Chapter 54 Ask Ah Shu again, do you like Ah Ye?
Lin Shu looked around. The lush green bamboo and the gurgling spring water made her feel very happy. She trotted all the way to the fish pond behind the house.
The mountain spring water flowed along the last half of the bamboo tube, then poured out from the crescent-shaped bamboo tube, weaving a transparent water curtain, washing down the pebbles in the fish pond, splashing pearl-like white water droplets.
"If we want to fill this fish pond, we still have a long way to go," said Lin Shu.
Although the fish pond is paved with thick sand and pebbles to prevent seepage to a certain extent, some of it will still seep into the ground. In addition, the fish pond is dug very large, so it may not be filled today.
Zhou Ye: "No rush, come back tomorrow morning. The bamboo fence at the outlet isn't finished yet, I'll finish it soon."
The outlet is designed according to the water level, with ascending steps. The spring water will only flow out when it reaches a certain height within the pond. This way, the water in the pond is fluid, but the flow is not too drastic. A bamboo fence will then surround the outlet to prevent large fish from escaping with the current.
Zhou Ye had also dug a ditch outside the outlet early in the morning. A small ditch led directly to the nearest field ridge.
The overflowing mountain spring water will flow along this ditch into the ridge.
Lin Shu squatted beside the fish pond and watched the mountain spring water splashing down. She put her hands over it and scooped up a handful to wash her face.
Extremely cool and comfortable!
"Aye, strike while the iron is hot. Let's set up a few more long bamboo tubes and extend them all the way to the courtyard. But our bamboo fence is very high and dense. If we want to divert water to the courtyard, don't we have to poke a hole in the fence? Otherwise, the bamboo tubes will be so high that the water will definitely not be able to get in."
Although this bamboo fence is not intended to protect against thieves, but rather wild animals such as wild dogs, weasels and snakes that will steal chicks and ducklings, what if a hole is left and snakes and insects crawl in?
Before Zhou Ye could respond, Lin Shu shook her head and said, "No, no."
Zhou Ye said, "We can use thin bamboo to guide the water. We can pass the thin bamboo directly through the gap in the fence. Other than the water flow being slower, it won't affect anything else."
Lin Shu's eyes lit up when she heard this. That's feasible!
My mother just washes rice and vegetables every day, which doesn't require much water. If the water flow is small, it will be convenient for washing fruits and vegetables and cleaning hands.
Lin Shu couldn't help but jokingly said, "Aye, I believe you're not stupid anymore. Not only are you not stupid, you also know how to draw inferences about other situations. You're very smart. From now on, I will never call you stupid again."
Zhou Ye's expression didn't change much when he heard that, but there seemed to be a smile in his eyes.
Lin Shu was inspired by Zhou Ye and pondered, "Let's use a thin bamboo to draw water. We don't need too many, just one. Pick a long, thin bamboo and hollow out all the bamboo septa inside. The thin end of the bamboo will pass through the bamboo fence and lead directly into the courtyard. The thick end will be led into the long bamboo tube behind the house that draws water. When the courtyard doesn't need water, we can find a plug to plug the thin bamboo tube. That way, not a drop of the mountain spring water will be wasted!"
Zhou Ye understood what she meant and thought she was extremely smart.
"This time we're cutting down thicker bamboos. Wait a moment while I go to the back mountain to find some thin bamboos."
Seeing him about to leave, Lin Shu hurriedly stopped him, "Why are you in such a hurry? Let's talk about it tomorrow. You always tell me not to be anxious, but why are you more anxious than anyone else when it's your turn?"
Zhou Ye paused and explained: "I'm not in a hurry, I'm just afraid that you will be anxious."
When he saw the mountain spring water being diverted into the fish pond, he was as happy as a child. He thought Lin Shu would also be eager to see the effectiveness of the water diversion using this thin bamboo tube.
Lin Shu was choked by his words.
Does she look like someone who's that anxious? Well, she is.
"Let's go sit in the yard and rest for a while. You've been working so hard all day. Today's portion of Guanyin tofu isn't ready yet. I'll call you when it's done."
Zhou Ye asked, "Can we pick the Guanyin wood now?"
Lin Shu: "...Not yet. Xiao Pu and I will go up the mountain to pick some later."
"I have nothing to do right now. I'll go to the mountain to cut down some thin bamboo and bring you a basket of Guanyin firewood." After Zhou Ye said this, he was going back to the yard to get the empty basket.
Lin Shu chased after him, "I'll go with you."
Zhou Ye's eyes passed over her feet, "I believe you won't feel any pain when walking on flat ground, but you can't go up or down the mountain. Go sit in the yard and rest for a while." He actually kicked back what Lin Shu had said before.
Lin Shu was speechless because of him.
She had been busy for a long time, jumping up and down, but how come Zhou Ye still remembered that her foot hurt? She herself almost forgot about it.
When the two returned to the courtyard, Lin Xiaopu, who had been sitting quietly spinning hemp thread, immediately looked over, put down her things and ran over. "Sister, sister, I hear the sound of running water. Has the mountain spring water been diverted to the fish pond? I want to go and check it out!"
Seeing her running away impatiently, Lin Shu laughed and said, "Aye and I were banging around in the back of the house. How could she not know? If she wanted to see, she could have gone ahead and seen it. Why did she have to wait for me to come back and ask before going?"
Just after she finished speaking, Lin Shu thought of something, the smile on her face froze slightly, and she glanced at Zhou Ye.
Xiao Pu is such a clever girl, she knows how to be a matchmaker at such a young age. This is to create an opportunity for her and A Ye to be alone together.
Zhou Ye silently took the empty backpack from the corner and put it on his back.
He Guixiang saw this and asked, "What is Aye going to do?"
Having spent so much time together today, Zhou Ye and Lin Shu talked a lot more than before, which gave Lin Shu the illusion that he was not really that bad at speaking. But when A Niang asked him a question, the man returned to his dull nature and answered simply, "Auntie, I'm going to the back mountain to pick Guanyin wood."
Lin Shu added for him: "Mother, I'm tired and don't want to move. Ask Ah Ye to go for me. Anyway, he eats the most of the Guanyin tofu we make."
He Guixiang smiled at this, perhaps thinking Lin Shu was bullying someone who was honest. But her daughter was tired, so what could she say? Naturally, she told her to rest.
Now she looked at it again, it seemed that Ah Shu was not indifferent to Ah Ye. If she liked Ah Ye, that would be the best. Ah Ye had a good temper and could endure hardships. No matter how spoiled Ah Shu was, he could indulge her.
Thinking of this, He Guixiang was in a good mood. She thought about asking Ah Shu what she thought after Ah Ye left. This time she was direct and didn't ask in a roundabout way.
"Aye, bend down for a moment." Lin Shu waved to Zhou Ye who was about to leave.
Zhou Ye didn't ask the reason and lowered his body towards her.
Lin Shu helped him straighten the shoulder strap of the backpack that was not straightened properly and asked casually, "Do you recognize Guanyin Chai? Don't make the mistake. I picked a basket full of wild grass."
"I recognize her. She's the old woman Xiao Pu was talking about," Zhou Ye replied, unconsciously holding his breath as Lin Shu approached. He had never paid attention to small details like shoulder straps before, so after Lin Shu helped him straighten them, he stood up, put on his backpack, and walked out.
Thinking of something, he paused and turned around to ask, "Ah Shu, is there anything else you want to pick? I'll pick some for you on the way."
Lin Shu immediately laughed, "I want to eat some wild fruits to sweeten my mouth. Can you pick some for me?"
Zhou Ye replied seriously, "Most wild fruits on the mountain only become sweet after the frost, so it's still early."
"Go ahead, idiot! Cut down a couple more bamboos. We'll need them for other things."
"Okay." Zhou Ye responded, took a few big steps forward, and disappeared in a moment.
While Xiao Pu was visiting the fish pond, He Guixiang called Lin Shu to her side.
As soon as Lin Shu sat down, she heard her mother ask, "Ah Shu, do you like Ah Ye?"
Lin Shu was stunned for a moment. She really didn't expect that her mother had just tried to test her last time, but soon changed the topic and asked directly, and it was still so simple and straightforward.
She didn't answer the question, but instead asked, "Mother, if I don't like it, are you and Father going to force us to be a couple?"
He Guixiang glared at her, "What kind of person do you think A Niang is? If Ah Shu doesn't want to, then A Niang will naturally find you someone you like. No matter how good A Ye is, Ah Shu has to like her personally. If she doesn't like her, even if A Niang is satisfied, she doesn't want to force you."
Lin Shu's lips curled up, "I knew that mother loved me the most. But mother, what about my father? He has that kind of personality and thinks Aye is good in every way. If I don't agree, will he think I'm stupid and insist on having Aye as his son-in-law?"
He Guixiang hadn't said anything yet, but when Lin Shu saw her expression, she knew that she had guessed right.
Before Lin Shu could express her opinion, He Guixiang laughed again, "Why do you care what he does? Even though your father has the final say on many matters concerning Ping'er, I am the one who makes the final decision. If mother insists on doing something, your father can't beat me. He will be gloomy for a few days at most, but he will be fine after a while."
Lin Shu then joyfully took her arm and leaned over, saying in an intimate manner, "In other families, marriages are arranged by parents and matchmakers. Whatever the parents say is the truth, not their own decision. Mother, you're so kind to me. So I'll give you a definite answer. If I don't like Zhou Ye, I wouldn't want you and father to force a match, but I happen to like him."
When He Guixiang heard this, a huge stone in her heart fell to the ground.
It's good to like her. She also thinks it's hard to find a more honest child than Aye in this area. After more than two years, she knows Aye inside and out. Except for the fact that she won't get support from her husband's family in the future, it's perfect for Ashu to marry Aye.
Lin Shu then whispered, "Mother, don't tell anyone about this today, especially Aye herself."
He Guixiang was puzzled. "Ah Shu, why? You are not young anymore. If you are satisfied with him, then mother should also make preparations and arrange your wedding as soon as possible."
If A Yao hadn't left two years ago, she would have married A Ye by now.
Lin Shu: "Other families marry their daughters off early because they are afraid that if they marry late, the good husband will be picked up by another family. But Ah Ye is in our family. Dad and Mom raise him like half a son. No one can pick him up even if they want to, so we are not in a hurry. Mom, I am still young. I will stay with you for two more years."
He Guixiang said happily: "Even if you get married, we still live together. Why can't you accompany my mother?"
Lin Shu suddenly choked and stammered, "I'm satisfied, but the time is still too short. I want to get to know Ah Ye thoroughly, and make him completely obsessed with me. He won't even look at other girls. Now is the time to talk about marriage with him."
He Guixiang shook her head. "You're always making trouble. But I know you have your own ideas. If you don't want to get married so early, I'll agree. Anyway, I won't look at other girls."
Lin Shu raised the corners of her mouth. "That's hard to say. He might see a girl who makes his heart beat faster. So there's no rush. We can see people's hearts more clearly if we take our time."
He Guixiang sighed helplessly, "Luckily it's Ah Ye. If it were someone else, you might have caused such trouble to someone else."
"Don't worry, mother. If I really care about him, I won't make him suffer. I will give him some sweet treats every day." Lin Shu said, and she laughed softly, not knowing what picture she thought of.
"Sister, sister!" At this time, Lin Xiaopu came running in excitedly, "I saw it! The mountain spring water was led all the way here through that bamboo tube and finally flowed into the fish pond. A lot of water has already gathered at the bottom of the fish pond. It won't be long before our fish pond is full! When the fish pond is full, we can go to the river to fish!"
"It's impossible today. Tomorrow, when Aye and I come back from the market, we'll take Aye and go to the big river at the village entrance to fish!"
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