"Right, daughter, didn't your eldest sister-in-law mention a few days ago that the restaurant was short-handed? Why not let Caixia work at Yun Gui Fang? The money she earns in a month would be enough to supplement the household expenses..." Madam Gu said with a smile.
Little Xi Tian pouted upon hearing this, "Eldest sister-in-law did mention it, but it's been several days. I don't know if she's hired anyone yet. Mother, Sister Niu, I'll ask Brother Kong to help inquire later!~"
Kong Xing Zhuo was going to the county town later, so it would be good to have him ask.
Madam Gu, holding little Jiu Hong in one arm and pulling Niu Caixia with the other, said, "Caixia, don't go to the county town today. Stay home and wait for news. I'll go prepare some dough, and we'll have sugar pancakes for lunch!~"
Previously, Chu Jiang Tun had sent half a bag of white sugar. There were no refrigerators in those days, and as the temperature gradually rose, the white sugar couldn't be stored well and a large portion had solidified into hard lumps.
"Sister Yun, I can't stay here for lunch!" Niu Caixia's pretty face flushed, her eyes dimmed. "I still need to go home and cook for my mother later. But thank you, Sister Yun and Sweet Baby, for helping me find work. I, I'll be going now!~"
After speaking, Niu Caixia took the child, turned, and walked out of the main hall.
As he passed the main entrance, he saw a slop bucket by the threshold, containing dirty water. He casually picked it up and helped to dump it out.
Some people do good deeds without expecting any payment.
Little Xi Tian saw this and exchanged a look with Madam Gu, sighing softly, "What a good person, but she has such bad luck. She has to raise her child herself and take care of her mother-in-law. Her future life will be so hard..."
She really wanted to help her, but didn't know how.
Little Xi Tian had always been against giving people money directly, as it could be misunderstood as looking down on them or being taken for granted.
Du Tie Shan also disliked such situations. Wiping the table with a rag, she said, "Mother, Xi Tian, don't we need a maid now? I think Caixia is diligent and quick. Why not let her come to our house? We'll pay her a monthly salary, more than enough, so her and her mother-in-law's lives can be a little better..."
In those days, it was easy to find a maid, but maids like Niu Caixia, who were hardworking and didn't complain, were very rare.
Moreover, the Yun family's standards for finding a maid were still at the level of Jin Huai Hua, so their vision and requirements were slightly higher.
Madam Gu had no objections and nodded, "I think it's a good idea. Daughter, what do you think?"
Little Xi Tian certainly didn't object. She replied with a smile, "As long as Mother and Sister Shan agree, it's fine. But let's see if Eldest sister-in-law needs anyone first. If not, then we can let Sister Niu come to our house..."
For matters like this, as long as Mother and sisters-in-law decided, Little Xi Tian didn't want to get too involved.
She still had her mahjong and wine to make. She was almost too busy to live.
After Yun Lao Tou got up, he simply drank a bowl of coarse grain porridge and then took Yun Er Man out to the fields.
After several spring rains, the fields in Dashui Village were lush green. Corn seedlings had broken through the soil and were growing vigorously, and wheat sprouts were already over a finger long.
If the weather was good every day like this, the crops might be harvested early this year.
Little Xi Tian changed into a lighter outfit, and led Xue Ling and the four dogs out. She strolled to her own field.
"What should I plant this year?" Little Xi Tian squatted between the ridges, murmuring to herself.
Last year, she planted potatoes and peanuts, both of which were highly praised by the villagers.
Now, when entertaining guests at home, fried peanuts or sweet and sour peanuts had become very popular appetizers.
Moreover, after these two types of seeds were brought to the imperial palace, Liang Country's north and south had begun to plant them widely, enriching the people's recipes and dining tables.
Especially crops like potatoes, which were high-yielding and drought-resistant, could survive even in poor soil and with insufficient rainfall.
"Woof woof woof..." Xue Ling wagged its big tail and rubbed its fluffy head against Little Xi Tian.
Little Xi Tian giggled and suddenly looked at Xue Ling, "Do you want to drink coffee?"
Xue Ling: "???"
What is coffee?
Little Xi Tian pinched the black soil in her hand and blinked her big eyes, "No one in the family has drunk coffee yet. I've decided to plant coffee trees in this field this year..."
Actually, there were coffee trees in the space, and they were growing very well.
But if she could drink coffee grown by herself, the sense of accomplishment would be overwhelming.
This crop belonged to the Rubiaceae family, with evergreen shrubs and small trees, divided into large-fruited coffee beans, medium-fruited coffee beans, and small-fruited coffee beans.
Little Xi Tian planned to plant medium-fruited coffee trees, which were dwarf varieties, making harvesting more convenient.
Xue Ling squatted beside Little Xi Tian, excitedly sticking out its tongue, as if it had already tasted the fragrant coffee.
"Oh my, sister, what are you doing here?" Chu Jiang Tun arrived in a carriage.
He had gone to the county town yesterday to handle business, planning to open an inn in Heyang County, so he had missed the excitement of playing mahjong last night.
Little Xi Tian's eyes curved, "Brother Jiang Tun, I want to plant coffee trees on this land..."
Chu Jiang Tun: "???"
Wha-what is it, a coffee tree?
"Can coffee trees be eaten?" Chu Jiang Tun asked.
Little Xi Tian: "..."
"You can't eat them directly!~"
Little Xi Tian walked to the carriage and patiently explained, "Brother Jiang Tun, coffee trees can bear coffee fruits. After picking them, they need to be dried. Then, only the part inside the fruit is used; the remaining coffee beans are not needed. Then, the dried coffee fruit is placed on a stove and roasted over low heat, then ground into powder. Once it's powdered, boil it with hot water, and then fragrant, hot coffee is ready..."
The method Little Xi Tian described did not rely on coffee machines or grinders. It was pure, primitive, and practical, just a bit troublesome to make.
Chu Jiang Tun's head was spinning from listening. After a moment, he responded, "Is this thing valuable? How much silver can it sell for on the market?"
Little Xi Tian was slightly taken aback when she heard this. She hadn't really considered this issue.
"It should, it should be quite expensive!~" Little Xi Tian scratched her face.
Coffee was very expensive even now, especially high-end coffee, which was more expensive than milk powder.
Upon hearing this, Chu Jiang Tun laughed heartily, "Sister, since that's the case, you can plant it with confidence. Big brother will help you sell the coffee then!~"
After staying in Dashui Village for several days, Chu Jiang Tun also had to return home.
"Thank you, Brother Jiang Tun!" Little Xi Tian's eyes curved with joy.
Chu Jiang Tun bid farewell to his parents and set off for his journey while the weather was clear.
There were still many things waiting for him to handle in the capital.
Not long after he left, another carriage stopped in front of the old Yun family's house.