"Everyone, get some rest. Tomorrow we'll go look around and find a place to stay. Even if this place is bad, it's still much better than the borderlands. At least we won't have to worry about getting our heads chopped off by barbarians while we sleep at night."

Grandma Li used a rattle drum to coax her granddaughter and said a few words of comfort to her children and grandchildren.

Li Lao Er and the others felt heartbroken upon hearing this. Not wanting to cause their mother further distress, they quickly expressed their determination.

“Mother is right. It’s better for us to live together as a family than to live in the borderlands.”

"That's right, Chief Escort Liu even asked me to go to the escort agency. With an extra wage, my family will definitely have an easier time."

Grandma Li listened quietly, gently patting her granddaughter. Turning her back to the crowd, tears welled up and fell softly, wetting Jia Yin's swaddling clothes…

The next morning, the Li family didn't cook either.

Li Lao Er and his brothers wandered around looking around, while Li Lao Tai took Jia Yin to find people and inquire about information.

There was a house with women's clothes hanging out to dry in the yard, and smoke was already billowing from the chimney, so she went to knock on the door.

The person who opened the door was a woman, who looked to be around thirty years old.

Seeing that Old Lady Li was elderly and holding a baby, she spoke in a very gentle tone, "Sister-in-law, is there anything I can help you with?"

Seeing that the woman seemed easy to get along with, Old Lady Li breathed a sigh of relief and then smiled and said...

"Sister, my granddaughter and I are passing through your village and we are thirsty. We would like to ask for a drink of water."

Upon hearing this, the woman quickly said "Oh," turned around, went inside, scooped up some water in a bowl, and brought it to Old Lady Li.

Grandma Li coaxed Jiayin to drink a couple of sips, and the woman kept staring at Jiayin with eyes full of affection.

Jiayin could tell that the woman liked children, so she didn't hold back her smiles, sticking out her tongue and shaking her head at the woman, making her laugh continuously.

"Hey girl, let me ask you, is there any place to stay in this village? My family and I came all the way here to stay with relatives, but they've passed away, and we can't go back. We're thinking of finding a place to stay nearby."

Old Mrs. Li returned the bowl to the woman and casually asked a question.

Upon hearing this, the woman felt sorry for Old Lady Li, and Jiayin was indeed very adorable.

She didn't hide anything, and pulled Old Lady Li to sit on the stone stool at the door, chatting like old ladies, telling Old Lady Li everything she knew.

Originally, this village was called Qingshui Village. The village was nestled against the mountains and beside the water, and it was once a prosperous place.

Many years ago, due to war, the villagers either fled or died, leaving only a few households.

Later, when the court stabilized, many soldiers who were wounded in battle were assigned to this area and settled down.

As was customary, the imperial court would send some copper coins each month as compensation, and then leave the rest unattended.

Most of the wounded soldiers had no children, and after they passed away one after another, the village's population only decreased and never increased, becoming increasingly desolate.

To make matters worse, the area was hit by a locust plague the year before last, and then by floods last year, resulting in the deaths of many people.

People in nearby villages were spreading rumors that Qingshui Village was cursed.

They said that the wounded soldiers carried the murderous aura of the battlefield, causing Qingshui Village to suffer as well.

As a result, even fewer people came this way.

Therefore, many empty courtyards and fields in the village were left unattended and were taken back by the county government.

The woman was getting a little hoarse from talking, but she was also very kind and offered advice to Old Lady Li.

“Sister, it’s not difficult for you to register your household there. The first house at the south end, the one with the willow tree in front of the door, is the village chief’s house. Go talk to him, and he will definitely be able to help you.”

Grandma Li quickly thanked her, and as she was about to leave, she saw the woman looking at Jiayin with eager eyes, so she hugged Jiayin and moved closer to the woman.

"Niu Niu, quickly thank this auntie," Grandma Li teased Jia Yin.

Jiayin cooperated perfectly, looking at the woman with her big eyes, smiling and revealing her two rows of bare gums, and even reaching out to touch her face.

The woman's nose tingled, and her eyes instantly reddened, but she smiled.

"This baby is so beautiful. If my daughter were alive, she would definitely be just like this."

This is another person with a tragic fate!

Old Mrs. Li sighed inwardly, chatted for a few more minutes, and then went home.

The grandfather and grandson were pondering this all the way.

Although the woman had just recounted many unpleasant aspects of Qingshui Village's past, upon closer examination, this place is actually the most suitable for the Li family.

The residents were mostly wounded soldiers, and the local people were tough, but there was also less neighborly scheming.

Moreover, it is situated near mountains and water, with fertile soil, close to the county seat, and only 200 miles from the capital, a round trip taking only half a month.

As for the curse that others are spreading...

Jiayin laughed so hard she drooled. With her little lucky star around, what was there to fear from any curse?

Hearing her granddaughter giggle, Grandma Li couldn't help but lean over and gently kiss her little face, asking, "Does Fu Niu'er like it here?"

Jiayin immediately clapped her hands twice, "Ah-hmm!"

Grandma Li was surprised by her granddaughter's response, paused for a moment, and then laughed.

"Alright, we'll do as our lucky girl says!"

Back under the big tree, Old Lady Li called her sons to discuss the matter, and then took Li the Second to the village chief's house.

As expected, the village chief had a fierce look on his face, and looked like he had been to the battlefield, but he spoke very kindly.

Hearing that the Li family had three branches and that the second son, Li, was literate and numerate, he was very pleased and agreed to let the Li family settle down without saying a word.

Old Lady Li slipped him a piece of silver, and after hesitating for a moment, he accepted it. Then he led them around the village.

After looking at several empty courtyards, Old Lady Li was not very satisfied.

Until we reached the northeast side of the village, there was a large courtyard built against the foot of the mountain.

The courtyard has five main rooms, three side rooms on each side, two small side rooms, and a kitchen; it has everything you need.

There was a vegetable garden behind the yard, and a pigsty, chicken coop, and outhouse were built on the side, showing that a lot of thought was put into its construction.

Most importantly, there are ten acres of land behind the yard, which have been cleared for more than ten years and are excellent farmland, but it seems that they have not been cultivated in the past two years and much of it has been abandoned.

“This courtyard is really nice, village chief. Let’s buy this courtyard. It would be even better if we could buy the fields behind it at the same time.”

Grandma Li immediately made the decision.

The villager seemed to be thinking of something and was somewhat stunned. When he came to his senses, he looked at the Li family members carefully again before nodding.

“Alright, this courtyard and land belong to an old brother of mine. He had no children and passed away a long time ago. The house deeds and land deeds are with me. Now I’m making the decision to sell them to you for one hundred taels. Keep the silver; it’ll be enough to prepare some offerings for him every year.”

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Li quickly replied.

"Once we've settled in, the village chief will give us directions so we can go and pay our respects."

The village chief's face darkened upon hearing this. "Let's go then. Under whose name should the yard and land be registered? I'll take you to the county government to register your household and hand over the house and land deeds."

Old Lady Li left her family to tidy up the yard, and she took Li Laosi with her, along with the village chief, carrying silver notes, and went to the county town.

The transfer of ownership and registration went smoothly, and within an hour, two thin deeds were placed in Old Lady Li's hands.

Such a large courtyard, plus ten acres of land, only cost one hundred taels.

This price is absolutely unattainable, not only in a place as close to Kyoto as this, but even in the far north.

Grandma Li became more and more satisfied as she thought about it, and finally smiled.

From this point on, the Li family had to re-establish themselves and make a living in Qingshui Village.