After sending off Yang Qingrui and his brother, Yang Chuxia was ready to start harvesting the sugarcane. She could handle a few acres of sugarcane with her own people, and as for the other peanuts and beans, the servants would take care of it. This was their first year after getting married, and Yang Dachuanās idea was to temporarily not separate the farm work. They would divide the work starting next year, each managing their own section.
Yang Chuxia had no objections, as her family had fewer servants and maids than her parentsā home. If they were to separate now, she wouldnāt be able to keep up. With plans to separate next year, she thought it would be a good time to fill in some manpower beforehand.
"Madam, shall we still use the knife to cut the sugarcane?" Xiuāer, holding a sickle, was eager to give it a try.
"We canāt use the knife to cut it this time." Yang Chuxia smiled, "We have to dig up the whole root. Thatās a job for the men. After they dig it up, we will use the knife to remove the soil from the bottom, cut off the false roots, and keep the buds. Otherwise, the sugarcane will wilt easily."
"Alright, big sister-in-law, shall we start digging now?"
The one talking was a servant who had been watching the sugarcane all this time. Now it was time to harvest, it was just right for the two servants to do the digging, while she would lead Xiuāer, Sister-in-law Li and others to bundle the sugarcane.
"Yes, you can start digging."
The two servants took the shovels and started digging in front, the loose soil made it easy and fast. Yang Chuxia and the others followed, cutting the roots from the bottom, and bundling them in groups of ten or twenty after organizing them properly.
It took them several days to harvest the four-acre sugarcane field.
"Mother, letās send some sugarcane to the village for our fathers and their families. All the families can share some, since weāve got a good harvest this year, compared to last yearās smaller yield."
"Alright, Iāll have someone send it soon." Ms.Wang looked at the heap of sugarcane in their home. "Letās send a bundle to each family."
"A bundle is enough." There were ten stalks in a small bundle, which would be good enough for giving away. "By the way, send some to the town as well. We canāt miss Shopkeeper Liās place, as well as Constable Hongās and Broker Liuās families. We interact with them regularly."
"Weāll send them to the town in a few days. The family is so busy right now that nobody can leave." Ms.Wang replied.
"Alright, mother, you can arrange as you see fit."
As the mother and daughter were discussing gift giving, Yang Dongxue and Yang Xiayun came running in with sugarcane.
"Sister, this sugarcane is so sweet!"
"Yes, itās even sweeter than the candy we usually eat." Luo Linyu nodded in agreement.
Yang Dongxue chirped, "Itās even sweeter than the brown sugar water my mother drinks. I secretly tasted it yesterday when she drank it."
Yang Chuxia was speechless, thinking how odd Ms.Luo was. Itās just a bowl of brown sugar water - couldnāt she spare some for her own daughter?
Ms.Wang was about to say something when Yang Dongxue spoke again, "My mother said sheās going to have a little brother and the brown sugar water is for him. She told me to be considerate of my brother. Hmph, she must think Iām still a three-year-old child. She probably wanted to drink it herself, so she lied that itās the last bit of brown sugar in the house and canāt share it with me."
Yang Chuxia glanced at Ms.Wang, who shook her head, indicating that she didnāt know about this either.
"Dongxue, your mother said sheās going to have a little brother?"
"Yes, she even said that I should take care of my brother and play with him in the future." Yang Dongxue nodded repeatedly. "My dad also said that he would send my brother to school, just like brother Qingruiās schooling."
"Mother, is Aunt Luo pregnant? She hasnāt mentioned it."
Considering Ms.Luoās nature, if she were pregnant, she would definitely make a fuss about it. She and Yang Xiaochuan had been wanting a son for many years. Now that she finally got pregnant, she would surely announce it to everyone.