Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 690: Chapter 691: Why Not Gamble?_1

All six officials believed that An Jing was deluding herself. With the cucumber seedlings already rootless, they were certain to die.

Except for Li Jifan, Official Liu and the others all felt that it would be good if An Jing resigned from her position.

After all, An Jing was a woman, and it was an absolute farce for a woman to hold office. It was clearly men’s work, and for a woman to meddle was simply better ended sooner rather than later.

Master Zhou then gave a bow to An Jing and said, ”Lord An, as I said earlier, if these cucumber seedlings survive, I will call you my ’auntie’ from now on. Since you don’t think it’s possible, what do you suggest we do?”

Was this not a bet she was being challenged with?

An Jing’s smile deepened, ”Gentlemen, I’m sure all of you have families, and I do not wish to ask for much. I simply propose that when the time comes, each of you wash the feet of your wives and concubines. How does that sound?”

In an era where a woman’s husband was her everything, only wives and concubines serving and washing their husband’s feet made sense. The idea of a husband washing his wife’s or concubine’s feet was unheard of.

If word of this got out, where would their male dignity be?

The expressions of Master Zhou, Official Zhao, Official Qian, Official Sun, and Master Li turned sour in an instant, feeling that An Jing was insulting them.

Official Liu was an old fox. Even though he felt that An Jing was humiliating them, he didn’t show it on his face.

An Jing waited for a while and, seeing that these officials were silent, spoke again, laughing, ”If the cucumber seedlings don’t survive, I will immediately resign and go home; if they do, you will wash the feet of your wives and concubines... Gentlemen, none of you are speaking. Are you afraid to wager against me?”

Official Liu, deep down, hoped everyone would take the bet, to see An Jing resign and return home. But as the head of the Agricultural Institute, he couldn’t gamble with his subordinates—it was beneath his dignity and damaged the good image he had always pretended to uphold.

Official Liu then feigned kindness and said, ”Lord An, we all know these seedlings won’t survive without roots. You don’t need to be so obstinate; there’s no reason to open a gamble and ruin your future prospects.”

Li Jifan was genuinely moved with compassion and advised, ”Lord An, this is a trivial matter. All you need to do is promise not to be so reckless in the future, and this will pass. Why must you use such strong words? It is not easy for a woman to serve in office, and you have earned the Emperor’s special grace to be appointed. You should cherish it instead of destroying your future by talking of resigning.”

An Jing smiled, ”I have always been this reckless. My husband is right here; you can ask him, and he will tell you.”

Seeing that no one was asking, An Jing turned to Xiao Changyi with a smile and asked, ”Husband, have I not always been reckless?”

Xiao Changyi nodded, ”Hmm.”

The crowd: ”...”

An Jing did not want to waste words anymore, saying, ”So, do you bet or not? Give a straightforward answer, please. You’re all so indecisive, not at all like men. Even I, a woman, am more decisive than you.”

They were all men of honor; how could they be outdone by a woman?

The stubborn Master Zhou was immediately provoked, ”I bet! I bet with you!”

They already knew the outcome; she would have to resign and go home. Why not take the bet and regain some pride?

Official Zhao also kept this in mind and said, ”I am in on the bet as well!”

Official Qian added, ”I am too!”

Official Sun also spoke up, ”Lord An, I will take you up on that bet, and I hope you will keep your word when the time comes!”