Chapter 30 Making Money

Whether it was because he was extremely tired and hungry, or something else, Wan Baocai just felt that the Shen family’s food was delicious, the best food he had ever eaten.

He couldn’t resist trying a few bites of cabbage and chives, they were all delicious, not a hint of stink.

For the first time, Wan Baocai realized that vegetables could be so delicious.

The two guards didn’t eat at the table, even though the Shen family warmly invited them, they didn’t dare to sit at the same table with Wan Baocai, each holding a large bowl, they took a few bites of food and stood aside to eat.

Shen Nian didn’t interfere, wealthy families had their own rules, the hierarchy between master and servant was deeply rooted, and it was not allowed to be broken casually.

Although ancient times were feudal and cruel, some rules could still be borrowed, when she had money in the future, she would buy some servants who were bound by a death contract, to develop her own power, a death contract was much safer than a living contract.

The food on the table was swept clean, Wan Baocai had eaten three bowls of rice and his stomach was full, but he still couldn’t get enough.

“It’s so delicious! Nian Nian, your food is really delicious, this is the first time I’ve eaten such delicious food.” Wan Baocai said, burping unattractively.

The two guards on the side were also full, they were also surprised by the Shen family’s food.

How could such a poor peasant family have the ability to make such delicious food with such simple ingredients?

Shen Nian said proudly, “Of course it’s delicious! My Uncle Zhao is the best cook in Orchid Village, everyone in the village who holds a banquet will ask Uncle Zhao to be the chef, any ingredient in his hands can be turned into a divine delicacy.”

Wan Baocai and the two guards immediately turned their eyes to Uncle Zhao, who was smiling foolishly at Shen Nian.

Then they frowned.

You wouldn’t think that this fool would have such good cooking skills!

You can’t judge a book by its cover!

While the adults were cleaning up the dishes, Shen Nian took the lead in chopping pigweed and putting it in a large pot to boil, to feed the pigs later, Shen Feng also went to help, the other brothers were busy with their own families.

Wan Baocai sat still, the pigsty was too smelly, he didn’t want to go near it.

Suddenly, he turned his eyes and saw a chick coming out of a small hole in the chicken coop, afraid that the chick would run away, he quickly got up to catch the chick, opened the gate of the coop and was about to throw the chick in, he saw an old hen with ruffled feathers glaring at him.

Wan Baocai: “…”

“Ah!”

Shen Nian and Shen Feng were adding firewood to boil the pig food, they suddenly heard Wan Baocai’s scream.

They came out with the adults and saw that the gate of the chicken coop was open, an old hen and a rooster were chasing Wan Baocai and pecking at him, followed by several chicks.

“Help! The chickens are biting me!” Wan Baocai cried.

“Cluck cluck cluck cluck!” The chickens clucked and chased after him.

The two guards were helping Old Shen lift a large stone, they heard the noise and came over to see their young master being chased by chickens and crying, they rushed to help.

Shen Nian saw Wan Baocai holding a chick in his hand, she shouted, “Baocai brother, put down the chick in your hand, the hen won’t chase you!”

Wan Baocai then realized that he was still holding a chick, he had forgotten in his haste, now that Shen Nian reminded him, he didn’t think twice and threw the chick behind him towards the old hen.

The chick landed in front of the hen, dizzy and disoriented.

The old hen found her chick and stopped chasing Wan Baocai, she protected all the chicks behind her and went back to the chicken coop, but the rooster was still chasing Wan Baocai.

The guard kicked out, the attack was blown away, clucking and running away.

Old Shen Tai used a broom to drive the rooster back to the chicken coop.

Wan Baocai looked at Shen Nian with tears in his eyes, “Nian Nian, why are your chickens so fierce?”

The fighting cocks he had played with were not as fierce as that old hen.

Shen Nian said, “You touched her baby, wouldn’t she be fierce to you?”

“I didn’t mean to, I just wanted to catch the chick and put it back in the coop, ah! I hate the old hen!”

…

Seeing that Wan Baocai was very wronged, the adults didn’t let Shen Nian and Shen Feng go and boil the pig food, they let them stay and accompany Wan Baocai.

Soon, the brothers brought over small hoes.

Shen Qi (Fifth Brother) said, “Come on, Nian Nian, let’s continue to reclaim the land and find a good place to dig earthworms to feed the chickens.”

Shen Nian and Shen Feng agreed, Wan Baocai also wanted to follow, Shen Cai stayed behind to learn how to cook from Uncle Zhao.

Wan Baocai knew earthworms, but when he saw Shen Nian and the others dig a basket full of earthworms, he felt like vomiting.

So many earthworms together, it was so disgusting!

While digging earthworms, Shen Nian and the others also dug up a lot of wild vegetables.

Wan Baocai, this city bumpkin, only then learned that the vegetable that looked like scallions but wasn’t scallions that they had eaten at noon was bitter garlic.

The children in the village saw that Shen Nian was taking her brothers to the mountain again, they also volunteered to carry small hoes to the mountain, collecting firewood, digging wild vegetables, and cutting pigweed, all busy.

Playing, working, and laughing, the laughter of a group of children echoed through the mountain.

The adults working in the fields heard the children’s laughter and were also full of energy.

This was the first time Wan Baocai had played with so many children, he had a lot of fun.

As soon as the third hour of Shen passed, the two guards came to call Wan Baocai back to the mansion.

Although he was reluctant, he thought that his family was in the county, far from Orchid Village, if he didn’t leave early, he wouldn’t be able to get home before dark.

He had sneaked out this time leaving a letter, although his parents didn’t care much about him, letting him do whatever he wanted, but if he went back too late, he would be punished.

Wan Baocai left the Shen family, before leaving, he said that he would come back often.

The Shen family welcomed him.

Finally, they happily sent the little ancestor of the Wan family away, and the whole village breathed a sigh of relief.

Wan Baocai was tired from playing, he fell asleep on the sedan chair as soon as he left the village.

When he arrived at the Wan Mansion, it was already dark, Wan Baocai was still sleeping soundly, the two guards carried him into his bedroom, then went to Master Wan, telling him everything that happened in Orchid Village today.

“Orchid Village? The Shen family?” Master Wan stroked his beard and smiled, his eyes full of shrewdness, “That’s interesting.”

“Be vigilant and protect the young master!”

“It’s a good thing that he can make friends, but the premise is that his friends don’t have any ulterior motives.”

He had no prejudice against farmers, he only looked at people.

…

Wan Baocai didn’t go to Orchid Village the next day, not because he didn’t want to, but because he was too tired, he got up early, ate something, and lay in bed.

Shen Nian was not affected at all, she continued to take her brothers to reclaim the land and farm.

Shen Dong was still thinking about building a house, worried about money, he still wanted to go deep into the mountains.

That night, Shen Feng and Shen Nian sneaked out to the mountain to practice martial arts, Shen Feng said, “Why don’t I go into the mountains and get a ginseng, that way, Mom and Dad won’t have to worry about money all the time!”

Shen Nian refused, “Ginseng is not easy to find, it’s easy to go into the mountains, but it’s hard to get out, if you have any accident, Mom and Dad will be heartbroken. Besides, selling ginseng for money is only temporary, if you want to make money all the time, you have to rely on other livelihoods.”

Their Shen family couldn’t rely on farming and hunting for a living forever, with Uncle Zhao, a great chef, as a shield, it was time to show their true skills!