Chapter 545: Chapter 280: Whose Land to Cultivate_2
Old Master Lian’s opium smoking had become increasingly severe.
Lian Manman thought so as she hastily let down the door curtain. With just a glance, she clearly saw the situation inside. Old Master Lian, Lady Zhou, and Lian Xiuxiu were sitting on the kang, Lian Shouren sitting beside Old Master Lian, and Lady He and Zhao Xiue were sitting on the edge of the kang a few steps away from them.
The men of the second branch were nowhere to be seen.
"...That’s just it, we didn’t say anything. We do our work as we should, and we earn money for the family as we should. But there has to be a limit to this bullying. In this family, isn’t there anyone without a mouth, who doesn’t eat meals and can live on air and wind? Isn’t farming important? We contribute six workers, each and every one of them capable. How many does the eldest brother’s family contribute, how many mouths do they have to feed? I am pregnant, so that settles it. And if someone else is pregnant too, how can they bear to have a clear conscience, put on a bold face, and let Erlang and the others do all the work while they just wait at home for the fruits of labor?"
Zhao Xiue’s voice was very penetrating, and her words even sharper. Lian Manman stealthily glanced toward the west room with the corner of her eye. Lady Chiang’s face was as still as water, and the expressions of both Lady Gu and Lian Duoduo in the west room were not pleasant either.
"Second brother’s wife, are you implying that I should go to the fields to work for you..." Lady Zhou said angrily.
"Mother, you worry too much. Whoever in our family needs to work the fields, we would not let you work them. A younger aunt of higher seniority, younger in age, does not need to go either." Zhao Xiue’s tone was slightly ingratiating and sweet as she spoke. "But can anyone else really compare to you and my younger aunt? It’s only right for us to serve you and my younger aunt, do we have to serve her too?"
The target of Zhao Xiue’s words had become very clear. The others in the room remained silent, presumably having understood the situation and felt it inappropriate to interject.
"...In this world, it’s not just our family that has scholars. Other private schools are on holiday; teachers and students should return home to farm, shouldn’t they? No matter how much they study, they still have to farm to fill their stomachs, right? Even The Emperor in Capital City understands this principle. The Emperor and the Empress, such venerable and busy people, still help out in the fields every year. Which of our family members is more noble than the Emperor and Empress, busier than them? By not rushing these few days, will he fail his exams, will he die? They say they need to cook at home, but without her, can nobody else eat? Are there more people in the house who cook than who farm? Which family operates like this?"
As Lian Manman listened from outside, she couldn’t help but admire Zhao Xiue. As a pregnant woman, Zhao Xiue was usually fragile, with severe reactions to her pregnancy that prevented her from doing work or getting upset. But when it came to quarreling, she seemed fully energized, her combativeness not only undiminished but seemingly growing by the day.
"Enough, enough, stop quarreling!" Old Master Lian shouted angrily, "Eldest, go to town now and bring Jizu back!
Tomorrow, everyone counts, all must go down to the fields to work."
"Father..." Lian Shouren called out.
"What are you waiting for, why don’t you go and fetch him quickly?" Old Master Lian cut off Lian Shouren’s words and urged him once more.
Immediately after, Lian Shouren left the east room with a darkened expression, lifting the curtain and stepping out.
Lady Chiang turned with Niuniu and went back to the west room.
Lian Manman walked away calmly, as if she had just happened to pass by.
Lian Shouren did not speak and went straight back to the west room, followed by a loud bang as the door was tightly shut.
Then, Zhao Xiue, Lady He, Lian Shouyi, and Erlang all emerged from the east room, one after another. Zhao Xiue walked in front, her head held high, exuding the air of a triumphant victor. Lady He followed closely behind with a smile on her face. Lian Shouyi, with his hands behind his back, showed no expression on his face, but his brisk steps revealed his current state of mind.
As for Erlang, he was no different from usual.
By the time Lian Manman returned to the door of the west wing room, Lian Shouren had also come out from the upper room.
"My uncle really did go to find Brother Jizu," Lian Manman said when she returned to the west wing room, recounting the cause of the quarrel in the upper room to Lady Zhang and Lian Shouxin.
"Even if he comes back, what can he do? The two of them working don’t amount to my Xiao Qi and Manman," said Lady Zhang.
"Being up to the task is one thing; doing the work is another," Lian Manman said. "No one is born knowing how to do the work. It only matters when one is willing to work."
If not for being constantly indulged, are Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu really incapable of learning fieldwork?
"That is true," Lady Zhang nodded.
"Sister-in-law Xiue is quite eloquent," Lian Shouxin said.
"Sister-in-law Xiue is really impressive!" Lian Yeye, who had come back with Lian Manman, exclaimed.
"She is," Lian Manman nodded. She was very much looking forward to seeing the Lian family’s lineup for farming tomorrow.
...
The next day, after breakfast, Lian Shouxin harnessed the ox-cart, loaded the plows and other farming tools onto it, and the family headed to the field in the south.
Because of concerns about tiring the ox, Lian Shouxin, Lady Zhang, and Lian Zhizhi all walked alongside the cart. Wu Lang drove the cart, with Lian Manman and Xiao Qi sitting inside, each holding a basket in their arms. The baskets contained peanut seeds, chosen for their large, full size and undamaged red skins. After soaking in cold water overnight, they had absorbed enough water to become plump.
The soaked peanuts were more likely to germinate and sprout faster, thereby ensuring a good peanut yield.
Since they also had to take care of the early morning restaurant business, Lian Manman’s family arrived in the field later than others. In the neighboring field, Old Master Lian was already there with the whole family.
Lian Manman spotted Lian Shouren and Lian Jizu among the crowd.
××......××
Here’s the first update, seek the pinks. A second update will come later. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it with your recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on Qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
