After spring, many farmers began to work in the fields. Lu Lin had stockpiled a batch of curved plows during the winter, and now they were all put into use.
With the help of the curved plow, farmers were able to cultivate the land much faster, and more wasteland was reclaimed.
Lu Lin bought some high-quality seeds from other places and asked the villagers to be responsible for planting them.
Some villagers were too poor to have enough seeds for propagation, so Lu Lin bought a batch from outside and lent them to the villagers.
Lu Lin had sent the Qin family father and son away earlier, and asked them to find some mulberry trees to plant on the mountain near the county government office.
After more than a month of effort, including going through the patrol battalion, the Qin family finally managed to transport the mulberry trees back.
There was a barren mountain near the county government office. The Qin family promised the nearby villagers that they would pay them three coins for digging a pit. A group of people rushed to the mountain to dig the pit.
Dozens of villagers were digging holes with shovels.
Each tree pit was dug perfectly round and deep, with no corners cut.
When some villagers saw Lu Lin arrive, they greeted him with friendly smiles, a stark contrast to the gloating he had shown when he first arrived.
Soon a mulberry grove was erected on the barren mountain. All the miscellaneous trees on the mountain were cleared away, and some trees that were growing well were left for the time being.
Besides mulberry trees, some fruit trees are also planted on the mountain.
Standing next to Lu Lin, Chen Xiaomi asked curiously, "Did you bring so many mulberry trees to raise silkworms?"
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes!"
Lu Lin spent a lot of money to transport this batch of mulberry trees, and many of them died along the way, which is a great pity.
Chen Xiaomi glanced at Lu Lin and asked, "Do you know how to raise silkworms?"
Lu Lin: "..." Well, he can figure it out slowly. He just received a reward from his superiors, so even if he loses money, it won't cost much. If he succeeds, that would be incredible.
“Actually, I’ve also raised silkworms,” Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiaomi looked at Lu Lin with curiosity and said, "Didn't you just run a shop and sit around waiting to die? You actually raised silkworms." Lu Lin looked at Chen Xiaomi's sparkling eyes, rubbed his nose, and couldn't tell whether Chen Xiaomi was admiring him or mocking him.
Lu Lin had raised silkworms before. When he was a child, there were people selling silkworms outside the college. Two silkworms and a few mulberry leaves would sell for two yuan. At that time, we were young and didn't have many things to play with, so we all bought a few to raise at home. Lu Lin's two silkworms died not long after he got home because there were no fresh mulberry leaves. Now that he thinks about it, raising silkworms is really a very profitable industry. Lu Lin glanced at Chen Xiaomi and said, "I've seen a lot of things."
Chen Xiaomi looked at Lu Lin, somewhat disbelieving.
Looking at Chen Xiaomi's expression, Lu Lin thought to himself: The longer we spend together, the more mystical aura I have is fading. Before, I could make Chen Xiaomi admire me, but now it seems to be getting harder and harder.
Lu Lin looked at the large mulberry grove, smiled, and said, "In a couple of days, we can build a few chicken coops here and raise a few broods of chicks."
Chen Xiaomi glanced at Lu Lin and said with some surprise, "You're raising chickens here!"
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Yes, the chickens are raised here, and their droppings are natural fertilizer, which helps our mulberry trees grow better." With the patrol battalion in Sha County, the county magistrate has never dared to oppress the people. However, at the same time, anyone who does petty theft will not be spared by the higher-ups.
Lu Lin wasn't worried that the chickens would be stolen if he let them roam freely here.
Chen Xiaomi nodded and said, "Okay." If we raise a few chickens ourselves, we won't have to worry about not having chicken to eat.
"Let's raise a few more; the kids at home are really craving meat," Lu Lin said.
Chen Xiaomi glanced at Lu Lin and thought to herself: Lu Lin is greedy himself, and now he's using the two boys as a shield.
After inspecting the mulberry grove, Lu Lin went to inspect the winery.
Lu Lin's winery has also begun operations.
After the distillery was built, Chen Xiaomai frequently visited it.
The alcohol here isn't very strong. Lu Lin had found it interesting before and coaxed Chen Xiaomai into drinking a few sips.
It was just a joke at first, but little did anyone know that Chen Xiaomai would become obsessed with the taste of the wine and would clamor for a drink whenever she thought of it. Sometimes, if she couldn't get a drink, Chen Xiaomai would even perform her "Iron Head Kung Fu," lunging at Lu Lin and crashing hard into his chest.
When Lu Lin first arrived, he thought Chen Xiaomai was a bit like a human-shaped little tank. In the past few years, with good food and drink, little Tucker has grown up rapidly and turned into a big tank with tremendous impact.
Lu Lin never expected that a joke would have such serious consequences.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaomi not only showed no sympathy for Lu Lin, but also scolded him. With no other option, Lu Lin could only try various methods to divert Chen Xiaomi's attention.
The distillery was built near the county government office in Lulin, and the aroma of the wine often wafted into the office.
After the distillery started brewing, Chen Xiaomai often went there. Yuanbao liked Chen Xiaomai the most, and when he saw Chen Xiaomai going to the distillery, he would follow him there.
Seeing this situation, Lu Lin was utterly exasperated.
Chen Xiaomi looked at Lu Lin and said, "These two little devils are always running to the distillery. If this continues, this guy will become a little drunkard." A couple of days ago, when no one was paying attention, Xiaomai drank a big bowl of wine and got drunk. He then pushed the millstone in the yard for half an hour, which startled Chen Xiaomi. She thought Xiaomai had gone crazy.
Lu Lin: "..."
Chen Xiaomi glanced at Lu Lin and said, "Do you have any ideas?"
"I'm thinking about it," Lu Lin mumbled.
Chen Xiaomi said sullenly, "Look at the mess you've made."
Lu Lin said awkwardly, "I didn't expect things to be this serious." Lu Lin shook his head, thinking to himself: He's probably just too bored, so he can only find amusement in the kid. But, you can't blame him, since there's no internet here.
"This wheat has the mindset of a child. If there's something to distract him, he probably won't be thinking about the wine from the distillery all day long."
Lu Lin thought for a moment and said, "How about we let him go to the mulberry grove to feed the chickens?"
Chen Xiaomi thought for a moment and said, "Xiaomai used to really like feeding chickens and ducks." He and Lu Lin had just gotten married not long ago, and Lu Lin had raised a few chickens. At that time, Xiaomai loved to look at the chickens in the coop and tell him that the chickens had grown very fat and were ready to be eaten.
Lu Lin nodded and said, "Okay, it's settled then."
A few days later, Chen Xiaocai, carrying a small basket filled with rice bran, and followed by her little tagalong Yuanbao, went to the mulberry grove.
After Chen Xiaomai went up the mountain, several chicks swarmed around her, wanting to eat.
Chen Xiaomai counted them and, seeing that the number of chicks was not less, fed the sieve of bran to a few chicks.
Chen Xiaomai looked around but found no eggs to collect. After playing for a while, she took Yuanbao and headed home.
Lu Lin breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Chen Xiaomai's interest had shifted to the chicks in the house.
Lu Lin felt that chickens were still very appealing. He should ask the kitchen to kill a couple more chickens and cook some delicious food for Xiaomai so that she would know the benefits of chickens.
Ji Yun'an walked into the room and saw Yuanbao sitting on the bed with several wine jars in front of him.
Yuanbao swung his legs, his chubby little hands supporting his chin, his expression quite solemn and serious.
"Where did you get this wine?" Ji Yun'an asked.
Yuanbao glanced at Ji Yun'an and said, "It's my wine, you're not allowed to drink it!" Ji Yun'an: "..." This little brat actually wants to drink, isn't he afraid of getting sick from it? "You can't drink, you'll become stupid."
Yuanbao glared at Ji Yun'an and cursed, "Nonsense."
“It’s true. If you drink, I’ll tell your father,” Ji Yun’an said.
Yuanbao glared angrily at Ji Yun'an and said, "Alright, alright, I'll tell you, this wine isn't for me to drink. It was left here by my uncle. My dad always goes to check on things at my uncle's place. It's not a good place to keep this kind of thing."
"What if your father comes here?"
Yuanbao said matter-of-factly, "Father, we don't come here often. If we do, just say you took the wine and that you're a drunkard."
Ji Yun'an: "..." This brat, does he have to be so arrogant? He said it to my face, and then he'll frame me when something goes wrong.
"What did you say?" Ji Yun'an asked sternly, trying to scare the little devil, Yuanbao.
Yuanbao was glared at by Ji Yun'an. He fiddled with his fingers and said cutely, "You're a guest, Daddy won't beat you."
Ji Yun'an: "..." This kid has so many tricks up his sleeve. Did Chen Xiaomai steal wine from the distillery? He took so much and can't possibly finish it all.
Yuanbao looked at Ji Yun'an and said, "Don't move!"
Ji Yun'an nodded and said, "If we don't move, we won't move."
Yuanbao nodded and said, "This is peach blossom wine, there's not much left. I heard it was all bought up by some shady characters."
Ji Yun'an: "..." What a bunch of random people, they must be those big men in the military camp.
After the lean early spring harvest, many fruit trees in the woodlands of Shaxian County began to bear fruit, and Lu Lin harvested a lot to make wine.
Ji Yun'an sighed. After Lu Lin's winery opened, many soldiers in the military camp couldn't control their appetites and came to buy wine. Most of the wine in the winery was bought by his uncle's men. Fortunately, Lu Lin sold the wine to the military camp at a friendly price; otherwise, their meager military pay would not be enough.
"I heard this wine is very delicious, but my uncle won't let me drink it," Yuanbao said with some distress.
Yuanbao turned his head and asked, "Do you want a drink?"
Ji Yun'an looked at Yuanbao with some suspicion, thinking to himself: This kid usually complains that he steals his food and always looks down on him, but now he's taking the initiative to invite him to drink. There's probably something fishy going on.
"Why did you suddenly decide to treat me to drinks?"
Yuanbao rolled his eyes and said, "I see that you work hard every day, so I want you to have a good drink with me."
Ji Yun'an narrowed his eyes and said, "Really? Or do you also want to drink, but are afraid of being scolded? You want to wait until I drink so you can shift the blame onto me."
Yuanbao, realizing that his plan had been exposed, glared at Ji Yun'an and ran away.
Ji Yun'an shook his head helplessly at Yuanbao's actions.
A few days later, Ji Yun'an walked into the house and saw Chen Xiaomai and Yuanbao sitting around a wine jar.
"Uncle, are you going to have a drink?"
Chen Xiaomai nodded and said, "Mm."
Yuanbao glanced at Chen Xiaomi and said, "Give me some to try."
Chen Xiaomai hesitated for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."
Chen Xiaomai carried the wine jar to the table, poured a bowl for herself, and poured a small bowl for Yuanbao.
Ji Yun'an looked at this scene and felt a headache coming on. He thought to himself: Lu Lin is too careless. He actually let Chen Xiaomai steal several jars of wine without noticing. Even if he didn't notice at the time, the wine has been here for several days. He should have noticed something. Yuanbao glanced at Ji Yun'an and said, "Do you want to drink some?"
Chen Xiaomai looked at Yuanbao and said, "Why are you greeting him?"
Yuanbao puffed out his cheeks and said, "If we don't give him any, he'll complain to us later."
Chen Xiaomai nodded and said, "That makes sense. Come and have a drink too."
Ji Yun'an: "..."
Chen Xiaomai took a sip of wine, smacked her lips, and said, "It's very delicious, but the taste is a bit strange."
Yuanbao took a sip from the bowl and said, "Delicious, delicious, Uncle, give me some more."
Ji Yun'an took a sip of wine, secretly pursed his lips, and thought to himself: This is not wine at all, it's just sugar water. However, it tastes very good. I wonder how it was made. Ji Yun'an thought to himself: This magistrate is really cunning. He has already replaced the wine with sugar water, so he is not in a hurry at all.
Ji Yun'an took a sip of the sweet soup and thought with some suspicion that the taste was a bit strange, but it tasted quite good.
Lu Lin's methods were strange and unpredictable. Ji Yun'an assumed that Lu Lin had made this drink from wild fruits, never suspecting that Lu Lin had mixed it with drinks from his spatial storage.
Lu Lin has been gradually clearing out the items in his convenience store, and now he mainly uses it as a warehouse.
Even if the convenience store is completely empty, a space that can preserve food is of immeasurable value.
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