In vegetable plots like this, it’s common to plant a ring of thorny roses around the outer edge of the fence, which is effective in preventing people, livestock, chickens, ducks, geese, etc., from sneaking into the garden to steal and damage the crops. When these thorny roses bloom, their flowers are not only large and vibrant but also distinctly fragrant.
Lian Manman nodded and went back ho with Zhang Caiyun to fetch tools.
Wu Lang spent so ti reading and had just co out of the study for a break. When he heard they planned to plant flowers, he helped them carry the water bucket and iron hoe and called Xiao Qi to join them. A few of them left the front gate and bumped into Xiao Tanzhi, who ended up joining in as another helper.
Around Lian Manman’s family estate, so areas had low walls built, while most places were planted with trees. Under the trees grew a kind of wild chrysanthemum commonly called "indestructible."
These wild chrysanthemums blood in a variety of colors. Although their blossoms weren’t large and lacked fragrance, they were full of vitality, growing in clusters and still visually pleasing. They’re called "indestructible" because of their incredible resilience. Once planted, they need hardly any care and can grow on their own, producing vibrant flowers. Even when sumr storms knock them flat, once the weather clears, they will straighten back up and continue thriving.
To plant thorny roses, which were more fragrant, beautiful, and even useful, Lian Manman still wanted to preserve these ordinary "indestructibles" because their sheer vitality deeply impressed her.
In this season, the "indestructibles" had not yet blood, but each plant had grown quite robust.
"Let the ’indestructibles’ stay where they are; we’ll plant the thorny roses in between," Lian Manman suggested.
The children divided up tasks—digging holes, watering, scattering seeds, and covering them with soil. As the estate had irrigation channels built, fetching water was easy, making the flower planting work enjoyable. The children talked, laughed, and carried out the tasks as if they were playing.
"So many fruit trees, blooming and bearing fruit, and so many flowers..." Lian Manman glanced around the estate and thought aloud, "What a waste, we could totally keep a beehive here. If we raised bees ourselves, we’d have honey to eat."
The sweet scent of thorny rose blooms was particularly attractive to bees. The flowers from the fruit trees, lotus, lons, and vegetables around Lian Manman’s estate could also sustain bees.
"That’s true," Zhang Caiyun nodded. "In the mountains near my ho, so people keep bees. How about this, when I go back, I’ll ask my dad to find a hive from the mountains, then have soone make a beehive and bring it to you."
"A beehive needs bees too, and that’s not so easy to get. If my uncle gets stung badly, it’ll be trouble. Sister Caiyun, you ntioned there are people who already raise bees, so why not just buy a hive from them, beehive and all?" Lian Manman said.
"Alright, I’ll sort it out for you when I get back," Zhang Caiyun replied with a chuckle.
"Sister Caiyun, hurry up and take care of it for us," Xiao Qi said eagerly, thinking of the honey.
"Don’t worry, as soon as I get back, I’ll make sure to handle this. You’ll have honey to eat soon!" Zhang Caiyun promised, laughing.
The thought of eating homade honey made Lian Manman delighted. She decided they would first keep one hive to test the waters, and if it worked out, she’d buy another one. None of the resources on the estate should go to waste.
At noon, they finished their work and returned ho to see Lady Li, Lady Zhang, and Lady Zhang Wang whispering to each other about sothing unknown. As soon as the children arrived, they imdiately fell silent.
"It’s almost noon; hurry up and prepare lunch."
The trio got up and bustled into the kitchen to start cooking.
The others didn’t think much of it, but Lian Manman felt a lingering doubt. Taking advantage of a mont of solitude, she pulled Lian Zhizhi aside to inquire.
Lian Zhizhi had been ho all morning and hadn’t gone out, so Lian Manman figured she might know what Lady Zhang and the others had been discussing. In their eyes, the children were still young, but Lian Zhizhi was engaged and could be considered an adult.
"I don’t know; they kept everything from too," Lian Zhizhi said with a laugh as she shook her head, claiming ignorance.
But Lian Manman picked up on sothing in her words.
"Sister, they’ve talked about who knows how many things all morning. How is it, when I ask, you imdiately know what I’m asking about? You definitely know. Tell —I promise I won’t tell anyone," Lian Manman pressed.
"You know they can’t hide anything from you," Lian Zhizhi said with a grin. She glanced around and lowered her voice to tell Lian Manman.
"Is it about matchmaking for Sister Caiyun?" Lian Manman asked, her eyes wide in surprise.
"Shh," Lian Zhizhi hushed her, "It’s not confird yet, so don’t talk about it. Don’t let Sister Caiyun find out."
"Oh," Lian Manman nodded, agreeing to keep it a secret.
Lunch that day was unusually lavish, with chicken, duck, fish, and at aplenty. To top it off, Lady Zhang had fried up so dishes. Everyone ate heartily and left with satisfied smiles.
After the al, they rested for a while, and Zhang Qingshan’s group prepared to head back. Lian Shouxin had unearthed almost four acres’ worth of sweet potato shoots, which were loaded onto the cart. Lian Manman and Xiao Qi finalized arrangents for the bees and beehive with Zhang Qingshan again.
"Mother, when the hot season cos, bring Sister Caiyun over and bring the little ones too. Stay for a few extra days," Lady Zhang reminded Lady Li as she helped her onto the cart.
...
During the spring plowing, Lian Shouxin went to the fields daily with the long-term workers, while Lian Manman and the others were busy at ho. First, they sold corn seeds. Paynt for the corn seeds wasn’t collected upfront but docunted with agreents to pay in grains during the autumn harvest. Next, they sold sweet potato shoots, which were paid for in cash.
***...***
Here’s the first update. The end of the month is coming—please vote for pink tickets, official subscriptions, and recomndation tickets.
There will be a second update tonight. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit Qidian [qidian] to cast recomndation tickets and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
User Comments
0 comments from readers