Yang Haiyan naturally didn't know she was the talk of the town, but even if she knew, she wouldn't care.
She earned her own money, so she could spend it however she wanted. If she had to live in the spotlight, what was the point of earning money?
Yang Haiyan looked at the two wild boars at the door and felt a little embarrassed: "There are too many of them. If I keep them for myself, how long will it take me to finish the meat?" Especially since the wild boar meat tasted so-so.
Qin Fang had to return to the military camp for duty in early April, so he took advantage of the few days left to take his personal guards to the mountains for a fight. Seeing Yang Haiyan say this, he said, "You decide." He would be in charge of how the matter was handled.
Yang Haiyan thought for a moment and said,
"Captain Kun, take your men and take these two wild boars to the county town to sell them, and then buy six old hens."
Kunshi said: "Yes."
Huang Huzi: "I'm going to drive the donkey cart." Since the advent of horse-drawn carriages, the status of donkey carts has plummeted.
Yang Haiyan said, "Uncle Hong went to the village and drove the donkey cart away. Can we just release this wild boar on the horse?"
Qin Fang took a look and said, "It's okay to put it horizontally, but it's a bit troublesome."
Two horses carried two wild boars, and Kunshi and Huang Huzi went to the county town. The town was small and the two wild boars could not fit in the meal.
Half an hour later, Kunshi and Huang Huzi came back with six clucking hens.
The old hens were in the chicken coop. Kun Shi gave Yang Haiyan the five taels of silver he earned from selling wild boar meat: "Madam, this is the money left after buying six old hens."
Yang Haiyan accepted the silver and said, "Each of your households will receive one of the six old hens we bought. You've all worked hard on this hunting trip, so each of you will receive an extra month's allowance. Madam Lian, give the money to Captain Kun."
Nanny Lian took out five strings of copper coins and said,
"Captain Kun, these are yours. The remaining four strings are for the other four private guards."
Kun Shi hadn't expected that in addition to receiving an old hen per household, there would also be a monthly allowance. He hurriedly thanked her,
"Thank you, Madam."
Yang Haiyan didn't feel bad at all, and thought it was what they deserved.
Kun Shi carried the chicken coop back to the servants' yard. Huang Huzi had just arrived when he heard the crowing of chickens. He left the yard and asked, "Captain, why did you bring back the old hens?"
Kun Shi said, "Madam said this old hen is a reward for us, one for each household. But we can't raise chickens here, so we have to kill them in the next two days. Oh, and there's also a string of money, also a reward from Madam."
Huang Huzi couldn't stop smiling. The mistress was so nice.
Huang Huzi's wife, Huang Xu, was not home. She had gone to collect firewood with Meng Qiu, Meng An, and Meng Qiu, and had not returned yet. Huang Huzi didn't know what to do with the old hen, so he thought about it and simply threw it in the corner.
When Huang Xu and the others returned, they heard a burst of chickens crowing in the servants' yard.
They were all stunned. When they returned home, they learned that because they had hunted two wild boars and sold them, the mistress had rewarded each family with an old hen and a month's allowance. They were overjoyed.
Main courtyard
Qin Fang asked Qin Shoucheng: "How was the private school today?"
Qin Shoucheng was even more respectful of his elder brother than he was of his father and grandfather. "It was good. I went with Daying, and the students there were very friendly." The students were generally around six years old, and a twelve-year-old like him was their elder brother. However, he didn't talk about such embarrassing things.
After hearing this, Qin Fang said nothing. He looked at Qin Siya and asked, "What about Si Ya? Did you learn ten characters today?"
Qin Siya was also timid and nodded obediently, not at all lively in front of her sister-in-law: "I learned. I learned ten characters and arithmetic with Aunt Lian in the morning, and learned needlework with my sister-in-law in the afternoon."
Qin Fang nodded. "Well, learn to read and do needlework well. You have to know that whether it's learning to read or learning needlework, it's all for your own benefit. Although your sister-in-law will reward you with a little money, she rewards you with a little money to encourage you. You can't take it for granted. For example, your eldest sister, Daya, didn't have the opportunity to study and learn to read and do needlework even now, let alone when she was your age. For example, I, your eldest brother, only had the opportunity to learn to read last year.
When my eldest brother first arrived at the barracks, he didn't know a single word. Seeing those literate soldiers, I was extremely envious, so I would ask each one for advice. Even if it was embarrassing, a loss of face, or even being looked down upon, I would still ask, because I knew that if I didn't ask, I would know nothing. If I asked, what I learned would be my own."
Yang Haiyan felt a pang of sadness when she heard this. This man was a very insightful person, seeing everything clearly. He was kind and responsible, but he came from a poor family that didn't allow him to have big ideals because this was impossible to realize his ideals.
However, he did not give up. He left the village and, relying on his own efforts, he made it to where he is today. Yang Haiyan suddenly felt a little uncomfortable. In modern times, a 21-year-old youth was still enjoying the happy days of college, while Qin Fang...
Qin Siya lowered her head: "I know."
In fact, she knew nothing.
Qin Shoucheng held the chopsticks tightly. His sister might not know, but he knew.
Qin Fang didn't say much, and he would never bring up this topic again.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit dull, Yang Haiyan tried to ease it up: "Husband, are you still going hunting tomorrow?"
Qin Fang looked at her and said, "No, do you have plans for tomorrow?"
Yang Haiyan nodded. "I bought some fruit and vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings from a vendor at the market today and asked Uncle Hong to take them to the land in the countryside to plant.
Shall we go and see them tomorrow? Uncle Hong said the house on the land is almost finished. To be honest, I haven't been there yet."
Qin Fang: "Okay, if we don't have enough manpower, let Kun Shi and the others help."
Yang Haiyan: "Yeah."
The next day
Uncle Hong drove the carriage to the countryside.
As it was the closest village to the town, the carriage ride took only half an hour. Accompanying them were Yang Haiyan, Qin Fang, Kun Shi, Chen Dashi, Tao Shan, and Aunt Fan.
Uncle Hong said as he drove the carriage, "Madam, you see, it's the house on that field, on the land over there, and the yard here."
Yang Haiyan lifted the carriage curtain and took in the sight. There was a lot of land, but only one courtyard. Because the land was owned by villagers, they wouldn't build their houses on the land. Beside that courtyard, many people were busy, some building a courtyard, others cultivating the land. It looked quite lively.
Yang Haiyan said: "I see."
When the carriage reached the entrance of the village, Uncle Hong said, "Sir, Madam, the path through the fields is narrow. The horses and carriages can't go up. We have to walk."
People in the village looked over curiously. Some recognized Uncle Hong, who had come to buy land, build houses, and hire people to plant crops. So everyone knew him and knew he might be the steward of a wealthy family. They had secretly inquired about his identity, but Uncle Hong was very tight-lipped, and they couldn't get a word out of him.
At this moment, Uncle Hong came with some people, some riding horses and some riding in carriages. Everyone guessed that this might be Uncle Hong's main family.
Qin Fang dismounted and walked to the carriage.
Yang Haiyan happened to come out and he supported her. Qin Fang said, "Tao Shan, stay here.
Uncle Hong will take us over to take a look."
Uncle Hong: "Yes, my Lord and Madam, please be careful on the road."
Uncle Hong led the way in front, and Yang Haiyan and others followed behind. After they walked for a distance, people at the village entrance began to whisper.
"Did you hear that? Uncle Hong is called sir."
"I heard it, I heard it. This gentleman looks like an official. He's a bit scary."
"Yes, this is an official, not a merchant."
In the field, the old farmer in charge is called Niu Da.
Uncle Hong has inquired about it and knows that Niu Da is the best farmer in the village, so Uncle Hong asked Niu Da to be in charge of the planting this time. The people who come to work in the field are also found by Niu Da, and they are all good at farm work.
When Niu Da saw Uncle Hong coming, he hurried over to greet him: "Uncle Hong."
Uncle Hong nodded: "How is it?"
Niu Da: "The yard can be built today, as for the land..."
After listening to Niu Da's words, Uncle Hong nodded and said, "Okay, go ahead and get busy."
Niu Da: "Yes."
Uncle Hong walked back to Yang Haiyan and said,
"My Lord, Madam. Madam, the current plan for the five acres of land is this: the corners on the side will be used to build pig pens, chicken pens, and duck pens. This is to prevent the yard from smelling too strong."
The remaining two hundred fruit tree seedlings (apple and pear saplings) occupy one acre of land.
Of the remaining land, half an acre is used to plant fruit seeds (watermelon seeds), half an acre is used to plant corn, half an acre is used to plant seeds in red cloth bags (cauliflower), half an acre is used to plant seeds in white bags (broccoli), and half an acre is used to plant seeds in blue bags (tomatoes). The remaining one acre or so is planted with sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Yang Haiyan nodded: "Okay, you can do whatever you want. These are all arranged by the old farmer just now."
Uncle Hong said, "Yes, he is the best farmer in the village. I have asked around and visited his farmland.
He is indeed a good farmer."
Yang Haiyan heard this and said, "Then go ask him if he's willing to look after the crops for 300 wen a month."
When Uncle Hong heard this, he hurriedly said, "I'll go ask him right away."
Niu Da was forty-five years old, with grandchildren already at home. He was old enough, and aside from his farming skills, he had no other special abilities.
But in the countryside, even a good farmer was useless; the land was limited, and so was the yield.
He had thought his life was over, but unexpectedly, someone of great rank hired him to tend the crops.
Of course, he accepted.
Niu Da followed Uncle Hong over and knelt down to kowtow: "Thank you, sir... Thank you, sir... Niu Da will do his best to take good care of the crops."
Qin Fang: "No need to be so polite, old man. Just go and do your work."
Niu Da: "Hey." He retreated respectfully.
Yang Haiyan said, "Husband, how is this place? It's close to the town. If there's a harvest, we won't have to buy food for the rest of our lives."
Qin Fang looked at the busy people: "It's fine, but Yanyan is having a hard time." Everything she did was for this family. It was because he was not good enough that she had to worry about the family's affairs.
County seat
It was Kun Zhang's first time selling dim sum, and she was initially unsure whether she could succeed.
She bought three pounds each of small cakes and cookies to test the waters. Although Mrs. Han said they were selling well, she hadn't tried them herself and was still unsure.
However, after an hour of selling, she was completely relieved. The snacks were indeed selling well. She was selling them for the same price as Mrs. Han had previously. She calculated that if she sold them all, she could earn around 60,000 yuan.
However, six pounds of snacks in one morning was the limit, as people only bought them in the morning.