Fortunately, Zhulan was happy in September because of the good publicity and everyone knew that Lizhou City had late watermelons and melons, and many fruit merchants came to Lizhou City.
Zhulan's family planted 50 acres of watermelons and melons, but unfortunately due to the problem of variety, the watermelon yield in ancient times was not high, not as high as the modern yield of 5,000 kilograms per acre. Also, due to the problem of land, there were no fertilizers and pesticides, so Zhulan's one acre of land, which was considered well-tended, only produced 1,000 kilograms. Excluding some that had been gnawed by rabbits and other wild animals, only 600 kilograms could be sold.
Because it is a late watermelon and there are many foreign vendors, the price is a bit higher. Early watermelons are 20 cents per pound, which is the same price as early watermelons.
Zhulan's family has forty acres of watermelons and ten acres of melons, but the melon yield is even lower because there are too many wild animals, and mice and rabbits eat them all. No matter how many people there are, they can't stop them at night. Even if they put up fences, it's useless because mice can dig holes. Only three hundred kilograms of melons from one acre of land can be sold.
And even though there were 40 acres of watermelon fields, in fact 6 acres of them were completely unproductive because the seedlings got sick and died. Later, for fear that the whole field would be infected, the seedlings from several acres were pulled out to isolate them from further infection. Zhulan's watermelon field almost had a complete complete failure.
It was not easy to grow watermelons in ancient times. Despite the high price, people really didn’t plant them for fear of a complete crop failure. It was safer to grow grain instead.
The people who grew watermelons were either landlords or officials.
In the end, Zhulan's family sold all the watermelons and melons, and after deducting the cost, they made three hundred taels of silver.
The Yang family also planted a lot, but because they did not invest as much manpower as the Zhulan family, they did not make much, only 120 taels.
Some of those who followed the trend made money, some lost money, and some even had no harvest. The risk was too great, and many households decided not to plant next year.
Zhulan doesn't plan to plant anything next year. She plans to plant all fruit trees. As for the few acres of land with bacteria, Zhulan plans to leave it empty for now.
After working with the watermelons, Zhulan's family's land is time to prepare for the autumn harvest. Boss Zhou is in charge of this, so Zhulan doesn't have to worry about it.
At night, Zhulan counted the accounts and said to Zhou Shuren, "After selling the apples, I want to take the second son to the south to buy a farm when he arrives."
She had been thinking about the farm for a long time, and she would buy it as soon as the funds came back.
Zhou Shuren touched his belly, which had grown a lot of flesh, and held Zhulan's hand, "I can't leave Lizhou."
Zhulan, "Don't worry, everything will be fine with Lao Er and the others here."
Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan. He didn't want to be separated from her. However, if she didn't leave, he couldn't give her a surprise. He had planned everything but never had the chance to act. "It takes at least a month and a half to go back and forth."
Zhu Lan held Zhou Shuren's hand and said, "Look, you've already gone out by yourself, so it's a good idea for me to go out as well. When Zhou Laoer can go out to do things by himself in the future, I won't go anywhere."
Zhulan had never been to Jiangnan in ancient times. If she waited for Zhou Shuren to take her there, she didn't know when she would be able to go. Thinking of Jiangnan, Zhulan wanted to go and see it in person. The only pity was that Zhou Shuren couldn't accompany her.
Zhou Shuren snorted in his heart. Don't think that he didn't see the excitement in Zhulan's eyes. However, it would be difficult for him to take Zhulan to Jiangnan unless he was transferred to Jiangnan to be an official. But the hope was slim. According to his understanding of the emperor, after Lizhou City was on the right track, the emperor would never let him waste time in Lizhou City.
As for where to go, Zhou Shuren squinted his eyes. He already had an idea in his mind. However, when he thought of what the emperor said in his memorial, Zhou Shuren felt a pain in his heart. He actually asked him how much tax revenue was estimated for Lizhou City this year!!!
Zhou Shuren held Zhulan's hand and covered his heart with it. "The emperor has no conscience and will only continue to exploit you. The government office has finally recovered the money for the chicken, and the fruit is still on the tree, and this guy actually has a clear conscience and is thinking about it!"
Zhulan was waiting for Zhou Shuren's reply, "Speak!"
Zhou Shuren, "Okay, but I will only feel at ease if you take both the eldest and the second brother with you."
Zhulan kissed Zhou Shuren and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."
The next morning, not long after Zhou Shuren left, Zhulan received an invitation from Zheng Hong's house. Zheng Hong was very cautious. Zhulan's family had been there for more than half a year, but Zheng Hong had never sent them an invitation once.
Zhulan asked Steward Ding, "Did the steward who delivered the invitation say anything?"
Steward Ding said, "The steward of the Zheng residence said that the old man is here."
Zhulan, "... ..."
Mr. Zheng is here, so that makes sense. Logically, they should be the ones to visit, but Zheng Hong's position is sensitive, and he has connections with the Yang family, so it's not easy for Zhou Shuren to visit him in person. It seems that Mr. Zheng is the one who has to visit.
Zhulan looked through the date of the visit and knew without even having to calculate that it was the day Zhou Shuren was on leave. "Prepare some dishes suitable for the elderly according to the date. The dishes should be salty."
Steward Ding took note and asked, "Madam, how many people does the kitchen need to prepare meals for?"
Zhu Lan knew that Zheng Hong's family would not come, and she estimated that the only people who came were the old man and his grandson. "One table will be fine."
Steward Ding, "I'll go down and make arrangements."
In the evening, Zhou Shuren told the servant to reply that he would not come back for dinner. After dinner, Li accompanied Zhulan. Zhulan saw that Li was absent-minded and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
Li touched her arm and felt that she had lost a lot of weight. She was a little unsure whether she was pregnant or worried that her younger brothers and sisters were coming. "Mom, have I lost a lot of weight?"
Zhulan looked at Li carefully. She had been busy since she came to Lizhou City, and had not been idle recently. She had not paid attention to Li for a long time. Li seemed to have lost a lot of weight. Her chubby round face had become much thinner. Zhulan motioned for Li to stand up. "You have really lost a lot of weight. Have you lost weight?"
That’s not right. Li is getting fatter and fatter!
Li's eyes turned red. The closer it was for her brothers and sisters to come, the more anxious she became. "Mom, I haven't had a good rest for several days."
She dreams every day that her younger brothers and sisters have come and her mother-in-law doesn't like her anymore. She is not as smart as her younger brothers and sisters. Every time she goes out with her mother-in-law, many people laugh at her. Her mother must like to take her younger brothers and sisters out.
Zhulan thought Li was ill, and called Liuya, "Send someone to call the doctor."
Seeing how miserable Li looked, Zhulan felt worried and many bad illnesses came to her mind.
Li felt overwhelmed and didn't hear clearly what her mother-in-law said. She just wanted to vent, so she wiped her tears with a handkerchief, "Mom, I know people outside are laughing at me, laughing at my lack of knowledge, laughing at my vulgarity. Mom, do you not like me anymore?"
Zhulan really knew this. Even if she taught Li again, Li still didn't know how to do anything except cooking. In addition, she had a loud voice, so she was isolated from the banquets several times. She felt distressed. She just liked Li's naive nature. Later, when she was invited again, she never went.
Not only did she not go, she also explained why she didn't go. She was the only one who could tease her silly boy. Ever since she started protecting Li, no one had embarrassed Li in person. Instead, Li became the object of envy. What mother-in-law would protect her daughter-in-law so much!
Zhulan's mouth twitched. She felt that Li's tears were too many and her emotions were too volatile. Li's crying was so loud that it hurt Zhulan's ears.
Boss Zhou was terrified before he even entered the house. As soon as he entered, he knelt down with a thud, "Mom, if Li did anything wrong, it's all my fault. You can blame me if you want!"
Li stopped crying and looked at the head of the family, "You are the one who did something wrong."
Boss Zhou was a little confused. "Did I really do something wrong? No!"
Li frowned, "Did I really do something wrong?"
Zhulan, "... ..."
These two people are really worthy of being a couple. They have the same train of thought. Look, they are trying to recall whether they have done anything wrong!
Zhulan closed her eyes and decided not to look at the eldest couple anymore. She finally understood that Mrs. Li was not sick!
The doctor came quickly. Zhulan opened her eyes only after he arrived. She already had an idea of what was wrong with Li, and signaled the doctor to check on Li.
Li and the eldest brother had quieted down a long time ago. They knew they had made a big mistake and were now pretending to be quail!
Li saw the doctor and said, "I'm not sick."
Zhulan glared at Li, and Li shut up obediently.