Chapter 13: Chapter 13 : future path
That night.
"Husband, I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
Wentian looked calm and composed, but in his mind, he was thinking about Jianyi Mingyuan's future path.
Jianyi Mingyuan was now seven years old. It was about time.
However, as for exactly what path he should take, Wentian planned to ask him first and then consider the matter carefully.
Bai Jing took his large hand and placed it on her stomach.
Wentian froze for a moment. Then he turned his head to look at her and blinked.
"You're pregnant again?"
Giving birth was difficult, and Wentian was considerate of her. Originally, he had not wanted her to give birth again.
"Didn't we…"
Bai Jing rolled her eyes at him coquettishly.
"Isn't this Husband's fault?"
"Since we did it, such things cannot be completely prevented. Even if you are careful, there can still be accidents. Does Husband not want this child?"
"How could that be?"
Wentian hurriedly replied, then raised his arm and pulled her into his embrace.
"Since this child has come to the Jianyi family, then it is fate. Of course we will have the child. Even if seven or eight more came, our family could afford to raise them now."
Two years ago, Wentian had purchased another twenty mu of farmland and forty mu of mountain forest.
That farmland was not rice paddy. Generally speaking, it cost a little over ten taels per mu.
Mountain forest was even cheaper, only seven or eight taels per mu. However, the trees had to be cut down and the land cleared before fruit trees could be planted.
On these farmlands and mountain forests, he planted several types of fruit: strawberries and loquats in spring, watermelons, lychees, and peaches in summer, persimmons and pomelos in autumn, and sugarcane and winter jujubes in winter.
For tree-grown fruits, it might take another two years before they bore fruit.
However, crops such as watermelons, strawberries, and sugarcane could already produce quite a bit every year under Wentian's careful cultivation.
These fruits alone could bring in several hundred taels of income each year.
The main reason was that Wentian cultivated them well. His fruits were better than those grown by ordinary households, so everyone chose to buy from the Jianyi family first.
Only after that would they consider buying from others.
At present, the Jianyi family possessed sixty mu of rice fields, twenty mu of farmland, and forty mu of mountain forest.
In Dongxi Village, they could absolutely be considered a modestly wealthy household, with more than enough food and clothing.
Several days later.
At Chen Ergou's house.
Xu Yan returned from inspecting the mountain forest. When she saw Ergou lying idly on a recliner, looking completely carefree and content, anger immediately surged within her.
She grabbed the broom from behind the door and was about to whip him with it.
"What the—!"
Chen Ergou sprang up from the recliner and turned to run. Judging by his movements, he was extremely practiced at this.
"Xu Yan, what are you doing?"
"If you have something to say, say it properly. Don't start using your hands and feet!"
"Don't think I can't beat you. I'm just a good man who doesn't fight with women!"
"Heh. If you were as capable as Wentian, I would also obey you in everything and let you decide all matters."
"Pity me, Xu Yan, for being blind back then and actually taking a liking to a good-for-nothing like you. You failed in martial arts, failed in scholarship, and aren't good at farming either. What exactly can you do?"
"Sit around and eat away the family's savings?"
For a while, the entire house descended into chaos.
When their son and daughter returned from school and saw this scene, they were already used to it. They simply walked straight toward the Jianyi household.
"Daniu, Fangfang, it's almost noon. Why did you come over?"
In the courtyard, Jianyi Mingwei stopped his movements and looked over.
Jianyi Mingyuan heard the voices and walked out. Seeing them, he could not help laughing softly.
"Uncle Ergou and Aunt are making trouble again?"
Daniu sighed lightly.
"My father really can't compare with Uncle Wentian. He's being chased around by Mother with a broom."
"What was it this time? Is Aunt still dissatisfied with Uncle Ergou doing nothing all day?"
Chen Fangfang said in surprise, "A'Yuan, you're really clever. You guessed it right away."
"Mother is always comparing Father to Uncle Wentian."
"My father is the most capable man in Dongxi Village. With Uncle Ergou's lazy temperament, how could he compare?"
Jianyi Mingyuan admired Wentian immensely, almost as if he were a god.
"Daniu, tell me about it. Perhaps I can help you come up with an idea."
Daniu repeated the words Chen Ergou and his wife had said.
Jianyi Mingyuan pondered for a moment, then said, "I once heard Father say that Green Jade Pears aren't so easy to grow. Aunt aims too high and relies on luck too much. In the end, she will suffer a loss."
"These past three years, your family must have invested quite a lot into the Green Jade Pears. Now that it looks as though all that investment may be lost, her temper has become unstable, which is why there is discord between husband and wife."
"I think you should persuade Aunt to give up on growing Green Jade Pears."
"If we don't grow those, then what should my family grow?" Daniu asked curiously.
Jianyi Mingwei also listened quietly, wanting to know what kind of good idea this younger brother of his might have.
"Follow my family and grow some ordinary fruits and melons. First, your own household won't have to worry about having enough. Second, you can sell them for money."