You are unlucky and I am tough

Chapter 180 So You Want to See a Good Show

Wei Qinglang was the main person teaching how to grow vegetables. He first asked the workers to measure the land with ropes and divide it into five-acre plots. Then he used the wood left over from building the house to make signs, wrote what to plant in each plot of land, and stuck them in the ground. Finally, he began to teach the workers how to sow.

Some people are plowing the fields, some are sowing seeds, some are covering the soil, and some are watering the fields. The division of labor is clear and everything is in order.

Cheng Shuang gave some vegetable seeds she brought to the four people in charge of cooking, and asked them to plant them in the vegetable plots allocated to them. She also told the two little girls to go to Yunxi Mountain to pick some mushrooms and dig some wild vegetables when they had nothing to do. They could eat anything edible on the mountain, and the lard residue from making lard could also be used to cook.

In the warehouse, the Peng brothers and their people were making soap. They had used up more than 30 kilograms of the 50 kilograms of lard they had bought yesterday. Early in the morning, Peng Jiang went to the county town and bought another 20 kilograms. At this moment, Zhao Xiuwen's mother was boiling lard at the door, and the fragrance could be smelled throughout the area.

Cheng Shuang looked at yesterday's soap, which was already formed. She took a knife to split the bamboo tube and took out a few pieces, and taught others how to use silk thread to cut the soap into small pieces.

Bamboo tubes can only be made into long strips. Once the mold is made and brought back, the next task becomes demoulding.

The two were busy with their own things and didn't notice Wei Changgui and his two sons coming over. The three men pretended to hoe the ground a few times, and Wei Da Kui became a little impatient.

"Dad, will this work? That brat didn't even see us from such a distance. Isn't our help in vain?"

Wei Changgui said with a straight face, "He'll see it when he comes over soon. Stop complaining. The most important thing now is to sell the land."

"Dad, look at what's written on it?" Wei Xiaokui pointed at the words on the sign. "Where did he buy all these exotic seeds? He even hired dozens of servants to plant them. It would be great if we could know where he bought the seeds."

"How would I know?" Wei Changgui glanced at the sign with disdain. "I want to do business and be a city dweller. Whoever wants it can stay in the village to grow vegetables. I don't care."

"What a nice smell! It's the smell of meat." Wei Da Kui sniffed the air, smelling the simmering lard. He looked towards the houses not far away. "Isn't that where the servants they bought live? These lowly servants can actually eat meat?"

His father said that the family’s money should be saved to rent a shop in the city, so they haven’t eaten meat for a long time. After eating dried vegetables and soybeans, they have been eating wild vegetables with porridge every day. Now, the smell of meat is making their mouths water.

Damn Wei Qinglang, he was served by his servants and lived a good life, but they couldn't even afford meat.

When they make money from their business, I will make sure their family looks good.

Wei Changgui smelled the fragrance and touched his empty stomach. "Shut up and get to work. We'll work all morning, then go find that guy and ask him to buy our land."

The workers knew some of the Wei family's interpersonal relationships. Cheng Shuang had told them before, so they knew who Wei Changgui was and didn't say anything when their hoes were stolen.

However, after hearing the three men's sarcastic remarks, the two workers nearby ran to find Wei Qinglang.

Wei Qinglang was talking to Peng Laosan about digging canals to divert water. Their land was large and far from the water source, so carrying water for irrigation would require a lot of manpower. They were considering diverting water from the stream on the nearby mountain, and then digging pits in different locations to store water, which would make watering much more convenient.

Before they finished talking, two workers ran over and whispered something to him. Wei Qinglang turned around and saw the three men, and disgust flashed in his eyes.

He knew why Wei Changgui came. The night before yesterday, when he went to see Xu Daqing, he stopped by the village head's house and the village head told him.

Wei Qinglang turned around and went to find Cheng Shuang, and told her what the village head had told him: Wei Changgui wanted to sell the land but no one in the village wanted to buy it, so he wanted to sell it to his family.

After hearing this, Cheng Shuang ran outside and saw three people plowing the fields in the distance. They would look around for a while after digging a few hoes. It was obvious that they were not working.

"What do you want to do?" Wei Qinglang followed out and asked.

Cheng Shuang said, "Actually, I wanted to build the soap workshop near our house, but I looked around yesterday and couldn't find a suitable place. The other one acre of land behind our house belongs to them."

"Then pay for that piece of land." Wei Qinglang said indifferently.

It’s no big deal. In order to build a soap workshop, he doesn’t care whose land he buys from. Besides, the land is new and they have never cultivated it before.

Cheng Shuang said, "But according to their character, they won't agree to sell just that one piece. They definitely want us to buy all of their land."

"Then buy them all and grow rice. Together with our five acres, it should be enough to feed the thirty or so workers here for half a year. It's not a loss anyway."

"They really don't know how proud they are if it's what they want. Are you sure?"

"Building a workshop is the most important thing." Wei Qinglang came closer and lowered his voice. "Also, the village head said they're selling the land to use the money to rent a shop in the city to do business. If they want to do business like that, I'll tear my head off and let them kick it like a ball if they don't make a killing."

"Oh... so you want to see a good show." Cheng Shuang stretched out the last syllable.

Knowing Wei Qinglang's thoughts, Cheng Shuang no longer had any concerns. However, the land could be bought, but not so easily.

She pulled Wei Qinglang over there, ready to meet them.

When they saw them coming, the three men pretended not to notice and continued working with their hoes, pretending to be working quite hard.

The two stood not far from them, and Cheng Shuang asked, "What are you doing here?"

Wei Da Kui dropped his hoe and ran over, "My sister-in-law is here. I saw you guys were so busy, so I came to help."

"Help me?" Cheng Shuang gave a puzzled look. "My workers work for me because I paid for them and provided them with food and shelter. What? You can't afford to live either?"

"How do you talk to your elders like that?" Wei Changgui, who was following behind, was so angry that he really wanted to slap her if he didn't have to sell the land.

Cheng Shuang said, "Then tell me, why are you so kind to come and work?"

The three of them looked at each other. Wei Xiaokui was impatient and shouted, "Dad, let's just be frank. If it works, then it works. If not, we can think of another way. At worst, we can go to the county first instead of the prefecture."

Wei Changgui glared at him, then looked at Wei Qinglang, who had a cold expression on his face, and said, "You little bastard, didn't your family buy over thirty servants to work the land? With so many people, even a lot of land can be managed. I want to sell you the fifteen acres of land I have and use the money to start a business."

Wei Qinglang crossed his arms and snorted softly, "The village head told me about this the night before yesterday. You guys pretended to come visit Xinyi before, weren't you just trying to sell the land?"

Wei Changgui became nervous and said stubbornly, "I do want to sell the land, but this does not conflict with my concern for my daughter. Whether you want it or not, two and a half taels per mu, it's all good farmland."

Wei Qinglang rolled his eyes and ignored him.

Cheng Shuang continued, "Yes, but in addition to the fifteen acres of fertile land, we also want the land adjacent to the vegetable garden behind our house."

"No problem." Wei Changgui agreed without thinking.

I didn't expect that I could sell more than one acre of vegetable land and earn nearly two taels of silver.

The three of them all looked happy, but at the same time they were extremely jealous because these two men indeed had a lot of money in their hands.

"I haven't finished talking yet." Cheng Shuang smiled. "Since you're here to help, then go over there and plow an acre of land each. After you're done, we can trade."

—

At midnight that night, the night was bright and the stars were sparse. The night watchman passed by the prefectural government office. The light in Prefect Zhu's study was still on.

Master Wang pushed the door open, carrying a bowl of bird's nest porridge. "Sir, you've been busy all night. Have something to eat."

Prefect Zhu put down the document in his hand and accepted the bowl. "This is the document from the Qushan County Magistrate. Potatoes can be planted now, but sweet potatoes will have to wait another two months. Please find the planting manual written by Madam Wei and arrange for someone to complete this task. If you have any questions, please consult Madam Wei. The court has sent another imperial envoy. The next day, we will go to Qushan County to access the mines. This time, you will stay and do not need to accompany us."

Master Wang lowered his head and said, "Yes, I will do it. The seeds given by County Magistrate Zheng have been kept in safekeeping."

Prefect Zhu drank bird's nest porridge and said, "According to the date, the people from those villages should have moved here."

"A few days ago, the last village was settled. I've been keeping an eye on it. The magistrate of Huanhua County is quite capable."

"After you finish moving, please prepare the memorial as soon as possible and report this matter."

Master Wang nodded. Prefect Zhu looked up, thinking of something. "By the way, the academy exam is coming up soon. I remember there are a few scholars in Chengjia Village. Have they chosen a college to enroll in?"

"The grandson of the village head of Chengjia Village was enrolled in Nanfu Academy in Huanhua County a few days ago. There's also the grandson of the old scholar in their village who went to Jinghong Academy in the capital. It is said that his family has been arranging it for over a month. The remaining two have not yet enrolled."

Prefect Zhu was thoughtful, "I remember Madam Wei had a cousin who was also a student."

"Yes." Master Wang was old but had a good memory. "His name is Cheng Caijun. He came to visit you once when he was still in the village. I heard he did quite well in the provincial examination."

Prefect Zhu tapped his fingers on the table a few times and said, "Go and tell the principal of Yunhe Academy to recruit talented students."

Master Wang was surprised. "Sir, isn't it too much of an honor for him to go to Yunhe Academy?"

That is the best academy in Luohe Prefecture. Except for the top scorer in each academy examination who can be admitted directly with free food and accommodation, the remaining few enrollment places are all fought over by outsiders.

Prefect Zhu said, "Master, you've lived in Chengjia Village for so long, haven't you noticed? The Wei couple are both rare talents and will definitely achieve great things in the future.

It's a pity that Wei Qinglang isn't a scholar and doesn't take the imperial examinations, but since Cheng Caijun is their cousin, this government will do him a favor. If he's a promising talent, we'll accept him as a disciple, which would be a gesture of loyalty to the court and a way of recruiting talented people."

After hearing this, Master Wang didn't say much. He also felt that there was no harm in making friends with the two of them, not to mention that Madam Wei was a miracle doctor.