Chapter 2 Chapter 2 “Wash two more eggplants and cut them into…
"Wash two more eggplants and cut them into dice." The old lady pointed at the eggplants in the box.
"What are hob blocks?"
"What are hob blocks?"
Two voices sounded at the same time, and the old lady closed her eyes in despair.
This granddaughter-in-law and great-granddaughter really don't know two things about farm work: they can't do this and they can't do that.
"Just cut it into strips, as long as it's edible." The old lady compromised.
Song Mian searched the kitchen with an innocent look on his face: "I don't have a knife, can I just tear it into eggplant strips?"
The old lady: "...OK."
Her nose felt sore and she almost cried.
When her son was still alive, Sister Mian was the granddaughter of the Prime Minister, the most distinguished lady in the capital. She was raised to be as cold and aloof as a banished immortal. Who would have thought that one day, she would be cooking in a thatched hut with her sleeves rolled up.
"Sister Mian, go and rest, let me do it."
"Auntie, you should take a rest. You need to take good care of your face. It would be bad if it gets inflamed and ulcerated."
As Song Mian spoke, he cracked two eggs, added water and beat them, then put them on the steamer to steam. The old, weak and sick people in the room all needed protein supplements.
Wenlan didn't leave and rushed to work.
The two of them struggled and finally managed to prepare breakfast.
Song Mian set up the table in the yard, with a plate of stir-fried eggplant, a bowl of egg custard, and a pot of thin rice soup.
"Dad, Uncle San, come out for dinner." she called out.
The seats were also broken, most of them were missing parts, but fortunately they managed to salvage three good ones and gave them seats to the sick and weak.
Song Mian, Wenlan, Song Zhuo, and Song Chi were all standing.
"Share this egg custard among everyone." The old lady scooped two spoonfuls for each person.
"Yes, it tastes very sweet and tender. Mianmian's cooking is even better than our previous chef's." The old lady kept praising.
Song Chi ate it carefully, and said in a milky voice: "Sister, it's delicious!"
Song Zhuo gave him his share: "Chi Ge'er, eat it."
Song Mian: ...
Damn it, she already has it in her mouth. Even such a little kid understands the story of Kong Rong giving up his pear, which makes her look so stupid.
But... the hunger in my stomach was soothed by the sweetness of the egg custard, and the taste was really wonderful.
"Although this is Mianmian's first time cooking, her skills are really good. She can be a chef." Song Zhenge also gave her the highest praise.
The most ordinary porridge and eggplant taste like delicacies from land and sea.
After enjoying the meal, everyone's expressions relaxed a lot.
"After a few days, when we are well again, we will dig up the wasteland in front of the door and plant the vegetables quickly." Song Fuxue looked at the scenery outside the fence and said slowly after a while.
Relying solely on others to send you food is definitely not a long-term solution.
"These were all sent by my father's old friends, but I don't dare do this kind of thing often."
"If the person being monitored discovered that someone was providing aid, it would arouse the emperor's suspicion and lead to further offenses, which would be bad if it implicated others."
Song Fuxue frowned, looking extremely worried.
Although his family was raided and he was dismissed from office, he was still alive, which was extremely lucky.
Got to find a way to keep living.
Song Mian drank the porridge slowly. Only Chi Ge'er's innocent and soft voice could be heard: "Is there no grape and licorice ice cream soup?"
Everyone was speechless for a moment. Not only now, but there would probably be no such thing for many years to come.
This grape and licorice ice cream soup sounds simple, but the grapes, icing sugar, and rose water in it are all expensive items, and I really can't afford them all at the moment.
"It will happen." Song Mian touched his dry little face.
It's quite pitiful that this child has only been eating well for two years and has encountered such a thing.
"Yes, my sister is sick, give it to her." Song Chi nodded obediently and smiled sweetly at her.
Song Mian felt warm in her heart and pinched his skinny little face.
Seeing that everyone had finished eating, she was about to collect the dishes when her aunt Wenlan stood up and said gently, "Don't move, I'll do it."
Now that I have reached this point, it will not work to just keep complaining about myself. I should learn how to live as a farmer as soon as possible.
Song Mian stopped, helped her father Song Fuxue back to the east room to lie down, and helped to pound the thistle at the head of the bed into a paste.
While no one was paying attention, she dropped a drop of spiritual spring water into it and smeared it on his father and third uncle with bamboo strips.
After a long while, Song Fuxue suddenly spoke, "Mianmian, I committed suicide that day because I wanted to unite with your uncle and younger uncle and force the imperial court."
"It doesn't make sense that the emperor would massacre his entire family just because our teacher died. They, the emperor, also want to preserve their reputation. Only when we die can you live."
"I won't do anything stupid now, but once we fall into the mud, I'm afraid there will be a lot of trouble. Mianmian, I'm sorry to trouble you."
Song Mian shook his head upon hearing this. "I've enjoyed the glory brought to me by my grandfather and father for over ten years. That's enough. Even if I have to eat coarse food in the future, I won't feel bitter."
Well, she just pretended. It was quite bitter to think about it. She liked to eat white rice and flour, braised pork and spicy fish, and did not like to eat coarse vegetables.
But Song Zhun was the prime minister who served the country and the people, and Song Fuxue was the top scholar in the eighth year of Shunde.
It was really a scene of raging fire and flourishing flowers.
After she finished speaking, she turned and left.
So far, it seems that everyone in the family is clear-headed and can get along well.
*
When Song Mian walked into the kitchen, he saw Wenlan carefully fiddling with the dishes.
"Auntie." Song Mian walked over and helped to clean up a few things.
After they finished cleaning the kitchen, they went to clean the yard. The two children pulled the weeds and threw them in a pile, but they were young and didn't know how to tidy up, so the yard was a bit messy.
The two men carried out the finishing work and put the grass aside, which could be used as firewood after it dried.
By the time the yard was cleaned up, the sun was already high in the sky. The slightest movement would make them sweat all over. So they sat in the main room, fanning themselves and began to worry about their future lives.
"I've already spent all the money I saved. I could still go back to my parents' house to borrow, but that's only for emergencies, not poverty. There's no point in always going back to them. No matter how much kindness I've borrowed, I'll have to find ways to make money myself."
Wenlan thought that even if her parents were willing to lend the money, if they were caught and leaked by some people, it would be a disaster for her family, and she couldn't let her family be involved in such a thing.
She frowned. "The only things I know that can be used to make money are copying books and embroidering."
Song Mian also thought about it and whispered, "After all, Dad was the top scholar in Shunde in the ninth year, and my uncle was also the top scholar. Can I make money by giving advice?"
Similar to modern tutoring, it should be successful.
Wenlan sighed, "The emperor is watching us. Who dares to get involved with us? I can just copy some books and open a private school in the village to make a living."
The two of them sat in the main room, their palm-leaf fans casting shadows, but they still couldn't figure out what to do.
"I'm going to set up a stall in town to sell pies. The emperor will definitely not take such a job seriously."
Song Mian's original idea was to sell buns, but she didn't know how to pinch the folds of the buns. This required a lot of practice, which she didn't have.
But making a pie is much simpler. Just knead it together and it doesn’t matter if the filling comes out.
"That won't do. You're the daughter of the Song family, how can you do this?" Wen Lan retorted immediately. After a moment, she stood up with a gloomy face and said, "I'll do something that'll put me in the spotlight!"
"There will be no Song Mansion in the future. We are civilians. What's the point of having a huge fortune? Going into business will make the family more financially comfortable."
Song Mian thought that if she could make money, she could stand up straighter.
She thought to herself that Song Zhuo had just passed the college entrance examination and was currently a young scholar, having completed all his studies.
However, Chi Ge'er was young and had just started reading enlightenment books and copying calligraphy and learning characters when such a thing happened. It would cost a lot of money to continue his studies.
Song Mian agreed with her mouth, but she was thinking in her mind. She had experience from the future and the spiritual spring in her hand, so the food she made would definitely be delicious. Besides, the pies would be inconspicuous and profitable.
If you think about it carefully, it is actually feasible.
"First, clean up the yard. Clear the field in front of the door and grow some vegetables. The emperor gave me ten acres of land as a reward. I've planted soybeans on them. They're growing well. After the autumn harvest, I'll plant wheat."
This way at least there is food to eat.
Hearing that she had an idea and that she spoke so clearly, it was obvious that she had thought it through seriously. Wenlan felt uncomfortable and sighed.
"Before your grandfather passed away, he hid some money and land deeds, thinking that if his descendants didn't live up to their expectations, they would at least have something to eat. Who could have imagined... that the current generation is so cruel that the land under the Song Mansion has been plowed twice!"
"We are now at the end of our rope, just to show the emperor, so that he won't think we are rich and start another trouble."
Song Mian was surprised. As expected, to be able to sit on the position of Prime Minister and to undertake such a desperate reform, it was impossible for him to leave no way out.
It’s a pity that the way Song Zhun left behind was only enough for survival, but the emperor thought that his family had a million taels of gold.
Song Mian thought for a moment and said, "My family doesn't have enough money, and we can't rely on others for help. The food they sent is only enough to last for half a month. If I want to eat more, I need money."
"We'll go buy some meat and make pies, then sell them in town. At least we can make some money."
She stared into Wenlan's eyes and spoke with a firm voice.
Wenlan naturally understood the reason, but she didn't know how to make a pie and she felt sorry for her child, so she kept refusing.
"Even if we do, it's my job as your aunt. You're still a child, so just pamper her at home."
Song Mian looked at the scorching sun outside the thatched hut and did not argue blindly. He just did it when the time came.
After they calmed down a bit, they started to clean up the house. The thatched house was in a very dilapidated state, and the tables and chairs were old and needed to be thoroughly cleaned.
Fortunately, Song Mian got up early and saved a tank of water, which is convenient to use now.
Zhuo Ge'er followed behind the two of them, without saying a word, just working.
He was the eldest grandson. In the past, in order to continue the glory of his father, he read books all day long. Song Mian said that he was raised like Jia Baoyu. It was amazing that he was not spoiled and knew how to do the work together.
After a busy period, they finally cleaned up the cramped room. However, since there was nothing to do for a while, they simply went back to their rooms.
As the sun sets, you can hear the sounds of lively activities in the village.
"Hey, you guys moved in?"
A rough old woman's voice sounded nearby. Song Mian looked out over the fence and saw a peasant woman wearing an old blue cloth shirt. Her face was tanned by the sun. When she looked at him, he stared at her curiously.
"Oh, such a pretty girl."
The old woman looked around the yard, opened the fence and walked in.
She looked back and forth, and after a long while she muttered, "Your house really has nothing. I live behind you. If you need anything, come to me."
Seeing that she was very familiar and had a pretty and kind face, Song Mian asked tentatively, "My family just moved here and we want to open up this wasteland in front of the house and grow some vegetables. Does your aunt have any suggestions?"
Aunt Zhao didn't say anything, but just looked at her thin white hands and slender figure, and clicked her tongue twice.
She opened her mouth to speak, but saw the little woman coming out of the inner room. Although she looked disheveled, she was just as delicate and tender as the other woman. She immediately swallowed her words.
"How about this, we'll help you clear the land, and you guys can learn on the side. You can't explain it clearly just by talking."
Aunt Zhao felt tired when she thought about teaching a group of people who didn't know how to farm. She thought it would be better for her to do it herself, since the land was only the size of a palm.
She yelled, "Boss! Bring the rake and dig out a vegetable patch for his family."
Then--
Song Mian watched helplessly as four or five strong laborers came out of his house. The leader was a dark and thin old man, followed by several young men.
"Look carefully."
Aunt Zhao waved her hand and explained, "Actually, digging the ground in winter is best. It snows and freezes all winter, so the soil becomes soft and insect-free, making it great for farming."
He had a large family, so he could prepare a cup of tea in no time. His youngest son was very skillful and even cut some bamboo to make a fence.
Before Song Mian could react, not only had the ground been dug and the rapeseeds planted, but it had also been watered and even fenced in.
Song Mian: Ah?
What a wonderful neighbor!
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