Chapter 63: Being Peeped at "Tell me, who taught you to do this..."
Knowing he was a major customer, the stall owner nodded happily. He immediately pulled a jar from behind his cloth bag and opened the lid. Inside, he saw plump, round buckwheat seeds, dark brown, and uniform in size. He explained, "Buckwheat is drought-tolerant, has deep roots, and is easy to care for. It doesn't require much water. If you sow it properly, you're sure to have a good harvest."
Liu Yeshu smiled with satisfaction and nodded, "Let's weigh another fifty kilograms of buckwheat." As she said that, she handed over the silver. The stall owner skillfully put the seeds into a large bag and carefully sealed it to ensure that nothing would leak out on the way.
Two servants, Tall and Strong, and Short and Fat, stepped forward, quickly taking the heavy seed bag and expertly lifting it onto the cart. Tall and Strong gently patted the bag, ensuring it sat securely in the center of the cart, while Short and Fat secured the bag with a rope to the side of the cart to prevent it from falling during the bumpy ride.
Before leaving, Liu Yeshu turned around and said to the stall owner, "If these seeds grow well next year, I'll come back in the fall to take care of your business."
Upon hearing this, the stall owner's smile widened, and he bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you so much for your care, young lady! As long as you plant well, I guarantee a good harvest this year! Come back next year, and I'll give you a better price."
On the way back to the mansion, Liu Yeshu slowly followed the cart, her eyes drifting to the three heavy bags of seeds. This year's spring plowing at the General's Mansion was on a larger scale, and the responsibilities were much greater than in previous years. The spring plowing season was crucial; missing the opportunity would result in a loss of the year's harvest. The weather at the border was unpredictable; after the chilly spring, there was the possibility of a late spring frost. We had to take precautions early.
Liu Yeshu was not in a hurry to sow the seeds. After returning, he opened the system panel and lightly touched the "nurturing" function on the screen with his fingertips.
A faint fluorescent light flashed, and a space dedicated to seed nurturing appeared on the system interface, like a warm and humid virtual greenhouse.
"Baike, these seeds today need to be nurtured together."
[OK host, the corresponding points have been deducted.]
The system's warming function was immediately activated, and automatically adjusted data such as temperature and humidity appeared on the surface. A soft light enveloped the seeds, and the surface of the seeds glowed slightly, with a thin halo floating on the surface.
Seeing the points balance on the system interface plummet, Liu Yeshu couldn't help but feel distressed. These points were hard-earned, accumulated bit by bit every day. Every time he exchanged them for items within the system or used special functions, he felt reluctant to give them up.
In order to divert her attention, she tidied up the work in her hands, picked up a basket of fresh hay, and pushed open the door of the stable.
The sunlight slanted in through the crack in the door, casting a golden streak on the hay-covered ground.
A soft snort echoed from deep within the stable. The Arabian horse, sensing the noise, lifted its slender neck slightly. Its fur, even in the dim light, still shone faintly, like flowing silk. Its large, dark eyes gleamed with a hint of vigilance and curiosity.
"Don't be afraid," Liu Yeshu said softly, slowly approaching the horse. She put the hay aside and took out a green cloth package from her waist, which contained a few pieces of chopped radish.
Liu Yeshu smiled as she approached and placed some grass in the trough. The horse lowered its head, sniffed her hand, and then began to devour the food. Liu Yeshu reached out and stroked the horse's smooth neck, feeling the strong muscles beneath her palm.
"I don't know when the war will end," Liu Yeshu combed the horse's smooth mane with her fingers. "The general said you don't have a name yet. Why not call you "Ping An" from now on?"
The Arabian horse raised its head and moved its ears slightly, as if it understood what she meant. It shook its mane, stomped its hooves on the ground, and let out a low roar.
Every morning thereafter, Liu Yeshu would lead the servants into the fields early. At daybreak, before the mist had even cleared, they began to work in the fields. The servants each performed their duties. Liu Di finally placed the repaired machine in the general's mansion. Seeing it successfully dig a ditch, the servants gathered around in amazement.
“That’s way faster than a cow!”
Liu Yeshu instructed: "This thing is not mature yet, don't tell anyone." The servants agreed.
Old Li stood at the edge of the field, directing the servants with a steady gaze.
"Sow wheat on this side, millet on that side, and buckwheat on the other side. The row spacing must be consistent and cannot be staggered." He assigned tasks one by one and arranged the work of sowing and covering the soil in an orderly manner.
In the millet field, servants walked slowly, spreading seeds evenly across the soil, where they drifted down in the breeze. They expertly smoothed the soil with tools, ensuring the millet would take root firmly. In the buckwheat field, servants spread seeds in slightly tighter rows, allowing for optimal space for the buckwheat's unique growth pattern.
As for his own land, Liu Yeshu decided to continue planting the high-quality seeds harvested last year - wheat, corn and cotton.
The gentle spring sunshine didn't diminish the busyness of the spring plowing season. Liu Yeshu's days flew by these days. Despite the assistance of servants, she was still busy from dawn to dusk. The farm work was relentless, and by the time she returned home for dinner, she was so exhausted she fell asleep as soon as she touched her pillow, not even bothering to change her clothes.
In the mornings, Liu Yeshu rode her camel back and forth between the vegetable fields and her home. The camel's steady gait carried baskets of fresh fruits and vegetables, along with meals Chun Xing had prepared for the servants. These days, Chun Xing took care of the kitchen, ensuring that those working in the fields could have hot meals.
"Miss Liu!" Chun Xing had been waiting at the entrance to the General's Mansion that day. Seeing Luotuo from afar, she hurried over to meet him. She deftly took the empty bamboo basket and, while arranging it, reminded him, "Don't forget the vegetable patch at the General's Mansion, Miss Liu."
Liu Yeshu jumped off the camel's back lightly and said with a smile, "We can't do that. The herbs for our little girl Chuntao can't be cut off." As she said that, she patted the camel's neck, turned around, took the tools and went to the vegetable field.
The sun gradually grew hotter, and Liu Yeshu worked intently in the herb garden. Sweat trickled down her cheeks, and she reached out to wipe it, only to find new mud smeared on her face.
The experience of having no medicine to use in the village last time still haunted her. This time, she was determined to take good care of the herb garden.
"Isatis root is the most important," she said, holding her waist as she straightened up and carefully inspected the newly transplanted seedlings. In the sunlight, the emerald green leaves exuded vibrant vitality. "It's most useful when you have a fever. Honeysuckle and chrysanthemum are also good things, they reduce fever and relieve summer heat, they're indispensable year-round."
The garden was meticulously planned, each patch of medicinal herbs having its own dedicated area. Coptis chinensis and licorice were arranged in rows, their new shoots unfurling in the spring breeze. Saposhnikovia divaricata, Angelica sinensis, and Angelica dahurica, though still young, were thriving under her meticulous care. In the corner, a specially shaded area had been prepared as a new home for Pinellia ternata and Gastrodia elata.
The afternoon sun was even brighter. Liu Yeshu straightened her aching back and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve. She looked around and suddenly saw a vacant space in the corner. Her eyes lit up. "This is perfect for growing mugwort. Once dried, it can be made into moxa wool. Perhaps I could use it to treat the general's leg pain."
In a corner of the garden, a few beautiful peonies stood out. She had planted them especially for Ping An, as their petals were used as medicine to treat horse ailments.
Chun Xing's voice came from a distance: "Miss Liu, take a break and have dinner!"
Liu Yeshu then realized that the sun was already setting and quickly responded, "Here it comes!"
By dusk, Liu Yeshu could finally call it a day and head home. She forced herself to stay awake, ate dinner, and then collapsed onto her bed, falling into a deep sleep. The medical encyclopedia in her system was still lit; she'd been planning to review it, but exhaustion kept her from doing so day after day.
The next day, after returning home, Liu Yeshu set up a large iron pot in the yard and filled it with water. She lit some dry wood, and the orange-red flames licked the bottom of the pot, making a crackling sound. The spring night was slightly chilly, but the blazing fire dispelled some of the chill.
While waiting for the water to boil, she returned to her room and counted the laundry that needed to be washed. From days of working in the fields, her clothes were stained with dirt and grass. With a soft sigh, Liu Yeshu set them aside, intending to deal with them tomorrow.
"Ling'er," she called softly, "Can you take Xiao Yu'er to play in mother's room next door for a while? Sister is going to take a bath."
"Okay!" Liu Yeling picked up Xiao Yu'er and asked with her face tilted up, "Sister, will you call me after you take a bath?"
"Well, come back when you hear me calling you."
The water in the pot began to steam. She tested the temperature with a wooden spoon. When it was just right, she scooped the hot water into a wooden bucket she had prepared, adding some cold water to adjust the temperature. The warm vapor curled up in the candlelight, bringing a touch of warmth.
After checking the latch on the courtyard gate, Liu Yeshu gently untied her bun, letting her long, dark hair cascade down like a waterfall. She shed her dusty outer garments and slowly immersed herself in the warm water. After a long day of gardening, her bones were groaning; this warm bath came just in time.
The warm water wrapped around her tired body, and she couldn't help but let out a comfortable sigh.
"Ah, so comfortable..." She closed her eyes, letting her body relax completely. The warm water caressed her aching muscles, as if washing away the fatigue of a long day. She gently scrubbed her arms and shoulders, the skin once heated by the sun now slowly cooling in the water.
A few herbs she had gathered floated on the water, emitting a delicate fragrance. She had placed them there specifically to relieve fatigue and soothe the mind and aid sleep. The refreshing aroma lingered around her nose, gradually relaxing her tense nerves.
Liu Yeshu carefully washed her long hair, washing away the day's dust and sweat. Her hair drifted gently in the water, soft as waterweed. She hummed a little tune, her mood soaring with the waves.
Suddenly, Liu Yeshu heard a subtle friction sound coming from the backyard. It was very soft, like the sound of fabric scraping against the wall. Liu Yeshu opened her eyes alertly. In the moonlight, she saw a dark shadow climbing up the old pear tree in the backyard.
The man was clearly familiar with the route, having first climbed up the pear tree by stepping on the firewood pile in the backyard, and then following its branches to the top of the wall. The old pear tree's branches had grown crooked years earlier, fitting perfectly against the backyard wall, creating a ready-made "ladder."
Liu Yeshu held her breath, watching the thin figure crouching on the wall, peering over here. In the moonlight, the figure was particularly glaring. She quietly reached out and touched a stone beside the wooden basin.
"Bang!" The stone hit the man's shoulder accurately. Caught off guard, he stumbled and fell from the wall with a dull thud. Liu Yeshu quickly put on his undershirt, grabbed a clothesline nearby, and rushed to the backyard.
She walked around to the backyard and saw a young man rubbing his shoulders and trying to get up. In the moonlight, she saw that it was Zhang Xiaowang, the boy from Aunt Zhang's family in the village. This child was usually good friends with Liu Yeling, but she didn't expect him to do such a bad thing today.
"Zhang Xiaowang!" Liu Yeshu rushed forward and grabbed his ear. "Okay, so it's you, you little bastard!"
Zhang Xiaowang gasped in pain: "It hurts, it hurts... Sister Liu, please spare me... It's too dark, I can't see anything!"
"Have mercy?" Liu Yeshu was angry and annoyed. "Tell me, who taught you to do such a dirty thing? Aren't you a very honest child on weekdays?"
"I...I just..." Zhang Xiaowang stammered and couldn't speak, his face flushed red.
This child was only a year or two older than Liu Yeling, still a half-grown boy. She twisted Zhang Xiaowang's ear so hard that the boy gasped and walked towards Aunt Zhang's house: "Come on, I want to ask your mother how she taught you!"
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