The Exiled Villainess and Her Shopping Dimension

Chapter 38

"In the Mao period would be fine; let’s go early so we can return quickly. I’m planning to buy seeds in the city. So, let’s go together. What is A’Heng planning to plant this year? Will you cultivate cassava as usual, or perhaps try planting rice?" Aunt Liao asked. Yueqian paused to think, remembering that in the past, people in the rural area liked to grow cassava because it could be stored for winter consumption. However, it was cheap and yielded little profit.

Yueqian did not want to face such a situation again. To escape poverty, they needed to try new things. Indeed, growing crops that could be stored was a good solution, but it should not be too much.

Moreover, these crops were readily available in the area, with many locals bringing cassava to sell in the city at very low prices. If necessary, Yueqian could also buy these cheaply.

Moreover, many thousands of mu of her land were already leased out to people for farming purposes, and they had to pay rent in the form of 20% of their produce. Thus, if most people knew how to grow rice and cassava, the rent she would receive would mainly consist of cassava and rice.

Even in the worst-case scenario, Yueqian still had plenty of rice stored from her dimensional department store.

Considering this, Yueqian thought about switching to something else that would fetch a better price, something that people, whether in the city or the countryside, frequently consumed. But what could it be?

Yueqian thought about the seven auspicious plants of China, which are commonly used in cooking. The first is celery, symbolizing perseverance; Chinese mustard greens (gaicai), representing expansion, a blessing for eaters, make them want to build up their prosperity; kale, as a reminder to do good, since the good would be a protective armor for those who did, hence, it symbolizes a great protection.

 Chinese cabbage, another auspicious plant, it teaches children patience, a delayed reward, symbolizing looking forward to a better future. Garlic, holds quite an interesting meaning, it implies one is going to be rich. Radish, combines the words of fortune and master, making it one of the most auspicious plants. Lastly, cabbage, symbolizes good fame and renown.

Considering that these plants carry such positive meanings, they are often bought and cooked during festivals. With this reason, Yueqian planned to choose from these seven types. Even if they didn’t sell, she could still use them for cooking.

Just thinking of these vegetables made Yueqian salivate, so many recipes in her head.

Celeries aren’t hard to grow, you only need to have seeds, but they need proper care and shouldn’t lack fertilizer. But Yueqian wasn’t worried about that; this plant can be harvested in just three months, allowing her to reap up to three harvests before the next winter.

Chinese mustard greens can be harvested every month or even less and can be used in a variety of dishes like mixed-vegetable stew, stir-fried with oyster sauce, chicken legs bland soup, stewed Chinese mustard greens with pork belly, and many more dishes. Just thinking about it made her mouth water. The planting method is just ordinary vegetable gardening, slightly easier than celeries.

Kale, harvested similarly to Chinese mustard greens, within about 30-35 days, doesn’t differ much in its cultivation, though it requires close attention as worms and insects usually eat its leaves.

The good and the popular type of Chinese cabbage is the dense one, typically takes over 80 days, or about 2.5 to 3 months, to grow, but it is undoubtedly a vegetable in high demand. It can be used in all dishes, simply steaming it with chicken or fish yields a sweet and delicious vegetable.

Garlic, which takes a long time to harvest and must be carefully tended, is not ideal for early or late harvesting. Yueqian did not intend to grow it for profit but plans to plant in a small area for consuming within her household.

Radishes can be harvested from around 70 days, or just over 2 months, which increases the harvest cycles. Even though they are cheaper than other types, heavy radishes can still bring in significant revenue. Additionally, it’s a vegetable that can be used in many dishes, ensuring it always sells well, whether among the rich or poor.

Cabbage has a relatively long growth period of about 120 days, comparing to other vegetables, it allows for only two harvests per year, as the third cycle falls during the winter, preventing yield and wasting time. However, time is not a concern, as they can also rotate crops to those with shorter growing periods.

Therefore, Yueqian planned to have Mu Heng try planting these crops for a year. It would be fine if he wanted to plant cassava in his own field, but she would tell him that the leased 100 mu should be used for other crops.

Whatever Yueqian suggested, Mu Heng never opposed his wife’s ideas and even helped plan what to do and when.

The next day, Mu Heng entrusted Yueqian to go with Aunt Liao to buy seeds in the city, while he starts clearing the snow and preparing the vegetable plots.

While Yueqian was contemplating everything she wanted to do with her husband comfortably, a place far from that had a completely different atmosphere.

In a big hall of the Young General’s manor, a burly man knelt before a young man with a fierce, manly face. His demeanor seemed like a god who is above human. If Yueqian saw this, she would undoubtedly whisper that he was the favorite of the writer. If some were to ask her who was the most handsome man, the answer would be the hero of the story.

But when asked who is the most charming, she would praise her lovely husband.

"Recently, Miss Qin married into a farmer’s family. Originally, they were quite poor, and the marriage arrangement with a money of 100 silver taels from her side allowed him to send his younger brother to become a scholar. That was why he accepted this marriage proposal."

"After investigating, the Qin family found that this household was often bullied by the main household, intending to make Miss Qin suffer to compensate. However, after sending Miss Qin there, she dealt with them, no one dared to bother her anymore," reported the large man who had gone to gather information, telling his leader.

The man, known as the Young General, closed his eyes and rhythmically tapped his fingers on his large chair.

"That suits her," came a soft, captivating voice. He spoke as if he had always known that Yueqian would never easily submit to anything.

"As such, my master, do you have any other commands regarding her?" asked the loyal servant.

"Hmm... A remote village but peaceful, huh? Send some bandits there. Aim for her husband, kill him, make her a widow. After that, I will take command to eliminate the bandits there and let her see my face," the Young General stated.

He opened his eyes with amusement, which caused the servant receiving the orders to get goosebumps uncontrollably. He knew that Miss Qin had greatly angered his master, having repeatedly caused the woman his master loved, the one who had saved his master’s life, to suffer repeatedly. Yet, was sending her to such a remote area still not satisfying enough for his master?

Was he even intending to kill the Miss’s husband? How could a woman who lost her husband so soon could live there after such an event? Soon after he finishes dealing with the bandits, he would surely bring her back to return to the Qin family.

After that...

She would have to suffer in the capital, as a widow. No one would propose to her, no one would love her, while he, in the capital, continued his love affairs with others. Seeing such a heartbreaking scenario, wasn’t it like wishing for Miss Qin to live while suffering like a dead?

"What? Won’t you go?" The Young General narrowed his eyes dangerously at the person awaiting orders.

"Right away, Master." Soon the man was gone, leaving only the fluttering of the curtains behind.

After the other party had left, the Young General, whose expression was one of deep resentment, closed his eyes again. The image of the woman who had followed him since they were born appeared in his memories again.

Her beauty hadn’t faded from his heart at all. The more he thought about her being someone else’s wife, although those people did this to satisfy him, but was he really satisfy?

The jealousy for the other party who had once chased after him, now genuinely having a husband and seemingly happy with him. What kind of revenge did they take? Weren’t these people doing everything just as she wanted?

As a general, he had been challenged time and again. Even though she was close, running after him, did her eyes really see him? He knew this very well.

Is that how people in love looked at each other? With drifting gazes and sometimes boredom directed at him, was this like the gazes of another young woman who had sweetly told him she loves him? No! it was nothing like it.

Since they were engaged, since she declared her profound love for him, but he and she knew it was all a lie. Yet, as time passed, he saw only her in his eyes. How could he not feel aggrieved?

Back then, he was wrong. He should have made her his principal wife, kept under his control. But he was wrong to send her to endure hardship, having a boring husband, hoping she would think of him. However, he underestimated it. Was a woman like her going to struggle with life in the countryside?

Hah!

Isn’t she now frolicking in her world? Isn’t it just him thinking about her one-sided?!

In fact, everything has been distorted since Yueqian became Yueqian. Since her birth, she believed in her own end and independence. She didn’t know that her belief, which was different from the original novel’s plot, would lead to the ensuing chaos.

And now, after the novel ended, a new novel with Yueqian as the protagonist slowly emerged. She and her husband faced countless dangers, the once certain path now uncertain.

The comfort she once enjoyed depended entirely on efforts to regain it.

Fortunately, her husband was still the same man from the novel. No matter how long, he was still by her side, holding her hand through hardships. Even on the day they died, he took care of her as always.

"Achoo!" The small frame shivered as the sudden chill made her freeze from head to toe.

It seemed like that was a final warning to gather the happiness she desired, for soon, these moments of joy would turn into chaos.

The group of bandits, moving according to the orders, causing the dust to scatter everywhere. No one knew how she could survive this crisis...