My humble days in ancient times

After the villagers finished their own fields, they couldn't wait to come over to plant rice. After all, thirty cents a day was not a low wage.

Xu Ruyi had already said that regardless of gender, age or status, anyone who came would be accepted. Of course, it was best if they were under 45 years old.

Now, more people came, including teenage girls and energetic young men.

Da Niu and Da Hu came excitedly, and Xu Dayan also came happily.

Huang Guiyun looked at Xu Dayan and asked curiously, "Dayan, why are you here? Aren't you afraid that the sun will get you tanned?"

"Don't worry, your skin will change after two months." Xu Dayan waved her hand nonchalantly.

Luo Daying said with some distress, "Tell her to rest at home, but she won't listen. She said she's bored at home and why not come over to liven things up."

Huang Guiyun smiled and said, "She is just young and doesn't know the hardship of transplanting rice. It doesn't matter. After a day of hard work, she will definitely not be able to get out of bed the next day."

Many villagers from the neighboring village also came after hearing the news.

Some people were bending over to pull out seedlings in the rice fields, some were carrying loads to transport seedlings, and most were busy planting rice. Some were talking and laughing, some were humming little songs. The scene was very lively, full of laughter and vitality.

The seedlings that have just been planted in the paddy field may appear somewhat fragile and listless due to a certain degree of damage to their roots.

During the first few days, the seedlings will work hard to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, and new roots will gradually grow and become firmly established in the soil. At this time, if water management is not done properly, such as when the paddy field is short of water, the seedlings may wilt.

Over time, the seedlings will gradually regain their vitality, and their leaves will become more upright and greener. After about a week, new leaves will begin to sprout, indicating that the seedlings have adapted to the new environment and have entered a period of rapid growth.

When Xu Qinghe came back, he opened the curtains of the carriage and soon saw a large field of rice seedlings. They were emerald green and very pleasing to the eye.

Jiang Jingchen couldn't help but praise: "The eldest lady is really capable."

Xu Qinghe nodded.

After walking for a while, Xu Qinghe was stunned.

What unfolded before my eyes was a vast field of chili peppers, like a green ocean, with a gentle breeze stirring up waves of green. The slender chili leaves swayed in the wind like dancing green ribbons.

Unripe peppers are emerald green, as crystal clear as jade, full of vitality and vigor.

Xu Qinghe jumped off the carriage and approached the pepper field. He soon smelled a unique spicy aroma. It was the smell of ripe peppers, which stimulated people's olfactory nerves and made people drool.

Xu Qinghe first spotted the Hangzhou pepper, which is typically slender and horn-shaped, ranging from 10 to 15 centimeters in length and fairly uniform in thickness.

Immature Hangzhou peppers are tender green in color, with a smooth and shiny surface. As the peppers gradually mature, the color will change from light green to bright turquoise, and some will even appear slightly purple-red.

The Hangzhou pepper's stalk is long and slender, with a slight curve at the end where it connects to the fruit. Its tail is pointed, like a small arrowhead. The flesh of the Hangzhou pepper is relatively thin, yet tender and crisp, with a crisp sound when gently broken.

Then I continued walking and saw the screw peppers.

The screw pepper has a unique appearance. It is usually slender, about 25 to 30 centimeters long, and resembles a green ribbon.

The screw pepper has a distinct curvature, twisting in circles like a spiraling screw, hence its name. Its skin is a bright, dark green, shiny, and relatively smooth.

The flesh of the screw pepper is thick and tender. It feels slightly springy when touched. Its stalk is short and sturdy, firmly attached to the fruit.

At the top of the fruit, it gradually narrows to form a pointed head, while the bottom is relatively thick, and the overall lines are smooth and natural.

The color of mature screw peppers will be richer and the taste will be stronger.

Xu Qinghe touched it with his hand, feeling very happy.

I continued walking and finally arrived in front of the millet pepper.

Small and delicate, like tiny fiery red gemstones, chili peppers are typically only 1 to 3 centimeters long, slender and pointed.

When immature, chili peppers are light green. As they mature, they gradually turn into a bright orange-red color, and finally become a fiery bright red.

With just a sniff, you can smell its strong and pungent aroma, as if warning people that its power should not be underestimated.

Xu Qinghe carefully picked some of each and took them home happily.

Jiang Jingchen asked curiously, "Are you going to pick these and fry them?"

Xu Qinghe smiled and shook his head: "Take it back and show it to Ruyi."

As soon as they saw Xu Qinghe, Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan ran over like two happy little birds.

Xu Ruyuan blinked his big eyes and asked expectantly, "Did Big Brother bring back anything nice?"

Xu Qingyan swallowed his saliva and asked anxiously, "Brother, did you bring back any delicious food?"

Xu Qinghe couldn't help but smile at their cute appearance, then pointed and said in a cheerful voice, "Go find it in the carriage yourself."

At this time, Jiang Jingchen was quick-witted and quickly took the important things and hurried away, fearing that he would be entangled by these two lively and active children and delay his work.

Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan soon began to search everywhere in the carriage happily. After a while, they were both surprised to find three exquisite gift boxes.

Xu Ruyuan eagerly opened the first one and found it contained paper, ink, a brush, and an inkstone. She curled her lips and said, "Oh, this is yours." She put it down and then eagerly opened the second one, only to find a warm, translucent jade bracelet lying quietly inside. Without stopping, she finally opened the third one, revealing an exquisitely crafted gold hairpin.

Xu Ruyuan ran over with joy, carrying the jade bracelet and the gold hairpin, and asked Xu Qinghe, "Brother, which of these two things is mine?"

"Choose whichever you like!" Xu Ruyi said with a smile.

Xu Qinghe smiled and nodded slightly to show his agreement.

Xu Ruyuan looked left and right for a long time, but was unable to make a decision.

"Oh, it's difficult to choose." Xu Ruyuan muttered, holding the jade bracelet and gold hairpin tightly in his hands, and he was reluctant to let go.

"Or, you can take both!" Xu Ruyi suggested with a smile.

When Xu Ruyuan heard this, his eyes lit up instantly and he asked in disbelief, "Really?"

Seeing Xu Ruyi nod affirmatively, she immediately ran away happily with the box in her arms, her cheerful figure like a light butterfly.

Xu Ruyi said with a smile: "Brother, come into the house and have a glass of water!"

Xu Ruyi turned and walked into the vegetable garden, and soon she picked a huge watermelon. She then carefully washed the watermelon and skillfully cut it into small slices with a knife.

The four brothers and sisters sat together and ate happily.

Xu Ruyuan said contentedly while eating, "It's delicious."

Xu Qinghe also nodded in agreement: "It is indeed juicy."

Xu Qingyan's mouth was full, and he said incoherently: "I can eat a big watermelon." Then he picked up another piece and started eating it in big mouthfuls. He looked cute and playful, which made everyone laugh.

Finally, Xu Ruyi told him with concern: "Watermelon is cold in nature. You can't eat too much, otherwise you will get stomach upset." After hearing this, Xu Qingyan nodded obediently, although a little reluctant, and slowed down the speed of eating watermelon.

Xu Ruyi looked at his greedy yet obedient appearance, couldn't help but smile, and reached out to touch his head gently.