20demayo Chapter 409 Too much to eat, absolutely too much to eat
Chapter 409 Too much to eat, absolutely too much to eat
Red and green?
Gu Xixi thought for a moment and quickly realized what Chen Dafu was talking about.
She said happily, "Aunt Tao, I'm going to the orchard. Let's add two more dishes for lunch!"
Lü Jing jogged to catch up, "What are those red and green things? Are they vegetables?"
Tao and Wu looked at each other in bewilderment.
I've never heard of fruit being used in cooking?
As everyone knows, the crops in the small orchard are all exotic goods that the owner went to great lengths to acquire; they're quite novel.
In addition to farming, they took meticulous care of the crops according to the instructions given by their employer.
Although the fruit has recently begun to ripen, no one has thought of tasting it.
After all, even if they knew it was a fruit, it was one that none of them had ever seen before, and they didn't even know its name.
Firstly, they have no idea whether it's edible, whether it tastes good, or how to eat it.
Secondly, things are valued for their scarcity, and no one can act rashly without the owner's permission.
Chen Dafu strode ahead, clearing the way, and recounted with a smile the various events that had happened inside and outside the estate while Gu Xixi was away.
"Not long after the master left, a strong wind came up in the middle of the night. Fortunately, Wu Niangzi was there and covered the trellises in the small orchard with the felt cloth that the master had left behind."
"Your aunt and I rushed over early the next morning. Thankfully, the vines weren't blown down."
"Mrs. Wu and the children didn't sleep all night. I saw that the two children had dark circles under their eyes, but they didn't complain or say they were tired. In this respect, they took after their mother."
"I must say the owner is very thoughtful. By letting Madam Wu stay at the estate, the three of them not only have a place to stay, but they can also keep an eye on the estate. It's a win-win situation."
"I've been keeping an eye on those eight acres of land near the estate. Those two hired workers are very diligent. They do exactly what the master tells them to do, and I haven't seen anyone slacking off."
"The wheat in our farm this year is just as good as the wheat in the village last year."
"However, with the large oxen and the farm tools that the landlord invented, I feel that I have saved a lot of effort."
"We only have a few people, but we're cultivating much more land than before. Is this what the boss meant by improving efficiency?"
"There's also fertilizer and pesticides, because the landlord made arrangements in advance."
“The workshop will deliver the necessary supplies regularly. Although they say they don’t charge money, the owner keeps accounts with the workshop.”
“But I still made sure to count everything carefully each time, and I kept a record of how much was collected in total, how much each person used, and how much was left over.”
"I thought that if I showed it to the employer this way, it would be clear at a glance."
Hearing this, Gu Xixi couldn't help but interject with praise, "Uncle Dafu is reliable and meticulous in his work. I have always trusted you the most."
For her, there are not many industries now, and pesticides and fertilizers are produced in her own workshop.
Even if there are hidden losses in this cost, they are negligible.
So she doesn't plan to spend any extra energy worrying about these things, at least for the time being.
But Chen Dafu, who kept the accounts, took the initiative to help her fill in this blank space.
This avoids situations of waste or theft by those in charge.
Gu Xixi always believed that transferring Chen Dafu to the estate as a part-time manager was absolutely the right choice.
At this moment, I admire him even more.
Despite being praised, Chen Dafu showed no arrogance.
He was still smiling, his tone as usual, "And then there's today's big event."
"Sprinkle the foliar fertilizer on the day set by the employer."
"The spray bottle the employer gave us works well. I'd like to ask if we can make a few more."
"The small orchard might also be useful for planting sorghum and millet next season."
Gu Xixi recalled the wooden long-handled, high-spout spray bottle she had commissioned to be made in early spring.
She readily agreed, "Sure, the village doesn't have enough either, so we should make more at once."
She also said to Chen Dafu, "The successor you chose in the village is very good."
"He took over the work for you and those brothers, so I didn't have to worry about him much."
Chen Dafu also felt a sense of accomplishment and said sincerely, "In the end, it's because everyone followed the right employer."
"We've been with our employer for so long, and we're finally reaping the rewards we never dared to dream of before."
"Anyone who isn't an idiot knows what to do."
Gu Xixi smiled knowingly.
It benefits both oneself and others; it's nothing more than that.
Inside the small orchard, the soil was loose, the ridges were neat, and you couldn't see a single weed when you looked down.
The first thing that catches the eye is a row of cucumber racks.
At first, Lü Jing smiled and looked up to examine it, but then she suddenly noticed something and exclaimed, "This is... a fruit?"
“They hung down in rows of glossy green strips; when I first glimpsed them, I thought they were snakes!”
She grew up in a tea plantation and is terrified of snakes.
Luckily, I just saw that there were withered yellow flowers growing under that long, green thing.
That's when it was confirmed that it wasn't a living creature.
Gu Xixi said, "This is a cucumber."
"Unfortunately, some of them are already too old and can only be used to make soup, or kept to grow into seeds later."
As she spoke, she reached out and twisted off a stick.
The flowers are topped with thorns, and are fresh and juicy.
Still some distance from the irrigation ditch, Gu Xixi ate with a hearty gusto, wiping away the dust with her bare hands.
I took a big bite with a crunch.
The sound is crisp and clear, whetting the appetite.
Lu Jing swallowed hard and followed suit, picking some herself.
Gu Xixi instructed, "Don't pick this one, pick the one next to it, the one with the flowers, it's more tender and tastes better."
She then let Chen Dafu try some as well.
It was the first time the two of them had tried cucumber, and they both found it novel.
It's crisp, but not as crisp as radishes or bamboo shoots.
It's not very sweet, though.
It's a vegetable, but it's very juicy, with a unique fragrance and a slightly sweet aftertaste. Eating it raw makes your mouth water.
At first bite, it is not nearly as sweet and juicy as apricots or peaches.
Yet it is strangely addictive.
Hu Gua, which is the cucumber of later generations.
Planted in the village, they are growing quite well, with many fruits on each vine.
The three of them munched on cucumbers as they continued walking.
Gu Xixi pondered, "So many..."
"I'll make a cold salad later, and I'll pick two baskets to take home this afternoon."
"It can also be made into pickled cucumbers."
Lu Jing chewed like a rabbit, saying, "It can also be used to make dishes."
So is it a vegetable or a fruit?
Gu Xixi said, "It's both a vegetable and a fruit."
Before Lü Jing could figure it out, she stepped out of the melon trellis and was drawn to the striking red color in front of her.
"So this is what Uncle Dafu was talking about that's popular!"
Chen Dafu turned his head, "Yes, Miss Lü recognizes this item?"
Lü Jing nodded, "I've met you before."
As she recalled some painful memories, a shadow fell over her eyes.
At this moment, Gu Xixi had already squatted down next to a persimmon tree, picked a ripe red fruit and put it to her mouth.
Lu Jing was shocked and, forgetting her own distress, rushed to snatch the fruit from Gu Xixi.
"can not eat!"
However, it was still a step too late.
Gu Xixi had already taken a bite, and when she looked up at Lü Jing, her lips were still stained with juice.
"what?"
Lu Jing pressed down on Gu Xixi's shoulders and shook her back and forth, "It's poisonous, spit it out quickly!"