Chapter 58 - 58 Change in The Alternate Space
“However, your mother and I have never planted herbs before. Not to mention that we don’t know how to make them into medicinal herbs, but more importantly, we’re afraid that they won’t survive.”
“As for the fruit trees and tea leaves you mentioned, well, let’s not talk about whether we know how to plant them or not. What should we do with the fruits after we plant them?”
Zhang Lan agreed. “That’s right. Which farmer would waste money to buy fruits to eat? When the time comes, they would just go bad in the fields.”
“Mother, of course I’m selling it to the rich people who can afford it,” Zhou Xiaoli explained. “There are many dried fruit shops in the county. How is it possible that we won’t be able to sell it?”
Zhang Lan and Zhou Yu felt that Zhou Xiaoli was being too whimsical.
“It’s not easy to do business.”
Since Zhou Xiaoli had suggested this idea, she was naturally confident of her own ability.
They have come to the crux of the issue, which is the alternate space she has.
The alternate space had more than just a small farmyard and two acres of land.
The surrounding space was actually very large, but it was enveloped by fog.
Over the past few days, after they had planted the two acres of land with wheat, the fog that enveloped the forest behind the house slowly dissipated, and the foot of the West mountain was revealed.
The western hillside was covered with fruit trees. She took a brief look at it. There were many types of fruit trees, including peaches, apples, pear, hawthorns, and dates.
She also found strawberry orchards, cherries, kiwis, blueberries, and other fruits that had yet to be seen in this country.
Just this afternoon, the fog on the mountain dissipated a little more, revealing the tea fields halfway up the mountain.
She picked some tea leaves and stir-fried them. It was very fragrant.
Since Zhou Yu and Zhang Lan were so against her idea, it means that they definitely did not know about the changes in the alternate space.
Perhaps if she let them take a look, they would be more assured. Thus, Zhou Xiaoli said, “Father, Mother, follow me into the alternate space to take a look.”
Although the two of them were puzzled, they closed their eyes nevertheless and followed Zhou Xiaoli into the alternate space.
Although they had entered the alternate space more than once, the two of them still found this experience extremely novel.
“Ah, look, our wheat has grown so tall!”
“This alternate space is really magical. There’s no snow anywhere else, but snow is falling on the two wheat fields!”
After Zhang Lan entered, her gaze was attracted by the wheat in the field.
She ran over to her precious wheat and looked at it over again and again.
They had planted winter wheat seeds. Originally, they were worried that it would not grow here. Now, they were relieved.
Zhou Xiaoli covered her face. No wonder the two of them did not notice the situation at the back of the mountain. It turned out that their attention was on these two acres of land.
“Father, Mother, stop looking at the wheat. Come with me.”
As Zhou Xiaoli spoke, she pulled the two of them around the courtyard and arrived at the foot of the West Mountain.
“Ah, we can now see the mountain!”
This was the first time Zhang Lan and Zhou Yu had been here. They knew that the spring water flowed down from the mountain but they knew nothing else as the other places were covered by fog.
“Yes, the fog dissipated in the past two days,” Zhou Xiaoli said as she led the two into the forest. “Look, there are many fruit trees here.”
“Try it.”
As she spoke, Zhou Xiaoli plucked two peaches and eagerly handed them to the two of them.
Zhou Yu took the fruits, wiped them on his body, and handed one to Zhang Lan.
Under Zhou Xiaoli’s expectant gaze, the two of them took a bite. Instantly, their eyes lit up.
“It’s so sweet!” Zhang Lan pointed at the peach in her hand in surprise. “These peaches are too delicious. I’ve never eaten such delicious peaches!”
Looking at his wife’s excited expression, Zhou Yu smiled. “You’re talking as if you often eat peaches.”
This was also what Zhou Yu had said earlier. Fruit was considered a luxury item.
For ordinary people who could not even eat their fill, they would not waste money to buy fruits to eat.
They would go to the mountains to pick some wild fruits to eat during autumn time, but the fruits were usually very sour.
Zhang Lan smiled in embarrassment. “Quit it. I’ve eaten it before actually. Didn’t Zhou Guixiang bring peaches with her when she returned to the Zhou family house previously? Her daughter thought that they weren’t delicious, so she threw them away. I picked them up and took a bite. They were not as delicious as this.”
Upon hearing this, a string of memories appeared in Zhou Xiaoli’s mind.
At that time, Zhang Lan washed the peaches that were thrown on the ground, and their family of five had eaten them.
However, Zhou Guixiang saw it. No matter how they explained that it was her daughter who had thrown it away, she threw a huge tantrum at them.
Lai Jinniang even severely punished their family for this.
Therefore, Zhou Xiaoli’s memory of it was deep and painful.
Zhang Lan’s mood was a little low, probably because she was reminded of the unhappy past.
Zhou Yu’s heart ached and he blamed himself.
His wife and children have not had a good day with him.
He immediately stuffed the peach he had taken a bite of into Zhang Lan’s hand and patted his chest. “This is for you. In the future, I’ll give you all my peaches.”
Zhang Lan’s eyes immediately curved, and the gloominess in her heart cleared. She stuffed the peach back into Zhou Yu’s hand and joked, “Look at you. There are so many fruits here. Who still wants to eat what you have taken a bite of?”
“Haha, that’s true.”
The two of them could not help but laugh. Their unhappiness immediately dissipated.
“Sis, Father, Mother, where are you?”
...
At this moment, Zhou Xiaoyu and Zhou Junjun’s voices could be heard.
When the two little ones returned to the room, they found that the three of them were sleeping with their eyes closed. So they entered the alternate space to look for them.
Zhou Yu’s voice was loud. After shouting a few times, the two little ones ran over.
“Sis, why did you sneak into the alternate space?” Zhou Xiaoyu ran over and hugged Zhou Xiaoli’s leg, asking in a childish voice.
“Little Fishy, be good. I’m discussing something important with Father and Mother. Go to the small courtyard and bring a basket over. We’ll pick some fruits and bring them out to eat.”
Zhou Xiaoli rubbed the little guy’s head and said with a smile.
Only then did the two little ones notice that there were many fruit trees here. They were instantly happy.
After responding, they held hands and skipped to the small courtyard.
Zhou Xiaoli picked a few strawberries and cherries for Zhou Yu and Zhang Lan to see.
“Ah, what fruit is this? I’ve never seen it before!”
The two of them were shocked. They took it, wiped it on their bodies, and tried to take a bite.
...
“These fruits are so delicious!”
Zhou Xiaoli said, “These are strawberries and cherries. It’s very rare to see them outside. Even the current emperor might not have eaten them.”
When she heard that the emperor had never eaten it before, Zhang Lan’s hand that was holding the cherry trembled. She could not bear to put it into her mouth anymore.
Zhou Xiaoli continued, “So, Father, Mother, do you think that such delicious and rare fruits would not have any buyers? For example, strawberries and cherries. Those rich families will definitely fight for them.”
Zhou Yu immediately understood what Zhou Xiaoli meant.
“So, you want to sell these fruits?”
Zhou Xiaoli nodded. “That’s right, but we have to have a source for our fruits. Otherwise, it will arouse suspicion. I thought that we should buy all the land on the southern slope of Qingyuan Mountain and plant the fruit trees in our alternate space there.”
Looking at such a large fruit forest and the gratifying tea trees, it would be a pity if they do not put it into use.
Zhou Yu immediately made his decision. “Alright, I’ll listen to you!”
At this moment, the two little ones ran over with small bamboo baskets.
The family picked two baskets of fruits and left the alternate space happily.
Just as they returned to their room, they heard cursing coming from the entrance of their house.