“Yes, Sister-in-law Wu, look, I think that’s Grandma. It’s closest to me right now, and it’s especially bright.”

Xiaoya pointed to a small star at the very edge.

"Really? That must be it. Grandma is definitely telling you where she is."

Wei Yuyan spoke gently.

The next day, the children went up the mountain and caused a ruckus, so Wei Yuyan went and bought two pieces of tofu.

Let's have tofu today. Wei Yuyan is really tired of eating the same dishes every day.

"Wu Chen's wife?"

Hearing someone knocking on the door and calling her name, Wei Yuyan thought it sounded like the village chief's voice.

"Hey, here I come."

When Wei Yuyan opened the door, she saw that it really was the village chief.

"Is Xiaoya here?"

The village chief looked around the yard but couldn't see Xiaoya anywhere.

"She went out to play. Is there anything I can help you with, Uncle Village Chief?"

Wei Yuyan was curious.

"Yes, it's about Xiaoya's future life. This afternoon I've decided to invite her relatives to the ancestral hall to discuss it together."

The village chief thought that there was an orphaned girl who couldn't carry anything on her shoulders or back. If he ignored her, she might starve to death at home.

"Village chief, if someone wants to adopt her, is that alright?"

Wei Yuyan quickly asked.

"Of course, as long as Xiaoya is willing."

The village chief looked at Wei Yuyan and assumed that she was going to adopt Xiaoya.

"Then I'll join you guys in discussing this this afternoon, okay?"

Wei Yuyan thought of asking her sister-in-law Xiuhua to go with her and hear what they planned to do with Xiaoya.

"Welcome! Let's begin the discussion at the beginning of Shen Shi (3-5 PM)."

After finishing his sentence, the village chief walked away with his hands behind his back, looking inscrutable.

"Xiaoya, this afternoon, the village chief asked us to go to the ancestral hall together to talk about your future life."

At the dinner table, Wei Yuyan told Xiaoya about going to the ancestral hall that afternoon.

Xiaoya simply nodded without saying anything.

"Sister-in-law, I also want to go with you."

Qianqian suddenly appeared.

"Okay, you go too. What about Xiao Lei? Does he want to go?"

Seeing that Xiaoya really wanted Qianqian to go, Wei Yuyan agreed and then asked Xiaolei if he wanted to go too.

"No, I want to practice my calligraphy at home."

Xiao Lei recently borrowed a calligraphy copybook from a classmate and has started practicing it, and he's doing quite well.

"good".

In the afternoon, Wei Yuyan took her two children and invited Sister-in-law Xiuhua to the ancestral hall, unaware that the hall was already in an uproar.

"People would avoid this kind of jinx so badly that no one would want to mess with her."

"That's right, this girl is about ten years old now, she can cook for herself, why can't she live on her own? It's unnecessary."

"Hey, her family owns two acres of land."

Anyway, a group of people were chattering in the ancestral hall, discussing what valuable things Xiaoya's family still had. It was just an old house and two acres of land, nothing else.

"Ahem, quiet down."

When the village chief saw that Wei Yuyan had brought Xiaoya, he told everyone to shut up.

When everyone saw Xiaoya coming over, they made way for her to come in.

"Xiaoya, come here."

The village chief and some elders sat there, leaving a seat for today's protagonist, Xiaoya.

"The reason I called you all here today is to talk about Xiaoya's problem. She is only ten years old this year, and it is not appropriate for her to live alone."

"Is there anyone here who wants to take her in or care for her?"

The village chief thought that someone would take her in because of the two acres of land, since a girl like her couldn't eat much.

"I do."

At this moment, a man stepped forward. Wei Yuyan saw that the man was thin and weak, and looked somewhat sleazy.

"Come on, Zhang Ergou, you probably want to raise her as your wife."

Village chief, let Xiaoya come to my house. I only have three sons, and I've been envious of other people's daughters for a long time.

Once Xiaoya comes to my house, I guarantee she'll never have to lift a finger and will eat and drink the best food she can get.

Then a tall, thin woman appeared, looking quite like a shrew.

"Everyone knows what you're thinking. Aren't you just envious of other people's two acres of land?"

With so many people in your family, you can't even get enough to eat. Aren't you just hoping to get a little more food from other people's fields?

They can't even afford to eat, yet they expect to enjoy fine food and drinks? You're kidding me!

Don't make yourself sound so noble. I'm planning to never get married in this life. Is it wrong to raise a daughter?

Zhang Ergou immediately objected. Everyone in her family knew they were always hungry, and that a half-grown boy was eating his father out of house and home.

If Xiaoya went there, she probably wouldn't even have enough to eat.

Wei Yuyan couldn't help but scratch her head. Why were there so many families like this? Not a single one of them was pleasing to her.

"Is there anyone else who wants to adopt Xiaoya?"

The village chief glanced at Xiaoya's relatives within five degrees of kinship; they all remained silent, clearly indicating their lack of welcome.

The two people who stepped forward both had ulterior motives. Zhang Ergou alone was definitely not enough; it would be improper for a man and a woman to be alone together.

The one from Wujiang won't do either; their conditions are too poor.

"Village chief, I also want to adopt Xiaoya."

Encouraged by Wei Yuyan, Sister-in-law Xiuhua mustered up her courage and went outside.

"You? The second daughter-in-law of the Chen family."

The village chief was somewhat surprised, and the other villagers were also a little astonished.

Why did the second daughter-in-law of the Chen family also have the idea of ​​adopting an orphan girl? Could it be that they really can't have children?

There had been rumors circulating before that she couldn't have children, and her actions this time only confirmed those speculations.

“Yes, I haven’t had any children since I got married. When Xiaoya comes to my house, I will definitely treat her like my own daughter, and I will also send her to school.”

Sister-in-law Xiuhua was a little nervous at first, but after looking at the flustered Xiaoya, she calmed down and revealed her bargaining chip.

"Look, this is the one who really wants a daughter; those two are just after her."

"That's right, Xiaoya would be living a very happy life if she stayed with Chen Lifu and his wife."

"They even said they wanted to send Xiaoya to school. Our own daughter hasn't even gone to school yet. We should have given our daughter to them."

The crowd immediately started discussing it amongst themselves.

"Hmm, not bad. I suppose no one here is better off than her family."

Li Fu's wife, we all have high hopes for you and believe you will treat Xiao Ya well. Now it's up to Xiao Ya to decide.

Xiaoya, Mr. and Mrs. Chen Lifu have kindly taken you in as their adopted daughter. What do you think?

After discussing with several elders, the village chief spoke first, affirming the abilities of Xiuhua and her husband, and then asking Xiaoya about her own wishes.

"I'm willing, I'm willing to go to the Chen family."

Xiaoya agreed without much thought, as she wasn't familiar with Sister Xiuhua's family.

However, I often hear Qianqian mention them, and I only know that they are very good people.

And she just said she would send me to school.

Xiaoya longed to go to school, so she agreed without hesitation.

When Sister-in-law Xiuhua heard Xiaoya agree, her eyes lit up and she smiled.