The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 190 - 179: White Noodles (Additional update for 40,000 recommendation votes from starting point)

Chapter 190: Chapter 179: White Noodles (Additional update for 40,000 recommendation votes from starting point)

Ms. Fang continued in a low voice, "Zhou Si still has two younger brothers, and marrying off will cost quite a bit of money. By this calculation, their family won’t have any savings for at least ten years."

Ms. Yao couldn’t help but say, "Their family has just built a big tiled house made of blue bricks. It’s clear they can save money."

After all, Ms. Yao and Ms. Qian had lived in the same village for decades and got along well. She couldn’t help but say, "Her six sons, even the least responsible Silang, isn’t lazy among the village youth. For farming households, as long as one is willing to work, what wealth can’t be accumulated?"

"But they also spend a lot," Ms. Fang insisted, thinking of something, she couldn’t help but sneer, "It’s bad enough to have such a young girl in the family, but there’s also an eldest daughter who has returned to her natal home. Being a daughter-in-law in this family must be very difficult."

Ms. Fang might trust Ms. Qian to be fair among her daughters-in-law, but she surely couldn’t be fair between her daughters-in-law and her own daughter.

Just like herself, could she treat her daughter-in-law the same as her daughter?

The Zhou family having such a young girl like Manbao was one thing; she would eventually grow up and get married, but Zhou Xi had returned to her natal home, and it had already been a year without her leaving. What if she never marries? Then this eldest daughter would have to live with them indefinitely.

Ms. Fang did not voice these thoughts, but Ms. Yao guessed them.

She knew this marriage proposal was truly impossible. Having lived in the same village with Ms. Qian for thirty years, Ms. Yao was very clear about what kind of person Ms. Qian was. If Ms. Fang showed such intentions, even if they continued to talk now, it would still end later.

It was better to make it clear and break it off now.

Ms. Yao nodded and said, "Then you give a reply to the matchmaker."

Though she said this, Ms. Fang still felt regretful; after all, it was not common to find a family with two big tiled houses made of blue bricks connected together.

Ms. Fang sighed deeply, her heart in turmoil.

But unexpectedly, just as she had given the matchmaker her response, the matchmaker immediately agreed to find another suitor for her daughter, and Ms. Fang knew that the Zhou family hadn’t been keen on her daughter either.

Ms. Fang couldn’t help but feel dissatisfied, but it would be indelicate to directly ask the matchmaker why the Zhou family didn’t fancy her daughter, wouldn’t it?

Wouldn’t that be slapping her own face?

In her heart, her daughter was perfect in every way, especially compared to the error-prone Zhou SiLang. She had never thought the Zhou family would reject her daughter.

Zhou SiLang was blissfully unaware of all this, cheerfully running towards Dali Village, cheerfully selecting a nice piece of lamb to buy and bring back home, thinking about the tasty meal and instantly dispelling the depression from the matchmaking session that morning.

Zhou Xi looked on and couldn’t help but say to her mother, "He doesn’t seem at all like someone about to take a wife. Why don’t we wait another year and see?"

Shouldn’t he grow up a bit more, at least become more mature?

Old Zhou was unhappy with this. He said, "A man grows up once he sets up his own household. If we wait any longer, it would be too late. What if he can’t find a wife then?"

In Old Zhou’s view, Four was already in the category of men who found it difficult to take a wife. Waiting any longer, and as he aged, it would become even harder to say.

He couldn’t let Four delay the chances of his two younger sons.

Ms. Qian also nodded, "Once he’s married, he’ll grow up, assuming he finds the right one."

Manbao was nodding repeatedly on the side but asked, "Big sister, is the dough ready yet?"

Zhou Xi pointed at her nose and said, "You’re just like your Fourth Brother, only ever thinking about eating."

There was tofu at home, and Zhou Xi carved some lamb for the topping, then stewed it together with the tofu.

After stewing for a long time, the tofu formed small holes, becoming soft and tender without falling apart; Manbao picked it up with her chopsticks, and the juices within sizzled out. She blew on it, took a cautious bite, and once sure it wasn’t too hot, she started eating big mouthfuls.

Manbao ate with shining eyes, and everyone else also enjoyed their meal.

Zhou SiLang finished all the broth in his bowl, wiped his mouth contentedly, and vowed, "If only every day could be like this."

Old Zhou was also quite satisfied with his meal and glanced at him, saying, "What are you daydreaming about in broad daylight? Today is the Winter Solstice. Other times, if you dare eat like this, I won’t hesitate to give you a beating."

Not to mention anything else, just the white flour used for the noodles was enough to cause Old Zhou heartache.

Qili Village also grew wheat, but not much, so white flour was precious; at least the Zhou family usually couldn’t bear to use white flour like this.

Today was a rare splurge, and in the short term, at least before the New Year, they shouldn’t even think about indulging like this again, let alone every day as Zhou SiLang hoped.

Old Zhou thought that eating white flour noodles every day was a life only immortals could have.

Manbao then cheerfully declared that she wanted to be a little fairy in the future.

Keke took the opportunity to tell her, "In the future, white flour and white rice will be things every human being can easily afford."

Manbao exclaimed, "Wow, are they that wealthy?"

But then she thought about it and felt something was off, "If everyone can eat white flour casually, where would so much white flour come from?"

"Planted."

Manbao then asked, "How many acres of wheat would have to be planted to have enough?"

"Per capita, much less than what you grow now, but the yield per acre is high, and the efficiency is higher, so they can afford it." Keke explained a little about future wheat planting techniques and yield per acre to her.

Manbao listened and longed, "If only the yield per acre for the wheat we plant could be that high."

"Host can work towards that direction," Keke said. "Though difficult, improving farming techniques will yield some progress."

"But host, you usually only plant spring wheat here. Even if you want to plant, you’ll have to wait until next spring. During this long winter, aren’t you going to prepare for next year’s planting?"

Manbao asked eagerly, "What can I prepare?"

"Wheat seeds are different from rice seeds. Host can consider buying some wheat seeds from the mall that can be kept for planting. The points needed to purchase these seeds are not low, especially since the technological difference between your era and the future civilization is vast, including a technology gap tax. All of this requires payment in points, so I suggest the host records some animals and plants that are absent or scarce in the encyclopedia before spring to ensure you have enough points."

Manbao pondered seriously.

Thinking of the white flour noodles she had just eaten, she was tempted.

Seeing this, Keke continued, "Apart from making noodles, flour can also be used to make steamed buns, dumplings..."

Manbao’s eyes brightened increasingly until she could no longer contain the primal force within her. With a slap on the table, she stood up abruptly.

Keke immediately fell silent.

Everyone who was speaking turned to look. Ms. Qian, seeing her eyes shine and her face flushed, quickly pulled her over and asked, "What’s the matter?"

Manbao clenched her fists and loudly declared, "Mother, I want to go out and play!"

Ms. Qian: "...I didn’t stop you, did I?"

"I want to go to the mountains to play!"

"What’s to do at this time in the mountains?" Ms. Qian frowned, "It’s so cold, and the chilling winds are harsh in the mountains, you’re not allowed to go."

"No, I want to go, Mother, please let Fourth Brother and the others take me," Manbao pleaded. If no adults accompanied her, she wouldn’t dare venture into the mountains—she knew if she dared to go, Ms. Qian would dare to break her legs.

So, reluctant as she was, she could only roll around and act cute to her mother to get her approval.

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