Li Changlin explained apologetically to the family that they had made a decision.

Bai Ziqian paused for a moment, and just as he was about to turn and leave, Li Changlin called out to him, prompting him, "Go ask that family on the high slope."

That's my sister-in-law, Shuiqing. She's such a kind person; she's probably the only family in our village that would hire someone like that.

Bai Ziqian paused.

He then shook his head and left.

He had just come from Aunt Shuiqing's house, and she hadn't said a word to ask him to stay. If he went back now, he would be looked down upon even more.

He didn't believe it; in such a large village, those living in brick houses were inferior to those living in thatched huts!

Li Changlin watched the boy's figure walk towards the brick house of Old Master Fan, his brows furrowed, but he was helpless.

Sun Jinhua's courtyard gate is never closed. In the past, there were more than a dozen old hens, and the gate was always closed. Now that the old hens are gone and the ducks have gone into the water, there is nothing of value in the yard, so there is no need to close the gate.

"What do you want?" She glanced at the boy who had entered the courtyard, her eyes full of wariness.

Bai Ziqian bowed and repeated the same explanation he had given to Shui Qing.

"Tsk tsk, your clothes are made of fine fabric. You came out when your parents kicked you out? Did you steal clothes and money from the master and get kicked out?"

"You're just a little kid, you have no strength and you're at the age where you need to eat a lot. Whoever takes care of you will be at a disadvantage!"

"You certainly know how to pick your days. It's not the busy farming season now, so farmers naturally don't have much work to do. Isn't this just a waste of grain to feed them for nothing?"

......

Sun Jinhua launched into a tirade, belittling Bai Ziqian as utterly worthless.

From childhood to adulthood, he was pampered by everyone, and even his usually picky and difficult grandmother treated him with kindness.

When he was out and about, people saw that he was the only son of the Bai family and were even more afraid that he would get hurt or bump into something, so they did everything they wanted to please him.

He thought that working hard every day at Aunt Shuiqing's place was already extremely tiring, but he never expected that compared to this sharp-eyed and rat-faced woman in front of him, Aunt Shuiqing's silence was the greatest respect she could show him!

Seeing the boy lower his head after her criticism, Sun Jinhua glanced at his fine clothes, rolled her eyes, and sighed, "Alright, I feel sorry for you, you can stay for now."

Bai Ziqian suddenly looked up, thinking he had misheard.

"What? You don't want to eat? Let me tell you, our Shanshui Village is very poor. I'm afraid no one will be willing to feed an idle person anymore." Sun Jinhua curled her lips, her tone full of disdain and smugness towards the boy.

Bai Ziqian nodded hurriedly.

All he needs now is a place to stay and meals.

Sun Jinhua looked her over and asked, "What kinds of jobs can you do?"

Hearing the same words for the second time, unlike the first time when he was completely bewildered, Bai Ziqian puffed out his chest and answered with much more confidence: "Washing clothes, clearing the dishes, weeding the vegetable garden, tilling the soil, digging holes..."

"Alright, alright, what kind of work is this? Anyone can do it," Sun Jinhua interrupted impatiently.

Then he called out to the house, "Sanzhu, go and get a set of your clothes."

Then he turned to Bai Ziqian in the courtyard and said, "Hei Zi, right? How can you work if you're dressed properly? That would be a waste of your clothes."

Go change it. This afternoon you'll go composting with your masters.

"Master, Second Master?" Bai Ziqian asked again, still in a daze.

Sun Jinhua scolded her, dissatisfied: "Why are you so stupid?! Our family feeds you and takes care of you, aren't we your masters?"

"Isn't my son your master? Go, go change your clothes quickly, lunch is coming soon, eat well so you can get to work!"

Fan Sanzhu didn't have many clothes to begin with, and now that he's suddenly missing a set, his mouth is pursed so much it could hold an oil lamp.