Although Aunt Wang was worried, she knew she wouldn't be able to stay with her grandson for much longer.
Recently, her health has been deteriorating. She has taken a lot of medicine to feel better, which has cost a lot of money. If she continues to take expensive medicine, she may live for many more years. But where is the money in the family? They haven't saved enough for her grandson's dowry yet, and the government is going to conscript laborers.
This is truly adding insult to injury.
She could rest easy knowing that her grandson had a stable livelihood before she died.
"Zirong, remember this: the mountains are dangerous. In winter, many animals will come down from the mountains because they have nothing to eat. Although there is a gate to keep out the danger, just in case, if it is nighttime, remember not to sleep. Even if you are so sleepy that you can only take a short nap, make sure to lock the door. Also, if someone knocks on the door, be sure to ask who it is. If they don't speak, or if they make baby crying or whimpering noises, do not open the door!"
Aunt Wang's face was somber.
"Why, Grandma?"
Zhao Zirong was puzzled.
"Do you know why Baihua Village is so afraid of the mountains? It's not just because there are wild beasts there. When Grandma was little, there was a drought, and the animals on the mountain had nothing to eat or drink. They would come down the mountain and harm the villagers, especially the grizzly bears. They are very clever and can walk like humans. They will also wave at people in foggy weather to lure them over and eat them. When Grandma was little, she had a playmate whose family used to live at the foot of the mountain. One night, someone knocked on the door. Without asking any questions, they opened the door. Outside was a hungry grizzly bear. There were six of them. Only one old person survived because grizzly bears only like to eat children and pregnant women, then men, and only when there is absolutely nothing else to eat will they consider the elderly."
Aunt Wang's eyes welled up with tears when she thought of her playmate.
When the villagers found her, all that was left of her was a pile of bones.
"So many years have passed, and we don't even know if that man-eating grizzly bear is dead or not. So, my child, remember, if someone knocks on the door at night, you must find out who it is. Don't go to the mountains, don't even step into them. You just need to guard the mountain gate. If something happens to you, your grandmother won't be able to live either."
"I understand, Grandma. I promise you, I swear I will never go into the mountains again."
Zhao Zirong raised his right hand and placed three fingers above his head.
Only after making the vow did Aunt Wang feel at ease.
As darkness fell, she gathered the eggs she had been saving at home into a bamboo basket, and carried the entire basket of eggs to Yan Xia's house.
Xia, open the door.
Yan Xia happened to be in the yard and quickly opened the door when she heard Aunt Wang's voice.
"What's wrong, Aunt Wang? Is there something you need from me?"
"Thank you so much, Xia. I know you agreed to let Zirong guard the mountain gate because of me. He's young and not strong enough to be a man. If he does something wrong, just scold him and beat him severely. It's okay if he comes back. I can't be with him forever. He has to grow up eventually. A man has to support himself. Here, this basket of eggs is for you. Xiaohe is pregnant, so she needs to eat more good food to nourish herself. Don't refuse me. I feel uneasy about refusing such a big favor from you..."
Aunt Wang knew it perfectly well.
If it weren't for her...
How could Xia let a boy who's only half a kid guard the mountain gate?
This isn't child's play.
“I heard you pay half a tael of silver a month for his wages. That won’t do, it’s too much. Since my son Zirong is young, I’ll pay him half.”
Afraid that Yan Xia wouldn't accept the eggs, Aunt Wang quickly put the bamboo basket on the ground and held onto Yan Xia's hands tightly.
“Auntie, there’s no reason to pay half the wages. So what if he’s young? Zirong said he’ll give him a half-month trial period. If he doesn’t work out, I’ll fire him. As long as Zirong works hard, he’ll be paid as usual. Auntie, don’t be so polite with me. You helped me when I first divorced from the Chen family. We’re from the same village, so we should help each other out. Alright, I’ll accept the eggs. Don’t hold my hand anymore. It’s getting dark, and I don’t feel comfortable letting you go home alone. Xiao Ji, come out and take Auntie Wang home.”
"Hey—here it comes!"
Xiao Ji came out of the kitchen, wiped his hands, and helped Aunt Wang home.
Yan Xia took the eggs into the kitchen and put them one by one into her own basket.
As for Aunt Wang's bamboo basket, it's not too late to send it tomorrow.
Farmers have no shortage of bamboo baskets.
Milk was heating in a clay pot in the kitchen.
It was brought back by Zhao Dali from the shop.
Xiaohe drinks a cup of milk every night. Yanxia poured the warm milk into the cup and took it to her daughter-in-law's room.
When they came out, Xiao Ji had just returned.
"You're back? Go to sleep early."
"Master, shall I sleep in your room or...?"
"Let's sleep in the room with osmanthus and wintersweet."
"Yes, Master, I'll lock the door."
Yan Xia returned to her room, blew out the candles, and fell asleep on the bed.
In the dead of night, a strong wind suddenly swept across the sky.
Temperatures in Jiashu County have dropped below zero.
The poor people living in mud houses and thatched huts were woken up by the cold in the middle of the night.
Yan Xia, however, slept very soundly.
The hot water bottle in her bed was still warm, and the quilt she was wearing was incredibly thick. The house was completely sealed off, with no drafts coming in.
When Yan Xia woke up, she realized that the temperature had dropped considerably.
Meanwhile, Chen Jinshou had already embarked on his journey to the town alone.
Because he had no money, the Chen family wouldn't give him a single copper coin to ride in the oxcart.
We didn't arrive in town until the morning.
Jin Shou asked several passersby before finally finding his shop.
Yan's Pastry Shop.
Wow, that's huge!
So luxurious.
Why should he suffer in the Chen family, not having enough to eat or wear, and having to wear straw sandals in such cold weather, while his older brother and sister live comfortably and leisurely?
Hiding in the alley across the street, Jin Shou, like a dark rat in the sewers, spied on everything in the shop.
The cold wind made him shiver.
My hands and feet were already so cold that I couldn't feel them.
Finally, at the end of noon, he saw his fourth sister leave the shop alone.
Chen Jinshou immediately followed in La Mei's footsteps.
After walking two streets, I stopped her at the corner.
"Fourth Sister, Fourth Sister, wait a minute—"
The two were siblings who had spent every day together and had grown up together since childhood. Even though they hadn't lived together for some time, Lamei still recognized her brother's voice and turned her head sharply to look.
It truly is Jin Shou.
What brings you to town?
"I can't understand it," Lamei asked, puzzled.
"Fourth sister, what should I do if Mother won't forgive me? I really know I was wrong. The Chen family are all wolves and tigers. They beat and scold me at the drop of a hat. I stayed there because I was worried that Mother wouldn't be able to support the five of us siblings. I just wanted to lighten her burden a little. But why is Mother so angry? She still won't let me go home."
A real man doesn't cry easily, but Jin Shou's eyes were red. He sniffed and looked at La Mei with a pitiful expression, trying to get her to sympathize with him.
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