They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 167 Visiting the County Government Office
Aunt Zhu stopped him, scolding him for looking for trouble.

How many people in the village go to the city for no reason? These tomatoes are delivered directly to Manager Tang. Even if they sell a small amount themselves, it's unlikely that the villagers would happen to run into them.

Besides, even if they did run into it, it wouldn't matter. How would they know this thing grows in their own vegetable garden? Couldn't they just say it was fruit bought from a middleman and resold?
Putting a lock on the vegetable garden is like telling everyone there are good things inside, isn't it?

Qi Tian quickly said that he was absolutely right and that it was fortunate that his wife was smart, otherwise he would have made a mistake.

Zeng Xiaoyan couldn't help but feel annoyed again by her second sister-in-law, who was more trouble than she was worth.

After dinner, everyone chatted for a while before going their separate ways.

Xu Zhichun packed ten bright red tomatoes in a small basket and a small bag of fried meatballs that she had specially saved for Zeng Xiaojuan to take back.

"Let Qiao'er have a taste."

Seeing Qiao'er's cheeks gradually puff up, she gained weight, and she became much prettier, everyone felt a sense of accomplishment.

This child was raised by everyone together.

Zeng Xiaojuan thanked them without refusing, and carried Qiao'er in one arm while Zeng Xiaoyan carried the basket for her, and they went back together.

She owes them so much; there's no need to refuse, she should just keep it in her heart.

The next morning, Xu Zhichun got up earlier than usual and went to pick tomatoes in the field behind the yard.

Xu Zhichun had specifically counted them beforehand; she had a total of ninety-six tomato plants. It looked like a small patch, with red, half-red, and green fruits of all sizes hanging everywhere, and countless tiny yellow tomato flowers blooming among the emerald green leaves.

Judging from its vibrant appearance, it will be a long, long harvest to come.

Shopkeeper Tang said she needed it every two days, forty or fifty catties each time, which made her a little worried.

We can't sell them all.

She doesn't want to sell in the market if there are other sales channels available.

Especially after what happened at Sifang Restaurant yesterday.

So it seems like the only option then will be to make tomato sauce, which will at least extend the shelf life.

Carrying baskets on their backs and carrying hampers, they easily picked forty or fifty pounds of tomatoes, and the task was completed quickly.

After picking the tomatoes, Xu Zhichun hurried back to make ice jelly.

Spring Equinox is a time when one has no worries and sleeps soundly. Xu Zhichun usually doesn't wake her up; she'll get up naturally once she's had enough sleep.

I managed to feed the chickens and pigs before she got up.

Today, before heading to the city, Xu Zhichun specially brought a basket containing eight large tomatoes, a clean small white ceramic jar containing half a jar of ice jelly, and a small cloth bag containing about three or four catties of agar seeds. He set off with Zeng Xiaoyan and others.

After putting Zeng Xiaoyan and Aunt Zhu'er down, Liang Mingliang took Xu Zhichun to the Lotus Restaurant to deliver the ice jelly and tomatoes.

Forty catties of tomatoes cost a full tael of silver.

Xu Zhichun was delighted to receive the small, heavy piece of silver. On a whim, he decided to discuss with Manager Tang, "How about we settle the payment for these tomatoes monthly? Manager Tang, you can give me a silver note then."

Anyway, she wasn't in a hurry to use the money, and she wasn't afraid that Manager Tang would default on the debt.

Shopkeeper Tang nodded with a smile: "That works, it's more convenient that way."

"By the way, didn't Manager Tang say he wanted to increase the amount of ice jelly? Now we can add some more. I wonder if Manager Tang would like to add more?"

"I'll add more, I'll add more," Manager Tang's eyes lit up. "Our boss also has a restaurant and teahouse in the neighboring Qingyang County, so it's convenient for mule carts to travel back and forth. Once you deliver it, we'll immediately send someone to deliver it to Qingyang County. It'll only take a little over an hour. How about thirty catties?"

Xu Zhichun nodded: "Okay."

Now that the lantern fruit is ripe, there's plenty in the mountains. Besides, everyone will find their own way to get it, not just in the nearby mountains, but also in places further away, so there's no worry about not having any.

The warehouse space is mostly filled with people making ice jelly.

She wasn't worried about not having enough raw materials; she was only worried about not being able to keep up with the workload.

Seventy catties is manageable with readily available tomato powder. Otherwise, Xiao Yan and Aunt Zhu'er would have to take turns getting up early to help. Manager Tang laughed and said, "In that case, why don't you send an extra thirty catties of tomatoes as well? We can send them to the restaurants in Qingyang County together."

"Okay, that's all we have. No more than that."

Ninety-six tomatoes wouldn't be enough to meet Manager Tang's needs, but there's always a workaround—there are plenty in the warehouse. Organic fruits and vegetables, the taste is just as original, full of tomato flavor.

Hmm, maybe next year we can do another "natural mutation" and plant two cherry tomato plants?
Manager Tang was quite pleased to hear this, repeatedly saying, "Good, good!" What does this mean? It means that their Lotus Restaurant has another exclusive offer.

After saying goodbye to Manager Tang, Xu Zhichun said, "Brother Liang, please take me to the back gate of the county government office."

"what?"

Liang Mingliang was startled.

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "I'll take some food to the magistrate's wife."

Liang Mingliang hesitated, then whispered, "Zhichun, did you agree to this with the magistrate's wife?"

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "Because of my son Mingxuan, I met the magistrate's wife once before."

"Oh."

That's fine.

Liang Mingliang drove steadily and took her to the alley entrance.

"You go back first, I'll go over by myself in a bit."

"Row."

Xu Zhichun stepped forward and knocked on the door. Soon someone came to open it and looked at her with a puzzled expression: "Who is this lady looking for?"

"Is Madam Ji here? Could you please pass on a message that Liang Mingxuan's sister-in-law from Liangjia Village has come to visit?"

The maid at the door was completely bewildered. What village elder sister-in-law? When did Granny Ji have such roundabout dealings with the villagers?

However, since she could name Granny Ji, she must really know her.

This is the backyard of the county government office. In Qingshan County, this place is the most powerful place. Only someone with the guts to come here and fool around for amusement would dare to do this.

"Wait here, I'll go ask Granny Ji."

"Thank you."

Before long, Granny Ji arrived in person, smiling as she led Xu Zhichun inside, "So it really is Madam Xu! Please, please come in!"

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "Anyone can lead the way. I didn't expect the old lady to come in person. I feel bad about it."

"Madam Xu, please don't be so polite."

Granny Ji waved her hand and smiled, then instructed the servants at the door, "If Madam Xu comes in the future, bring her in and entertain her directly. Don't make Madam Xu wait outside."

The maid was very surprised and quickly bowed, replying, "Yes, Granny Ji."

Granny Ji led Xu Zhichun to a small flower hall and instructed the maids to serve tea and fruit.

"It's very hot today. Madam Xu, have a cup of tea and some fruit. This watermelon is very fresh."

"Thank you, mama."

Xu Zhichun tasted a piece of watermelon and praised it highly.

To be honest, she's secretly eaten a lot of watermelons, cantaloupes, and honeydew melons all by herself this year. There are so many in the storage room, far too many. She simply can't finish them all, and there's no way to share them.

This watermelon has seeds, and Xu Zhichun took the opportunity to laugh, "This watermelon is so sweet! We've never seen one like this in our village before. It's really something. Granny, can I take a few seeds back to try planting next year?"

(End of this chapter)