When the Li family divided their property, they gave Yan Qingqing and her family three thatched huts and one straw shed.
Yan Qingqing converted the thatched shed into a kitchen.
The rooms were shared by Yan Qingqing, Li Xiangping, Yuan Huiniang, and Niu Niu.
Li Xinniang and Li Yueniang live in the same room.
Originally, Li Xiangkang was supposed to sleep with Yan Qingqing, but Xinniang and Yueniang, understanding that Yan Qingqing was pregnant and worried that she wouldn't get enough rest at night, let Li Xiangkang sleep with them.
Li Xiangkang is only six years old, so it's not a big deal for him to sleep with his two older sisters.
However, Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian are both thirteen years old, so it's impossible for them to share a room with Xinniang and the others, and there wouldn't be enough room anyway.
Yan Qingqing suddenly felt a headache coming on. Managing this household was indeed difficult; she hadn't solved any of the problems related to food, clothing, shelter, or transportation yet.
Seeing Yan Qingqing's predicament, Li Xiang'an comforted her, "Mother, don't worry. The weather is warm now, so Lao San and I can sleep anywhere."
Even if you sleep outside, you won't get cold.
Yan Qingqing said angrily, "How can that be? Although it's spring, it's still quite cool at night."
Since your eldest brother isn't home anyway, how about this: let Yue Niang sleep with your sister-in-law, let Xin Niang sleep with me, and the three of you brothers can sleep in one room.
Yuan Huiniang thought Yan Qingqing's idea was feasible. Just as the group was preparing to pack their things and move to another room, a voice came from the courtyard: "Second Aunt!"
When Yan Qingqing went outside, she saw that it was Li Xiangbao, the only son of Li Sanniu and Xu Shi.
When Xu gave birth to Li Xiangbao, she injured her body and could not have children again. Therefore, Xu's status in the Li family was actually lower than Yan Qingqing's.
Previously, the original owner looked down on Xu Shi, thinking that she was not as good at bearing children as herself. Xu Shi also looked down on Yan Qingqing, thinking that she was good for nothing except bearing children.
However, to Yan Qingqing's surprise, it was actually Madam Xu who came to deliver the news to her today.
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "It's Xiang Bao! What brings you here?"
Li Xiangbao scratched his head and said, "I heard that Brother Xiang'an and Brother Xiang Jian are back. I haven't seen them for a long time, and I want them to sleep with me."
Yan Qingqing was a little surprised. She was just about to doze off when someone delivered a pillow to her. Could it be such a coincidence?
Li Xiangbao was still young, and when Yan Qingqing stared at him like that, he quickly told the truth: "My dad and mom said that my second aunt's house is not spacious, and now that my two older brothers have come back, there is even less room for them to live."
I'm a little scared to live alone in a room, so I want my two older brothers to sleep with me.
Yan Qingqing did not refuse, but instead asked, "Do your grandparents agree?"
Li Xiangbao nodded and replied, "Grandpa agrees."
Yan Qingqing understood; Old Master Li had agreed, but Old Madam Li was no longer important.
Yan Qingqing looked at Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian and asked, "What do you two choose? Will you sleep with Xiang Bao or...?"
Li Xiang'an replied, "Mother, let's go sleep with Xiangbao. Big brother might come back any day."
We'll build a makeshift shack when we have some free time.
Yan Qingqing nodded; this was the only option for now.
The two of them didn't need to pack anything; a simple wash was enough.
Yan Qingqing grabbed a handful of snacks and stuffed them into Xiang Bao's hand, saying, "Child, go back and tell your parents that your second aunt will remember this kindness."
When Li Xiangbao saw the exquisite pastries in his hand, he didn't care what Yan Qingqing was saying. He just stared at the pastries in his hand, drooling, and nodded.
Yan Qingqing sighed upon seeing this, thinking that it was because they were poor and had never seen anything good.
The next day, Yan Qingqing was the last one to get up again.
Yuan Huiniang prepared breakfast. Knowing that Yan Qingqing had some money, Yuan Huiniang felt confident and made the breakfast particularly lavish.
There were two-sided flatbreads, white rice porridge, and wild vegetables stir-fried with lard. It looked very appetizing.
Li Xiang'an chopped up a pile of firewood and stacked it neatly against the corner of the wall.
Li Xiangjian filled the water tank to the brim.
Li Xinniang and Li Yueniang cleaned the courtyard spotlessly, and even Niu Niu helped with the chores.
At first, Yan Qingqing felt embarrassed, but now she's used to it.
Seeing that Yan Qingqing had gotten up, Yuan Huiniang smiled and said, "Mother, the meal is ready. Please wash up and eat."
Yan Qingqing nodded in response, then picked up her homemade toothbrush from the kitchen and began brushing her teeth.
In those days, there were no toothbrushes; wealthy families used salt to clean their teeth.
But salt is expensive, and given the family's current situation, they can't afford to be so extravagant with their meals. So Yan Qingqing broke off some willow branches and shaped one end into a thin strip.
Although the cleaning wasn't thorough, it's still much better than not cleaning at all.
The family didn't start eating until Yan Qingqing finished washing up. Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian were surprised by how good the food was at home and were a little unaccustomed to it.
While eating, Li Xiangkang said, "Second brother, third brother, hurry up and eat. After we finish eating, let's go raid bird nests. I've already squatted down."
It's not far behind our house, but unfortunately I'm too small to climb up.
My mother's steamed eggs are so delicious!
Upon hearing this, Li Xiangjian quickly nodded.
Li Xiang'an then sternly said to the two of them, "All you know is how to be naughty and greedy. What if you fall from such a tall tree?"
And you, Xiao Si is young and doesn't know any better, but don't you, as the older brother, know any better too?!
It has to be said that with Li Xiangping away, Li Xiang'an really does act like a good older brother.
Li Xiangkang retorted, "I'm not eating this for myself. My mother has a baby in her belly, and the doctor said she should eat more good food to nourish herself."
With two clattering sounds as chopsticks fell to the ground, Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian stared at Yan Qingqing in disbelief.
Yan Qingqing is pregnant! Their father is dead, and their mother is pregnant.
Yan Qingqing blushed under the gaze of the two children and explained, "Mother knows that we already have you all, and you are all good children. The family's situation is not good right now, and I shouldn't keep this child, but Mother thinks that this is probably the last child I will ever have, so I still want to keep him."
I believe your father in heaven will bless this child.
In fact, Yan Qingqing had a secret in her past life, but she didn't tell anyone. She was pregnant in her past life, but before she could share her joy with the scumbag, he cheated on her.
At the time, she was so focused on divorcing the scumbag that she neglected the child in her womb, but every time she woke up in the middle of the night, she would dream of a child calling for her mother.
Although the original owner already had six children in this life, she still wanted to have a child that was completely her own.
Li Xiangjian blurted out, "Mother, you're pregnant with my little brother, so why were you so fierce when you beat that leper yesterday? Aren't you afraid of hurting my little brother?"
Yan Qingqing: ……
How can you describe this brat as ferocious? She's clearly...
Well, Yan Qingqing admitted that she did want to vent, as she had been living a very stifling life ever since she came into this world.
Thinking about the fortune I accumulated in my past life, I wonder who benefited from it.
But I have to start all over again in this godforsaken world.
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