Chapter 89: Then Let’s Just Buy a Cow Ourselves
After dinner, the whole family sat together chatting.
The main topic, of course, was Wen Xiuyi’s performance in the fields today. One after another, they vividly described his farming scene to Wen Jun and Wen Nong, who hadn’t been there.
Both of them tried hard not to laugh. Wen Nong didn’t dare to laugh, while Wen Jun felt too embarrassed to laugh. Honestly, if it were him, he wouldn’t know how either—he might even do worse than his father.
Still, since the whole family was busy, he couldn’t hold everyone back.
“I’ll stay home to help for the next few days,” Wen Jun said.
The moment he spoke, Old Wen and Luo Shi immediately exploded.
Old Wen refused three times in a row. “No. No need. Absolutely not.”
Luo Shi earnestly persuaded him, “Focus on studying medicine. You don’t need to worry about the family—we’ve got it covered.”
Before Wen Jun could reply, Wen Xiuyi spoke first.
“Father, Mother, that’s not right.” Sitting up straight, he said, “Xiao Jun is part of this family too. Just because he’s learning medicine from Doctor Jin doesn’t mean you should take on everything he ought to do. He needs to understand that the family is his support, yes—but we’re also working hard for his future. Only then will he never forget his roots. If you keep pampering him like this, doing everything for him, aren’t you afraid you’ll raise another me?”
After speaking, Wen Xiuyi silently spat in his heart: Another version of the original owner, that ungrateful ingrate. But his Xiao Jun was different—he was a grateful child.
Old Wen and Luo Shi had worried about Wen Xiuyi for a lifetime, spoiled him for a lifetime, and tolerated him for a lifetime. Now, the very son they had indulged was telling them their way was wrong.
For a moment, they didn’t know what to say. Had their eldest son turned out the way he did because of them?
Unaware of their thoughts, Wen Xiuyi turned to Wen Jun. “Your idea is right, but you can’t throw yourself entirely into housework either. Studies come first. Tell Doctor Jin you’ll help with the farm for two days, then go back to studying.”
Finally finding a chance to speak, Wen Jun twitched his lips. “Dad, Grandpa, Grandma, it’s not that I don’t want to go. Doctor Jin is busy these days. He told me to go home and read on my own first.”
“What’s he busy with?” Wen Xiuyi asked curiously.
Wen Jun shook his head. “I don’t know the details. I only heard that an important guest from the capital arrived. Shopkeeper Qiu hasn’t been at the pharmacy lately either. Hong Hai said ever since Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu took over Jishi Hall, this noble guest comes once every year.”
Wen Xiuyi suddenly understood. From the capital—no wonder they were important.
“Alright then, you can work in the fields with us for the next few days,” Wen Xiuyi waved his hand. As for the labor-saving method he’d been thinking about—he’d deal with it after tomorrow. No way he and his daughter would suffer this while his son escaped it.
The next day, with Wen Jun joining, Wen Yao was replaced. Luo Shi claimed her foot hadn’t fully healed and had her stay home to watch the children and cook for the construction workers. Wen Ying and Datou became her little helpers.
It looked like the easiest job, but it was actually the most tedious.
Sure enough, after one day, even the usually calm Doctor Wen couldn’t take it anymore and asked Professor Wen for advice.
Wen Xiuyi looked smug. “Hehe, in crucial moments, you still need your dad.”
Wen Jun and Wen Yao replied in unison, “Yes, yes, Professor Wen, you’re so knowledgeable. Please give us a solution—we really can’t take this anymore.”
Wen Xiuyi grinned. “Let’s go home first and ask your grandpa if there’s a better method.”
The siblings rolled their eyes together. That was basically saying nothing.
That evening, during their usual family tea chat, Wen Xiuyi suddenly asked, “Father, do we really rely only on manpower to farm? How long will that take? Isn’t there a way to improve efficiency and work faster?”
Old Wen puffed on his pipe—something his wife only allowed him to do in the courtyard—clearly enjoying the moment. Hearing the question, he looked up and said, “There is a way, but our family doesn’t have the conditions.”
“How so?” Wen Xiuyi asked attentively.
“In our village, only the village head owns a cow. Using a cow is much faster than people. The cow walks behind while the person just holds the plow. It’s not extremely fast, but much faster than manpower. Families with better conditions will pay to rent a cow from the village head or neighboring villages, but you must take good care of it. A cow is very valuable, and not everyone is willing to lend one unless you’re very close. Without a cow, you can only rely on manpower.”
After finishing, Old Wen took another satisfied puff.
Wen Xiuyi exchanged glances with his children and said, “Father, why don’t we rent a cow from the village head?” Before Old Wen and Luo Shi could scold him for being wasteful, he hurried on, “Hear me out. Our land has doubled. With over ten mu plus our original fields, how long will it take to plow everything? If we exhaust ourselves, it won’t be worth it.”
Old Wen and Luo Shi fell silent, thinking.
After a while, Old Wen said, “But the village head might not lend it. They need it too. If we wait until they’re done, the ground might freeze—it’ll be even harder.”
Wen Xiuyi’s eyes lit up. “Then let’s just buy a cow ourselves.”
Everyone stared at him as if he were foolish. Luo Shi sneered without even looking up. “You think cows are cabbages? Do you know how much one costs? Some people work half their lives and still can’t afford one.”
“How much?” Wen Xiuyi asked instinctively.
Luo Shi finally looked up—only to roll her eyes in disdain before lowering her head to continue making shoe soles.
Wen Xiuzhu quietly explained to save his elder brother from embarrassment. “Around here, a cow costs at least fifteen taels of silver. A young, strong, well-raised one costs even more.”
The father and his two children exchanged glances. Fifteen taels was like fifteen thousand. A cow could plow fields and pull carts—wasn’t that basically buying a farming tractor for fifteen thousand?
