"Did that little girl mention anything about me?" Xie Linzhou asked.
"have."
Xie Linzhou thought to himself, "Just as I expected."
“Last time, didn’t that girl…” Zheng Gaoyi gestured, “…did she do that to you? I was worried you’d blame me, so I secretly asked her about it.”
Then there was silence. Xie Linzhou turned and asked, "That's it?"
"It's gone."
Xie Linzhou pondered for a moment. It seemed that this young girl was quite shrewd, managing to refrain from asking about him.
Zheng Gaoyi gave Xie Linzhou a meaningful look and asked with a smile, "Why are you asking about this? You don't have ulterior motives towards that young lady, do you?"
Xie Linzhou's face darkened: "Say one more word and get out."
Zheng Gaoyi quickly shut his mouth. He had come to collect charcoal, so he couldn't just leave now.
If you're going to leave, you should at least take your things first.
Tianxiang County.
A group of people set off in the morning and returned at noon, each carrying a lot on their backs.
Song Dahai's load of firewood was as tall as a man, and Zhou Ling'an followed behind him. Although Zhou Ling'an did not have as much firewood as Song Dahai, it was clear that he was almost flattened, but he was doing his best.
As soon as they entered the courtyard, Liu Yuelan rushed forward to help, putting down the firewood.
Zhou Ling'an's face turned bright red, and he could barely breathe through his mouth and nose. He was on the verge of fainting.
Song Ning called Song Dahai to quickly step forward and help the person up, and they walked around in the courtyard for a while.
Song Dahai no longer felt the same disdain he had in the morning; he had to admit, Zhou Ling'an had impressed him.
The kid didn't complain once on the way, nor did he say he was tired. He rested when others rested, and even when he was so tired that he couldn't walk anymore, he didn't say a word.
In Song Dahai's eyes, a man should be like this, weak and frail all day long, unable to even protect his own family.
Zhou Ling'an's breathing finally slowed down, and Liu Yuelan then said, "It's cold outside, come inside and rest."
Surprisingly, Zhou Ling'an did not refuse and followed him into the house.
Liu Yuelan poured him a bowl of hot water, fearing that something might happen to Zhou Ling'an at her house.
I dare not use it again.
"Father, Mother, you go ahead with your work. I'll watch over him."
As soon as the two left, Song Ning burst out laughing.
"I didn't realize you were so principled."
These words sound like a compliment, but they're actually insulting him, Zhou Ling'an could tell.
He seemed a little flustered, lowered his head, and said softly, "I...I am a man after all."
In the past, he would never have said such a thing. If he said one more word, Song Erya would say ten more, wishing she could talk to him all day long.
He didn't know when it happened, but he felt that Song Erya didn't like him anymore, which is why the two of them could sit together like this now.
To be honest, Zhou Ling'an was happy when he found out that Song Ning didn't like him, but later, the more he thought about it, the more disappointed he became. When did she change?
She became more and more dazzling and intelligent. Before, the villagers said she was not good enough for him, but now they all say he is not good enough for her.
This Song Erya is no longer the Song Erya from the village who used to pester him all day long and try every means to cling to him.
Although Song Erya is a woman, she is better than anyone else. If she were a man, she would definitely be better at studying.
Will you come back to work in the future?
“Come on.” Zhou Ling’an didn’t hesitate at all.
Good lad.
"Alright, remember to come early tomorrow after you finish your business at the yamen. My family now has a mule cart, so come and learn how to drive it. From now on, I'll leave the driving to you."
It's winter now, and it's really cold traveling outside. She felt sorry for her father, and it's perfect that she has someone to serve him now, so her father can stay warm in the carriage from now on.
"Okay, I'll come after I finish my shift tomorrow."
Zhou Ling'an did not stay for long before getting up to take his leave.
Song Ning went out to help Song Dahai and Liu Yuelan tidy up the firewood.
Liu Yuelan was still worried: "Er Ya, we shouldn't use him anymore. Just now, he was fine, but I was so scared that I got sick."
"I think that Zhou family boy has improved. Before, he couldn't even carry two buckets of water, let alone carry so much firewood. Today, he carried so much firewood without saying a word."
“My daughter has already spoken to him and told him to practice driving the carriage. When we go to Jiangning County in the future, he can drive the carriage so that Dad can take a break.”
"Also, recently Aunt Zhao's family and the Jiang family father and son have come to help us with chores, so we shouldn't refuse them."
They ate a lot of our food on the way, and we felt bad about it. Letting them do some work would make them feel better.
"Dad needs a break. Leave the things in the cellar to them. Isn't Uncle also there? He can keep an eye on things too."
The two nodded in agreement. It made sense. It was something that people felt most attached to when they owed favors. If they didn't make them repay the favors, it would be difficult to have any dealings with them in the future.
The family of three was talking when someone came in from outside.
It was Li Xingwang and Aunt Zhao who came to bring them firewood.
Before the two could exchange more than a few words, more people arrived – the Jiang brothers, who had also come to deliver firewood.
Aunt Zhao didn't leave immediately; she squatted down to help gather the firewood.
The Jiang brothers didn't linger; they delivered the firewood and went home. But not long after, Madam Sun arrived.
Although Liu Yuelan did not refuse, she began to feel embarrassed: "It's getting late, you should go back and cook. I can manage."
Mrs. Sun smiled and said, "My mother-in-law is doing the cooking, so I'll stay and help."
Song Ning suddenly laughed, and Liu Yuelan asked, "What are you laughing at all, girl?"
“I’m thinking, if Sister-in-law Sun calls my mother ‘sister-in-law,’ and I call her ‘sister-in-law’ too, won’t that mess up the generational hierarchy?”
Liu Yuelan wasn't much older than Sun Shi, and Sun Shi wasn't much older than her either, so she really couldn't bring herself to call her "Auntie."
"What's the big deal? Call me whatever you want. Calling me 'sister-in-law' makes me feel younger."
The atmosphere was cheerful, and seeing that it wouldn't be finished anytime soon, Liu Yuelan quickly told the two to go home, saying they could come back after lunch. The two then went home.
Meanwhile, at the Zhou family's house, three courtyards away, Madam Yu began to cry again.
Zhou Ling'an had never done farm work before, and his skin was delicate. After going up the mountain, his back was covered in bruises, and many places were broken.
Mrs. Yu was heartbroken and couldn't bear to scold or beat her son, so she just cried.
Looking at the scars all over his back, Zhou Cheng felt heartache, but also pride.
As expected of his son.
"I will go to the yamen to pick up my work tomorrow. After leaving the yamen, I will go to the Song family. I will leave the things at home to Father and my elder brother. If there is anything, you can do it when I come back."
Zhou Cheng smiled and said, "Don't worry about things at home."
Zhou Cheng was relieved. Although his son was sensible before, he didn't know anything because of his studies. Just like Er Ya said, he acted like a young lady all day long, which made him angry.
These past few days have been noticeably different; he's become responsible, principled, and decisive. He really has to thank Er Ya.
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