After finishing their meal, the boys soon had to return to the academy, and they were all somewhat reluctant to leave.
Especially Cat Brother, who was carrying the chubby little sister, was so tired that his face turned red, but he still wouldn't let go.
It was Old Lady Li who spoke up, saying, "Those who should go to school should go to school. We're staying for ten days to half a month this time, so we're not worried about not seeing each other."
"Besides, things are really busy at home. We need to get the cafeteria open as soon as possible. You can eat lunch there from now on, and then you'll have two hours of free time in the evening. You can play at home a little longer, or even take a nap."
"Really? That's great! We can play soccer to our hearts' content!" Cat Brother was immediately delighted, put his sister down, and ran off.
The academy bell has already rung; if we don't get there soon, we'll be punished with a ruler.
The other boys also waved goodbye to their grandmother and then went to chase after Cat Boy.
Jiaren, being more cautious, stayed behind and kept reminding his younger brothers to watch their step and not to bump into anyone.
Jiayin stood in the middle of the ground, blinked her big eyes twice, still a little dazed, and tried to speak but instead yawned.
I had just finished eating, and my brother was dozing off in my arms. I was half asleep when I was suddenly left behind...
Grandma Li was amused by her granddaughter and quickly picked her up and took her back to the house for a nap.
After her granddaughter fell asleep, Old Lady Li instructed Shuiling to watch over her, and then she took Granny He and called Li Laosan and Wu Laojiu's family to go for a walk in the vegetable garden.
With nothing else to do, Tao Hongying followed Zhao Yuru to the academy's dining hall.
Dazhu and his wife, as well as Sun Ersao and her husband, naturally went along as well.
The thirty acres of land that Li Laosan bought were located on the west side of the town, and he happened to pass by it on his way from Kyoto.
It can be said that the location is quite good, and the land was well taken care of before and is very fertile.
There was a small village next to the fields, with more than 30 households. Looking at the houses from a distance, most of them were thatched and made of mud bricks, and none of them were particularly wealthy.
The two vegetable growers that Li Laosan hired before were villagers from this area.
At this moment, he regretted it a little and helped his mother up, saying, "Mother, I didn't think things through when I bought the land. The neighbors here are not good."
Grandma Li patted her son and laughed, "It's the same everywhere. There are good people and bad people. And even if they're called bad people, they're just lazy and opportunistic. They're not really wicked."
"Don't be discouraged. Since it has already happened, let's find a way to solve it. Complaining about ourselves is useless."
Li Laosan felt even more guilty. He was already so old, yet his mother still had to advise and worry about him. He was truly unfilial.
Grandma Li called to Granny He, took some of the melon seeds and peanuts she had brought from the car, and then led her son toward the village entrance.
It was afternoon, and those who were supposed to go out to work had already gone out, leaving only some elderly people and children in the village.
Old Mrs. Li was dressed neatly and cleanly, but her clothes were made of ordinary cotton cloth, and her hair was styled with only a silver hairpin.
When Li Laosan went to the fields, he wore a gray coarse cloth shirt and trousers, looking no different from an ordinary farmer.
As soon as the mother and daughter appeared, the old women doing needlework under the big tree at the village entrance stopped what they were doing and stared at them.
Grandma Li didn't mind and stepped forward with a smile, saying, "Ladies, are you doing needlework? My legs are aching, can I borrow a place to rest?"
It's hard to hit a smiling face, so the old women quickly nodded and greeted them. The oldest of them replied, "Sister, you're too kind. Please sit down if you don't mind that our place is dirty."
"Oh, what's there to complain about? We're all native farmers!" Old Mrs. Li chuckled, calling to her son, "Silly boy, what are you waiting for? Bring me my snacks, I'll share them with my older sisters."
Li Laosan quickly stepped forward and handed the box in his hand to his mother.
Grandma Li first called over three or four naughty children playing in the mud nearby. Seeing that their hands were dirty, she wiped them clean with a handkerchief before opening the box and giving each of them a small handful of crispy peanuts.
She then placed the remaining food among the elderly women, saying, "Old ladies, have a taste. This is my daughter-in-law's cooking."
The old women already had smiles on their faces; after all, everyone loves their own child.
Grandma Li didn't mind that their children were dirty. She not only wiped their hands but also gave them food, which made them very happy, and they were naturally much more friendly than before.
An elderly woman in a gray shirt took a few peanuts first and said with a smile, "Then we won't stand on ceremony, little sister. Your daughter-in-law is so filial. She even brings you snacks when you go out for a walk!"
“Yes,” her companion sitting next to her echoed, “You’re so lucky, my daughter-in-law wishes I’d die sooner so the family could save some food.”
Grandma Li waved her hand and said, "Every family has its own troubles. Those with children have their own worries, and those without children are left helpless in their old age."
“Our original village chief had no children. Just a few days ago, he adopted a young couple as his godson and goddaughter, hoping to have someone to rely on when he gets old!”
"Oh dear, this is just like our village chief! Our village chief doesn't have any children either!"
"It's different. The village chief doesn't have any children, but his brother has five sons, and they're all quite filial and capable!"
Several elderly women ate sunflower seeds and peanuts, occasionally calling out to the children, and chatted more and more warmly with Grandma Li.
Li Laosan sat under a tree a few steps away, initially not paying attention, but gradually he began to understand the meaning behind it.
After finishing the melon seeds and peanuts, Old Lady Li, her throat dry from talking, waved goodbye to the other old women.
As the mother and son walked along the road again, Old Lady Li asked, "Third son, did you hear anything?"
Li Laosan nodded vigorously, his expression very excited. "Mother, you are really amazing! You want to hand over the vegetable garden to the village chief's nephews, right?"
Grandma Li smiled and shook her head, "Yes and no."
Li Laosan was dumbfounded. Li Laotai had no choice but to continue to enlighten her blockhead son, "The vegetables grown in the garden are for the canteen. If there is even a small problem, it will be a big deal. Therefore, only family members that we can trust can manage it."
"Then how do you plan to appease these people? They treat our family like a piece of fat meat right next to their pillow, wishing they could take a bite out of us at any time!" Li Laosan was worried.
Grandma Li pointed to the fields in the distance, "Of course, they'll turn the fat meat into their own! The academy only has a few hundred people, so ten acres of land will be enough for growing vegetables, and the remaining twenty acres will be rented out."
"The village chief's brother's family is definitely the first choice, but we can only give them ten mu. We'll find someone else in the village for the other ten mu. The two families will supervise each other to prevent one from becoming too powerful and a servant from bullying the master."
"In the future, if there are any odd jobs in the vegetable garden, we can ask the women from the tenant farmers' families. That way, if our vegetable garden is damaged, they won't earn any extra money. In fact, if we get angry and quit, their families won't even have any land to cultivate!"
"Let them know that if our family is doing well, they are doing well; if our family is not doing well, they are not doing well either. From now on, we won't have to worry about anything; they will take the initiative to help take care of the vegetable garden and maintain our home!"
Li Laosan's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he happily replied, "Mother, this is a good idea!"
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