Chapter 258
Chapter 258
There was hardly any space left for planting in Jiang Yunsui’s courtyard. Even the corners held flowers, including climbing roses that covered an entire wall and attracted bees when they bloomed.
“Where am I supposed to plant these?”
Holding her seeds, Jiang Yunsui circled the courtyard like a soft little rabbit stamping its feet in distress. Out of ideas, she looked pleadingly at clever Ji Yan’an.
He said nothing and pointed at the watermelon patch.
“There’s no room there either,” she said blankly.
Nanshu translated. “The Young Master means you can pick the watermelons and pull out the vines.”
“No. Some aren’t ripe, and the vines can still grow more.”
“Silly. Just clear a small patch. You don’t have many seeds. And don’t worry about running out of watermelons. Plenty are growing at your estate.”
It took Jiang Yunsui several seconds to remember the estate he meant. Oh, right. Ji Yan’an had given her one.
“They planted them there too?”
“Of course. Since you never managed it, the Young Master assigned people to do it. They planted wheat, sweet potatoes, your favorite sunflower seeds, and watermelons. The watermelon seeds came from last year’s crop, and there weren’t many, so they planted all of them at your estate.”
Remembering the red, sweet, grainy flesh of Jiang Yunsui’s watermelons, Nanshu swallowed. He had never encountered such a watermelon before. It was so delicious he had thought it another species entirely. The watermelons he remembered had mostly white flesh, with only the faintest traces of red, and tasted awful.
Knowing plenty grew at the estate, Jiang Yunsui stopped hesitating. After picking some fruit, she pulled out the vines and began laboriously clearing the soil.
Ji Yan’an picked up a hoe and joined her.
Nanshu’s eyes nearly popped out. “Young Master, let me! You shouldn’t…”
When had his master ever done this sort of work?
He reached for the hoe, but Ji Yan’an gave him a cool glance. Nanshu swiftly withdrew his hand.
Uncle Li said, “Let him move around. It’s good for his health. I have matters to handle. Keep an eye on the Young Master and Miss.”
Nanshu nodded hurriedly.
Carrying her little hoe, Jiang Yunsui ran over and began directing Ji Yan’an.
“First we dig like this, then…”
He only nodded occasionally.
The plot was only about two hundred square meters, so they soon finished preparing it. Jiang Yunsui sorted identical seeds together and ended with five small piles. One was corn.
“All right!”
Time to plant.
They dug small holes, placed the seeds inside, and covered them with a shallow layer of soil. Such a small patch was not tiring. When they finished, Jiang Yunsui dusted off her hands, thoroughly satisfied.
“Oh! And the tea trees!”
She slapped her forehead. The branches cut from the tea trees were still in their carriage. She did not know whether anyone had unloaded them.
“Nanshu, hurry and ask the people clearing the carriage if they saw my tea branches… Never mind. I’m coming too.”
The servants had stored them safely, and Jiang Yunsui soon returned with an armful.
Nanshu asked curiously, “How do you plant these?”
Ji Yan’an also watched with interest.
Jiang Yunsui looked smug. “Neither of you is as clever as me. I know! Cut them into sections, trim the end that goes into the soil at an angle, then stick it in.”
“That simple? They aren’t even saplings. Will they live?”
Neither man knew much about farming, and propagation by cuttings was uncommon in this age.
Jiang Yunsui confidently patted her chest. “It’ll definitely work. Don’t worry.”
Ji Yan’an said nothing. He sat on a small stool and used scissors to cut the branches.
Jiang Yunsui glanced at him several times.
He looked back, his expression clearly asking, What?
She whispered, “Aren’t you busy today? I’m not used to it.”
Expressionless, Ji Yan’an pinched her cheek and grunted. Extremely aloof.
Jiang Yunsui simply shoved the egg into his arms and went to plant the cuttings.
She worked all morning with her little bottom in the air and finally finished.
She dusted off her hands. Time to eat.
After lunch, she still could not sit still and dragged Ji Yan’an along to harvest the ripe fruit.
“Ji Yan’an, should we send some to Grandpa Tang and the others?”
He offered two words. “Up to you.”
“Then let’s pack lots. But we’re out of baskets. We’ll go buy some.”
Little Mushroom dashed outside again. This time Ji Yan’an stayed home to work.
With her hands clasped behind her back, Jiang Yunsui looked sympathetically at him several times.
She took her two maids, two servants, and Ji Si, who followed secretly, out into the streets.
They had barely arrived when she encountered a hair-pulling brawl. Several women were beating a man dressed like a wealthy young gentleman.
Jiang Yunsui’s short legs immediately carried her over.
Unfortunately, the crowd was too thick for her to squeeze through. At her height, she could not see even on tiptoe.
“Si Si, lift me up!”
She wanted to watch.
Ji Si silently picked her up and set her on his shoulders.
With her view raised, she could finally see.
Oh my!
Four women had the man on the ground, yanking his hair and clothes and slapping him furiously.
“What happened? Why are they fighting?”
She wanted the whole story.
A helpful auntie nearby explained, “That man deserves it. He’s a good-for-nothing who got his hands on expensive clothes, dressed up as a young lord, and tricked girls-four at once.
“They happened to meet today while he was shopping with one of them. Once the four compared stories, they discovered everything. He cheated them out of love and money, claiming he needed silver to study and take the imperial examinations…”
Jiang Yunsui took out a handful of sunflower seeds and nodded as she listened.
“How awful!”
“Auntie, want some?”
The woman accepted without ceremony and cracked the shells loudly. Jiang Yunsui also gave some to Ji Si, Shuqin, and Shuhua.
The farce did not last long. Patrol guards soon arrived and arrested everyone involved in the fight.
The crowd dispersed, but Jiang Yunsui remained on Ji Si’s shoulders. From higher up she could see farther and immediately spotted a basket seller.
“Si Si, over there! Let’s buy baskets.”
Expressionless, Ji Si carried her to the stall. When he planted himself in front of it, he frightened the vendor into thinking he had come to start a fight.