Farming and reading family

In fact, Gao E didn't care much about this matter, but since Zhao Zhengyuan offered to help, she was naturally happy to see it happen.

She seldom came into contact with the gentry in He County, but those gentry were probably always keeping an eye on her, so it was always a good thing to have less trouble.

After knowing that Yan Zheng was Yan Congfang's younger brother, Gao E took Yan Zheng to live in her own yard. Yan Zheng also began to trust Gao E and talked more.

Knowing that all the children in Gao'e's family were studying, he started talking about academic matters when they came back from school and soon became familiar with Jin Chao.

Gao E doesn't need to worry about the children. Both Hu Zhexing and Master Chu are watching them more closely than Gao E.

Wei Kai has already made a honeycomb coal-making machine, which is as delicate as a work of art, so Gao E is embarrassed to say that this thing is just a honeycomb coal-making machine.

They tried it first and saw good results, so they asked Wei Kai to make a few more.

There were indeed people in He County who couldn't survive the winter. There were a few young ones, but they were notoriously lazy and didn't live very well.

Because Zhao Zhengyuan's attitude changed, Cao Geng took the opportunity to crack down on the gentry again. The price of firewood in He County finally came down and the supply increased.

The key point is that no one has come to collect firewood in Qinzhou City recently. Those who stockpiled firewood before are worried. Besides, after the New Year and the hot weather, the consumption of firewood will also decrease.

Before, Chen Fansheng asked Chen Qing to build him a thatched hut to live in at the ancestral grave. After the two snowfalls after the New Year, no one mentioned the matter anymore. He became much calmer and would not go out for a walk every day after eating and drinking enough.

But Yang still hated Chen Fansheng, as if once you start hating someone you have to keep hating them, otherwise it would seem like you were wrong.

Chen Ke studied even harder, which made Du Weiqing shake his head.

Reading requires some talent. Even if you know the classics by heart, you may not be able to write good articles or poems.

Chen Ke seems to be such a person. Fortunately, he has read a lot of books and has some insights, so he is not so restrained when talking to others.

The several masters in the family are also busy, doing whatever they can.

Especially Master An, who brought a few apprentices to finish making the doors, windows and furniture for Gao'e's new courtyard in the first month of the year.

While they were working inside, Gao E asked someone to add another pot of charcoal fire so that the house could be finished faster and they could move in directly when it was finished.

The first month of the year passed in a blink of an eye, and it wasn't so cold anymore. More people went to work in the fields.

At home, Yan Zheng was able to get out of bed with the help of a cane. The doctor that Yan Congfang had mentioned did not come, but the Yan family sent a lot of medicinal herbs, supplements and two thousand taels of silver.

That day, Lu Hao drove over with Lu Erniang. Gao E thought they were here to discuss the wedding banquet, but it turned out they were here to discuss silkworm breeding.

"This year's mulberry leaves should be enough to feed some silkworms. We can't waste them," Lu Er Niang suggested.

The main thing is that she and the people she leads have to do something and cannot always be supported by the employer.

"Wait a little longer." Gao E thought that the imperial court's decree to liberalize silkworm production had not yet come down. If she started in a hurry, it would be troublesome if she was sued.

Lu Erniang didn't know what Gao E was waiting for: "I heard that other families have already started. You are preparing so early just to seize the opportunity."

"The first opportunity is not necessarily the best. Now the imperial court has not issued the decree to liberalize mulberry silk production. Others may not have problems, but I may have problems." Gao E was worried.

Lu Erniang thought about it and agreed. This world cannot tolerate a woman being in the limelight.

"Don't worry, it's a good thing to take good care of the mulberry trees." Gao E comforted him. "Besides, the greenhouse, silkworm house, and weaving workshop are not yet fully completed. Haste makes waste."

Lu Erniang thought Gao E was eager to start because she had prepared so early. "Okay, according to your request, I found some women and taught them how to raise silkworms and reel silk. The documents have also been signed."

Gao E nodded and said, "Let's do these things slowly. Let's prepare for your marriage with Lu Hao first."

When Lu Erniang heard Gao E say this, she said nonchalantly, "I've been through this before, and I have experience."

Gao E thought this was true.

Sericulture takes up relatively less arable land. As long as we cultivate the land reasonably and maximize the output of the land, life for the people will not be too difficult.

Recently, some crops are ready for spring sowing. Gao Eyi wants her eldest brother to bring all the children along. Although she doesn't expect them to be experts, they should at least understand the farming season and crops.

That day, Gao E took the children to pick spring buds and learn about wild vegetables. The children in the village came running to say that there were guests at her house.

Gao E didn't know who had come. Strictly speaking, she only had one younger brother from her mother's side, and the villagers must have known him.

When she got home, she saw an old man sitting in the yard. Yan Zheng also came out. It seemed that it was Yan Zheng's father who came.

When Yan's father saw Gao E coming back, he hurriedly stood up and saluted: "Thank you, Madam Chen, for saving my son."

Gao E nodded in return, "Young Master is very clever. He knows how to ask for help."

The strict father was delighted when he heard this. His family came from the military, and they had risked their lives for some glory. Only his youngest son was good at studying, and he hoped that his youngest son could become a civil servant.

"It's just a small token of my appreciation, not a token of my respect." The strict father stepped aside and revealed the thank-you gift behind him.

I couldn’t tell what was inside, but it was five full boxes.

"Uncle Yan, you are too polite." Gao E and Yan Congfang are of the same age, so it is normal for her to call his father uncle.

"It's my duty." The strict father was happy to see Gao E was not shy.

He was originally very unhappy that the eldest brother left his younger brother here. After all, they were not acquaintances. Even if he saved his son, he could not leave him here.

After coming here, I heard from his youngest son that several people from the Chen family were staying here as guests, and Mrs. Chen treated them all equally. She also felt that her youngest son was much more cheerful than before and had become a little more childlike.

Now that I see Gao E, I feel more relieved.

After exchanging some pleasantries, the two men got down to business.

"I want to keep my youngest son with Madam Chen." The strict father said directly.

"Ah?" Gao E was puzzled. She thought Yan's father was here to pick up Yan Zheng.

The strict father sighed: "Something happened at home, so it's not convenient for the youngest to go back for the time being."

Gao E guessed it had something to do with Yishunbo: "It's okay. I have many children at home anyway. As long as Uncle Yan doesn't mind my humble conditions, it's fine."

"Your place is amazing." The strict father was very satisfied. "I am a little fatter than when I was at home."

Yan Zheng used to be very picky about food and looked like a skinny monkey.

When he came to Gao'e's house, he didn't know whether it was because he had experienced the sufferings of the world outside or because the food in Gao'e's house suited his taste, but he really gained some weight.

"As long as uncle is relieved." Gao E nodded.

Yan's father stayed in Baotou Village for two days. It was much more comfortable here than their village.

Especially since he knew that Du Weiqing could teach him reading and Chu Rong could teach him martial arts, he planned to keep his son here in the future.

After seeing off Yan Congfang's father, Gao E received a letter from Que'er and a large bag of jewelry.

Que'er told her what was popular in the capital now, and that the food in the restaurants in the capital was not as delicious as hers, and asked her to open a restaurant in the capital as soon as possible.

Finally, she said that she might not be able to eat it, and she would probably have to go to Shuoxi to get married.