Goldenrain Village

A new day began. Dressed in a long black dress and carrying a luggage case in one hand, Xilutaiya stepped onto the small wooden stool and boarded the waiting carriage. The coachman flicked the reins. Soon, the rumbling rattle of turning wheels echoed as they rolled over the uneven stone-paved road, and a procession of six carriages set off toward the outskirts of Burnt Stone City. Inside the carriage, Xilutaiya sat together with Kemiya and Kailun, surrounded by quite a bit of luggage. "Did Teacher say where we're going?" As Xilutaiya asked, she held a white hair ribbon between her lips and reached behind her head to tie her hair up, keeping it from swaying wildly inside the carriage. "From what I heard others say, we're going to Goldenrain Village," Kemiya replied after a moment's thought. "I went there once before. It isn't far from Burnt Stone City; we should arrive around noon. "The village was built beside a grove of goldenrain trees, with a stream flowing nearby. The scenery is lovely. "I think it's part of Viscount Xuefeng's personal demesne. Every year, he sends servants there to purchase chickens, ducks, cattle, and sheep to supplement the castle's food supplies, and he occasionally takes his family there to relax and ride horses." "In that case, the surroundings must be wonderful." After smoothing her hair, Xilutaiya lowered her hands. She had tied her hair into a high ponytail, revealing the graceful line of her neck and the profile of her cheek. "Indeed." As she said this, Kemiya gazed at the girl for quite some time. "You look really pretty, Tiya." With that, she tugged at Kailun beside her. "Kailun, look at Tiya. Doesn't she look so much prettier like this?" "Yes. After changing her hairstyle, she looks much more spirited." Kailun noticed the difference as well. "Huh? Did I look that lifeless before?" Xilutaiya tilted her head. "Probably just too plain, without much vigor," Kemiya mused after a moment. "You should wear your hair like this from now on, Tiya~" She gave a thumbs-up, and Kailun, after thinking for a second, followed suit. "Mmh, that won't do. I only relaxed a bit today because it's just the three of us." The girl blinked. "Why not? You clearly look great." "Precisely because it looks good," the girl replied with a smile. "It would be too troublesome." She glanced out the rear carriage window. The carriage the three of them were riding in today was built more like a freight wagon rather than a box carriage designed purely for passengers. "Because of Miss Iona, the noble students are always getting jealous and competing with one another. I'm a bit scared of a life like that; a calm and ordinary one suits me best." As she spoke, she tucked both hands beneath her thighs and watched her calves swing gently back and forth under her skirt, as though she were swinging on a swing. The two who had wanted to coax her further saw how serene and contented Xilutaiya looked, and suddenly felt that a life of quiet seclusion really was meant for her. They fell silent. "Maybe I'll come to like that kind of life in the future too, but right now I still have too much curiosity and impulse," Kemiya remarked, stroking her chin in thought. "What about you, Kailun?" She suddenly turned to ask the other girl beside her. "Me?" Kailun pointed a finger at herself. "I don't want much either. Just to become a skilled hunter, have my own log cabin in the forest, raise two dogs, go hunting from time to time, trade with the villagers—just living like that." "Wow, your goal is so clear, Kailun! I have no idea what kind of life I want to live in the future," Kemiya exclaimed in surprise. "Probably because you still have so many possibilities, Kemiya." Kailun was occasionally capable of saying striking things. "Well, that's true too. I'm restless by nature, so it's hard for me to stick to one goal for very long," Kemiya replied, resting her chin on her hand, her eyes lazily closing and opening. "This time in Goldenrain Village, having a great time is my goal for the near future." Sitting in the creaking carriage, the three chatted and laughed along the way, and before they knew it, noon had arrived. ... The carriage came to a stop. The three bent low, hopped lightly down, and stood upon the grass. In the near distance, a peaceful, tranquil village came into view. About fifty households dotted the village's main road, beyond which stretched vast checkered wheat fields. Much of the wheat had already been harvested, and bundles of sheaves stood stacked in several fields. "Leave your luggage on the carriages. The coachmen will haul it straight into the village. The teacher will take us on foot and explain a few things to us," Yelu notified each student. Though rather stout, he moved with remarkable agility along the rural paths. "All right, we understand," Tiya answered in assent, and Yelu moved on toward another cluster of students. Soon, the students gathered around Scholar Haide to listen to his instruction. "Is everyone here? Very good, then I shall begin." He turned around and addressed the students behind him. "This is Goldenrain Village, located about twenty li northeast of Burnt Stone City, renowned for the groves of goldenrain trees surrounding it." He led the students down a path along the hillside. "As you can see, the main crop grown here is wheat, along with some flax. Do you recall what I taught you before? How flax is spun into thread and woven into cloth? Today, you can visit the villagers' homes to see firsthand how they do it. "Linen cloth may be rough, but it is exceptionally sturdy and durable. Moreover, flax grows quickly and can be cultivated anywhere, keeping costs low and making it the fabric of choice for many peasants. A crudely made linen garment can sell for about seventy copper coins, and if custom-tailored with meticulous cutting, people will pay as much as a hundred and fifty copper coins for one." As Scholar Haide walked, he introduced the crops along the way, explaining the influence of local climate, rainfall, soil fertility, and other factors on each variety. "Generally speaking, a piece of land cannot be cultivated continuously, as that will lead to soil exhaustion. That is why, as you can see, the fields here are divided into roughly four sections for crop rotation," he explained further. "The yield of grain is of paramount importance, whether you are a noble governing a domain or an ordinary farming commoner. "Without food, one cannot survive. You may not yet have a deep appreciation of this, but as an old man who has lived through two freezing Deep Mist Seasons, I have witnessed far too many tragedies born of starvation during the bitter winters." Leaning on his wooden staff, he stopped before a wheat field. After speaking briefly with a villager in the field, he led the students onto the freshly harvested ground. Picking up a few stray wheat stalks, he counted the grains on an ear of wheat, then rubbed the kernels loose between his fingers to see whether they were plump or shriveled, analyzing the fertility of the local soil. "This wheat field is quite decent. One mu yields about sixty to seventy jin of wheat," Scholar Haide estimated. "Teacher, is sixty jin of wheat a lot?" some noble students asked, knowing little about such matters. "Neither much nor little. One jin of wheat sells for about one copper coin, meaning one mu of wheat is worth around sixty copper coins." Scholar Haide placed the wheat kernels into a small cloth pouch he carried, intending to bring them back as samples. "Let us move on. The village lies just ahead, and your lodgings should already be arranged." He clapped his hands, brushing off the dirt, and continued forward. With curious hearts, the group stepped into the picturesque village.