The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 209 - 198: Whistle (Additional update at the recommendation of 170,000 tickets by Yun Qi)

Chapter 209: Chapter 198: Whistle (Additional update at the recommendation of 170,000 tickets by Yun Qi)

Before transplanting the rice seedlings, Old Zhou’s family had already scattered wheat and bean seeds in the fields. After the transplanting was completed, the wheat and bean sprouts had emerged, along with countless wild weeds.

Thus, spring labor entered its second phase—weeding.

This task was suitable for men and women, young and old, and even Manbao followed along to weed in the fields closest to home.

There were basically two methods of weeding: one was extensive, and the other, meticulous.

For the former, wielding a hoe, one would lightly hoe through the field, uprooting the weeds along the ridges and covering the weeds in the furrows with soil.

Not only could some weeds be removed, but this also provided more soil nutrients for the wheat or bean sprouts.

The latter method involved using a small hoe to thoroughly remove all the weeds from the furrows and ridges, and then transport them out of the field.

Even with many hands, the Zhou family couldn’t meticulously weed all of their land.

They made choices based on the germination rate of the seeds and the fertility of the soil.

Fields with the best sprouting rates and richer soil were meticulously tended, while the rest were dealt with as circumstances allowed—if there was spare capacity, meticulous efforts were made; if not, the extensive approach was adopted.

Of course, Old Zhou had no knowledge of extensive or meticulous methods; these were terms Manbao heard while discussing with Keke. Old Zhou only had decades of farming experience, and the villagers had been doing it this way for scores, if not hundreds, of years.

Unlike peasants elsewhere who lost their land and became tenant farmers or vagrant laborers, in Qili Village and even across the larger area of White Horse Pass Town, there were very few peasants who had completely lost their land.

So, not many families could afford the luxury of meticulous cultivation on their land; generally, local farmers had to make choices. Therefore, fertile land would gradually become even richer, while poor soils would remain difficult to improve over decades.

After all, human energy is always limited.

However, as spring planting gradually concluded, although the spring labor phase continued, the household was not as busy as before.

Manbao was no longer like before, waking up to possibly not even seeing her eldest brother or Second Brother.

Often, by the time she opened her eyes, they had already gone to the fields, and when she was ready for bed after dinner and nightfall, they might still be hurrying to plant rice in the fields.

The copper coins in Manbao’s money box were almost used up; the five beautiful gold nuggets that used to sit atop a pile of coins now lay quietly at the bottom of the box.

Thus, Manbao was reluctant to spend money on meat anymore.

With May fast approaching, Ms.Qian started to economize and naturally was not willing to spend money on meat.

Left with no choice, Junior Ms.Qian, distressed for her husband and remembering Manbao’s assertion that tofu could substitute meat—although knowing it might be untrue—still soaked some beans to make tofu.

There were many wild greens to eat in spring, but the vegetable garden was sparsely planted.

While the countryside was not lacking in vegetables, cities were in short supply, and it was said that a bunch of bitter greens could fetch as high as five coins.

Of course, the Zhou family would not consider selling vegetables; the garden’s yield was barely enough for their own consumption.

But they could sell tofu.

Remembering the accumulation of beans from previous times.

Junior Ms.Qian simply decided to soak a little extra with her sisters-in-law and produced more tofu than was needed for their own use, prompting Zhou ErLang to take it to the county town for sale.

There was no other way; at the big market, bartering was the norm and few would spend cash on tofu, so it had to be taken to the county town.

Junior Ms.Qian cut the tofu into large pieces, instructing Zhou ErLang to sell them for one coin per piece. If they couldn’t be sold, they would consider exchanging for beans.

Basically, two coins were enough for one family’s consumption.

Being busy making tofu in the morning and also cooking for the school, Junior Ms.Qian had no time to tend to the fieldwork.

Hearing her father grumble about the weeds growing wild in the fields and worrying about this year’s wheat and beans, Manbao volunteered to weed after school.

Of course, she wasn’t alone; she brought Bai Shanbao along.

Bai Shanbao, having lived in the countryside for over a year, could certainly differentiate between wheat, beans, and weeds, and had a spirited competition with Manbao; by the next day, he was less willing to join.

He found it too exhausting and also realized—why would he weed at Manbao’s place when his own land needed weeding too?

Manbao: ...

The two friends parted ways, and Manbao could no longer entice free labor.

After the first round of weeding was completed and the crops eagerly sprouted, it was time to fertilize. Once the fertilizing was done, May was just around the corner.

The two families had chosen their date well before the new year, and Ms.Qian had specifically visited the Taoist temple in Dali Village’s mountains to inquire. The couple’s birth charts were very compatible; May 1st was an auspicious day for them.

If they missed May 1st, the next suitable day would be May 23rd.

Ms.Qian naturally preferred May 1st, and the Bai family was aware of this preference and considerately agreed. So, when it came to reporting the chosen date, the Bai family also selected this day.

The bridal price had already been given to the Bai family, but before fetching the bride, the bride’s family still needed to be notified of the joyous occasion, which customarily included the giving of celebration cakes and sweets, as well as ceremonial meats.

The remaining two taels of silver borrowed by Ms.Qian and Zhou Xi were wonderfully utilised.

The Zhou family pasted many big red "Xi" characters for happiness. Manbao was so thrilled that every day after school, she’d run around following Daya and Datou, tossing her studies aside.

This prompted Bai Shanbao to follow her lead.

Watching the two fair and plump children, especially against the backdrop of the dark-skinned Datou and Second Son, Ms.Qian couldn’t help but feel moved by how much they resembled heavenly children sitting beside the Bodhisattva.

Ms.Qian pulled Manbao in front of her and asked with a smile, "Manbao, for your fourth brother’s wedding, would you like to roll on the bed for him?"

Manbao’s eyes lit up. "What’s rolling on the bed?"

"It’s when the child called the ’bed-rolling boy’ rolls around on the new bed, asking the Heaven Master to bless your fourth brother and his bride with a daughter as smart and clever as you."

"Okay, okay!"

Ms.Qian then turned to Bai Shanbao with a smile, "Young master, would you like to be the ’bed-rolling boy’?"

Bai Shanbao nodded vigorously.

Ms.Qian beamed and that very day took a wedding gift to the Bai family.

Ms.Liu was taken aback when the servants reported Ms.Qian’s visit. She hurriedly rose and, along with her daughter-in-law, went out to greet her.

Despite their difference in ranks from the perspective of generation, they were of similar age, and Ms.Qian looked even older than Ms.Liu.

Ms.Liu and Ms.Qian had seen each other several times, and not to mention the frequent interactions between the two families.

Whether it was Manbao following Bai Shan to the Bai household for study and reading, or Bai Shan chasing after Manbao for play, the exchanges between the two families alone indicated a close relationship.

But this was Ms.Qian’s first visit, so Ms.Liu took it very seriously.

When she learned that Ms.Qian was there to request her grandson to be the ’bed-rolling boy’, Ms.Liu hesitated momentarily. It wasn’t that she was unwilling, but she said, "Manbao’s mother, I won’t conceal from you, in my heart, Shanbao is certainly all good, but after all, he lost his father at a young age. If he becomes a ’bed-rolling boy’..."

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