Here, Qiu Chen almost arranged for everyone in the family who could be sent out, and when she went back to the backyard to pay attention to the small glass greenhouse, it was basically completed.

Qiu Chen put aside a few Zhuangzi matters for the time being, and began to grow vegetables in the greenhouse with joy, and more importantly, potatoes.

After two busy days, loosening the soil, accumulating fertilizer, and leveling, these jobs did not need anyone else, and Yang Shumeng did it alone.

Because Qiu Chen didn't know anything about planting, especially greenhouse planting, he didn't dare to plant half a bag of potatoes, so he only took half of them, cut them into pieces according to the position of the leaf buds, and planted them in the greenhouse. In order to keep warm, Qiu Chen also learned that modern vegetable greenhouses use a lot of pampas grass and straw, fixed on the greenhouse, put down the cover every night to keep warm, and pull the rope to roll it up during the day, so that the greenhouse can get enough sunshine.

What made Qiu Chen more embarrassed was that she took out potatoes to plant, and also knew that she would cut the leaf buds into pieces to increase the amount of planting, but in essence, Qiu Chen was still an agricultural novice.

When Yang Shumeng heard her once, he was very disappreciative and said, "This is similar to planting taro...... It's okay to cut it, but you need to dry it before planting, otherwise it will rot if you plant it with a fresh cut. ”

Qiu Chen blinked in a daze, and simply handed over the potato planting to Yang Shumeng.

Because the temperature of the greenhouse is high and the light is sufficient, but in four or five days, many small green shoots emerge from the soft yellow-brown soil.

Qiu Chen no longer went to the East Cross Courtyard to watch the workers in the workshop after breakfast every day, but instead shifted his attention to the vegetables and potatoes in the greenhouse. Of course, Qiu Chen is purely among Ye Gong's good dragons, she just goes to see every day, watching a layer of small shoots thrive, as for how to cultivate, how to loosen the soil, water and fertilize anything, she doesn't understand anything, and she won't do it without permission.

If so, two or three days passed easily and happily, during which the second day of February passed, with the children fried beans and small flags, watching the children take off their big sweaters and run in and out briskly in a thin cotton shirt and pants, Qiu Chen's face was full of joy, and at the same time he remembered Aman in his heart, I don't know where the little girl is? When a young child leaves his hometown, will he not adapt to the soil and water, and will he not be accustomed to eating a different diet?

The first half of February passed quickly, and when it was about to enter the middle of the month, Zhao Jiu returned to Liujia'ao and also brought back the progress of several Zhuangzi.

Zhao Jiu's trip to Yishui County and Hui County to recruit people was not smooth. Yishui County and Hui County have been ravaged by floods and plagues one after another, and the population has gone to five or six out of ten, plus three princes...... Oh, now it's the King of Qi. Coupled with the strict forced labor imposed by the King of Qi, almost all the men were recruited to repair the river, and there were almost no men in the villages. The rest of the old and weak women and children still have to work hard to rebuild their homes, reclaim the farmland, and many go to the fields to dig reed roots and other things to satisfy their hunger...... It is very difficult to recruit laborers to go to the village to cultivate the farmland.

When Zhao Jiu arrived there, he saw that the situation was not right, so he discussed with Daxing and Manchu, and immediately changed the recruitment location, crossed Yishui County, and went to Xiucheng County and Jiewu County in the south, these two counties did not experience floods and plagues, and at the same time, there were some displaced people who fled from Yishui and Hui counties, and it was very smooth to recruit people. Zhao Jiu only took four or five days of hard work, and through the local brokers, each county recruited more than 200 young people, some of these young people were displaced people in Yishui and Hui counties in the past, and some of them brought their families back to Zhuangzi according to Qiu Chen's intentions. By the time Zhao Jiu returned, the three Zhuangzi of Yishui, Huixian and Pixian had recruited nearly 600 young people, and with the addition of small families, more than 1,000 people had increased at once.

Speaking of the most embarrassing aftermath, Zhao Jiu smiled and said, "...... When I arrived in Zhuangzi, there were not only houses with families, but also large tracts of fertile land, and most importantly, our family's method of recultivation and cultivation of land made many people moved. ”

Qiu Chen smiled and nodded: "At present, we are short of manpower, as long as they are willing to come, we will take care of the placement." ”

Zhao Jiu nodded with a smile and asked again, "Madam, our family treats us so well, what if they leave in the future?" If you want to, sign a deed with them now, and you must work for a few years before you can leave. ”

Qiu Chen took a sip of tea with a smile, shook his head and said, "No need." We don't force ...... This year, we have made great efforts to reclaim the land, accumulate a year's fertilizer, and next year's fields will be relieved, and our Zhuangzi will support farm tools and livestock, and the rent is lower than elsewhere...... As long as you take them for a year, no one will want to leave. ”

Zhao Jiu's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he nodded again and again: "This is Mrs. Ren...... Those who can settle down in our Zhuangzi are all blessed. ”

Qiu Chen smiled, didn't answer, and sent Zhao Jiu down to rest.

By mid-February, the seedlings in the greenhouse have grown to the height of three fingers, and the potatoes are growing vigorously, and the unfurling leaves are a dark green color, indicating the fertility of the soil.

Early in the morning of February 13, Qiu Chen explained the affairs of the family to the Chen family and the Daxing family, left the jade phoenix in his room, and set off for Anyang City with Qingxing, laurel and spring fragrance.

It was March 3 soon, and Wu Shi, the wife of Tang Yanzhang, the prefect of Anyang, sent a letter to send a letter over, and March 3 took the children to go outside the city. Qiu Chen also had to go to a few Zhuangzi to have a look at the field, and then determine what to plant.

In addition, Qiu Chen also has to go to the soap workshop in Anyang to teach Liu Zhanxiang the process of making shower gel and shampoo, the first batch of shower gel and shampoo produced in Liu Jiaao's workshop has been shipped out, and the news that the feedback is that the pre-sale is hot, this batch of goods has not yet arrived, and it has already been sold out, and even the products after two months have been pre-sold. In this way, it is imperative to increase production.

With the news of the hot pre-sale of shower gel shampoo came back, there was also a letter from Yun Jichen, the content of the letter not only introduced the good situation of the new product, but also carried a sentence - 'Liao Sanxing stood upright, blamed himself, and repeatedly revealed the intention of abandoning the world and becoming a monk. ’

Speaking of Liao Wenqing, Qiu Chen couldn't tell what he felt in his heart.

That person is a very good business partner, with a free and uninhibited temperament, and his nature is not bad, and he is also very good friends. Once, his affection for her also made her tempted, and she even planned to marry into the Liao family and live with him.

However, by mistake, I don't know where, and I don't know when, there is something wrong between them. Liao's mother Gao's opposition, the onset of the disease, and the death of the most abrupt illness made them completely lose the possibility of coming together.

Thinking of Liao's mother Gao, Qiu Chen didn't feel much, but she felt ashamed of Liao Wenqing. If so, she didn't get the medicine back that day, if so, after she met Liao Jiacheng, she asked frankincense to bring the medicine to Liao Wenqing, perhaps, Liao's mother would not have died of an acute attack, and Liao Wenqing would not blame herself and feel guilty to the point where she is now going to become a monk.

After this kind of thing, Qiu Chen really couldn't wait to catch Liao Wenqing and slap him a few times, and wake him up who was stuck in self-blame and guilt!

Regardless of whether Gao died of illness or not, although he felt guilty and blamed himself, he should not have any thoughts of abandoning the world and becoming a monk at all? If the Gao family hadn't died, Zhiludao's son would have become a monk, but he was afraid that he would be angry to death again.

Abandoning one's family, like committing suicide, is a sign of cowardice and selfishness. It's all about escaping the mistakes you made! What else can it do other than make people look down on?

The weather in mid-February was really warm and cold, yesterday the sun was shining, and the warm jacket was not cold, but this morning the wind rose, the sky was overcast, and the sun was mostly gone, and the slightly cold wind blew over, so that Qiu Chen couldn't help but shrink slightly, and subconsciously wrapped the velvet cloak on his body.

Qing Xingyan quickly put down the half-rolled car curtain, compacted it, and poured a cup of hot tea from the teapot in the corner and handed it to Qiu Chen: "Madam, it's very cloudy and cold today, you can drink tea to warm up......"

Qiu Chen took the tea, but his mind was still a little impetuous and couldn't settle down.

The first time I saw Liao Wenqing was in the Rejuvenation Hall in Qingshui Town, with a brocade robe and folding fan, with a graceful demeanor, how handsome and free, who knew that Lu Dao, today and now, he is actually depressed to the point of becoming a monk......

Lowering his eyes and hiding the sigh that was about to overflow, Qiu Chen pondered silently, what should he say when he saw Liao Wenqing, so that he could dispel the idea of becoming a monk and cheer up again?

With the horses' hooves trampled and the wheels rustled, Qiu Chen took the three girls into two carriages and headed south.

I used to feel that the distance was far and difficult, but after walking a lot, I seem to get used to it, and it is not so difficult. Passing through Qingshui Town and Chengjiayao, we have arrived at Anping County.

The car did not stop, galloped all the way, and finally saw the gray and heavy and tall city walls of Anyang City at the end of the hour.

Junzi and Shen Hu picked up outside the city gate, and the group entered the city until they stopped in the forest house.

Shunzi's family came up with two mothers-in-law, and then Qiu Chen and his party entered Sanjin. Quickly sent hot water to wash Qiu Chen's hands and face, Yuegui waited for Qiu Chen to comb his hair, and Shunzi's family brought lunch.

After eating lunch tastelessly, Qiu Chen rested for a quarter of an hour, and Daxing rushed back from outside.

Daxing told Qiu Chen in detail about the situation in Zhuangzi, "...... The others are okay, and the manpower is enough, but there are many people who drag the old and the young, and now there is no green and yellow, there is no production in the field, and there is nowhere to find wild vegetables, so it is a little difficult for so many people to eat...... Although we have some grain and rice stored at home, we can't stand such a few people chewing ...... If you eat like this, your family's food will last for a month at most. The wheat harvest in May is still more than a month away! ”

Qiu Chen listened quietly, and when he saw that Daxing finished speaking, he spoke: "How much labor do the four Zhuangzi have now?" How many old and weak families are there? How many children over the age of eight, the elderly under the age of sixty, and the women without disease? ”

Daxing did not seem surprised, and replied almost without hesitation: "The four Zhuangzi recruited a total of 724 new laborers, and the original Zhuang household laborers totaled 437 people, but these 437 people were all conscripted to build the river, and the two sides combined, there are a total of 1,629 women, children, old and weak, of which about 60% can do some work, and 40% are either too old and weak, or are sick and cannot work." ”

Qiu Chen listened silently, while thinking quickly in his heart, after a while, he raised his eyes and said: "The Zhuangzi of Qinghe County is in the east of the county seat, only fifteen or sixteen miles away from Nannuma Lake, you go to Zhuangzi to spread the word, recruit teenage children or women who can leave, and take them to Nannuma Lake to hand over to the uncle's wife. The Zhuangzi of Yishui County, Hui County and Pi County, we were born in the land, and there is no good work for them temporarily...... I'll go to Zhuangzi in the city for two days, and then we'll discuss how to arrange it!" ”

Daxing nodded, said goodbye to Qiu Chen, and went to Zhuangzi in Qinghe County to spread the word.

In the evening, Lin Xu came back from Guo's school, the uncle and sister-in-law greeted each other, they were a little interested, and they ate silently, Lin Xu quit Qiu Chen and went back to the room to study.

Qiu Chen took Qingxing, a bag of fried beans and fried noodles, and a pickled wild boar leg, and went around the backyard to Erkui's house.

Now Erkui's father has also been taken to the city, Erkui's family has to take care of a few children, and also take care of the elderly who are sick in bed, and there is no way to make needlework for the Lin family.

Qiu Chen came to Erkui's house, the old man had already blown out the lamp and slept in the Xili room, and the Shanzi and Shi brothers were squeezed into a plate of kang with Erkui, and at this time they were lighting the lamp and writing on both sides of the kang table. Erkui touched the dark in the vegetable garden in the yard, the weather was still a little cold in mid-February, but everything has begun to germinate, leeks and onions, garlic, spinach, these vegetables that germinated earlier have already shown signs of germination, take advantage of this time to loosen the soil and fertilize diligently, the vegetables will grow faster and earlier.

Qingxing stepped forward and patted the door, Erkui answered and opened the door, and when he saw Qiu Chen standing outside the door, he hurriedly bowed down to say goodbye.

Qiu Chen motioned for Qingxing to stop him, and said with a smile: "Brother Erkui, what are you doing, so raw, where can you put the love of our neighbors?" ”

Erkui looked ashamed, and pulled the corners of his mouth to reveal a smile: "Brother and sister are right...... But you have always taken care of my family, where can you pay a salute? It's just a show of our hearts! ”

Qiu Chen shook his head with a smile, motioned to Qingxing to hand over the wild boar leg in his hand to Erkui, and said as he walked inside: "Our neighbors, who hasn't had a difficult time, if you encounter any difficulties, everyone should take a hand, where is there such a heavy ...... that Brother Erkui said."

As they spoke, the three of them had already come to the door of the main house, and the Erkui family hurriedly greeted them when they heard the movement.

There was no light hanging outside the door of Erkui's house, and by the faint light from the window, Erkui's face could not be seen clearly, and the originally slightly plump face and body could obviously be seen to be much thinner.

"Hey, Aunt Haitang, I heard that you arrived in the second half of the morning, thinking that you were tired from riding all the way and didn't pass, it's so late, why did you come here again......" Erkui's family said while lifting the curtain and letting Qiu Chen in.

Qiu Chen said with a smile as he walked inside: "I haven't seen Xiao October for a few days, I wonder if I want to panic, come and take a look!" ”

As he spoke, several people had already walked through the hall and entered the east room.

Shanzi is already seven years old, has been in school for more than a year, and knows a lot about etiquette, when he saw Qiu Chen coming in, he hurriedly got down from the kang and bowed. Shi Tou is smart, but his actions always seem to be a little slow, he looked up at Qiu Chen, and before he could react, he was pulled off the kang by Shanzi, who had finished the salute, and led him to salute Qiu Chen.

Qiu Chen took out three purses from his sleeves, put two of the royal blue purses in the hands of Shanzi and Shishi, and beckoned to the little girl in October who was looking at her smiling on the kang, held the little girl in his arms, and put a red purse into the little girl's chubby little slap.

"Auntie, what are you doing, I can'......t help it, I can't help it" Erkui's family hurriedly wanted to take the purse from the child's hand and refuse, but Qiu Chen stretched out an arm to stop him, hugged October and sat on the chair under the kang, and said with a smile, "I haven't seen a few children during the New Year, and I can't forget the children's New Year's money, right?" Little October, you won't be afraid that Aunt Begonia's New Year's money will be sent late, right? ”

The two of them looked at each other, and they both understood in their hearts that Qiu Chen was just using the excuse of the children's New Year's money to help them.

Erkui watched Qiu Chen sit down, teasing October to talk to his daughter-in-law, and was about to retreat.

At this time, there is a habit that when a female guest comes to the house, the men generally take a look at each other, and they are not accompanied, and they are all received by the female relatives of the family.

"Brother Erkui, don't be in a hurry, I came here today to discuss something with you." Qiu Chen spoke out to stop Erkui, who was about to retreat.

"If he Aunt Haitang has anything to say, just open your mouth and command, we should do our best." Er Kui hurriedly bowed his hand and sat down on the accompanying seat, and then looked at Qiu Chen intently, waiting for Qiu Chen's 'order'.

Qiu Chen smiled, no longer corrected any words, and said bluntly: "You probably also know that our family bought a few Zhuangzi after last autumn. Because of the flood and fever, those Zhuangzi were abandoned, and the original Zhuangzi were also reduced. After the Chinese New Year, Zhuangzi's fields were to be reclaimed, so he recruited some people from other places. It's just that many of these people recruited brought their families, and a group of old and weak women and children all pointed to us to distribute food to get by...... Ten or eight hundred and eighty people eat, but there is no need to make difficulties, this time there are thousands of people to eat, and our family's food stock is not enough, and it is difficult ......to raise so much grain to buy food temporarily."

Speaking of this, Qiu Chen looked at Erkui and his two sons were calm, and he was not surprised, and he knew that the two of them must have understood these things, so they no longer talked about the previous situation, and continued, "No, I am thinking about how to let these people eat enough, and we will no longer worry about food...... The Zhuangzi in Qinghe County was entrusted to my eldest brother and sister-in-law in Nannuma Lake; The other three Zhuangzi didn't have much hope, so I just smeared and found some kind of work, so that those old people, women and children could help us do it, and when the time came, we would pay them according to the number of jobs done, and we could also help them pass the pass of the spring and the yellow. When the weather is hot, the wild vegetables in the field grow, and the elm money, acacia flowers, and the like are also connected, there will be no worries about those people starving. ”

"Our family used to see that there were a lot of people, but as soon as these few places were scattered, we realized that there were not enough people in Ludao...... I just want Brother Erkui to go to Zhuangzi, watch those people do their work, see if the work is good and whether it is appropriate, and then check the quantity, pack and ship it back. This job is to worry about, tired but not tired, in addition, Erkui went down to Zhuangzi, Erkui's sister-in-law is home alone, it is estimated that she will be tired...... This matter has not yet been decided, I just came to discuss it with you, and you don't have to rush to promise me, you two have a good discussion and discussion, and it is not too late to reply to me tomorrow. ”

Erkui and the two looked at each other, and after a moment of eye contact, Erkui stood up and said to Qiu Chen: "Don't think much about what his aunt said, I'll go!" ”

Qiu Chen smiled at Erkui's family, raised his hand to signal Erkui to get up, and then looked at Erkui and said with a smile: "You two ...... Well, since you're like that, I won't say more. Tomorrow after cleaning up for two days, there is no need to go over there, the heavy work at home cooking, early the day after tomorrow, let's set off, first go to Pi County, and then all the way south, to Hui County and Yishui County Zhuangzi to see, I also total, what kind of work is more appropriate for those women and children! ”

Erkui and his family naturally agreed, and Qiu Chen stopped talking about it, turned back and teased Xiao October for a while, then said goodbye and came out of Erkui's house and went back to the Sanjin courtyard where he lived.

On the second day, Qiu Chen first sent He Chunxiang of the Shunzi family to the prefect Tang Yanzhang's mansion and Guo's house, as well as the Yun family, and sent the post over.

The two quickly turned back, looking back on the experience of going to the three families, who they met, what they said, what the other party asked, and what they brought back to Qiu Chen...... When Qiu Chen heard this, he didn't say much, just smiled, and let the two go down.

At the end of the day, near noon, the front gate came up and reported: "The second young master of the Yun family has come to pay respects, and people have already introduced them into the small flower hall." ”

Qiu Chen didn't wash and dress up, he just got up and asked for a narrow waist long gown embroidered with scattered bamboo leaves in azure placket and wore it, stretched the corners of his clothes a little way, swept the hair of his sideburns, and took Qingxing all the way to the front yard.

Walking into the small flower hall, I saw Yun Jichen sitting on the armchair on the right side of his upper hand, and a cup of tea was placed on the desk next to him, but Yun Jichen did not move, only sat there with a depressed face, his eyes fell on the tip of his toes, and he was slightly distracted.

Qiu Chen looked at Yun Jichen with a gloomy expression, sighed secretly in his heart, lowered his steps slightly, and walked into the small flower hall with his feet raised.

"Oh, Yang Shuren!" Yun Jichen raised his head when he heard the voice, got up and bowed his hand to greet.

Qiu Chen also smiled and returned the salute, blessed his body, and still sat down with Yun Jichen: "Second son...... But what's the difficulty? ”