Flowers in full bloom

Hualei nodded and asked, "Is this the first year with more fruits?" "Yes." "Okay, I get it, Uncle Zhao. Thank you for your hard work during this period. You, Brother Zhao and Little Brother Zhao should pay attention to the orchard, walk around more and take a look. Be careful of birds pecking at the fruits. If not, make some scarecrows or hang some rags to drive away the birds. Try to preserve as many fruits as possible." "Yes, boss."

Hualei looked around and saw that some young guys were still wearing summer clothes, some of which were badly worn. The older guys were wearing two sets of clothes, and the cuffs and elbows were a bit torn.

He said, "Uncle Fu, when you go back later, talk to Ping'an brother and his wife and ask her to go to the cloth shop opposite ours tomorrow morning to buy some cotton cloth for the people in the village. Buy some coarse cotton cloth and some fine cotton cloth, two sets for each person. Ask her to estimate how much to buy, so that there is some surplus and not any shortage. You can bring it all over tomorrow." "Okay," Uncle Fu replied.

Hua Lei turned to the female relatives and said, "Auntie Zheng, when the cotton cloth is delivered tomorrow, you guys take a look at it and help each other to make a set of autumn clothes for everyone in the farm as soon as possible." "Yes, thank you, Mr. Zheng," Auntie Zheng and the others responded with joy.

Hua Lei thought for a moment and said, "Brother Kong, please sort out the relevant account books and tenant contracts of the farm tomorrow. I will come over to take a look the day after tomorrow."

"Okay," Brother Kong replied respectfully.

Hualei picked up the tea, took a sip, thought about it and felt that she had said almost everything she wanted to say. "For now, I have finished what I want to say. From now on, we are all a family. Everyone should work hard and I will not treat you unfairly.

But if anyone is lazy or treacherous, and does something that is not good for Zhuangzi, I will not be lenient at that time." Hualei glanced around, with pressure in her almond eyes.

"Okay, I'll stop here. Does anyone have anything else to say?" Everyone shook their heads to indicate that they didn't have anything. "That's it, everyone should sort out the things that need to be bought in the farm and report to Brother Xiao Kong. Uncle Fu and I will return to the city in half an hour." "Yes." Everyone dispersed and went to sort out their things.

After everyone left, Hualei let out a long sigh and slumped down on the back of the chair. She was so tired. Acting like an adult was also very tiring. Uncle Fu, who was standing next to her, looked at the young lady leaning on the chair, and a trace of heartache flashed across his face. Since the old boss passed away, the young lady had to take care of her younger brother and the whole family. It was really too tiring.

Half an hour later, Brother Kong came over hurriedly with a list in his hand, handed it to Hua Lei, and said, "Boss, these are what we need to buy. The food supply on the farm is probably only enough for about ten days."

Hua Lei took the list and took a quick look at it. She said, "Okay, let Uncle Fu go shopping tomorrow." Then she put the list into her sleeve. "Then we'll go home today," Hua Lei said as she stood up.

Uncle Fu got up and walked outside the house. Uncle Zheng had already pulled the mule cart out from the backyard. Uncle Fu took the whip and sat in the driver's seat. Hua Lei borrowed the cushion beside the mule cart and entered the carriage.

"Okay, thank you for your hard work today. Prepare dinner early and take a rest after eating," everyone nodded. They watched Hua Lei and the other person's mule cart slowly disappear into the distance.

Hua Lei sat in the carriage, lifted the curtain, and looked at the surrounding environment as the mule cart moved and shook. There was a village in the distance to the northeast of the Baihua Manor she had just bought. Due to the distance, she could not see it clearly. There should be dozens of households, and it would take about three quarters of an hour to walk there.

In the southeast direction of the village, in the middle of a large rice field, there is a farm. It is estimated that the entire village has at least 200 acres of farmland. At this time, some old farmers are walking in the farmland in twos and threes, bending down from time to time to do something.

To the southwest of Baihua Village was also a farm of about 200 mu, planted with rice. A group of farmers were clearing weeds in the rice fields.

The mule cart turned slightly, and the line of sight changed. The same village to the north of Baihua Village seemed far away. Hualei could only see a few vague houses standing silently in the sunset, and occasionally a few farmers were busy shuttling through the green and yellow rice fields.

At this time, the mule cart was passing by a village. The houses in the village were not far from the main road. Hua Lei saw the curling smoke from the cooking fires, and thought that the people in the village were preparing dinner. She also heard a few dogs barking.

When she looked inside, she saw that there really was a yellow and white dog standing by the gate, barking at the mule cart where Hua Lei was sitting. It looked like it wanted to go forward but didn't dare, but also felt unwilling to go back. Hua Lei smiled, and found the dog inexplicably cute.

Before they knew it, in the afterglow of the setting sun, the mule cart entered the East City Gate. Hua Lei asked Uncle Fu to go directly back to her house in Qingyun Lane first. She hadn't been home for several days and wanted to go back and take a look.

Soon, the mule cart arrived in front of their house in Qingyun Lane. Aunt Fu came over and helped Hualei get off the mule cart while asking, "Miss, you must be tired. I guess you will be back soon. Go to the main room to rest first and drink some tea. Dinner will be ready soon."

"Ok."

Hua Lei rubbed her waist which was a little broken by the mule cart, and sat directly on a small stool beside the well. She splashed her face with well water and took a short rest. There was still a hint of summer heat in the air and the wind was not strong. Hua Lei raised her eyes and looked around the courtyard, sighing softly. This courtyard is still too small.

Behind the gate, there was a pile of firewood in the triangular area. Under the eaves of the two shops, there were a stack of steamers and some sundries used in the bun shop. Under the eaves of the west wing, there were several bamboo baskets against the wall, which contained clean dishes covered with gauze to be used by the bun shop tomorrow.

There were several wooden basins and barrels beside the well. Two of the barrels were filled with water that had just been pumped from the well. This was for the two mules locked up in the west courtyard to drink before bed. Aunt Fu always said that the well water was too cold and the mules would have diarrhea if they drank it, so every night she would pump the well water out and let it reach room temperature before giving it to the mules. Hualei was no longer surprised.

In the northwest corner of the west courtyard, a thatched shed was built for the two mules. Against the north wall, a simple toilet and washroom were built with blue bricks, which was convenient for the people in the courtyard to wash at night. Against the south wall, a thatched shed was built with straw, filled with a pile of firewood.

Now that he runs a bun shop, there is a great demand for firewood, so after Uncle Fu finishes selling buns at the market, he will bring back some firewood from time to time, and before he knows it, the firewood is piled up full.

When I first bought the house, I thought the yard was quite big. Now, with some things piled here and some objects placed there, the yard is becoming more and more crowded.