Transmigrated into a fat wife, farming, raising children, and picking up husbands

The flowers and trees were also carefully selected by the master and specially transported back from other places as a gift for the lady.

In spring, the peach blossoms in the backyard bloom in pink and white; in summer, the lotus leaves in the pond are lush and green; and in autumn, the garden is filled with the fragrance of osmanthus.

The pavilion has stone tables and benches, where people can drink tea and admire flowers in the summer, and watch the snow in the winter.

While it may not be as exquisitely crafted as the gardens in Beijing, it is still quite elegant and pleasant.

What about now?

The artificial hill needs to be leveled, the pond filled in, all the flowers and trees removed, and everything used to grow vegetables...

There's also red jade.

Liu Songnian recalled the figure in the flower garden, helping his wife pick flowers, water them, and take care of the plants. His heart ached, and the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt.

He opened his mouth, but in the end, he couldn't hold back.

"Madam Lin." He stepped forward, a smile on his face, his tone gentle and kind.

"I see that the backyard is quite spacious. How about this, we can keep the area around the rockery and plant some flowers and plants there? What do you think?"

Lin Xiuer looked at him.

Liu Songnian continued, "I know several skilled craftsmen, including bricklayers, carpenters, and gardeners."

"Have them come back later, fix what needs fixing, and repair what needs repairing. I guarantee they'll restore your garden to its former glory, no worse than it was back then."

"That rockery and that pond, if you tidy them up properly, they'll look much better than growing vegetables. How about you consider it? Hehe."

He spoke with a hint of anticipation in his eyes.

Lin Xiuer looked at him and sighed.

She knew perfectly well what the garden used to look like.

Such a grand layout, those exquisite artificial mountains, those massive ancient trees—it must have taken a lot of thought back then.

She understood what Liu Songnian was saying.

but……

"Mr. Liu, I know you mean well." Her tone was gentle, and she spoke the truth. "To be honest, I really don't have any money right now."

"Moreover, my husband and I also have to set up a stall to sell pancakes every day, so we have to get up before dawn. After a busy morning, we come back in the afternoon to tidy up the garden, plant vegetables, and water them. By the time we finish all that work, it's already dark."

Her tone was full of helplessness: "If I open a shop in the future, I'll be even busier. I'll have even less time to take care of the flowers and plants."

"If we plant vegetables, at least we can save some time buying them, and my mother can help take care of them when she has time. As for planting flowers, I'm afraid I really don't have the time right now."

Liu Songnian opened his mouth as if to say something, but swallowed the words back down.

What Madam Lin said is indeed the truth.

No matter how exquisite a garden is built, it still needs someone to maintain it. If no one cares or asks, it will still be the same as it is now: weeds grow wildly, artificial hills collapse, and ponds dry up.

He really wanted to say "I can help you," but how could he bring himself to say it in the current situation?

Why should he help someone tend their flower garden? They've only just met, and they're not that close yet.

Liu Ruyan watched from the side and, seeing her father's hesitant expression, quickly tugged at his sleeve.

"Father—" she drawled, with a hint of coquetry, "The garden already belongs to Sister Lin. She has her own plans for how to repair it. You don't need to worry about it."

Liu Songnian was brought back to his senses by her tug, and a smile returned to his face.

"Haha, yes, yes, it was Dad who was too talkative."

He smiled and cupped his hands in a gesture of respect to Lin Xiuer, "Please don't be offended, Madam Lin. I just feel a bit... a bit sentimental seeing this garden abandoned for so many years."

"Do it your way, however you want."

Lin Xiuer smiled and waved her hand: "Mr. Liu, you're too kind. I know you mean well. To be honest, if I had the money, I would also like to decorate the garden beautifully."

"But there's no rush. Let's take it slow and focus on making the business a success first. The garden isn't going anywhere, and we can add more flowers and plants later when we have the resources."

Liu Songnian felt a mix of emotions, and he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Lin Xiuer spoke very frankly, without the slightest hint of perfunctoriness.

As Liu Songnian listened, he understood that she was someone who truly lived a practical life.

However, right now, she simply doesn't have the energy to attend to those romantic matters. When she says she doesn't have time to manage them, she really doesn't have the time, and it's not an excuse.

Even though she'll have to level the garden and plant vegetables in it, it's still better than leaving it barren or letting those bastards from the Black Fish Gang ruin it.

He understands the principles.

But the bittersweet feeling in my heart still welled up uncontrollably.

Not just because of the garden.

Also because... I remembered some people.

That figure flashed through his mind again, and Liu Songnian almost couldn't keep up the smile on his face.

He thought of his wife, Hongyu, who used to be the lady's personal maid.

The lady treated her very well and never treated her like a servant. She loved following the lady around in the flower garden; when the lady picked flowers, she would follow behind with a basket.

While the lady was watering the plants, she squatted down beside her and pulled weeds.

When the peonies bloom in spring, her smile is more beautiful than the flowers themselves.

But then...

Later, the lady refused to leave.

When the soldiers who were raiding the house rushed in, the lady was sitting upright in the main hall, dressed neatly, without a trace of fear on her face.

Hongyu was supposed to run away with him and the young lady, but she refused.

She said, "My wife has been incredibly kind to me; I can't leave her alone."

She was going to stay and accompany the lady to her death, so she entrusted the young lady to him.

Liu Songnian closed his eyes, suppressing the surging emotions within him.

More than a decade has passed, but the thought still hurts. Yet, I can't show this pain to others.

He forced a smile and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lin Xiuer: "What Madam Lin says is absolutely right. I was being rash."

He paused for a moment, then added, "It's getting late, we should head back to the teahouse for our performance. If Madam Lin ever needs any craftsmen, please feel free to ask."

"I know a few honest and reliable people, both bricklayers and carpenters, who will guarantee to fix it perfectly at a fair price."

Lin Xiuer returned the greeting: "Then thank you in advance, Mr. Liu."

"No need to thank me." Liu Songnian waved his hand. "Thanks to Madam Lin, I am already more than satisfied to see this garden with my own eyes today."

"Sister Lin, we'll be leaving now. We'll come back another day." Liu Ruyan curtsied and followed Liu Songnian as they turned to leave.

After taking a few steps, she secretly glanced at Uncle Songnian.

Seeing that the smile on his face had disappeared and replaced by a blank expression, he didn't say anything, but just followed quietly.

Lin Xiuer and her group watched them walk away, then turned around to say goodbye to Wu Liangcai and the others, and headed in another direction.

Most of the shops on the street were still open. Lin Xiuer calculated that the family didn't have much rice and flour left, so she pulled Ping An into their usual grain and oil shop.

They also bought some rice, flour, grains, coarse salt, fine salt, sugar, a jar of soy sauce, and lard for making pancakes.

Ping An carefully packed the items onto the cart and tied them securely. Then, the two walked along the bluestone path toward the village entrance.

There weren't many pedestrians on the street, with only a few vendors occasionally pushing their carts past as they packed up to go home.

Lin Xiuer walked ahead carrying a basket on her back, while Ping An followed half a step behind, pushing a cart. The two chatted casually.

As I was walking, a man came towards me carrying an old medicine box. He looked up and surveyed the surrounding shops as he walked.

As we passed each other, I accidentally bumped into Lin Xiuer.

"Ouch!" The man quickly stopped, took a step back, and bowed deeply. "I'm so sorry, young lady. I was in a hurry and didn't notice you. I bumped into you."