Chapter 234 - Chapter 234: Chapter 143: A Thorny Situation (2/2)
After watching the children with Xiao Xi for a while, Su Wenyue asked the nanny to keep an eye on them, and she took Xiao Xi to the study to discuss important matters.
“Take a look at this.” Su Wenyue handed the earlier drawn blueprints to Xiao Xi for her to examine.
“What’s this? Madam, are you planning to build a house? But if it’s made as per this design, wouldn’t it be too shabby? And why are there several trenches to be dug underground?” Xiao Xi flipped through the blueprints, puzzled and unable to figure out the purpose of Madam’s plans.
“This is for a greenhouse, used to grow vegetables in winter. These trenches are for raising the temperature inside the greenhouse, ensuring a stable warmth so that the plants can thrive. That way, we need not wait until after winter to have fresh vegetables,” explained Su Wenyue as she went through the blueprint and details with Xiao Xi, who then understood.
“This is a great idea. If we can really grow vegetables in winter, not only for our consumption but also for selling and as gifts, it would be perfect,” Xiao Xi found Su Wenyue’s idea impressive, although she wasn’t sure if the greenhouse would work. However, if the Madam said so, it must be feasible.
“It’s already November, and in less than two months it will be New Year. There’s not much time, which is why I urgently called you back. I want you to arrange for this to be done immediately,” said Su Wenyue, aiming to have a batch of vegetables ready for the New Year’s gift-giving before the holiday.
Xiao Xi calculated the time and concluded it was feasible since some vegetables only take a month to harvest. As long as she pressed on, there would be enough time. Furthermore, they didn’t have to wait for the greenhouse to be completed before sowing the seeds. The seeds could be nurtured in a warm place and, once the greenhouse was ready and the seedlings had grown, they could be transplanted, thus saving a considerable amount of time.
This had Xiao Xi already brainstorming the logistics. With her experience working at Zhuangzi, she could match the know-how of seasoned farmers and was also quick-witted, as evidenced by her new plan.
“What do you think, can you handle this task?”
“Rest assured, Madam, I am certain to manage this task well for you and will not disappoint your expectations,” Xiao Xi confidently asserted, interpreting the responsibility as a sign of trust and determined to fulfill it to the best of her abilities.
Su Wenyue had intended for Xiao Xi to rest for a day or two since she had been working diligently on various tasks recently. However, with Xiao Xi so preoccupied with the greenhouse project, she quickly ate something and hurried back to Zhuangzi to get started.
Su Wenyue had considered going to take a look herself but couldn’t get away from home. Not least of all because the three little ones couldn’t be without her, she had no choice but to leave the whole project in Xiao Xi and the Zhuangzi steward’s capable hands.
Once the greenhouse was taken care of, it would resolve one of her worries. That evening when Han Yu came back, Su Wenyue wanted to discuss the project with him, but he seemed preoccupied, barely listening to what she had to say.
“Husband, has something happened at the military camp?” Su Wenyue asked worriedly. With Han Yu’s skill, it would have to be a complex issue for him to appear so troubled.