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

Old Madam Guo's thoughts were also made more lively by Liu's eloquent speech. She thought that her old man had been a shopkeeper all his life, and her uncles must have inherited some of the old man's skills.

The old lady knew that even though this family owned hundreds of acres of land, they only had to rely on the rent, with no other income. In the long run, they could only ensure that they would not starve.

I have covered the cost for the second son many times, but the money I have put in is not small. Now that my two older grandsons are about to get married, the betrothal gifts will be a big expense. I also have to prepare a wedding banquet and the dowry for the eldest girl should also be prepared. These are all places where money is spent.

I went out for a walk a few days ago and was really shocked when I passed by a milk processing workshop that was under construction. For such a large workshop, I really don’t know how many long-term and short-term workers it would take. If the eldest and second sons could go in and be managers or something, not only would they avoid being idle all day and causing trouble, but at least they would have some income.

As the old lady thought about it, she looked at her two sons, and then her eyes fell on her three grandsons. How many children of Dalang and Erlang's age in the village have not yet found a marriage? It's not that she is not anxious, but it's useless to be anxious.

I contacted several matchmakers, and those who had a little financial resources, but when they heard that the two children had neither education nor a proper job and did nothing all day, they all politely rejected me. There were some girls who were willing to marry into the family, but what kind of family were they from? They all wanted to marry into the family and enjoy a good life and become a lady's wife.

Silang is only one year younger than Sanlang. After the family split up, Sanlang not only passed the imperial examination and became a scholar, but also got in touch with the young master of Yunfeng Building in the county town. Seeing that the cattle farm and milk processing workshop in the village are about to be built, Sanlang will surely have a lot of say in it.

Thinking of this, the old lady sighed in her heart. These were all troubles, but Liu's words gave the old lady a glimmer of hope. If the eldest and second sons could really be allowed to work as managers in the workshop, relying on the skills that the old man had given to his two sons, it would not be too difficult for them to do some writing and calculating.

The three grandsons can also go into the workshop as apprentices and learn some writing and calculating skills from their father. They don't ask for high pay, but it is a way to make a living after all. In addition, with the family's hundred acres of land and a big house as a backing, it will not be too difficult to find a decent granddaughter-in-law.

The more the old lady thought about it, the more she felt it was feasible, but the immediate problem was who would go forward to look for Sanlang.

The old lady no longer dares to underestimate Sanlang now. The previous events have already overturned the image of Sanlang in the old lady's mind. Sanlang is no longer the taciturn nerd. Now Sanlang can not only settle the problems that he is helpless to solve with just a few words, but also lead you into a ditch with just two words.

The old lady learned from the maid Ping'er that the eldest daughter-in-law Xu and the eldest girl had secretly done a lot of needlework for the third wife, and that when Xu and Liu had a big fight, it was the eldest girl who ran to call the third wife over.

It seems that the first wife has been quietly approaching the third wife in private, which is understandable. It seems that in the current situation, Xu and the eldest girl may be the best candidates to come forward.

Just when everyone in the Ye family was whispering and making their own plans, they heard the old lady speak.

"I thought about it, and what the second son's wife said before does make some sense."

When everyone heard the old lady's words, they all looked at her. Liu was very proud to hear her mother-in-law praising her. She even glanced at Xu opposite her, as if with some provocation. But the old lady's next words immediately made Liu like a defeated rooster.

"I think this is the way. Tomorrow morning, the eldest son's wife will take the eldest daughter and two pieces of good cloth to go to the farm to check. The weather is getting colder and colder. We should make some thicker clothes for the third son and the children."

Ye Xiaowen and Xu were delighted when they heard this. Originally, Xu was planning to take one of the two new sets of clothes she made for Dalang to give to Sanlang. Although Sanlang was a few years younger than Dalang, his stature was not smaller than Dalang at all. Fortunately, the clothes she made were quite spacious, so Sanlang should be able to wear them.

Now that the old lady has spoken, that's even better. I don't have to sneak over there. I can just take two pieces of cloth from the old lady and it will be more respectable.

But before Ye Xiaowen and Xu could be happy for long, they heard Liu say to the old lady.

"Mother, please let me go with my eldest sister-in-law. I have a few tricks here, which I can bring to Erniu. This girl is very clever and can use them."

Mrs. Liu had always been clumsy, and the stitches she made when she sewed and mended were always crooked. She had never done much to make clothes for her two sons. Seeing that his wife had found an excuse for her lameness, Ye Xiaowu hurriedly added.

"Mom, this pattern is the latest one that Ruxu's sister-in-law sent back from her parents' home in Yuzhou City a few days ago. I'll take it with my eldest sister-in-law tomorrow to show my third sister-in-law and Erniu whether they like it."

When the old lady heard the couple jumping out, she knew that they were up to no good. Thinking of Liu's brazen attitude, if she followed them, she might not only fail to accomplish anything, but also cause trouble.

Thinking of this, the old lady flatly refused.

"Only the eldest wife and the eldest girl can go. If so many people go, it will make the third room think that we are forcing them, which is not good."

Ye Xiaowu and Xu both breathed a sigh of relief when they heard what the old lady said. Although the second son and his wife were somewhat unwilling, they thought what the old lady said was not completely unreasonable, so the matter was settled.

Early the next morning, Xu and Da Niu came to the farm with two pieces of cloth.

The gate of the manor was not closed. Xu looked inside and heard some noise inside, but no one was seen. She knocked on the gate politely and then walked into the yard with the girl.

"Sister-in-law, girl, you guys are here, come on, it's cold in the yard, come inside and sit down."

Lian, Wulang and Erniu were busy in front of the kitchen when they heard someone knocking on the door. They threw the work in their hands to the two children and took a few steps before they saw Xu and Da Niu holding some cloth.

"His third aunt is busy. The weather is getting colder, and the New Year is not far away. The old lady and his uncle are worried about the children and are afraid that they will be cold, so they asked my mother and me to bring two pieces of satin over to make new clothes for the children."

As soon as she stepped into the yard, Xu saw Wulang and Erniu busy in the kitchen, so she winked at Da Niu.

"Big girl, go to the kitchen and help your brothers and sisters."

As she spoke, Xu looked around and saw Ye Xiaozheng coming out of the east room, but there was no sign of Ye Changyan, so she started asking.

"His third uncle, isn't Sanlang at home?"