Farmer Lady of Fortune, Imperial Concubine, Don't Be Too Sweet

Chapter 32

She has a maiden’s heart, too 

Author: 橙子澄澄

Source: Instadoses

This grape grove was neither large nor small.

A village of idle men, women and children, seventy or eighty in number, scoured the entire grape grove in one afternoon.

And when they walked out of the Liu courtyard with empty baskets, their faces were all smiles.

Those who picked more earned 40 or 50 wen in one afternoon.

Those who picked less, about more than 20 catties, also earned more than a dozen wen within half a day’s work and saved money.

The children got an extra five or six wen for pocket money each.

The Liu courtyard was completely packed with piles so high, there was almost no space left. Even the empty rooms that were cleaned out were filled with grapes.

Grandpa Liu began to worry again, “It’s too much, they must add up to a total of over 2000 catties! With the weather so hot, everything will rot if left for long. We have to brew all of these fast. Would time be enough?”

This was the first time the family engaged themselves into this business, so they stared at each other all at sea. 

If they rot, the money they paid for them would be worthless. 

“Grandpa, don’t worry, they can be brewed! We just have to work hard.” Liu Yusheng consoled. Two thousand catties of grapes is quite a large amount, but the full brewing process is still not a problem for her.

Washing and drying them however would be troublesome and a lot of work for the whole family.

“We’re not afraid of hard work, as long as we don’t lose money, we’ll be at ease!”

“It’s definitely not a loss! Grandparents, mother, father, we have to wash the grapes first and dry them, then we can make wine. But the big jars at home are not enough.” Having all the harvests in the entire grape grove, five huge jars were simply not enough.

“It’s not easy to make a jar, I’ll just go around the village and borrow back a few vats!” Liu Dalin took the initiative to take on this task.

“We need bamboo sieves to dry them, right? I’ll go and borrow some of these!” Du Juan also took a task.

“Okay, let’s eat dinner first, and wash these grapes afterwards. Whatever is needed to brew later, it’s up to Nannan!” Grandpa Liu has a great deal of trust in his granddaughter.

And Liu Yusheng’s concerns about washing and drying were perfectly resolved after dinner.

The family was about to carry the grapes to the river when the villagers came, all the neighbors and friends in the village.

“Elder brother Liu, Liu Da, looking at this pile of grapes all over your yard, there aren’t enough people for winemaking, right? We’ll give you a hand!”

“Say what’s to be done, we farmers have nothing else but strength from tilling the land!”

Li Da also drove the family wagon over, laughing, “I guessed that these grapes for winemaking have to be washed, I’ll help carry them to save you the effort.”

Even Wanrong and Axiu came, “I know nothing about farming, but I can still help with washing and drying. It’s time for me to return the favor too. The courtyard wall in our hut is all thanks to you, but I didn’t invite you in for a meal.”