Spring scenery in the fields

Chapter 418 Growing Vegetables

"Brother Shen, after the pigs are sold, why don't you buy two acres of wasteland? It's cheap anyway, 500 wen per acre, and our family doesn't lack pig manure for land. Why don't you buy paddy fields?"

Shen Rongshan replied: "I thought I could buy two more paddy fields, so I bought two more."

"Okay, we'll see then."

The rain stopped after noon, and the sky was overcast. It looked like it would still rain in the afternoon.

Ji Wenhe went into the room and took out the cloth and scissors, and said to the person who followed him in, "Brother Shen, come here, I'll measure your size again and make the hem longer."

When working at home, he usually wears simple clothes, a top that reaches the thighs, and long pants with a belt tied around the waist to make it convenient for work. All the men in the village dress like this.

The clothes I made for him before all reached the thighs, which felt a bit short, so I decided to make them a little longer.

Shen Rongshan opened his arms and said, "Just make me one dress. I'll keep it for Wenshan and Yuanshan to wear on their wedding day. You can use the remaining fabric to make a few skirts for yourself."

"I have a lot of clothes too. I can't bear to throw away all the ones Auntie Lan gave me before."

When harvesting rice and wheat and collecting manure, they would take it out and wear it.

"I bought you new cloth shoes, but you left them upstairs and didn't wear them. You can wear them after they get married."

The straw sandals on my feet were also torn.

"Yuanshan and Wenshan made a lot of straw sandals and put them upstairs."

Shen Rongshan lowered his head and looked at the straw sandals that were almost showing their toes: "When they break, they can't be worn anymore. Save them for burning."

"Okay, whatever you want. I'll make you two pairs of cotton shoes this winter. You're not a waste of clothes, but you're a waste of shoes."

"My feet are big and I walk a lot, so they might have been worn out from climbing mountains."

His shoes are really worn out. He clearly takes good care of them and doesn't bump or scratch them, but their shoes just wear out quickly.

Shen Rongshan looked outside the door and said, "It's not raining anymore. If it doesn't rain tomorrow, go to the fields to grow rice seedlings and plant the vegetables."

"Okay, by the way, have you seen Uncle Ping come back?"

"I didn't see it, what's wrong?"

"I'm just asking. Aunt Zhao is raising a child alone and has a lot of farm work to do. She can't come alone. I want us to finish planting the vegetables as soon as possible. If their family hasn't finished it, I'll go over and help."

"When you're done with housework, you can go over and help her grow vegetables. Who will take care of her children?" he asked.

"Aunt Zhao said she gave it to Yujiao. Her child has started to learn to walk and doesn't want to be held. He keeps moving around in people's arms and wants to get off the ground."

Li Yujiao also has to take care of the child, as her mother-in-law has to work in the fields and may not have time to help her take care of the child.

The next morning, the weather was clear and each family was busy working in the fields.

The three brothers were raising seedlings in the field. Ji Wenhe was herding the geese and ducks and pulling the donkey out for a walk and then came back to help in the field.

As soon as we reached the end of the field, Shen Yuanshan walked over from the ravine with a rake in his hand: "Sister-in-law, let big brother and Yuanshan take care of this, we will go to the wasteland to plant vegetables."

"Okay, light the corn first. Where's the hoe?"

"The hoe was not brought."

"Then I'll go back and get them." Ji Wenhe went to the main hall to get the vegetable seeds, and then went out of the yard and asked him, "Wenshan, the two plots of land in the south can be used to plant vegetables. What do you plan to give as a gift?"

"Sister-in-law, Yuanshan and I have discussed planting some beans, peanuts, and corn. We bought so many vegetables to plant at home, so we can plant whatever we have."

"That's fine. We have plenty of vegetable seeds. If they're not enough, we can go to town to buy more. We can grow vegetables this year and eat them together. We can separate the vegetable fields next year. When you get married, we can discuss household affairs with her and be nice to her."

"Well, I know my sister-in-law. I will treat her well."

The two came to the wasteland behind the pigsty.

Shen Wenshan dug the hole, Ji Wenhe planted the seeds, and planted corn first. This year, cucumbers were still planted in the cornfield.

On the other side, at Li Chunhong's home.

She held the vegetable seeds and said, "Mo Xin, Lian Meng, one of you will go with me to the vegetable garden to plant the vegetables. We will need to raise the seedlings later."

Shen Moxin put down the needle and thread in her hand: "Mom, I will go with you."

Taking the vegetable seeds from her hand, he said, "Mom, I think I can finish the puppet this month. I will bring back some brocade and embroidery later."

"Okay, when you're done, I'll tell your sister-in-law. When she goes to town to deliver goods, ask her to bring back some silk cords and purses."

After thinking for a while, he said, "Why don't I go to town with them? Our family has made a lot of money. I can buy some fabrics and make new clothes for you two."

Shen Moxin shook her head: "Mom, I won't buy it. I'll buy the fabric to make clothes when I look for a husband. Otherwise, I'll have to spend more money. I guess my eldest sister will come back to visit after she finishes her work at home."

He came back at the end of February and said that he would come back to help with housework after he finished his farm work.

Li Chunhong held up a hoe and said: "It's close, she can come back anytime she wants."

"Mother, you have to help me find someone who is as close as my elder sister. I don't want to marry far away. If I live close to you, I can come back to see you when I miss you, without having to take a donkey cart."

"Okay, I know what I'm doing. I don't want to marry you too far away. If I miss you, I can go see you myself. If you have children in the future, you can send them to me to take care of them."

The two came to the field, where Lan Qiuhua was busy working.

"Qiuhua, your Anguo is back and will not leave, right?"

"Yes, he won't leave. He will wait until Xiaolian gives birth and finishes her confinement. Xiaolian wants him to stay at home with her during her confinement, but I want him to work in the town after the birth."

"Then I thought, forget it, I'll just listen to Xiaolian and let Anguo stay at home. Wait until the baby's full moon celebration, and then go to town with his father."

"Okay, An Guo can help take care of the baby at home, so you and Xiao Lian can sleep well. Otherwise, you won't be able to sleep well during the confinement period, and Xiao Lian will be even less able to sleep well. It will be very tiring for the two of you to take care of the baby back and forth."

Lan Qiuhua straightened up: "Yes, so I later thought, why not just stay at home in Anguo, work two months less, it's not a big deal, just earn a little less money."

"Chunhong, is Wanqing from your family pregnant?"

"She came back at the end of February. She said she wasn't pregnant then, and she didn't go to the doctor for pulse check. I don't know if she's pregnant now. If she is, she'll come back and tell us."

"If you're pregnant, don't let Teda travel far. You have to be careful in the first three months. Her husband passed away after the Spring Festival or the Lantern Festival."

Li Chunhong replied: "I left after the Chinese New Year. I didn't spend the Lantern Festival at home. I thought I could find a good job in town as soon as possible. I have a wife. When she gets pregnant and gives birth to the child, there will be more expenses at home. I have to work hard to make money."

Seeing her picking peanuts, I asked, "Qiuhua, why did your family think of planting peanuts this year?"

Lan Qiuhua smiled and said, "Wen He said at my house before that he wanted to plant peanuts this year. Xiao Lian heard it and said she wanted to plant some at home too. I thought, let's plant it and stir-fry the peanuts when the time comes."