"Little sister, how do you know so much?" Fourth Sister Ye Fengqi looked at Ye Shiqi with adoration in her eyes.
Ye Shiqi felt a bit overwhelmed. In fact, she didn’t have much knowledge about selling medicinal herbs; it was just a pity that this wasn’t the internet era where you could simply search online and see the skills related to certain things.
She had heard this news from those who transported the herbs. As for their miraculous effects, when they really managed to cultivate and harvest them, they would have to try them out to know the true efficacy of these herbs.
As for the soup ingredients, the whole family could drink the soup, especially those who loved drinking soup. This one kind of herb, combined with some other herbs, could have even better effects.
"Hmm, you’re all here! In such cold weather, you could’ve just sent a message; why come in person?" Their Young Uncle’s voice came from behind them, filled with concern.
"Young Uncle, it’s all because of you. You sent the message, and look, my sister insisted on coming and now has made everyone cold."
Third Sister Ye Xinqi rolled her eyes and spoke, their tone with Young Uncle wasn’t like paying attention to how elders would speak.
They were used to being close; this Young Uncle was like their big brother, very easy to get along with. Uncle was also good, but a bit more serious, and it was not that easy to joke around with him.
"Ah, I was just notifying Second Sister to give some advice; how could she let you come out in this weather? Quick, go inside and sit down; there’s a charcoal stove to warm up!"
"Young Uncle, you’re really slow to react. We’ve been here for a while, and only now you show up. If you had come earlier, we wouldn’t have had to stand out here."
Second Sister Ye Mei Qi complained, but actually, she was worried about her youngest sister catching a cold.
"Right, right, it’s my fault, Young Uncle deserves to be punished."
Uncle Li didn’t offer much explanation. He had just gone up the mountain to check on the breeding grounds and saw them standing here, so he rushed down. While running in the cold wind, he could feel the sweat on his back.
Perhaps it was from working in the mountains year-round that he had developed such leg strength and physical power; he had run and sweated without even becoming short of breath.
"Come here, let Uncle hold his little niece."
Uncle Li didn’t care whether his eldest niece agreed or not; he opened his arms to hold his little niece.
This was ancient times, and Ye Luoqi was already over ten years old. Even though the one in front of her was an elder, physical contact was inappropriate. She was about to dodge her Young Uncle’s hands when her little sister extended hers, leaving her with no choice but to rush into his arms.
Uncle Li caught his little niece steadily, his strong arms wanting to lift her up high, but then he reconsidered, thinking that in the cold weather, such a gesture might make his niece even colder.
Ye Shiqi, in her Young Uncle’s arms, could feel the scent of a man’s sweat; it seemed her Young Uncle had been sweating, with a bit of flush on his bronze face, apparently from running here.
"Young Uncle, those seedlings can’t be left , right?" Ye Shiqi remembered the seedlings, and realized that in ancient times, there might not be plastic film to cover greenhouses.
There were other methods to keep the seedlings warm.
Just now, she saw the straw laid out on the ground and thought of the many thatched houses people lived in.
Thatched houses might not keep out much cold in the winter, but for those seedlings, it was enough.
Ye Shiqi then thought about the bamboo tubes used for channeling water on the mountain. They didn’t need to build a thatched house with wood from the mountain like people did, since these thatched houses were only temporary, just to block out the cold, winter weather and icy rain.
By tomorrow, in the spring of February and March, they could start planting. However, it seemed that they had to wait for the warm spring to come, as Tree Planting Day was also during the season when flowers bloomed.
In a few months, maybe they would solve the problem of the planting grounds.
"Oh, does my little niece have any brilliant ideas?"
Uncle Li was actually very proud to have such a young but talented niece.
He didn’t belittle her age, thinking she knew nothing; he believed if she had suggestions, she was welcome to express them freely. As a farmer, he too, did not know everything.
Before, they didn’t have an estate; he thought that those who farmed were very skilled. After owning an estate, he realized there was so much more to learn.
As the housekeeper of the estate, he didn’t become arrogant with just a few years of experience; there was too much in the world to learn.
"Young Uncle, have you ever lived in a thatched house?"
At his little niece’s words, Uncle Li paused, not quite understanding whether she meant something different from what he had in mind.
By this time, they had arrived at their residence, which already served as accommodation for the workers and a place to entertain guests.
Uncle Li first sat his niece down on a stool by the stove before saying, "Our family has never lived in a thatched house. I don’t know about past generations, but I have indeed built a thatched shed for raising pigs."
"Oh, so Young Uncle has experience building thatched houses!"
Ye Shiqi showed a delighted smile. Her smile was like a spring breeze, pleasing her elder sister, who was serving tea, her Young Uncle, who had been paying attention to her words, and her other sisters, who followed suite with their joyful hearts.