Fu Baiman felt that this matter was still somewhat adventurous. He could accept it, but the villagers might not be able to accept it.

After all, who would plant flowers instead of crops in their own fertile fields? It just doesn't sound right.

It's fine to grow some fruits, but the land requirements are also high. You can't plant those fruits Xiaonai Tuanzi mentioned on mountainous terrain.

But out of the whole village, there were only three households that did not plant.

One household consists of an elderly couple. They are very old, and their daughter, a beautiful young woman, no longer has the energy to help them. Even cooking and chores are difficult for her, let alone farming.

One household rents out their land to others for farming. The couple themselves run a small business at the foot of the hot spring resort, catering to the comings and goings of guests. They simply don't have the time.

The last household was the Fan family. Fan Mantun wanted to plant, after all, the previous incident with strawberries was just because of those spendthrift daughters-in-law, and in the end, he didn't catch up to anything.

But Grandma Fan still disagreed. The reason was similar to Fu Baimian's thinking. Why bother? Over the past few years, the weather has been good and there's plenty of grain harvest. Why not grow food and instead plant flowers that can be seen but not eaten?

Isn't this crazy?

He sulked under the covers, arguing with Grandma Fan for a while, but in the end, he still had to listen to her.

Fu Baimian didn't know much about this, so he didn't dare to advise too much. If he didn't want to plant it, he just wouldn't plant it.

As for the others, just one word, whatever Fu Jiaqian does, they do whatever he does. What's there to be afraid of?

Fu Baimian didn't expect everyone to listen to him so much, which made him a little embarrassed.

When they passed by the Chen family, Mrs. Chen couldn't stop smiling. “Village Chief, Baojia will be getting engaged in a couple of days, you must come!”

Fu Baiman looked at Chen Baojia, who went to the mountain villa to guard the night only in the evening, and said with a smile: "Baojia is getting married? Good, I knew this kid was good at marrying a wife, which girl's family?"

Fu Baiman did remember that the second son's family wanted to marry his niece to Chen Jia's son, but he hadn't heard any news about it. Could it have happened?

"It was my mother's sister-in-law from Huaihua Village who told me."

"Oh, that girl is lucky. Baojia is a good boy. I've heard it all from Dajing. This child is reliable and hardworking, and he's also diligent."

"All that is thanks to your blessing." Chen's daughter-in-law was very articulate. They had previously wanted to form an alliance with the Wu family, but the Wu family declined.

They just gave up on that idea.

That's what your parents taught you, to protect your home and do a good job.

"Understood, Grandpa Fu," Chen Baojia said loudly.

"Village Chief, please make sure you come in a couple of days. Your presence will bring honor to our family and give us someone to rely on."

Fu Baiman wanted to refuse, but since people had already said so much, he had to come even if he was gritting his teeth.

When Fu Baimian returned home, it was already dark. Tian Guihua had the children eat first; they were used to having dinner at a set time. Each of them was growing rapidly, and they couldn't bear to be hungry. She waited alone for him.

Fu Baiman waved his hand and burped before he could speak, "I'm full. I've been eating at both ends, this place and that place. I've eaten so much, it's like having a hundred different meals."

Although he didn't eat, he sat down and quietly kept her company as she ate.

"Really not eating?"

Fu Baiman shook his head. "I can't eat anymore, you eat slowly, I'll sit for a while."

The children who should be asleep are asleep, and the older ones have all gone back to their own rooms. This is time for just the two of them.

"Aren't you cold? I'll get you something warm," Fu Baiman said.

"It's so hot these days, there's nothing cooler than just sitting down. You've been walking around for a while, your legs must be tired now, right?"

"Well, I wouldn't say so. Before this, I never thought our village was that big. After walking around every house, it really is tiring."

"Hmph, those things before were all your sons running around for you. Now they're busy, so what can be done?" Tian Guihua said while eating.

Fu Baiman sighed, "Old man, if you don't accept it, there's nothing you can do about it."

A tranquil summer night, with the sounds of cicadas and frogs, and a rare cool breeze blowing through occasionally - pure bliss.

After Tian Guihua finished eating, she didn't rush to clear the dishes. The elderly couple chatted idly with each other.

Fu Baiman began to talk about Chen Baojia's arranged marriage, and Tian Guihua was also happy for the Chen family boy.

"Happy is happy, but the second daughter-in-law isn't thinking about marrying her niece to Chen's son, right?"

She meant it, but her sister-in-law wasn't happy. She thought she was high above everyone else, but her life was fragile as paper. She had been blinded by the wealthy people coming and going.

Fu Baimian sighed, "Don't even look in a mirror! What does your own daughter look like? A celestial beauty? Even if she were a celestial beauty, it wouldn't be enough! When we go to the capital and see those young ladies from wealthy families, look at their demeanor, how they speak and act—crisp and efficient. Their large households are well-organized, that's true skill."

Tian Guihua also felt that people can't be compared, and she understood why the little girl had to buy a house in the county town. The environment is important.

"Alright, I won't say anymore. She's someone else's daughter, not ours. We can't interfere." Tian Guihua was about to get up and wash the dishes.

Fu Baiwan pressed her arm, "I'll go. Don't move."

"Old man, you're quite caring. Alright, go rest in the room. I didn't do anything, washing a few dishes is no problem."

Although the bowls and chopsticks were still washed by Tian Guihua in the end, the man knew how to be considerate of her. She felt so sweet inside, like she had eaten honey.

Fan's mother thought that there were many people like her family who didn't plant flowers, but when she went out under the big willow tree and asked around, she realized that only their three families did so.

Those two families could still be forgiven, for even those who were able to move followed the lead of their village. But this one family did not follow suit.

"I don't believe it, what use could there be for growing flowers that can't even be eaten? When a famine really hits, I bet all of you little punks will starve to death."

Everyone gossiped behind her back, saying that she was foolish to refuse the opportunity to grow strawberries. She initially didn't agree, and even later on, she couldn't catch up with everyone else. In the end, all she could do was watch as everyone counted their money.

Now everyone is too lazy to argue with her. They'll wait until she sees the money in their pockets and then she'll regret it.

Just as they were talking, a carriage drove up from afar. Fan's mother recognized it immediately. "No time for chit-chat," she said. "Our daughter Mei is back! My darling girl, why didn't you give your mother a heads-up? I've prepared some delicious food for you."

The coachman coldly glanced at Fan's mother, "Someone is on the cart, you bring her down."

“What are you trying to say?” Fan’s mother scolded the man unhappily, “Can’t you speak properly? Is this how you talk to your wife? It’s only because our three of us have good temperaments that we don’t take offense to your words and actions. Otherwise, I wouldn't let you lot run wild.”

"Madam?" The coachman scoffed. "What madam? Hurry up, I'm in a hurry to get back."

Fan Da-ma felt that something was amiss, and her fellow villagers gathered around, sniffing the air for something unusual.

The coachman, seeing the old woman still motionless, jumped out impatiently. He put his whip away and then lifted the curtain of the carriage, "Hurry up, or the person will be dead soon!"

First published on the Traditional Chinese Novel Website

(Editor in charge:fate/stay night novel)