Zhao Yong sighed helplessly. These little guys waited in the yard every day, hoping that he would bring back some food from the Lu family. "A bunch of little gluttons, come on, these are persimmon cakes from your aunt, take them and eat them."

When Zhao Zhong's wife saw this, she couldn't help but say a few words, "Second brother, your aunt's family is in business. You're working for them, so how can you bring things back home every day? What kind of bad habits are you giving these boys? Since you started working for the Lu family last year, you've been getting a few coins a month, and our family's life has improved. Why are you letting these little brats go hungry?"

Zhao Yong was innocent. He always declined, but his cousin and aunt liked to give him things, and even his cousin's wife often gave him things. He couldn't refuse. "I'll decline more often in the future."

Grandpa Zhao returned from the fields. "The Lu family is looking out for us. Second son can't keep refusing. Just work hard for them from now on. How is your aunt?"

“Dad, you ask me this every day.” Zhao Yong went to the storeroom, took out a hoe, dug a hole in the corner of the yard, and planted a pomegranate tree. “Aunt is doing well. My sister-in-law and Aunt Lu have injured their legs and can’t walk easily. Xiao Si and my sister-in-law’s younger sister are being taken care of. The chickens, ducks, and geese in the orchard are also being taken care of. Aunt won’t be tired.”

Grandpa Zhao nodded; he was relieved that his youngest daughter was doing well.

A heavy rain fell at the end of the first lunar month, followed by a cold snap. The village has been quite lively these past few days. People are clearing wasteland on the east side of the village every day, and those who used to live in the threshing ground on the north side of the village have started to prepare to build houses.

Qin Xiaozhou approached Wang Dahe and said, "Uncle Dahe, tomorrow I'll trouble you to go to the village and find some people to come to the orchard to turn over the soil and prune the branches. The wages will be thirty coins a day."

Wang Dahe nodded with a simple smile and left. He had listened to Qin Xiaozhou's grafting method and was now on his way to graft green pears onto the crabapple trees on the west side of the orchard. If he succeeded, it would be a skill, and he might even be able to cultivate good green pears.

With spring approaching, everything is in need of rebuilding. The orchard is a major part of the Lu family's business, so it naturally needs to be well managed. They also need to buy a batch of chickens, ducks, and geese, as there aren't many left from last year.

Zhao Fang was sharpening her knife in the corner of the yard. "I'm going to dig up two bamboo shoots from the bamboo grove. We'll have bamboo shoots for dinner tonight."

After nearly a month of rest, Wang Lan's spirits have improved considerably. "Be careful, don't go too deep."

Zhao Fang agreed and left, but the old woman she had invited chased after her, saying, "Sister, I'll go with you."

The old woman was from Guojiataizi. A few years ago, a new bride had only been married into Guojiataizi for half a year when she went to the back mountain to chop firewood and was ambushed and harassed by some local hooligans. The new bride screamed pitifully, and since her home was not far away, even though her husband's family rushed to her rescue, her reputation was ruined, and she was driven to her death.

Although Zhao Fang is a widow, she has taken good care of herself this year and is still quite plump. If it weren't for the Lu family's current power, the gossip and disputes in front of her would probably be complicated.

Zhao Fang smiled and said, "I'm just going to dig up a couple of bamboo shoots near the duck pen. I'll be back in a bit. You can take care of the house, eldest sister."

Granny Guo felt relieved. She had been to the duck pen in Qingzhugou a few times, and she could be heard if she shouted loudly. She turned around and went back to the front yard, where she saw Qin Xiaozhou reading to Qin Jinxiu. She was washing clothes in the yard and overheard a bit. She was worried when she heard Qin Xiaozhou telling the story of a scholar who was seduced by a fox spirit on his way to the capital for the imperial examination.

"Young Madam, are there really fox spirits in this world?"

Her son is also a scholar, a Xiucai (a successful candidate in the county-level imperial examinations). In two years, he will be going to the Nanjing Imperial Examination Hall to take the exam. I heard it's in the south, which is quite far away, and he needs to go a month in advance.

Qin Xiaozhou laughed heartily, "I don't know if there are fox spirits, but there are many temptations in this world. Fox spirits are actually things that can tempt people's minds. If people want to go far, they must be able to resist all the temptations they encounter."

Granny Guo laughed, seemingly understanding but not quite, "Young mistress is so knowledgeable, just like a storyteller from the county town."

"Who can out-talk her?" Wang Lan laughed. "Come on, after saying so much, drink some water, or you'll become a hoarse voice."