NOVPUB
Chapter 832: Chapter 835: Change the Flavor
"As soon as you lifted the lid, I almost drooled, how could I not have a taste and miss out?"
The two girls urged her for a while, but Almond still had a troubled look on her face.
Finally, Er Ya simply pulled Almond down to sit, and Da Ya went to the kitchen to get another set of bowl and chopsticks.
At first, Almond was very reserved, but as she realized she wasn’t being treated differently because she was a maid, she gradually relaxed.
It really felt good.
After dinner, Almond washed some peaches and pears and thoughtfully cut them into small pieces.
Almond tentatively said, "Madam, I would like to go back to see tomorrow."
Harvesting is a joyous occasion, but also a busy time for farm families; she wanted to go back and cook a meal for her family, and see if there was anything she could help with.
"No problem, there’s not much going on these couple of days, and you can catch a couple of wild chickens from the backyard while you’re at it," Qiao Duo’er agreed readily.
"I have silver on me, I can’t take the wild chickens."
Almond was firm in her stance; though she was a maid, she couldn’t lack principles.
Having said that, she ran off in a flash, leaving Qiao Duo’er speechless.
This child was too honest, and she wondered where Bai Yifan had found her, for she couldn’t seem to purchase such a good maid herself.
Well... she was actually still considering buying a wet nurse.
The next day, Qiao Duo’er woke up hungry, and after washing up, she rubbed her flat belly as she entered the kitchen, where breakfast was being kept warm along with two plates of pastries, likely specially made by Almond.
Just after Qiao Duo’er finished eating, Tan Zhenghong came back.
"Why didn’t you sleep in a bit longer?" He had wanted to get back early to prepare her face washing water.
Qiao Duo’er asked curiously, "You didn’t go to the Embroidery Room today?" 𝘯𝘰𝑣𝘱𝑢𝘣.𝑐𝑜𝑚
"With Almond not at home, I was afraid no one would take care of you, so I caught a pigeon and picked some fresh and tender lotus whips for lunch, to give you a change of taste," he explained.
Tan Zhenghong gestured toward his backpack, which contained his morning’s haul from the mountain.
Especially the lotus whip, which was only available in early summer; his wife was the first to discover it.
When he saw it today, he dove in to gather some.
Duo’er happily said, "I’m looking forward to lunch already."
Tan Zhenghong affectionately tapped his wife’s nose, knowing how picky she was with food and that she easily grew tired of the same things.
"You little glutton, I’ll go prepare the pigeon first."
With a change in dishes, Qiao Duo’er ate to her contentment.
After eating well and drinking plenty, she strolled around in the courtyard for a while, and the short-term workers began to arrive, one after another.
"Everybody stand still and keep quiet," Uncle Huang reminded.
Pregnant people cannot tolerate noise, and these rough men were usually loud, so he had to ask them to remain as silent as possible.
The short-term workers cooperated and stopped talking.
Soon each one received a hefty purse of wages, the weight of which provided a satisfying reassurance!
Working in Xuan Eagle Mountain Village was tiring, but it was worth it once they got paid.
In the past, they would also help the Xiao Family with wheat harvesting, but that family was stingy, often docking wages arbitrarily and skimping on the payout.
The Tan Family did have punishments, but good work was rewarded with bonuses.
After distributing the wages, Tan Zhenghong brought up the recruitment for permanent workers.
"This time, the Tan Family is hiring ten permanent workers to oversee the fields by Xuan Eagle Mountain Village, and during the slack season, do some simple carpentry in Big Willow Village. Rest for two days each month, wages will be based on workload, step forward if you’re interested."
Qiao Duo originally thought not many would be interested due to the distance from Big Willow Village to Xuan Eagle Mountain Village.
But, to her surprise, almost everyone stepped forward.
