Chapter 137
Time flies, and spring is coming to an end in the blink of an eye.
When the grass was growing and the orioles were singing, Wen Zhaoran took Mu Jin to Gujia Village and bought a cart full of flowers.
The designated space for planting flowers has finally been filled with a riot of colors, instantly transforming the entire yard into a vibrant and colorful floral paradise.
At the end of February, after deducting the sow, there were still eight pigs left at home, weighing about 200 pounds each.
Before going to town, Zhou Lin specially slaughtered another one, leaving half a head for Steward Zhao, about fifty catties, and the remaining seventy catties, along with the freshest elm seeds picked out by Mu Jin, were sent to the Zhao residence.
Having worked in the Zhao household for so many years, Steward Zhao knew many business people. Of the 360 trades, he knew at least the heads of 100 trades.
Of these one hundred trades, there happens to be one that specializes in selling tree seedlings.
Zhou Lin found the land and drove the oxen over without stopping, securing three mu of land and about 150 pepper saplings.
Now, the courtyard wall of the pepper garden is in place, and two thatched huts have been built at the entrance. As soon as the walls were dry, Lin Huzi and Lin Nuo moved in.
The pepper seedlings were transported from the town one after another, and Zhou Lin hired a lot of people to plant them as quickly as possible.
In early summer, the saplings in the pepper garden swayed in the wind. They were carefully tended, and it wasn't much trouble to add a few more pepper saplings later.
The windows upstairs were wide open, and a mountain breeze brought a touch of coolness.
Little Peach was lying in her little bed, covered with a small blanket, fast asleep.
Lin Huzi and Lin Youyu are now taking good care of things in the pepper garden, and they also look after the livestock, poultry, and vegetable garden at home, so Mu Jin doesn't have to worry too much.
Zhou Lin bought about sixty chickens that had already shed their down and about fifty ducks. He then released them, along with the remaining forty chickens and ten ducks from his home, into the pepper garden.
The chicken coop at home was empty, so we converted it into a vegetable garden.
Mu Jin sat on the bed and sorted through the family's money.
These days, I've been busy with both spending and earning money, tending to the pepper garden and dye house, and haven't had a chance to deal with anything else for a long time.
Mu Jin had a rough idea of how much silver was left in the house.
The pepper garden cost fifty-five taels of silver. Adding the cost of buying poultry and building a thatched hut, the total came to about fifty-seven taels.
In the past month or so, she sold vegetables and eggs, raised five pigs, and also earned money from the dye shop and Zhou Lin's carpentry work. Mu Jin carefully counted her earnings and found she had a little over twenty-one taels and three mace.
Put the twenty taels of silver together with the thirty taels of silver remaining in the hidden compartment, and the remaining one tael and three mace of silver, along with the silver for household use, which is three taels and six mace of silver.
Now that we have more poultry at home, we're making money much faster than before.
Three to five years later, when the pepper trees have grown up, Xiao Taozi will be old enough to learn to read and write. Since the boys in the village school can't get in, they'll ask a tutor to come and teach him at home.
Little Peach, sleeping soundly, has no idea that in three to five years, the happy childhood she enjoyed eating and playing with will be gone.
The more Mu Jin thought about it, the more excited she became, and the more hopeful she felt for the future.
She closed the hidden compartment, spread out the bedding, picked up the soundly sleeping Peach, and went downstairs.
Bai Qiqiu, supporting her pregnant belly, was sitting on a stone bench, chatting and laughing with Wen Zhaoran.
"Brother, you've come at the perfect time. Zhaoran and I were just talking about how the things Li-ge'er has been weaving have been selling quite well at the shop these past two months, earning him more than two taels of silver."
Mu Jin gently placed the small peaches into the rocking chair under the peach tree. "So many?"
Bai Qiqiu laughed and said, "Yes, I didn't hide this from you. Many families in the village know that Brother Li is skilled and has earned money. Yesterday, I met a matchmaker and he vaguely mentioned it. Brother Li may be getting married soon."
Mu Jin smiled, genuinely happy for Wang Li. Even if he couldn't find a good man, he could still support himself.
"Brother, I haven't given the money that Li'er earned yet, I'm afraid it will be tricked by others."
Mu Jin sat down, took a sip of tea, and said softly, "We should give it to him. Li Ge'er is sensible and obedient, and he remembers everything we teach him."
"I brought it. Where is Li-ge'er? I'll go give it to him right away."
Wen Zhaoran smiled and said, "He went to his master's place early this morning after breakfast, and he won't be back until noon."
Bai Qiqiu was about to suggest that Mu Jin pass it on to him when he heard Mu Mei's voice coming from the doorway.
"Is Jin-ge'er home?"
Mu Jin quickly got up and went out to greet him, "Mu Mei? Yes, yes, why are you here at this hour?"
Mu Mei's eyes were full of smiles. "I'm not here to bring good news."
Mu Jin understood immediately, her eyes crinkling with a smile, "Mu Mei, hurry up and come in."
The scenery by the peach tree was nice, cooler than inside, and everyone there was family, so Mu Jin led Mu Mei to the stone table by the peach tree.
"Is Lin the boy home too?"
The woodworker exclaimed in surprise upon hearing the sound of sawing wood coming from the back room.
Mu Jin smiled and nodded, then took a new cup and poured a cup of tea for Mu Mei.
"There are many things to do at home, and we can't do without him, so he brought the work home to do. As for the woodwork, please have some tea."
Mu Mei took the teacup, his eyes scanning the courtyard.
The courtyard was filled with blooming flowers, their fragrance permeating the air, attracting bees and butterflies.
Not far from the peach tree, a small pond was planted with lotus flowers. The water was as clear as a mirror, and you could see several carp playing under the lotus leaves.
Even a wooden coffin, seeing this scene, couldn't help but feel envious.
An honest man who was not initially favored married a man who brought him good fortune, and now they live such an enviable life.
No wonder there's a saying: "When you marry, marry a virtuous wife; a virtuous wife brings prosperity to three generations."
A child's cry pulled Mu Mei from her thoughts. She saw Mu Jin skillfully take a clean diaper from a corner of the cradle and change Xiao Taozi's diaper.
The fair-skinned little guy whimpered, his little bottom felt comfortable, and with tears in the corners of his eyes, he fell into a deep sleep again.
"Little Peach is really, really cute."
Mu Mei gently touched his fair little hand and smiled.
Mu Jin got up and threw the soiled urine bag into the basket he had previously woven from sorghum stalks, which was now used specifically to hold Xiao Taozi's dirty clothes and urine bags.
"Don't be fooled by how well-behaved he looks when he's asleep; he can be quite a handful when he's awake."
Although Mu Jin expressed her disdain, her eyes were filled with affection as she looked at Xiao Taozi.
"I've arranged hundreds, if not thousands, of marriages, but you and Lin are the most harmonious."
Mu Jin smiled and said, "A Lin and I are both very grateful to you, Mu Mei. In our Mu Family Village, the match you made was always the best."
Mu Mei felt relieved to hear this. "I came back this time because of your family's Li Ge'er."
Mu Jin's face immediately showed surprise and delight. "Brother Li? May I ask whose man you are?"
Mu Mei took a sip of tea and said, "It's hard to believe that someone like Li Ge'er comes from a wealthy family."
Mu Jin nodded. "As long as this man is honest and hardworking, and willing to treat Li Ge'er well, it's not impossible."
Mu Mei put down her cup and said, "We're all so familiar with each other, so I'll be frank. The man who came to propose marriage is Li An, a man from the Li family in our village."
"Ang Lee?!"
“I know what you’re thinking, Jin’er. This An boy is a man in our village, and everyone knows him well. He comes from a poor family and had his leg broken by a leper when he was young. But he’s the only man in his family, and he’s an honest and hardworking person. His parents also told me that once Li’er marries into the family, they will take care of everything, big and small, and they won’t let Li’er suffer any grievances. They will also help take care of the children after they are born.”
Mu Jin frowned slightly. "As for the matchmaker, Li Ge'er can't even take care of himself. How can he take care of a man with a broken leg? This marriage should be called off."
Bai Qiqiu chimed in, "That's right. As for the matchmaker, Li-ge'er earns more than one tael of silver a month now, which is more than most men in the village. Why would she marry a man with a broken leg and have to serve him and suffer?"
Mu Mei said helplessly, "Li Ge'er is a slave and not mentally complete. If it weren't for his ability to earn money, he probably wouldn't even be able to find a suitable family like the Li family. The Li family man is physically disabled, but his family has a clean reputation, and his mother is an honest and kind person. She is not the kind of mother-in-law who would bully her son-in-law. It is already a good family for Li Ge'er to marry into."
Mu Jin knew that Mu Mei's words made sense, but she still felt very uncomfortable.
Although Wang Li came to live with them because Zhou Fengnian and Zhou Chuxue couldn't support him, they had already come to treat him as family after living together for so long and he was kind-hearted.
Li An wasn't like Mu Lingyun, who only had a slightly injured foot but possessed a skill that allowed him to support his family.
He has a broken leg and can't do any farm work.
Even with the help of the elderly Li couple, they are getting on in years and can take care of them for a long time.
If you ask Wang Li to go farming, he'll never learn how to do that.
"As for the matchmaker, I know you are thinking of Li-ge'er, but Li-ge'er and him are really not suitable."
Mu Mei sighed, "Fine, just pretend I was never here and never said those words."
"Thank you for making this trip today. If you find anything suitable, please take a look."
Mu Mei nodded, eager to reply to the Li family, so he didn't stay long. After chatting for a few more minutes, he went back.
Mu Jin saw him off, but then she saw Lin Nuo carrying a basket on his back, peeking out and looking in their direction.
"Nuege, what are you doing?"
Lin Nuo was startled when she was discovered. After hesitating for a moment, she walked over.
"Brother Jin, was that a wood-based medium just now?"
Mu Jin nodded. "What's wrong?"
Lin Nuo gripped the hemp rope on her back basket tightly. Wang Li was the only boy in her family who was not yet engaged, so it was easy to guess who she had come for.
"No...it's nothing, Brother Jin, I'll go back now."
After saying that, without waiting for Mu Jin to speak, he quickly ran back to the pepper garden.
It was as if a ferocious beast was chasing him.
Mu Jin stared blankly at Lin Nuo's figure disappearing around the corner, then shook her head.
He closed the door and went back to the stone table.
Little Peach woke up and was being comforted in Wen Zhaoran's arms.
Her little face was full of unhappiness, but when she saw Mu Jin walking over, she revealed a toothless smile.
She stretched out her little arms, wanting Mu Jin to hold her.
Wen Zhaoran gently patted his little bottom and said with a playful smile, "I've spoiled you for nothing! You forget about your Uncle Zhao as soon as you see your little dad!"
Little Peach hummed twice, and with her two powerful legs kicking against Wen Zhaoran, she pounced straight towards Mu Jin.
Wen Zhaoran almost couldn't hold him and put him in Mu Jin's arms.
He laughed and said, "It's getting stronger and stronger, it's a big peach now."
Bai Qiqiu gently touched his little face, "Little Peach has really grown a lot."
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