Chapter 49: Everything is Ready

  Yuan Pei had the plowshare installed, and then led the family's oxen to be harnessed to the plow. Liu Yitiao personally took control of it, and in the backyard of the Yuan family, on the vegetable field used for growing vegetables, he tried walking back and forth two times. To tell the truth, these two rounds really gave Liu Yitiano the feeling of using oxen to till the land from when he went to the countryside for practical training years ago.

  Depth and shallowness have their degrees; advance and retreat have their distances. Hmm, this plow can be used.

  "Mr. Liu thinks this plow is how?" Yuan Fang saw that Liu had tried it a few times, and a smile appeared on his face, so he came forward to ask.

  Liu stopped and handed the cow over to Yuan Pei, laughing: "It's useful! Very useful! Suitable! I admire Elder Yuan's ability!"

  In carpentry, Yuan Fang was still very confident. Hearing Liu Yitiao's praise, Yuan Fang smiled and said: "Mr. Liu thinks it's good to use, that's settled. This is the first one. The remaining nineteen will be made for Mr. Liu in due course. Hmm, at this rate, I can probably make one or two a day. Half a month later, Mr. Liu can come and collect the plow."

  "It's settled then, thank you Uncle Yuan." Liu Yitiao bowed and said: "The 20 plowshares needed for the plows have already been ordered from He Bo, they will be delivered soon. Uncle Yuan is busy, I won't bother him again."

  "Heh heh, I know Mr. Liu is also a busy person, so I won't keep you any longer." Yuan Fang turned his head and instructed Yuan Pei: "Pei'er, see Mr. Liu off for me."

  "One farewell!" Liu Yitiao hastily bid farewell to Yuan Fang and followed Yuan Fei out.

  Back home, Liu Laoshi was in the cowshed taking care of his beloved plowing ox. Seeing Liu Yitiao return, he came out of the cowshed.

  This morning's matter had no outcome, and Old Liu still had a lingering grievance in his heart. He called over Liu Yi and asked: "Yi, what are your true intentions regarding the marriage with the Zhang family? Father has also noticed that the Zhang family's daughter is spoiled and arrogant to the bone; it's uncertain whether she'll make a good wife in the future. If you're unwilling, Father can find another match for you. There are many good girls in these three villages and five towns; we don't lack just one from the Zhang family."

  "Hey, stop it, Dad! I think this family's daughter is pretty good. Let's just go with her." Liu Yitiao hastily interrupted. It wasn't easy to drag out the marriage for a while, and Liu Yitiao couldn't afford to get himself into more trouble. He said to Liu Laoshi: "Dad, we've already given them the betrothal gifts. If you back out now, won't it just make us a laughing stock?"

  "Besides, I've already said that if Miss Chu can guess the riddle, I'll personally go to her door to propose. If Father goes to find another family now, isn't that making me break my promise?" Liu Yitiao began to explain the facts and reason with Old Liu, trying to persuade him.

  "But," said Old Liu, scowling: "If Zhang Chuchu can't guess the riddle for her whole life, then I, Old Liu, will never marry a daughter-in-law again?! Is this reasonable?"

  "Hehe," Liu Yitiao comforted Liu Laoshi with a smile, saying: "Dad, don't worry about this. The riddle I left for Miss Zhang isn't that difficult. With her intelligence, she'll be able to figure it out in three to five months."

  Liu Yitiao originally wanted to say three to five years, but seeing Lao Liu's unpleasant expression, he was afraid of being urged and changed his mouth to shorten the time by several times. As for 'Chong Er', although it is not a difficult problem, it is also not something that anyone can think of.

  "Three to five months? That long?" Old Liu furrowed his brow.

  Liu Yitiao saw that his reaction was not very strong, so he explained on the side: "Dad, you should have seen it today. Although Zhang's daughter was born in a peasant family, she has a temperament of a young lady. She is arrogant and doesn't put ordinary people in her eyes. That's why there is a rumor about three questions for recruitment."

  Looking at Old Liu nodding, Liu Yitiao continued: "Chu Chu is talented and skilled in mathematics. If she can be humbled now, it will definitely make her a virtuous wife in the future."

  "Hmm, you're right." Old Liu nodded repeatedly. Having another person at home who can recognize characters and read would indeed be much better.

  "So, Dad," said Liu Yitiao, "let's wait a few more months. The time isn't very long anyway. And who knows, maybe just as we left, they'll figure out the riddle?"

  "Alright, it's rare that you agree to this marriage, so I'll wait a few more days with your mother." Old Liu also didn't want to force the issue too much, so he agreed. Remembering the 30 mu of wasteland, he asked: "How are the preparations for opening up the land going? Is there any progress?"

  Liu Yitiao smiled and said, "Dad, don't worry about this, I'll handle it well. Now we have enough manpower, oxen, plows, and fertilizer are all ready, just waiting for the land to thaw in spring."

  "This is good, this is good." Old Liu said: "You now have your own land, you're a grown-up, and many things can be solved by yourself. Dad is happy for you. It's just that every day I see you running around, but I couldn't help you. In my heart, I always feel a little guilty towards you."

  Liu Yitiao didn't expect Old Liu to say such cold and calculating words, and he couldn't help but feel a little moved. He said, "Dad, where did you learn these words? You've worked hard for our Liu family for half your life, now it's time for me, the eldest son, to do something too."

  "Actually, regarding the matter of tilling the land, I wanted to talk to you about it a few days ago. However, at that time, things hadn't settled down yet, so I put it off. But now, it's a good opportunity."

  "Oh, what's up? Tell me." Old Liu asked.

  "Unite the land!" Liu Yitiao said: "I want to integrate all the fields left by our ancestors, including yours and mine, even if we have to exchange good fields with the government for barren land. Let's put all the fields together for cultivation, spring planting, and autumn harvesting, and hand them over to hired farmers for management. That way, you won't have to work so hard like now. Thirty or forty mu of permanent fields are enough for our Liu family's food, clothing, and expenses for a lifetime."

  Lao Liu did not answer immediately after hearing this. Instead, he furrowed his brow and thought for a moment before saying, "Let me think about it."

  Liu nodded, this matter he just mentioned first, to give old Liu a psychological preparation. He knew that Old Liu would definitely be reluctant to part with those fields he had cultivated for decades. Half of them were good fields. If they were all used to exchange for barren land, anyone would feel heartbroken.

  Lao Liu got up and ran towards the cowshed again, while Liu Yitia also slipped into Liu Xiaohui's room. It had been a long time since he played with his little sister together. Rarely did he have free time today, and it was another good weather day, so he should spend more time with her.