Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 57 - 55 Reclaiming Wasteland

Chapter 57: Chapter 55: Reclaiming Wasteland

Chapter 57 -55: Reclaiming Wasteland

Several people reached the outskirts of the village, where many were already present on the wasteland.

Some of them were using bamboo poles to measure the land.

The bamboo poles were long and straight, specifically used for land measurement, and their length was exactly equal to one acre.

A few impatient men even measured it by striding across, getting a roughly similar area because they were too familiar with the land.

They interacted with this land every day and passed this knowledge down from generation to generation.

Xiao’er had only theoretical knowledge about farming and no practical experience.

Seeing that everyone brought a variety of farming tools – such as hoes, plows, pickaxes, rakes, and others, some people wanted to burn the wasteland for cultivation.

However, this idea was rejected by the elders.

They thought it would be convenient to burn the grass on the wasteland, but the wind was strong and dry that day.

It was too hazardous because the wind could blow the sparks and set the Five Gods Mountain on fire, which would lead to a big disaster.

Xiao’er nodded in agreement and asked everyone to pile the grass removed from each acre together for burning.

Mrs.

Liu, with her little sister and four aunts along with Xu Wenhui, started working on one acre of land.

Meanwhile, Xiao’er brought Jingrui and Jinghao to inspect the surrounding environment, select the location for building houses, and discuss the irrigation plan for this wasteland.

The wasteland they bought was on high ground and far from the water source, which is why the villagers were reluctant to cultivate it.

Irrigation alone was quite troublesome.

Even now, as the villagers cleared the land, they said that Shen Chengyao was stupid to buy it.

However, Xiao’er had no worries about this.

She planned to install water wheels to transport water to the high and remote places, so there were no inconveniences.

The three of them reached the foot of two mountains, which were side by side.

Behind the mountains, there was a swift river, and on the other side of the river was the foot of the Five Gods Mountain.

Xiao’er looked up at the top of the mountain that seemed to be no higher than thirty meters.

It seemed a peak water wheel would be necessary to transport water.

While surveying the environment and choosing the location for the water wheel installation, she shared her plans with her brothers, asked a few simple questions to make them think and taught them the benefits of using the natural terrain.

After choosing two locations for water wheel establishment, she climbed to the top of the mountains with her brothers.

She kept asking them questions like, “How should this mountainous area be organized to have more space for growing crops?” “If water can flow from the top of the mountain downward, how should the water flow route be designed so that the crops on the entire mountain can be irrigated?”

Jingrui and Jinghao were also studying sincerely.

On the way, they inspected the environment using the methods taught by Xiao’er while thinking about the questions she raised.

Once they reached the top of the mountain, Xiao’er looked at the distant scenery and was pleasantly surprised.

Not far away, a waterfall poured through the stones of a large mountain, it looked like an endless stream of white jade or a billowing cloud of smoke; the spray from the lake was like a mist of scattered pearls, shrouded in mist and cloud.

It was late autumn and early winter, and the red and yellow leaves all over the mountain made the misty lake increasingly like boiling water among the raging red fire.

What a splendid scene of lakes and mountains, what a picturesque landscape.

“Brother, Hao’er, let’s build a house on top of this mountain.

It would be great to spend the summer and read books here.” Xiao’er eagerly wanted to build a villa on top of this mountain.

“Great!” Jinghao said loudly.

Although it wasn’t his first time to see this scenery, he still found it beautiful each time he saw it.

Looking at the waterfall, his mood would improve instantly.

“Alright, once our family earns enough money, the first thing we will do is build a house on this mountain.”

“Hmm, we should first clear the wasteland and these two mountains.

There’s no hurry, we will take it slowly.

We will build a better house when we have earned enough money.” She was planning to build a concrete villa, which would be sturdy and durable.

But now there was an issue with the cement, so there was no need to rush.

“Money isn’t a significant issue; it can be earned.” Xiao’er scanned the top of the mountain, which seemed to be around half an acre.

In the future, a four-story villa of about 200 square meters could be built.

Xiao’er looked at the distant scenery and the blueprint of the villa took shape in her mind.

She was more and more longing for it.

The three of them climbed down the mountain and went up to the top of another.

Although the waterfall couldn’t be seen from here, the view of the fields, villages, and lovely scenery from above was equally appealing.

However, Xiao’er didn’t plan to build another villa but rather wanted to dig a pond for water storage to irrigate the fields, and incidentally, also to breed pearls.

Thinking of pearl farming, Xiao’er thought of fishing in the river.

She would need to find an excuse to bring out some river clams and pearls from her space.

As noon approached and the sun became more scorching, the three of them decided to go home.

Mrs.

Liu had to go back early to feed her baby sister.

When the three of them returned, Mrs.

Liu had just coaxed Xiaomei to sleep and was preparing to go to the main house to cook for Mr.

Shen and Mrs.

Shen.

Upon hearing this, Xiao’er stopped Mrs.

Liu, “Mother, didn’t Auntie come home yesterday?

We usually cook for the elderlies out of filial piety when Auntie is not around, but after all, we have already separated.

Now that Auntie is home, if you rashly go and cook, it will be like disrupting the host’s arrangement, and this will make us a laughingstock.”

Having heard Xiao’er’s argument, Mrs.

Liu felt there was some merit in it.

She was still accustomed to the pre-separation pattern.

Since this was the case, she decided not to go to the main house for now and just prepare her own family’s meal first.

After a while, the angry scolding of Mrs.

Shen could be heard from the main house, “Third daughter-in-law, what’s taking you so long to come out and cook?

You ungrateful wretch, trying to starve your old man and woman for peace and quiet!

So late in the day, and it’s still a cold pot and unlit stove.

You only care about your own stomach and disregard your father and me.

You are such a heartless and despicable creature!”

Upon hearing Mrs.

Shen’s voice, Mrs.

Liu hurried out of the kitchen, ready to go to the main house.

But Xiao’er stopped her, “Grandma, didn’t Auntie come home yesterday?

My mother is hesitant to take Auntie’s duty to work, you know, to be filial piety toward grandpa and grandma is something everyone wants to do.

But we are worried about stealing Auntie’s merit, because she might not be pleased.

After all, we’re separated now.

When Auntie was not here, it’s normal to help Auntie take care of grandpa and grandma.

But now that Auntie is back, she should be the one to show filial piety.

Otherwise, if others find out, they might say Auntie is unfilial, and that would affect eldest cousin’s reputation when he becomes an official having an unfilial mother.”

Having heard Xiao’er’s words, Mrs.

Lan hurriedly ran out from the east wing, “Mother, I was busy instructing Bao’er with the embroidery for her dowry and forgot about the cooking.

I’ll go cook right away.”

Mrs.

Shen was in a foul mood today, upset with Mrs.

Liu’s apparent compliance and hidden resistance.

She felt deceived when she found out about the large amount of land purchased and the house construction without her knowledge.

She was eager to vent her anger, “What’s the matter?

Can’t I eat the meals cooked by your mother?

Am I not allowed to eat the food she prepares?”

“It’s not that you can’t.

Normally, Grandma, you’ve had plenty of meals cooked by my mother.

But Auntie’s cooking, Grandma hasn’t had it many times.

Now that Auntie is at home, it’s naturally their turn to show some filial piety.”

“Mother, please return to the main house.

I’ll call you once lunch is ready.” Mrs.

Lan had a hard time, but she didn’t show it and instead maintained a smiling face.

With a snort, Mrs.

Shen said, “Elder daughter-in-law, you should take your duties seriously.

Your father and I are old and we can’t stand hunger.

Chengguang is running a shop, Wen’er is studying, and you can’t afford to delay their meal times.”

Mrs.

Shen was relatively polite in her remarks.

After all, her elder daughter-in-law was a scholar’s daughter, and her eldest grandson was about to take the scholar exam.

She still needed to save her some face.

Mrs.

Lan clumsily finished cooking lunch.

By the time the meal was ready at Xiao’er’s house, they had already eaten.

Shen Chengyao came home just as they finished.

As soon as he entered the house, he heard Mrs.

Shen grumbling in the main house.

When he got to the west wing, Mrs.

Liu saw him return and quickly brought a basin of water for him to wash up.

Xiao’er moved the warm meal to the kang table.

“Have you finished everything, my dear?” After serving Shen Chengyao to wash up, Mrs.

Liu handed him a bowl of water.

Shen Chengyao took over the bowl, “It’s done.

Brother Liang knows a lot of people.

He led me to buy the materials, which were a bit cheaper than usual.” After finishing, he drank the entire bowl of water in one gulp.

“Dad, let’s eat first.” Xiao’er had set out the meals.

Shen Chengyao nodded, then asked Mrs.

Liu, “What’s wrong with Mother?

Who is she scolding again?”

“My sister-in-law must have burnt the rice!

There was a thick layer stuck to the bottom of the pot.” Mrs.

Shen must be so distressed.

“The vegetables were not washed clean.

There was sand in it.” Jingrui added what he had heard.

“Too much oil and salt were added.” Jinghao didn’t understand why Auntie couldn’t do something even his own sister could do well.

After hearing this, Shen Chengyao didn’t say anything.

He actually believed these were all basic household chores that any competent housewife should be able to do.

Failure to do so properly deserved scolding.

He quickly ate his meal, planning to go to the village to watch the people clear the wasteland as soon as he finished.