CHAPTER 93: CHAPTER 85

Chun Nuan followed what Sister-in-law Wu bought as this heating device; although it can’t compare with the hand stove in the Capital, it has more uses that were liked by the brothers Chun An and Chun Qiang.

Nanny Wu taught them how to roast chestnuts, peanuts, and sweet potatoes over the brazier.

"The sweet potatoes need to be small, otherwise they won’t cook properly."

Nanny Wu was quite experienced in this area, teaching the two children hand in hand.

Mrs. Huang saw this and sighed again.

She was absolutely against her sons learning these useless things.

"Chun An, go practice your writing. Chun Qiang, how’s your recitation of the ’Three Character Classic’ going?"

Mrs. Huang couldn’t openly criticize Nanny Wu, but she was quite annoyed by her actions.

What she’s teaching is all the tricks that rural kids play with.

The noble sons in the Capital learn the six arts. Now that the Xiao family has fallen to Shu City, they can’t continue their studies but must still understand the basic rules.

These vulgar things should be kept at a distance.

Chun Nuan saw the changing expression of her third aunt and silently stowed away her playful thoughts.

She originally thought it was a fun way to give Chun An and them a little beautiful childhood memory, but now it seems, her third aunt’s memories are still more strict.

"Miss, want to eat roasted sweet potatoes?" Sister-in-law Wu obviously hadn’t noticed this; "We have a saying in the countryside: sweet potatoes’ surname is Zhang, boiled ones don’t smell as good as roasted ones. Roasted sweet potatoes have always been our favorite since childhood."

"Of course, I want to." Chun Nuan laughed: "Then I’ll have to trouble Sister-in-law Wu to roast a few sweet potatoes for me."

These sweet potatoes were planted by Chun Ning and Chunyan with Uncle Luo’s help in that sandy field. Although small in size, the yield was quite high, with a total harvest of more than two hundred pounds.

Uncle Luo said it was because of the lack of fertilizer; he also taught Chun Ning hand in hand how to compost.

After planting sweet potatoes, they planted wheat and rapeseed.

For the Xiao family, their first time farming revealed that the toughest part wasn’t the people, but rather the land, which never seems to rest.

Now, the sandy field has wheat planted, rapeseed at the side, broad beans and peas on the terrace walls, and lots of vegetables on the terraces.

Aunt Luo always shares some of the seedlings with them every time she plants something, teaching them hand in hand how to plant.

After learning for half a year, Chun Ning feels he’s become terrifyingly good at farming.

Except for the lack of manpower, everything else isn’t a problem anymore.

Uncle Luo also feels very capable.

After guidance from Chun Nuan, he became quite skilled in massage and chiropractics.

Along with the medicinal wine concocted by Chun Nuan, he gave massages to the former boatmen brothers, alleviating their old ailments like stiff legs, backaches, and arm pain.

Whatever small amounts of three to five cents came from these brothers freely given, for a while, his business at the pier was quite good, even more profitable than pulling fiber.

That day, Third Master Xiao sat on his specially made massage chair.

"I’ve been saying, watching you mess around at this pier every day, seems like I haven’t seen you pay any fees."

"Third Master, please spare me. I don’t have anything to sell, just my strength." Uncle Luo thought MMP in his heart but still had to flatter him: "Third Master must be aware, little old me pulled fiber previously, but my body couldn’t cope, resulting in a bunch of problems. Recently, walking became a problem, unable to pull fiber for survival, I could only do something else."

"You couldn’t walk, so what’s going on now?"

Third Master Xiao pointed at his stand and said: "If you pretend, at least pretend to look real?"

"Third Master sees clearly, little old me truly couldn’t walk. By chance, I met an old hunter in the mountains who gave me some medicinal wine. I remembered this matter, found the wine and rubbed it, and it improved considerably. Then I thought about the brothers who often have aches and pains and set up a stall here..."

For three to five cents a person, he still needed to pay his own expenses, working for free a day, it was better to rest at home.

"You’re exaggerating a bit, can’t walk but rubbing wine works?"

"Third Master, little old me has been pulling fiber at this pier for one or two decades. The brothers who pull fiber know me, it’s unlikely to deceive them."

Uncle Luo really wanted to curse, your family acts inhumanely, but I’m someone who eats by my skills squarely and fairly.

"Alright, come, give grandpa a massage."

Sitting there, unwilling to get up.

"Where is Third Master uncomfortable?"

"Everywhere is uncomfortable."

Uncle Luo had no choice but to decide to give him a full massage.

"Ouch..."

As soon as pressure was applied, Third Master Xiao started yelling.

"Old Luo, are you courting death, what did you do to Third Master?"

The servants immediately wanted to come and deal with Uncle Luo.

"Get off him, don’t move him." Yet, Third Master was over there murmuring: "It hurts quite a bit, but indeed comfortable, continue, don’t stop."

So, the two servants saw their Third Master miserably scream and yet say he’s enjoying it under Old Luo’s kneading, always saying to continue.

Uncle Luo’s hands were indeed a bit heavy, how to say, he surely had a little hidden revenge without waiting in line.

"Third Master, after the massage, does it feel more comfortable?"

"More than comfortable, very satisfied." Third Master Xiao said: "From now on, when grandpa has time, just squeeze and knead, grandpa decides, won’t charge your fees anymore."

"Thank you, Third Master, for understanding the struggles of little old me." Uncle Luo said: "But there’s still one thing to remind Third Master; after massaging today, there might be pain throughout the whole body for the next couple of days, but it’s normal, don’t worry."

"I know, grandpa is a man, not a lady, not afraid of pain. Knead more, knead a bit more; it’s refreshing."

Uncle Luo straightforwardly didn’t hold back anymore and used all his strength to knead him, anyway, pain wasn’t his to bear.

The pig-killing-like screams of Third Master Xiao spread across the pier.

"Is it really that painful?" The waiting fiber pullers looked at each other, finally shaking their heads. They also enjoyed Brother Luo’s massages, but it wasn’t painful to this extent.

"You don’t understand; Third Master Xiao is rich. For the rich, Brother Luo naturally is harder at work, unlike us; it’s simply like tickling."

"Right, right, servicing the nobles is different, giving us a different kind of relief."

After saying this, everyone laughed heartily.

The screams of Third Master stopped, he climbed up and said he felt much relaxed.

"Now, grandpa also believes you, indeed impressive." Third Master Xiao said: "Tomorrow will come looking for you again."

"Third Master, you’d better wait a few days, otherwise new pain with old pain together would make it unbearable."

"Who am I, when have I been afraid of pain?"

Uncle Luo... nobles are forgetful about you!

A moment ago, yelling like a pig would be slaughtered, and the next moment, showing off.

The greatest skill of these people is having a stiff mouth!

However, working a bit, letting him calm down is good.

At least, no fees need to be paid; also, it counts as earning money from him.

Uncle Luo reassured himself, under the eaves one cannot lift their head. Who made the land he stood on the Xiao Family Pier, surrender!