Chapter 396: Rapeseed
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Su Binglan could not help but sniff the air and exclaim, “That smells so good!” She had just eaten, but the oil smell made her want to eat more.
Shen Qiuhua and Su Fengmao had finished cooking. At this time, the whole family was sitting on the brick bed, peeling corn.
The weather was cold, and Shen Qiuhua tidied up the corn she did not have time to peel before placing them in the courtyard. She peeled the corn to harvest food at the mill.
Even though the autumn harvest had ended, and they entered the free season, the family still had many things to do. Still, they were not in a hurry, as the family could do these tasks whenever they had free time.
Shen Qiuhua heard footsteps and got down from the brick bed. “Binglan is home. I’ll get the food now so that we can have dinner.”
“Father, mother, haven’t you guys eaten yet?”
“We waited for you to eat together,” Shen Qiuhua replied.
“Didn’t second brother tell you I went to Aunt Ding’s house?” Su Binglan asked.
Shen Qiuhua opened the lid to the pot on the stove and said as she scooped the rice, “Your second brother did, but we were waiting for you to have dinner together.”
“I had dinner at Aunt Ding’s house.”
Su Fengmao also got off the brick bed to help serve the food. He said, “Your mother knew your aunt would probably ask you to stay for dinner, but we’re just used to eating together.
“Your mother insisted on waiting for you before we ate. Even if you’ve already eaten, you can still eat a little more, right?”
The Su family had grown accustomed to chatting and having dinner together. They would feel uncomfortable if Su Binglan did not eat with them.
Su Binglan also helped to serve the food. “When I entered the courtyard, I smelled the oil’s fragrance and felt hungry again. Since you’ve waited for me to join you, I’ll eat more?’
When she mentioned the fragrance, Shen Qiuhua recalled what had happened today and told her daughter, “Everyone was so curious when your father and I went to Northern Song Village to get oil. Everyone was excited after we got our oil. I would say everyone was even more excited than us.
Su Fengmao added, “When we lined up, many people pulled your mother aside to discuss our village. It turns out that our family is famous. Even though
Northern Song Village is relatively far away, many people know about us.”
“Not exactly. The people from Northern Song Village barely knew about us,” Shen Qiuhua corrected her husband, “The two young women from Stone Village were the ones who told the others about us and our village.”
After setting the table, the family ate and talked in a circle. Su Binglan looked at her parents’ smiles and said, “You two woke up early this morning. Aren’t you tired?”
“No, I’m not tired. We had an oxcart to use and just needed to wait in line,” Shen Qiuhua answered.
Su Fengmao echoed, “Your mother is right. I’m not tired since I only had casual chats with people from other villages.”
As if she had thought of something, Shen Qiuhua said, “I heard about Li Shi’s story in Northern Song Village. Things weren’t easy for that kid, and I didn’t expect him to have endured all that suffering.”
She told Su Binglan everything she had heard about Li Shi’s upbringing in Northern Song Village.
Then Su Binglan recalled giving Li Shi’s parents a consultation in the afternoon. “Li Shi brought his parents for consultation this afternoon. I have known about his past since he told me about it. Still, I didn’t expect him to return to his hometown and forgive his parents.”
Shen Qiuhua sighed. “I pity him a lot, especially since he’s kind. His parents treated him so poorly, but he still cared for them. He’s such a dutiful son.”
Su Binglan thought about what had happened in the afternoon and said, “It seems like his parents have repented. They should know to treat Li Shi better now.”
She thought about it and wanted to ask Li Shi if he needed help. After all, Su Binglan was not stingy and would help him whenever possible.
Su Binglan put food in her husband’s bowl while eating. Then she looked at the quiet Su Xuexuan and Su Xuehai before asking, “How were your meals at the academy?
Su Xuexuan said thoughtfully, “We ate very well, Aunt Binglan. Our classmates ate in the cafeteria too. Everyone says the food is cheap and delicious.”
Luo Jin’an explained softly, “Luo Kang and the others started cooking in the cafeteria at noon. They made many dishes, including rice, steamed buns, and pancakes.
“They were relatively cheap, and all the students could afford them. Everyone sat in the cafeteria and ate while chatting. The atmosphere was quite lively, and everyone is grateful to you.”
Su Binglan was surprised, “Grateful to me?
Luo Jin’an replied gently, “Luo Juan told everyone you set up the cafeteria so everyone could eat cheap and fresh food. That way, no one will faint from hunger again.”
Su Binglan did not expect the Blue Mountain Academy students to know she was the one who opened the cafeteria. She did not think Luo Juan would tell everyone about it.
Luo Jin’an smiled elegantly and said, “Luo Juan seems to like you very much. She keeps saying Miss Su this, Miss Su that. Now, everyone knows who Miss
Su is.”
Su Binglan touched her face in embarrassment. “I only wanted to do something nice while keeping a low profile.”
“Unfortunately, you can’t,” Shen Qiuhua said, “I realized that when your father and I went to get oil. I didn’t even know you and our village were so famous.”
After some thought, she continued, “I almost forgot that many people want to buy rapeseed from us. I can see how hard everyone’s lives are and want to use more rapeseed to produce more oil.
“You said that the oil yield from rapeseed is higher than peanuts, right? Many people wanted to buy rapeseed, but I didn’t have the nerve to reject them, so I told everyone that the rapeseed we brought was for oil extraction.
“I also told them to come to our village and look for me if they wanted to buy rapeseed. Now I want to ask you how much we should sell the rapeseeds for if we were to sell them.”
Su Binglan nodded. “You did well, Mother. It’ll be good for everyone if we can
popularize crops such as rapeseed. Let’s charge five copper coins per 500 grams of rapeseed. After all, we still have many rapeseeds in the warehouse.”
Shen Qiuhua heaved a sigh of relief when she heard her daughter’s words. “All right, I’ll sell the rapeseeds at that price if someone comes and buys them.”
After eating, Su Binglan went to the warehouse and secretly removed some rapeseed from her pocket dimension. These rapeseeds had been in her pocket dimension for more than a day and had enhanced properties, so their oil yield would be higher.
With that, everyone could harvest more rapeseed if planted and harvested them.
Ding Wan woke up early the following day and went to the temporary embroidery shop to work. When Shi Cui arrived, Ding Wan had just moved the firewood to warm up the brick bed.
Shu Cui said excitedly, “Madam Ding, look at my hand!”
Her voice was loud and clear, startling Ding Wan, who had her head lowered while lighting the fire. “What’s the matter, Shi Cui?! What happened to your hand?!”
Shi Cui ran in and ecstatically showed her hand to Ding Wan.
Ding Wan looked at Shi Cui’s hand and immediately noticed that some cuts and bumps had already healed. Although Shi Cui’s hand was still slightly swollen, Ding Wan knew it was much better.
“Wow! Your hand looks much, much better, Shi Cui!”
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