Just a few months ago this place was flat land, and now a new house has been built here.
This is the Shen family's new house!
The hearts of the crowd were like surging waves, unable to find peace.
The main structure of the house is made of sturdy wood, and it comes from a mountain three miles away, where there is a forest of fir trees.
These cedar logs were carefully selected and processed, all of which were personally inspected by Shen Lao Er. While they may not be considered the best, they were made to the highest standard possible.
The most dazzling feature is the roof covered with neat rows of blue tiles, which shimmer with a warm luster under the sunlight.
The Shen family was the first in Xinghua Village to use roof tiles; even the village chief's house was not as grand.
The walls of the house are made of blue bricks, and the surface is flat and smooth.
The Shen family made the most of this land, and according to traditional house design, a four-courtyard house is generally quite large.
A courtyard is generally referred to as the first courtyard after entering through the main gate. It usually contains a gatehouse and a rear house.
A house with four courtyards means that there are four courtyards that extend into each other in sequence.
Each courtyard is approximately ten to twenty meters long and ten meters wide. When the four courtyards are connected, the width reaches nearly one hundred meters.
But the Shen family didn't have such a large place, nor did they have many rules and regulations, unlike wealthy families who had maids and servants.
So, at Lili's suggestion, the house was kept in the four-courtyard style, but many side rooms and wing rooms were removed, and the four courtyards were simply separated.
There are four courtyards, three large and one small. The smaller courtyard is for the two heads of the family, Old Man Shen and his wife. The two old people live alone, so they chose the smallest courtyard.
Besides the house where Old Mrs. Shen and Old Mr. Shen lived, there was only a small hut of a few square meters in the courtyard, used to store some odds and ends.
The other three houses were quite different, except for the small study that Shen Laosan had specially built. The couple had one main house, and the two children each had their own house.
A low wall was built between the three rooms, painted and decorated, and several trees and other plants were transplanted next to it, forming a beautiful "wall" that provides privacy between the three rooms without compromising aesthetics.
Thirteen acres of land, though expensive, offer real benefits.
It's just big.
Therefore, the four courtyards form a two-thirds circle on the south side, with a pavilion specially built in the middle. Next to the pavilion is a pond where fish fry are kept and lotus flowers are planted.
Four stone-paved paths lead from the four courtyards to the pavilion, where families can occasionally gather to chat, drink tea, admire the moon, and feed the fish.
Behind it is the backyard, where a small plot of land has been reserved for Lili.
There was also a chicken and duck house next door, not much different from the old house. The only difference was that an extra stable had been built, where the horses that Shen Jiahao had taken from the guards were tied up.
After passing through the pavilion and a long corridor, there is a fork in the road with three paths: left, middle, and right. The middle path leads to the main hall, while the left and right paths lead to the guest rooms.
Lili originally thought there wouldn't be enough room for all the guest rooms, but she was surprised to find that there was still plenty of space left, with three rooms on each side.
The front yard is just outside the main hall. The front yard is much larger than the back yard. Since Shen Jiahao has become an apprentice and is going to learn martial arts, Shen Lao Er specially made a plum blossom stake for him on the left side of the front yard, with a dummy wooden stake next to it.
On the right, there is still a small shed where household items are stored, but Houfu's little nest, which was originally located in the front yard, has been moved by Lili to her own house, leaving that piece of land empty and temporarily unused.
The Shen family used up all of this thirteen mu of land.
A house with blue bricks and tiles—this was something the Shen family had never dared to dream of before.
But this house, right in front of them, stirred a surge of emotion within them, making their eyes red with envy, and they couldn't help but feel that their suffering had finally come to an end.
The Shen family worked tirelessly to prepare their new house and moved into the home they had been eagerly anticipating.
Everyone in the village knew that the Shen family's new house was finished, and they all brought gifts to celebrate the housewarming.
The Shen family set off an extremely long string of firecrackers. The children covered their ears and ran around behind the adults, and everyone present had a joyful expression on their faces.
The Shen family is living a prosperous life, and no one is envious.
This is all rightfully the Shen family's!
After a string of firecrackers was set off, the atmosphere became lively, which could be considered as a prelude to the New Year.
In the same square, the Shen family once again held a grand banquet, inviting the entire village to a continuous feast to celebrate the completion of the Shen family's new house.
Despite the biting wind, the lively and warm atmosphere of Xinghua Village remained undiminished.
Old Man Shen filled the glass with wine and stood up to speak on behalf of the Shen family, "Our Shen family wouldn't be where we are today without the help and care of all of you villagers. On behalf of everyone in the Shen family, I would like to toast you all!"
After saying that, Old Man Shen downed the wine in his cup in one gulp.
"good!"
The villagers were very enthusiastic; the women clapped, and the men drank along with them.
The eldest brother, Shen, along with his two younger brothers, strolled around the banquet, toasting each of the workers who had come to build the new house.
"Brother Er Gou, especially you, you haven't missed a single day. If you ask me, you built at least one yard of this house!"
Wang Ergou scratched his head and drank his wine: "Brother Shen, you're too kind. Not to mention the friendship between our two families, helping out is only right. Your family even paid everyone's wages, and the lunch was so delicious that I wanted to work for free!"
A person nearby chimed in, "Of course! Why thank us? We've been eating and taking things from you, I feel bad for you. We just did what we were supposed to do!"
"Yes, yes, Lili helped us earn so much money. I don't feel like I'm losing out even if I work for free."
"Luckily we finished before the Lunar New Year, so we didn't let down my sister-in-law's delicious food."
A group of people were making a ruckus, filled with laughter and joy, and there was an indescribable warmth between them.
Because of the cold weather, everyone finished eating quickly. The men drank and chatted, while the women gathered together to warm themselves by the fire and chat.
Wearing a thick coat, Lili squatted by the fire pit with her brothers, roasting sweet potatoes.
The New Year is approaching, and Lili's potato business is going smoothly, while life in Xinghua Village is getting better and better. All of these are great things.
The new house is finished, which means that Physician Sikong and General Shangguan are coming.
Shen Jiahao and Shen Jiaqing were especially excited and took on all the work of roasting sweet potatoes.
Lili chuckled and pulled the group aside to emphasize, "You can't call him General Shangguan, you have to call him Uncle Shen Zhongzheng. And you can't call him Yuchi Ye either, you have to call him Shen Ye."
Shen Jiaqing pouted unhappily, still remembering how Yu Chiye had spilled two bowls of his medicine.
"That Wei... Chen Ye, he doesn't look like a decent person at all. What kind of decent kid would come up to someone and say he wants to be your person?"
Lili sighed helplessly and then smiled as she talked about her plan to expand her vegetable offerings.
Pear took a bite of the sweet and soft sweet potato, and the aroma made her head spin. The heat blocked her view, and Pear breathed a long, pleasant sigh.
"Potatoes are too monotonous. Lili wants to grow more crops, such as sweet potatoes and corn."
She had a premonition that this winter was not the worst yet, and that in the next two years, there might be an even harsher winter.
We should prepare early.
If Lili wants to do it, they will naturally support her.
“Great, that’s exactly what Manager Zhao was talking about,” Shen Jialu said.
“That’s right, Pear Pear. With potatoes as an example, it won’t be difficult to get everyone to grow other things. We’ll help you!”
"Mmm!" Lili chuckled softly.
Tonight is the first night the Shen family is staying in their new home, and it's also the first night Lili is sleeping alone.
Everyone slept soundly.
The next day, Shen Jiahao rode his horse at full speed to Nanji Village and brought the group back to the Shen family.
The divine physician Sikong looked around the new house and was quite surprised.
In just six months, the Shen family has truly experienced a qualitative leap.
Shen Ye was a little reserved at first, and the Shen family members were even more reserved than him.
The younger children were very curious. Having seen their own gentle and polite Crown Prince, they really wanted to see what princes from other countries were like.
Perhaps because he grew up in the desert, unlike the handsome and refined Gu Ziyi, Shen Ye has a wild and unrestrained spirit between his brows.
Shen Ye took a step and stood in front of Li Li, then stopped moving, following Li Li wherever she went.
The Shen family arranged for Shen Zhongzheng and Shen Ye to stay in the guest room on the left, while Doctor Sikong stayed on the right.
After two days of careful adjustment, the Shen family discovered that although one was a general of the Great Jin and the other a prince of the Great Jin, they were no different from ordinary people and were very casual.
In particular, Shen Zhongzheng, born into a military family, had a forthright personality and had already established a good relationship with the three Shen brothers in just two days.
As for Shen Ye, after experiencing such a bloody battle between his brothers, all the unruliness and elegance of a spoiled prince seemed to have vanished. He silently followed Li Li around all day, just as he had said, acting as her bodyguard and never leaving her side.
To outsiders, the Shen family only said that Shen Zhongzheng was a distant relative of Old Lady Shen's maternal family. Years ago, they moved to Xixiang County. Now, due to the situation in Xixiang County, the whole family could not survive. Everyone else had starved to death, leaving only this cousin with a child who insisted on coming here to seek refuge.
Everyone knew about the situation in Xixiang County, and the villagers of Xinghua Village didn't suspect anything. They just sighed once again that it was fortunate they had Lili here, and lamented the misfortune of Xixiang County.
On New Year's Eve, the Shen family was more lively than in previous years.
This is also Lili's first Chinese New Year here.
The Yang family had prepared a large table of dishes early on, and the whole family, plus the three people staying at the Shen family's house, a dozen people in total, sat together in a lively atmosphere.
The house was decorated with festive lanterns and several sprigs of red plum blossoms.
The new house is decorated so much that it doesn't look like a new house at all.
"Here I am!"
When Yang brought out the last dish—braised carp—the entire large table was already packed full, and there was no room for another dish.
Wow, it smells so good!
Lili vigorously fanned the fragrance into her nose with her hands, making Old Mrs. Shen and Old Man Shen laugh heartily.
"Eat more if it smells good! Look at our Pear, her little face is so chubby. These dishes and pastries have really been worth it!"
Lili was unhappy. She put her hands on her hips and frowned. "Lili's face isn't round. Lili is still growing!"
"Yes, yes, yes, our Lili is just chubby, how can you call her fat?"
With a smile, Yang served her a large bowl of rice, then poured the stewed potatoes and meat over it and mixed it up. "Eat up, your mother loves to feed our Lili until she's full."
Lili stared at the food, her mouth practically watering, but she still stubbornly turned her head away: "Lili isn't eating, Lili is on a diet."
How can she not eat? Shen Jiahao was the first to object. If Lili is hungry, how can she be a little dumpling?
"Stop fooling around, little darling. How about I feed you?"
“Yeah, Lili, you clearly swallowed your saliva several times.”
"Fourth brother, why did you expose Lili? Doesn't Lili have any pride?"
A group of people playfully coaxed Lili to eat, and Lili, though reluctant, was eventually forced to eat a mouthful of rice.
Lili chewed her food and said, "Yeah, you guys forced me to eat it."
Chewing, chewing, chewing, "This isn't for me to eat."
Everyone was left speechless, neither laughing nor crying.
"Okay, okay, Pear, eat more."
Infected by the atmosphere, Shen Zhongzheng rarely revealed a hint of longing.
He also has his own wife and daughters. I wonder how they are doing now. The New Year has arrived. Are they well?
But he didn't dare to ask for too much. With the Shangguan family protecting him, his wife and daughters wouldn't have to live too badly.
He was being secretly sabotaged and hunted down. On the surface, the Shangguan family was still the same Shangguan family, and they still had to maintain appearances.
All he needs to do here is be Shen Zhongzheng.
As long as they are safe and sound.
At first, Shen Ye was watching Li Li's every move, but later, his attention was gradually drawn to the Shen family.
When he was little, his mother would coax him to eat in the same way, and his older brother would play with him in the same way.
But now, his mother has been murdered, his elder brother is alone and in deep danger, and apart from escaping the Great Jin and not becoming a burden to his elder brother, he can do nothing else.
He misses his mother and his elder brother so much.
Chen Ye poked at the bowl, unable to hide her dejection.
Shen Zhongzheng patted him on the shoulder without saying anything.
Suddenly, a piece of meat appeared in Chen Ye's bowl, followed by a piece of fish, and then two stalks of green vegetables.
Shen Ye was taken aback and looked up. Madam Yang looked at him gently: "Ye'er, why aren't you eating? Is it because your aunt's cooking isn't good?"
Shen Jiahao, who was serving him fish, said, "Eat some fish. Auntie's fish is absolutely amazing. I guarantee it's a million times better than your Da Jin's fish!"
Lili looked disgusted: "No, no, Brother Chenye should eat more vegetables to supplement vitamins. Didn't you see that Brother Chenye's eyes are red?"
Although she didn't know what vitamins were, upon hearing the second half of Lili's sentence, Chen Ye quickly lowered her head to wipe her face and whispered, "No, I'm fine."
After saying that, Shen Ye ate all the food that the three people had picked up in one bite, and praised them highly: "Madam's cooking is so delicious, even better than the imperial chefs of the Great Jin Dynasty!"
Mrs. Yang was very pleased with the praise: "It's not that exaggerated. If it's delicious, eat more."
Shen Ye nodded heavily, but her eyes grew increasingly red.
Old Mrs. Shen urged everyone to start eating, and the New Year's Eve dinner began in a lively and cheerful manner.
Lili whispered in Shen Ye's ear, a smile on her round face revealing two dimples: "Brother Shen Ye, don't be afraid, from now on the Shen family will be your home."
Then, holding onto Doctor Sikong with one hand and Shen Zhongzheng with the other, she said, "Pear Pear is not a child, but we'll accept her too. Don't push, don't push!"
Shen Zhongzheng and Physician Sikong exchanged a glance and smiled.
Perhaps staying with the Shen family is the best choice.
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