Chapter 200 - 199: They All Left
Five hundred acres of land in Wangshan Village, of which four hundred are cultivated with winter wheat, and one hundred are prepared to be planted with peanuts in mid-March. Chen Afu and Mr. Zeng, led by Mr. Lin and his son, conducted a tour of their fields. The wheat was lush and green, growing vigorously as far as the eye could see.
Dabao, brimming with joy, whispered to Chen Afu, "Mother, with this enormous land, our family is now second only to Uncle Chu as major landlords."
Chen Afu laughingly pinched his chubby face, saying, "Your Uncle Chu is a high official, not a landlord."
She then suggested to Mr. Lin that only eighty acres of the hundred acres of vacant land should be used to plant peanuts. The remaining twenty acres would be used to grow watermelons. She would supply the watermelon seeds and asked Uncle Lin to find a few households experienced with watermelon cultivation.
After Chen Afu and the others had finished touring the fields, they had lunch in the farmhouse. Aunt Lin’s cooking was very good, tasting just like the food from Jiangnan. Mr Lin’s thirteen-year-old granddaughter Lin Zhi and eleven-year-old grandson Lin Lang were both quick-witted and likable, serving their guests attentively. Especially Lin Zhi, who had the delicate beauty of a Jiangnan woman and spoke in a gentle and compliant manner due to her soft regional accent.
Chen Afu decided to have Lin Zhi serve her personally.
The Lin family was happy with the arrangement, knowing that serving a master promised a better future. Besides, this master seemed to be kind and had a pleasant disposition.
Mr. Lin was even happier. He had met several of the Chens’ daughters and one son years ago and privately wondered why none of the children resembled their handsome and talented father. Yet this young lady was remarkably beautiful and clearly a replica of their former master.