On the night of the sixth day of the ninth month of the leap month, as expected by the second uncle Wang, the weather changed rapidly, and the cold rain mixed with ice slag fell down, putting on a layer of ice and jade for all things in the mountains, and the second morning, this layer of ice that had not had time to melt sparkled in the sun, like a fairy tale world like a crystal palace. This is commonly known as freezing rain.

However, as the sun rose, the ice coat turned into water droplets and quickly fell into the dirt. Lan Yi looked at such a scene, and did not feel pity, but breathed a sigh of relief. There are still eight days before the beginning of winter, and this freezing rain came too early. She was afraid that the wheat seedlings that had just emerged two inches in the slope would not be able to stand it, so she hurriedly put on her clogs and ran to her second uncle's house.

"Guys, I'm going to go to the field to have a look, how is your greenhouse?" Second Uncle Wang went out with a shovel.

Lan Yi didn't go in, and went down to the field with the second uncle, "Thanks to the advice of the second uncle, I have covered the grass fence for the past two nights, and the dishes in the greenhouse are fine." ”

I don't know how Xiao Qi is doing.

"Second uncle, this freezing rain came too early, right?"

Second Uncle Wang frowned and looked at Daqing Mountain, "It's a little early, it's usually on the top of the mountain, but this year it was brought down by the wind." I'm afraid it's going to be a bad winter. ”

Lan Yi also frowned, the farmers rely on the fields to eat, if the overwintering wheat in the field is frostbitten, the yield will definitely be reduced next year. Reduced field yields mean that many people go hungry and even worse.

In the fields south of the village, many people have gone down to the fields to check on the wheat seedlings and exchange their worries with each other.

Second Uncle Wang took Lan Yi to check it out, and sighed, "The wheat on our hillside is fine, but I'm afraid that the roots in the paddy fields have been injured." ”

After the paddy field was withdrawn and the rice was pulled out, the wheat was ploughed and planted, and the soil was wetter than the slope, so the damage from this freezing rain was greater.

Lan Yi looked at the frozen wheat seedlings, the color was still tender green, and it didn't hurt, but she believed in the judgment of the second uncle, "Second uncle, let's go to the hillside to have a look, I don't know how the peony is?" ”

Second Uncle Wang filled back the excavated soil and said confidently: "Peony is fine, fortunately, we are quick with our hands and feet this year." ”

"Thanks to the second uncle, you took everyone to work for more than ten days to tie up the peony tree before the freezing rain." The peony is tied with straw, and it is filled with a lot of dead leaves to keep warm, so it is not a problem.

The two felt that when they were on the hillside, the florist Zhao Shangjing was checking the situation of the peony, and he was also afraid, "We have nothing to do, Zhao Lizheng is not easy to say, he just shipped back a batch of three-year-old peony seedlings a few days ago, and it is estimated that they have not been done yet." ”

Zhao Lizheng has his own way, not only bought a batch of peony seedlings from Lan Yi and them to plant on the hillside, but also transported hundreds of three-year-old peony seedlings from outside, hoping that the peonies can bloom and bear seeds a few years earlier.

Second Uncle Wang knocked the soil on the clogs with a shovel, "Old man, you go back first, I'll go to your Uncle Yang's place." ”

Lan Yi looked at the hillside of Zhao Lizheng's house and saw several figures busy working, this rain was really sad.

"Uncle Zhao, now that the freezing rain is falling, it is estimated that the situation in the mountains and forests is even worse, you should not go into the mountains to look for grass this year."

Zhao Shangjing nodded a little frustratedly, "Brother Minshan really expected it, but even if it doesn't rain in the freeze, only an old man can't go deep into the mountain, the Niu brothers are busy with the mountain goods stalls and are not available, Lei Fuzi has also gone far away, and no one can go into the mountain with me." ”

At the beginning of August, Lei Tianze took Qianmo to Biansai, but he has not returned, Lan Yi looked at the distant mountains that had been faintly covered by snow, and Biansai was estimated to be colder, and he didn't know what the situation was on Lei Tianze's side.

"Sister-in-law Wang, I plan to clean up in the next few days and go home for the New Year, and come back next year when the weather thaws, do you think there is still something to do?"

This year's leap September, an extra month will make this year's winter much longer. Although it is not yet winter, there is nothing to do on the hillside, and there is no need for anyone to guard it.

"You've been working hard for a year, and it's time to go back and rest." Lan Yi agreed, "This year's salary, I'll go back and let Lin Xi calculate it and send it to you." ”

The sixth son went to Meixian, Xia Shun was busy with the shop, and Lin Xi was in charge of the hillside. Lan Yi once said that if this year's peony seedlings make money, they will be distributed to Zhao Huasheng to reward him for his hard work on the hillside for more than a year.

"Thank you, sister-in-law." Zhao Shangjing has always had a smile on his expressionless face, raising peonies on this hillside, although the living is a little worse, but there is no need to be angry, the salary is a lot, and he can get some shares and rewards at the end of the year, such a good thing He couldn't think of after being driven out by the Xia family.

"Speaking of which, when I went into the city to buy the day before yesterday, I seemed to see Steward Zhang and the third young master of the Xia family from Qingshan Oil Mill coming out of a shop with their front and back feet, and Steward Zhang's face was not good-looking." Zhao Shangjing hesitated and told what he had discovered. He has been in the Xia family for many years, so he has naturally seen Steward Zhang, and he also knows that he is now following Xia Shun to manage the oil mill. Steward Zhang is honest and sincere, and he is also meticulous, but he came out of the shop in a panic, and after a while, the third young master of the Xia family also came out of the shop, smiling proudly, and looking a little unusual, "Sister-in-law Wang is not familiar with it, and the third young master of the Xia family is the brother of the sixth girl." ”

Lan Yi nodded, Xia He, the sixth girl of the Xia family, was the culprit who caused Zhao Shangjing to have to leave the Xia family, and he couldn't even find the errand in Huang County, Lan Yi took her two children to the garden of Huang County to enjoy chrysanthemums last year, and she also had a dispute with her, and she had a very bad impression. She has also heard of the third young man of the Xia family, and she is-for-tat with Xia Chongxiao everywhere, and he has contact with Steward Zhang, which is indeed unusual.

"Thank you, Uncle Zhao, have you told anyone else about this?"

Zhao Shangjing shook his head, "Sister-in-law Wang, I don't see anything wrong here, most of the time it's the little old man who thinks too much." "If it weren't for Lan Yi's family being really good to him, with Zhao Shangjing's character, it would be impossible to talk too much.

Lan Yi nodded and wrote, "Uncle Zhao, I will pay attention to this matter." Later, I'll ask Yu'er to bring you some salted duck eggs, I heard that you like this, take more home for your aunt and children to taste. ”

Zhao Shangjing rubbed his hands embarrassedly, "Sister-in-law Wang, how embarrassing is this." ”

However, the duck eggs made by Sister-in-law Wang are really delicious, and there is no place to buy them, Zhao Shangjing has not been home for several months, and it is a very face-saving thing to bring some delicious ones to the family to try.

"Uncle Zhao, you're out there." Lan Yi had a good impression of this silent old man, "Uncle Zhao, if your family is idle, you can bring your family over when you come over next year, we will have to hire someone on the hillside." ”

Zhao Shangjing was stunned for a moment, then his eyes widened, revealing ecstasy, "Thank you, sister-in-law Wang, I will go back to discuss with my family this year." ”

This is a great thing, Lan Yi and the wages they give are high, and there is still a place to live on the hillside. The most important thing is that Zhao Shangjing can live with his family, which is unimaginable for him to be a lowly gardener who has been away from home all the year round.

After Lan Yi went home for dinner, she told Jia to take care of the two children and not let them go out today, while she took out the little donkey and went into the city to buy things. Seeing that the owner only led it out into the city, the little donkey happily rubbed Lan Yi's shoulder with his head, and obliquely looked at the two little ponies with his eyes, which was self-evident. Lan Yi smiled, this guy seems to be quite aware of crisis since he became the boss.

This rain made Lan Yi feel uneasy. She went to the church first, intending to buy some herbs.

Today happened to be the day when Liang Jin from Jishan Hall sat in the hall to see a doctor, and there was already a long queue in front of the hall, Lan Yi went in and saw Liang Jin sitting behind the table with a calm face to ask for a consultation. She went directly to the counter and took out the note, and according to Jia's instructions, she bought a few medicinal materials such as orange peel and atractylodes that are not produced in the mountains here, plus the astragalus, banlan root, peilan, guanzhong, honeysuckle, forsythia, mint, chrysanthemum, etc., Jia said that she could prepare a prescription and make it into sachets, incense or boil water directly to drink, and the effect of preventing and treating colds and colds is good. With Jia here this year, she must discuss more with Jia and make more preparations to take care of the family's health.

Later, she went to a cloth shop and bought silk for down jackets. Silk is a thick and smooth silk fabric, which is a common material used by men from a slightly better family in the Great Zhou Dynasty to make coats, and the price is really not cheap. The cotton cloth she usually buys is eight or nine wen a foot, the muslin cloth used to make the underwear is only a dozen wen a foot, the silk silk costs fifty wen a foot, and a piece of cloth costs five taels of silver. Although there are still some cotton and linen cloth at home, the silk cloth suitable for making down jackets is not enough to make clothes for Zhou Weiji. According to the rules here, after Zhou Weiji sent the gift in person, Lan Yi wanted to return the gift. This time it was supposed to be a dress she had made herself, and it was time for the distribution material to be prepared now.

Most of the fabrics Lan Yi brought back from Meixian were sent out, and only two Su Aya were left. Suaya is woven from pure mulberry silk, the texture is light and soft, the color is beautiful, and she keeps it for her family to make underwear. Although the Jia family also brought two horses of the best fabrics rewarded by Old Madam Zhou, they were not hers, and Lan Yi naturally would not use them.

After shopping around, she chose the most cost-effective one, and then bargained with the shopkeeper several times, spent three or five dollars to buy a silk inventory and a few pieces of fabric from last year, and asked the boss for three feet of linen and a bag of cloth heads, and then came out satisfied.

What Zhao Shangjing said, Lan Yi had to guard against it, she rode a donkey to Qingshan Oil Mill.

The freezing rain had no effect on the oil mill, and it was still an oil-soaked scene.

Coincidentally today, Steward Zhang and Xia Shun were not in the oil mill.

"Where did Steward Liu, Shopkeeper Xia and Steward Zhang go?"

Steward Liu is a small steward in the oil mill, and his status is low and he doesn't know Lan Yi's true identity, but he also knows that she is Wang Linxi and Wang Linyuan's sister-in-law, so his attitude is quite respectful, "Madam, I really don't know where Shopkeeper Xia went. Steward Zhang seems to have something at home these days, and often comes late and leaves early. ”

Lan Yi's face was calm, and then asked, "How many peony seeds are still stored in our oil mill now, and how much oil has been squeezed?" Can you take the little woman to see it? ”

Steward Liu listened to Lan Yi's request, and his face was embarrassed, "Madam, the small one is only in charge of oil extraction, and there is no key to the warehouse." Besides, our oil mill is strictly managed, except for a few owners, only the steward can order the people in the treasury to do the work, and the villain is really ......"

Lan Yi was quite satisfied with his attitude, and after coming out of the oil mill, she rode a donkey to Xiao Qi's greenhouse base, and Xiao Qi was really busy in the greenhouse.

"Sister-in-law Wang, it's a coincidence, and Brother Xia is also here." Xiao Qi happily led Lan Yi to see the "fruits of his labor", the cucumbers in the greenhouse have bloomed and are growing well, Lan Yi also planted the celery seeds and big red fruit seeds that Lan Yi came to give Xiao Qi last time, and they have not yet germinated, "You two have to stay and eat, and the small ones let people fry two side dishes, and use the vegetable seedlings grown in the greenhouse." ”

Lan Yi naturally refused, went to find Xia Chongxiao, and told him about the oil mill manager Zhang.

"Brother Xia, who is in charge of the warehouse and oil mill of our oil mill?"

Xia Chongxiao's face has always been solemn with a smile, "Our peony seeds and squeezed peony oil are stored in two places." One is in the oil mill, and the other is in the warehouse behind the Aoyama groceries. The main thing in the oil mill is Manager Zhang, so I'll send someone to take a look. ”

Xiao Qi looked angry, "Brother Xia, what else is there to look at, it must be Xia San who has a demon moth again." Wherever there is him, there will be bad things! No matter how honest Steward Zhang is, he can't stand his toss. Brother Xia, this matter is going to be fast, Manager Zhang knows a lot of things about us, Xia San and my eldest brother are close, I'm afraid that my eldest brother will ...... there."

"I know, don't worry." Xia Chongxiao interrupted Xiao Qi and said to Lan Yi, "Sister Lan, leave this matter to me, and you can also say it to Lin Xi, so that he can come to see me last night and tomorrow." ”

Xiao Qi rubbed his hands anxiously, Lan Yi knew that it was inconvenient for them to talk here, "Brother Xia, be careful, you must be cautious in this matter, don't hurt people's hearts." Xiao Qi, I'll go back first. ”R1152