Chapter 208

They had chatted for a while before Xu Ran took Zhuo Yun to the orchard. The mountain had originally been bare, but now half of the field was covered with trees. Some were blossoming while others had already born fruit. Although several trees were wilted, most of them flourished.

Xu Ran pointed to the mountain and said, “Three years, within three years, I will make this orchard produce the largest, the most and the best fruits, and stay evergreen.”

He was telling Zhuo Yun, but it was also like an oath to himself that this was his goal. In three years, he would make a productive orchard.

Before Zhuo Yun could speak, Xu Ran continued, “This mountain is not only for ourselves, but also for our children. We will leave them a way to make a living and an eternal home, a home that they can come back anytime.”

Now Zhuo Yun understood what Xu Ran meant, “So you could predict that they will be away from home or what?”

Xu Ran burst into laughter and said smugly, “Look at my Tangtang and Guoguo. I can’t cut their wings just because I don’t want them to fly away. You know, some people are blessed. They are the chosen one, while Tangtang and Guoguo are two of them. Although they suffered a little when they were young, they will be spreading their wings now and the future.”

“What about your Baozi?” Zhuo Yun asked.

Xu Ran said, “Baozi is different. He is still young now, and loved by us. He won’t suffer in the future. He can choose his own life. He can marry a man as his spouse or someone he likes. As long as we exist, we won’t allow anyone to bully our children, so he can live life at his own will.”

Xu Ran started to long for such a life himself as he spoke, but he seemed to be too old for this.

Zhuo Yun heard him and was stunned for a while. He said to Xu Ran, “A Ge’er can marry a man as his spouse? Xu Ran, are you kidding?”

Xu Ran argued back immediately, “Why not? You can’t discriminate against Ge’ers, right? As long as the two love each other, nothing is impossible.”

Zhuo Yun opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.

Xu Ran had originally wanted to say that even a man could fall in love with another man. Despite the fact that they couldn’t bear children, there was no other difference. However, considering how Zhuo Yun was acting now, Xu Ran chose not to provoke him. After all, it was not the right thing to do.

Xu Ran changed the topic and said to Zhuo Yun, “Let’s go! I will take you to recognize the fruit trees. I have planted the same kind of fruit trees together, so that when we pick fruits, we don’t have to bustle about to look for them.”

When they arrived at the orchard, Xu Ran pointed at the trees and told Zhuo Yun their names one by one. Although Zhuo Yun could recognize all of them, he still listened very carefully. Xu Ran also told him the dos and don’ts for the cultivation of these trees.

It was not until now that Zhuo Yun realized that the orchard was related to him for real, and that he was more than a spectator.

The two of them had stayed in the orchard for a long time and gone through all the trees. Both of them brought tools with them when they had left. They removed the dead trees. Some of the places became vacant and would be filled up when new ones were bought.

At this time, Xu Ran asked Zhuo Yun, “Are the goods selling well? Is there anything else selling well over there? We cannot gain any profit from this orchard in the first two years. Not only this, but we also have to invest more money into it. We need to think of other ways to make a living.”

Zhuo Yun said, “I was about to discuss this with you. Cured meat and sausages are selling very well and their prices are not low. This year, we could produce more and then sell them to the trade caravan. The caravan and I are agreed that as long as they go to the north, they will come to town to find me. Isn’t there much left that were made last year?”

Xu Ran nodded, “There is much left indeed, but we probably couldn’t give too much to the caravan. Both Mr. Chen and Lin Hua want more. We could only kill the pigs earlier this year. Otherwise, there will not be enough.”

Zhuo Yun waved his hand, “It’s fine. Just give them as much as we have. A thing is valued if it’s rare. If they take too much with them, it won’t sell well on the contrary.”

Xu Ran agreed with Zhuo Yun. The two of them thought it over and decided the quantity of the cured meat and sausages that they were going to produce this year.

After this, Zhuo Yun asked Xu Ran, “How much have you spent on fruit trees?”

Xu Ran made a quick mental calculation, “I’ve spent more than 300 taels. Brother Qin has sent 200 fruit trees to me, and I’m not sure about the money. I’ll ask him later. I figure that if we want the whole orchard full, I’m afraid we need another 600 or 700 taels of silver.”

Zhuo Yun took out a stack of bank notes from his top pocket and handed them to Xu Ran, “Here’s 500 taels, on me.”

Xu Ran didn’t stand on ceremony, took them over and shook them with his hand, “Are these what you have made from this trip?”

Zhuo Yun nodded, “Just about 500 or 600! Anyway, since I live in your house and eat with your family now, I don’t worry about my daily expenses. Use this money on the fruit trees first. I guess you don’t have much money with you now. Also, you must have spent a lot on the deli you run with my brother-in-law!”

Xu Ran said, “Brother Qin has covered the major part, and I’ve only invested 200 taels of silver. Actually, it didn’t cost much to open the shop. It was just because Brother Qin bought the shop next to him, and that was why he spent more.”

“Actually, it’s pretty good to buy it. The location of his shop is great. Besides, the two shops are linked. Even if he doesn’t do business himself in the future, he can still collect a lot of money by renting them out.” Zhuo Yun said.

Xu Ran nodded, “That is indeed the case. However, it takes much less time for the deli to get the cost than the orchard. I guess we might make it back this summer.”

Zhuo Yun smiled, “Yeah! When we spend all of our money on the fruit trees, we will live on that deli.”

Xu Ran spread his hands, “Exactly! But do you agree to go to Ban Yue Town with me or not? If yes, let’s go tomorrow so that we could hurry back. I don’t want to go out since it’s getting warm, and it’s best to stay at home.”

Zhuo Yun looked bitter, “You have to let me rest for a few days! I just came back this morning. I haven’t had a good sleep yet, and now you ask me to travel with you tomorrow. How could you do this to me?”

Zhuo Yun’s condemnation made Xu Ran a little embarrassed. He touched his nose and said, “It’s just that I want to get those fruit trees as soon as possible! Look, soon it will be time for me to dig up the potatoes and pick the strawberries. I will be busy then and won’t have time to make a trip. How about this? Take a break for two days and we will set out the day after tomorrow.”

Zhuo Yun glanced at Xu Ran and nodded unwillingly, which could be considered as agreement.

Xu Ran said, “Since you want to sleep, let’s go back now! You don’t have to have dinner either. Start from now, and you will get up tomorrow morning. I guarantee you will get enough sleep.”

Zhuo Yun rolled his eyes, “I haven’t had many meals at your house! And now you don’t allow me to have dinner.”

Xu Ran laughed, “I just don’t want you to eat.”

The two of them walked back while talking.

Since Zhuo Yun was here today, Liu Tong and the others didn’t go out to do farm work.

When they got home, Xu Ran asked Zhuo Yun to go to bed, and let Qin Shuwen accompany him by the way. He even took the baby away. Others were amazed by his behavior. How come it felt like Qin Shuwen was going to sleep with an emperor?

It was when Zhuo Yun and Qin Shuwen went into the room that Xu Ran realized the situation himself. He was too embarrassed to face everyone, so he walked away with Qingshu in his arms, his back perfectly straight.

Tangtang and Guoguo got home from school early today. The moment they arrived home, they saw Xu Ran holding little Qingshu. They looked around but failed to see Qin Shuwen, so Guoguo leaned in and whispered in Xu Ran’s ear, “Dad, Daddy Shuwen doesn’t want Brother Qingshu anymore, right?”

Xu Ran was stunned and stared at Guoguo in confusion, “Why did you ask that?”

Guoguo said, “Because you’re the one holding Brother Qingshu! Besides, Daddy Shuwen is gone, too.”

Now Xu Ran understood why the two children had been looking around. Xu Ran smiled and said, “It’s because Uncle Zhuo Yun is back. He’s sleeping, and Daddy Shuwen is with him now, so Brother Qingshu is mine.”

Tangtang and Guoguo heaved a sigh of relief when hearing this, “That’s good.”

Xu Ran was speechless, “Have the two of you seen anyone being dumped? Why did you ask such a weird question?”

The two children looked at each other, and Tangtang even closed the door. When he came back, he said to Xu Ran, “Dad, it’s said today that Little Donkey’s daddy dumped him and went away with someone else, so Little Donkey didn’t go to school today.”

“Who is Little Donkey?” Xu Ran asked. This was such a terrible name.

Tangtang and Guoguo thought about it and found that Xu Ran did not know who Little Donkey was, so they explained to him where Little Donkey lived and so on.

Xu Ran still didn’t get it after listening for a long time, but now he knew that Little Donkey was from the village.

Xu Ran asked them, “You said that Little Donkey’s daddy ran away with someone. What happened?”

Tangtang and Guoguo answered, “Xiaobudian said it when we went to school today! He said that last night, Little Donkey’s dad went for his granddad and told him that Little Donkey’s daddy had run away with someone else. He wanted Little Donkey’s granddad helped him get Little Donkey’s daddy back.”

Having heard that, Xu Ran felt embarrassed. Since he had already gone, where could he find him? More importantly, was the village head responsible for looking for the spouse who had run away?

But Xu Ran got the picture. He said to Tangtang and Guoguo, “Don’t worry about other people’s domestic affairs. And you couldn’t laugh at Little Donkey in the future because his daddy ran away with someone else. Just act like you don’t know it, understand?”

Tangtang and Guoguo nodded obediently, “Got it, dad.”

Xu Ran patted them on their heads and said, “Alright, go back to your room and review your lessons!”

When Tangtang and Guoguo left, Xu Ran exclaimed over this absurd story alone.