Splendid peasant girl busy farming

Chapter 12017

"Well, I can't think of anything else, so this is the only option." Yang Ruoqing nodded.

Looking at their reflection in the bronze mirror, she sat with her beautiful hair cascading down her back, wearing a white undergarment, her face pure and lovely.

Standing behind her was Luo Fengtang, who was wearing a long, flowing black satin robe-style undergarment with a slightly open V-neck, revealing his healthy, tanned chest muscles.

Broad shoulders and a strong waist, the belt loosely tied around his waist, as if it could slip off with the slightest flick of a finger...

As Yang Ruoqing watched, she filled in the blanks in her mind. Then, she felt her breathing become a little erratic, and an indescribable feeling rose in her body.

Even though it was the dead of winter outside, with water freezing instantly, she felt like she was in an air-conditioned room with super-strong auxiliary heating (sorry, please forgive me, I live in the south and have only experienced the feeling of air conditioning for heating in winter, I don't know what it feels like to have underfloor heating throughout the house, embarrassed face).

Yang Ruoqing subconsciously licked her lips, feeling a bit thirsty.

This tiny movement was easily captured by Luo Fengtang.

"What's wrong, Qing'er? Are you thirsty?" He leaned down slightly, his warm breath brushing against her ear.

Is this damn man deliberately flirting with this thirty-something-year-old girl?

Yang Ruoqing stared at the 'dog man' in the mirror, who was leaning over and lightly touching her ear and neck with the tip of his nose. She reached back and gently stroked his face, her voice becoming more seductive.

"I'm not only thirsty, but also a little hungry, my husband, what should I do?"

My wife is both thirsty and hungry.
Luo Fengtang paused slightly, subconsciously recalling what his wife had eaten at the dinner table that night.

He heard her soft laughter.

Luo Fengtang looked up and met her mischievous peach blossom eyes in the bronze mirror, her beautiful eyes full of spring.

Luo Fengtang was suddenly enlightened. A slight smile appeared on his lips as he leaned down and pulled her into his arms. He pressed his forehead against hers and whispered in a hoarse voice, "Alright, then let your husband wash his hands and cook for his wife..."

The north wind howled outside, and all was quiet except for the occasional bark of a dog from afar in the village.

That night, Yang Ruoqing, having eaten and drunk her fill, nestled contentedly in Luo Fengtang's arms and slept soundly until dawn.

The next morning at the breakfast table, Yang Ruoqing saw something familiar.

One was a bowl of sweet tofu pudding, and the other was a large bowl of soft, sweet cabbage stir-fried with tofu dregs that had been frozen by snow.

"I want to eat a bowl of tofu dregs and drink a bowl of tofu pudding. I'm really into soybeans this morning," Yang Ruoqing said with a smile.

Tuantuan looked up, soy milk still on her lips: "Mom, Grandma said that eating too much tofu dregs will make you trip and fall."

Yang Ruoqing gently wiped the soy milk stains from the corner of his mouth and smiled, "That's a child. Adults have a steady footing and won't fall."

After breakfast, Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang were about to go to their parents' house next door to help make candy when a carriage arrived. It was Zhou Wang, who had personally brought Luo the blacksmith back.

"Old man, why did you come back early? Qing'er and Tang Yazi said they would pick you up tomorrow." Wang Cuilian was very happy to see Luo the blacksmith return, but she was also more surprised.

Because when Luo the blacksmith was at home, he kept saying that he missed his younger sister Luo Da'e and wished he could be by her side every moment.

Luo the blacksmith smiled and waved his hand: "The New Year is just a couple of days away, and I should be back. Besides, Zhou Wang and the others are extremely busy. If I stay there, it's supposed to be to keep Da'e company, but in reality, they'll have to spare some of their manpower to take care of me."

In the past two or three days, Luo the blacksmith has witnessed firsthand the busy work at Zhou Wang's chicken farm.

Zhou Wang spends almost the entire day at the chicken farm. In Zhoujia Village, the surrounding villages, and many families in the town who need chickens, ducks, and geese for the New Year, the farm will slaughter them for free as long as the quantity is three or more.

Slaughtering chickens and ducks in this freezing weather is a laborious task, especially the plucking process, which requires not only manpower but also a constant supply of hot water.

So Zhou Wang and Xiao Huan went to the chicken farm almost at dawn and didn't return until very late at night.

During this time, Xiao Huan took some time to go home and cook three meals. After cooking, she let Luo Da'e, Luo the blacksmith, and her youngest son eat first. She then took Zhou Wang's portion, her own portion, and the rations of the other workers at the chicken farm and hurriedly rushed back to the chicken farm.

Luo the blacksmith originally wanted to help out at the chicken farm. With his help, Zhou Wang and the others could hire one less person. Hiring someone to help slaughter chickens and ducks would cost eighty coins a day, and it would be paid on the same day.

As a result, after working all day, Luo the blacksmith's hands had been soaking in the water for several hours. Not only did his back ache and his arms become sore that he couldn't lift them, but his cough also showed signs of recurring.

This terrified Zhou Wang and the others. They absolutely refused to let Luo the blacksmith go to the chicken farm. Luo the blacksmith realized that if he continued to stay in their home, he would not only be of no use but would also increase their burden.

Looking at Luo Da'e, she seemed to be in relatively good condition. Although she ate slowly and not much at each meal, she could still manage to eat about 70-80% of her food over three meals a day, and she could also sleep well at night.

After thinking it over, Luo the blacksmith decided to return early.

Upon hearing what Luo the blacksmith had just said, Zhou Wang quickly replied, "Uncle, you mustn't say that! Your staying to keep my mother company is already a huge help to us!"

"It's just that my chicken farm has been so busy this year that I haven't had a chance to spend time with you properly, Uncle. It's my fault for not taking good care of you!"

Luo the blacksmith patted Zhou Wang on the shoulder, "We're uncle and nephew, so let's not stand on ceremony. You're busy before the New Year, so let's get together properly in the first month of the lunar calendar."

"Definitely, definitely!" Zhou Wang nodded repeatedly.

They had both come on an empty stomach, having not even had breakfast that morning. When they passed through Qingshui Town, Zhou Wang wanted to stop and buy breakfast for Luo the blacksmith, but Luo the blacksmith refused, not wanting to continue taking up his nephew's time.

Both of them were starving, so Luo the blacksmith instructed Wang Cuilian and the others to get Zhou Wang some food to tide him over.

Zhou Wang quickly waved his hand, "I'm not hungry, I'll go back first."

"Cousin, wait a minute." Yang Ruoqing called out to Zhou Wang and shoved an oil paper package into his hand.

"What is this?" Zhou Wang held the oil paper package, which weighed about half a pound, in his hand. He smelled the spicy and oily aroma emanating from the contents, which made his nose itch, but his appetite was also whetted.

"These are spicy strips. My Qing'er made them herself. She didn't make many, so take some back for the children to try." Luo Fengtang said this almost with pride and self-satisfaction.

Who told him to have such a super capable wife? She can make so many snacks and treats that other wives can't. He should be proud of that!
Upon hearing this, Zhou Wang accepted the gifts, expressed his gratitude, and then hurriedly drove away in his carriage.

Watching his departing figure, Luo the blacksmith sighed, "Their money is hard-earned; it's not easy for them!"

Wang Cuilian glanced at him and said, "You old man, you only care about your nephew. Do you think Tang Yazi and Qing'er's money just falls from the sky?" Luo the blacksmith was stunned for a moment, then looked at Luo Fengtang and Yang Ruoqing beside him.

The young couple simply smiled and remained silent, showing no displeasure on their faces. However, the old man looked a little embarrassed and quickly added, "It's not easy for anyone, it breaks my heart to see them all like this!"

“Uncle, you have already suffered a lot in raising me. Now it is my turn to take care of you. You don’t need to feel sorry for me,” Luo Fengtang said very seriously.

Yang Ruoqing smiled and nodded, "Yes, Uncle. You and Aunt only need to take good care of yourselves. That is the greatest help and care you can give to us younger generation."

Wang Cuilian looked at Luo the blacksmith and said, "Did you hear that? How sensible the children are!"

“Indeed, indeed!” Blacksmith Luo nodded repeatedly.

"Then for the next few days, you shouldn't go out anymore. Today is the 27th of the twelfth lunar month. Our family and the third brother and his family are making rice candy together..."

Before Wang Cuilian could finish speaking, Luo the blacksmith interrupted her, "Leave it to me. I'll have a sip of tea and a bite to eat before I go to Lao San's place to make candy!"

“Uncle, there’s no rush to make the candy. You’ve been in the carriage for so long, take a rest first,” Yang Ruoqing said.

Luo the blacksmith waved his hand and said, "It's alright. I'll rest after breakfast. Right now, I'm thinking about going over to make candy. I've been making candy all my life, and I love making candy during the New Year."

"To be honest, although Zhoujia Village is not small, the atmosphere of preparing for the New Year in December is far less intense than that of our Changping Village. It's better to come back!"

Everyone laughed.

Yang Ruoqing said, "I'm going to prepare breakfast for Uncle. Uncle, what would you like to eat?"

"Anything is fine, I'm not picky." Luo the blacksmith's boldness resurfaced as he waved his hand.

Yang Ruoqing smiled and nodded: "Okay, then I understand."

Wang Cuilian started 'nagging' him again: 'You really know how to pick your time to come back this time, we just finished breakfast!'

Luo the blacksmith just smiled and said, "I'll eat whatever you leave behind, it'll be just as good."

Wang Cuilian rolled her eyes at him, and the old couple laughed and scolded each other as they went to the back room to pack up Luo the blacksmith's luggage.

Yang Ruoqing and Luo Fengtang watched the harmonious figures of the two elders from behind, and the young couple smiled at each other.

"Since Uncle came back, I feel that Auntie's spirits have improved a lot. Do you feel the same way?" Yang Ruoqing asked Luo Fengtang quietly.

Luo Fengtang nodded: "Yes."

“However, what I’m worried about now is that you asked me to give the spicy snacks to my cousin’s kids. What will we do when my two kids find out?” he asked again.

I made ten portions of spicy strips, each weighing half a pound. I gave them all away, and kept one portion at home.

I originally planned to bring rice candy and sesame candy to the Zhou family children when I went to pick up the old man from Zhoujia Village tomorrow.

Before he could even make the candy, Zhou Wang brought the blacksmith Luo back. He couldn't let Zhou Wang return empty-handed, because this time Zhou Wang brought a large white goose with him.

So Yang Ruoqing made up her mind and decided to put the spicy strips down her throat first.

“It’s okay, I’ll make them some spicy strips separately today, I guarantee they’ll be happy,” Yang Ruoqing said.

"Making it today? Okay, I'll go soak the soybeans right now..."

"Hey, don't soak them!" Yang Ruoqing quickly caught up with Luo Fengtang and grabbed him. "Today I'm using a different ingredient, and I guarantee the spicy strips I make will still be irresistible to them!"

As the sun gradually sets in the west, a busy day slowly comes to an end.

The blacksmith Luo and Luo Fengtang spent almost the entire day in the kitchen of the third house next door, busily making rice candy and peanut candy.

The raw materials sent over were half a sack of wheat grains, ten catties of soaked rice, five catties of sesame seeds, five catties of crushed peanuts, three catties of crushed red dates, two catties of raisins, and one catty of goji berries.

The final candy was quite a sight to behold.

The blacksmith Luo and his son Luo Fengtang made several trips and brought back several large iron cans, each of which could hold about ten kilograms of food.

Previously used to store tea leaves, now cleaned and used to store all kinds of sugar, the dozen or so large iron cans are all filled to the brim.

Luo Wuyou also participated, thoughtfully labeling the names of the candies in each jar with slips of paper and then sticking them on the tin cans.

These include two large jars of rice candy, one large jar of black sesame, peanut, and goji berry candy, one large jar of black sesame, red date, and peanut candy, black sesame, peanut, and raisin candy, and black sesame, red date, and raisin candy...

Just like in a later math unit where you draw black and white balls from a box to calculate combinations, the sugar in these ten or so tin cans can also be freely combined.

You can simply take whatever you want according to the markings on the can, which is incredibly convenient.

"It has to be my daughter! She's so smart, meticulous, and thorough!" Luo Fengtang praised Luo Wuyou from the bottom of his heart as he looked at the annotations on the document.

"Hehe, so smart, thoughtful and meticulous, you must be just like your father!" Luo Wuyou chuckled, not accepting all of Luo Fengtang's praise, but instead attributing half the credit to Luo Fengtang, her biological father.

Now, Luo Fengtang, this cold and tough general, was truly warmed and melted by his little darling's words.

His face was beaming with smiles, the smile reaching deep into his eyes. If his soldiers had seen such a smile, they would probably have been utterly astonished.

So their cold-faced general can smile after all? Of course, if his enemies on the battlefield saw him, they would be so shocked they'd rub their eyes out!
A cold-faced, ruthless killer, a head-reaping machine on the battlefield… yet he can smile like this, a true 'father', when facing his own daughter!

"Children, come and have some candy. Hot candy tastes best." After a busy day, Luo the blacksmith was beaming as he invited everyone in the Luo family to come to the main room for candy.

Rong Gu, Ping An, and the others have all arrived. Yuan Yuan, even on Yang Ruoqing's orders, specially delivered freshly baked candy to the family's guards to share with everyone.

Yang Ruoqing was eating a piece of puffed rice candy. The white puffed rice was crunchy and easy to chew. Because it was a puffed food, it didn't hurt her teeth. Yang Ruoqing ate two pieces in one go.

"Qing'er, another piece?" Luo Fengtang's thoughtfulness was on full display at this moment. After noticing Yang Ruoqing's taste preferences, he handed her another piece of rice candy.

Yang Ruoqing patted her stomach with a smile and said, "I can't eat anymore. I need to save room for dinner. Besides, I'm going to make spicy strips later, so I need to leave some room for them."