Chapter 341: Nurturing
Editor: Atlas Studios
When Liu Daqian heard that Mu Shi’s family was here, he wanted to bring them back. Liu He said with a smile, “It’s almost lunchtime. Bring Mu Shi over later.”
Liu Erqian walked past Liu Daqian and said with a smile, “Brother He, it’s rare for the child to come back. Just attend to him at home. You can bring everyone to eat.”
Liu Daqian glanced at his brother and said, “Another day, perhaps. Rocky will definitely make a trip back on the second day of the Lunar New Year. I’ll bring him over then.”
Liu He did not say anything, but after sending them off, he stopped smiling. He sighed slightly. He knew that Liu Daqian and his brother were a little dissatisfied with his attitude towards Liu Li and his mother. In addition, the crop harvest in the past two years had not been good, and the conflicts between the villagers and neighbors had not been handled well. Thus, they were dissatisfied with his actions, which affected the Mu family’s attitude towards the Liu clan.
However, a clever housewife could not cook without rice. In addition, everyone was constantly doing risky things that could endanger their lives now, so it was inevitable that they would be more frustrated. He had no choice.
Fortunately, although Liu Daqian and his brother had objections, they were still quite respectful to him outside.
When Liu Daqian and Liu Erqian returned to the Liu Residence and saw Mu Shi, they smiled and nodded. “You’re here, Rocky? Come and sit.”
Liu Ting went over and patted his shoulder. Smiling, he said, “You’ve become sturdier. Looks like being a soldier is still beneficial.”
“The last time I saw Liu Xuan, he also became much sturdier.”
Liu Erqian’s eyes lit up and he asked, “You saw Ah Xuan? That kid hasn’t been home for more than a month…”
The few of them pulled out stools and sat under the roof to talk. Mu Shi mainly came to ask Liu Ting and Liu Yuan to take care of his family. After all, they were working on the experimental fields with his daughter and would make a trip there every few days.
Even if Mu Shi did not say it, Liu Ting and Liu Yuan would still take it to heart, so they agreed immediately.
In the room, Liu Lang was also talking about his future plans. “My father wants me to be an apprentice in the city. This way, after three to four years, I can settle accounts and be an accountant. I’d have a more promising future that way.”
Xiuhong widened her eyes and said, “Is there a need to be an apprentice? Why don’t you become my apprentice? I’ll definitely teach you everything I know. You’ll be able to master it in half a year, not three to four years.”
Liu Lang looked down on her. “Stop bragging. This is different from buying a few catties of rice or oil for your home. There’s a lot of knowledge involved.”
Xiuhong chuckled and asked, “What kind of knowledge? Cousin Lang, tell me.”
Liu Lang could tell that she was teasing him. His face instantly turned red as he said in embarrassment and anger, “I’m not talking to you anymore. You’re not even listening seriously.”
Mu Yangling was playing with Madam Liu-Zhao’s youngest son, Liu Jin. When she heard this, she kicked Xiuhong and said, “Speak properly.”
Xiuhong put on a serious expression and said, “I’m serious. Instead of learning from those accountants and being tortured by them, why don’t you follow me? I’ll show you my account book later. My cousin even praised me for doing well.”
Liu Lang was skeptical. “But why would I follow you?”
“How stupid.” Xiuhong glared at him and said, “Cousin is now planting dozens of hectares of land. In addition, the income and expenditure of the cattle farm and the nursery are all handled by me. Are you still afraid that you won’t have anything to do?”
Mu Yangling also put Liu Jin down and let him crawl on the brick bed to play. She said to Liu Lang, “Cousin Lang, Xiuhong is right. If you want to learn how to be an accountant, you can follow Xiuhong. In a year or two, you’ll master the skills. If you become an apprentice for someone else, they’ll only provide food and accommodation. You won’t even get paid.”
Liu Lang’s eyes lit up. He went to Mu Yangling’s side and asked, “Then, Ah Ling, if I come work for you, will you pay me?”
“Don’t ask me about this. Xiuhong is in charge of this. Go and ask her,” Mu Yangling said with a smile.
Xiuhong craned her neck and said, “That depends on your performance.”
Liu Lang immediately jumped off the brick bed and ran into the kitchen to bring a bowl of water. He bowed to Xiuhong and said, “Female Teacher, greetings. Here, I’m offering this wine to you as your apprentice. Try it!”
Xiuhong looked down at the plain water in the bowl and asked, “You’re so stingy. At least give me some tea. You actually used plain water to fool me.”
“Who said that this is plain water?” Liu Lang shouted. “This is clearly clear water that was scooped up from the water vat. It’s sweet. Try it?”
“Alright, you didn’t even boil the water and simply let me drink it as it is. No, I won’t accept a disciple like you.” Xiuhong saw Liu Lun laughing at the side and pulled him back. “I’d better take Cousin Lun as my disciple.”
Liu Lun was most afraid of reading. When he heard this, he immediately ran away. “I’m not doing it. Cousin, you should go to my brother.”
Liu Lang laughed out loud. “Good kid, I’ll remember your kindness.”
When the people in the room heard the children making a ruckus, Eldest Great-aunt Liu shouted, “Ah Lang, what are you guys doing?”
Liu Lang rushed in and shouted, “Grandma, I’m not going to that eatery to be an apprentice in spring. I want to be Cousin Xiuhong’s disciple.”
“What?” Eldest Great-aunt Liu almost jumped up. Her son had spent money to pave the way for Liu Lang to become an apprentice to the eatery’s accountant. After mastering the skills, Liu Lang could also become an accountant. Even if crop harvest was poor in the future, he would still have a way to survive. And he simply gave up just like that?
Before Eldest Great-aunt Liu could jump up, Liu Lang continued, “The accountant only manages one eatery and he’s not even as good as Cousin Xiuhong. She’s in charge of Ah Ling’s dozens of hectares and cattle farm. She said that if I go over to help her, I’ll graduate in two years at most.”
Liu Lang deliberately dragged it out because he wouldn’t be able to master it in a year or so, lest it turned out he was stupid or Xiuhong couldn’t teach well. In any case, he couldn’t go wrong giving a longer duration.
Seeing Eldest Great-aunt Liu frown, Great-aunt patted her hand and said, “Alright, let the child go.” Great-aunt waved her hand to motion Liu Lang to go out before saying, “It’s a good thing that Ah Ling is willing to help out her cousins. You might not know it since you live in the West Village, but Ah Ling has expanded the family business by a hundred fold.”
Eldest Great-aunt Liu and Second Great-aunt Liu were stunned. “I didn’t hear anything about it. I just heard that she raised a lot of rabbits and is planning to open a cattle farm this year. But isn’t she raising those rabbits for Little General and Young Master Fan?”
Great-aunt didn’t tell them the truth and only said, “That’s true, but she didn’t lose out either. With Little General and Young Master Fan backing her up, the cattle farm was set up easily. There are more than 3,000 oxen inside…”
Eldest Great-aunt Liu’s eyes darkened. Their Liu clan had worked hard for so many years but still could not afford a single ox. It wasn’t that an ox was terribly expensive. If they kept saving money, it would take them two years to afford one.
However, the family had to eat and drink, and the house had to be repaired. Someone in the family was bound to fall sick during the year, or they would have to prepare dowry for the girl and betrothal gifts for the boy. It was fine on their side, but didn’t Liu Xuan from the second branch not get married because he couldn’t afford a decent betrothal gift?
Now that he was a soldier, it was even harder for him to get a wife.
Hence, while the two families could not afford even one ox, Mu Yangling directly bought more than 3,000 oxen.
This intuition made her know that Great-aunt was not spouting nonsense. She said nervously, “Then, will Ah Lang cause trouble if he works for her?”