With the heavy rain approaching, the villagers living in shacks in Xujia Village are also on high alert.
The clothes drying outside the shack were blown about by the wind. Peach's mother, heavily pregnant, went to collect the clothes, but the wind was strong, and several pieces of clothing were accidentally swept away and fell to the bottom of the earthen embankment, which was more than a meter high.
At this moment, Tian Tao'er was not at home. She was running with her younger brother and sister on the ridge of the field. They were going to check the straw curtain on the silage pit.
Peach's mother had no choice but to go around and pick them up herself.
Nearby, Qin's youngest daughter-in-law ran over: "Peach's mother, don't move, be careful not to fall, I'll go help you pick it up!"
Peach's mother hesitated for a moment, then said, "Thank you!"
She found Qin's petty theft very annoying, but felt some sympathy for the young wife.
The two houses were close together, and the shacks were not soundproof, so anyone who spoke loudly could always be heard.
From Qin's daily conversations with her youngest daughter-in-law, we know that Xu Genqing and Lianhua have been married for three years but have not yet had any children.
Although Xu Genqing didn't usually show off, her mother-in-law, Qin, often scolded her, saying she was a chicken that only ate food but didn't lay eggs.
Despite her sympathy, with Qin Shi around, Tao'er's mother never spoke to Lianhua.
Today, it seems that Qin Shi wasn't home, which is why Lianhua came over.
Sure enough, just as Lianhua picked up the clothes from the bottom of the embankment, she heard Qin's voice coming from behind the shack: "What are you doing? Lianhua, what are you doing? Whose clothes are you taking!"
Lianhua quickly stuffed the clothes she had picked up into Tao'er's mother's arms, then lowered her head and ran back to her own shack.
At this moment, Qin's shouts were getting closer: "Lianhua, you good-for-nothing who eats the family food and poops in the wild! I'm so old and I'm still out there collecting firewood, raising you to be a pampered young lady. And you, you're helping outsiders with their work."
Qin returned in a menacing manner, carrying a basket half-filled with loose bamboo leaves and a string of bamboo shoot husks stuck in her hand to start a fire.
When he got home, he didn't go inside; he just stood on the small threshing ground shared by the two families and shouted curses.
Tao'er's mother couldn't help but speak up: "Lotus's mother-in-law, don't shout at the child. Lotus was just helping me pick up a piece of clothing because I couldn't help it."
Qin was seething with anger, and when she saw her speak, she immediately glared at her sideways: "Oh! What business is it of yours if I scold my daughter-in-law? Why are you even talking to me?"
Tao'er's mother knew that Qin Shi had been beaten some time ago and dared not cause trouble again, but she still couldn't help but deliberately shout a few curses at her.
However, with Village Chief Jiang keeping her in check, this is all she can do.
Tao'er's mother wanted to say something back, but then she thought that if Qin Shi suffered a loss with her, she would take it out on Lianhua.
Lotus was a kind-hearted woman, and she didn't want to make things difficult for her, so Peach's mother could only turn back and ignore Qin Shi.
When Qin saw that Tao'er's mother left without saying a word, she felt a great victory and returned to her own hut with her head held high.
Beside the ditch, Tian Gui and Xu Gensheng were digging the embankment with all their might, leaving an overflow outlet so that the dam could store water without being destroyed by flash floods.
As the two were busy, Xu Genqing came over carrying a hoe: "Tian Gui, do you need my help?"
Tian Gui glanced at him. Ever since Qin Shi was beaten, this man hadn't spoken to his family. What was he doing here now?
Just as he was about to refuse, Xu Gensheng spoke up: "Brother Genqing, did you wake up from a nap on the millstone and want to turn it over? Is there no food left at home?"
He had long understood that Xu Genqing wanted to join his group.
Ever since he sold grain with his aunt in the village and each family received their own share, Xu Genqing has been restless and has tried to get closer to her several times.
They're all from the same village and family. If Xu Genqing really doesn't cause trouble for Aunt Jiang, he's willing to stay.
But... hehe, I can't just shut up so easily; I have to get my mouth shut first.
Even after Xu Gensheng saw through his thoughts, Xu Genqing remained calm and said, "What are you talking about? I'm from this village too. There's a dam here, and I can use it too!"
Xu Gensheng's mouth twisted into a crooked shape: "Xu Genqing, you're wrong about that. What do you mean by 'just one village can be used'? Are you implying that you can't get anything for nothing without putting in any effort?"
Xu Genqing blushed slightly at the comment: "Who wants to freeload? That's why I'm here."
Xu Gensheng chimed in, "You're wrong about that again. Just because you're here doesn't mean you have to do anything. If you don't do anything, you're just freeloading. And look at you, still standing here!"
Xu Genqing knew he couldn't win an argument with this guy who was always arguing, so he jumped into the knee-deep water with a splash, picked up his hoe, and started digging: "Now I finally have something to do!"
Xu Gensheng: "This is still wrong. You acted first and reported later. You..."
Xu Genqing finally lost his temper and shouted angrily, "If you say another word, I'll hit you with a hoe."
We've all grown up together since we were little kids, so we know each other's temperaments.
Once Xu Gensheng gets into a tirade, he can talk until dawn. Xu Genqing is also short-tempered; if you provoke him, he'll really resort to violence.
Seeing that the man had already jumped into the water, Xu Gensheng dared not say anything more and could only say to Tian Gui, "Let's go, after he repairs this embankment, we'll go to the next one!"
This also implicitly acknowledges that Xu Genqing will join their team, but they are afraid that Xu Genqing will feel awkward about it.
Tian Gui naturally agreed. They would all be from the same village from now on, and it was better to resolve conflicts than to create them, especially since they were neighbors.
A close neighbor is worse than a distant relative; it's best not to let the smell of feces and urine get in the way.
So he instructed Xu Genqing, "Let's go to the next one first. You dig this up and then go help check if the ditch in the village chief's field is blocked. Make sure to clear the ditch."
Having something to do is a good thing, Xu Genqing quickly replied, "Okay, I'll go right away."
Everyone in the family was busy with their own affairs, but Xia Xiucai sat in front of the shack, which was now covered in straw dust, and loudly recited the Book of Songs:
"The wind and rain are fierce, the rooster crows loudly; now that I have seen my lord, how can I not be at peace!"
The wind and rain are fierce, the rooster crows loudly. Now that I have seen my beloved, how can I not be healed!
The wind and rain were dark and gloomy, yet the rooster crowed incessantly. Now that I have seen my esteemed friend, how could I not be overjoyed!
Xia Yuan helped his mother bring in the firewood piled up outside, because it wouldn't burn if it got wet.
The scholar's wife couldn't help but call out, "Husband, why don't you help Yuan'er carry some firewood? It's about to rain!"
Scholar Xia shook his head: "A gentleman seeks the Way, not food; he worries about the Way, not poverty."
The scholar's wife couldn't help but cry: "When will you ever wake up?"
Hearing the noise, Xia's mother hurried out, still holding the gourd netting she was using to wash the pot. She glanced at the dark sky, suppressing the pain in her heart, and said, "Yuan'er's mother, quickly take your husband inside, it's going to rain again, and Shuyan is about to fall ill!"
The scholar's wife wiped away her tears and patted Xia Yuan's head: "Yuan'er, take your father inside. Don't let him get wet in the rain. Don't be afraid of anything he says! I can handle this firewood myself."
Xia Yuan nodded, put down the firewood, and tugged at his father's sleeve: "Father, it's time to teach Yuan'er to read again!" With that, he led Xia Xiucai into the shack.
After the father and son went inside, Xia's mother turned around and wiped away her tears.
Shuyan was humiliated and lost his mind during a rainstorm, and ever since then he has gone mad whenever there is a thunderstorm.
It's much better now. I no longer cry and run around every day. I can help with the bookkeeping for Xujia Village. Things will get better gradually.
Li Laoshi was probably the most relaxed of them all.
He tidied up a small pile of herbs in the storeroom, then hummed a little tune as he half-closed the door, leaving it open.
Sister Jiang said that if any shacks in the village collapsed, they should be taken in.
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