Chapter 363 - Peanuts
Chapter 363: Peanuts
Translator: Lonelytree
Peanuts were legumes. After the peanut stalks were pulled from the ground, the peanuts had to be removed individually from the roots. This was the perfect job for children.
After Xiao Lingyu hired ten women from the village, she had Xiao Xiaohui call a group of children from the village to come and pick peanuts from the roots.
The peanuts were still lush and green. Some of them had bloomed with yellow flowers. Those who didn’t know better would think that these peanuts were not ripe yet.
The children picked the peanuts at a price of 20 cents per catty.
After all, the children were lively and active. This was an exercise and playtime for them. Xiao Lingyu had money, but she wouldn’t spoil the children with money. They had to work hard to earn money. That was a lesson worth learning.
It was currently summer vacation, and with just a wave of Xiao Xiaohui’s hand, 10 to 20 children came over.
Since there was money to be earned, the parents of the children were naturally happy to let their children go over to help.
Xiao Lingyu let Xiao Xiaohui bring his companions to the field. Since they would be paid by the weight of their harvest, everyone was given a small basket, and there was a scale set up. Once the small basket was full, it would be weighed, and the peanuts would be collected in a large basket. Xiao Lingyun
was responsible for keeping the accounts for the kids.
Over ten women harvested the peanuts from the three Mu of land. The children picked up the peanut stalks. Of course, the children were slower than the adults. They finished harvesting almost two Mu of land in one moming.
“These peanuts grow so much and evenly.”
After the peanuts were uprooted, many people saw the densely packed peanuts growing together. They found it unbelievable. The peanuts were large and voluminous.
It was one thing about the strawberries because normal villagers didn’t know how to grow them, However, the villagers also grew their own peanuts, but their peanuts never looked this perfect.
“What’s so strange about that?” The person next to her said matter-of-factly, “The Xiao Family’s crops have always been special. The strawberries are the perfect example. Even their vegetables are different and are sold at a high price. So why are you surprised that their peanuts grow so well?”
“That’s true. Since the peanuts grow so well, the soybeans will be similarly perfect.”
“That’s for sure. However, Xiao Lingyu has grown so many peanuts and soybeans. Do you think she will sell them like this or after processing?”
“How would I know? We’ll know when it’s time.” She smiled.
On the other side, the children came with little stools. They carried the peanut stalks the adults had pulled out of the soil and placed them in a pile. Then, they started to pick the peanuts from the roots.
To account for the hot day, they were provided with several big umbrellas.
Two of the children looked at the peanuts in their hands and then at the others. Then, they peeled the peanuts and put them into their mouths.
“Wow, these peanuts are so delicious. They’re sweet and fragrant.” After secretly tasting the peanuts, the children couldn’t help but be surprised.
This instantly annoyed Xiao Xiaohui. He glared at Xiao Baozi and said angrily, “Fat Bun, I hired you to pick peanuts, not to eat them!”
Xiao Baozi grumbled, “But they are so delicious!”
“No matter what, you’re not allowed to eat the peanuts!” Xiao Xiaohui said loudly. At this point, Xiao Xiaohui’s eyes bulged as he said, “If I catch you eating the peanut again, you can go back home.”
Xiao Xiaohui was actually not a stingy person. However, there were 18 of his friends there. If everyone started eating the peanuts, there would be no peanuts left to pick. That would not be right.
When Xiao Baozi heard the warning, he immediately curled his lips and said, “Alright, I won’t eat the peanut. I’ll continue picking them.”
Little Loach’s sister’s peanuts were too delicious. They were sweet, crisp, and had a good taste. They were even more delicious than the peanuts he had eaten before.
He still wanted to eat them.
However, he still preferred money.
Once he had money, he could buy the toys he liked.
Picking one catty of peanuts was 20 cents. Ten catties was two RMB. He could definitely pick fifty catties of peanuts.
Fifty catties was ten RMB. In the end, Xiao Baozi surrendered to the allure of money.
However, when he looked at these peanuts, he started to drool.
The seventeen children, along with Grandma Xiao, Xiao Lingyun, and the two girls, formed a circle under the umbrellas and picked the peanuts very seriously.
Lulu and Rourou wore long-sleeved pink dresses with a large bow at the back and a pair of white leggings to prevent mosquitoes from biting them.
The Xiao Family had tried their best to feed the two girls over the past few days. Mother Xiao even secretly gave them the spring water to drink. Their complexion was getting better. They were no longer as thin, and they appeared more lively.
Lulu held a peanut stalk. When she saw the peanuts growing on the roots, she asked her mother, “Mommy, is this a peanut plant?”
Xiao Lingyun smiled and said, “Yes.”
“But Mommy, why are the peanuts grown underground and not on the leaves?” Lulu asked.
Xiao Lingyun, She didn’t know either.
“Mom, why are there small yellow flowers on the peanut plants?” The curious Lulu asked.
Xiao Lingyun,”…” She still didn’t know.
Although she had been to nursing school, she had forgotten most things. The knowledge was beaten out of her when she was working as a free nanny for the Cheng Family.
Xiao Lingyun thought to herself, ‘It’s scary to be uneducated. It looks like I have to pick up my textbooks and study more. At least when my babies have questions, I won’t be completely clueless.’
Xiao Lingyun said to the child very honestly, “Babies, Mommy doesn’t know.”
Lulu’s little face was obviously a little disappointed. She said, “Oh, so mommy doesn’t know.”
Xiao Lingyun saw the disappointed expression on Lulu’s face, and her heart hurt.
She said, “But baby, don’t worry. Mommy will go back and read some books. After I know the answer, I’ll tell my babies, okay?”
Lulu’s eyes suddenly lit up. She nodded and replied, “Yes, okay.”
Then, the two sisters immersed themselves in the fun of picking peanuts.
The day they came to Grandma’s house in Taoyuan Village was the happiest day of their lives.
‘There was no beating and scolding from Grandma and aunt, nor the cold looks from Daddy and Grandpa.
Everyone here was especially good to them. If there were good food, they would eat it first, and if there were toys, they would play with them first. Moreover, there were many children here who would play with them.
However, they were always worried that their grandparents would suddenly appear here and scold them harshly. They would start to beat and scold them and make them work.
However, their mother and grandmother told them that their grandparents would never appear in front of them again.
But was that true? Will their grandfather, grandmother, and aunt really not appear again?
They were still very suspicious.
Although the two children had Xiao Lingyun protecting them in the Cheng family, the way the Cheng family treated them had left a shadow in their hearts.
They would have to work hard to walk out of this shadow.
Perhaps, when they grew older and knew that their grandfather, grandmother, and aunt, who they were afraid of, had been arrested, they would feel better.
However, the Xiao family was now keeping the two children in the dark.
After all, no matter how bad those people were, no matter how badly they treated their children, they were still the girls’ closest relatives.
After plucking two Mu of peanuts in the morning, they finished the remaining Mu in the afternoon.
Besides a dozen children, there were also some elderly people who came to pick peanuts in the afternoon. There were around fifteen of them.
Due to their health, these elderly normally were not hired. Apart from planting vegetables, they did not have any other income. Some of them would go up the mountains to pick herbs to sell, but with their age, they wouldn’t be able to gather much.
‘When they heard that the Xiao Family needed people to help pick peanuts, a few of the elderly thickened their skin to look for Grandma Xiao. Grandma Xiao’s heart softened, and she hired them.
Similar to the children, they would be paid according to the weight of the peanuts they picked.
When the children saw the elders arrive in the afternoon, they started to become competitive..