The matter had already been discussed, and seeing this, everyone dispersed.
Before leaving, they reminded each other, "From now on, just call him Master Wang. Be careful not to blurt it out and ruin everything."
Li Zhensheng thanked everyone and walked out of the courtyard, where he once again transformed into the businessman, Master Wang.
Mr. Wen and Liu Zhiheng are returning to the city, and there are too many things to arrange and plan.
Madam Cui stayed behind and took Jiayin to the valley to find the old lady.
Just then, the old lady came back carrying a food box. When she saw them, she smiled and said, "Jinrou, the sun is so bright, why are you out here? Come on, let's go home! I asked Hongying to make your favorite stuffed tofu!"
Madam Cui couldn't help but tear up as she recalled what had happened. The old lady was unaware that her beloved eldest son had been murdered in such a way; if she knew, she would be devastated...
Fortunately, everyone kept it a secret for the time being. Although it would eventually be revealed, they would try to delay it for as long as possible.
Jiayin was afraid that her grandmother would notice something was amiss if Madam Cui acted this way, so she quickly struggled and hugged her grandmother's neck, saying, "Grandma, Fu Niu's tummy is hungry too."
"I know, you little glutton, your mother is steaming egg custard for you!" The old lady put down the food box, picked up her granddaughter, and didn't bother to check on Madam Cui.
Madam Cui quickly picked up the food box and walked back with the grandmother and grandson...
In the Wang family courtyard in the south of the city, Wang E finally saw that her husband had not returned home drunk. She couldn't help but happily go up to him and ask, "Did things go smoothly for you today, sir?"
"Successfully!" Master Wang smiled as he picked up the roast chicken in his hand. "I went to Luo'an, rented a courtyard, and bought you a roast chicken on the way. Isn't this your favorite? How about we have a few drinks tonight?"
Wang E blushed and scolded, "The children are all here, let's go back inside and talk."
Li Ge'er led Mao Ge'er around his father, asking, "Dad, will you take us to play in the street tomorrow?"
“Alright,” Master Wang picked up his youngest son and rubbed his eldest son’s head. “We’ll be sending Li Ge’er to school the day after tomorrow. Let’s go to town tomorrow and buy some things.”
"So fast?" Wang E asked, somewhat surprised. "Couldn't we have waited ten days or half a month?"
“No,” Master Wang said without looking at her, bowing his head to cover his youngest son’s torn collar. “I have already rented a courtyard today, and everything is ready. He can move in as soon as he brings his bedding and luggage. There is a class for children at the academy that has been running for half a month. It will be easy for Li’er to catch up if he goes there. Otherwise, if it is delayed for too long, it will be difficult for Li’er to go to school.”
Li Ge'er was a quiet person who also loved reading. At this moment, he said, "Mother, I want to go to school. I won't be lazy."
Wang E didn't know what else to say, so she could only reply, "Alright, let's go the day after tomorrow."
Soon, the dinner table was set, and the family ate.
After dinner, the children went to bed early, and the couple actually brewed a pot of wine and sat facing each other drinking and eating roast chicken.
Master Wang drank one cup after another, and soon he was half-drunk.
He tore a chicken leg for Wang E and said with a smile, "Back when I was very sick, you tore a chicken leg for me to eat with your own hands, and said that eating the chicken leg would help me get better quickly. I still remember it to this day."
Wang E's face stiffened, and she forced a smile, saying, "It's been so many years, you still remember?"
Master Wang smiled wryly, "I've been having a terrible headache lately, and I'm afraid that one day I won't remember anything. Talking to you about it will put my mind at ease."
Wang E felt a pang of sympathy and, after thinking for a moment, said, "How about we find a doctor and get a few more days' worth of herbal medicine?"
Master Wang shook his head, "I've had this illness for over ten years. Since all the doctors I've consulted say it's incurable, then so be it. How long I live is up to me..."
Wang E gripped the chicken leg in her hand tightly, subconsciously biting her lip. After hesitating for a long time, she finally said, "Master, please don't say that. It will probably be fine in a few days. You are such a good person, you will definitely be alright."
"Forget it, you can't be sure about that. Heaven is blind. Look at how many evil people in the world have many children and grandchildren, while how many good people don't have a good ending."
While Master Wang spoke casually, Wang E felt extremely guilty listening to him.
She slowly ate the chicken leg, but found it difficult to swallow.
I've been feeling something's off lately. Is it because she's getting older and her heart has softened?
Thinking of her deceased father and the Wang family's business, Wang E took a deep breath to suppress her unease.
It would be good to stay in Luo'an for a while; perhaps everything will be better by the time I come back...
Master Wang lowered his head to pour wine, and out of the corner of his eye, he clearly saw his wife's expression, and his heart sank completely.
Even a day as husband and wife is worth a hundred days of kindness; at this moment, all of that has vanished into thin air!
He raised his hand and drained the glass of wine. Tomorrow, everything should begin...
The autumn wind is extremely diligent, sweeping across the millet fields on the hillside countless times every day.
And the sun, too, works diligently, never missing a single day.
With their combined care, the autumn harvest finally arrived smoothly.
More than a thousand fruit trees are planted on the hills on both sides of the hot spring valley, but this year there are not many flowers and fruits. Next year will be the time when the flowers bloom and the fruits are plentiful.
This year's main attraction is still the golden millet fields between the fruit trees, with each ear of millet bowing modestly and swaying in the autumn breeze.
On this day, except for those who couldn't leave their posts in the valley, everyone in the village gathered at the mountaintop.
A hundred or so people, young and old, some carrying sickles, some leaning on carrying poles, some carrying baskets, looked at the golden rice fields and felt a heavy weight in their hearts, unable to hold back their tears.
Around this time last year, they hurriedly harvested the sorghum from the Li family back in their hometown and then embarked on a journey to escape for their lives.
At that time, all they could think about was surviving.
I don't want to die by the roadside, I don't want to die under the sword of barbarians, I don't want to die deep in the mountains and forests...
No one could have imagined a time like this, when they have homes again, have settled down, and are about to get a good harvest.
Not only did they survive, they're thriving!
The millet in front of them is no longer their only means of survival. They have hot spring valleys where they can make a fortune every day, and melon fields where they can sell for sky-high prices. Even the large areas of peanuts and sweet potatoes on the riverbanks are still unharvested.
But this did not prevent them from feeling awe and gratitude for the vast expanse of millet.
Food is always the greatest source of confidence for survival.
A bountiful harvest is always the deepest hope of the people.
The village chief wiped away his tears and said, "Everyone remember how hard life was before, and how much we enjoy it now! Remember this well, anyone who dares to ruin all of this, the whole village will not let him get away with it!"
"Yes, village chief!" everyone responded loudly.
The village chief then called Li Lao Er forward. The two of them raised their sickles high and shouted in unison, "Harvest time! Let's start harvesting!"
The villagers also raised their tools and shouted, "Harvest time! Let's start harvesting!"
The stalks of millet were cut down, quickly bundled up, and carried back to the village's threshing ground.
The elderly and children carried baskets and picked up the fallen ears of grain.
No one was lazy, and no one complained of being tired. The whole village was like a high-speed machine, with everyone doing their job.
Grandma Li carried her granddaughter on her back as she climbed the mountain to deliver her herbal tea, and then carried her granddaughter on her back as she picked up ears of grain.
Jiayin couldn't bear to see her grandmother tired, so she struggled to get down from the bed.
The old lady spread her apron under the fruit tree and let her granddaughter sit on it to watch the kettle.
Perhaps afraid her granddaughter would cause trouble, she gave her another pastry.
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