Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1377 - 702: No Idle Days for a Farming Family

So, when it was time to open the Pickled Vegetable Workshop again, the family discussed it and thought, why not make this pickled vegetable workshop a part of Lian Zhizhi’s dowry.

"With the mill for my sister, that’s enough for daily expenses. Plus this workshop, she can save one hundred taels of silver a year. My sister won’t have to worry about anything," Lian Manman said.

Not only will she not worry, but with such an inheritance, Lian Zhizhi will be on par with a medium-sized landlord family.

Lian Zhizhi initially refused, saying she didn’t need it.

"All this furniture, clothing, fabric, and jewelry, plus the land, the mill, it’s all too blessed. If I take more, it’ll exceed even Eldest Lady Huai’s dowry. I have no use for all that money. Besides, I’m the eldest, we still have Wu Lang, Manman, and Xiao Qi, and they will all need money in the future. The family has many places to spend money. What I’m getting is enough, I can’t take more."

"This is more than I could have ever dreamed of before."

Lian Zhizhi wasn’t exaggerating. Based on her family’s situation when she was first betrothed, a set of cabinets and boxes, with some bedding and a couple of bundles of clothes and fabric would have been considered an ample dowry. What the family had now decided to give her far exceeded her expectations. She was very satisfied and not greedy for more things.

Lian Zhizhi really took after Lady Zhang, not valuing money or possessions too much. As long as she had enough to eat and drink, she was content and had no strong desire for luxury.

A simple, capable farm girl, who after marriage, would make the ideal virtuous wife and good mother. It’s undeniable that the Wu Family had great foresight in choosing Lian Zhizhi.

Even though Lian Zhizhi didn’t want it, the family insisted on giving it to her, and in the end, Lian Zhizhi had no choice but to accept the workshop.

All the matters of the pickled vegetable workshop were entrusted to Lian Zhizhi, and Lian Manman and Lady Zhang didn’t remain idle either, as they continued preparing for the roasted duck shop. The ducks for roasting had started being raised, and were doing well. The task of selecting and purchasing a storefront was left to Wu Lang, as he went to the Prefecture City every month and knew the situation there best.

Lian Manman, Lady Zhang, and Lian Shouxin were tasked with recruiting the head chef for the roasted duck shop.

"Dad, Mom, you can’t expect to open the shop and then have the two of you roasting ducks in the kitchen," Lian Manman said with a laugh during the discussion. "Besides, even if we could bear it, you two wouldn’t be able to handle all the work alone."

Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang were quite pleased to hear their youngest daughter say that she didn’t want them to be overworked.

Since Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang couldn’t be the chefs, they had to find someone else and provide training.

Given the limited time to prepare and to get a roasted duck chef quickly up to speed, Lian Manman specified during recruitment that she was only looking for experienced individuals, those who already had culinary skills but didn’t yet qualify as head chefs, i.e., apprentices. Such people might not have been able to lead in regular restaurants, but after several years as apprentices, they would have mastered a skill.

These individuals fit exactly what Lian Manman was looking for. The method of roasting ducks could be taught, but skills like knife work, controlling heat, and slaughtering ducks require long-term practice. Lian Manman wanted individuals with these foundational skills.

Training these individuals could save much more time. Moreover, those who originally only stoked fires or worked as butcher apprentices would find the offered compensation from the roasted duck shop quite appealing.

After the autumn harvest, even though farm families still had work to do, it generally marked the start of a relatively idle season. However, for Manman’s Family, although their days had become prosperous and they had become landlords, their lives were even busier than before.

While they were busy, some others weren’t, and even thought they weren’t busy either.

Lady He finally freed herself from the confines of the old home and returned to her days of visiting around. At first, she just visited around the village. When the Lian Family’s pickled vegetable workshop reopened, Lady He promptly showed up again.

Lady He would first come to the pickled vegetable workshop, initially mentioning a couple of times that she wanted to work there. Later, she stopped saying that too, and every day she’d come just to sit on the warm bed and chat.

Eventually, Lady He grew bolder and began trying to visit Lian Manman’s home. The family was busy with their affairs and paid her no mind. Moreover, Lian Shouxin and Lady Zhang didn’t think much of loafers. It wasn’t until Da Pang and Second Fatty scared her off twice that Lady He stopped visiting Lian Manman’s home.

Unable to get into Manman’s Family’s door, Lady He wasn’t discouraged and simply turned around to another place.

One day, Lian Manman went to visit Lian Yeye Family. As soon as Lian Yeye heard the front gate move, she came out to greet. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"Are Third Uncle and Third Aunt home?" Lian Manman asked as she walked with Lian Yeye towards the house.

"They’re both here." Lian Yeye responded, making faces and winking at Lian Manman.

Lian Manman didn’t immediately understand what was happening, but upon entering the house with Lian Yeye, she saw Lady He sitting cross-legged on the heated bed.

"Oh my, it’s Manman!" Lady He exclaimed with a big smile upon seeing Lian Manman, "Haven’t seen my dear niece in days, you’ve grown even more beautiful! Manman, quickly come up and sit, Auntie will give you the warmest spot."

Lady He shifted a bit, making room beside her for Lian Manman.

Lian Manman just gave Lian Yeye a look.

"...Every day she comes and won’t leave." Lian Yeye leaned in and whispered in Lian Manman’s ear.

"Oh." Lian Manman murmured, glancing from Lady He to Lian Yeye, finally understanding Lian Yeye’s earlier gestures.

...

There will be a second update later, asking for pinks, aiming for third. (To be continued. If you like this work, you’re welcome to Visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is my biggest motivation.)