Everyone, of course, had no objections.
The "stubborn girl" plant is easy to grow; scattering just a single seed can result in many more sprouts erging as its roots spread beneath the soil. Last year, Lian Manman had harvested the "stubborn girl" and saved so seeds—enough to plant several acres.
Because of this characteristic of the "stubborn girl," Lian Manman dared not plant it in her own fields. There was a dirt trench separating the barren land from everyone else’s fertile fields, preventing the "stubborn girl" from encroaching and affecting the harvest of other crops.
With the help of a calf and a plow, their reclamation work progressed swiftly. Unlike growing vegetables or other crops, which required careful cultivation, planting the "stubborn girl" only needed a rough tilling of the land, followed by roughly ploughed ridges. Once the seeds were scattered and the soil heaped over them, they could just wait for the "stubborn girl" sprouts to grow on their own. Moreover, it hardly needed any maintenance later, such as weeding or watering. The "stubborn girl" was much more robust than any weed and highly drought-tolerant.
In just half a day, the family finished planting more than three acres of the "stubborn girl" and, after marking the area, they packed up and went ho.
Once the fields were planted, Lady Zhang ntioned that they should visit Wu Yugui’s ho to thank them for their help with the planting. However, before they could make their way to town, Wu Yugui’s wife, Lady Wang, arrived with her daughter Wu Jiayu.
It was already past midday. Lian Shouxin had gone to check if the crops had begun to sprout, Wu Lang and Xiao Qi had gone to school, and the small shop was only manned by Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman, mother and daughters. Seeing Lady Wang and Wu Jiayu alight from the carriage outside the shop, Lady Zhang quickly led her two daughters to welco the visitors inside.
Without a word being said, the task of offering tea, pouring water, and serving fruit naturally fell to Lian Zhizhi.
Lady Wang watched Lian Zhizhi bustling about with a smile playing around her eyes and lips.
"Didn’t want to bother you when you’re busy, otherwise I would have co earlier. Nothing much, just missed seeing you these past days," said Lady Wang with a laugh, sipping her tea, "Zhizhi, don’t busy yourself too much, sit down and have a rest, I’m no stranger here."
"I just got a break, I was about to go to town to see you, and here you are," Lady Zhang replied with a smile.
Lady Wang and Lady Zhang chatted away about household matters.
Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, and Wu Jiayu sat to one side, talking among themselves.
"Jiayu at ho was saying, she knows you’ve built a new house and she hasn’t seen it yet..." Lady Wang suddenly ntioned.
"Zhizhi, Manman, why don’t you two show Jiayu around our new house," instructed Lady Zhang to her daughters.
Seeing the expressions of Lady Zhang and Lady Wang, Lian Manman guessed they must have things to say that weren’t suitable in front of the young girls. As for what that might be, Lian Manman glanced at Lian Zhizhi and surreptitiously giggled.
Lian Zhizhi, Lian Manman, and Wu Jiayu left the shop and gave Wu Jiayu a thorough tour of the new house. They lingered longer because they feared that if they returned too soon, Lady Zhang and Lady Wang might not have finished their conversation.
"Sister Jiayu, co take a look at our newly established vegetable garden," suggested Lian Manman.
"Sure," nodded Wu Jiayu. Even the most reserved young girl has a playful side and longs for company at this age. Wu Jiayu enjoyed spending ti with Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman.
The vegetable garden was located behind the new house, and by this ti, it was already filled with vibrant green life.
"Ah, Sister Zhizhi, Manman, your Malan is growing really well," Wu Jiayu exclaid upon entering the vegetable garden, her attention imdiately drawn to a lush cluster of Malan on the side.
The Malan flower’s petals seed like the delicate wings of a butterfly, transparent and moist, sporting a sky-blue reminiscent of a clear sky. Against the backdrop of lush greenery, they were stunning.
Standing next to the Malan, Lian Manman closed her eyes and took a deep breath. The air was fresh and humid, filled with the fragrance of grass and trees, montarily transporting one to a fairyland. Lian Manman was very fond of the Malan; she’d always believed it was the first to bloom in spring and the most beautiful of all.
The Malan Flower, also known as the Butterfly Orchid, was an orchid that blood in the countryside, boasting a beauty and elegance that rivaled any other orchid.
Three little girls gathered around a clump of Malan, plucking the flowers and laughing as they placed them on each other’s heads.
"This Malan was here from the beginning; we saw it when clearing the land and purposely preserved it," Lian Manman told Wu Jiayu. The Malan was a perennial plant, and in the gardens of most farmstead tenant farrs, there would be such a clump. The leaves of the Malan, when they had grown to a certain extent, had very flexible fibers, which, after being harvested and dried, could be used to make ropes.
Tenant farr families often used Malan leaves for the ropes to hang their mosquito nets. Of course, the most significant use of Malan leaves was for wrapping zongzi, the traditional dumplings, during the Dragon Boat Festival.
After playing for a while, Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi, along with Wu Jiayu, inspected the vegetables in their own vegetable garden.
"This is canola, we have newly planted it this year."
When Lian Manman ca out from the new house, she had purposely brought a basket. At this ti, she and Lian Zhizhi entered the vegetable beds and picked half a basket of canola and half a basket of bok choy.
Noticing the ti was about right, they headed back to the breakfast shop.
Lady Zhang and Lady Wang were sitting on the heated brick bed, chatting and laughing. Seeing them return, both won’s gazes fell on Lian Zhizhi, then they exchanged a knowing look and both smiled.
Lian Manman thought to herself, by the looks of it, these two mothers had finalized the wedding agreent between Lian Zhizhi and Wu Jiaxing.
"It’s getting late; I should head back," Lady Wang said as she bid farewell. She then deliberately leaned into Lady Zhang’s ear, speaking in a hushed voice that was not audible.
Lady Zhang just smiled and did not insist on keeping Lady Wang.
Escorting Lady Wang and Wu Jiayu out, Lian Manman sneaked a aningful glance at Lian Zhizhi.
"Third Aunt," Lian Zhizhi said with a slightly reddened face, handing the basket to Lady Wang, "just picked so fresh vegetables from the garden, please take them ho and try them."
Atop the basket of lush green vegetables, there were also a few vibrant and captivating Malan flowers.
**...***
Here’s an update for all, asking for pink supports.
Throwing flowers, we’ve reached three hundred Chapters. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to vote for it with recomndation tickets and monthly tickets at qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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