While busy in the outer room, Granny Lu heard her third master's rainbow-colored clothes inside and kept sighing in her heart. What kind of father is this? But after more than a year, Granny Lu had gotten used to it.
When Zhang Zhaoci returned, Xu Rao told her what Xu Zhi had said. Zhang Zhaoci smiled and said to Xu Zhi, "Xiao Jiu, our family is hesitating not because we don't have the money, but because we've been considering whether it's appropriate to buy it. Our family's roots are in the capital, and your father can't stay here as an official forever. If we buy it, we'll have to arrange for someone to stay here, and we don't have a suitable person right now."
Xu Di said, "Mother, I have an idea. You should go to the heir of the Marquis of Jingbei. He must have many wounded veterans who can no longer go to the battlefield. We can invite those people over. They don't need to work for us; they can just be in charge of management. As for the work in the fields, aren't there still tenant farmers? We can keep the tenant farmers here. What do you think?"
Before Zhang Zhaoci could say anything, Xu Rao kept praising it, saying, "That's a good idea, I think it's feasible."
Zhang Zhaoci thought for a moment and said, "Then I'll ask when I go to the General's Mansion tomorrow to see if the Heir Apparent has any suitable candidates. If he does, that would be great. If not, I think it doesn't matter whether we buy the land or not."
Xu Di still hoped that his mother could buy the land. He had already seen the large plot of land. It had hundreds of acres of fertile fields below the sand dune, and fruit trees that could be planted on the hillside. Most importantly, a river flowed through the area, making irrigation very convenient. Xu Di had already planned that once the land was bought, he would study how to make a waterwheel and ask a craftsman to build one to place by the river, which would make irrigation much easier in the future.
After Zhang Zhaoci spoke to the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince immediately found someone for her.
At noon, Zhang Zhaoci led several tall and imposing-looking men into the courtyard.
When Xu Zhi saw the group of people, she huddled closer to Granny Li's legs, a little scared. Zhang Zhaoci smiled and said, "These people will be part of our family from now on. Xiao Jiu, come over and call us uncles."
The group repeatedly said they dared not, but Zhang Zhaoci said, "Our Third Master will be back soon. From now on, we'll live in the same courtyard. What else are we but family? Don't worry, besides your monthly wages, I'll take care of your lives, your marriages, your clothes for all four seasons, and your red envelopes for the three festivals of the year."
These men were all veterans who had followed the heir of the Marquis of Jingbei for many years. After being wounded, they were originally supposed to return to their hometowns. However, some of them couldn't get along with their families, while others had no one left in their families, so they had no choice but to come back here. But their bodies no longer allowed them to continue fighting on the battlefield, so they had been staying in Hexi, either working as laborers on the street or helping people farm. In the morning, after being summoned to the General's Mansion by the heir of the Marquis of Jingbei, who told them that Magistrate Xu's family needed people and asked if they were willing to come and work, they naturally agreed.
With the landowner secured, Zhang Zhaoci went to the seller's house that afternoon with the silver notes, completed the transaction on the spot, and exchanged the land deed at the county government office.
That evening, after settling the group in the front yard room, the Xu family of four sat around the kang (heated brick bed) in the main house in the back yard. On the kang table was the land deed that had been freshly printed that afternoon.
Xu Di said, "This is our family's first real estate, so it has great sentimental value."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Go to the fields tomorrow and take a look. I saw that they have some oats and wheat planted there. They've already sold them to our family at a price. It should be ready for harvest in a few days. Also, we need to properly appease our tenants. I'm thinking of building a courtyard on the hillside so that a few of my brothers can live there. It will be convenient for them, and it will be convenient for us too."
Xu Rao stroked his chin and said, "That's a good idea. I think they're not comfortable living in our back courtyard. Since we're going to build a courtyard, let's start preparing as soon as possible."
Zhang Zhaoci said, "Okay, I'll go find a craftsman to build the house tomorrow and buy bricks and tiles so that the house can be built by the time the wheat is harvested."
Xu Di thought for a moment and said, "I think there's a nice piece of land by the river, Dad. Why don't we try planting rice?"
Xu Rao said, "Growing rice? That won't work, it's so cold in winter."
Xu Di waved his hand and said, "Look at you, isn't it cold in the Northeast? Isn't their rice famous throughout the country? Now that we have the means, why don't we give it a try?"
Xu Rao said, "You'll have to figure that out yourself. I don't have the ability to help you find seeds. Anyway, your mother and I support you. If you want to do it, then do it. But there's only so much we can do to help you. I don't know anything about farming."
Xu Di: "I have already written to my third uncle and asked him to help me find an experienced rice grower. He will send someone over with the seeds next spring so I can give it a try first."
Xu Rao said, "Oh dear, you've learned to act first and ask for permission later."
Xu Di said, "Don't you know who I, a second-generation official, am always trying to be a playboy and working so hard for?"
Xu Rao fell silent. Zhang Zhaoci, watching the two of them arguing, suddenly laughed and said, "Alright, alright, look at you two, how come you've changed your expressions like this? I remember when I went to the south, people told me about rice paddy fish. Xu Di, why don't you give it a try?"
Xu Di said, "I think I already have a lot of research projects on hand. How about we wait a little longer?"
Zhang Zhaoci remained silent, but Xu Zhi, who was sitting to the side, said to Xu Di, "Brother, I'll help you. Whatever you want to do, I'll help you."
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