Chapter 75: An Opportunity

◎ Can you speak in a way we can understand? ◇

Since she had yet to find a solution, Yu Lian didn't dwell on it. Sometimes, being too fixated on something only led to confusion. Perhaps if she engaged in other activities, new ideas would surface. She decided to take the three children up the mountain to gather wild mushrooms, game, and vegetables, with the intention of drying them and sending some to her parents and brother in the capital.

It had just rained, and the mountains were teeming with mushrooms and edible greens. Many villagers sent their children up the mountain to collect these, to dry and sell in town for extra income.

Upon hearing the children's reason for asking for a day off, their teacher, Hua Tianqu, returned home and came back with a bamboo basket, expressing his desire to join them on their trip.

Yu Lian assumed the young man wanted to gather some treats and, without hesitation, agreed. Thus, she set off with the three children and half-grown boy, running into Dashu's wife, Sanshu's wife, and Sanshu's wife's sister-in-law, who were also planning to ascend the mountain. They decided to hike together as a group.

This was Yu Lian's first encounter with Sanshu's wife, who had just returned from her parental home. She appeared fairer than her two sisters-in-law, with a small face, sharp chin, and slightly prominent cheekbones. Though her features seemed sharp, she still appeared to be a comely woman.

After exchanging greetings, Sanshu's wife immediately drew close to Yu Lian, discussing which mushrooms were safe to pick and which were not. However, Yu Lian noticed that Sanshu's wife was intentionally avoiding her sister-in-law, not wanting to accompany her.

Dashu's wife followed suit, leaving Sanshu's wife alone.

Though Yu Lian didn't fully grasp the situation, she observed that neither of the two sisters-in-law seemed keen on interacting with Sanshu's wife.

She didn't meddle in other people's affairs, focusing only on leading her four children up the mountain.

They picked their way up the slope, planning to descend on the opposite side to gather more mushrooms and herbs efficiently. With Dashu's wife's familiarity with the terrain, they took a less frequented path, as she explained that other areas were too crowded for any substantial finds.

"This path was discovered by my husband when they went up the mountain last time searching for that rascal Tianqu. From the outside, it seems impassable, but if you push aside these thorny wild grasses, there's a natural mountain trail inside, very easy to walk on."

Dashu's wife and her sister-in-law used branches to clear the thorny vegetation, while Yu Lian led the children behind them. By now, their baskets were half-filled with mushrooms and wild vegetables, promising a hearty meal when they returned home. Yu Lian thought about how the chicks at home had grown plump, and it would be a good opportunity to cook one of the fat chickens that Hua Baogui's wife had compensated them with, along with the mushrooms they had gathered.

"Wow! Look, there are insects on that tree!"

Upon entering this path, one is surrounded by wild apricot trees. Wild apricots bloom a little later, and at this time, there are still scattered clusters of late-blooming flowers hanging on their branches. A swarm of bees flutters around, buzzing energetically, and Yu Lian even spots numerous beehives!

It turns out that this is a natural bee farm!

Several children, having spent their years within the confines of a Marquis's residence and thus unacquainted with bees, prompted Hua Tianqu, the young tutor, to furrow his brow and explain, "This is not an insect; it is a bee."

"Honeybees gather nectar from harmless flowers and, with their own urine, transform it into honey – a process that turns the mundane into the miraculous, a transformation from decay to splendor."

The twins were perplexed. Rubbing their heads, they asked, "What do you mean, Master? Could you please explain it in a way we can understand?"

Hua Tianqu looked down at them with a mix of disdain and helplessness, explaining, "Bees produce honey, which can be eaten and is sweet."

The twins seemed to understand now, and Little Guo'er's eyes sparkled. "Can it be eaten? Is it sweet? Sweeter than sugar-coated haws?"

Hua Tianqu kept his hands behind his back without answering.

Yu Lian smiled and said, "It's not the same thing. Honey can nourish the body. For example, if Grandma is weak, honey can help strengthen her."

And besides... bees could be used to make beeswax, which could also be added to food. Due to its low density and high sugar content, honey had some preservative properties.

Her eyes gleamed slightly.

Seeing Yu Lian's enthusiasm, Dashu's wife hurriedly spoke up, "Let's go quickly. Don't think about harvesting these bees. Be careful not to get stung all over your head. A few years ago, someone in my husband's village was foolish enough to try to gather honey and was killed by a venomous bee. Since then, no one dared to touch them."

If anyone dared to disturb the hive, countless bees would swarm out to sting. Ordinary people wouldn't be able to run fast enough, and their lives might be endangered.

Thinking of that scene, Dashu's wife rubbed her arms in regret, wishing they hadn't taken this path. "My husband walked here at night and didn't see so many bees above his head. It was terrifying. If only we had known, we would have taken a different route."

Yu Lian followed the group as they departed, but her mind was still buzzing with thoughts of beekeeping. She even considered purchasing the mountain in advance and cultivating fruit trees there, simultaneously maintaining a hive of bees. In ancient times, honey was precious, not only for its consumption but also for making beeswax to preserve food. Moreover, these diligent bees would diligently pollinate her fruit trees, essentially serving as an ideal workforce of worker bees.

Yet, should she embark on such a journey, the hundred taels of silver in her possession might not suffice, and even if it did, her days would certainly become financially strained.

Considering this, Yu Lian planned to inquire further. If it proved unfeasible, leasing the land for a few years could be a viable solution. Once she had earned sufficient silver in the future, she would then purchase it from the village.

On their return journey, Yu Lian and her four companions each carried back baskets brimming with wild mushrooms and greens. Hua Tianqu, the frail young boy, upon arriving, simply upended his basket onto the ground and promptly rushed back to his home.

Yu Lian: "..."

No matter how they called out behind him, the young lad didn't respond, only running faster. She smiled slightly, thinking that she would serve him a bowl of mushroom and chicken stew when she made it.

Yu Lian and the three youngsters set down their baskets, along with the load Hua Tianqu had emptied. At first glance, there was quite a substantial amount of produce.

Aunt Mei, upon seeing this, promptly retrieved a sieve from their home. They sifted through everything to shake off the soil, leaving them to dry for a few days before they could be stored away.

Mrs. Chen, the matriarch, also lent a hand. The mushrooms simply needed to be cleaned of soil and dried, whereas the wild vegetables required washing before being sun-dried.

The women of the family crouched by the well, washing the wild greens. Yu Lian then mentioned, "I'm considering acquiring the land behind the mountain, whether by purchase or lease."

The elder lady paused and inquired, "Yu Lian, do you have any plans in mind?"

Yu Lian smiled and replied, "Today, I found many wild fruit trees and beehives on the mountain. I was thinking of acquiring them, planting orchards, and breeding bees for honey. Our family farm is right at the foot of the mountain, so everything could blend seamlessly. In the future, we might even establish a workshop down there."

The elder lady, not well-versed in such practical matters, trusted Yu Lian's judgment instinctively. She always viewed her granddaughter-in-law through a lens of admiration, believing she was capable and resourceful. Hence, despite not fully understanding the proposal, she approved it, saying, "Yu Lian, you decide. Grandmother supports you."

Mrs. Chen, however, showed a rare moment of pragmatism. She expressed her concern, "We're already struggling with our ten acres of land. How can we manage a mountain? Besides, does Yu Lian have enough silver?"

She removed an exquisite white jade bracelet from her wrist and said, "This was a gift from your father when he first married me. Your mother wore it all the time, which is why it has been preserved. If you need more silver, take this bracelet and pawn it first."

Yu Lian quickly shook her head. "Since it was a gift Father gave Mother during their wedding, it holds sentimental value. You should keep it. I'll find another way to deal with the silver issue."

Lady Mei suggested, "Perhaps I should find something to do? Like washing clothes for folks in the town? That way, I could help earn some silver."

The elderly matron felt deeply gratified, as Mei Aunt had now matured significantly. No longer did she harbor thoughts of seeking personal gain from the family, but instead devoted herself wholeheartedly to the betterment and prosperity of the household, treating it as her own kinship domain.

Yu Lian also smiled and declined, "Washing a single bucket of clothes barely earns a few copper coins, and it would exhaust my body. It's not worth it. I'll figure something out; there's no need for Grandmother, Mother, or Aunt Mei to worry."

Despite these words, Lady Mei and Mrs. Chen were scheming to help her earn some silver. They both knew how arduous it had been for Yu Lian to manage the household on her own, handling everything with grace and never burdening them. She had steadily improved their lives, day by day.

Aunt Mei was preoccupied with the household chores in the kitchen, leaving her with limited spare time. Nevertheless, Mrs. Chen had already sewn a collection of handkerchiefs and pouches, hoping to sell them at the local clothing shop. Her embroidery skills were excellent, and she could create patterns that were popular only in the capital city. Selling them wouldn't be an issue; it was just the needlework that strained her eyes.

Aunt Mei contemplated joining Mrs. Chen in the sewing, acknowledging that her own skills, though not as refined as Mrs. Chen's, were adequate for rural demands and would not disgrace her in the city.

The matriarch was calculating the potential sale of their pigs by the end of the year. If she fed them an extra meal each day, they might gain more weight, resulting in a higher selling price.

Each woman in the family had her own plans, all centered on how to earn money to support Yu Lian's dream of purchasing the mountain for tree planting and beekeeping.

When Hua Zhan returned home at night, Mrs. Chen mentioned this to her husband while lying in bed. "Lian'er wants to cultivate trees and bees on the mountain, but I have no idea how to do it. She has been worried lately, and finally found something she is passionate about. Regardless of whether it will succeed or not, I want to contribute and help her."

Hua Zhan narrowed his eyes, "Mmm."

Early the next morning, he set out in a carriage, refusing to disclose his destination, merely mentioning that he was going for a leisurely drive.

Only Zhu Ying accompanied the Marquis on his outing. She observed as he took the reins of the carriage, shuttling back and forth between town and county, acting as a coachman to transport merchants, travelers, and ordinary folk.

He watched with profound sorrow, pondering where the esteemed Marquis had gone, who once held such authority that even a mere breath from him would have the entire court's officials on edge. How could it come to this, where a mere coin has humbled a hero? And now he finds himself reduced to performing the duties of a lowly carriage driver, a profession deemed beneath the notice of the three teachings and nine strata of society? In the days when the old Emperor still reigned, not even he dared summon the Marquis to drive his carriage!

Lady Master herself worked as an embroiderer, laboriously sewing and selling her exquisite creations. The elderly matriarch attended to the children while tending to pigs and chickens. The young mistress tirelessly shuttled between tasks, negotiating with the village chief, a man who was notoriously difficult to deal with. He insisted on a steep price of two hundred taels of silver, refusing to lease the land at a lower cost, insisting only on a direct sale.

Zhu Ying dared not include these matters in her letter, fearing that her master would be grieved upon reading them. She held the two thousand taels of silver that had been enclosed with the previous correspondence, pondering over how she could legitimately assist her master's family without attracting the suspicion of the emperor's spies.

Fortunately, Zhu Ying soon found an opportunity!

Apologies for the extended hiatus; I'll resume updating in September and focus on completing this novel.