Chapter 75 Pancake Fruit
Chapter 75 Pancake Fruit
"Father, I want to rent out the land," Madam Yang said to Wen Dashan. She explained that all four of her sons were in school, and she couldn't manage all the work in the fields by herself. She wanted Wen Dashan to help her rent out the land.
She didn't worry about her eldest son's school fees; Wen Yuxia paid for his education in the county town. She also paid for the tuition of her three sons who attended the village school.
After renting out the land, Ms. Yang planned to start a small business in town.
Wen Dashan waved his hand and said, "Why rent? If you want to go to town to do a small business, go ahead. Just have your second and third sons help you cultivate that little bit of land."
After her eldest son died, it wasn't easy for Yang to raise four children on her own. Every year, the Wen brothers, who worked in the charcoal industry, would ask Yang to bring them food, just to help her out.
Now that Yang wants to rent out her land, Wen Dashan will definitely disagree and will directly decide to have Wen Zibai and his brother help Yang farm the land.
Yang looked troubled. The Wen brothers were helping her farm for free, which didn't seem quite right. She tentatively said, "Father, I feel bad about letting my second and third brothers help my family farm for free. Can I share some of the grain with them during the autumn harvest?"
The land was leased to others for cultivation, and the landlord received 60% of the harvest each year. Yang wanted to share some grain with the Wen brothers, not wanting them to work for free.
Wen Dashan said nonchalantly, "If the harvest is good, each person will get a bag of grain; if the harvest is bad, it's fine not to give anything." He believed that brothers should help each other, and giving a few dozen kilograms of grain as a token of goodwill after the autumn harvest would be enough.
In his youth, Wen Dashan didn't experience brotherly affection from Wen Zhihua; now, in his old age, he values sibling bonds even more.
One of his favorite sayings was, "Being brothers in this life is a blessing earned over many lifetimes; whether we can continue this bond in the next life is still unknown."
He admonished his children and grandchildren to cherish their blessings and the people around them, lest they regret it after everyone has turned to dust.
Hearing Wen Dashan's words, Yang was filled with gratitude and quickly said, "Father, thank you."
The various branches of the family had long since divided their responsibilities, but they still held decision-making power over important family matters. Since he readily agreed to let the Wen brothers help Yang with the farming, Yang returned to her own home with peace of mind.
The next morning, Ms. Yang went to Biyun Town to inquire about which businesses were profitable and which were easy to start. After her investigation, she decided to start a food business.
"Second sister-in-law, don't cook tonight, eat at Dad's."
"Third sister-in-law, come to Dad's for dinner tonight."
After spending the whole day wandering around the town, Yang returned to Xinghua Village carrying a basket of food on her back. She told Zhang and Hua that they would be having dinner at Wen Dashan's house that evening.
Watching Yang take the snacks out of the basket one by one, Wen Dashan said in surprise, "Eldest daughter-in-law, you bought too much!"
He was unaware that the Wen brothers, Wen Zibai and Wen Zihua, were also coming with their families to freeload a meal, assuming that the snacks were a gift from Mrs. Yang.
Yang said generously, "Not much. I've visited every food stall in town. I bought these things to get your advice on which snacks I should sell. Oh, and my second and third brothers are coming over for dinner too."
Wen Dashan was somewhat embarrassed. It turned out he had been presumptuous; the food was bought by Yang for everyone in the family.
He turned and shouted towards the side room, "Lin, steam more rice tonight! The eldest son's wife, the second son, and the third son's family will all eat here!"
Ever since Wen Yuxia bought Wen Linshi back, Wen Dashan has become accustomed to his master-servant relationship with Wen Linshi as his servant. He is so efficient at ordering Wen Linshi around that even Old Lady Wen admits she can't keep up.
"Understood," Wen Lin replied in a strong voice.
When she first returned to the Wen family, Wen Linshi was frail and thin; now, she was plump and had a rosy complexion.
Old Mrs. Wen followed closely behind Madam Wen Lin towards the kitchen, muttering, "I have to go to the kitchen and keep watch."
Wen Linshi had been caught sneaking food in the kitchen several times before, but Wen Dashan didn't seem to care.
Old Mrs. Wen was dissatisfied, but dared not go against Wen Dashan. So, whenever Wen Linshi was busy in the kitchen, Old Mrs. Wen would stand at the kitchen door as a doorman.
Wen Dashan smiled helplessly: "That's just how your grandma is, she's old but still acts like a child, always like a little kid."
Madam Yang said softly, "Don't worry about how they fight, as long as there are people to do the housework."
During dinner, the children expressed their opinions while eating:
"Auntie, the egg pancake is delicious!"
"Auntie, the fried pea cakes are delicious!"
"Fried dough sticks, delicious!"
"The big meat bun is delicious,"
……
"Oh, my little darlings, everything looks delicious! I can't possibly learn to cook it all and sell it!" Mrs. Yang was driven to distraction by the children's clamor.
"Hehe, eldest daughter-in-law, why don't you go to the county town and find Daya, and ask her for some advice?" Wen Dashan suggested, seeing that Yang was hesitant.
"Look at my memory, how could I forget our family's capable person?"
Wen Yuxia was the most capable of the younger generation; at a young age, she had already acquired a two-courtyard house in the county town. Madam Yang trusted Wen Yuxia's advice to be the most sound.
After Wen Yunhai and Wen Yunshen moved into Wen Yuxia's house, the rest of the Wen family learned that Wen Yuxia and her brother owned a two-courtyard house in the south of the city. They were unaware of any other businesses owned by the siblings.
"Second brother, third brother, you two will be responsible for cultivating your sister-in-law's fields. Your grandfather and I will also lend a hand. During the autumn harvest, your sister-in-law will give each of you fifty catties of grain. Do you have any objections?" Wen Dashan asked gently.
After exchanging a glance, the brothers Wen Zibo and Wen Zihua simultaneously nodded in agreement to farm. To make farming easier, the brothers and Yang had already replaced their mules with oxen.
"Second sister-in-law, third sister-in-law, I'll go to town first to scout out the route. If it's profitable, the three of us sisters-in-law can do it together," Yang reassured her two sisters-in-law.
Madam Hua smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, work hard, I'm looking forward to your guidance."
Zhang laughed it off, saying, "Sister-in-law, I'm counting on you to give me a hand. Be sure to let me know if you find any profitable business opportunities!"
The Wen brothers whispered amongst themselves, deciding to divide the Yang family's land in two, with each of them responsible for cultivating half.
Having not seen Wen Yuxia and her brother for a long time, Wen Dashan drove a mule cart with Yang and Zhang to the county town.
Knowing that Yang wanted to start a snack business, Wen Yuxia recalled the once-popular jianbing guozi (Chinese crepe) from her previous life, and she carefully explained to Yang how to make it.
Flour, eggs, and mixed grain flour were all available in Wen Yuxia's kitchen. After hearing this, Yang went to the kitchen, and Zhang, unable to contain her excitement, followed closely behind.
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