Some are prepared by the husband's family, and some by the wife's family.

The Ling family was not wealthy, so Old Mrs. Qiao thought it best for the Qiao family to pay for it.

It happened to be market day in town. After lunch, Qiao Lian'er, Old Lady Qiao, Madam Feng, and Qiao Xi'er went to town to buy things.

When Old Lady Qiao turned around, she saw that Old Man Qiao had tucked a wood-chopping knife into his waistband and picked up a rope for binding firewood.

Qiao Lao Er also came out of the woodshed carrying a large basket.

"What are you doing? Have you forgotten what I told you? I said you can't work for the next ten days. The stitches haven't even been removed yet, and you want to go up the mountain? What if the stitches break and the wounds reopen?"

"The old man told you to stay home and keep a close eye on people, but what have you been doing? All you've been doing is smoking your lousy pipe?"

Old Mrs. Qiao started cursing loudly, picked up a rattan cane, and stormed over.

It looks like a hen with its feathers ruffled.

"Mother, we really can't sit still. You're a grown man, and you're telling us to just sit here until dinner time? This is so agonizing for us."

"Old Qiao said with a bitter face."

"We're not just freeloaders."

“Yes, we don’t have much firewood left at my mother’s house. Let’s go and get a few bundles. It won’t take much effort,” Qiao Lao Er said.

The two tried to dodge and explain, but Old Lady Qiao still struck them hard on their uninjured buttocks with a rattan cane.

"All of you, stay put. It's not like there's no one left in the house. You injured people shouldn't be the ones chopping firewood."

Is this acceptable?

Old Qiao put down his pipe: "You two boys, don't argue with your mother. Just stay in the yard and keep an eye on the Song and Shen families, in case they try to cause trouble again."

"If you really can't stay idle, go tidy up the pigsty, pick the osmanthus flowers, and make osmanthus cakes sometime."

The two looked dejected: "Yes."

Qiao Laosan was about to come out of his room when he peeked out from under the threshold and immediately pulled his head back.

Luckily, he was a little slow, otherwise he would have gotten a beating on his buttocks too.

Da Cheng drove the carriage to the county town, and the four of them had to walk.

When they reached the village entrance, Qiao Lian'er looked back.

The Qiao family's new courtyard has been completed and is now fully built. The walls and corridors have been erected, and the pavilion has been supported by pillars and brackets. The main task now is to lay the tiles.

Under the blue sky, the green bricks and red tiles look exceptionally beautiful.

A few white clouds drifted lazily across the sky, and Qiao Lian'er felt relaxed and happy.

The tiles should be laid in five days, and the remaining few days can be used for painting and making some minor improvements.

At that time, we will also place some beautiful stones and plant some exotic trees.

Qiao Lian'er looked at her profile and saw that all of these items were available for purchase.

Everyone was in a good mood, chatting as they walked, when a group of soldiers approached from the front.

They complained as they walked.

"Damn it, stationing troops in such a remote place, where they don't know anyone and it's far from home."

"Yes, I've only been here for a month, and I already miss my wife and daughter. I don't know if I'll be able to go back for the Chinese New Year."

"We little ants are only meant to guard the camp during holidays. If we want to go back, we can forget about it for three to five years."

"Damn it, son of a bitch! He became a captain and transferred here himself, fine, but he dragged us down with him. What if we rebel against him one day?"

"He lives closer to home, but what about us?"