Chapter 417

The candle flame flickered; He Jinglan rose to trim the wick.

He Jinghui had already finished stating his purpose.

He looked smugly at Mu Nan Zhao, "How about it, I'll stay at your place tonight with Jing Lan to have dinner, that's only natural, right?"

Mu Nan Zhao lifted his gaze, his eyes seeming to hold rippling light.

Nine days until the wheat harvest, just finished the last major irrigation.

The few people at the farmstead, with their hands temporarily idle, all went to help Gu Xixi.

The grape vines are growing vigorously; they need to be pruned and tipped now, so the vines can safely pass the summer.

Tea trees are the same; to grow well, they must be pruned several times each year.

These tasks were only for Gu Xixi and Lv Jing; according to the plan, they were supposed to take one or two days.

But after Chen Dafu, Aunt Tao, and Wu Niangzi joined, the progress noticeably sped up.

Even the two little maids, Xiu Lan and Xiu He, were asked to help.

Lv Jing then taught them how to pick tea leaves.

While pruning, they plucked off the usable parts.

Although the tea leaves aren't of great appearance, after pan-frying they are kept for the household's daily drinking, which avoids waste.

They worked until afternoon, finally finishing all the accumulated tasks within the day.

Gu Xixi, though tired, felt unusually light-hearted.

On the flatbed cart lay about ten cold melons.

Gu Xixi held a large bundle of tea leaves, still retaining the warmth from pan-frying, "Keep those you usually brew to drink."

"Tea clears the mind; drinking some tea water in hot weather is good for the body."

"It's not something valuable; don't be reluctant to use it."

Earlier, Gu Xixi had let everyone eat the persimmons and cucumbers, but they were unwilling to eat them.

They wanted to pick the fruit to sell it as goods.

Chen Dafu even made a special trip to Huachi Du Cun to seek her consent.

Aunt Tao had just learned from Gu Xixi how to brew tea.

She said with a smile, "Don't worry, master; from now on, when I come early to the manor, the first thing I'll do is boil water and brew tea."

"Stored in jars, everyone will have it available anytime."

Gu Xixi nodded, then said to Chen Dafu, "There are still five cold melons; you keep two to eat, and send the other three to Meng Daniang at the county town's Zhenbaoge."

"It's really too late today; she doesn't have time to go into town again, so she can only entrust Chen Dafu to handle it."

Chen Dafu solemnly agreed, "Rest assured, master, we won't be too busy before the wheat harvest."

"I will see to it first thing tomorrow morning."

Having said that, he picked up a heavy cloth bag and handed it to Gu Xixi.

"Master, the cucumbers and persimmons have already been sold five times, all at the price you previously set; the money is for you to keep."

"Inside also contains the accounts for the vegetable sales."

Gu Xixi reached out to take it, opened the bag's mouth and glanced inside; it was all copper coins.

Moreover, they had been carefully strung together, a thousand cash making a string.

The weight was substantial; it had to be held with both hands.

"Penny by penny, the vegetable money really adds up to quite a lot."

"You've worked hard; besides farming, you also have to pick fruit and go to town to hawk it."

The three laughed, having received the master's praise, plus a group of farmers who had never sold anything themselves before.

This gave them a considerable sense of achievement inside.

Gu Xixi, however, took out three strings of cash from it and gave them respectively to Chen Dafu, Wu Niangzi, and Aunt Tao.

"This is your wages."

"If you refuse to accept it, I won't dare ask you to help with other work in the future."

Wu Niangzi hesitated a moment, then openly accepted it, "Thank you, master."

Although Chen Dafu knew Gu Xixi's manner of doing things,

he still felt a bit surprised, "Master, how can we as a couple accept two shares? No, no, that's not right."

Aunt Tao also flusteredly said, "Yeah, master, this isn't right."

Gu Xixi said, "Aunt, the work you do is no less than anyone else's; your wages should therefore not be lacking a single cash."

Chen Dafu stared, then looked at his wife and nodded.

Wu Niangzi also smiled at Aunt Tao, happy for her.

Aunt Tao took the copper coins, her eyes glistening with tears of excitement.

She follows Chen Dafu in planting wheat; saying it out loud, it's the two of them going to work as hired hands to earn money for the family.

And this string of cash in her hand is explicitly hers alone, also the first money she has ever earned in her life.

Returning to Huachi Du Cun, it was later than usual.

Passing the big locust tree at the village entrance, the sky had already turned completely dark.

Tonight there was no moonlight; suddenly a dark shape darted out ahead, directly blocking the path.

The mule was startled, stamping its feet and neighing.

Lv Jing and Gu Xixi were also startled by this sudden roadblocker.

"Who!" Lv Jing shouted sternly, "Running out in front of the cart like that, if the mule bumps or steps on you, whose fault would it be?!"

At the same time, Gu Xixi had already taken out a fire striker and lit it.

Watching the black shadow gradually approach, the two exchanged glances, having readied themselves to capture the evildoer.

At that moment the black shadow spoke, hesitantly, "I was waiting for you by the roadside earlier and fell asleep."

"As soon as I heard the cart's noise I hurriedly got up, I scared you, sorry."

But the voice was not Gu Tiezhu's.

Lv Jing gripped the reins tightly, not daring to relax her guard.

Gu Xixi, however, called out the person's name, "Zhao Da bao?"

Zhao Da bao, the only bachelor in Huachi Du Cun, being nearly forty and fond of leisure and aversion to labor, was not welcomed by everyone.

Everyone only called him by his nickname, "Old Bachelor."

When Gu Xixi first entered the book, the Old Bachelor had also done some bad deeds.

He repeatedly opposed Gu Xixi and took the lead in stirring up trouble.

But since Gu Xixi promoted the new grain-planting method, last year the Old Bachelor tried planting millet and tasted the benefits.

During the New Year he no longer needed to mooch meals at others' homes, nor did he have to visit his married sister's house to watch his brothers-in-law's faces.

From then on the Old Bachelor became much more diligent.

Although he still couldn't compare with others, at least he could work in the fields two out of three days.

His home was no longer as dirty and smelly as before.

Only then did the villagers gradually remember his name was Zhao Da bao.

Zhao Da bao walked into the range of the fire starter's light.

Seeing Lucky bare his teeth and snort at him, as if about to kick.

Zhao Da bao dared not get too close, grinning, "Why are you back so late?"

Gu Xixi and Lv Jing had thought Gu Tiezhu had finally made a move, but seeing Zhao Da bao they weren't particularly angry.

Lv Jing's eyebrows furrowed, "What does our return time have to do with you? Get out of the way!"

Gu Xixi asked, "You said you were waiting here—anything the matter?"

Zhao Da bao could feel he wasn't welcome, and embarrassedly rubbed his hands, "My wheat is growing well, about to be harvested. I just wanted to go to your house to thank you; hearing Aunt say you'd gone out and not yet returned, I decided to come to the village entrance to meet you."

"As a result, I fell asleep and it grew dark."

Seeing he meant no harm, Gu Xixi said lightly, "You don't need to thank me."

"The grain you reap from your own wheat is what you deserve."

Zhao Da bao blankly stepped aside, watching the mule cart pass.

He suddenly thought of something, and as the flatbed cart passed before him, he lowered his voice and said:

"When I left your house I seemed to see Gu Tiezhu—you, you be careful!"

Zhao Da bao may not be a good person, but at least he understands that following Gu Xixi means having food to eat.

One cannot eat someone's food and then smash their pot.