The crops grown in Taowan Niangzhuang are different from those of other farmers. Last year, the ten acres of sorghum they planted aroused the curiosity of the surrounding farmers. This year, things are more normal, and they have planted rice.
The tenant farmers sat on the edge of the field, looking at the seedlings in Taojiazhuang, and they all felt that something was different.
"Your seedlings look exceptionally robust. What method did you use?"
"There's nothing we can do. The seeds the landlord gave us are like this once they're planted," Chen Aniu said, while his fourteen-year-old son was still pulling weeds in the field.
"What's the background of your employer? How come they've acquired so much more land this year than last year?"
"The boss is a very good person."
Ling Dahu, Wang Hongyu, and Zhang Liang, accompanied by the steward Lin Zhuangshi, came to the field and saw a group of people gathered together talking about something.
"Chen Aniu, this is the landlord's eldest son and daughter-in-law. They've come to check on the fields," Lin Zhuangshi introduced.
Chen Aniu immediately stood up, greeted the group, and said with a simple smile, "Manager Lin, everyone is curious about the seedlings in our field."
"The seeds the landlord gave us are just plumper than usual, nothing to be curious about," Lin Zhuangshi said, then said to Ling Dahu and his wife, "These five acres of land are planted with rice, and we've only just started transplanting the seedlings."
Ling Dahu and Wang Hongyu were shocked. Ten mu of sorghum fields and five mu of rice fields—just how much land did their mother own?
"Is there more?" Ling Dahu asked tentatively, since Zhang Liang hadn't mentioned that his mother had so much land!
“There are five more acres, planted with some vegetables, but they’ve all just sprouted, so it’s too early to tell what they’re like,” Lin Zhuangshi said. “This way, please, all three of you.”
Ling Dahu and Wang Hongyu looked at each other in bewilderment. Their mother hadn't said anything!
When they arrived at the vegetable garden, Ling Dahu saw several people tending to it. He looked at it carefully and shook his head with Wang Hongyu.
"Honey, I don't even recognize this kind of thing."
Wang Hongyu frowned as well. They had all grown up in the fields, yet they didn't recognize what this was.
"The landlord said it was some seeds obtained in Youzhou, possibly from foreign tribes, and told us to plant them all," Lin Zhuangshi explained. "However, here are cucumbers, eggplants, winter melons, and loofahs. The landlord also brought seeds for tomatoes, potatoes, and some other things she said she didn't know. The landlord said the restaurant will need these vegetables from these five acres."
Ling Dahu was surprised; Tao Wanniang had never mentioned this to them.
"Big brother, sister-in-law!" Ling Dahu was startled by the voice of his younger brother Ling Dapeng from afar. Looking over, he saw Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun rushing towards them.
"Brother, it really is you!" Ling Dapeng said breathlessly as he approached. "Xiaoyun and I were working in the fields when we saw you and your wife from afar, so we ran over. What are you doing here?"
"Come help your mother see how the crops are growing on the farm. Aren't you at your father's farm? How come... you're so close to here?"
“That’s right,” Zhou Xiaoyun replied. She had lost even more weight, seemingly back to her pre-pregnancy figure. “Is Mother’s estate around here too? Brother, sister-in-law, why don’t you go back and talk to Mother and ask her to let us work on her estate?”
"Xiaoyun, you look great. Why are you talking about this?" Wang Hongyu asked intentionally, worried that her husband might agree too readily and then tell her mother, who might scold him for it.
“Aren’t Father and Mother the same? If we come to Mother’s estate, we can see you more often!” Zhou Xiaoyun said. Actually, it was Ling Dapeng who brought it up. Life on Mother’s estate is leisurely and there’s not much to do.
Lin Zhuangshi, who was standing to the side, was somewhat surprised. This young man was actually the master's son?
"Manager Zhang, is this really..." Lin Zhuangshi asked Zhang Liang in a low voice.
Zhang Liang nodded, not hiding anything.
"The year before last, we left him with you without telling you his identity; it was at the employer's request. This second son is with their father; they are under his jurisdiction."
Lin Zhuangshi was surprised; this sounded like the boss talking to a man...
“The landlord and the child’s father are divorced,” Zhang Liang added.
“We’ll ask about your situation depending on the circumstances. Mother’s been quite busy lately; you see, she’s even had us help her check things out,” Wang Hongyu said.
Zhou Xiaoyun was also looking at Ling Dahu and Wang Hongyu. She and her husband were farmers, while her elder brother and sister-in-law worked in a restaurant in the city. They seemed quite different. Even the clothes they wore seemed very different.
"Sister-in-law, I...I miss my child!" Zhou Xiaoyun choked up. "Unlike you and brother, who can be with your child day and night, Dapeng and I haven't seen Zhi'er in a long time. Dazhuang is still so young, has he forgotten about his mother?"
"Uh... Xiaoyun, the child is with his father. You can talk to him." Wang Hongyu said, inwardly thinking, "Who left the child at the General's Mansion gate in the dead of winter? Whose fault is it?"
"Brother, sister-in-law, please go home and talk to Xiaoyun for me. We can work on the estate, but it's just the child. Let us see her, okay? We are, after all, her parents!" Ling Dapeng sighed.
"Oh, I'll talk to my mother about it." Ling Dahu readily agreed.
"Dapeng, Xiaoyun, if I may be so bold, Mother and Father had another falling out recently. If you go to Mother to beg for forgiveness, you might upset her," Wang Hongyu said, also reminding her husband.
“Yes, Mother said that if Father goes to the restaurant to look for her in the future, she won’t see him.” Ling Dahu remembered and quickly replied.
“Since we’re living with Mother, we can’t go to Father and say anything,” Wang Hongyu said, looking troubled.
“That’s true. Mother even made a harsh statement, telling all the waiters in the restaurant that she would not see Father if he went there,” Ling Dahu added.
Ling Dapeng and Zhou Xiaoyun were speechless for a moment, but Zhang Liang spoke up, saying, "You've checked on the crops enough, right? It's time to go back and report to Sister Tao."
“Yes, yes, we should go back. Xiaoyun, Dapeng, you two will have time to come back to Beijing, right? It’s better to talk to your mother about this in person.” Wang Hongyu immediately replied.
"Brother, does this land also belong to Mother? How much land does Mother own on her estate?" Ling Dapeng looked at the vegetable garden, feeling both tempted and regretful. What was he thinking when he decided to divide the family property?
Ling Dahu was also visiting for the first time. He said in a simple and honest voice, "I don't know either. Mother has never told me about it. Hongyu and I were both surprised when we saw it today. Dapeng, you've stayed at Mother's estate, so you should know better!"
"I don't know either. We didn't do any work at all in the winter," Ling Dapeng muttered. "Hey, big brother, sister-in-law, whether it's useful or not, could you please say a few words to Mom for me and Xiaoyun? We... miss Mom!"
Zhang Liang glanced at her coldly. Sister Tao was good in every way, except that her sons weren't very sensible!
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