Xu Rao has been very busy lately. He wants to promote wheat cultivation in his Hexi County.

The difficulties we encountered are too numerous to explain in a short time; the villagers have become accustomed to that way of farming.

Xu Rao had no other choice but to invite some village heads to the experimental field and ask the old farmer to explain the sowing and harvesting of winter wheat. Some of the village heads were interested in giving it a try. However, it was cold in winter, and no one really believed that wheat could survive in the cold ground. If the land wasn't planted well this season, it would affect the entire family's harvest for the year. At present, almost no one had any grain stored up. The yield from the land was low, less than half of what it would be in later years. Many people didn't even own their own land and worked as tenant farmers for large landowners, renting land from others.

Xu Di thought it would be better to set up his own estate and acquire a hundred or two hundred acres of land. At least it would be more convenient for him to have food in the future. Most importantly, Xu Di wanted to set up his own experimental field. The land he had found was actually helped by the heir of the Marquis of Jingbei.

The village heads who came over listened to the old farmer's explanation and saw the grains they had never seen before in the fields. They heard that these grains had high yields and did not require much from the land, and that they could even be grown in mountainous areas. The village heads were tempted. After discussing it, they made up their minds and took out a few acres of land from their own homes, preparing to plant wheat after the autumn harvest, as required by Magistrate Xu.

After a busy day, Xu Rao returned home and had just sat down on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed) by the window when Xu Zhi busied herself bringing her water to wash her feet. It had become a habit for Xu Rao to soak her feet first thing when she got home to relax.

Five-year-old Xu Zhi has grown quite a bit taller because she eats well and is in a good mood. Now she has started to follow behind Granny Lu and learn how to cook in the kitchen. Granny Lu is not willing to let her learn to cook right now. Although the little girl is well-behaved, children are easily hurt in accidents. It is better to wait another year or two before letting Xu Zhi learn.

Although she doesn't have to do chores with her family, Xu Zhi proves her presence in the family through some thoughtful little things, such as bringing Xu Rao water to wash her feet.

Qing Sui and Qing Miao followed behind, behind the young lady carrying a huge foot basin. One carried a bucket of hot water, and the other carried a foot-wiping cloth and bath beans, all of which were things that Master Xu would use for soaking his feet.

Xu Rao quickly helped Xu Zhi put the foot basin down and said, "Xiao Jiu, you don't need to trouble yourself, Daddy can do it himself."

Xu Zhi said, "Father, Xiao Jiu doesn't have to do anything at home. You, Mother, and Brother are so busy every day. I'm happy that I can help you a little bit by following Granny Lu."

Xu Rao quickly sat up straight and said, "Then we'll have to trouble Xiao Jiu."

Xu Rao is a good father who loves his children. He understands that his daughter likes to be busy and take care of things because she wants to feel a sense of belonging in the family. This is what Zhang Zhaoci told him later. Xu Rao was once a father to Xu Di. When he raised Xu Di, he simply let him grow up without any regard for his psychological needs.

Xu Zhi smiled and said, "It's no trouble at all. Father is busy leading the people of our county to get rich, Mother is busy teaching the military doctors in the General's Mansion to learn medicine, and Brother is busy farming. Only Xiao Jiu is idle. Xiao Jiu is still young and can't farm or learn medicine, so she stays at home to help Granny Lu, cook for you, and wash your clothes."

Xu Rao said happily, "Our Xiao Jiu is so sensible. Come here, when Daddy came back, he saw a new pastry shop opened on the street. Daddy knows that our Xiao Jiu likes to eat pastries, so he bought some for her. How about Xiao Jiu eats two pieces first?"

Xu Zhi looked at it, shook her head, and said, "Father, let's wait for Mother and Brother to come back so we can eat together."

Upon hearing this, Xu Rao disregarded the fact that both of Xu Zhi's feet were now submerged in the steaming foot bath, picked her up, and made her sit on his lap. Hugging her, he said happily, "Our Xiao Jiu is the most sensible child. Xiao Jiu, what else do you want to eat? Just tell Daddy, and Daddy will try to get it for you, okay?"

Xu Zhi said, "Father, Xiao Jiu eats a lot of food every day now. Sister He's cooking is delicious, and Granny Lu's pastries are delicious. We don't need to buy anything for Xiao Jiu anymore. We should save the money and buy a big estate."

The family has decided to buy a piece of land on the eastern hillside of Hexi County. The land belongs to a large landowner in the area. The landowner's son is a good-for-nothing and got into trouble in Ganzhou. The family needs to raise money to hire people to do favors, so they want to sell that large piece of land and a small hill.

This area is too big and the price is too high. Zhang Zhaoci is now considering whether he should buy the whole area. Right now, the owner is in a hurry for money, so the price is not high. However, Zhang Zhaoci knows that his family will not stay here for long. If they buy the land and live far away, it will be difficult to manage.

The Xu family of three had been hesitant about this matter for the past two days. After discussing it twice, Xu Zhi overheard them and assumed that they were hesitating because the price was too high.

Xu Rao looked at Xu Zhi in surprise. Seeing her father's expression, Xu Zhi felt a little proud and said, "Father, I'm already five years old. According to what people say, I'm seven years old in the traditional Chinese way of counting age. That means I'm an adult now. I'll help take care of things at home from now on."

Xu Rao found it both funny and a little heartbreaking. The child was only a few years old, yet he already knew how to worry about the family.

Xu Rao ruffled Xu Zhi's soft hair and said, "Yes, our Xiao Jiu is such a good child. She's only so young, but she already knows how to worry about the family. Your brother didn't know any of this when he was your age."

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