Chapter 324: Abundant Harvests in the Golden Autumn
campment to the dock. Although no one from the Northern Army came to drive them away, no one dared to get closer because Young Master Ye had already gone to report them.The villagers cooked over fires...Li Laotai was carrying a basket of groceries and had just stepped through the door when Jia Yin, wearing a red short-sleeved shirt and pants, ran out from inside.
If it weren't for the two little flower buns on her head, she would look just like a chubby boy.
"Grandma, you're back!" Jiayin held up a sachet and offered it to her grandmother. "This is the one I sewed for you, it smells especially nice!"
The old woman carefully took it and hung it on her belt, feeling both happy and proud.
Little granddaughter was originally smart, now she has even more skill with her hands.
Although the sachet is simple, with just a few stitches, putting it on a child makes it truly precious!
According to the old customs, a child is considered one year old at birth. Fu Niu is only four years old now...
But she still couldn't help but scold her granddaughter, "How come you're wearing this outfit again You're a girl, it's not good to show so much arm and leg!"
Jia Yin hugged Grandma's arm and coquettishly said, "Grandma, it's too hot, I'll just wear this at home~"
The old woman couldn't help but tap her granddaughter's forehead, "You should go learn embroidery. You're not good at needlework anyway, and you've corrupted your master! Look at these bizarre pants you made."
Jia Yin smiled slyly, refusing to speak.
She diligently learned needlework, of course, to secure her own well-being.
When they were one or two years old, it was fine. They could wear just a bellyband even in the heat. Now that they're bigger, they can't run around with their back bare anymore.
This set of short-sleeved shirt and pants was painstakingly made for her after she begged the master to help with the tailoring and sewing.
She relied on it for coolness all summer long!
The grandfather and grandson were bickering when the gate was pushed open. Jia An, Jia Xi, and Mao Ge'er all rushed in, each with beads of sweat dripping from their foreheads.
Seeing the little sister dressed so coolly, several people stared longingly at grandma.
"Grandma, we're hot too! We want to wear pants like our little sister!"
The old woman gave them a whack with her fist and chuckled, "I know, I've already trimmed it. You'll be wearing it tomorrow."
"Great, thank you grandma!" The boys cheered, throwing down their school bags and ran off with a soccer ball.
Winter Plum heard the noise and came over from the next room, smiling and asking, "Grandma, are you going to make lunch"
The old woman knew she had to help, so she quickly waved her hand, "It's such a hot day, I can't eat anything. I'll just make some plain noodles with water. You don't have to lift a finger, just look after little Funi for a while!"
Upon hearing this, Jia Yin immediately ran to find Dou Li and, together with Dong Mei, each put on a hat before heading up the mountain.
She hasn't been to the orchard for over ten days, she doesn't know how the fruit is doing, and if there are any pests.
Last year when Shangu was first built, the scenery wasn't very good. This year, though, it's completely different.
The bougainvillea planted on both sides of the cliff had completely climbed up, and from afar, it looked like two flower walls falling from the sky.
Among the flowers, warm spring water gurgled down, a thin mist lingered, beautiful beyond description, leaving one speechless.
Especially sitting in the water below, looking up, the mist refracted by sunlight became a rainbow of colors, hanging in mid-air.
Such a beautiful scenery, who wouldn't like it, wouldn't be intoxicated, wouldn't be crazy!
So, business at the Hot Spring Valley has been booming these past few months.
Even many people came with large sums of money wanting to book private screenings, but the villagers old and young remained unmoved. The number of daily visitors was still strictly controlled.
A private screening is also available every five days, and the number of attendees cannot exceed one hundred.
This not only prevented the Onsen Valley from being scorned and criticized, but instead made it even more popular among people in Xin Du. All visitors behaved themselves and there were no unpleasant incidents.
The orchards on the two hillsides are in bloom in May. The apple trees, covering vast expanses, are adorned with ivory-colored blossoms. As the spring breeze rustles through them, petals shower down from the mountain valley like a magical scene of unparalleled beauty.
For those few days, even if one couldn't get into the mountain valley, countless guests arrived, willing to pay silver just to go up the mountain and admire the flowers.
To this end, the whole village, young and old, went all out. They guarded every inch of the mountainside with utmost vigilance, maintaining order and keeping an eye on the guests so that no fruit trees would be damaged.
After the blooming season was over, the guests left satisfied, and everyone in the village, young and old, was exhausted.
But the harvest was huge. Not counting the income from the mountains and valleys, just for viewing the flowers they earned a thousand taels!
The village head decided to distribute the money equally among all the villagers, young and old, right away.
Now, flowers have fallen, and the branches are laden with ripe fruit.
Winter Plum was afraid that Jiayin would trip and get scratched by the dry branches, so she carried her up the mountain.
Jia Yin here, look there, touch there, very satisfied.
The nursery in the small courtyard appeared after she had hit her head, originally not paying much attention to it. Unexpectedly, she benefited from it the most.
On this mountain, one tree after another bears fruit, and down below, vast fields of melons stretch as far as the eye can see. All of this is thanks to the nursery's efforts.
Dong Mei couldn't help but pick a fruit and take a bite. She puckered her face, grimacing at the sour taste.
"Miss, this fruit looks big, but it's not ripe yet, it's really sour."
Before anyone could respond, Uncle Wu emerged from somewhere with a sickle in his hand. Upon seeing that the newcomers were Dongmei and Jia Yin, he quickly sheathed his sickle and chuckled, “It’s just you two! I thought some mischievous kids from another village had come to cause trouble!”
After Li Lao Si joined the army, Wu San Shu took over the orchard.
He was also responsible, having even built a thatched hut in the orchard. For ten days, he stayed there eight out of them.
Fortunately, there was mosquito repellent given by a divine doctor, otherwise the mosquitoes would have eaten him alive.
Jia Yin giggled and exclaimed, “Uncle, Niao Niao wants to eat honey!”
"Little glutton!" Uncle Wu San knocked on Jiayin's conical hat, his eyes twinkling as he led them to the hut.
There are a dozen or so beehives here. During fruit tree blossom season, they help with pollination.
Uncle Wu San opened the box skillfully, scooped out a small jar of honey, and handed it to Jia Yin, saying, "Take this home and eat it quickly. There are too many bees here, be careful not to get stung and become a bun."
Dong Mei was already busy driving the bees swarming around Jia Yin. Hearing this, she quickly called out, scooped up Jia Yin, and ran away.
By the time they walked back home down the mountain, the old woman's lunch was already ready.
Hui Niang was sitting under the eaves, supporting her waist with one hand, and talking to the old woman.
She was pregnant in the first lunar month, and now she is seven months along. Her belly is very big.
Doctor Zhang felt her pulse and said it was twins, so the whole village took extra care of her.
Whoever made the delicious food, please send her a bowl.
Especially the Li family, the old lady almost went to see them every day, providing for their food and clothing, arranging countless things for them.
Today I was busy, the old woman didn't come over, so Huiniang came alone. It's good to move around more, it will also make delivery easier in the future.
Jia Yin jumped down from Dong Mei's back and ran forward, stuffing a green fruit into her master's hand. "Master, here you go," she said.
Huiniang wanted to wipe the sweat from the little girl's brow, but upon just one glance at Qingguozi, her saliva flowed uncontrollably. She could only bite into it with a big chomp.
Winter Plum watched with gritted teeth. She had never given birth, and truly couldn't understand the taste preferences of pregnant women. How could they eat such sour fruit
The old woman's eyes lit up with a smile. “A son and a daughter, how wonderful! Perhaps there are two boys in her belly.”
Mrs. Hui held her belly, her face beaming with happiness, and whispered, "Auntie, will Lord Hou and the others return for Fu Niu's birthday in a few days" dōu shì nǐ de, zhège zòngzi yě shì nǐ de!”Jia Yin not only didn't get angry, but her eyes rolled around, and she immediately acted coquettishly, "Brother, Grandma said eat what you need to supplement...