use it as fertilizer,” Lin Ziyin suggested, “You can also get the pig manure from the butcher who raises pigs.”

“Amitabha.” The monk clasped his hands in thanks.

“Miss, there’s been an accident.” Recently, as Lin Ziyin had prohibited the servants from calling her ‘miss’, everyone had changed their address.

“Speak slowly.” Lin Ziyin frowned at the servant.

The one who came to report was Li Da. He was so out of breath from running all the way, that Lin Ziyin’s reproof finally calmed him down. After catching his breath, he reported the incident that occurred at home, giving a detailed account.

Upon hearing the report, Lin Ziyin’s face turned extremely grim. The Ma Family, they just wouldn’t give up, would they? Ma Zhicai was eloquent, promising to take responsibility for Zige? Wishful thinking!