Chapter 602: Imperial Examination Promotion System (11)

Scatter purple alfalfa on all the leftover land in the Farm and set up a grape trellis; when it isn't raining, drive the flock of chickens into the alfalfa patch to let them forage freely, and use the chicken manure to fertilize the grapevines.

Lay a stone path wide enough for a carriage to pass, leading to the living quarters, pens, and granaries, so there's no fear of mud on rainy days. Plant mulberry trees on both sides of the road; during harvest season, if there's more than can be eaten, it can be used to brew wine, and the overripe fruit that falls becomes a snack for the chickens and ducks.

As for the two-mu residential plot—

Considering that as Song Yanqing advances in his studies, they won't actually be able to live in Qinghe Village for many years—at most three to five years if things go smoothly—they will definitely move to Jingcheng in the end.

Building a farm is for the sake of having a long-term livelihood; even if they aren't here, it can still operate by hiring a farm manager and a group of farmhands. But there is no need to build their own residence too luxuriously; it is enough if it can house their family of several people and be comfortable to live in.

Therefore, Xie Yang decided to build a three-sided courtyard, which is popular in the townships of this dynasty, rather than building a two-tier or three-tier courtyard that is both time-consuming and expensive; it would be better to save that money to buy a large mansion in Jingcheng when the time comes.

Besides, a three-sided courtyard can be just as grand and beautiful if laid out well.

She plans to build five main rooms, two side rooms each on the east and west, and one ear room each on the east and west.

At that time, her parents-in-law will live in the two eastern main rooms, and the two western main rooms will be the bridal chamber for her and Song Yanqing.

Of the two western side rooms, one will be the boudoir for her sister-in-law, and one will be reserved for the children to live in later.

The eastern side room will be temporarily designated as a guest room.

Of the two ear rooms, one will be a kitchen and one will be a washroom. However, she also plans to build a stove in the washroom so that it is convenient to carry in boiled water, and it will be warm when bathing in winter.

Plant fruit trees with auspicious meanings, such as paulownia, pomegranate, and jujube, around the courtyard, and dig a sweet-water well in the spacious courtyard to save the trouble of going to the river to fetch water.

Plant an osmanthus tree next to the well, circle a small strip along the osmanthus tree to make a flower bed, and plant some flowers, grasses, scallions, ginger, and garlic; pave the rest of the ground with bluestone slabs to avoid slippery paths on rainy days.

The backyard is not small either, and the back door leads directly to the farm, so there is no need to grow extra vegetables for the family to eat. Therefore, she also plans to pave the backyard with bluestone slabs and set up a few simple bamboo racks to dry medicinal herbs and wild vegetables, or string up a few clotheslines to dry clothes and bedsheets without fear of wind blowing up dust.

Build a woodshed in the corner of the west courtyard to stack firewood and sundries, and build a latrine on the right side. The exterior of the latrine will be similar to that of an ordinary family, but the interior will be very different; not only will it not be smelly, but it will also not require regular manual removal of waste like other families, as excrement will flow directly into the farm's septic tank through the sewer.

That's right, Xie Yang plans to dig a large septic tank at the farm, which will receive not only the waste from the latrine but also the livestock manure from the pens. This is not only time-saving and labor-saving but also clean, and the manure fermented through the septic tank will have even greater fertilizing power.

The mountain and the farm are considered Xie Yang's dowry, while the two-mu residential plot is something she borrowed money to build for her parents-in-law.

This was the result of a consensus reached after her second meeting with Song Yanqing.

Xie Yang knew that he would definitely have money in the future; would a potential candidate for the Highest Official Rank be afraid of not being able to pay back the cost of buying land and building a house for a mere two-mu plot?

Honestly, Song Yanqing himself didn't have as much confidence as she did.

But recently, following the tasks issued by the system, he has been diligently studying and copying books every day. While reviewing for the Imperial Examination, he can also entrust villagers to take the copied books to the bookstore in town to subsidize the household expenses.

Copying one book earns anywhere from a few dozen to two or three hundred Silver; it doesn't seem like much, but it is enough to subsidize the household. The key is that the points have been rising steadily.

Originally, he wanted to save enough points to buy the potion as soon as possible; only by letting his injured leg heal and returning to the path of the Imperial Examination would he have the ability to pay back the money, support his family, and give her a sufficiently good life.

But recently, he was pleasantly surprised to find that his injured leg was healing much faster than he had expected.

In less than a month, he was already able to discard his crutches and walk freely.

Not only him, but his father's waist injury was also much better than before; he could sit up and walk on the ground without feeling pain. It was just that he couldn't bend over for too long, or it would feel slightly uncomfortable after a while.

But this was enough to make the whole family rejoice.

When Doctor Cui came to perform the final acupuncture session on Song Zhisheng and indicated that he should avoid physical labor for the time being and would be fully recovered after another month or so of rest, Lin Shi was so moved that she knelt down to kowtow and thank him.

Doctor Cui jumped away in fright: "You mustn't, you mustn't! Actually, even this old man finds it puzzling; logically, it shouldn't have recovered so quickly... Perhaps it's because of the happy event in the family, and the medicine worked immediately!"

Doctor Cui knew that the Xie and Song families had formed a marriage alliance and would be married after the Imperial Examination, so he smiled and congratulated them.

Song Zhisheng and Lin Shi also thought it was because of their good mood.

Only Song Yanqing looked at the Jade-colored Small Porcelain Bottle by his pillow; whether it was these pills or the ointment his father applied every night, they were the reasons for their early recovery, right?

He stroked the bottle, thought quietly for a while, then smiled with relief, and used his consciousness to summon the Imperial Examination Promotion System to check the physical items that could be exchanged with his existing points.

Since the Leg Injury Potion and Waist Injury Potion were no longer needed, he planned to exchange these points for a gift.

【Host, sending it to your partner? Then this is the first choice!】

The Sub-system recommended that he exchange for the Red Gold Tassel Kingfisher Hairpin.

The value was exactly all the points he currently had.

"..."

He always felt that the system was deliberately trying to spend all his accumulated points, but he had no evidence.

However, according to the system's description, this was a hairpin that could improve a woman's hair quality and make her hair even darker and more lustrous.

The hairpin itself was also very beautiful, and when close to it, one could smell a faint scent of plum blossoms.

Song Yanqing no longer hesitated and spent all the points he had earned from copying books to exchange for this special hairpin.

"Did the Song family at the end of the village really split up?"

"That wasn't a normal family split. It was Lao Wangshi who didn't want to keep supporting the bedridden Song Laosan, and seeing that the second grandson had broken his leg and had no hope for the Imperial Examination, she separated their family out alone. I heard they were only given that one ear room they lived in and a mu of poor land at the foot of the mountain; they weren't given any grain or Silver at all."

"Your news is long outdated! Now Song Laosan's waist injury has been cured by the doctor at Baoji Hall, and they have formed a marriage alliance with the Xie family who sells Pork at the entrance of the town. They are about to start building a new house!"

"I also heard from my family that the second son of the Song family at the end of the village has become engaged to Zhurong's youngest daughter, and they will get married after Song Erlang returns from taking the exam in Fucheng. That small Chai Shan that was sold was bought by Zhurong as a dowry for his daughter."

"Not just the small Chai Shan, but also a few mu of poor land at the foot of the mountain and the residential plot!"

"Doesn't that mean Song Laosan's family is taking advantage of their future daughter-in-law?"

"That doesn't count. I heard from the village head that the newly built residence was borrowed by Song Laosan from his in-laws, and they will definitely pay it back in the future."

"That's just what they say to the outside world; who knows if they'll actually pay it back!"

"That's Song Laosan's business anyway; at least we can earn some pocket money by following along."

"What pocket money?"

"Don't you know? If you go to help Song Laosan's family build the new house, you can get fifteen coins a day, and a lunch is included."

"!!!"