Chapter 324: Chapter 324: Building a Manor (3)
"I think it’s doable," Jueqing agreed from the side, supporting whatever his cousin said without question.
Zehang pursed his lips, smiling, and nodded vigorously. "Not bad."
Beitang Xuan looked at the two people across from him, shaking his head with a laugh. "Hahaha, now that you’ve mentioned it, I’m actually quite excited."
"I’m also very much looking forward to it!" Qinmeng pursed her lips in a smile, and her gaze inadvertently met Jueqing’s. Her face suddenly flushed with a hint of red, and she quickly averted her eyes, her heart drumming nervously. Feng Xuxu caught Brother Jueqing and Qinmeng’s reaction, but merely smiled.
"Cousin, when do you plan to start building the garden?" She shifted her gaze, feeling somewhat embarrassed, and sought to change the subject.
"Looking at the current weather, we should be able to turn the soil and apply fertilizer before the ground freezes and start planting." There was still some time left before winter, and with additional manpower, they would be in time.
Beitang Xuan blinked; planting now would mean the sprouts would face winter as soon as they emerged—they’d surely freeze to death.
"Princess, if you plant now, they will freeze before they even sprout. Otherwise, we could wait until after the new year, when spring comes." There was no rush to earn Silver at this very moment, he mumbled to himself, but he dared not disagree with the enchanting princess. Although the Prince was no longer there, just the sight of those fearsome guards at the doorstep was enough to make one shiver.
"No, if we cover them with a greenhouse, maybe even before spring, some flowers will already have bloomed," he thought about those with short blooming periods and others that are frost-resistant. Selling potted plants around the time of the Spring Festival didn’t sound like a bad idea.
Beitang Xuan looked at Feng Xuxu in surprise, then remembered that she used to grow winter vegetables. Perhaps she could indeed successfully cultivate the flowers.
"Princess, please tell me your orders, and I will follow them," Zehang said. Although he didn’t know Feng Xuxu very well, the share of profits from the manor he managed for her was substantial enough to buy two manors this year alone. So, he felt hopeful about why she had called them here today!
"Like this: I will provide the land and funds. Zongzheng Zehang, you find people to turn the soil and fertilize it as soon as possible. Dig a well every two mu of land. Beitang Xuan, your responsibility is to procure the tarpaulin and find people to build the greenhouse. Brother Jueqing, you will oversee the construction of the manor. I’ll give you the blueprints in a couple of days. Qinmeng, you will have the hard task of handling the rouge and powders."
"Yes, don’t worry, sister, I will not let you down," Qinmeng said, looking at Feng Xuxu with an excited face.
"Princess, but we don’t know how to build a greenhouse!" The key issue was they had never seen one, nor did they have the people for such a task. Buying tarpaulin, on the other hand, was manageable—that task was straightforward.
"I have already arranged for the people. They will only be in charge of the flowers in the field and the construction of the greenhouse. They won’t interfere with the rest. You do your parts: turn the soil, set up the greenhouse, build the houses... This is our first four-way cooperation, and also the first time you all collaborate since joining the guild. I hope we succeed. Let’s raise our cups of tea in place of wine to each other," she said, lifting her teacup and downing the floral tea in one gulp.
"Here’s to a pleasant collaboration," everyone stood up and drank their tea in one go. While it tasted somewhat odd, it did not dampen the spirit of cooperation.
Lenglei stepped forward to refill the princess’s tea but Feng Xuxu declined. "Pregnant women shouldn’t drink too much floral tea. Just bring me some plain water."
"As you wish, Princess," he said, bowing as he retreated.
Tinglan could not sit still and insisted on taking a turn in the garden. Seeing this, Qinmeng led Tinglan to the backyard garden for a brief moment of play.
"Princess, lunch is prepared. The butler sent someone to ask when to serve the meal?" Baihe walked in from outside, bowed, and inquired.
"Serve it now, we will be there shortly. And remember to bring out the fine Pear Blossom Drunk," she added, not forgetting to mention her coveted wine.
