"However, the other temples are suppressing us severely. Now, several temples that used to offer incense to us haven't come to offer incense for a long time. I guess they've gone to offer incense to other temples. Our incense stock is getting bigger and bigger. But I don't dare to let them stop making incense. If I do, these twenty-odd temples will cause a huge uproar."
After Xu Changhuan finished speaking, he sighed deeply.
Li Mai listened quietly. She had guessed that Xu Changhuan might be under a lot of pressure, but she didn't expect her pressure to be this great.
She sighed inwardly. This was her status as the head of a clan, but even as the head of a clan, she shouldn't have to support the entire clan!
Li Mai felt that perhaps she needed to have a serious, in-depth talk with Xu Changle, not about how to make money for her.
This is a large family of twenty households, more than a hundred people. To become wealthy, everyone needs to work together. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. We need to involve everyone in the journey to get out of poverty and become rich, so that we can cherish the good life we have together in the future.
However, she didn't say anything at the moment, but just listened quietly as Xu Changhuan looked down and told her about the situation of their Xu family.
After they descended the hillside and arrived in the village, as they walked towards the clan chief's house, other members of the Xu clan came out one after another and stood by the roadside to greet Xu Changhuan, curious about who the village chief had brought back.
Unfortunately, Xu Changhuan directed the carriage directly into her courtyard.
After getting off the carriage, Li Mai stood in the courtyard and looked around Xu Changhuan's house.
Most of the houses are made of rammed earth walls and have roofs with rafters and purlins, similar to most houses in mountain villages.
However, the courtyard was very large and clean, with everything neatly arranged. At that moment, servants were carrying water to water the trees and flowers in the courtyard.
When they saw two carriages enter and a group of people get out, the servants all looked over curiously.
An old man strode over and bowed to Xu Changhuan, "Chief, you're back?"
Butler Fu knew that the chieftain had been waiting for an important guest and would frequently travel to Yongzhou City. Today, she returned happily with her entourage, and Butler Fu immediately knew that the person the chieftain was waiting for had arrived.
"Yes, Uncle Fu, did you clean the yard I asked you to tidy up today?" Xu Changhuan asked.
“It’s been cleaned, Chieftain. Someone will clean it every day,” Uncle Fu quickly said.
"Alright, then go and arrange some tea. Let's go inside and talk." After instructing Uncle Fu, Xu Changhuan led Li Mai and the others into his courtyard.
Yun Chang looked around and pursed her lips, never expecting that the once century-old clan would become like this.
Old Yang glanced around at the flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard and nodded. The temperature here was nice, and these flowers, plants, and trees were growing better and more lush than the ones they had encountered along the way.
Inside the hall, everyone took their seats according to their status as guests and hosts.
Li Mai looked around and saw that there were some flower stands in the room, with some small potted plants on them, some with flowering flowers and some with lush foliage.
However, as soon as you enter, you are greeted by a refreshing and pleasant fragrance.
Li Mai raised an eyebrow. She had expected to smell precious fragrances like sandalwood or musk in the hall, but instead she was greeted by the scent of flowers.
Xu Changhuan followed Li Mai's gaze and saw her examining her flowerpots. He smiled and explained, "I like to put some fragrant bonsai in the house. Actually, although I come from a family of perfumers, I prefer the natural fragrance brought by flowers and plants."
Li Mai smiled and nodded, "Me too, so I rarely burn incense in my life. I prefer the refreshing fragrance of flowers, plants and trees."
After they finished speaking, they looked at each other and smiled. Meeting someone who shares the same hobbies is a very happy thing.
Zhou Quan watched Li Mai's smile and listened to her talk with Xu Changhuan, a gentle smile on his face.
Yun Chang listened to their conversation, but he was watching Xu Changhuan. He hadn't expected that she would also like the fragrance of flowers and plants, rather than those specially made fragrances.
Old Yang sat to one side with a smile, watching the expressions and eyes of the two young couples. He noticed that his apprentice had been staring at the girl for quite a while.
Perhaps there's still a chance?
However, this time he dared not speak of it lightly. He now understood the responsibility that Xu Changhuan carried on his shoulders.
My apprentice said he would be going to the frontier next year and would definitely not be able to help her, so I can't let my apprentice harm that young girl.
Uncle Fu came in with two maids, served tea, snacks, and a plate of small red fruits, and then left.
Seeing the small red berries, Xu Changhuan called to Li Mai, "Xiaomai, try this. These little berries are a bit sour, but they taste delicious. Don't you like sour things? Give it a try."
Xu Changhuan looked at Li Mai with expectant eyes.
Li Mai was also surprised, "You actually have cherries here?"
"Yes, but we call these little red fruits 'Hantao' here. We also have pomegranate trees. I've already asked Uncle Fu to arrange for someone to pick a few. However, the pomegranates are probably not ripe yet. Pick a few and see if you can eat them."
Xu Changhuan only learned on the return carriage that Li Mai was pregnant and craved sour foods and meat. She remembered this and arranged for Uncle Fu to have some of these prepared, cleaned, and delivered to her.
Li Mai ate a few cherries. It was late in the cherry harvest season, and the cherries were large, ripe, and purplish-red, making Li Mai very hungry.
She politely declined the others' invitations before eating a few.
Mmm, I must say, it's really delicious!
She gestured for Xu Changhuan to eat as well, but Xu Changhuan smiled and waved her hand, looking at her with doting eyes, "You eat, you eat, it's also for the baby. Li Mai, I envy you, you can be a mother next year."
Li Mai smiled and said, "You can do it too. Once you've settled things in the clan, you should also take good care of yourself, find someone you like, get married, and have a child."
Xu Changhuan laughed and nodded, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
Her smile was natural and genuine, cheerful and crisp, which made Li Mai very happy. And to be honest, the more she spent time with her, the more she liked this girl; she was a really nice person.
Actually, it wouldn't be bad if she and her older brother could both unload their burdens and live a normal life as a couple.
Unfortunately, both of them are carrying heavy burdens now, and even if they were together, there would be no happiness to speak of, because they are both equally responsible people.
Quinoa didn't dare to eat too much. After eating about ten kernels, she stopped and stood up to carefully examine the flowers and plants.
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