Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1370 - 699: Muddy Ground (Part 2)
This time of year, during the harvest, everyone is much more exhausted than usual.
"I’ll talk to our mom in a moment, and add a few more pounds of meat, plenty of dried tofu for lunch." Lian Manman said.
"Alright, I’ll tell them later, ensuring they’ll work even harder." Xiao Qi replied.
During the farming busy season, Lian Manman’s family has always prepared substantial meals for hired workers. Although the family, including Lady Zhang, Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman—these three women—don’t eat with the long-term workers, the food is certainly the same.
Because of this, Lian Manman’s family, as landlords and employers, has an excellent reputation in Jinyang County. Naturally, a kind master can hire the most capable long-term workers.
Xiao Qi followed Lian Manman into the side courtyard, where Lady Zhang was leading people to wash rice and prepare meals. Seeing Xiao Qi, she called him over.
The two talked for a while, then Xiao Qi took a pot of mung bean soup to the threshing ground. Although the long-term workers can do the work well themselves, the master of the house must also fulfill their responsibilities. Xiao Qi is evidently a very responsible young master.
As noon approached, Lady Zhang already had people cook porridge and steam buns. Lian Manman had long since cleaned and picked the vegetables and brought them to the kitchen. Lady Zhang led people to start stewing and stir-frying.
At the height of the hustle and bustle, Xiao Hetao, who went to the fields with Xiao Qi, suddenly ran back.
"What’s wrong?" Lian Manman, in the courtyard, seeing Xiao Hetao’s panicked look, stopped him and asked.
"...The old master of the old house has fallen..." Xiao Hetao reported to Lian Manman.
"What?" Lian Manman was taken aback.
Lady Zhang in the kitchen had already seen Xiao Hetao, wiped her hands, and came out to inquire. Hearing that Old Master Lian had fallen, Lady Zhang was also shocked.
"How could it happen? Why did he fall, and where?" Lian Manman asked Xiao Hetao.
"...He fell while coming back from the fields pulling a cart, halfway through." Xiao Hetao said.
Lady Zhang and Lian Manman both frowned.
"Why was Old Master in the fields again?" Lady Zhang said, "Even if he went to the fields, wasn’t it agreed that he’d just oversee, how did he end up falling."
"The field was so muddy, Old Master shouldn’t have gone." Lian Manman also remarked.
This harvest time, the fields of the old house that were leased out didn’t require Old Master’s concern, just the few acres left for self-cultivation. Lian Shouxin had already talked with Old Master about this; this year wasn’t like previous years. Having fallen sick several times, and with his age, he truly shouldn’t be toiling anymore. The few acres self-cultivated in the old house were few, which didn’t require Old Master to go to the fields. The labor was sufficient.
Ultimately, nowadays, Old Master and Lady Zhou have enough support without needing to labor themselves.
Old Master agreed, though he’s used to being industrious, in the busy farming season, he couldn’t stay home regardless. From the start of the harvest, he still went to the fields every day, but didn’t exhaust himself working.
This was partly due to Lian Shouxin talking to him, and partly because Old Master himself felt he wasn’t as strong as before. Some tasks he wanted to do but couldn’t manage anymore.
How is it that just after the rain had ceased, when the fields were hardest to traverse, Old Master went to the fields to work? Was it an accidental fall? After all, with the muddy fields, it must be very slippery.
Thinking so, Lian Manman suddenly noticed the phrase Xiao Hetao mentioned earlier—pull a cart.
"Xiao Hetao, did you say Old Master was pulling a cart?" Lian Manman quickly asked. It’s not surprising she didn’t notice this phrase; it’s indeed unexpected. It’s not like the old house lacks strong labor; how could they let Old Master pull a cart?
"Yes." Xiao Hetao nodded.
"How could Old Master need to pull the cart himself, what’s everyone else doing at the old house?" Lady Zhang angrily said.
"...I heard the field was difficult to navigate, so the people at the old house said to wait another day until the fields were dry before harvesting. Old Master wouldn’t wait, insisted on going to the fields. Since it was difficult to navigate, the cart got stuck accidentally. Those few dragged their feet and were reluctant to pull the cart. Old Master seemed urgent, so pulled it himself. In the end, he fell." Xiao Hetao relayed what he heard to Lian Manman and Lady Zhang.
"Even before, when Old Master was robust, this cart-pulling work was never done by him." Lady Zhang understood and sighed.
"Is the fall serious?" Lian Manman thought for a moment and asked.
"Don’t know yet." Xiao Hetao said, "Old Master and Second Master are in the fields, someone sent word, and they went over. They just used a cart to send Old Master home. Afraid of coming back late and worrying the ladies and girls, they had the young one hurry back to report."
