Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1368 - 698: Autumn

Additional Chapter, asking for pink votes.

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The wives on the manor, including Lady Luo Wang, did not have a good attitude towards Luo Xiaoyan. In front of Lian Manman and the others, they could maintain surface politeness. But the wariness and disdain were still noticeable. As for behind their backs, the way those wives treated Luo Xiaoyan was unlikely to be better than in front of them.

With such a large manor in the Luo Family Village, Luo Xiaoyan’s family surely knew about it. Lian Manman could imagine how many people viewed Luo Xiaoyan and the Luo family from the outside.

"So we can’t arrange for Brother Erlang to work on the manor," Lian Manman said with a smile.

"Yes, we can’t," Lian Shouxin nodded.

Although the family had no particular fondness for the Luo family or Luo Xiaoyan at this time, they did not delay in arranging work for Erlang as promised. Regardless of others, they had to consider Erlang and Er Niuniu. That day, Wu Lang sent someone with a message to the county town, and soon after, Shopkeeper Chiang found a job for Erlang. It was at an oil pressing workshop just outside Jinyang County Town.

The job was not easy, but it required no special skills and offered a decent wage. Erlang needed to walk nearly ten miles daily to and from work, but for a farmer, it wasn’t much trouble.

Erlang and Luo Xiaoyan came to express their gratitude. Erlang was not good with words, and although Luo Xiaoyan was better, she still couldn’t say much beyond a few simple sentences.

"We’ve found you a place, whether you can handle it or not, and if you can stick with it, will depend on yourself," Lian Shouxin said to Erlang, "Just like before on the mountain, it’s up to your own skill."

"Fourth Uncle, I know. I surely won’t let you down," Erlang said gratefully.

A job to earn money for daily expenses and helping the family was something the farmsteads rarely came across by chance.

Luo Xiaoyan also brought over two chickens. Lady Zhang, having seen their situation, naturally refused to accept them.

"We don’t lack this; you’re overdoing it," Lady Zhang said to Luo Xiaoyan.

"Fourth Aunt, we know you don’t lack anything. But it’s a token of our appreciation. If you don’t accept it, we won’t feel right," Luo Xiaoyan replied. She wore the same outfit from the other day, freshly laundered with visible creases. Apparently, Luo Xiaoyan had only this one presentable set of clothes. However, Erlang was wearing a brand new dark blue jacket and trousers, and even his shoes and socks were new.

"Then, consider it accepted." Lady Zhang, seeing Luo Xiaoyan insisted on leaving the two chickens, thought for a moment, then said, "I’ll give them back to you. Aren’t your parents not in good health? Take them back, make soup, and nourish them. ... And Erlang, working outside, I heard your job isn’t easy, so take care of your diet and clothing."

"Fourth Aunt, don’t worry, the two of us, I always prioritize Erlang. I know, since he’s working outside now, we definitely won’t let him lack in food or clothes," Luo Xiaoyan quickly replied.

That same day, Lian Shouxin sent a worker to accompany Erlang to the oil pressing workshop and later had someone inquire about Erlang’s performance, only when they heard he was doing well did they rest easy.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was the autumn harvest. It was a season of busyness filled with joy. The tasks of picking grapes and making wine were still scheduled last, with sweet potatoes harvested first, followed by peanuts, and then corns, sorghum, millet, and soybeans.

This year, with the family’s farmland doubled, they were naturally busier than in previous years. Besides their long-term workers, Lian Manman’s family also hired some short-term laborers. Even Xiao Qi temporarily put down his books, spending his days with either Lian Shouxin or Wu Lang, learning to manage various tasks inside and out. Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman, though not working in the fields, were also busy at home. Aside from taking care of meals, they supervised the threshing floor and found time to wash, cut, and sun-dry vegetables.

Despite the hectic and tiring days, watching carts full of grains come home and baskets filled with dried goods, every heart was filled with happiness and satisfaction.

During the autumn harvest, the family’s happiest times were after dinner. Well-fed and content, the family liked to gather in the courtyard to enjoy the cool breeze. They often ate more fruits picked from the fields while Lian Manman and Xiao Qi sat together, tallying the day’s harvest and estimating the earnings. Day by day, the numbers accumulated in a brilliant, substantial manner. The family’s hearts seemed wrapped in a layer of golden light, not the light of gold, but the warm, vibrant, and satisfying light of abundant grains.

That day, after dinner, the family sat in the courtyard as usual. They had only sat for a moment when the wind picked up, and the sky began to darken quickly.

"It’s not good, it’s going to rain," Lian Shouxin said, standing abruptly and looking at the sky.

Although it had been sunny for the past few days, since this morning, the weather fluctuated from cloudy to clear and became completely clear in the afternoon, leading everyone to think it would be fine. Unexpectedly, by evening, the entire sky turned gloomy, and it was about to rain. The spreading clouds indicated that this would not be a light rain.

In spring, a soaking rain was most anticipated by farmstead families. But during the autumn harvest, a heavy rain troubled them the most.

Lian Shouxin watched the accumulating clouds and the increasingly humid air and wasted no time. He immediately headed to the side courtyard. Wu Lang and Xiao Qi also followed, and the three, together with the long-term workers, busied themselves collecting the grains on the threshing floor, those that could be brought indoors were brought in, and those that couldn’t were covered tightly with tarps or straw mats.

Lady Zhang busied collecting the drying vegetables, while Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman, with Xiao Xi and Xiao Qing, hurriedly gathered the items.

Just as the family had everything collected, bean-sized raindrops began to fall, quickly connecting into lines that formed a dense curtain of rain. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

An autumn rain brings a chill. That night, Lian Zhizhi and Lian Manman lay on the brick bed, covered with thin comforters. Fortunately, the family had been diligent, taking advantage of the good weather to air the bedding needed for autumn and winter.

Lying in the warm, sun-fresh bed, listening to the rain outside, Lian Manman quickly fell asleep. However, that night, many farmstead families found it hard to sleep.

This rain was even heavier than Lian Shouxin had anticipated, continuing until midday the next day before the sky gradually cleared up. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)