The following afternoon, Zheng Yunwan returned from the city and first reported the month's accounts to Xiao Yunying, and then talked about other miscellaneous matters.
Xiao Yunying chatted with her while eating sunflower seeds: "How was it? Was it tiring looking at the ledgers?"
Zheng Yunwan said, "It's not tiring. Using an abacus is much easier than working in the fields."
Xiao Yunying thought about it and agreed: "You're right. I can't do farm work either. I can't endure that kind of hardship in my life."
Zheng Yunwan said, "I see that Luo Chen and his brothers have grown quite a bit taller this year. Their cotton-padded coats from last year are probably too small now. Should we take them apart and make new ones?"
Xiao Yunying was the kind of person who couldn't do any needlework at all: "You and Granny Chang should discuss this. I... I have to start cultivating seedlings tomorrow, so I don't have the energy to deal with this."
After saying that, he took a breath and slowly exhaled.
Fortunately, she reacted quickly and almost said something she didn't know.
Xiao Yunying had told Zheng Yunwan about the seedling cultivation beforehand, so she understood what it was all about.
"Then I'll start raising seedlings with Sister Yunying first. This matter is more urgent. We can put the making of cotton-padded clothes on hold. The family has enough clothes to wear."
“That’s fine. I don’t think Aunt Yang and Fang Rou can come to help this year. Uncle Yang is busy with Sister Cheng Yue’s business, and Second Brother Yang and Aunt Yang are busy making furniture for me.”
Zheng Yunwan suggested, "Should we hire a few women from the village to help? We've built two more greenhouses this year, and we're cultivating quite a few seedlings."
Xiao Yunying said, "No need, Mother and the others will definitely come to help. And Luo Sheng, let him do it too, he'll definitely finish faster than us."
Zheng Yunwan asked casually, "Young Master Luo probably wouldn't do this kind of farm work, would he?"
Xiao Yunying patted the sunflower seed shells off her clothes and grabbed another handful: "If you don't know how to do it, you can learn. It's hard to bear seeing a grown man lounging around at home all day when I'm busy. It's time to find him something to do."
At this moment, Luo Sheng stood at the door of the kitchen, listening to their conversation, unsure whether to go in or out.
The tray in my hand had two cups of hot tea on it, which I had prepared in case the two of them got thirsty while chatting and eating melon seeds. I didn’t expect that the first thing I heard was them chirping their crickets.
He sighed helplessly, and only handed over the teacup after the two changed the subject.
Over the next few days, Xiao Yunying led her family to cultivate seedlings in large quantities, filling the storeroom and the empty rooms where the farmhands worked with various vegetable seedlings.
The greenhouse built last year was planted with vegetable seeds some time ago, and the seeds have now sprouted and are growing quite well.
Vegetables planted at staggered times can continuously supply the restaurant, ensuring a consistent vegetable supply.
——————
By mid-November, it was already quite cold near Donglin City.
Yesterday, a few snowflakes fell. Today, seeing that the weather was quite nice, Xiao Yunying made a special trip to the farmhands' quarters. She saw that they were all wearing cotton-padded clothes and told them not to be stingy with the charcoal stove for warmth.
As they were talking, and Old Man Dai and the others were verbally agreeing, someone pushed the door open and came in. She turned around and saw several farmhands standing at the door carrying freshly chopped firewood.
Xiao Yunying said helplessly, "Didn't we say we'd use charcoal to light the stove? Why are we still going up the mountain to chop firewood?"
Aunt Dai hurriedly said, "This is what I had someone cut down to start a fire and cook."
That's what they said, but in reality they felt that charcoal was expensive, and even though Xiao Yunying treated them very well, they couldn't really use it freely, thinking they should save as much as possible.
Besides, for these men who were used to farm work, chopping firewood wasn't that tiring.
Xiao Yunying said, "Alright, it hasn't snowed heavily yet, so we can stock up on some firewood. But if the snow gets heavier later, we can't go up the mountain anymore. You'll be the ones who suffer from falling and getting cold."
Old Dai waved to the farmhands, signaling them to hurry up and move the items inside.
"Thank you for your concern, we will be careful."
After showing concern for them, Xiao Yunying got down to business: "The new courtyard next door has been built. I will buy some more people during this period. Uncle Dai, please keep an eye on them and make sure they are settled before assigning them important tasks."
Aunt Dai, please make some looser cotton-padded clothes. If they are too big, you can alter them to make them smaller. Don't be stingy with the cotton; let me know when you run out.
Starting tomorrow, we'll gradually transplant various vegetable seedlings into the other two greenhouses. Please come and check on them in the evenings, and let us know if you have any problems. Once the seedlings have taken root, it won't be so tiring anymore.
Everyone listened quietly, and Old Man Dai remembered everything: "I've written it all down. Is there anything else, Master?"
Xiao Yunying thought for a moment and said, "I'd like to ask if any of you are locals."
The crowd looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally four young men stepped forward.
Xiao Yunying asked, "Is your family from a village near Donglin City?"
The four people nodded and told them where they lived.
"There's only a month and a half until Chinese New Year. Do you want to go home for the holiday?"
Xiao Yunying did not ask them why they sold themselves into slavery if their home was here. Every family has its own troubles, and who would willingly sell themselves into slavery if they could live a good life?
Upon hearing her question, the three men exchanged glances and nodded excitedly.
Only the farmhand on the far right, around thirty years old, kept his head down and remained silent.
Xiao Yunying said, "I was away from home for a few months before, and you took good care of the vegetable garden. The business of Huiweilou was not affected either. I have been thinking about how to reward you."
A man chuckled sheepishly: "What you're saying, boss? Isn't this just what we should be doing?"
Xiao Yunying smiled and looked at him: "It is true that this is what you should do, but you did a very good job and you should be rewarded."
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