When she went to Liuhua River Market today, she passed by the blacksmith shop. After asking, she found out that an ordinary iron wok actually cost 400 wen!
This far exceeded her understanding.
No wonder iron woks were rare—very few villagers owned them.
But Zhou Xing still wanted one.
Otherwise, it would be impossible to improve their household diet.
She washed the raspberries they had picked earlier, dried them under the sun, and added two spoonfuls of sugarcane juice to help fermentation due to its high sweetness.
Then she placed the raspberries one by one into a clay jar, poured in some spring water, sealed the jar, and left it in a cool, warm place for three to four days.
Tomorrow, she planned to cook millet dry rice. The black flour at home would be saved for making mantou.
After dinner, the couple lay in bed reviewing the day’s events.
To Zhou Xing, marriage was like being comrades-in-arms. They reported their daily progress to each other and confirmed the next steps together. Only by steady planning could they win in the long run.
“Today at Liuhua River Market, I bought tofu, two carp, and pork fat. Tomorrow I plan to make tofu fish soup, stir-fried wood ear mushrooms with wild vegetables and pork cracklings, and millet dry rice as the staple. What do you think?” she asked.
She had already consulted Aunt He—there was no need for many dishes, only enough quantity. Staple food must be sufficient; laborers needed to be full.
Xie Yuan nodded. “Do as you see fit. There will be four workers tomorrow, all familiar families. I borrowed the village head’s ox and will finish plowing the fields in the next two days.”
Fallow land needed deep plowing first, otherwise spring planting would not be possible.
Zhou Xing’s arrangements reassured him; it saved him a lot of trouble.
“Today I went to the sugarcane grove and cut some wood. I’ve already made a prototype of the juice press. After the fields are plowed, I’ll assemble it properly and it should be usable,” Xie Yuan added.
Zhou Xing was slightly shocked. She knew he was action-oriented, but not this efficient.
Someone like him would succeed no matter what he did.
She even thought that although her start was disastrous, this partner of hers might be an extraordinary person. Perhaps she should also be more proactive.
“What’s wrong?” Xie Yuan turned toward her when she didn’t respond for a long time.
Zhou Xing smiled. “I just think my husband is really amazing.”
This thigh might keep getting thicker; she needed to hold on tightly.
Being praised made Xie Yuan happy as well. Everyone liked to hear good words, especially from his own wife.
“It’s nothing much. It’s just that my wife is very knowledgeable,” he said sincerely.
“Once we make sugar, I’ll make fruit jam and sell it in the county. If you want to study, then continue your education. If you’re lucky enough to pass the imperial exams and become a xiucai, our family can be considered a scholarly farming household. It will also set an example for Xiao Zong and Xiao Yao,” Zhou Xing envisioned the future.
One must have something to look forward to in life, otherwise how could one live?
“You mean letting Xiao Zong and Xiao Yao study?” Xie Yuan was surprised.
Ordinary women would not think this way.
His wife was truly different.
“Of course. They are both so smart. It would be a waste if they didn’t study. Besides, studying is not only for examinations. It helps one understand principles and broaden one’s mind. Even if they don’t enter officialdom, they won’t be easily deceived,” Zhou Xing said.
In her world, everyone could study—boys and girls alike.
Although she had crossed into this era, she still hoped that within her ability, the two children could grow up well.
No amount of money left behind compared to teaching them skills.
Xie Yuan was deeply moved. At that moment, he truly realized that his wife knew far more than he had imagined.
“She treats the children so well. I will also work hard and try to become a juren to bring honor to the family.”
Before this, Xie Yuan had not been very enthusiastic about the imperial examinations. Perhaps his passion had already been exhausted in his previous life.
He had already recognized how difficult that path was. In this life, he only wanted to live peacefully with his family.
Dashi Village was well-situated and easy to defend—a good place for peaceful living.
But his wife was right.
Studying was not only about officialdom. The imperial exams were not just about proving oneself.
After all those years of effort, it deserved some closure.
Zhou Xing’s principle was to do the present well.
One could not see too far ahead; each stage of life had its own goals.
She said this to Xie Yuan because she sensed a hidden resentment in him, though she did not know its origin.
After thinking for a long time, Xie Yuan finally fell into a deep sleep—the best sleep he had had since his rebirth.
The next morning, four young men arrived in the courtyard.
Lin Tie Niu, Aunt He’s son, was tall and strong, with a muscular build and a row of neat teeth when he grinned.
“Greetings, sister-in-law!” they greeted in unison.
Zhou Xing warmly welcomed them. “Thank you all for your help today. I’ve made some porridge—please have a little before starting.”
Normally, there would be no breakfast provided when hiring laborers, and they had already eaten at home. But Zhou Xing had already served bowls.
She brought out a pot of thick millet porridge and a dish of pickled vegetables.
The pickles were different from ordinary ones—they were Zhou Xing’s special recipe, made with salt and oil, looking very appetizing.
“Alright, let’s eat first. After that, we’ll trouble you all to work with me,” Xie Yuan urged.
They did not refuse. “Then we won’t be polite. Sister-in-law’s cooking is really good.”
One man took a sip of porridge, then a bite of pickles. The porridge was fragrant, thick, and smooth—he had no idea how it was cooked so well.
The pickles were even better.
Why didn’t his own wife have such skills?
The other three also praised it endlessly. Soon, all four men were eating rapidly, the courtyard filled only with the sound of gulping.
They finished quickly and then left to fetch the village head’s ox.
Zhou Xing did not go to the fields today but needed to prepare lunch. Breakfast could be simple, but lunch had to be substantial.
She took out the fish from the water vat, cleaned and prepared it.
In a clay pot, she added oil, stir-fried scallion and ginger, then placed the fish in to pan-fry until golden on both sides. After adding boiling water and tofu cubes, she simmered it over medium heat.
In another pot, she boiled water, blanched wood ear mushrooms and wild vegetables, cooled them in water, then mixed in pork cracklings and seasoning to make a large bowl of cold salad.
Since they liked the morning pickles, she also brought out more.
After everything was prepared, she washed the clay pot, added millet and rice, and began steaming dry rice.