RPAGF Chapter 458 Living under someone else’s roof
Chapter 458 Living under someone else’s roof
Also, by March or April next year, I have an idea for your two acres of land. I want you to plant drought-resistant, high-yield rice, and as for the rest of the land, plant sweet potatoes.
This way, the harvest will be better and it will save a lot of effort. I called you here to ask your opinion. Is it okay?
Little Bear nodded vigorously. "Thank you, Auntie. You always think of me. I don't understand anything, so I just follow your arrangements."
Xiuying nodded with satisfaction. Although Xiaoxiong was not very smart in some aspects, he was honest and upright, and always maintained a respectful attitude towards her. This made Xiuying willing to help him from the bottom of her heart.
Xiuying knew how hard it was to live under someone else's roof. Seeing how close Xiaoxiong was to the two elderly people in the family, she decided not to bother him, and to try to make him feel comfortable and not burdened by Zhou Dazhu's situation.
Xiuying paused for a moment, then continued in a gentle tone, "Xiao Xiong, although the servants at home work for me, it's not impossible to ask them to help you with more chores. After all, they always listen to the arrangements of the master.
But as time goes on, some people will inevitably complain. So, I'm thinking of discussing with you whether you can give some money to the servants who help you farm.
It doesn't have to be too much, twenty coins per person will be enough. This will be a small token of gratitude for their hard work, and it will also make everyone feel better. What do you think?"
Hearing this, Little Bear immediately sank like a deflated ball. It wasn't that he was stingy and unwilling to give the money, but he simply didn't know where to get it from.
Xiuying noticed Xiaoxiong's concerns and patiently explained, "Xiaoxiong, I've done the math for you. Your family's sweet potato harvest, if made into sweet potato flour and sold, would bring in about fifty taels of silver. This time, I've sent ten people to help you with the work, each earning twenty wen, for a total of two hundred wen. So, you'll still have four thousand eight hundred wen left."
"Okay, Auntie, I'm willing to give thirty cents each." Little Bear raised his head and said with a firm look, "I know farming is hard work, not to mention making sweet potatoes into sweet potato flour. It's not easy for everyone."
It turns out that Aunt Xiuying thinks so far ahead. She not only helps me plan my farming work, but also carefully considers every aspect.
Xiuying gently took out the silver she earned from selling sweet potato flour from her sleeve and handed it to Xiaoxiong, saying, "Here is the silver from selling sweet potato flour. You must keep it safe and don't drop it by accident."
Xiao Xiong took the silver with a slight hesitation and looked up at Xiuying, his eyes full of surprise: Auntie is so confident in handing the money to me? When the village distributed various profits before, he saw that there was no share for him, so he didn't dare to ask.
As if sensing Xiao Xiong's confusion, Xiuying gently explained, "The Zhao family took the sweet potatoes from your fields earlier. I had someone retrieve them for you and then used them to make sweet potato flour, so there was a slight delay. Next time, you'll be able to receive your silver along with the rest of the village."
When Xiao Xiong heard Xiuying's explanation, his shoulders trembled slightly and he couldn't help sobbing. He tried to calm down, turned around, handed the silver in his hand to Yang's mother, and said, "Grandma, please keep it for me."
Mother Yang looked at Little Bear with eyes full of love. She gently took the silver and said, "Don't worry, my dear child. I'll keep it for you. If you need the silver in the future, just ask me for it."
"Madam, the food is ready." Dongmei walked slowly into the house, bowed slightly, and said softly.
Xiuying looked around at everyone and said with a smile, "Let's go, let's go eat first. Qingfeng and Afan will be leaving for Jizhou soon."
This afternoon, Xiuying and her family ate in the courtyard. Two large tables were neatly arranged in the courtyard. Xiuying hadn't eaten in this courtyard for quite some time; she usually ate in the main hall. Now, with the family dwindling and the servants having moved out, the once bustling courtyard had become empty.
Xiuying sat at a table with her seven daughters, content with her current life. For some reason, no one spoke at this meal.
Ah Fan sat at the table, somewhat absentmindedly, turning from time to time to gaze at Shi Liu, who sat beside Xiu Ying. The journey to Jizhou was long and arduous, with no certainty of return. He was filled with reluctance, and the thought of being separated from Shi Liu for so long made him feel a pang of pain in his heart.
While the host family was having their meal, Dongmei swiftly prepared the oxcart and placed the necessary food and water bags on it.
Lunch was almost over. Xiuying looked around and saw that everyone had almost finished eating. She turned her gaze to Awang, who was sitting at another table with Yang's father, and said gently, "Awang, you should go to the provincial capital with Taohua tomorrow. It's not a good idea to stay at home all the time thinking about things by yourself. Just let go and do what you want to do."
Awang subconsciously glanced at Taohua, with a hint of expectation in his eyes, and then immediately responded: "Okay, Aunt Xiuying, Taohua and I will set off for the provincial capital at dawn tomorrow."
Dongmei stood quietly aside, silently keeping Xiuying's words in mind. The eldest lady and Master Awang were going to the provincial capital tomorrow, so she had to prepare everything they needed for the trip today.
The eldest lady is used to riding in a carriage, so a reliable person must be arranged to drive the carriage to take her there and then drive the carriage back.
After all, there is only one carriage in the family now, and we must ensure that the lady and other young ladies have a carriage available at any time.
"Dongmei, accompany Taohua to the city tomorrow." Xiuying ordered casually.
"what?"
Dongmei was a little stunned for a moment, and subconsciously looked up at Xiuying, her eyes full of confusion. She really didn't understand why the lady had suddenly changed her mind and asked her to go with her, when she hadn't said before that she wanted to let Master Awang and the eldest daughter take this opportunity to train.
As if noticing Dongmei's confusion, he added, "You going there will be of several use. First, you can take good care of the young lady and make her feel at ease. Second, you can also help with business matters and offer advice. Third, if we encounter any emergencies along the way, you can come back and let us know in time."
"Yes, ma'am." Dongmei immediately responded respectfully. It seemed that she had to pack her luggage now.
After lunch, Afan jumped onto the ox cart skillfully, held the reins and waved them gently, and the ox cart started slowly. Both of them had a deep attachment to the people they cared about in their hearts.