"What, Huahua, when did this happen? Where did you move to?" Aunt Liu asked in surprise.
“Let’s move to Shili Village,” Jiang Hua said.
“That’s your aunt’s family home!” Uncle Liu blurted out.
"Really? How come I've never heard Auntie mention it?" Jiang Hua was also somewhat surprised.
"It's all ancient history. After I married you, Uncle Liu, my brother and sister-in-law took my parents and moved away. We don't know where they went. Shili Village is just too poor," Aunt Liu said slowly.
"I see." Jiang Hua nodded and added water to Aunt Liu's cup.
"The crops in the fields aren't yielding well either; that's probably just the fate of Shili Village," Aunt Liu added.
"Before my brother and sister-in-law left, they gave me the only chicken in their house as part of my dowry."
"It's true that it's not as good as Xujia Village, but the people in the village are easy to get along with."
Jiang Hua replied that this was the reason she decided to move to Shili Village.
You can tell by how they protect the safflower; the whole village is united, unlike Xu Family Village, where only interests can unite them... like that ginseng last time?
"Have you decided? When are you going?" Aunt Liu asked again.
"Um."
“Old man, let’s go too!” Aunt Liu said to Uncle Liu.
"We need to go back and discuss this with Tianming. After all, our land and house are all here. Moving to Shili Village would mean starting all over again."
Uncle Liu, unlike his wife who was always so impulsive, spoke calmly.
Aunt Liu thought about it and realized that it made sense; she had really acted too impulsively.
The two sat for a while longer before going back to work in the fields.
Jiang Hua had just seen Aunt Liu and her companion off when she saw Xu Dagui and Madam Xu walking towards her courtyard from afar.
"The troublemakers are here again," Jiang Hua said as she tidied up.
Jiang Jingyi paused, his hand already set on washing the cups, and looked around.
"Stepmother, then we..."
"It's alright, let's see what they're up to. With your stepmother here, don't back down." Jiang Hua sat calmly in her chair, waiting for them to arrive.
"Go and make me a good cup of tea."
"Okay," Jiang Jingyi replied, and silently went into the kitchen to make tea.
"Jiang Hua!"
"You money-loser!"
Jiang Hua watched as Xu Dagui and Madam Xu walked over quickly.
"What is it?" Jiang Hua asked slowly and deliberately.
"They have absolutely no manners. Their own grandmother and father have come over, and they don't even know to invite them to sit down," Xu Dagui shouted.
"Oh, there are stools here, aren't there?" Jiang Hua glanced at Xu Dagui: "As for being ill-mannered, well, who told me to have no parents since I was little?"
"You!" Xu Dagui sat down heavily, glaring at Jiang Hua.
When Madam Xu saw that her son had sat down, she pulled Xu Yaozu down to sit as well.
"Get up and give me your chair!"
Everyone else had a seat, except for Xu Shi, who could only look at Jiang Hua and call out to her.
“If there’s no chair, you can stand, or have your son Yaozu give up his chair. After all, the teacher in the school has taught us to be filial to our parents,” Jiang Hua said leisurely.
"What! Don't you even know to offer a stool to your mother?"
Xu Yaozu lowered his eyes and glared at Jiang Hua with a sinister look. He had no choice but to grit his teeth, stand up, and make room for her.
“Mother, since my sister won’t give you a stool, you can sit on mine.”
"My Yaozu is still the most filial son, you ingrate!" Madam Xu was overjoyed and wanted to sit down, but at the same time she met the glaring eyes of Madam Xu.
"Mother-in-law," Xu called out meekly, instantly unsure whether to sit or stand.
"Are you trying to kill me? Did you never sit on a stool in your past life? Can't you stand? Do you know how tiring it is for Yaozu to study at home? He even has to fight over a stool!" Madam Xu suddenly cursed at Madam Xu.
After saying that, she pushed Xu Shi aside and looked at Xu Yaozu: "Yaozu, you sit down, your mother can stand."
“Mother.” Xu Yaozu glanced at Madam Xu.
"Sit down, sit down quickly, I'll just stand." Madam Xu quickly waved her hand, urging him to sit down.
Xu Yaozu reluctantly sat down, and Jiang Hua watched their family's actions as if they were watching a monkey show.
"Stepmother, have some tea."
At this moment, Jiang Jingyi brought out a cup of tea that he had just brewed and presented it to Jiang Hua with both hands.
"Sweetie, go to the inner room and bring out a stool to sit on. Keep a close eye on things." After saying that, Jiang Hua slowly took a sip of tea.
Jiang Jingyi obediently ran into the house, moved a stool, and sat obediently next to his stepmother. When he saw that she wasn't drinking the tea in her hand, he considerately took it from her.
He secretly thought to himself, what if this cup of tea affects his stepmother's performance? Also, the teacup is part of a set, and if one is broken, it will be incomplete.
Xu looked at the stool where Jiang Jingyi was sitting, and a feeling of unease welled up inside her.
"Speak up, what's the matter? It's getting late. Didn't you say you wanted to stay at my place for a free meal?" Jiang Hua said bluntly.
"Since Jiang Jingyi has been chosen as the dean of Shifang Academy, you should ask him to give this opportunity to my Yaozu," Xu Dagui said directly.
"How do you want me to?" Jiang Hua raised an eyebrow.
“Go and tell the dean of Shifang Academy that you are not going to study anymore.”
"What?" Jiang Hua asked again as if she hadn't heard.
"Yan Yan said that if Jiang Jing also doesn't go to Shi Fang Academy, then the dean will accept our Yao Zu as his last student." Madam Xu repeated impatiently.
"Anyway, you're not cut out for studying, so let's give the opportunity back to Yaozu. It'll be good for everyone!"
"What are the benefits?" Jiang Hua followed up with her question.
"Once Yaozu becomes the top scholar in the imperial examination, he will definitely not forget you," Madam Xu said perfunctorily.
"Ayi, did you see that?" Jiang Hua suddenly glanced at Jiang Jingyi and said.
"Huh?" Jiang Jingyi looked bewildered.
"As a person, you must always remember to have self-awareness and not act as if your skin is thicker than our walls," Jiang Hua said calmly.
"Putting aside whether this benefit is real or not, the key point is whether Xu Yaozu has the ability to get the dean to take a liking to my son. Otherwise, your Yaozu is incompetent."
"You!" Xu Dagui was furious. "Jiang Jingyi has never been to school. You must have just gotten lucky. Or did you bribe the teacher that day with the money from selling the ginseng?"
"Tsk, who said that? Lin Shuyan?" Jiang Hua chuckled. With Xu Dagui's brain, how could he possibly make such a connection?
"Yan Yan guessed right! You are Xu Yaozu's sister, and Jiang Jingyi isn't even your biological son. How can you be so heartless!" Madam Xu slammed her hand on the table and roared.
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