The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 451 - 440: Criticizing You Behind Your Back

Chapter 451: Chapter 440: Criticizing You Behind Your Back

He mainly felt idle because yesterday’s trip didn’t earn him a penny, and there was no work in the fields now. He might as well go to his brother-in-law’s house for a good meal.

When Second Uncle Qian’s wife saw that the heads of both the first and third Zhou households had gone, it wouldn’t make sense for Second Uncle Qian not to go, so they simply came over together.

However, they didn’t bring the daughter-in-law they originally planned to take, just a few grandchildren.

Otherwise, it would really be inappropriate to go to their niece’s home with a houseful of adults just to eat and drink.

Typically, when rural relatives visit to see children or postpartum women, they bring eggs, but Eldest Uncle Qian thought there would be many people today, so he also bought two strips of pork to carry along.

They hadn’t yet reached Old Zhou’s house when Daya, Erya, and others washing clothes by the river saw their grandfather or uncle first. Daya threw down her laundry and ran home barefoot to notify her parents ahead of everyone else.

Once they left, many villagers began whispering amongst themselves, avoiding the people of Old Zhou’s house, "Why have they come again today? Didn’t they just visit yesterday?"

"And they’re carrying so much stuff. Did Old Zhou and Ms. Qian have such a fierce argument that her family is still bringing so much?"

"That can’t be right. They’re all grown up, and their grandchildren are so big. It’s not worth making such a fuss over such a trifle."

"How is it not worth it? A pound of wheat can yield an extra two ounces. Uncle Jin is so frugal that it’s understandable he’s upset."

"Angry or not, the Qian Family wouldn’t be so humble. Look how many sons Auntie Qian has borne for the Zhou family, how much she has done. At this age, to have arguments go back to her maiden family, would Uncle Jin look good?" Passing by the river, the village leader’s wife couldn’t help but scold them, "You lot have too much time on your hands. I see it’s just relatives visiting the children. Uncle Jin already went to see Zhou Sanqi yesterday, and it’s clear the old couple didn’t have a quarrel."

Zhou Sanqi was approached just yesterday by Old Zhou, and no sooner had Old Zhou left than the news spread like wildfire through many people.

It was obvious to anyone using their toes to think that it was Zhou Sanqi who had blabbered, as his mouth had never been able to hold a secret.

A woman laughed heartily, saying, "Uncle Jin is running around in such hot weather; I’m guessing it’s not him being angry at Auntie Qian, but Auntie Qian who kicked him out, right?"

Everyone couldn’t help but laugh.

The village leader’s wife scolded with a laugh, "Don’t let Uncle Jin hear you say that, or you’ll be in for it. Anyway, don’t always focus on others’ business. Tomorrow is Dragon Boat Festival; are you making zongzi at your home?"

"Oh dear, not a grain of last year’s glutinous rice was harvested, and the price at the grain shop is as high as the sky. How can we afford it?"

"Right, we didn’t make any either. Tomorrow I’ll just bake a few more cakes and go out to cut a piece of meat, and that’ll be enough."

"That’s right, I went out early this morning to cut some mugwort from the foothill to hang on the door and to use it to fumigate mosquitoes at night, but when I got there, the patch that was growing so well was all gone. Do you know who cut it?"

"Oh dear, we haven’t cut ours yet. Now we’ll have to go further to the field edges to cut some."

"Was it Uncle Jin’s family who cut it?"

"Nonsense, that whole patch was taken. Even with many rooms, Uncle Jin’s family doesn’t need that much."

Erya, who was quietly washing clothes not far away, thought to herself: That’s right, it was my dad who cut it, and not only did my dad cut it, my Mom, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle, and Sixth Uncle all went to cut it...

Erya scrubbed the clothes fiercely, muttering, "That’ll teach you for saying bad things about my grandparents. I’ll tell my Fourth Uncle to go and cut all the mugwort near the field ridges too!"

Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang were used to waking up early; the days were getting longer, and everyone went to bed early, too. It wasn’t comfortable lying in bed anyway.

So early in the morning, Zhou Dalang and Junior Ms. Qian got up and picked out the beans that had been soaking in the tub to grind them into soy milk for making tofu.

They didn’t plan to sell it in the county town but just to trade it for beans in the village. Besides, the festival was coming, their own family needed to eat, and they had to take some to the maternal family. Two tubs of beans might not even be enough.

And Zhou Erlang, sitting in the courtyard early in the morning, was daydreaming. It was either going to help his big brother grind beans or taking a rest. Manbao, yawning wide, came by with her school box on her back and asked him to put more mugwort at her doorstep.

Her request was very specific. "Second Brother, if you’re not using the mugwort, could you weave a ball for me to place on my bookshelf?"

Zhou Erlang asked, "What do you need so much mugwort for? A pinch at the doorstep is enough."

"Mugwort has the effect of dispelling negative energies," said Manbao. "Actually, our family should have cut some mugwort by now to dry it. Dried mugwort can be used for foot soaks to dispel cold and can even be sold at the apothecary."

"Mugwort can be found everywhere, cut and dried at any time. Even if apothecaries buy it, I’m afraid the price wouldn’t even match that of Indian pennywort, would it?"

"Then dry it for two years, three years, five years," said Manbao, who hadn’t understood this before but had since been learning medical skills, "The older the mugwort, the better, and the more valuable it becomes. If you don’t believe me, Second Brother, ask at the apothecary in the county town tomorrow."

"Old mugwort?"

"It’s the mugwort which is cut and dried this year, then brought out next year at this time to dry again, and stored properly after another year of drying. Year after year, it’s said that mugwort aged over three years becomes very mild and potent."

"This is a good thing. It can be used for warm water soaks, bathing in all seasons, and even made into strips for moxibustion," Manbao continued. With a keen gaze at Zhou Erlang, she asked, "Second Brother, shall I try it on you? Does your back ache?"

"It doesn’t ache," replied Zhou Erlang without thinking. "You reminded me, everyone puts up mugwort for Dragon Boat Festival, and there will always be those in the county town too lazy to go out and find some. Let’s cut some mugwort and sell it tomorrow."

"Whatever we don’t sell, we’ll bring back and dry, just like you said, store it well, and wait five years. It will be just in time to sell when Datou gets married."

Manbao: "..."

Zhou Erlang, a man of action, searched for the sickle and called over Zhou Sanlang, who had just gotten up and washed up. Then he went to rouse the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Uncles, who were still in bed, and they all went off to the back mountain to cut mugwort together.

Many families in the village hadn’t even gotten up at the time.

Now, as the Qian Family members entered, they saw the piles of mugwort in the yard, huge and impressive to look at.

Mugwort seems to be a plant that can grow anywhere and quite easily at that. No one fertilizes or waters it, but in slightly richer soil, it grows tall and robust with thick and heavy leaves and branches.

Intent on doing business, the mugwort Zhou Erlang and the others had cut was the best-looking kind.

Eldest Uncle Qian, admiring the sight, asked with a smile, "Why have you cut so much mugwort? Can your family use it all up?"

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