Chapter 157 A rare leisure time
On the second day after the groundbreaking ceremony, Huang Lianzheng brought his father and second brother to help, carrying shovels and saying nothing. It was not until lunchtime that Uncle Niu noticed these three unfamiliar faces.
"What are you doing?" Uncle Niu was puzzled. "Which village are you from? Who is the captain?"
"Huang Ancheng is my uncle, we are here to help." Huang Lianzheng spoke. The marriage between the two families had not been finalized yet, so he did not dare to publicize it for fear of damaging Zhao Xiaomi's reputation.
Uncle Lao Niu went to look for Sui Yu and happened to meet Zhao Xiping coming back. When Zhao Xiping found out, he hurried to invite people to his house for dinner.
Huang Lianzheng and his son walked in. Huang's father was also a man of few words. He only managed to utter one sentence after they sat down at the table: "We can just sit outside and eat with the others. You don't have to worry about us."
"That won't work. We might be relatives in the future, and it's not right to let relatives sit outside for dinner." Sui Yu brought the food in and asked with a smile, "Have you finished your work in the fields?"
"I'm done." Huang Lianzheng stood up and walked out, saying, "Third sister-in-law, please sit down. I'll go serve the food."
Sui Yu didn't stop him.
In the kitchen, Zhao Xiaomi was looking out the door. When she saw someone approaching, she quickly looked away.
"Um, I'm here to help Third Sister-in-law serve the meal." Huang Lian was smiling at Zhao Xiaomi. He explained, "Yesterday I heard that you guys were digging and building a house. Since we were free at home, we came over to help. I didn't see you this morning, so I didn't have time to say hello to you."
Grandma Yin passed by and took a look.
Zhao Xiaomi felt a little uncomfortable. She handed over a plate of food and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
"It's okay. Digging isn't tiring."
The two of them went out one after the other. Zhao Xiaomi went into the dining hall to greet Huang's father. She sat down next to Sui Yu and listened to the people at the table laughing and talking throughout the meal, quietly without interrupting.
After dinner, the Huang family's father and son continued to dig the foundation and pick up soil.
Zhao Xiaomi was clearing away the dishes when Sui Yu walked in and asked, "What do you think?"
"What do you mean?" Zhao Xiaomi didn't quite understand.
"The Huang family came to us to ask for help." Sui Yu joked with a smile, "The three of them, father and son, came to help us build the house. If they don't want money, then they want people. It's not too late for you to regret now. Once the house is built, it will be too late to regret later."
Zhao Xiaomi smiled. Since no one else was in the room, she said boldly, "They're a very considerate family. I'm quite satisfied and have no regrets."
"It's a nice family." Sui Yu nodded. During the whole meal, she noticed that Huang Lian was stealing glances at Xiaomi while picking up food. This guy was not the kind of person who would be easily distracted. Xiaomi had good taste.
"Once the house is completed, the Huang family will come to urge you to get married. Then your third brother will take you back." Sui Yu said, "When do you plan to get married? This year or next year? I'll ask your third brother to go back and play a supporting role."
"It will be ready in July or August this year. The golden flowers I planted in the spring can be sold this year before the merchants return. I want to find a helper." Zhao Xiaomi was not shy when talking about her marriage.
Sui Yu had an idea in mind. She went to the city during her free time in the afternoon and returned in the evening with a stack of red cloth in her hands.
"Third sister-in-law, we're going back." Huang Lianzheng came over to say hello, "We'll come back tomorrow."
"Don't be in a hurry to leave, stay and have dinner with us." Sui Yu looked at Huang's father and said, "Uncle, if you don't want wages, then eat here with me. If you want to help, you should also let us do our best and not lose our manners."
When Huang's father saw the red cloth in her hand, a smile appeared on his dusty old face. He said, "Your aunt has prepared dinner for us. We will come over to eat tomorrow."
"That's fine. Come over tomorrow morning and I'll make breakfast here." Sui Yu said.
Father Huang nodded, picked up the shovel and left with his two sons.
Sui Yu watched them walk away before turning around and going into the house.
"Xiaomi, come here. I have something good for you." Sui Yu put her hands behind her back. When someone approached, she handed over the red cloth she had bought and said, "This few feet of red cloth is for you. You can make a new wedding dress for your wedding in the future from my third sister-in-law's house."
Zhao Xiaomi took the red cloth. It felt soft and was obviously made of expensive fine cloth. This should have been prepared by her parents, but her mother probably couldn't bear to buy fine cloth, after all, the wedding dress would only be worn once.
"Thank you, sister-in-law."
"No thanks." Sui Yu took her arm and said, "Third sister-in-law should thank you. You have been helping me since I was fifteen. I can open a big guesthouse today and be called Shopkeeper Yu because of your contribution."
At this point, Sui Yu simply mentioned the dowry in advance. "When you get married, your third brother and I will prepare your dowry. It includes a trunk, a chamber pot, a wooden basin, a mattress, and furs. Whether your parents agree or not, we will buy you a set. You can keep the money in your hand and use it to raise children or start a business in the future."
"Thank you, Third Sister-in-law." Zhao Xiaomi was touched. She leaned her body and rested her head on Sui Yu's shoulder, saying coquettishly, "Thank goodness I met you, Sister-in-law. Otherwise, I would still be at home doing laundry, cooking, and washing the children's butts. It's a good thing I came to help you."
"Ahem—" Zhao Xiping walked in from outside and faked a cough, "You're bothering me."
What a killjoy, Zhao Xiaomi curled her lips.
"I'm back." Sui Yu turned around and said, "I was discussing the dowry with my sister. I bought a few feet of red cloth today and asked her to make a red wedding dress. By the way, Xiaomi, remember to make a dress, not pants. Pants are not as beautiful as a silk dress."
"Are you starting preparations now?" Zhao Xiping was surprised.
"May is neither too cold nor too hot, which is perfect for needlework," Sui Yu explained.
Zhao Xiaomi suddenly realized that this was the case. She had never thought of this aspect.
"When the house is completed and the Huang family comes to ask for people, you will take the Huang family back to your hometown." Sui Yu told Zhao Xiping.
Zhao Xiping knew what was going on, so he pushed the two of them into the house to eat.
As night fell, the soldiers who had been building the houses, having eaten their fill, returned home, carrying their shovels. Sui Yu and his family of four followed closely behind, chatting leisurely. Insects chirped in the grass, and the night wind blew, bringing the odor of earth mixed with the fragrance of grass into their mouths and noses. The chirping of insects and the sound of human voices swept into the endless night.
After entering the city, the two groups went their separate ways.
Even though this route home was familiar, Zhao Xiping still held Sui Yu's hand cautiously, fearing that she would fall.
After returning home, Zhao Xiping went into the house first to get the oil lamp. Sui Yu stood in the open space in the yard and watched him stride towards the kitchen. In a moment, fire was lit in the half-open door.
The man walked towards Sui Yu holding the oil lamp. When there was light, she walked into the house.
"Brother-in-law, wait a minute." Sui Liang ran over with an oil lamp in his hand and said, "Borrow a light."
"Come back tomorrow and light a torch to illuminate the area," said Zhao Xiping.
"From now on, I'll come back before dark. I won't walk at night." Sui Yu stood by the door, thought for a moment, and said, "Now that the guesthouse is quiet, we might as well all come back and just check in every now and then. There's no need to watch it every day."
"I'll keep an eye on it. You stay home, sister." Sui Liang said, "I have nothing to do at home. I can even go hunting on a camel in the north of the city."
"Don't run too far," Zhao Xiping instructed. "Don't get close to the Great Wall, and especially don't get close to the slaves who are clearing the land in the north. Be careful, or they'll gang up on you and beat you up."
Sui Liang nodded obediently. He had been exiled since childhood and had experienced a lot, so he never dared to underestimate human nature.
The wick lit up and Sui Liang returned to the house holding the oil lamp.
Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping also walked into the house. The firelight illuminated half of the room. The two of them sat down and squatted in tacit understanding, pulling up their clothes to observe their stomachs underneath.
She was still very young, and her pregnancy was completely invisible when she wore clothes. Only when she pulled up the hem of her clothes could she see a slight rise and fall. Sui Yu was not sure if it was because she had eaten too much or if there was too much amniotic fluid in her belly, but Zhao Xiping was sure that his cub had grown up.
"It's a little bigger." Zhao Xiping looked satisfied. He pulled down his clothes and said, "You sit down. I'll go boil some water for a bath."
Sui Yu touched her belly and opened the cash box to count the money. Her greatest pleasure now was to look at the cash box piled with copper coins.
The fire core crackled a few times, and a thousand copper coins were strung together. Footsteps were heard outside the door. Sui Yu tied the knot, took out some clothes and went out.
After the couple washed up and lay down on the bed, Sui Liang and Zhao Xiaomi came to fetch water in basins.
Without having to worry about going to the guesthouse for breakfast, Sui Yu slept until dawn. When she woke up, the bed beside her was already cold and the yard was quiet. She got dressed and opened the door, calling out twice, but no one answered. The other three people in the house were out, and the door was locked from the outside.
There were two boiled eggs warming in the pot, as well as a bowl of dumpling soup. The water in the earthenware pot was also hot. After washing up, Sui Yu sat under the eaves and ate alone.
After eating, washing dishes, fetching water and washing clothes, the wet clothes were just hung on the clothesline when footsteps were heard outside the door. Then, the man who came back from morning training unlocked the door and came in.
"Are you awake? Is it time for dinner?" Zhao Xiping took over the task of hanging the clothes and said, "Don't bother with these. Leave the clothes for me to wash when I get back."
"It's not like I can't move. It's not like I can't wash clothes." Sui Yu stood under the eaves with her hands on her hips and said, "You're back just in time. I want to wash my hair. Can you wash it for me?"
Three benches were put together and a mattress was placed on them. Zhao Xiping scooped up hot water and Sui Yu lay down, happily enjoying the man's service.
"Third brother, you're back?" Zhao Xiaomi ran in like a gust of wind. Seeing the two people in the yard, she felt quite jealous and clicked her tongue in disdain. In her heart, she planned to let her man wash her hair in the future.
"Is there something wrong?" Zhao Xiping asked.
"It's okay. I was just thinking about opening the door for my third sister-in-law." Zhao Xiaomi walked out again and said, "Since you're back, I'll go back to work."
"What are you busy with?" Sui Yu asked.
"Watering the goldenrod."
Before he could finish his words, the man had already run away.
Sui Yu sat by the wall to dry her hair. Zhao Xiping went out and brought back a live hen around noon.
"We'll stew chicken for lunch," he said.
"Okay, you want my help?" Sui Yu said this but didn't move at all while sitting there.
"I don't need your help, I can still stew a chicken." Zhao Xiping took out a knife and killed the chicken. He turned his back to Sui Yu and said, "I'll practice first. After you give birth, I'll take care of you during the confinement period."
Sui Yu was happy. Looking at the clear sky, the smile on his face fell into his heart.
When the chicken soup was stewing fragrantly, Sui Liang came back riding a camel. He came back just to say that he would not eat at home, and then ran away again.
Aside from Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping, everyone else seemed quite busy. Sui Liang and Uncle Niu were overseeing the house construction, while Gan Da and Gan Er were busy with farm work. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping, however, were completely unburdened. The couple spent their days preparing meals in their small courtyard, then wandering the city when they had nothing better to do. After nearly five years of living in the city, this was the last time they had a complete tour. They traversed the streets and alleys, gradually preparing Zhao Xiaomi's dowry.
At the end of May, the guesthouse was completed. The last four rooms were built and the mud beds were also built. Sui Yu went to settle all the wages.
"Third nephew, do you think my eldest son can be your brother-in-law?" Father Huang couldn't wait to find Zhao Xiping.
Huang Lian was so embarrassed that his face turned red.
Zhao Xiping gave him a critical look and said, "I'll pick a good day and take you back to my hometown to meet my parents."
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