The Lucky Farmgirl
Chapter 624 - 613: Marriage Affairs

Chapter 624: Chapter 613: Marriage Affairs

As soon as the city gates opened, everyone’s life gradually returned to normal. Although the inspections at the city gates remained stringent, at least vegetables were supplied within the city.

There were no officials setting up posts on the streets, arbitrarily stopping and searching any able-bodied men they saw.

Zhou SiLang waited for another two days, and after confirming he wouldn’t just be arrested walking down the street, he took Zhou Lijun to the market.

Manbao could also occasionally visit the bookstore, and everyone’s busyness returned to the way it had been before.

Zhou SiLang asked Manbao for the money the family had given her, and along with Zhou Lijun, he bought quite a few things in streets and alleys, planning to take them back to Luojiang County to sell.

Mr. Zhuang knew he was heading back and thus wrote a letter, giving him more than half of his silver, entrusting him to deliver it to his son.

Others had things they wanted to send back as well.

Zhou SiLang was used to this by now and simply loaded the goods onto the cart before heading out.

Heading out of the city as soon as the gates opened in the morning, he could just about make it back to Luojiang County by sunset; he delivered Mr. Zhuang’s letter and money to the Zhuang Family overnight, and the next day he wasn’t in a rush to return home but wanted to sell the goods he had on hand first.

This didn’t require much effort on his part; Junior Ms. Qian and Zhou Xi had put down roots in the county town and had met quite a few people, and the goods he brought back, which were mostly bright fabrics, sold quite well.

In just half a day, Zhou SiLang was able to sell all the goods he had brought, and then he prepared to head back home with his cart.

"Sister-in-law," he said, "I’m thinking of bringing some wheat seed back this time. Lijun and I had asked around in the villages outside, and some households are growing new varieties of wheat, but there are few of them, mainly because the new seeds are too expensive. Now, it’s mostly the larger families and wealthy households that are doing more planting."

Zhou Lijun replied, "I’ve been to the grain shop and saw that the new wheat seeds are indeed very pricey. Ordinary rural families rarely buy them. I’ve discussed with people from a few villages nearby, and they agreed to buy the wheat seeds from me."

"Do they trust you?"

"Naturally, they do. We’ve worked together before, and they know I’m from Luojiang County, where the new wheat seeds originated from."

Zhou SiLang wasn’t planning to get into this business from the start; he had gotten acquainted with those people because they were looking for work on the streets, and after some time, they got to know each other.

Later, during the busy spring period, when he wanted to look for mushrooms in the mountains near Yizhou City to sell, they led him to their villages. Only then did he learn that they were still using the old wheat seeds, and while talking about wheat planting, he got the idea.

"Although Old Master Bai and County Magistrate Yang gave quite a bit of money, their requirements are very strict; they only accept carefully selected seeds. But when selling seeds to them, we don’t have to be so strict. We can charge a little less than usual, which is definitely better than consuming the remaining wheat or selling it off as ordinary seeds," he explained.

Junior Ms. Qian said, "You still need to pick properly, though. We can’t cheat people; these seeds can affect their livelihood for a whole year."

"I know. Sister-in-law, do I look like someone who would cheat others?"

Junior Ms. Qian: Actually, he does look a bit like that, but she didn’t say it aloud.

Zhou SiLang was just about to head home when he turned around and saw Guan Xin enter the back kitchen, making him widen his eyes in surprise.

Guan Xin, used to entering casually, was also startled to see Zhou SiLang there and then immediately greeted him enthusiastically, "Silang, you’re back from Yizhou City? Perfect timing; let’s have a bowl together at noon."

Zhou Xi was standing at the kitchen door, "Have a bowl of what?"

Guan Xin immediately said, "Drink water, drink water, heh heh heh..."

Zhou SiLang: ...

Junior Ms. Qian smiled and nodded at Guan Xin, explaining, "He’s got to go home, but he’ll come and join you for a bowl another day when he’s free."

Junior Ms. Qian packed a lot of food for Zhou SiLang, then nudged him out the door.

Zhou SiLang pointed at the shop and asked, "What’s going on? Why was he in our family’s back kitchen?"

"Xi agreed to it," she replied.

Zhou SiLang’s eyes widened, "What about Dad and Mom..."

"Although Dad and Mom weren’t pleased, with the wheat harvest and rice planting keeping them busy lately, Guan Xin took extended leave from the military to help out and even bought meat every day while bustling about," she explained.

Zhou SiLang understood, this was softening them up.

He curled his lip, "This is all before marriage; who knows what will happen after? Wasn’t Liu Dalang just as diligent when he visited our house before he got married?"

"Your eldest sister continued to help out in the shop after her marriage, earning a share of the profits every month. It just so happens Guan Xin didn’t have any land, only buying a small house in the county town. With us watching over them, if he dares to bully your sister, do you think her brothers would stand idly by?"

Junior Ms. Qian said, "Things are different now compared to before. The Liu family lived a bit far away, and your elder sister didn’t speak up, so we didn’t know if she was being mistreated."

"Now, we see her every day. Guan Xin doesn’t have family or friends here; even if there’s a conflict, our family isn’t afraid," she proclaimed.

Zhou SiLang felt as if there was a sense of bullying by the local tyrant when listening to this, ending up with a slight sympathy for Guan Xin.

"Since you’ve agreed, then this marriage..."

"It’s settled," Junior Ms. Qian said. "According to Dad’s wishes, since Xi is marrying for the second time, there’s no need for a grand ceremony. Just inviting some close relatives and friends will suffice. It’s best to choose a date during the slack farming season. May isn’t suitable, and work picks up again in the fields after June, so the wedding feast will likely be in mid-June. Make sure to tell Manbao as well, so she can come back."

Zhou SiLang acknowledged, "We will definitely come back."

When Zhou SiLang returned to the village, most of the wheat at home had already been dried and stored away, with the chosen seeds already sold to Old Master Bai and County Magistrate Yang.

Hearing that Zhou SiLang had started dealing in wheat seeds, Old Zhou was delighted and quickly sifted through more than a dozen bags of the best seeds with his sons, saying, "Although they aren’t as good as the selected spikes, they are definitely better than the old seeds."

He said with a beaming smile, "You start selling them first, and if there’s demand, there’s plenty more in the village if our supply runs out."

Zhou SiLang didn’t expect his father to be so supportive and was overjoyed. But right after his excitement, Old Zhou continued, "Remember to bring the money back. By the way, how is Manbao doing in Yizhou City? Why hasn’t Mr. Zhuang given her time off? It’s not far from the village to the city; she could come back with just three days off..."

Old Zhou kept on mentioning wanting Manbao to come home and visit her old father. Zhou SiLang didn’t tell him that Mr. Zhuang had given time off, just that his younger sister hadn’t thought of coming back.

He simply said, "Dad, Manbao is busy. She has to read a lot of books every day, learn a lot of things; she doesn’t even have time to play."

Old Zhou’s heart was filled with pity, "She’s a girl; frankly, I think she’s learned enough..."

Seeing him start on this note again, Ms. Qian interrupted, "Enough already. Don’t you want Manbao to read more so she can eventually treat illnesses?"

She turned to Zhou SiLang, "Tell Manbao to stay focused on her studies there, that we have no issues back home, and to not always think about returning."

Zhou SiLang agreed, then said, "Mom, I just saw Guan Xin in the county town."

"Hmm," Ms. Qian said. "Your eldest sister’s engagement to him is settled. Tomorrow I’ll take their birth dates to the Taoist temple to have the monks pick an auspicious day. Remember to bring Manbao back for your sister’s wedding."

Ms. Qian said, "No matter how busy, she must come back."

Zhou SiLang assented.