Springtime Farming: A Happy Wife At Home

As for Shao Yunduan’s colleagues at the East Palace, they couldn’t easily reveal their intentions.

If they were to disclose their plans, impartiality was imperative. They had to meticulously consider every facet and ensure no one was excluded.

Otherwise, they risked earning the disdain of others, and someone might resort to clandestine mischief.

Yet, when it came to sharing the food with friends and colleagues, one had to be discerning. Not every colleague warranted friendship. What if someone took advantage, claiming illness with stomachaches, vomiting, or even feigning poisoning? Such accusations would be hard to refute.

They had no intention of reconciling with the Tian Family and the Fourth Prince. Their actions at the Ministry of Revenue were merely a show.

Unfortunately, there were no markets in the vicinity where they could sell their goods.

Strawberries were a novelty in the capital, and there were no nearby vendors. Even if someone were willing to sell, there would be few takers.

Qiao Xuan was stumped for ideas. She shared her predicament with Lixia and Liqiu, saying, “Let’s harvest them all and make strawberry jam at home. Pick the ripe ones.”

For the time being, she decided to keep as much as she could.

She planned to find an excuse to return alone and store them all in her personal space.

Lixia and Liqiu were astonished by the abundance of strawberries, wondering how they could possibly consume them all. Qiao Xuan’s suggestion brought a smile to their faces.

They had brought along a large basket, which would come in handy for collecting the strawberries.

Qiao Xuan joined in the harvesting, but most of the strawberries found their way into her magical storage space.

After half a day of work, the three of them had filled two large baskets and half of another one. They also gathered some fresh beans, chili peppers, eggplants, and cabbages before heading home.

As Qiao Xuan approached her own courtyard, she noticed a maid and a servant waiting in the shade. They disembarked from a wagon and greeted her warmly.

It was Zhao Shu who sought an appointment. He wanted to discuss matters concerning the floral fields and mulberry garden the next day. Would that be convenient?

Had Qiao Xuan been a man, Zhao Shu could have spared himself the effort. They were business partners and shared a close bond, which would have allowed them to meet directly in the province. However, given that Qiao Xuan was a married woman of similar age, caution was warranted.

She could only receive visitors when Officer Shao was at home.

Officer Shao had just taken a brief respite, so an immediate meeting wasn’t possible. Qiao Xuan pondered for a moment and then offered a solution with a smile. “Kindly convey to your Master that he is welcome to visit tomorrow evening.”

The maid nodded, her face lit up with gratitude, and then took her leave.

Qiao Xuan halted her for a moment and instructed Lixia to provide the maid with half a basket of strawberries. “These strawberries were grown in our field. They are exceptionally sweet and fresh, perfect for consumption after a thorough wash. Please, take them to your Master.”

The maid expressed her gratitude, saying, “I thank Madame Shao on behalf of Master.”

With a smile, Qiao Xuan watched them depart.

Upon returning home, after a hearty lunch, the three of them indulged in some plump and vibrant strawberries, washing the remaining ones to craft a batch of strawberry jam. The delectable aroma wafted through the air, enticing the senses.

They managed to produce two jars of strawberry jam, one in a porcelain jar and the other in a glass container, utilizing the contents of half a basket of strawberries.

Qiao Xuan tasted a spoonful of it, finding it to be delightfully soft and sweet, perfect for pastry fillings. It seemed that they had nothing to worry about; even if the strawberries couldn’t be sold, they would undoubtedly prove useful.

In the evening, when Shao Yunduan returned, Qiao Xuan informed him about Zhao Shu’s scheduled visit the following day. Shao Yunduan grinned, saying, “I’ll return early tomorrow. Zhao Shu must have been keeping an eye on us and waiting patiently for a while!”