Chapter 376 - Chapter 376: Chapter 376 Cloud Familys Constant Headache_1 (1/2)

Chapter 376: Chapter 376 Cloud Family’s Constant Headache_1

Unlike Wei Ruo and half of the populace of Taizhou prefecture who were rejoicing over their bountiful harvest, Madame Yun was in a state of distraught.

Her shop was poorly managed and the yield from both of her estates was unimpressive.

Although she had grown the late-ripening rice cultivar provided by Wei Ruo and also planted sweet potatoes in the mountainous areas of Xingshan County, both of her estates had relatively infertile soil. In particular, the five hundred acres she purchased near the city of Taizhou prefecture had compact soil, severely lacking fertility.

Initially, Madame Yun sought advice from Wei Ruo, who told her about soil improvement methods. However, due to cost considerations, Madame Yun did not make the significant effort nor investment in fertilization as advised by Wei Ruo.

Later, due to a lack of silver taels, Madame Yun even sold several of her servants, resulting in a shortage of labor for managing the estates.

Now that the harvest season was here, the yield from her own estates was only one-fifth of Wei Ruo’s, and even the generally easy-to-grow sweet potato yield was much lower, at only a thousand catties per acre.

This yield was far below Madame Yun’s expectations. According to this yield, it wouldn’t suffice for the government’s usage in the next year, let alone having a surplus to sell for silver coins.

Madame Yun had a throbbing headache and was so worried that she barely ate anything for several days.

“Madam, please don’t fret, it’s not worth ruining your health over this,” Cuiping advised seeing her distress.

“How can I not worry?” Madame Yun massaged her temples, her expression extremely gloomy.

“Madam, if you really can’t think of a solution, why not have a talk with Miss? Miss is very resourceful in such matters, maybe she has some ideas,” Cuiping suggested.

Madame Yun paused, mumbling, “She does have many ideas in these matters.”

Continuing, Cuiping added, “Madam, Miss is truly a good person. Though her way of doing things is different from that of most young ladies, this is what makes her unique.”

Madame Yun sneered lightly, “Indeed, she’s unique. But she is distant with me. I’m her mother, yet she always treats me like an enemy. I have her best interests at heart, but she always gives me the cold shoulder. Perhaps, I don’t have the motherly bond with her, it frustrates me whenever we talk.”

Cuiping tried to comfort her, “Madam, Miss’s differences with you are not major issues. You two are mother and daughter by blood, and blood is thicker than water. As long as you are good to Miss, she will eventually appreciate and grow close to you.”

Madame Yun did not quite agree with what Cuiping said and sighed, “Enough about this, go and call her here. I do have some things to ask her.”

“Yes,” Cuiping went to Tingsong Garden to fetch Wei Ruo.

Recently, Wei Ruo finally had some free time and was busy tending to the fruits and vegetables planted in the Tingsong Garden.

When Cuiping came to fetch her, Wei Ruo was not surprised. She had heard some rumors recently about the poor harvest from the two estates of the Military Prefecture and guessed that Madame Yun probably wanted to discuss this matter with her.

“I got it, I’ll go over there right away.” Wei Ruo got up to wash her hands.

Then she followed Cuiping to Tingsong Garden.

On their way, Cuiping unusually spoke more than a few words to Wei Ruo, “Miss, Madam really does care for you. But Madam grew up in the capital and she has many rules, she always hopes you could be as dignified and gentle as the ladies in the capital, so this created a lot of conflicts.”