stingy landlady

Chapter 33 Harvesting Shepherd's Purse

Back home, while unloading the oxcart, Guizhi said to her grandfather, "Grandpa, last night my father ordered forty food boxes from Carpenter Xu. I don't know if he can make them today. My father isn't home, Grandpa, could you go and check on them? I'm worried he won't hurry, we need them tomorrow."

Daya looked around and said in a low but excited voice, "Mom! They ordered forty boxes of shepherd's purse dumplings for tomorrow. They even paid for them!"

Li wasn't so excited: "Don't we sell sixty boxes every day?"

"Mom, it's two people! They ordered forty boxes! They can take a hundred boxes over tomorrow!"

"Wow! Really!" Li exclaimed, then covered her mouth tightly.

Zhao came out of the house. "Sister-in-law! What good news are you two talking about? Why are you making such a fuss?"

In reality, Zhao was watching over Daya and the others every day, and deep down she felt they should be like her own family. One day, she came home crying, saying that the boxed lunches couldn't be sold and were all left over.

Unfortunately, she never received the news, but that didn't stop her from gathering information.

"Second sister-in-law! We're just having a private conversation, and you have to listen? You're being way too nosy!" The two hadn't spoken for days after the fight. And her words were still laced with barbs.

"Ahem! Let's all keep quiet and get our things inside quickly."

The old man coughed twice, looked at Guizhi, and gestured.

"Sanya, I'll go now. You go herd the cattle!"

It was not specified where they were going.

"Thank you, Grandpa!"

Several people quickly and efficiently carried the food boxes, meat, and chicken they had bought into the house. With many people working, they bought a lot of meat every day; a chicken, stewed with mushrooms and vermicelli, made a big pot.

When the three sisters arrived at the east end of the village, Zhou Qiong came out to greet them, carrying a basket: "Third Miss! I'll lead the ox, please come inside and have a look!"

Guizhi glanced at him suspiciously, but Zhou Qiong smiled and said, "Go in!"

Upon entering the courtyard, I was astonished to see a rack covered with shepherd's purse. Small garlic cloves were also drying below the window.

Old Zhou came out with a smile: "How is it? If you dry it like this, it'll be dry in just a few days!"

"These two little girls dug up so much shepherd's purse today? They're so capable!" Er Ya asked in surprise.

"How could that be! The whole family mobilized! We dug up over 100 jin! I heard we had to walk a long way to find it! We've dug up everything nearby."

"Huh? How could this happen?" This was beyond their expectations. Guizhi and the others were a little anxious.

"Grandpa Zhou, the town has ordered 30 catties of shepherd's purse and 10 catties of wild garlic from us every day. They all have to be fresh! What will we do if we run out of them?"

Old Zhou thought for a moment and said, "Don't worry! We can come up with a solution. You guys don't need to dig for wild vegetables anymore. It's not safe to go too far without an adult watching you. This morning, Xiao Qiong dug up a whole basketful, and we can't find any more around here."

After saying that, he added, "Wild vegetables, wild vegetables, more will sprout in a few days. Just dry these until they're half-dry, just enough to keep them from spoiling. These wild vegetables won't spoil even after a few days."

Guizhi said, "We can only take it one step at a time. It would be great if we could get some wild vegetables! If not, we'll make do for as long as we can! The wild vegetables will be available in a few days."

Guizhi remembered the matter of feeding the pigs and went into the inner room: "Aunt Zhou, if there's no cornmeal, ask Grandpa Zhou to grind some more at the mill. Don't be stingy with feeding the piglets; pigs need to eat grain to grow fast."

In a while, I'll have my dad go and ask how much the tofu dregs cost. In about a month, we can start feeding him some tofu dregs and swill. He's too young these days; we need to let his stomach recover. Oh! My forgetful mind! I forgot to ask about the swill. Eldest sister, second sister, you should think about it too.”

Da Ya and Er Ya nodded as they picked through the beans, having forgotten all about it. Besides, the piglets had just been caught and couldn't be fed that much.

Madam Zhou nodded in agreement.

When Guizhi went out to graze the cattle, Zhou Qiong had already driven them on the road, heading north to where they usually grazed.

"Miss! Today my grandfather, my mother, and I were watering the vegetable garden."

"Miss, I brought a basket! Shall we pick up some leftovers?"

Zhou Qiong glanced cautiously at Guizhi and said.

"No need to pick up the scraps. Let's dig up wild vegetables and dandelions to feed the pigs."

"Wild vegetables, wild vegetables, it is said that sow thistle is also a hemostatic herb. If you have a cut, you can use the juice of sow thistle to stop the bleeding. Dandelion is anti-inflammatory and reduces internal heat, and it is also a kind of Chinese medicine."

Guizhi had only heard about this from her mother in modern times. She wondered how her parents were doing now. Guizhi felt homesick; her eyes welled up with tears, but she forced them back. "What's done is done," she thought.

To conceal her actions, Guizhi lowered her head and pretended to be digging for wild vegetables, not wanting Zhou Qiong to notice.

When they returned to the east end of the village after herding cattle in the evening, Old Man Zhou said, "Third Miss, Hongmin delivered 213 catties of shepherd's purse and 32 catties of wild garlic today. We should pay her 138 coins."

“I told her to go and collect the coins tonight.”

"Okay! I'll talk to my mom."

Guizhi said she was herding the cattle home. When she got home, she saw the tall, magnificent horse and realized she had forgotten to release it. With so many things to do, she was always forgetting things.

This is nothing; the arrangements are probably not quite right. I'll think about it again tonight. Grandpa came over to help feed the bean cakes and give them water.

“Sanya, I just got back from herding the horse. I reckon it’ll be familiar with me in a few more days. Carpenter Xu and his son have already brought over the food boxes, and your mother just paid for them. Carpenter Xu is a nice guy; he’s honest and fast at his work. He even brought a few extra food boxes.”

"Grandpa, thank you so much for your help! I had completely forgotten about herding the horses!"

No wonder people say, "Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure!"

"It's normal for the kids not to remember. They've been busy lately, so they'll remember when they see it. Grandpa didn't go farming this year; he was just sitting around doing nothing anyway."

When you're out herding the horses, go check on your second uncle's and your father's land. See how the planting is going. They're all exhausted! Especially the two kids, it's their first time farming, it's a miracle they even finished.

Buy plenty of good food these next couple of days; farming is hard work!

"Yes! I understand, Grandpa! Every grain of rice on your plate is the result of hard work!"

"Yes, yes, yes! My granddaughter has learned a lot from your fifth uncle!" The old man praised Guizhi, and also praised his own son.

Guizhi had just entered the house and washed her face and hands when Hongmin and her sister arrived. Grandma Yang also came in at the same time.

"Dazhu's wife, have you started planting wheat this year? If it doesn't affect planting corn and soybeans, we'll plant them next year too!"

"Aunt Yang, we were just clueless. We only heard that Dazhu wanted to give it a try! He's been really busy these past few days!"

“Mother! Grandpa Zhou just said that Hongmin delivered 213 catties of shepherd's purse and 32 catties of wild garlic today. We should pay him 138 coins. There is one catty of shepherd's purse left over, we will settle the bill tomorrow.”

Grandma Yang was worried about how to ask for the money, since it was an agreement between the children and hadn't been discussed with the adults. Guizhi then spoke up.

"This child! My old lady rarely visits! She finally comes out for a stroll, and it's like she's here specifically to ask for money!"

“Aunt Yang! It’s alright! I’ll go get the money right away! We live so close by, you can come visit whenever you want. I’m always home.” Li said as she walked into the inner room.

Guizhi knew that Li had gone inside to get the copper coins, so she didn't rush to let Old Madam Yang, Hongmin, and Hongli into the inner room. Everyone tacitly chatted in the outer room, waiting for Li to come out with the copper coins.

"Grandma Yang! It seems like all the shepherd's purse around here has been harvested! Will there be none left in the next day or two?" Guizhi asked, puzzled.

Grandma Yang laughed: "Are you worried about not having enough shepherd's purse to dig up? There's plenty! We only dug it up in the northern field today. You kids can dig right here, there's plenty in the eastern field, the western field, and on the southern terrace! It's only possible if all the adults in the village go dig!"

Upon hearing this, Guizhi realized that she had been naive!

As Er Ya cut the meat, she said, "Grandma Yang! We don't need that much. Since our two families are close, we'll just accept yours!"

"That's great! I've already told my family to keep their mouths shut! This is a good thing, it means our two families are on good terms! And you sisters get along well with my two girls too!"

Er Ya! Your father and the others work so hard farming! They deserve to eat well!

Mrs. Li counted out the coins and handed them directly to Old Mrs. Yang.

"Aunt Yang, please count it. It's one hundred and thirty-eight copper coins. There's still a pound left over, but not a single penny. We'll add it in tomorrow."

Grandma Yang chuckled and said, "What's a pound or two? Consider it a gift for the children! You've counted it all, why do I, this old woman, have to count it again!"

Grandma Yang counted the coins while exchanging polite words.

Daya was washing shepherd's purse. The two sisters hadn't found any wild vegetables that afternoon, and the two girls were too afraid to go to unfamiliar places. This was brought from the east end of the village, intended for making dumplings the next day. Tonight, they'd add a dish for the farmers.

Daya glanced at Hongmin and Hongli, then said to Grandma Yang, "Grandma Yang, Hongmin and Hongli have put in a lot of effort to earn so many copper coins, they should be given some pocket money!"

"Oh! What a good friend! You've already asked your best friend for some pocket money, even if you're not coming! Alright, alright! Here's exactly eight copper coins, you two can split it! But don't spend it recklessly! It's not good for young girls to develop extravagant habits!"

Grandma Yang was too embarrassed to argue with Daya, so she took out eight copper coins and handed them to Hongmin. She repeatedly told her to put them away carefully and not to spend them recklessly.

"Come in and sit for a while, Aunt Yang!" Madam Li invited her guest.

"No, no, I'm not sitting anymore! You're all quite busy! The farmers should be back for dinner soon. Let's have a good chat when we have some free time!" After saying that, Grandma Yang walked out.

"Sit a little longer, Aunt Yang! You've come all this way, haven't you?" Li continued politely.

"Dazhu's wife, don't bother seeing me off! I'll come again tomorrow!" Old Mrs. Yang said, winking at Li Shi.

They both burst into laughter!

"Alright, alright! Please come again tomorrow! I didn't even get a sip of water!" Mrs. Li said apologetically.

"Why drink water? It's so close, there's no need to be thirsty. We're going back now, you should go and get busy too! Hongmin and Hongli! Come home, we'll play together again when you're not busy!"

Mrs. Li escorted Old Mrs. Yang to the front gate, and Daya also warmly saw the two little girls, Hongmin and Hongli, out.

After setting the table down, Dazhu returned with the farmers. Guizhi quickly fetched warm water for them to wash their hands and faces.

"Dad! Everyone says farming is exhausting! You must be worn out today?" Guizhi asked Dazhu.

"It'll be like this on the first day of planting. It'll be fine after two days when the trellis is in place! But by the time the trellis is in place, the land will be all planted!" Dazhu still had the heart to joke.

"But those two kids were really exhausted today! I'm thinking of buying them some candy tomorrow, so they can have some when they're tired from working!"

"These two lads are really capable. They never complain about being tired or working hard, they just keep their heads down and get to work! They should eat more meat tonight!"

Er Ya laughed and said, "There's meat! There's pork, and chicken! Eat as much as you want!"

Lin Xiaoyun didn't speak. After washing his hands and face, he went to the yard and dusted off his clothes. He was covered in dirt from working in the fields, and only went inside to eat after he felt he was clean.

Zhou Xing called out, "Madam! Eldest Miss, Second Miss, Third Miss!" before washing his hands and face and going inside to eat.

Daya ran to the old house to call the old man over for dinner.

After dinner, only the six members of their own family were in the house.