Chunxiao followed Meiman out of the yard and saw the person approaching. Meiman didn't recognize him, but Chunxiao did. She smiled and asked, "Did you walk here from the town?" If so, it must have taken him two hours.
Zhao Shitou rubbed his head sheepishly. "This place is easy to find. I asked everyone in the village ahead and they all knew it. I just walked all the way here." He looked around and said, "Hello, Miss Yan. I'm sorry to bother you with my presence."
"If you really felt it was presumptuous, you wouldn't be standing here."
"My mother pickled some vegetables. I brought some over to Xiaoqin. Miss Yan, is she here?"
Chunxiao poked Meiman, who was looking confused, and said, "Don't look anymore. Go find Xingfu in the field and tell her that her old friend is looking for her."
Only then did Meiman realize that this person was looking for happiness. She became even more curious, responded with "Oh" twice, and ran away.
"Why don't you go in and sit for a while? There are benches in the yard."
"Miss, don't be polite. I'll just stand outside for a while. I'll give her the things and then leave. I won't delay your business." He looked at the endless fields. Last time, Xingfu told him that their young lady had bought a farm, and he didn't expect it to be such a big place.
Chunxiao was afraid that staying together would make her feel restrained, so she went back to the yard.
After a long while, voices were heard outside the yard. It was time for Happiness to arrive. Chun Xiao stood up and walked to the door. "Come in and talk. After all, we are guests."
Xingfu looked at Chunxiao cautiously, then looked at Zhao Shitou, "Miss, if you want me to go in, then go in."
The two followed Chunxiao into the yard, one in front and one behind. Zhao Shitou began to look around after entering the yard. This was where Xiaoqin lived. It was indeed a life far better than what he could give her. He felt more and more inferior and uncomfortable. He was just being too self-righteous and wishful thinking.
"How did you know this place?"
Zhao Shitou put the jar on the table and said, "Miss Yan told me last time that we are old friends and I can come to see you."
He pushed the jar in front of her and said, "Xiaoqin, this is pickled by my mother. Didn't you like eating the pickles she made before? Although she can't see, she makes much better ones than me. I'll give it to you to try."
Xingfu hesitantly reached out and touched the jar. "Don't call me Xiaoqin anymore. There is no such person as Song Qin in this world. I am now Xingfu. It's the name the young lady gave me. I like it very much."
Zhao Shitou rubbed his hands together and said, "Then I will call you happy. I can see that you are living a good life now. I am very happy for you. This makes me feel relieved."
"I've told you that the young lady treats me very well, but you refused to believe me. Now that you've seen it, don't mess around with me in the future. I was very unhappy about what happened last time." Xingfu looked at Chunxiao who was minding her own business. "Fortunately, the young lady wasn't angry."
"Yes, I was reckless. I already know I was wrong." He hesitated for a long time. "Happiness, if, I mean if I save up money in the future, and Miss Yan is willing to let me redeem you, will you come with me?"
Xingfu looked at him for a long time, then shook her head with tears in her eyes, "In this life, I will not go anywhere except to be with you, young lady."
The man sighed slightly and suddenly smiled. "I'm just asking casually. By the way, do you know anything about your sister?"
"My sister? You mean Xiaohua? I haven't contacted my family for more than ten years. What happened to her?"
"I was in a hurry to go to the meeting and forgot to tell you that she married Zhang Fa."
"Who? Zhang Fa?" Xingfu was in disbelief, thinking she had misheard. "Zhang Fa from Zhangjia Village?"
Zhao Shitou nodded.
Chunxiao raised her head. If she remembered correctly, her happy ex-husband was called Zhang Fa. Wasn’t this the same person?
"Why would my parents let Xiaohua marry Zhang Fa? Xiaohua is only 16 years old this year, and Zhang Fa is 40. When did it happen? Why would my parents agree to it?" If there was anyone in this family who she still had some feelings for, that person would only be Xiaohua, the Xiaohua she raised until she was 4 years old.
"Your family also borrowed money from outsiders for conscription two years ago. Last year, Zhang Fa came to your house and gave your parents eight taels of silver, and your parents married your sister off. The village talked about this for a long time, and everyone in the village knew that you were sold. They all said that your parents were not good people and that they sent Xiaohua into a den of wolves. I only found out about it afterwards."
Xingfu pounded his hands uncomfortably, then finally let go helplessly, "That family in Shuikou Village has nothing to do with me anymore. I can't control what happens to them."
Zhao Shitou sighed, and the two of them just sat there facing each other in silence.
Chunxiao was already a third wheel, and now the atmosphere was even more awkward. She put down the account book in her hand and asked, "Zhao Shitou, what kind of job do you do in the county now? How much do you earn a month?"
Zhao Shitou, upon hearing Chunxiao speak, quickly sat up straight. "I, I do odd jobs. Sometimes I help others carry and unload goods, sometimes I help pass messages, and sometimes I help out in restaurants. In short, I do whatever work is available. Sometimes I can earn five or six hundred coins, and sometimes two or three hundred coins."
"Your income is not stable, and you have an elderly and a young child to support at home. Can you save money?"
"Yes!" he said, as if eager to prove something. "I have already saved nearly two taels of silver."
Chunxiao smiled. "Then you mentioned redeeming Xingfu. You're renting a house in the county town now, right? How much does it cost per month?"
"It's just a shabby warehouse, and I only make 200 coins a month." He said with some guilt.
"Well, you and Xingfu are old friends. Let me give you an idea. My farm is so big, and we're already short of people. How about you come here and work as a long-term worker? I'll pay you 600 a month."
My dear, there is more to this chapter. Please click on the next page to continue reading. It will be even more exciting later!
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