Developing the Mountain

“Xiao Li, you said male fifty copper coins, and female thirty-five copper coins, is this true?” Some villagers saw Du Xiao Li and asked.

They came because they heard there was money. If there’s no money, then they’ll just have to go back.

Du Xiao Li smiled and said, “Of course it’s true. Everyday, when finished, I’ll give you all the money. However, if there’s anyone that purposefully doesn’t work hard and slack off, then I won’t give that much money.”

“Xiao Li, rest a.s.sured, everyone’s all fellow villagers, we won’t cheat you.” Shi Da said.

“Alright, then I’ll explain my request. Have the weeds on this mountaintop eliminated, and also have the earth tilled. Afterwards, dig a fifty to sixty centimeter deep and fifty to sixty centimeter wide hole every two meters. The dug out dirt can just be piled to the side.”

“Just this simple? Work one day, and there’ll be fifty copper coins?” Qiao Mai’s younger brother Qiao Mi asked.

(T/N: Wheat’s(Mai) little brother is rice(Mi)...)

“Yes. From the second period of Chen to the start of Wu. In the afternoon, Wei to first period of You. At noon, you all can return home to rest. Everyday, I’ll record the names of the people who come. And when done, I’ll pay out the wages according to the recorded names. That’s why, after you all come, don’t forget to come to me to register your name. Right now, let’s start.” Du Xiao Li asked someone to move out the table, and then afterwards, brought out the brush and ink. She recorded the names one by one, and when she finished, even called out the names, making sure no one was overlooked, before finally letting them began working.

(T/N: Time in ancient times were divided into two-hour subdivisions; Chen is 7-9AM, so the second period is 8AM; Wu is 11AM-1PM; Wei is 1-3PM; You 5-7PM)

The news of Du Xiao Li hiring people for work very soon spread throughout the village. Everyone was very curious as to what she wanted to do. However, no one knew.

Because Du Xiao Li did according to her words and would pay the villagers every day, the next day, the people that came increased. Very soon, the mountaintop her house was located on was rid of more than half its gra.s.s.

“Girl, what are you doing here? Digging this many holes, a perfectly fine mountain got turned into this by you.” Han Ming Yi came over with Leng Yi and the others. Leng Er saw the mountain filled with holes, and curiously asked.

“You won’t understand even if I tell you. There’ll be a time when you’ll know.” Du Xiao Li gave herself a straw hat to wear, and stood inside a hole. A full-fledged countryside girl!

“If you don’t say, how would you know I won’t understand?” Leng Er retorted.

“First, let’s not talk about this. Do you know how to look for water?” Du Xiao Li asked.

“Fengshui?” Leng Er shook his head and said, “Why would we know that kind of thing.”

“Not fengshui, but looking for water source.” Du Xiao Li said.

Leng Er still shook his head.

Shi Er, who was working nearby, heard Du Xiao Li’s words and said, “Xiao Li, you want to find a water source?”

“That’s right, I want to dig a pond atop the mountain.” Du Xiao Li said.

“Go find Qiao Er, Qiao Er knows how to find a water source.” Shi Er said.

(T/N: Fairly certain Qiao Er and Qiao Mi are same person, since the address Qiao Er is like calling him ‘Qiao number two’, cause he’s the younger brother. That said the same logic is applied to all the characters with ‘Er’ in their name so far.)

“Uncle Qiao Er? I’ll go ask.” Du Xiao Li said, and immediately went to find Qiao Er, throwing Han Ming Yi and Ji Liu Feng to one side.

Leng Er returned to Han Ming Yi’s side and said in puzzlement, “What does that girl want to do?”

“Follow her for a look and you’ll know.” Ji Liu Feng waved his fan and said.

Han Ming Yi didn’t say anything, but already lifted his foot and followed after her.

Du Xiao Li found Qiao Er and told him about looking for a water source, letting him take her to see if there’s a place with a decent water source.

As soon as Qiao Er heard, he nodded his head in agreement. He had his hoe placed inside Du Xiao Li’s house, and then took her to start searching around the mountaintop. Of course, behind them followed four curious people.

Qiao Er brought along the group and had the entire mountain explored. Lastly, he arrived at a place between the two mountains, saying: “Here. The water source here isn’t very good either, but it’s the best in the vicinity.”

Du Xiao Li look for a moment. There were some trees growing here, different from the other places that only had gra.s.s.

“The water source here isn’t particularly good, if you want to dig a pond, you might as well built a few wells.” Qiao Er said, “If you want to build wells, I can also help you find some people that know how to build wells to help out.”

Du Xiao Li pondered for a moment. She only wanted water. As for whether it was a pond or a well, she didn’t mind either. Thus, she had had this job given to Qiao Er to do.

In days after, Qiao Er no longer went to the front of the mountain to cut weed, but instead brought some people to the mountain valley to build a well.

Seeing everything proceeding orderly, Du Xiao Li was very happy inside. Although digging pits right now is still a bit early, but idle farming times like these were rare. Furthermore, the time she estimates to transplant the tangerine trees just happens to be during busy farming season. When the time comes, there won’t be this many people that’ll come help her.

“Girl, we’re going to go pick grapes, do you want to come along?” Early in the morning, Han Ming Yi and the others appeared in Du Xiao Li’s courtyard.

Du Xiao Li was in the middle of looking at today’s names, calculating how much money she needed to prepare. Just as she finished, she looked to them. She thought for a moment. It has already been several days since she’s gone to pick grapes. Quite a few should have ripened in these days. Thus, she had the name list put away inside, put on her back-basket, and followed them out. When they had crossed over the mountaintop to a place where the villagers couldn’t see, Ji Liu Feng suggest to fly over using qinggong. Du Xiao Li originally thought that with a body like that, Han Ming Yi was for sure like herself and didn’t know how, but unexpectedly his and Ji Liu Feng’s qinggong were equally matched. The two very quickly disappeared without a trace.

Leng Yi followed after, leaving behind Du Xiao Li and Leng Er.

Leng Er held onto Du Xiao Li and said, “Let’s go.” And then swiftly pursed after the three of them.

This was Du Xiao Li’s third time being taken into the skies with qinggong by Leng Er. She sighed in her heart, thinking when there’s time, she should also go learn qinggong. That way, she won’t need to walk that long when going into the mountains.historical

Silver had already entered the mountains at dawn by itself to play. When it saw Du Xiao Li flying over from the skies, it called out towards the sky, and quickly ran after her. Not long after Du Xiao Li and the others arrived, it also arrived. As soon as it saw Du Xiao Li, it bit onto her trouser leg, whimpering at her.

Du Xiao Li patted Silver’s head, and afterwards, had it picked up, saying: “I won’t abandon you, don’t worry, don’t worry.”

“This wolf of yours sure is reliant of you.” Ji Liu Feng said with a smile.

“I think it might have once been abandoned before, that’s probably why it’s like this.” Du Xiao Li said. Isn’t it said that wolves lived in packs? At the time when she found it, it was all alone.

Although Silver was very reliant of her, it still had the necessary wildness. That’s why she felt it was fine like this.

“Didn’t come for a few days, and already this many matured. We probably won’t be able to finish eating, but such a shame for it to spoil.” Ji Liu Feng looked to the cl.u.s.ters of deep purple grapes on the grape trees, and said regrettably.

Du Xiao Li also didn’t expect that this many would mature in just a few days. However, she rather didn’t feel that sorry, instead saying, “If we can’t finish eating, then just use it to make grape wine.”

“Grape wine? What kind of wine is that?” Ji Liu Feng asked.

“Wine made from fermented grapes, that wine’s color is red, like cornelian.” Du Xiao Li explained.

“Like the red wine made from the western regions?”

“What’s western region’s red wine like? I only know that these unfinished grapes can be used to make grape wine.” Du Xiao Li said.

“You know how?” Han Ming Yi asked.

“I know how to do it.” Du Xiao Li answered.

They all began working, plucking down all the ripe grapes, and surprisingly, filled an entire basket full. Immediately after, Ji Liu Feng urged them to quickly go back to let Du Xiao Li make grape wine.

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