I was a stepmother in ancient times, and I led my whole family to wealth.

Chapter 255 Spending the New Year in the County Town

Gu Chenglin filled everyone's wine glasses: "Wife, you mean that waterwheel?"

Dongfang Jin knew exactly what he was asking: "Yes, put one at the foot of Nanshan Mountain to irrigate our land."

Place another one on the east side to irrigate the land there. The water will flow to the north river, and when it's time to irrigate those lands, just open the canal.

If you think it's feasible, you could also put one on the north bank of the river for the villagers to use, which would also make it convenient for the neighboring villages to get water.

Long Jiu then asked, "Is it to push water by cart?"

Dongfang Jin: "..." This big oaf, he didn't understand after listening for so long?

This reminded her of a short video she had seen before, in which someone said he had seen an airplane, and another person asked, "Was it a flying chicken?"

She laughed so hard her stomach hurt when she saw it.

So, after she'd been talking about waterwheels for ages, this guy came up with a way to push water with a cart.

How did they build this brain?

"You'll know when it's made."

Gu Chenglin glanced at Long Jiu: "Xiao Jin, let your uncle participate too. He's quite good at carpentry."

"Sure, you know the blueprints, right? We'll have to rely on you to find a carpenter."

I just wanted to offer a suggestion: you're still the one doing the actual work. You're leading Xiaojun; we'll be relying on him from now on.

Gu Chenglin nodded: "Okay."

Sun Xing had heard Gu Chenglin mention it once before, when he said that his wife had to agree to it.

Now that Dongfang Jin had agreed, he said happily, "Then I'll buy all the wasteland in the northern mountain valley."

Perfect timing, since his pig farm is right next door, it's convenient for him to take care of them.

In this way, there will be no need to carry loads to irrigate the fields anymore.

Lin Yu and Xu Changshan spoke at the same time: "Those who see it will get a share."

That area is quite large; if they divide it among themselves, it should be enough for their families to manage.

Gu Chenglin put down his chopsticks: "Let's go up to the slope. You can divide the rest of it among yourselves, but I'll take the rest of it."

Lin Yu slammed his hand on the table: "Okay, it's settled then. I'll take Xiao Jiang to measure the land later."

Long Er stared at Dongfang Jin: "When you come back, bring me a copy of the blueprints for the waterwheel."

Gu Chenglin glanced at him, knowing that this matter couldn't be kept secret. He made things easier for his cousin than for Lu Yunqing: "Okay."

……

On the 23rd, sticky candy is served; on the 24th, sweep the house.

Make tofu on the 25th, and cook meat on the 26th.

Kill the chicken on the 27th, and prepare the dough on the 28th.

On the 29th, steam buns are made; on the 30th, stay up all night.

Today is Lunar New Year's Eve, and my family is extremely busy.

Starting from the 25th day of the twelfth lunar month, Jun Qirui led several children to write couplets.

Many villagers came to ask for couplets, some giving a few coins, others giving some pickles.

Some people carried a few cabbages, others carried a bag of soybeans, and Dongfang Jin would give extra money for those who carried more.

Some carried baskets of white radishes on their backs. Dongfang Jin asked them to send her any extra radishes they had, and she would buy them.

Some people even brought her some soybean paste, and Dongfang Jin would tell them to send her any extra soybean paste they had at home.

After that, whenever those people had extra things at home, even firewood, they would send them to Gu Chenglin's family.

Dongfang Jin accepted them all, offering prices two coins higher than those at the county's annual market.

Her action delighted the villagers, who spread the news far and wide. Even the young wives' families came over with gifts.

"Is everything installed?" Gu Yumei called out to the outside.

Shen Qijun responded loudly, "Everything's ready, Mother. Please call Grandma Jun and Auntie out."

Jun Wenhui looked at everything in the courtyard and said, "You said it would be so much better to spend the New Year at home, why does the magistrate insist that we go to the county to celebrate?"

Dongfang Jin looked around and walked over. She put everything she could take from the house into her Ruyi Realm and Qiankun Bag.

After Long Jiu and Long Er mentioned that Gu Meixiang and that man entered through the back door of her house, she knew that one of the children from those families must have let it slip.

Sure enough, after that day, Gu Chenglin replaced the back door and added a lock. Now, anyone who wants to get in will have to climb over the wall.

"The county magistrate has already moved into our house. Because the Zhang family's matter is too complicated, he can't come here for the New Year."

Long Er hasn't returned to the capital yet; it seems things are busy there too.

"Is it okay if no one watches the house?"

"Why not? Don't worry, no one will come here. There are Big White and Big Black outside too."

"If anyone dares to come to our house, Xiao Jin and the others will definitely find out. When they come out, they'll scare everyone to death," Dongfang Jin locked the second door as well.

A few days ago, Xiao Jin brought a Ganoderma lucidum to our house to change the water. Hui and Sister Yu Mei happened to see her, so Dongfang Jin explained it to them.

Later, the two of them went into the valley to deliver food to Xia Lan and the others, and found that the black bear and the white tiger were also there.

After returning, Dongfang Jin no longer hid it from them and told everyone that she could speak animal language...

Jun Wenhui looked around the outer courtyard again, but found nothing that had been left behind, before following Dongfang Jin out.

Thinking back to when Lu Yunqing wrote to them, telling them to go to the county for the New Year this year, Gu Chenglin and Shen Qijun had been bringing things from their home to the county.

Today, Lu Yunqing and Zhao Yuming even sent several carriages, instructing them to take everything they could, so they wouldn't have to come back in this freezing weather to retrieve their belongings.

On the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, when Ma Wencai and his four companions returned home, they also took the younger children with them, so they could go to the county to get acquainted with the locals.

Sitting in the carriage, Dongfang Jin looked at the houses getting further and further away, feeling a sense of emptiness in her heart.

I don't know why Lu Yunqing insisted on having her come to the county for the New Year, and that old man Gu Chenglin, I don't know what he's up to, acting all mysterious.

When the group arrived at Heping Lane, Axi and Aping were already unloading the truck.

"Jin-jie," A-ping called out as Dongfang Jin got out of the car.

Dongfang Jin looked at him: "Did you bring all your belongings here too?"

Does this mean they've settled down in her house?

Aping scratched his head: "The yamen was closed on the 28th, so it was empty and we all moved in."

"Look, these were all sent over by the young lady; the young master told us to bring them all over here."

Where is your young master?

"Young Master Zhao is inside too; they're eating wontons cooked by Uncle Yu."

"Today is the 30th, why don't you ask Grandpa Yu to cook wontons for you for breakfast?"

Axi chuckled and said, "Isn't this what that Prince Chen wanted to eat?"

Dongfang Jin paused as he stepped into the mansion, looking at Aping who was kicking Axi: "The Prince Chen and his brothers? Aren't they spending the New Year in the capital?"

Axi realized he had let something slip, so he walked over with his things and whispered, "They just arrived yesterday. We don't really understand the affairs of the imperial family."

Don't worry, our young master is here.

Dongfang Jin frowned. Prince Dun only has two sons, and now that they've both come, are they not going to attend the palace banquet?

Thinking this, Gu Chenglin stepped into the courtyard. She had not yet recognized the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, and her background was quite bizarre.

She sincerely hoped they wouldn't bring danger into her home.

Don't worry, there's no danger nearby, and no one is in the shadows.

Be careful, I hope you can have a peaceful year.

[Understood. I will now extend my divine sense to a range of up to a hundred miles, with you as the center.]

That's good. I'll bring you something delicious in a bit.

Okay, I must say, it's definitely more lively here than in the village.

"Good morning, Auntie."

Dongfang Jin looked at the little boy in front of her: "Yinbao, where is your young master?"

"Auntie, the young master is composing poems and painting with Young Master Ma and the others in the Purple Bamboo Garden."

Dongfang Jin was surprised; these guys were quite the players: "Yinbao, are Young Master Ma and the other four here too?"

"Yes, Auntie, they came yesterday and said they would have lunch at your house today and then go back."

"Go ahead and get busy, I'll go in by myself."

"It's my aunt."