Betrayal
Throughout the year, adults are only willing to spend more money on gifts for their children during the harvest and the New Year.
The candy business of Zhou Wulang and his brothers is thriving. Even Zhou Siliang did not expect their candies to be so popular. Initially, many children were reluctant to buy them at one penny each, but now they are lining up to grab them.
Zhou Siliang couldn't help but ponder and whispered to Zhou Wulang, "Brother, we can sustain this business for a long time." Why didn't you come to the county town before?
While selling candies and collecting money, Zhou Wulang replied, "Don't think about it." It's only during the New Year that so many children are willing to spend money on candy. Typically, we sell our candies to the county magistrate's daughter and the children who live next door to their house.
Zhou Siliang could only sigh in disappointment as he helped sell the candies and collect the money.
Because he had also put in the effort that day, when he returned home in the evening, after deducting the costs, he divided the money evenly. Zhou Siliang received eighty wen, and he was overjoyed.
Then, Manbao put away her money, turned, and ran back home to tell her mother, "Mother, we made money selling candies today." Brother Siliang received eighty wen.
Madam Qian asked, "Why didn't I see you when you came to report to me?"
Manbao then realized that by reporting, she had exposed herself. After a moment of thought, she hugged her mother's arm and playfully said, "We still need to buy candies." If we report, we won't have much money left. "Mother, can we refrain from reporting the money we make from selling candies in the future?"
Madam Qian then tapped her nose and said, "Who do you think doesn't know that you and Wulang are secretly making money from selling candies? If you don't report, then don't report. But this is the only exception. "May I ask if you have the money from your fifth and sixth brothers with you?"
Manbao clutched her pockets and said anxiously, "Mother, I would never betray Wulang and Liulang."
Madam Qian couldn't help but pat her head and said, "What nonsense are you thinking?" Am I that kind of person? I just want to ask, "How much money do your fifth and sixth brothers have with you?"
Although Madam Qian had not seen the money on her daughter, she had a rough idea. Furthermore, this child had a tendency to spend money, particularly on food, so she didn't need to worry.
But she couldn't guess how much money Wulang and Liulang had.
Manbao turned and ran, saying, "I won't tell you." I promised Wulang and Liulang.
Madam Qian let her go, realizing that she wouldn't catch her. She didn't need to ask anymore. After thinking for a moment, she called Siliang into the house.
When Siliang came out again, his head was hanging low. He scanned the courtyard and, not seeing Manbao, went outside. After walking for a while, he heard voices coming from the vegetable garden and followed the sound.
He saw Manbao squatting on the ground, chatting happily with everyone. He walked up to her angrily and shouted, "Manbao!" "Did you and your mother betray us?"
Manbao looked up from the crowd, ran up to him, and held his hand, saying earnestly, "Brother Siliang, I did it all for your own good."
Siliang was furious. What good did it do him? He had only saved eighty wen.
"What good does it do me if you tell mother that I saved money?" It does me no good. "It only lets the mother know that we made money and didn't report it."
Siliang became even angrier. "So you harm others and benefit yourself."
"Who said that?" I harm myself to benefit you. You still owe money to the family. You received money but did not return it. If our father, mother, and siblings-in-law find out, what will they think? Your reputation is already poor, and it will only deteriorate further. "I did it all for your own good."
Manbao continued, "And what's the use of keeping the money?" Are you going to gamble with it?
"I don't gamble."
"Since you don't gamble, what are you going to do with the money?" Are you willing to use it to buy meat for the family? Are you willing to buy new clothes for yourself?
Siliang: ... Not willing!
"You see, I knew you wouldn't be willing." So, in the end, you still have to return the money. It's better to return it early than late. Brother Siliang, I even got scolded by mother for your sake. "You didn't even thank me for making money and not reporting it."
Siliang actually found Manbao's words reasonable, but he wouldn't believe her. How could she be harming herself to benefit him?
Siliang listened to her expressionlessly and decided not to argue with her. He shook off her hand and was about to leave.
But Manbao grabbed his hand and said, "Brother Siliang, since you're here, let's go see our ginger together." Our ginger has grown so big. After the New Year, we can plant it in the ground.
"So soon?" Siliang took the matter of his barren land more seriously and asked, "Have you inquired about the usual planting time for ginger?"
Manbao had already recorded information about ginger, stating that it requires a temperature of at least 16 degrees Celsius to sprout.
She didn't understand what 16 degrees Celsius meant, but she knew it signaled that spring was in full bloom.
As the New Year was approaching and spring was on the horizon, she inquired with her sister-in-law, who mentioned that they would be occupied with planting after the Lunar New Year.
So, Manbao had already made plans. "After the fifteenth day of the New Year, when the sun comes out, we'll take the ginger out to dry for a few days before planting it in the ground."
The information about ginger also suggests that it is best to cut the ginger into pieces, remove any rotten parts, soak it in wood ash water, and then dry it for seven to eight days before planting. This would prevent the ginger from getting sick.
Manbao thought this planting method was similar to that of yams.
She also asked her sister-in-law if all underground tubers benefit from being soaked in wood ash water and dried before planting.
Her sister-in-law checked the system and found that most tuber plants recommended this planting method. In the future, people will use nutrient solutions, but for now, wood ash water is better than nothing.
The planting of yams preceded that of ginger, and the yams had already been dried and stored in the kitchen for propagation.
The breeding of yams took about twenty days and required a relatively warm environment. Besides their own rooms, the kitchen was the warmest place in the house.
Manbao couldn't stand the smell of the yams soaked in wood ash, so she moved them to the kitchen.
They had piled up a lot of straw in a corner not far from the stove. When the kitchen was heated, the firelight would shine on it, making it quite warm. During the coldest times, the family would gather in the kitchen to keep warm, which also helped warm the yams.
At first, Manbao didn't know if it would work, but with the warmer weather and reminders from her sister-in-law, she went to check and found that some of the yams had sprouted.