Chapter 108:
Old Li Tou returned after the meeting and first conveyed the Village Chief’s meaning to everyone.
He also told everyone about the situation with Li Ergou’s case.
The Village Chief’s meaning was that, for safety’s sake, during this period from now on, several men should be stationed at the Village Entrance!
Idle and miscellaneous people are not allowed to enter the Village at all, either pool money together to pay them wages, or have one strong man from each household take turns, in any case, to get through this period.
The Village folks unanimously decided to still provide labor force from home, and from their family, Li Sanmao would take the role!
Starting tomorrow, he has to go to the Village Entrance to stand guard, for three consecutive days.
Although Li Sanmao was a bit speechless, he still complied with the Village’s Arrangement.
With strong men guarding, Old Li Tou felt most of the worry in his heart lifted!
Zhou Shi, upon hearing this, unhappily grumbled for a while.
“It’s all because of those lecherous old men who won’t die, wasting a labor force from the family for no reason, guarding aimlessly all day long…”
Old Li Tou rolled his eyes at her several times!
“I meant old men like Li Ergou who are shameless, Heaven has eyes, serves him right to have his dog legs broken!”
Luo Zhi’er rolled up her sleeve and ran to the Kitchen to bring a bowl, saw the knife for cutting vegetables placed on the Cutting Board, picked it up and looked, there were several small nicks on the sharp blade.
Xiao Zhou Shi saw her back facing her acting a bit off, her whole body emanating a cold chill, “You, what are you doing with the knife?”
“What did you chop? This knife has nicks chopped into it!”
“Don’t wrongly accuse me, I just cut some Shredded Radish! I felt something wrong when cutting just now!”
“Don’t know who took it to go Woodcutting! I thought it was you who did it this morning!”
That must be it, Zhou Shi!
“Eldest Sister-in-law, Third Sister-in-law, is the rice ready? My stomach is growling from hunger, are you two just that idle? Only chatting away!”
Li Zhenzhu had wandered around near Li Zhengxin’s home in the Village doing nothing and just came back, didn’t see Third Brother.
It was her dad who called her back, otherwise, she would have squatted at the Doorway to wait!
She wanted to tell Third Brother about her upcoming marriage.
Speaking of which, really unlucky! Today she was forced to go up the Mountain to pick Acorn Beans, climbed until her whole body ached, really too tiring.
Exhausted, hungry, thirsty, feet hurting, calves sore, this simply isn’t work for humans!
Although she basically just pretended to pick a few, then found a place to rest!
In her heart, she eagerly looked forward to quickly getting married and becoming a Rich Wife in a wealthy family, so someone would wait on her!
A bit sullen, she da-da ran into the Kitchen! Her complexion wasn’t good either!
Xiao Zhou Shi, upon seeing Li Zhenzhu, was filled with resentment, and hearing her say that, her heart seethed with hatred, wishing she could skin her.
With a fake smile, she said: “Oh? Aunt, you’re hungry, don’t you know how to make it yourself? You came back earlier than me!”
“Or come help out, we just came back from the Mountain too!”
“Eldest Sister-in-law, what do you mean? Don’t forget, in a few days I’ll be a person from Zeng Manor, watch how you speak!”
Li Zhenzhu threatened.
“Hehe, if you want to order people around, that’s fine, wait until you go to Zeng Manor, we’re not servants!”
“You, hmph! Wait and see, be careful or I’ll have the servants slap your mouth rotten!”
Xiao Zhou Shi unwillingly shut her mouth!
Coldly snorted: “A person from Zeng Manor, isn’t that just a Concubine, not presentable.”
“It’s just her being forced into it like a duck onto a perch, so eager to get married! Once married, can she definitely give birth to a son? Hmph! Your hard days are yet to come, you’ll suffer!”
Zhou Shi heard the commotion and hurriedly rushed in: “What are you doing? Bullying Zhenzhu again?”
Li Zhenzhu with a face full of grievance, ran over and pulled her mom’s arm: “Mom, Eldest Sister-in-law wishes I would quickly leave this home, so I don’t obstruct her eyes!”
“Zhou Hanjuan, you’re not yet the mistress of this home! What are you hurrying for? Old lady hasn’t died yet, who do you think you are?”
“Mom, I didn’t mean that, don’t just listen to Zhenzhu’s one-sided words, Third Sister-in-law is standing here, ask her if I said those words?”
Alright, the fire was thrown at her again!
Luo Zhi’er silently glanced at Zhou Shi, that look made her slightly guilty, Zhou Shi uncomfortably dodged…
“Mom, you don’t know, Eldest Sister-in-law even wanted me to cook, if my hands get rough, what if my husband feels sorry for me then?”
Li Zhenzhu coquettishly said.
“You two little hussies listen well, before Zhenzhu’s big wedding, she doesn’t need to do any housework, just needs to take good care of her hands, feet, and body, don’t make trouble for me there!”
Which man fancies a woman with rough hands and feet, they all fancy tender-skinned young women!
This Zhou Hanjuan is too wicked, what thoughts she’s harboring, she still doesn’t know!
Li Zhenzhu with nostrils upturned, “Tch, hear that!”
“Alright, hurry up and eat!”
Zhou Shi let bygones be bygones.
After walking two steps, she thought and still reminded: “You are all people who will be sisters-in-law, I just don’t believe you can’t stand to see her doing well?”
“Her marrying well will benefit you all in the future!”
Senseless things!
“Baby Daughter, don’t carry the rice, Mom will help you carry it!”
“Mom, you’re the best!”
Mother and Daughter happily went out, Xiao Zhou Shi with contempt watched them leave, lowered her head to serve rice for Muqing Yunliang!
Li Daqiang sat on a big Stone in the Yard, dug out the mud and sand inside his Shoes!
Hearing his dad finish speaking about the Village’s Arrangement, he said: “Dad, this field will be plowed in another three to five days, once plowed, what do you plan to plant this year?”
Time is pressing, the Wheat at home dried in these two days can be pulled to the granary to sell, once decided what to plant, can prepare Seeds!
In previous years they planted Corn, this Corn can be planted early in April or May, or in July or August.
The one Li Ergou broke off from Zhao Er’s home was planted in spring season, already had Corn Cobs!
Now broken off, eaten it’s glutinous, with a bit of sweetness!
Planting Corn because it’s Mountain Land, the yield isn’t high, not as valuable as Wheat, but safe, and can be sold to the granary in Taoyuan Town, Li Sanmao also said: “How about planting Beans?”
That is, Soybeans, Summer Beans.
Old Li Tou smoked, furrowed his brows thinking for a long time.
They’ve planted Corn many times, have experience so it’s safer, Beans’ price is unstable, plus the granary doesn’t acquire it.
Beans are generally used to make Tofu, Bean Sprouts, brew Soy Sauce.
Making Tofu, Bean Sprouts, their family hasn’t done this business, no experience, no skill or spare time to sell it out.
Sell to the Soy Sauce Workshop, that Workshop is quite far, and may not acquire that much at once, if can’t sell, left at home it will mold or get bugs!
If can sell, then the price naturally higher than Corn, and Soybeans don’t lose much moisture, Corn after removing Cob dries with more moisture loss.
Soybeans yield higher than Corn, how to sell it out is the problem?
Old Li Tou was also stumped.
Thinking it over, considering, finally, under Zhou Shi’s suggestion, after the men discussed, decided to still plant Corn, safer!
For this Corn Seeds, won’t use the ones at home, after selling the Wheat, go to the Seed Shop in Town to buy, this yield will be higher.
Old Li Tou also warned in advance, at that time, Luo Zhi’er, Xiao Zhou Shi and them all follow up the slope to the Field to plant Corn Seeds.
