The Stepmother From A Peasant Family Skillfully Farms - Chapter 69

The rain came and went, sometimes heavy, sometimes light, continuing until it finally ceased completely by midnight.

When she got up in the morning, the sky remained overcast, with not a trace of sunlight peeking through.

This weather pattern persisted throughout the day, and by evening, light rain started falling again.

By dawn the next day, the sky was still cloudy.

Such weather brought a hint of joy to the faces of farmers.

Without direct sunlight and occasional light rain, the crops, which had recently suffered from exposure and slight drought, could drink their fill of water and grow better.

Furthermore, this cool weather was perfect for fieldwork, from dawn to noon, without feeling too hot.

But where some found joy, others found worry. While other families were pleased, Su Mulan’s family wore troubled expressions.

Several days of cloudy weather without strong sunlight meant the sweet potatoes weren’t drying sufficiently. Although they were still edible, they lacked the desired flavor and texture due to inadequate drying. If they were taken to the market, they might be perceived as dishonestly sold for their higher moisture content.

“What should we do?”

The four little radishes had faces completely wrinkled like buns.

“Looking like this, if we go to the market tomorrow, we probably won’t be able to sell the sweet potato chips,”

Su Mulan mused, rubbing her chin. “But it’s okay. We can make more popcorn instead. If that doesn’t work out, we can try making other things to sell at the market. Having a variety of food items will attract more customers to buy from us.”

“What kind of food are you going to make, Mom?” the four little radishes asked Su Mulan.

“Well…” Su Mulan scratched the back of her head. “I have to try first. I’m not sure if I can make it yet. When I can, I’ll show you and let you taste it to see if it’s good.”

Since Su Mulan said so, the four little radishes were filled with anticipation. They asked, “Mom, do you need us to help with anything?”

“Not right now,” Su Mulan replied.

Su Mulan glanced at the weather. “While it’s not too hot yet, Lixia, take bamboo leaves and soybeans to the field to tidy up that waste land. Our sweet potato seedlings are almost ready, we can plant them in a couple of days.”

“I’ll go visit Uncle Ma and Aunt Ma’s house,”

“Alright.” Bai Lixia then organized bamboo leaves and soybeans and headed to the field.

Leaving Bai Shuiliu at home to watch over the sweet potato chips drying in the courtyard, Su Mulan put a bamboo basket over her shoulder and took a cloth bag as she headed towards Ma’s house at the village entrance.

When she arrived, Ma was in the yard, using a needle and thread to mend a patch on her worn elbow. She looked up at Su Mulan and asked, “It’s Su, what brings you here?”

“I wanted to see if Aunt Ma had any millet left from their harvest. I’m thinking of buying a couple of pounds,” Su Mulan explained.

Millet is called sorghum when it is planted. It yields less than corn, and it’s much more difficult to take care of than corn. In order to increase profits from their land, most people also plant sorghum or beans during the autumn planting season. Only those with sandy soil, unable to grow sorghum, consider planting other crops like peanuts or sweet potatoes.

It could be said that currently, only Ma’s and Wang’s families in the entire village still plant millet.

Ma smiled at Su Mulan’s request, her gaze holding a meaningful look.