Fortunately, the ninth lunar month arrived, and Zhulan was happy. Thanks to the good word-of-mouth, everyone knew that Lizhou City had late-season watermelons and cantaloupes, attracting many fruit merchants.

Zhulan’s family planted fifty mu of watermelons and cantaloupes. Unfortunately, due to the variety, watermelon yields in ancient times were low, not at the modern starting point of 5,000 jin per mu. Also, due to land limitations and the lack of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, Zhulan’s family’s mu, even with good care, only yielded 1,000 jin. After deducting the amount gnawed by rabbits and other wild animals, only 600 jin could be sold.

Because it was a late-season watermelon and there were many foreign merchants, the price was higher, while early-season watermelons were 20 wen per jin, the same price.

Zhulan’s family had forty mu of watermelons and ten mu of cantaloupes, with even lower yields. Wild animals were plentiful; rats and rabbits ate a lot of the melons, and no amount of manpower could prevent them at night. Even with fences, it was useless, as rats would burrow. Only 300 jin of melons could be sold per mu.

Moreover, despite having forty mu of watermelons, six mu were completely devoid of produce because the seedlings contracted a disease, killing off entire fields. Fearing further spread, they pulled up seedlings from several mu to isolate the crop, preventing further infection. Zhulan’s watermelon field almost suffered a total loss. Growing watermelons in ancient times was difficult. Despite the high price, ordinary people wouldn’t bother, fearing a complete crop failure; planting grain was considered safer.

Watermelon cultivation was primarily done by landlords or officials.

In the end, Zhulan’s family sold all their watermelons and melons, earning three hundred taels of silver after deducting costs.

The Yang family also planted a considerable amount, but because they didn’t invest as much labor as Zhulan, their profit was less, only one hundred and twenty taels.

Others who followed suit either made money, lost money, or suffered complete crop failure; the risk was too high, and many households didn’t plan to plant next year.

Zhulan also didn’t plan to plant next year; she planned to plant fruit trees instead, leaving the diseased plot of land vacant for later.

After finishing with the watermelons, it was time to prepare for the autumn harvest at Zhulan’s farm. Boss Zhou was in charge of this, so Zhulan didn’t need to worry about it.

That evening, after settling the accounts, Zhulan said to Zhou Shuren, “After selling the apples, once Second Zhou and the others arrive, I want to take him to the south to buy a farm.”

She had been eyeing the farm for a long time and was just waiting for the funds to come in so she could buy it.

Zhou Shuren rubbed his now-plump belly and held Zhulan’s hand. “I can’t leave Lizhou.”

Zhulan replied, “Don’t worry, with the others around, everything will be fine.”

Zhou Shuren hugged Zhulan. He didn’t want to be separated from her, but if she didn’t leave, he couldn’t surprise her. He had planned everything, but hadn’t had a chance to act. “A round trip would take at least a month and a half.”

Zhulan held Zhou Shuren’s hand. “Look, you’ve already gone out on your own, so it’s perfect for me to go too. Once Second Zhou can handle things on his own, I won’t go anywhere else.”

Zhulan hadn’t been to Jiangnan since coming to this ancient era. If she waited for Zhou Shuren to take her, she didn’t know when that would be. Thinking of Jiangnan, Zhulan wanted to see it for herself. The only pity was that Zhou Shuren couldn’t accompany her.

Zhou Shuren snorted inwardly. Don’t think he saw the excitement in Zhulan’s eyes. However, it was indeed difficult for him to take Zhulan to Jiangnan unless he was transferred there as an official. But that hope was slim. Based on his understanding of the Emperor, once Lizhou was back on track, the Emperor would definitely not let him waste time in Lizhou.

As for where he could be transferred, Zhou Shuren squinted. He already had a plan in mind, but the thought of the Emperor’s reply to his memorial made his heart ache. The Emperor had actually asked him about the estimated tax revenue for Lizhou City this year!

Zhou Shuren held Zhulan’s hand and clutched his chest. The Emperor had no conscience; he only knew how to exploit people. The government had finally managed to collect the money for the chickens, and the fruit was still on the tree, yet this man had no conscience and was already thinking about it!

Zhulan was waiting for Zhou Shuren’s reply. “Speak!”

Zhou Shuren said. “Okay, but I won’t feel at ease until you take the eldest and second eldest sons with you.”

Zhulan kissed Zhou Shuren. “Alright, I’ll listen to you.”

The next morning, not long after Zhou Shuren left, Zhulan received an invitation from Zheng Hong’s residence. Zheng Hong was very discreet; in the more than half a year that Zhulan’s family had been there, Zheng Hong had never given them an invitation.

Zhulan asked Steward Ding, “Did the steward who delivered the invitation say anything?”

Steward Ding replied, “The steward of the Zheng family said that the old master has arrived.”

Zhulan was speechless. “…”

Had Old Master Zheng arrived? That made sense. Logically, they should be the ones paying a visit. However, Zheng Hong’s position was sensitive, and he also had connections with the Yang family, so Zhou Shuren really couldn’t personally go to visit him. It seemed that Old Master Zheng was the one who was coming for a visit.

Zhulan glanced at the date of Old Master Zheng’s visit and knew without even calculating that it was a day off. “Prepare some dishes suitable for the elderly according to the date. The dishes should be salty.”

Steward Ding noted it down. “Madam, how many people’s meals should the kitchen prepare?”

Zhulan knew that Zheng Hong’s family wouldn’t be coming; she guessed only the old man and his grandson would be visiting. “One table is enough.”

Steward Ding said, “I’ll go and arrange it.”

That evening, Zhou Shuren told his servant that he wouldn’t be back for dinner. After dinner, Li Shi accompanied Zhulan. Zhulan noticed that Li Shi was absent-minded. “What are you thinking about?”

Li Shi touched her arm. She felt that she had lost a lot of weight, but she was unsure whether she was pregnant or anxious about her younger siblings’ upcoming arrival. “Mother, have I lost a lot of weight?”

Zhulan carefully looked at Li Shi. She had been busy since coming to Lizhou City and hadn’t had a moment’s rest recently. She hadn’t paid attention to Li Shi for a long time, and Li Shi did seem to have lost a lot of weight. Her chubby, round face had become much thinner. Zhulan gestured for Li Shi to stand up. “You really have lost a lot of weight. Have you been dieting?”

No, Li Shi was getting fatter the more she tried to lose weight!

Li Shi’s eyes reddened. The closer it got to her younger siblings’ arrival, the more anxious she became. “Mother, I haven’t had a proper rest for days.”

She dreamt every day that her siblings were coming, that her mother-in-law didn’t like her anymore, that she wasn’t as clever as they were, and that many people mocked her whenever she went out with her mother-in-law. She thought her mother-in-law would definitely enjoy taking her siblings out.

Zhulan thought Li Shi was ill and called Liu Ya, “Send someone to fetch a doctor.”

Seeing Li Shi’s miserable state, Zhulan’s heart pounded, and her mind was filled with all sorts of bad diagnoses.

Li Shi felt a heavy weight on her heart and didn’t hear what her mother-in-law was saying. She just wanted to vent, wiping away her tears with a handkerchief. “Mother, I know everyone outside is laughing at me, laughing at my ignorance, laughing at my vulgarity. Mother, do you not like me anymore?”

Zhulan really knew this. Even though she taught Li Shi again, she still didn’t know anything except cooking. Plus, she had a loud voice and had been isolated at several banquets. Zhulan felt sorry for her. She liked Li Shi’s simple and honest nature. After that, she never went when invited again.

Not only did she not go, but she also had to explain why she wasn’t going. Only she could amuse her own simpleton. Since she protected Li Shi, no one had dared to embarrass Li Shi in public anymore. Li Shi had become the envy of everyone; what mother-in-law protected her daughter-in-law like that!

Zhulan’s lips twitched. She felt Li Shi was crying too much; her emotions were too volatile. Li Shi’s crying was so loud it hurt Zhulan’s ears.

Boss Zhou was terrified before even entering the house. He knelt down with a thud as soon as he came in, “Mother, if Li Shi did anything wrong, it’s all my fault. Blame me if you must!”

Li Shi stopped crying and looked at her husband, “You’re the one who did something wrong.”

She was always the most obedient to her mother-in-law; how could she have done something wrong?

Boss Zhou was completely bewildered, “I did something wrong? No!”

Li Shi frowned, “Could it be that I did something wrong?”

Zhulan, “…”

These two were truly a perfect couple; their thought processes were identical. Look at them, even trying to recall if they had done anything wrong!

Zhulan closed her eyes, not wanting to watch her eldest son and his wife make a foolish mistake any longer. She finally understood—Li Shi wasn’t sick!

The doctor arrived quickly. Only after the doctor arrived did Zhulan open her eyes. She already knew what was wrong with Li Shi and gestured for the doctor to examine her.

Li Shi and her eldest son had already quieted down, pretending to be innocent after realizing they’d made a huge blunder!

When Li Shi saw the doctor, she said, “I’m not sick.”

Zhulan glared at Li Shi, who obediently shut up. Her intuition told her that her mother-in-law was angry!

(End of Chapter)

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