Ch 185: Road Collapse Delays Construction
“This is called a tomato. I’ve read about it in a book. It’s best used for cooking, especially as a perfect match with eggs.”
Qiao Zhizhi: “Do we need to take all these saplings back?”
“Yes, let’s take them all back and plant them in the courtyard. That way, we’ll always have tomatoes to eat.”
Qiao Lian’er said as she started to re-dig up the tomato saplings.
Xiaomeng and Zizi also diligently helped.
These tomato saplings had only been planted a short while ago, so they were easy to remove. While the two were digging up the tomato saplings, Qiao Lian’er replenished the strawberries they had eaten earlier.
Once they were finished, each person carried some, and they prepared to go home.
“Although we didn’t find any mushrooms, we found so much delicious food. It’s even better than finding mushrooms!” Qiao Zhizhi said with a beaming smile.
“But Lian’er, where did you find those strawberries you mentioned? I didn’t see any plants earlier.” Xiaomeng asked in confusion.
“Oh, they grow on those vines. I already picked them by the time you arrived.” Qiao Lian’er coughed, stroking her chin, wondering if she had revealed any flaws.
The reason she called Xiaomeng and Zizi was that they were the youngest.
In short, they were easy to deceive.
“Great! When will they bear fruit again so we can pick them again?” Xiaomeng said excitedly. “That place is hidden and not easily discovered. It’ll be ours from now on!”
Qiao Zhizhi stared intently at the basket hanging from Qiao Lian’er’s hand. Even though her stomach was full, she couldn’t help but reach out.
One bite after another, full of sweet juice, making them marvel at the existence of such delicious fruit in the world.
When they returned home, the other Qiao family members were also back. They had only found one catty of chicken oil mushrooms, three taels of puffball mushrooms, and two blue mushrooms; there were no others.
Everyone remembered that there were quite a lot after the heavy rain last rainy season. It seemed to be a memory error. First, there are indeed many more mushrooms after the rainy season, but not more than the first time. Second, with so many people going up the mountain, the mushrooms were simply not enough to share.
Seeing the three children carrying red things into the courtyard, everyone opened their eyes wide in surprise.
“Everyone, come and try these. Lian’er found these fruits on the mountain. They’re more delicious than wild apples, wild pears, and wild peaches!”
“Are they really edible? They’re a bit too red, aren’t they?”
In the past, seeing so many things as red as blood, everyone would be scared and tell the children to throw them away.
However, after seeing so many novel things with Qiao Lian’er and going through the mushroom incident, everyone had become accustomed to it.
“Of course, they’re edible! We ate our fill on the mountain, and nothing happened. Besides, I’ve read about these in books. These are called strawberries, and they are eaten as fruit. These are called tomatoes, and they are used for cooking. They’re best stir-fried with eggs.” Qiao Lian’er said.
Hearing that they were mentioned in books, everyone lowered their guard and picked up the strawberries to eat.
As soon as they took a bite, everyone’s eyes widened.
What kind of divine fruit is this? It’s too delicious! Their mouths were full of sweet and sour juice, with a unique fragrance.
Everyone couldn’t help but eat one after another.
In a short while, only half of the large basket of strawberries remained.
Everyone subconsciously stopped. After eating this much, what if there’s nothing left for the next meal?
Qiao Lian’er was making tomato and egg stir-fry in the kitchen. She poked her head out and said to everyone, “I know where these fruits grow and their habits. If I go up the mountain from time to time during this period, we should still be able to find some.”
Hearing her say this, everyone hesitated no longer, and soon, the other half was also devoured.
That sense of satisfaction filled their stomachs and mouths, making them feel as happy as gods.
They thought that after eating so many strawberries, they wouldn’t be able to eat lunch.
But when the tomato and egg stir-fry was served, it was so smooth, fragrant, and delicious with rice that it was indescribable. Everyone almost swallowed their tongues and ate two more bowls of rice.
Qiao Lian’er thought that tomato and egg stir-fry was a classic dish, and this recipe could be sold; her tomatoes from the space could also have sales.
Yes, she would arrange it when she went to the county town.
After the meal, everyone planted the tomato saplings in the courtyard.
A small plot of land near the south wall was specifically set aside for planting things, and now it would be used to grow tomatoes.
They also built support frames to ensure that the tomato saplings wouldn’t be crushed by the heavy fruit.
Most of the fruit on the saplings was now red, and half was still green. They were a little worried that they wouldn’t be able to eat them all.
After finishing all this, Qiao Lao Da said, “We can go to the county town to set up a stall and do business tomorrow.”
“No, no, we can’t go. Don’t go,” a villager waved his hand as he passed by the entrance.
“Why not?” Dayong, who was thinking about Ling Yin, was a little puzzled.
He didn’t know what the situation was like in Ling Village these days. With such heavy rain, some people would be struck by lightning, some houses would collapse, and some people would drown.
Although he knew nothing would happen, he would only feel completely relieved when he saw the people alive and well.
“We can’t go. The road to Yong Guan County is completely blocked. There are many landslides that have blocked the road completely. Carriages are impossible to pass.”
The uncle stopped at the entrance and said.
“There are also some places with the risk of collapse. Even if you walk, you have to be careful.”
“You should wait a while. Wait until the government clears the road, then you can do business.”
The Qiao family members looked at each other in astonishment.
They only then remembered that roadblocks occurred every year after heavy rains. However, at that time they had not gone to the county town to set up a snack stall, nor had they gone so far, so they didn’t feel strongly about it.
Now that the road was blocked and they couldn’t go to the county town, their business was delayed, and everyone felt incredibly stifled.
“In previous years, when the roads were blocked, it took about ten days, or even half a month to clear them,” Qiao Lao Tou said, puffing on his pipe tobacco.
“We can only wait at home peacefully.”
Qiao Lao Er suddenly remembered something and hurriedly asked Qiao Lian’er, “Lian’er, when will the building materials be delivered, and when will the construction team arrive?”
“The original agreed time was twenty days at the earliest and a month at the latest. Now that it has been raining for half a month, we can only hope that the road will be cleared in the remaining half month.”
Qiao Lian’er was also worried. If it exceeded the deadline, she would have to pay the materials factory’s breach of contract fee and the construction team’s lost wages.
She had only been in this place for a little over a month and hadn’t expected the road to collapse after a heavy rain.
The Qiao family members hadn’t thought of this either. Previously, they mainly went to the town. The road to the town was flanked by solid stone mountains, and there was no danger of landslides after heavy rains. Therefore, they hadn’t anticipated the situation on the road to Yong Guan County.
Seeing Qiao Lian’er’s expression, they knew something was wrong, and that she might have to pay money. Everyone felt annoyed.
But Qiao Lian’er’s worries were not just about paying money. In half a month, the crops could be harvested, and the road would be open. What if those people came then?
At that time, they would only just be starting to build the house, and the materials would not have been used up. What if she had to return them and get ready cash instead?
“Brother Dayong, Brother Dacheng, Brother Dameng, let’s go and check the road conditions.”
