Madam Lin turned around and left. In the end, she never did say whether there were eight plots or nine.
Jiang Ran pushed the cart back to the Third Branch’s courtyard. No one was home. They were probably all out in the fields.
The chicks, ducklings, and piglets were all doing well, lively and energetic. She counted the plots herself. There were nine in total, neat and square. A gate had been installed in the fence. Although there was no lock, it was tied shut with vines. Everyone on the estate was from the Jiang family. With things set up like this, no one would have the nerve to steal vegetables.
Chinese cabbage, rapeseed greens, and radishes had already been planted. There were also eggplants, cucumbers, and long beans.
These were the seeds Jiang Ran had first taken from the wooden barrel. She had not planted many.
The cabbage, rapeseed greens, and radishes had been sown densely. Jiang Song had said they would need to be transplanted later. Before transplanting, the seedlings could be harvested and used to make a meal of buns.
The long beans, cucumbers, and eggplants were planted with two or three seedlings per mound and did not need transplanting. Once they grew to the height of a hand, they would need supports. Eggplants only needed short supports to keep them from falling over, but cucumbers and long beans would climb, requiring trellises taller than a person.
Cucumbers were simply huanggua. The zhuyu seeds had not sprouted yet. All these crops only occupied two plots of land.
However, Jiang Song had already started seedlings for the rest of the vegetables. Before long, all the plots would be filled.
The rapeseed greens Jiang Ran used for her stall came from the Third Branch’s yard, and the zhuyu peppers were from the family’s previous supply. Those were what she lacked the most.
Madam Lin felt that their family was planting too much, yet she could not bring herself to do the same. That was why she kept making sarcastic comments.
She looked down on them, but at the same time feared they might really make money from it.
Jiang Ran was worried she might try something.
After all, the estate belonged to the Marquis Manor, not to her family. Although Jiang Song said the contract stated that they farmed two hundred and eighty mu of land and paid half the harvest as rent, with only grain counted as rent while everything else belonged to the tenant farmers, it was still true that they could only grow crops because the Marquis Manor allowed it. If the manor forbade it, they could not.
Jiang Ran could not be sure the Marquis Manor would ignore them if they planted too much. If Madam Lin came up with some scheme, she might actually succeed.
Jiang Ran did not want anything like that to happen. Her vegetable garden could not afford even the slightest setback.
That evening, when Madam Yun returned and saw that Jiang Ran had not brought back any meat, she said nothing.
She quietly lit the fire and started cooking while Jiang Ran used the opportunity to make chili oil.
Quite a bit of the jar she had brought today had been used up. There was still some minced meat left, so she added it to the evening vegetables.
Jiang Ran filled the jars with chili oil and vinegar. By the time dinner was ready, Jiang Song and Jiang Chuanli had also returned.
While eating, Jiang Ran asked, “Brother, are you still going to clear more land?”
Jiang Song replied, “I think we have enough now. No more.”
Jiang Ran asked, “Have the young ladies from the manor said anything about coming here?”
Jiang Song shook his head.
“They haven’t said anything, but in previous years they came often around this time. During planting season, they definitely visit at least once.”
For people like them, farming was a way to survive. But in the eyes of the young masters and young ladies of the Marquis Manor, farming was an interesting pastime.
One side lived by the saying, “Who knows that every grain in the bowl comes from sweat beneath the midday sun.” The other imagined, “Picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely gazing at the southern mountains.”
The young ladies came to experience the charm of rural life.
With maids attending them everywhere, planting a couple of seedlings was enough for them to enjoy the experience without feeling tired. The seedlings they planted would even be marked off. When harvest time came and those few stalks of rice were delivered to them, they felt a great sense of accomplishment.
Jiang Ran said, “Brother, why don’t you make a few more small plots? Prepare some seeds and let the young ladies plant them when they come. If they enjoy it, we can help with weeding, fertilizing, and catching insects afterward, then send them the harvest when it’s ready. That way, no matter how much we plant, the Marquis Manor won’t have anything to say. When I came back today, Eldest Aunt was already complaining that we were growing too much.”
Madam Yun and Jiang Chuanli remained silent as usual. Jiang Ran had already grown used to it.
After thinking for a moment, Jiang Song said, “All right.”
Jiang Ran added, “Don’t make them too big.”
She gestured with her hands.
“Just make them square, about this size. And make the fences look nice.”
Jiang Ran felt that about four square meters would be enough. They were coming for the experience, not because they actually wanted to farm. Any bigger than that and it would become tiring.
The weather was getting hotter every day. How long could anyone stay outside?
She continued, “Brother, can you use a different kind of fertilizer? The usual one smells too bad. And there absolutely must be raised field ridges! Also, plant vegetables that are easy to harvest. Long beans and eggplants would be good.”
Jiang Song committed everything to memory.
“Don’t worry. Leave it to me.”
Making a few small plots would not tire him out. Once he finished his evening work, he would take care of it.
Jiang Ran added, “Make them close to our own fields.”
Jiang Song nodded.
After arranging everything, Jiang Ran felt much more at ease.
At the dinner table, she did not mention how business had gone. After they finished eating, she handed Jiang Song twenty copper coins.
“Today’s earnings.”
Jiang Song said, “I told you to keep the money yourself.”
Jiang Ran replied, “This is my contribution to the household. The rice noodles, seasonings, and oil all came from the family, so I should pay my share. Brother, save it carefully. Whether it’s for studying again someday or renting a house in Kyoto, you’ll need it.”
She sincerely intended to give him the money. As for how much she had really earned, Jiang Song had no idea. She only told him that business had been better than yesterday.
This time Jiang Song accepted the money.
“From now on, I’ll grind the rice noodles. I’m going to plant rice seedlings now. If you’re sleepy, go to bed early. Remember to eat when you’re out working. Since you’re earning money now, don’t be stingy with yourself. Eat what you want and don’t worry about us.”
Jiang Ran answered, “Okay. But don’t work yourself too hard. Even if Father and Mother don’t understand you, I do. You’re doing this for the good of the family.”
Jiang Song’s nose stung.
People always said that men did not cry easily, but his sister’s words made his heart feel both tight and warm. He nearly shed tears.
He still remembered how Grandfather had told Father that day that his wings had grown hard, and had called Father a blockhead. Even when the land was divided, Grandfather and the uncles had looked at him strangely, as though accusing him of being unfilial.
Now his sister was telling him that he was doing it for the family’s sake.
Jiang Ran stood on tiptoe and patted his shoulder.
“Oh, right. The cart still needs a price board. You can read and write, Brother. Can you make one for me?”
Feeling sad for a while was fine, but he could not stay sad forever. There was still work to do.
Jiang Song asked, “What should I write on it?”
Jiang Ran replied, “Make it large. Write: Lard Mixed Noodles—3 wen. Minced Meat Soup Noodles—5 wen. Extra Portion of Noodles—2 wen. That’s enough.”
There was no need to make more stools for now. There were not crowds all the time, and carrying an extra stool only made the trip harder.
With nothing else to do, Jiang Ran washed up and went to bed.
The next day was another sunny day.
She pushed her cart into Kyoto. With the new price board, sales were even better than yesterday. She sold more than thirty bowls in a single day, and with the extra noodle orders, she earned one hundred and forty copper coins.
For now, there was no need to add anything else to the cart.
Jiang Ran smiled at Zhao Daniu.
“Auntie, can I leave my cart at your house?”
Pushing the cart every day left her arms aching. If there was an easier option, of course she would take it.
Zhao Daniu replied, “Wasn’t that what I suggested from the beginning? Leave it at my house so you don’t have to push it back and forth. Let me tidy up a bit and I’ll take you there.”
It was already afternoon, and there were not many people on the street. These past two days, Zhao Daniu had also been going home around this time.
She still needed to prepare dough and fillings before selling again in the evening.
Business had been quite good lately. During the day, she could sell twenty or thirty sugar cakes. Each cake earned her two or three wen, so she made fifty or sixty wen a day.
The two of them worked well together. One sold dry food, the other sold food with soup.
Zhao Daniu said, “Then tomorrow morning, just go straight to the street. I’ll have my son push your cart over.”
Jiang Ran thanked her.
Zhao Daniu laughed.
“There you go again, thanking me. I should be the one thanking you. Otherwise I’d still be selling steamed flatbreads.”
If not for Jiang Ran, how could she be selling sugar cakes now?
Jiang Ran replied, “I only made a casual suggestion. Your skills are what made it work.”
After chatting a little more, the two women lowered their heads and pushed the cart together.
Work was tiring. Saving even a little strength was a good thing.
After passing through several streets and alleys, they arrived at Zhao Daniu’s home.
Once inside the courtyard, Jiang Ran did not look around much.
She left the stove and cooking equipment there. Once the firewood ran out, it would be easy to buy more in the city. She was not returning empty-handed, though. She still needed to bring home the wooden bucket for the broth, the basin for the minced meat, and the seasonings.
They were quite heavy, but still lighter than pushing the loaded cart. Besides, most of the contents were used up every day, so bringing back empty containers saved effort.
After putting everything away, Jiang Ran said goodbye.
She returned to the street and planned to buy pork before heading home.
The first day, half a jin of pork had been enough because she had sold out and left early. On the second day, there had still been a little minced meat left over from slightly more than half a jin. Now business was improving every day. Another half jin probably would not be enough.
So Jiang Ran bought a full jin of pork, planning to save some for dinner at home. She also bought a block of tofu.
She hated spending the money she had worked so hard to earn, but a meal of mapo tofu would satisfy her cravings.
Carrying empty buckets was not difficult, but after a whole day of work, Jiang Ran still had to stop and rest from time to time.
At last she arrived home.
She handed Madam Yun three liang of pork and a block of tofu.
“Mother, let’s have rice tonight.”
Madam Yun gave a quiet hum and turned to wash the rice.
Jiang Ran stood nearby, instructing her on how to cook the dish.
Three people in the family worked the fields while one person sold food. All of it was exhausting labor. When the family sat down to eat, nobody even looked up from their bowls.
The tofu ended up a little broken apart, but it was full of flavor. The fragrant minced meat and spicy seasoning made it especially appetizing, and it was perfect mixed with rice.
After dinner, Jiang Ran went outside for a walk.
The sky was already dark.
She saw several small fenced plots squeezed between the larger fenced fields.
Each was surrounded by a fence, with a little gate at the side.
Jiang Ran had not expected them to be finished so quickly.
She counted them. There were five in total.
There were many young ladies in the Marquis Manor, and this was not their only estate. The ones who visited this estate most often were Fourth Young Lady, Fifth Young Lady, and Sixth Young Lady.
Jiang Ran had thought four plots would be enough, and any other young ladies who came could use them as well. Only after asking Jiang Song did she learn that one of the plots was for her.
Making the plots had not taken much effort. Jiang Song knew his sister disliked farming. But since she had come up with the idea herself, perhaps she would enjoy playing with one of the plots.
Even if Jiang Ran did not use it, Jiang Song could always grow more melons and grapes.
There were fruit trees on the estate, but they had all been planted years ago by Old Master Jiang. The trees given to the Third Branch were all infested with insects.
Jiang Song thought that since they now had some money, he could ask around and buy a fruit sapling or two.
Something stirred in Jiang Ran’s heart.
That day, she gave Jiang Song another twenty copper coins.
Jiang Ran went to Kyoto for two more days, but no one from the Marquis Manor came. The plots remained fertilized and waiting.
On the afternoon of the sixth day of the month, rain finally fell.
The morning had been perfectly clear, but in the blink of an eye, it started raining.
Jiang Ran looked up and watched the raindrops fall.
Around her, the street vendors saw the rain and began packing up their stalls to head home. A few remained where they were, seemingly planning to keep selling despite the weather.
Zhao Daniu said, “It’ll probably rain again tomorrow. I’ll lend you a straw raincoat. If it doesn’t rain, come early tomorrow morning and prepare your food at my house.”
There was no other choice.
After leaving the cart behind, Jiang Ran put on the raincoat and returned to the estate.
The next day, the rain came again, even heavier than before. There was no way she could go out.
She felt a little disappointed, but for the estate this was good news. With rainwater, there was no need to carry water by hand. Planting rice seedlings became much easier.
Jiang Ran thought that once the rice planting was finished sooner, Jiang Song would be free to help her. If they could stay later in the city, they might even catch the night market.
The estate had been waiting a long time for this spring rain.
Jiang Song and the others planted seedlings in the rain. Jiang Ran hated stepping into the mud, so she took over feeding the chickens and ducks instead.
After feeding the animals, she heard movement near the estate entrance.
First came the sound of carriage wheels rolling over the ground.
Then the area grew lively.
A horse neighed. The estate’s dogs barked twice. Mixed among the sounds were the voices of several maids.
“Miss, be careful. Watch out for the mud.”
“They’ve already planted the rice!” That sounded like Sixth Young Lady’s voice.
Jiang Ran immediately realized that people from the Marquis Manor had arrived.
The Jiang family members working in the fields hurried back. Madam Liu and Old Master Jiang also came out of the house.
This time, three young ladies and one young master had come.
After everyone was settled, Madam Lin anxiously looked around.
Where was her daughter, Xing’er?