After thinking for a long time, neither this nor that works.

Li Yan decided not to think about it for the time being, and pulled her little cousin to the kitchen. She took out the buns she had brought back that morning from the pot and handed them to her little cousin: "I promised to buy them for you, eat them quickly!"

The child took the bun and said timidly, "Second sister, I want to give half to Xiao Niu, is that okay? Xiao Niu also gave me some bread today."

Li Yan bent down and took out another bun from the pot and handed it to Maomao: "One for each of us, let's go." She also wanted to see the current situation at Xiu'er's house.

Both parents have passed away, and the two half-grown children live with their second grandmother and rely on the income from five acres of thin land. This grain price reduction incident will inevitably make their already difficult lives even worse.

Following Maomao, Li Yan came to the next door. The little guy excitedly called out to Xiaoniu while running into the yard with his short legs.

At this time, Li Xiu in the yard was busy. She had just finished feeding the chickens and was preparing to chop firewood. She was like a spinning top, spinning non-stop every day.

Li Yan saw that she didn't seem to be affected by what happened today: "Have you heard? Our food prices have been lowered!"

Li Xiu smoothed the hair by her ears and whispered, "I heard about it." She looked depressed.

At this time, Xiao Niu ran to Li Yan and said, "Sister Erya, I overheard that grandma was planning to propose marriage to my sister! I don't want my sister to get married."

Li Yan was shocked. Xiu'er was only thirteen years old, which was still the age for elementary school students in modern times, but she was forced to get married!

Li Yan grabbed Xiu'er's hand and said, "Are you willing?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Xiu'er, who had been indifferent just now, had tears in her eyes and big tears fell silently.

He gently held Xiu'er in his arms and slowly stroked her back.

Li Yan knew that she was not a savior and could not help everyone, but she wanted to lend a hand to this playmate who grew up with her.

When Xiu'er's emotions gradually stabilized, Li Yan said to her: "My mother is embroidering a new type of embroidery recently. You can earn six cents for each piece. I will go back and ask my mother to teach you. This way you can make money and you won't be desperate." Wait, I'll go and talk to my mother.

After returning from next door, Li Yan went to her parents' room first. At this time, only Li Erlang was copying books in the room.

Li Yan saw her father and told him what she was thinking. "Father, although our family doesn't have to worry about taxes, if the nest is overturned, only the eggs in the nest will survive. If most of the people in Lijia Village sell all their food, I'm afraid we won't survive this winter. I want to go to town tomorrow and ask the owner of Piaoxianglou for advice."

Looking at his ten-year-old daughter, Li Erlang couldn't help but feel sorry. Why wasn't Yan'er a boy?

He patted his daughter's head and said, "Go ahead. Don't force things."

Li Yan got permission to come out of her father's room and met Lin outside the door.

When Mrs. Lin heard that her daughter was going to town tomorrow, she took out two embroidered handkerchiefs from the basket in her room and said, "I've been embroidering these these past two days. I'll show them to the shopkeeper tomorrow and see if she has any other opinions."

Li Yan took the things and said to Lin, "Mother, can you teach Xiu'er a lesson? Xiu'er's family can't afford the tax money now. I just heard from Xiaoniu that the Second Mistress is planning to find a husband for her!"

Mrs. Lin patted her daughter's head and said, "Of course you can. I watched Xiu'er grow up. She has shouldered the burden of the family at such a young age. It really hurts me to see her like that. So, you can ask her to come and learn from me tomorrow."

Li Yan felt relieved after getting her mother's promise. She ran to the next door in a few steps and wanted to tell Xiu'er the good news.