Chapter 465: Old Madam Li Teaches Her Son
howing off to her.Before the old woman could offer some praise, Jiaxi, Ji'an and Maoge couldn't contain themselves anymore. Their eyes filled with envy as they squeezed forward, wanting to get a glimp...After dinner, it wasn't long before the boys had to return to the academy. They were all a little reluctant to leave.
Especially, the little brother cat held onto the chubby sister, his face flushed red from exhaustion, but he didn't let go.
Still, it was Old Madam Li who spoke, saying, “Those who are supposed to go to school should go. We’re staying for ten and a half months this time, we won’t miss seeing each other.”
"Speaking of which, things are really hectic at home. We're rushing to get the canteen open. From now on, you guys will eat lunch in the canteen, and you'll have two hours free in the evening. You can either take some time to relax at home or even just take a nap."
"Really That's great! We can kick the ball all we want!" Maoguer immediately became happy, put his sister down and ran away.
The school bell has already rung, if I don't get there soon, I'll be punished.
The rest of the boys also waved goodbye to grandma and then chased after their cat brother.
Jiarren was more cautious, staying behind and calling out to his younger brothers to watch their step and not bump into anyone.
Jia Yin stood in the middle of the ground, blinking her big eyes, still a little dazed. She wanted to speak but yawned widely instead.
I was just full and my brother was holding me as I drifted off to sleep. Suddenly, I was put down...
Li Laotai was amused by her granddaughter and quickly took her back to the room for an afternoon nap.
When the granddaughter had fallen asleep, Li Lao Tai instructed Shui Ling to keep watch and then took He Mama Ma along, calling over Li Lao San and Wu Lao Jiu’s family to take a stroll in the vegetable patch.
Tao Hongying, having nothing to do, also went to the school cafeteria with Zhao Yuru.
Da Zhu's two sons-in-law and Sun Er's wife and husband, of course, went along too.
Li Laosan's thirty mu of land, bought by him, was just west of the town. When coming from Kyoto, you would pass it on your way.
It can be said that the location is quite good. The fields before were well-cared for and very fertile.
Along the edge of the farmland lay a small village with over thirty households. From afar, most of the houses looked like thatched-roof mud brick structures, not particularly wealthy.
The two vegetable workers Li Laosan had hired before were villagers from here.
At this point, he began to regret his decision. He held his mother's hand and said, "Mother, I wasn't thorough when I bought the land. The neighbors here are not good."
Li Laotai patted her son and smiled, "Everywhere is the same, there are good people and bad people. And even if someone is called a bad person, they're just lazy and take advantage of others. They aren't truly wicked."
Don't be discouraged, since things have already happened, let's find a way to solve them. Dwelling on it won't help.
Li Lao San felt increasingly guilty. At his age, he still needed his mother's advice and care; it was truly unfilial of him.
Li Laotai called for He Mamma, taking out some melon seeds and peanuts from the carriage. Then she led her son towards the village entrance.
It was the afternoon, and everyone who should have been working had already gone. Only a few elderly people and children remained in the village.
Old Mrs. Li was dressed cleanly and neatly, but her clothes were made of ordinary cotton cloth, and the only ornament in her hair bun was a silver hairpin.
Li Laosan went to the fields, wearing a plain gray homespun outfit. He looked just like any other farmer.
As soon as the two of them appeared, the elderly women doing needlework under the big tree at the entrance of the village stopped their work and stared at them.
Lao Li didn't mind either. She smiled and greeted them, "Elder sisters, look! This is needlework! My legs are aching, could I borrow a place to rest for a bit Would that be alright"
Don't hit a smiling face, the elderly women quickly nodded and greeted her. The oldest one replied, "Little sister, you are too polite. Don't mind that our place is messy, please have a seat."
"Oh, what's there to be picky about We're all just pretending to be farmers!" Li Lao smiled and chuckled, yelling at her son, "Silly boy, what are you waiting for Bring me my snacks, I'll share them with the older sisters."
Li Laosan hurriedly stepped forward and offered the box in his hand to his mother.
Old Mrs. Li first greeted the three or four mischievous children playing in the mud beside her. Seeing that their hands were dirty, she wiped them clean with a handkerchief and then opened the box, giving each child a small handful of crispy peanuts.
She placed the rest among the elderly women, "Grandmothers, please try this. It's my daughter-in-law's handiwork."
The old women's faces were already beaming with smiles, after all, who wouldn't love a child in their family.
Li Laotai didn't mind their children being dirty, she not only wiped their hands for them but also gave them food to eat. This made them very happy, and they naturally became much more enthusiastic than before.
An elderly woman in a gray coat took the lead, holding several peanuts and smiling: “Then we won't be polite, old lady. Your daughter-in-law is truly filial. You go for a walk, she even brought you snacks!”
"Indeed," said her companion, who sat beside her, "The old woman is so lucky. My daughter-in-law wishes I were dead already, so she could save the family some food."
Li Lao Tai waved her hand and said, "Every family has its own difficult scriptures, there are worries with children and grandchildren, those without them are also helpless in their old age."
"The head of our original village didn't have any children. A few days ago, he just adopted a young couple as his foster son and daughter, wanting someone to rely on when he gets old!"
"Goodness, this is just like our village head! He doesn't have any children either!"
"That's different, the village head doesn't have any children, but his brother has five sons! And they are all very filial and capable!"
Several old women were eating melon seeds and peanuts, occasionally yelling at the children, as they chatted with Li Lao Tai, becoming more and more animated.
Li Laosan sat under a tree a few steps away. At first, he didn't pay attention, but slowly, he began to hear the taste.
After the sunflower seeds and peanuts were finished, Li Laotai's mouth was dry. She waved goodbye to the old women.
The two walked on again, and Li Laotai asked, “Lao San, did you hear anything”
Li Laosan nodded vigorously, his expression filled with excitement. "Mother, you're amazing! You want to give the vegetable garden tasks to the village chief's nephews, don't you"
Li Laotai smiled and shook her head. "Yes, but no."
Li Laosan was dumbfounded. Li Lao, the old mother, was helpless and could only continue to persuade her son, who was as stubborn as a log, "Growing vegetables in the vegetable garden is to supply the canteen. Any problems that arise are big deals. So, we can only entrust this to our trusted family members."
"How could Mother possibly appease these people They treat our family like a piece of fat right next to their pillows, ready to be nibbled on at any time!" Li Lao San worried.
Li Laotai pointed to the distant fields, "Of course, it's to turn the fat meat into their own! The academy only has a few hundred people. Giving out ten mu of land for growing vegetables is enough, and the remaining twenty mu of land will be rented out.
"
The village head's younger brother's family is definitely the first choice, but we can only give them ten mu of land. We'll find another family in the village for the other ten mu, with the two families supervising each other to prevent one from becoming too dominant and bullying the other.
"In the future, if there's any odd jobs to be done in the vegetable patch, you can also ask the women from tenant households. That way, if our vegetable patch gets damaged, they won't earn their pocket money. What's more, if we get angry and quit, their families won't even have land to cultivate!
"
"Tell them, if our family is doing well, they will be fine. If our family is not doing well, they won't be either. In the future, we won't have to worry about taking care of things at home anymore; they will proactively help take care of the vegetable patch and maintain our home!"
Li Lao San's eyes lit up, and he happily replied, "Mother, this is a good idea!" shrinking her neck and saying, “I was just too worried about Lian’er...”The old gentleman couldn't ignore his wife and was even more concerned for his daughter. He pleaded with his father, "Father, d...