"Manman is right," Wu Lang said.
Lady Zhou cursed for a long ti, but despite her fatigue, she failed to attract anyone to help.
Everyone knew that even if they went to help, they would just be cursed instead.
...
The corn was now in the tasseling stage, sorghum and millet too. Watchn were hired for Lian Manman’s family’s fields. Lady Zhang, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi, when free, would also go down to the fields to check on things. Lian Manman and Lian Zhizhi would also take a look while they were out gathering wild vegetables. Lian Shouxin practically wished he could grow roots and live in the fields.
As Shopkeeper Wu had anticipated, Golden Corn sold very well. To ensure the corn’s freshness, the restaurant’s staff would co to Thirty Mile Camp every other night to pick up the corn and leave before dawn.
After the initial deposit of fifty silver was spent, Shopkeeper Wu personally delivered another fifty silver. Manman put all this money to good use. Good timber was needed for building a new house, and this task was entrusted to Zhang Qingshan. North of Back Mountain Village lay an ancient forest filled with quality timber. Zhang Qingshan had brothers by sworn oath living there. With the timber dinsions and intended uses written by Lian Shouxin, they could ticulously select the best wood and begin processing it for drying, as well as preventing insects and decay.
Despite Zhang Qingshan’s influence and credibility, Lian Manman still made an advance paynt to ensure the workers would feel secure and focused on their job.
There were also the glazed windows—made to size and design—which Wu Yugui and his son Wu Jiaxing took to the glass factory. An advance paynt was made there as well, to start the slow process of firing the glass.
In addition, there were bricks, stones, sand, and new furniture that had to be prepared, all requiring advance paynt.
"Thank goodness for the money that ca in. Otherwise, even by autumn, we might have managed to construct the house but it wouldn’t have been so complete. And we wouldn’t have been able to furnish the inside," Lady Zhang said.
Today was also Wu Lang and Xiao Qi’s day off. After breakfast and after the busiest ti at the breakfast shop had passed, Lian Shouxin said he wanted to go down to the fields.
"What’s happening today?" Lady Zhang asked.
"Today, we’re gathering black millet," Lian Shouxin replied.
"Dad, I’ll go with you," Xiao Qi imdiately offered.
Observing Xiao Qi’s eagerness, even if Lian Manman didn’t already know, she could imdiately guess that gathering black millet was related to food and it was probably very tasty.
"Then I’ll go too," Lian Manman, having just finished balancing the books, put the account book away and said.
"Looks like there’s nothing urgent, so I’ll go as well," Wu Lang added.
"You guys go and have a nice ti then, just rember to co back for lunch," Lady Zhang said with a smile.
Lian Shouxin led Wu Lang, Lian Manman, and Xiao Qi to the fields. They went to the plot near Zhao Family Village in the north, which was not too far away. Lian Shouxin carried a basket, and without bothering to take a cart, they all walked there.
Gathering black millet naturally ant entering the sorghum field. There might be black millet in the cornfield too, but much less than in the sorghum field.
The black millet could be found on the joints of the sorghum stalks, hidden under layers of green husks at the base of the sorghum leaves.
Once in the sorghum field, Lian Shouxin picked the first piece of black millet, tore off the husk to reveal the tender white flesh inside, and handed it to Lian Manman. Manman tasted a segnt and searched her mory to understand what black millet actually was.
Black millet, in fact, is a type of disease in sorghum, scientifically known as ergot. It’s caused by overly dense planting or incomplete composting of manure, among other factors.
In the early stages of ergot disease, the black millet is white and tender, with a sweet taste. If left unchecked, however, it will turn black, swell, and beco not only inedible but also spread the infection to the sorghum leaves, affecting the sorghum harvest.
In this era without pesticides, thankfully, black millet was not prone to widespread outbreaks. Instead, thanks to the farrs’ extensive cultivation experience, the occurrence of black millet was rare. By picking it during the early stage of its growth, the issue could be resolved.
This was the process of gathering black millet.
At this ti, the harvested black millet was one of the children’s favorite delicacies. It could be eaten raw, dipped in sauce at ho, wrapped in dry tofu and dipped in sauce, or stewed with potatoes and green beans.
After sharing a piece of black millet, Lian Manman, Wu Lang, and Xiao Qi each took two rows and moved forward, searching for more black millet. The sorghum leaves scraped against their skin, causing a scratchy pain, but to the children of tenant farrs, this did not diminish the joy of finding black millet.
They picked the black millet, but no one ate any of it.
"We’ll take them ho for lunch. We’ll buy a pound of dry tofu and dip it in sauce," Lian Manman planned.
Wu Lang and Xiao Qi both agreed, and naturally, Lian Shouxin had no objections.
After they had combed through the entire sorghum field and filled only half a basket with black millet,
Lian Manman looked at the half-basket of black millet with a hint of conflict. The scarcity of black millet ant that the sorghum was growing well, which should have made her happy. Yet, in so corner of her heart, she wished there had been more to pick.
After leaving the sorghum field, the group of four then checked the neighboring cornfield. There was no black millet in the cornfield, but the corn was growing robustly. The appearance of the corn cobs revealed that the kernels were beginning to form inside.
Thanks to the ample amount of manure and good rainfall this year, the sorghum, corn, and millet were all thriving.
As they reached the end of the field, Lian Shouxin went to speak with the watchman while Lian Manman crouched in the sweet potato field, carefully inspecting the vines. Judging by the growth of the vines, she estimated that the sweet potatoes underground must also be prospering.
With corn and sweet potatoes, not only could she look forward to a feast this year, but she was also poised to make a handso profit. That was indeed joyful news.
Lian Manman couldn’t help but purse her lips in a smile.
"Uncle Si, Sister Manman, hurry back ho. We have visitors," Lian Yeye rushed over from the end of the field, calling out loudly.
×××......××
Delivering the second update, hoping for your pink support. (To be continued. If you like this work, please co to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation votes and monthly votes, your support is my greatest motivation.)
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