Chapter 445: Chapter 231: The Plan for the Year Starts in Spring_2
"These are cilantro seeds, Sweet Girl, and high ginger..." Lian Manman opened several packets of vegetable seeds, all of which were common varieties in their vicinity, but not found in the Lian family’s garden.
There were also several packets of vegetable seeds that Lian Manman held in higher regard.
"These are rapeseed, this is sponge gourd seeds, and these are winter melon seeds..."
"Rapeseed, sponge gourd?" Xiao Qi looked puzzled.
"Rapeseed is similar to our small bok choy, and the seeds can be pressed for oil. In Shi Wazi’s place, they don’t have soybean oil; they use the oil pressed from these seeds. Sponge gourd is somewhat like cucumber, and winter melon is pretty much like the Japanese variety we have," Lian Manman explained to Xiao Qi and Wu Lang.
She had gathered these seeds from the people who worked on the mountain. All were commonly seen in the south but were rare in the north. Recalling that in her previous life these varieties were able to grow in the north, she confidently collected them, planning to plant them in her family’s vegetable garden to enrich their variety of produce.
"How do we plant these seeds? We have never grown them before," Wu Lang said.
"I asked Shi Wazi; he said he knows how to plant them," Lian Manman replied, carefully repacking the seeds and placing them back in the wooden box. "When the time comes, he’ll teach us, and we’ll learn. Shi Wazi mentioned that one of his relatives is planning to come in a few days. He’ll bring us even more seeds."
"That’ll be great; we’ll have fresh vegetables this year," Wu Lang commented.
Lady Zhang walked in from outside; both she and Lian Shouxin were aware of Lian Manman’s collection of seeds.
"With all these seeds you’ve brought back, I’m afraid our small garden might not have enough space," Lady Zhang said.
"Mother, then let’s open up another patch of wasteland for planting this year," Lian Manman suggested to Lady Zhang. "I think the land next to the temple, which is vacant and not far from the river, would be convenient for watering and close to the shop for us to take care of easily."
"That might work; I’ll discuss it with your father," Lady Zhang said, which was her way of agreeing.
"By the way, brother, I’ve got a job for you," Lian Manman, having put away the wooden box, smiled at Wu Lang.
"Ah?" Wu Lang was surprised.
Lian Manman smiled triumphantly.
"I told Shi Wazi and them to spread the word in the mountains that our family could write letters for others. One letter, two wen money for a page, four wen money for two pages. Brother, I’m leaving the letter writing to you."
Wu Lang touched his forehead; his little sister was indeed keen on seizing every opportunity to make money.
"Alright then," Wu Lang acted reluctant, but he was actually quite willing.
To write letters well, without the embarrassment of not knowing how to write certain characters or using incorrect grammar, Wu Lang had to study even harder than before. It goes without saying, Lian Manman was a genius at pushing her brothers to study diligently every day.
...
Today, after having lunch at the breakfast shop, Lian Manman packed some food for Lian Zhizhi into a food container and returned to the old house with Lian Yeye.
As the days got warmer, especially around noon when the sun was strongest, Lian Manman, clad in cotton-padded jacket and trousers, felt a slight sweat on her forehead as she walked.
Zhao Xiu E was leaning against the doorway of the East Wing Room, and upon seeing Lian Manman and Lian Yeye, she greeted them with a smile.
"Manman and Yeye are back!"
"Yes, Sister-in-law Xiu E, have you finished eating?" Lian Manman smiled in return.
"I’ve just finished," Zhao Xiu E said.
Lian Manman just smiled, her feet not stopping as she entered the West Wing Room.
"Sister, it’s time for lunch," Lian Manman called out to Lian Zhizhi as she entered the room.
Lian Zhizhi set down her needlework, laid out the table, and Lian Manman opened the food container, taking out several dishes and plates to set on the table. Just as Lian Zhizhi was about to lift her rice bowl, Zhao Xiu E lifted the door curtain and walked in from outside.
"Zhizhi, are you about to eat?" Zhao Xiu E asked with a smile, her eyes swiftly scanning the table, taking note of everything Lian Zhizhi was having for her meal.
"Sister-in-law Xiu E, come sit down," Lian Zhizhi hurriedly said.
"Zhizhi, you go ahead and eat; I’ll just sit for a while," Zhao Xiu E made herself at home and sat down next to Lian Yeye on the kang bed.
"It’s better being separate, look at Zhizhi’s meal, then look at what we eat; day in and day out, it’s always the same three things, people’s mouths are full of the taste of vegetable leaves." Zhao Xiu E spoke her mind bluntly, a method that usually helped to quickly close the gap between people.
The regular three dishes on the Upper Room’s table were something the Lian family members were keenly aware of, yet no one responded to Zhao Xiu E’s comment.
"Each has its advantages," Lian Zhizhi said. "We have workers during lunch at the shop, and we have to make sure they eat well. Manman always takes care of me, picking the good things for me."
"Uncle Four and Aunt Four are kind people," Zhao Xiu E laughed. "Everyone in town knows about your splitting of the households... Actually, the Lian family shouldn’t have come to this state, but it’s all because of..." Zhao Xiu E paused, then subtly pointed in the direction of the West Room of the Upper Room. "It’s that father and son, after all these years of studying, they’ve run the family wealth into the ground. What a pity for your Brother Erlang, never having a good day in his life, now he’s stuck with a diet of bran and vegetable leaves."
"Is it that easy to succeed in the imperial examinations? Great-uncle has become a grandfather and has gray beard hairs, yet he is only a Scholar; a Scholar who has spent a lot of money. Our oldest cousin has married and Niuniu is already so big, yet he hasn’t passed the exam either. No one’s speaking, but Zhao Xiu E is still talking animatedly, "There you go, just when school started a couple of days ago, they spent six Silver. And that doesn’t even include the money for the paper, pens, and all that. It will cost at least ten or more Silver by the end of the year!"
Lian Jizu’s expenditure on school was a concern for Zhao Xiu E!
**......***
Delivering the second update, ’Pink’ has been overtaken, asking everyone for ’Pink’ support.
Ruoyan dives back to writing, striving for a third update.
Next Chapter: Zhao Xiu E’s Spring (To be continued... If you like this work, you are welcome to qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)
