LGSLAW : Chapter 35 – Plan

The storms at the old family home no longer concerned Yang Dalang and Miao He. They were temporarily staying at Aunt Yang’s house. The new house made of blue bricks couldn’t be built as quickly as a mud house, which would take only half a month. The entire construction process would take about two months, even with accelerated progress.

Because they were staying at Aunt Yang’s house, to avoid prying eyes, Miao He had been going out with Yang Dalang every day, ostensibly to clear the mountains and gather some mountain produce. However, once they were in the mountains, Miao He would squat in a secluded spot and secretly use Magic soil to grow the day’s plants.

There were many things to plant.

First were the fruit trees. Earlier, Yang Dalang had borrowed a cart from the workers and brought back various fruit trees such as peach, hawthorn, pear, and plum. Following Li Ming’s instructions, they planted these trees in an orderly manner around the new house. Miao He would occasionally nurture them with Magic soil. As long as they were careful, others wouldn’t notice anything strange, only thinking that these transplanted trees were growing better by the day.

By now, in midsummer, most of the fruit trees were bearing fruit. Although some fruits weren’t yet edible, as long as Miao He could harvest some fruit with seeds, he could secretly plant them.

With Magic soil, planting was incredibly easy. Miao He only needed to bury the seeds in the holes Yang Dalang dug—these holes were left by the original trees that were cleared from the mountain—and then add Magic soil. In less than half a day, a complete and high-quality fruit tree would grow.

Although this method was slow and each tree had to be dug out individually, it was currently the most economical way. They didn’t need to spend extra money on unnecessary saplings to cover their tracks and could gradually replace the trees on the mountain with their desired varieties. When, much later, outsiders noticed the mountain full of fruit trees, they could claim they had been transported in batches from outside, just like the blue bricks, which no one noticed in advance.

One side of Magic soil was used to plant fruit trees, and the other side was responsible for growing rice and vegetables needed for cooking at the construction site. They also needed to take some back to Aunt Yang’s house and fertilize the new vegetable field, and finally, they needed mung beans for green bean cakes.

Staying at Aunt Yang’s house made it more difficult to make green bean cakes. However, Yangshui Teahouse kept insisting that they mustn’t stop the supply! The cakes were more popular than the dishes and had become the star attraction. If there was none for even one day, Manager Jin would be scolded to death by regular customers. Miao He started by carrying a large bag of mung beans, claiming it was the material needed for making cakes. Then, every day, he used Magic soil to produce mung beans.

Knowing that Miao He earned this new business after delivering vegetables, Aunt Yang was very supportive and often helped out. After all, she thought it fair to get a few cakes for her grandson after helping. Her grandson loved the cakes so much that he would stare at them hungrily every time they were made, even ignoring the family cat, Dabai.

This gave Miao He a new idea.

One day, while hiding in the mountains and squatting to grow mung beans with Magic soil, Miao He said, “In the future, let’s give the cake-making job to Aunt Yang’s family, shall we?”

Yang Dalang, who was digging up tree roots nearby, seemed a bit surprised and paused.

Miao He continued, “I think that when the new house is built, many people will be jealous. Some might even whisper in Aunt Yang’s ear, saying you’re living well but didn’t think of her. That wouldn’t be good. She’s been very good to us, and since we can’t let her help with the vegetables, and the fertilizer is made with Magic soil, if we prepare the mung beans and let her make the cakes, it would help her earn some extra money. What do you think?”

“…We can’t explain the materials,” Yang Dalang said.

Miao He smiled with his eyes, “That’s nothing. Once the new house is ready, we’ll plant a patch of mung beans in the yard as a cover. She won’t know. She hasn’t seen what we’re planting in the new vegetable field.”

Yang Dalang stuck his shovel into the ground, walked over, and rubbed Miao He’s head. “Good idea. Thank you. “

Miao He chuckled. This made him happier than hearing a thank you from him. He didn’t believe Yang Dalang hadn’t thought of this solution before; he must have hesitated but eventually accepted his suggestion.

“I also thought about doing it like a workshop. Even without Magic soil, the improved mung beans could be used for making cakes. They might sell well too. We could have everyone make them, then set up a pastry shop in town. That way, we wouldn’t have to worry about being bullied by the village chief anymore!”

Yang Dalang shook his head. “Cakes are hard to sell. Everyone can make them.”

Miao He thought about it and sighed, “That’s true. People don’t eat pastries often. If they want to, they can make them themselves.”

But Yang Dalang added, “Peanuts might work.”

Yang Dalang had once eaten Miao He’s spicy salted peanuts.

It was a dish made with peanuts, chili peppers, sesame seeds, and Sichuan peppercorns, which left a deep impression.

The peanuts Yang Dalang was used to were small, dry, and not very tasty, nor did they yield much oil. However, those grown with Magic soil were entirely different—plump and large, simply delicious on their own.

Miao He once used thumb-sized peanuts, frying them until they were crispy, the rich nutty aroma already tempting, then coating them with a spicy mixture of salt, chili pepper, sesame seeds, and ground Sichuan peppercorns, making an irresistible snack. Yang Dalang remembered it well.

“Good peanuts are good for cooking and making oil.”

Miao He’s eyes lit up. “So, we could first develop a good variety, plant them normally, and then try using them in dishes at the teahouse. If it works and we secure a market, we could encourage villagers who are interested to plant some peanuts.” Then they could build their influence and aim for the top… or at least avoid being bullied.

“Yes.”

Yang Dalang’s eyes flashed with something else, but Miao He didn’t notice. He kept nodding enthusiastically, “Yes, this idea is quicker than dealing with these fruit trees. If we could eventually harvest a mountain full of fruit, opening a dried fruit or fruit wine workshop would be inevitable.”

After discussing some details excitedly with Yang Dalang, Miao He’s mung beans were ready. He packed up the Magic soil and prepared to stand up. However, the next moment, his vision went black, and he swayed.

Yang Dalang, noticing him stagger, tightened his grip and quickly supported him. “What’s wrong?”

Miao He shook his head, not concerned. “I’ve been squatting too long. Standing up suddenly can do this.”

Yang Dalang frowned. “We should have Uncle Lin take a look.”

Miao He waved his hand. “No need, no need. Maybe I didn’t sleep well. It’s been hot lately, and Aunt Yang’s house is small. We’ll just have to endure for a while.”

Unconvinced, Yang Dalang touched Miao He’s forehead. “Stay home tomorrow.”

Miao He wrinkled his nose. “How can I? There’s so much to do.” Seeing Yang Dalang about to refuse, he quickly added, “Don’t make me stay at Aunt Yang’s. If she chases me to keep learning needlework, I’ll feel even dizzier!”

So the little brother(Ger) didn’t like needlework. “I’ll learn.”

Hearing him say it so naturally, Miao He couldn’t help but feel sweet inside.

***

A few days later, in the room next to the kitchen at Dahe Restaurant.

Miao Liang, who had just carried in a box of bean curd skins for the workshop, wiped his sweat and carefully put the receipt given by Manager Zhang into his clothes.

At the end of the month, the workshop would use these receipts to settle accounts with the restaurant. It was usually Miao Yuan who came, but sometimes it was Min Chun. A group of men were not happy about letting a little brother collect money! But what could they do? Miao Yuan said Min Chun knew more characters than they did and wouldn’t make mistakes.

Miao Liang also paid close attention to Min Chun. Even though he was just a little brother (Ger), usually quiet and not talkative, Miao Liang instinctively saw him as a rival. Min Chun could read and write, help with the workshop’s accounts, and was responsible for the most mysterious and delicate task in the tofu workshop: turning the watery soy milk into soft and tender tofu flowers!

Even Miao Yuan’s cousin, Miao Guang, was not as close to the workshop’s core as Min Chun. Miao Liang couldn’t understand how Second Uncle Miao, who was usually so shrewd, could entrust this secret to an outsider like Min Chun! But no one dared mention it in front of Miao Jue; even hinting at it would make Miao Jue suspicious of anyone trying to pry or dig up something.

No matter what others thought, whether he could make a contribution this time should be determined now.

After putting away the receipt, Miao Liang casually chatted with Manager Zhang, “Manager, how’s the situation at Yangshui Teahouse? Our workshop’s new bean curd skins must be giving them a headache again.”

Manager Zhang was busy recording the delivery in the register and didn’t even lift his eyelids. “I don’t know if it’s giving them a headache, but they have new dishes that are just as good as your village’s bean curd skins.”

It was said they even used precious ice to cool the cakes!! Who could compete with that!? Only these country bumpkins, with their limited knowledge, would show off a little new thing everywhere.

Miao Liang couldn’t help but be secretly pleased. “New dishes? They have new dishes again? Does that mean their previous dishes had problems, so they made new ones to cover up?”

“What’s wrong with their previous dishes? Just think about it: has our restaurant increased the orders for tofu flowers and bean curd skins? No, they’ve decreased, and it’s been declining all along! Instead of worrying about others, you should worry more about your workshop.”

Feeling mocked, Miao Liang blushed, but his anxiety outweighed his embarrassment. “But, but I found out earlier…”

At this moment, Manager Zhang finally put down the register and looked at him, his tone even worse. “Found out what? Are you trying to say you know where Yangshui Teahouse’s dishes come from? Let me tell you, many people have come to report this before, and none of them were true. The restaurant ended up buying a bunch of rotten vegetables! You want to report something? Fine, but if it’s not true, you’ll have to pay ten times the price. That’s the new rule from the owner!”

Ten, ten times!? Miao Liang’s face went pale; how could his family afford that?

Manager Zhang, seeing this, thought he was just another opportunist, sneered, “So shut up and quietly do your job! Always wanting to get ahead without looking at whether you have the luck! What a waste of time!”

Almost driven away that day, Miao Liang was filled with shame, anger, and frustration!!

But who could he blame? It was his own guess!!

For this idea, his family had already spent so much money buying land! They were even kicked out by Aunt Yang’s family!!

People in the village were now laughing at their family for trying to grab Yang Dalang’s broken house!!

Now, it was all for nothing…? How could anyone accept that!!

But wait, something’s not right!

He originally had no such thoughts; wasn’t it Miao Min’s mother who instigated him!?

Yes, it was all her fault!

She was the one who instigated him, leading to his mistaken belief, causing his family’s current situation!!

And Miao Min, did he know about this too but hid behind her mother?

Was he just waiting to take advantage of the situation?

***

After more than twenty consecutive days without rain, the intense heat had nearly killed everyone, but it had sped up the progress of the new house. Originally scheduled to take two months, the project was completed six or seven days early.

That evening, Yang Dalang and Miao He had just returned from washing by the stream when they heard Aunt Yang joyfully announcing.

“Master Li sent someone to say your house is ready, and you can move in tomorrow!”

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Rain : See you next week ! Take care guys ?(ˆ?ˆ?)