Starting from a thatched cottage, the farmer embarked on the road to wealth through imperial examina

"My brother went to the county town and hasn't come back yet!"

Wulang put down the book in his hand and saw a group of children running into their yard with backpacks and baskets on their backs. A strong and refreshing floral scent wafted in the air.

The children who came into the yard included not only boys like Maodan and Niuwa, but also seven or eight half-grown girls, totaling about twenty children.

"You're not lying to us, are you? It's so cold, and we went to the mountains to pick so many wintersweet flowers, but Brother Sanlang is not at home!"

Yesterday evening, Maodan heard from Wulang that brother Sanlang was going to buy wintersweet flowers at five cents per pound. So he ran up the mountain with Niu Wa and the others at daybreak. It had rained last night and the road on the mountain was slippery. He was not careful and fell on his butt. It still hurts a little now.

"What are you yelling about!" Erniu yelled at Maodan.

"Sister Erniu."

When Maodan saw Erniu coming towards him from the kitchen with a menacing look on his face, he suddenly became like a wronged child, his momentum gone, his face flushed a little, he called out to Erniu timidly, then lowered his head, glancing at her from time to time.

"Why are there so many children? It's time for dinner. Have you eaten yet?"

When Lian saw a group of children coming into the yard, she hurried over and asked the children.

"Aunt Lian."

The children, led by Maodan, greeted Lian respectfully when they saw him coming.

"Mao Dan, have you had lunch yet? It's so late in the afternoon."

When Lian saw Maodan standing at the front, he took a few steps forward and asked.

"Aunt Lian, we haven't eaten yet. We went up the mountain to pick wintersweet flowers early in the morning. We just came down the mountain and are waiting to sell the flowers to Brother Sanlang before going home for dinner."

Maodan was like a little adult in front of Lian. He was no longer reserved and timid as he was when talking to Erniu. He explained everything clearly in just one sentence.

"Oh, Sanlang is in the county town, and we don't know when he will be back. Come on, put down your backpacks and baskets. I'll steam some buns for you to fill your stomach first."

Having said that, Lian turned around and gave instructions to Erniu and Wulang.

"Erniu, go get the basket of steamed buns on the cupboard and bring them to the kitchen to steam. Wulang, go get some candies for the friends."

Following Lian's instructions, Erniu and Wulang both ran into the house.

"Come, come, children. It's cold in the yard. Go inside. Leave the backpacks and baskets in the yard. They won't get lost."

Lian saw Maodan’s blushing face. As winter was approaching and it had rained last night, Lian hurriedly asked the children to come into the house.

Soon Lian and Erniu started steaming the buns. The children took the candies given by Wulang and ate them with relish. Some of the children ate one and wanted to quietly put the rest into their pockets.

"Qing Er girl, why are you still putting money in your pocket?"

When Maodan saw a half-grown girl putting candy into her pocket, he asked her with some contempt.

The girl called Qing Eryatou blushed suddenly, and then she spoke hesitantly.

"I...I want to...bring it back...for my mother...and my younger brother to try."

After hearing Maodan Chaoqing's questioning, the other children who wanted to put the things in their pockets hesitated and dared not move.

"Wu Lang, where did you buy this candy? It's delicious. Why haven't I eaten it before?"

Maodan didn't pay much attention to the other children. He quickly finished his candy, leaned towards Wulang with a curious look on his face, and then asked.

"This is made by my brother himself, of course you haven't eaten it!"

Wu Lang looked proud and handed two more to Maodan. Maodan took them with a smile, peeled off the oil paper and put them into his mouth.

"Can you ask Brother Sanlang to teach us how to make this candy?"

When Wu Lang heard that Maodan wanted to learn, he looked at him with disdain.

"You're dreaming! The workshop that is being built in the village will be dedicated to making these candies in the future."

"Then, can we eat these candies every day?"

The other children asked Goro curiously.

"Of course. My brother said that we will recruit a lot of helpers from the village to work in the workshop!"

When the children heard this, they became interested and quickly recommended their family members.

"Wu Lang, my mother is very hardworking. Please ask Brother San Lang to recruit her to work in the workshop."

"Wulang, my father is very strong. At the grain store in the county town, he can carry two sacks of grain at a time..."

"Wulang, my mother scolds my brother for being idle at home all day long. Can you ask Sanlang to recruit him into the workshop?"

……

The children were talking to each other, and Ye Xiaozheng, who was resting in the east room, came out to see what was going on.

Then I heard Wulang patting Maodan's shoulder and speaking proudly.

"Anyone who wants to work can sign up. My brother said both men and women are needed."

Lian came to the main room carrying the steamed buns. Seeing that all the children looked excited, she smiled and gave two buns to each child while shouting at Wulang.

"Wulang, stop bragging. We have to do what Boss Zhong says about this workshop."

Seeing Wu Lang's embarrassed look, Lian continued.

"Children, don't be in a hurry. Eat slowly. There's carrot soup cooking in the pot. It will be ready soon. Take some after you finish eating the steamed buns."

"Thank you, Aunt Lian!"

When Ye Changyan got off the carriage, he smelled a strong aroma of wintersweet. He pushed open the gate and saw a group of children eating steamed buns, talking to Wulang who was standing in the middle of them.

"Brother, you're back. Have you eaten yet?"

Erniu saw Ye Changyan push open the door and asked him. Then she saw Liang Jingcheng and Lu Tingfeng standing at the gate of the yard holding glass jars behind Ye Changyan.

"Brother Liang, Brother Lu!"

Liang Jingcheng and Lu Tingfeng both nodded to Erniu, carrying the glass jar, and followed Ye Changyan into the courtyard.

"Erniu, we have already eaten. Come over and help move the things on the carriage into the house."

A group of children who were talking happily, saw Ye Changyan coming back, and they all got up quickly, ran to the yard and greeted Ye Changyan.

"Brother Sanlang!"

"Brother Sanlang!"

……

"Brother, Maodan and the others went up the mountain to pick wintersweet flowers early in the morning. Look, the backpacks and baskets are full of wintersweet flowers."

When Wu Lang saw his brother coming back, he hurriedly explained the situation to Ye Changyan.

"Okay, okay, you guys finish eating the buns first, and I'll come and weigh them for you after I've packed up the things on the carriage."

When the children heard this, their faces were filled with joy and excitement.

Liang Jingcheng and Lu Tingfeng entered the house carrying the jars. Lian, Erniu and Wulang all ran over to help unload the things from the carriage.

"Give those two jars of wine to Tingfeng. They are too heavy. Don't drop them."

Liang Jingcheng hurriedly shouted outside the courtyard gate. Lu Tingfeng put down the glass jar, got into the carriage swiftly, picked up a jar of wine and went into the house.

Soon, after unloading all the things, Ye Changyan took out the scale, asked Wulang to find paper and pen, and asked Erniu to bring a bamboo plaque, and then began to weigh the wintersweet flowers for the children.

Liang Jingcheng and Lu Tingfeng also came over to help.

"Who picked this basket? It's quite heavy!"