Chapter 668 - 345: A Small Landlord’s Life (2)

Chapter 668: Chapter 345: A Small Landlord’s Life (2)

She watched everyone bustling about and talking. The scene was full of life, and she didn’t find it the least bit annoying. She took out her needlework and started sewing, smiling as she joined their idle chatter.

Juhua and Yun Ying went to the kitchen to blanch and then boil the pork offal. Once finished, they came out to sit and rest. Juhua’s gaze landed on Li Changyu, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy. ’Young landlords really are different,’ she thought. ’Look at this guy. While everyone else is so busy planting rice seedlings they’re run off their feet—even a pregnant woman like me and a five-year-old girl like Zhao Qing have no time to spare—he’s off visiting people with his wife. It’s infuriating when you compare yourself to others!’

’Looks like you really can’t compare. In the past, everyone in Qingnan Village was a farmer, all on the same footing. Now there’s a landlord, a member of the gentry, who doesn’t have to pay taxes and just waits for people to deliver grain to his door. If things keep going like this, the gap between the rich and the poor will only get wider. Still, even with that said, I have no desire to chase after that kind of wealth. I just want to live a simple life that isn’t mired in poverty; I don’t want to make things too complicated.’

Li Changyu felt a prickle of unease under her stare. He couldn’t help but ask, "Juhua, I don’t owe you any money, do I? Why are you staring at me with such a vengeance?"

Juhua, who was helping trim vegetables, replied, "Because I’m jealous of you, of course!"

At this, Yun Ying let out a "PFFT" of laughter. Mrs. Gao, however, just looked at Juhua in bewilderment, not understanding why she would be jealous of her husband.

Li Changyu, however, knew exactly what Juhua meant. Realizing she was only joking, he just chuckled without saying a word.

Juhua asked, "Why haven’t you gone to check on the rice paddies? Just yesterday Huai Zi was mentioning you to my husband, saying you still owe them a round of drinks."

Li Changyu shook his head so hard it looked like a rattle-drum. "Absolutely not. The last time they were harvesting rice, I went to chat, and Liu Sanshun dragged me into the field. He forced me to cut two whole rows, and my rear was so sore that night I couldn’t even sleep. Those guys show no mercy! If I go over there now, they’ll definitely force me to plant seedlings, won’t they?"

Everyone burst out laughing.

Mrs. Gao’s eyes widened in surprise. Li Changyu smiled and explained to her that his friends from the village were just deliberately giving him a hard time.

Juhua observed that Mrs. Gao’s every move was quiet and dignified. ’Even in plain cotton clothes, she has the air of a young lady from a wealthy family,’ she thought. ’I just don’t understand why she’d dress so simply to sit here and listen to our village chatter.’

Just as she was studying her, Mrs. Gao looked up. Juhua smiled and asked, "Wan’er, you’ve just arrived, so you’re probably still getting used to things, right? When you have some free time, you should go chat with Doctor Yun. She doesn’t know how to do farm work either, so you two can talk without worrying about delaying any work."

Seeing Juhua address her, Mrs. Gao quickly smiled and replied, saying she hoped she wasn’t disturbing them.

Yun Ying retorted indignantly to Juhua, "You make it sound like you’re such a hard worker. Don’t you just do the laundry and cooking? I can do that too. And I even know a bit about planting vegetables and pulling weeds now. I’m planning to start a medicinal field to grow some common herbs, and I’ll plant some vegetables on the side. Juhua, can you help me get a plot of land?"

Since she had decided to settle down here, she had to plan for the future. Juhua had even said that after the rice-seedling and wheat-harvesting seasons were over, she would help her and her senior brother build a small courtyard. She had been delighted to hear this, which sparked the idea of growing her own medicinal herbs.

Juhua winced internally. ’Get a plot of land? Land costs money! This girl, who has no idea how hard life is, would never have thought of that. Oh, whatever. For the sake of that one pill, I’ll let this slide.’

She agreed readily. "Alright. But don’t medicinal herbs have strict soil requirements? We don’t know anything about that. I’ll have Brother Huai Zi show you a few of my family’s plots later. You can see which one is suitable and pick it. But you don’t need to plant vegetables. You’re a doctor; it makes sense for you to grow medicinal ingredients, but isn’t growing vegetables a waste of your talents? I’d rather grow them myself and give them to you. That way, you’ll have more time to focus on your own work."

Hearing this, Mrs. Gao couldn’t help but give Juhua a second look. Li Changyu repeatedly praised Juhua for being so thoughtful, and even Shi Tou’s mother enthusiastically told Yun Ying not to bother planting vegetables, promising to send some her way as well. Only Yun Ying watched Juhua with a wary eye. Having spent some time with her, she knew Juhua wasn’t the type to offer such kindness without a reason. There had to be a catch.

She nodded. "You have a point. But I can’t just take your vegetables for free. I’ll just act as if I’m buying them from you."

Juhua smiled. "Don’t be so formal. The amount of vegetables you and your senior brother can eat in a year is something our family can easily spare. It’s no great expense, so how could we possibly take your money? Besides, we all live together, and you two do the noble work of saving lives. Of course we respect you. And what’s more, who knows? In the future, my nephew Hulu, the baby in my belly, or any other babies I have might end up becoming your apprentices. As their mother, shouldn’t I take good care of their future master ahead of time?"

Hearing this, Li Changyu roared with laughter, jumping to his feet and stamping them on the ground. Liu Yunlan, Shi Tou’s mother, also broke into laughter.

Yun Ying shot Juhua an indignant glare. ’I knew she had an ulterior motive!’

Juhua just laughed. "Don’t glare at me. Taking someone’s child as an apprentice is the same whether they’re from another family or mine. We have a bit of a friendship, after all. All else being equal, you should naturally take my children as your apprentices. But if none of them are interested in medicine, I won’t force them. So, you see, this matter has absolutely nothing to do with giving you vegetables."

Hearing Juhua use the word "them" when talking about her children, as if she planned on having many more in the future, Yun Ying felt a strange pang of sourness in her heart.

’Honestly, I really admire Juhua. Aside from her initial reaction on the day I arrived and she learned the truth, she’s been perfectly calm and composed. She never seems to worry or grieve, and she rarely gets angry. It’s truly comfortable being around her. It’s even helped lift a great deal of my own gloom.’