Daily Life in the Countryside After Being Reborn-Chapter 272 - 48: Suburban Farmstead (Part 2)

Bai Juyi and Mei Xiang left this land about thirty-five years ago when Bai Juyi’s eldest sister fell ill. The couple initially planned to leave for only one month and fifteen days, but their departure turned into thirty-five years.

Mao Dazhu walked in front, the driver followed last, and in the middle walked Xiao Xian, Zhuo Feng, and Feng Xing.

The snow brought not only the beautiful snowscapes of the North Country but also the severe cold that froze one’s toes after just a few steps; Zhuo Feng felt her toes numb after walking a few steps.

Looking at Xiao Xian, she still walked with ease, and the snow did not collapse under her feet; she seemed to glide as if floating.

"Youth is indeed wonderful," sighed Zhuo Feng, recalling her own days of being light as a feather, unlike now, when wearing slightly less clothing would result in endless nagging from her husband.

"Wife, what’s wrong? Cold? Get into my coat," Feng Xing hurriedly approached.

"Get into what? Do you think we’re in bed?" scoffed Zhuo Feng. Realizing this comment was inappropriate, both men in front and behind them looked over with knowing smiles. She grunted and stormed ahead with her head down. freewebnøvel_com

Bai, walking ahead, sighed at such a scene. He reminisced about when Bai Juyi and Mei Xiang first married, showing such love for each other.

Speaking of Mei Xiang, she was quite a cold woman, entering the door before Bai Juyi, beautiful as a painting but unfortunately very solitary. Apart from discussing insights on floriculture with her master, she probably had no expression on her face for 364 of the 365 days a year.

Only with Bai Juyi would she occasionally show a faint smile. As Bai pondered, he continued walking, and after crossing a narrow field ridge, he saw three houses made of hollow bricks.

The houses were typical northern-style architecture, each brick and tile used practically, emphasizing simplicity and durability.

The houses were single-story without any towers, with ash-gray walls. On the right side of the house, there was a staircase that could be used as a balcony to sun-dry spicy peppers or harvested eggplants, corn, etc.

"Bai Lao Si used to live here and had fixed a few fences, but over time, the fences rotted. The area became desolate, and most neighboring farmers raised poultry and livestock, like ducks and sheep, which grazed here and stripped the good trees bare. But oddly enough, that plum tree," Bai pointed to a corner behind the house, where amidst the vast snow and dim soil, stood a splash of vibrant purple and crimson, a tree of red plums.

"It’s red again. Master Mei must have been excellent at growing red flowers. The daffodil she left for the elder Bai Juyi was also red." The daffodil was still being held by Xiao Xian; it was wrapped in a scarf and laid on her lap during the journey to prevent jostling.

"What? You managed to cultivate that daffodil?" Bai was surprised upon hearing this. Bai Juyi and Mao Dazhu had never mentioned to Xiao Xian and the others that daffodils were taboo in their South Gate because their master, once a leading figure in China’s flower circles, had lost a floral competition due to a daffodil. After that, South Gate’s reputation was devastated, the master died of depression, and all three disciples were forced to seek livelihoods elsewhere.

After Mei Xiang left the daffodil bulb, Bai Juyi also abandoned floriculture due to the daffodil, and Mao Dazhu’s business suffered without Bai Juyi’s skills. Connecting all these causes and effects made Mao Dazhu extremely nervous.

When Xiao Xian unwrapped the potted plant she held, those two daffodil blooms as beautiful as March fireworks appeared in the snowstorm. Bai watched the bright red petals and the white crown of the flowers, deeply lamenting over the bi-colored daffodils.

"Seeing these two flowers, I’m reminded of Lao Si and Junior Mei. Two people with contrasting temperaments came together despite the master’s objection, and ultimately ended up one missing and one dead. However, it’s a blessing that the flowers were nurtured by you, proving Bai Lao Si had good vision. The future of South Gate is surely bright," Mao Dazhu brightened up after a moment of dimness and praised Xiao Xian and Zhuo Feng for their talent.

Speaking of the red plum standing between the flat houses, over the years, it had turned wild, but compared to the overgrown courtyard, the area around the red plum was quite tidy, as if someone had been tending to it.

"No more idle talk. This place is only suitable to live in during the spring, summer, and autumn seasons. The dead of winter has no centralized heating, standing too long will turn one into an icicle," Mao Dazhu shook the chill from his clothes, pointing around, "From now on, this land belongs to you all. But before that, you just need to pay back the eight hundred thousand money owed by Bai Lao Si, then we can clear the accounts for the first year. I won’t trouble you, but afterwards, you need to start repaying the money once you decide specifically what to do with these houses."

"What, this land is all ours?" Zhuo Feng thought she had heard wrong. Following the direction Mao Dazhu was pointing, she could still vaguely make out the boundaries, with fenced fields extending north, south, east, and west, covering about twenty-some acres. Those were twenty-some precious acres in an era where land was gold.

Back home, Zhuo Feng had a residential registration, but she had also heard the older generation reminisce about their ancestors being farmers and possessing several acres each, something she had never dreamed of achieving herself, now suddenly owning twenty-some acres.

"Ah, see, it actually belongs to the little girl holding the daffodil. She’s underage, right? You are her guardians, aren’t you? Until she turns eighteen, this place is under your management. That was what Bai Lao Si insisted upon his death. But remember, a year from now, you must start repaying my money. It’s freezing to death here; come back after spring to see what use this wasteland could have," Mao Dazhu waved his hand, eager to return to the city. (To be continued. If you like this work, we welcome you to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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