Chapter 369 Anxiety
Fortunately, Zhulan was happy in September because everyone knew that Lizhou City had late watermelons and melons due to the good publicity, and many fruit merchants came to Lizhou City.
Zhulan's family planted fifty acres of watermelons and melons, but unfortunately due to the problem of variety, the watermelon production in ancient times was not high, not as high as the modern one acre of land with a starting yield of 5,000 kilograms. Also, due to the problem of land, there were no fertilizers and pesticides, so Zhulan's one acre of land only produced 1,000 kilograms if it was well taken care of. Excluding some that had been gnawed by rabbits and other wild animals, only 600 kilograms could be sold.
Because it is a late watermelon and there are many foreign merchants, the price is a little higher. Early watermelons are 20 cents per pound, which is the same price as early watermelons.
Zhulan's family has forty acres of watermelons and ten acres of melons. The output of melons is even lower because there are many wild animals, and mice and rabbits eat them a lot. No matter how many manpower there is, they cannot prevent them from eating them at night. Even if there is a fence, it is useless because the mice can dig holes. Only three hundred kilograms of melons from one acre of land can be sold.
And although there were forty acres of watermelons, in fact six acres were completely out of production because the seedlings got sick and died. Later, for fear that the whole field would be infected, the seedlings from several acres were pulled out to isolate the field from further infection. Zhulan's watermelon field almost became out of production.
It was not easy to grow watermelons in ancient times. Despite the high price, ordinary people really did not grow them for fear that they would become extinct. It was better to grow food for their stable supply.
The estates that grew watermelons were either owned by landlords or government officials.
In the end, Zhulan's family sold all the watermelons and melons, and after deducting the cost, they earned three hundred taels of silver.
The Yang family also planted a lot, but because they did not invest as much manpower as the Zhulan family, they did not earn much, only 120 taels.
Some of those who followed suit made money, some lost money, and some even lost everything. The risk was too great, and many households decided not to plant next year.
Zhulan is not planning to plant anything next year. She is going to plant only fruit trees. She plans to leave the few acres of land infested with bacteria empty for the time being.
After planting the watermelons, Zhulan's family should prepare for the autumn harvest. Boss Zhou is in charge of this, so Zhulan doesn't have to worry about it.
In the evening, Zhulan counted the accounts and said to Zhou Shuren, "After selling the apples, I want to take the second brother to the south to buy a farm when he arrives."
She has been thinking about this farm for a long time, and she is just waiting for the funds to come back so that she can buy it.
Zhou Shuren touched his belly, which had grown a lot of weight, and held Zhulan's hand, "I can't leave Lizhou."
Zhulan, "Don't worry, we're here so nothing will happen."
Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan. He didn't want to be separated from her, but he couldn't give her a surprise if she didn't leave. He had planned everything, but he just didn't have the chance to act. "It takes at least one and a half months to go back and forth."
Zhulan held Zhou Shuren's hand and said, "Look, you've already gone out by yourself, so it's just right for me to go out as well. When Zhou Laoer can go out to do things on his own in the future, I won't go anywhere."
Zhulan had never been to Jiangnan since she came here in ancient times. She didn't know when Zhou Shuren would take her there. Thinking of Jiangnan, Zhulan wanted to go there in person to see it. The only pity was that Zhou Shuren couldn't accompany her.
Zhou Shuren snorted in his heart. Don't think that he didn't see the excitement in Zhulan's eyes. However, it would be difficult for him to take Zhulan to Jiangnan unless he was transferred to Jiangnan to be an official. But the hope was slim. According to his understanding of the emperor, once Lizhou City was on the right track, the emperor would definitely not let him waste time in Lizhou City.
As for where to go, Zhou Shuren narrowed his eyes. He already knew in his mind, but when he thought of the emperor's reply on his folding paper, Zhou Shuren's heart ached. He actually asked him how much tax revenue was estimated for Lizhou City this year!!!
Zhou Shuren held Zhulan's hand and covered his heart with it. "The emperor has no conscience and will only continue to exploit you. The government office has finally recovered the money from the chicken, and the fruit is still on the tree. This man actually has a clear conscience and is thinking about it!"
Zhulan was waiting for Zhou Shuren's reply, "Speak!"
Zhou Shuren, "Okay, but I will only feel at ease if you take both the eldest and the second brother with you."
Zhulan kissed Zhou Shuren and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
The next morning, not long after Zhou Shuren left, Zhulan received an invitation from Zheng Hong's house. Zheng Hong was very cautious. Zhulan's family had been here for more than half a year, but Zheng Hong had never given them an invitation.
Zhulan asked Butler Ding, "Did the butler who delivered the invitation say anything?"
Steward Ding said, "The steward of the Zheng residence said that the old man is here."
Zhulan, "......."
Master Zheng is here, so that makes sense. Logically, they should be the ones to visit, but Zheng Hong's position is sensitive, and he has connections with the Yang family, so it's really difficult for Zhou Shuren to visit in person. It looks like Master Zheng is the one who's going to visit.
Zhulan looked up the date of the visit and knew without even having to calculate that it was Zhou Shuren's day off. "Prepare some dishes suitable for the elderly according to the date. The dishes should be salty."
Butler Ding took note and asked, "Madam, how many people does the kitchen need to prepare meals for?"
Zhu Lan knew that Zheng Hong's family would not come, and estimated that the only people who came were the grandfather and his grandson, "One table will be fine."
Steward Ding, "I'll go down and make arrangements."
In the evening, Zhou Shuren told the servant to reply that he would not be back for dinner. After dinner, Li accompanied Zhulan. Zhulan saw that Li was absent-minded and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Li touched her arm and felt that she had lost a lot of weight. She was a little unsure whether she was pregnant or worried about her younger siblings. "Mom, have I lost a lot of weight?"
Zhulan looked at Li carefully. She had been busy since she came to Lizhou City and had not been idle recently. She had not paid attention to Li for a long time. Li seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Her chubby round face had become much thinner. Zhulan motioned Li to stand up. "You have really lost a lot of weight. Have you lost weight?"
That's not right, Li is getting fatter and fatter!
Li's eyes turned red. The closer her brothers and sisters came, the more anxious she became. "Mom, I haven't had a good rest for several days."
She dreams every day that her younger brothers and sisters are here. Her mother-in-law doesn't like her anymore. She is not as smart as her younger brothers and sisters. Every time she goes out with her mother-in-law, many people laugh at her. Her mother must like to take her younger brothers and sisters out.
Zhulan thought that Li was ill, and called Liuya, "Send someone to call the doctor."
Seeing Li's miserable appearance, Zhulan felt worried and many bad illnesses were already on her mind.
Li felt overwhelmed and didn't hear clearly what her mother-in-law said. She just wanted to vent, so she wiped her tears with a handkerchief, "Mom, I know people are making fun of me outside, saying that I am ignorant and vulgar. Mom, do you dislike me anymore?"
Zhulan really knew this. Even if she taught Li again, she still didn't know how to do anything except cooking. In addition, she had a loud voice, so she was isolated from the banquets several times. She felt distressed. She just liked Li's naivety. Later, when she was invited again, she never went.
Not only did she not go, she also explained why she didn't go. She was the only one who could tease her silly child. Ever since she started protecting Li, no one had embarrassed Li in person. Instead, Li became the object of envy. Which mother-in-law would protect her daughter-in-law so much!
Zhulan's mouth twitched. She felt that Li had too many tears and her emotions were too volatile. Li cried in a loud voice, which made Zhulan's ears hurt.
Boss Zhou was terrified before he even entered the house. He fell to his knees as soon as he entered. "Mom, if Li did anything wrong, it's all my fault. You should blame me!"
Li stopped crying and looked at the head of the family, "You are the one who did something wrong."
Boss Zhou was a little confused, "Did I really do something wrong? No!"
Li frowned, "Did I really do something wrong?"
Zhulan, "......."
These two are really a couple, their train of thought is the same, look, they are both recalling whether they have done anything wrong!
Zhulan closed her eyes and decided not to look at the eldest couple. She finally understood that Mrs. Li was not sick!
The doctor came quickly. Only after he arrived did Zhulan open her eyes. She already knew what had happened to Li, and signaled the doctor to check on Li.
Li and the eldest brother had already quieted down, they knew that they had caused trouble for the big oolong quail!
Li saw the doctor and said, "I'm not sick."
Zhulan glared at Li, and Li shut up obediently.
(End of this chapter)