Chapter 15 Huilu Creek Village Just remember, even if the sky falls, Ah...

Ning Shengan felt a slight stirring in his heart upon hearing the words "Luxi Village".

Luxi Village, Cangling County, Luzhou Prefecture.

He had read books, looked at maps, and recognized the place name.

I've also heard grain merchants mention this place, saying it's nestled against the mountains and by the water, with fertile land that produces abundant grain. In previous years, caravans would always go there specifically to buy grain.

In recent years, however, businessmen have gradually stopped mentioning it.

Occasionally, when someone asks about it, they just shake their head and sigh, "Over there, almost everyone has left, and the land is abandoned!"

"I've heard... that things are tough for you there these days?" he asked cautiously, choosing his words carefully.

“Yes, it was tough,” Lin Huijun chimed in, her voice tinged with sorrow. “Two or three years ago, the Luxi River, which flows through the village, somehow began to dwindle and eventually dried up completely. Without water, the fields couldn’t be cultivated, and all the able-bodied men in the village left with their families. Now, the only people left in the village are the elderly who can’t walk and those who have nowhere else to go.”

She looked at Ning Shengan and advised, "Why don't you stay in the city? I overheard people at the restaurant saying that the Liang and Shen families have fallen, and a new prefect is coming to Luzhou soon! Maybe the new official will rebuild the irrigation canals? Things might get better then."

Ning Shengan slowly shook his head, his gaze falling on the sleeping face of his daughter in his arms: "I don't want to stay in the city anymore."

“I also came from the countryside to the city to make a living.” His voice was low. “I was lucky enough to meet Xiao Ning’s mother, Tao Lanze. When Lanze was still alive, she always said that once she had saved enough money, she would go back to the countryside, build a small house, grow some vegetables, and the whole family would live a good life…”

He choked slightly and didn't continue.

In times of famine and chaos, life is as worthless as grass.

Upon hearing this, everyone could only silently say, "Please accept our condolences."

“I have only one thought right now,” Ning Shengan raised his head, his eyes filled with sincerity, “to find a place where Xiao Ning can grow up in peace.”

“A few days ago she was seriously ill, and I went to seek medical help, but the doctor only glanced at her and said she had contracted the plague, refusing to treat her no matter what. If it weren’t for you all…”

He didn't say anything more, but his face showed his lingering fear.

His gaze swept over Wen Yu, then looked at Lin Lan and Wen Qing behind her, and said with hope, "So, I want to take Xiao Ning with me. A place that can raise girls like these must be pretty good."

Several lines of comments quickly flashed across Wen Yu's field of vision:

Wow, the village is getting some fresh blood! Welcome, welcome!

Many hands make light work, that's a good thing!

[Does anyone else feel that the recruitment of new characters in these episodes has been a bit too frequent...? I understand that new characters are needed to advance the plot, but recruiting so many at once?]

[Upstairs, please be quiet, I love watching! If you collect too much, it's on me!]

Wen Yu's heart moved.

This is indeed an opportunity.

The village is most in need of manpower. Ning Shengan, a young and strong laborer with a child, can inject vitality into the lifeless Luxi Village.

There are plenty of empty land and houses available, so temporarily accommodating them shouldn't be a problem.

Once everyone is here, it's not too late to figure out how to build a new house.

She cleared her throat and finally extended an invitation: "Brother Ning, if you don't mind, why don't you come back with us?"

"Most of the villagers have left, but there's no shortage of wasteland and empty houses. If you go there, you'll have a place to stay, and you can look out for each other."

Upon receiving her affirmative reply, Ning Shengan's eyes lit up instantly, and he said repeatedly, "Really? Thank you so much, Miss Wen! I'll go pack my luggage right away, it'll be quick!"

---

When Wen Yu and his group returned to the donkey cart with the purchased goods and Ning Shengan and his daughter, Uncle Li and Wen Yue were both stunned.

“Wen girl, this…?” Uncle Li looked at Ning Shengan and the little girl who was still fast asleep on his back, and looked at Wen Yu in confusion.

Ning Shengan bowed slightly to them, somewhat awkwardly, and said, "I apologize for disturbing you. My name is Ning Shengan."

Wen Yu explained with a smile, "Uncle Li, A Yue, this is Brother Ning. He sold us a good cow cheaply and wants to bring his daughter back to Luxi Village to settle down with us."

Uncle Li frowned slightly and couldn't help but say, "Brother Ning, our Luxi Village... is poor and desolate, life there is very hard. I'm afraid going there would be..."

“With Wen girl around!” Lin Huijun interrupted him with a smile, “Following Wen girl, I don’t think these hard times will last long.”

As she spoke, she carefully placed the two cages of chickens and ducks she had just bought at the market into the basket in the corner of the donkey cart.

While Ning Shengan was at home tidying up, they bought some more live animals.

Wen Yu had already calculated the money and planned to go back and start a breeding business, raising chickens and ducks to lay eggs, so that it could be sustainable and also provide nutrition for everyone.

Lin Huijun was surprised that Wen Yu had so much money on hand, but Wen Yu only gestured for her to be quiet, so she wisely didn't ask any more questions.

Wen is methodical in her work; just follow her lead.

At this moment, Wen Qingshi, who had been quiet all along, gently tugged at Wen Yu's sleeve and raised her clear eyes: "Sister...can I call you that?"

They acted first and reported later.

Wen Yu was slightly taken aback, then chuckled and nodded vigorously: "Of course!"

“Sister,” Wen Qingshi immediately seized the opportunity, calling out naturally and affectionately, “When we get to the village, I want to live with you. Alan has Aunt Lin, but I… I only have you, sister. Since you’ve redeemed me, I naturally want to follow you.”

Wen Yu was somewhat surprised.

This former heiress adapted much faster and... much more proactively than she had expected.

But then I thought about it again. The money for redeeming her was ultimately given by Madam Cui, so it was her responsibility to take care of Wen Qingshi, both morally and logically.

"Okay." Wen Yu looked at the girl in front of her, who was a few years younger than her but whose back was as straight as a bamboo shoot, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart for no reason.

Wen Qingshi tightened his grip on her sleeve: "And... I've always wanted an older sister."

“Back home, they could only see my older brother,” she paused, as if recalling those unpleasant scenes. “When my father was testing his studies, even if he could recite a few lines of poetry, he was considered a genius. But when I wrote poetry and essays, it was considered a wild idea.”

"They said, 'A girl should just focus on learning needlework, recognizing a few words, and being able to read account books. She'll belong to someone else's family anyway, so why bother studying so much? It's a waste of time.'"

“No one in my family is on my side. My older brothers take it for granted, and my younger brothers follow suit, only saying things like ‘girls should do girls’ things.’ Even when I want to read a book a little longer, I’m ridiculed as ‘wishful thinking.’”

She longed for a strong and supportive older sister who could protect her and show her that girls could also live their own lives.

Wen Yu's heart sank slightly.

She could only see a brief overview of Shen Huaiyu's life on the panel, but she could not truly understand how much silent repression had been borne by this small body.

Outsiders would only think that a daughter of an official, who has no worries about food and clothing, could have much suffering.

But the pain in the girl's words was truly conveyed through her speech.

She has read books, written poems and essays, and seen the world.

Therefore, they could no longer bear being clipped of their wings, confined in a cage, and a caged bird for life.

Seeing the girl's eyes glistening with tears, Wen Yu couldn't help but pat her head and gently comb a few strands of hair from her forehead.

Her voice was not loud, but it was steady and powerful.

“Qingshi, listen carefully.” She looked directly into the girl’s tearful eyes. “From now on, you are only my Qingshi. Forget all those nonsense words about ‘what you should do’ and ‘what you shouldn’t do.’ With me, you only need to do what you want to do.”

"Is it really possible?" Wen Qingshi's body trembled slightly. "My mother used to say that I must marry someone I love in the future, but later my father neglected her and arranged another marriage for me. My mother made a lot of trouble, but nothing came of it."

"My mother was a renowned talented woman before she got married, how did she become like this?"

"Sister, I don't want this to happen." She looked at Wen Yu pleadingly.

Wen Yu, however, remained steadfast.

She comes from the modern era, receives the most advanced education and ideas, and stands on a stage admired by tens of thousands of people. There is nothing she feels she is not worthy of.

“If you want to study, I will teach you; if you want to learn martial arts, I will find a way; if you want to do anything strange or unusual, I will accompany you. Just remember, even if the sky falls,” she leaned slightly forward, her eyes burning, and said, word by word, “I will hold it up for you.”

“Sister…” Wen Qingshi wiped away her tears and buried her face in Wen Yu’s shoulder.

The support that neither her mother nor Lin Lan could provide her, she found in Wen Yu at this moment.

The comments section erupted in an uproar.

[Ahhh, my little sister is so well-behaved and makes my heart ache!]

[Sobbing, all I need is a little sister like that. My heart would melt if she called me "sister"...]

[Damn it! I want a little sister too, why is mine a boy?!]

[Haha, Wen Yu has gained a little sister! And don't forget about little Tao Ning too, she's destined to be the king of the kids...]

[You all want a younger sister, but I want Wen Yu to be my older sister? Waaaaah!]

Wen Yu couldn't help but raise her hand and gently stroke Wen Qingshi's soft hair, already thinking: Once settled, should I teach these children to recognize characters and read books?

This soul from the 21st century simply cannot tolerate children of school age being blind; she must go back and think of a solution.

Ning Shengan tied the simple luggage to the ox's back, walked over to Wen Yu and said, "Miss Wen, shall I drive this oxcart? I'm quite skilled at driving."

This solved Wen Yu's immediate problem.

She was worried because she couldn't drive, and immediately replied, "That's great, thank you so much, Brother Ning!"

“But my Xiaoning…” He looked at his daughter on his back, somewhat embarrassed.

Driving with a child on your back is quite inconvenient and dangerous.

"Give me the child!" Lin Huijun quickly and carefully took the sleeping Tao Ning from his back. "I'll take care of her, don't worry."

The matter was settled.

Uncle Li still drove the donkey cart, carrying Lin Huijun and her daughter, as well as Tao Ning.

Ning Shengan drove his newly bought oxcart, carrying Wen Yu, Wen Qingshi, and Wen Yue.

The group, which arrived somewhat empty, returned with a rather imposing and grand presence.

Wen Yu touched the almost empty money pouch in his arms, with only a few loose copper coins remaining.

She gazed in the direction of Luxi Village, with only one thought in her mind:

The money's all gone. Time to go back and really get back to farming!

A note from the author:

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