☆, Chapter 124 Could it be that he is not a member of the Zhou family?
On the large threshing ground beside the village road, there were countless piles of grain of all sizes. Villagers of Peach Blossom Village stood beside the grain piles, some crying and some laughing.
They had never seen so much millet before!
When the autumn harvest came, they were still dumbfounded. So much grain, was it really all theirs? Was it a dream? Could their family really have surplus grain?
Zhao Yunjing smiled slightly: "I said that I would work with Ajiao to ensure that everyone has enough to eat and clothes to wear."
In October, the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms could be smelled from miles away. Zhou Mujiao led the villagers up the mountain and down to the fields to pick osmanthus, roses, and lilies—all of which were planted by Zhou Mujiao in March. At first, the villagers did not know what these flowers were used for.
At worst, we can just use it to make some flower cakes, right?
Until one day, Zhou Mujiao brought back half a truckload of face cream and lipstick, and everyone realized that every flower and every tree they had planted without even realizing it could be turned into money!
Every three months, each household receives a considerable sum of money, which Zhou Mujiao says is their dividend from growing flowers.
Several houses have been built around the threshing ground, which has become a place for villagers to gather and discuss important matters. Today, Zhou Mujiao distributed money there, and the old woman with bound feet also received two taels of silver.
Two taels of silver—that's more than she could save up in a year!
The limping old woman suddenly knelt down before Zhou Mujiao: "Ajiao, thank you, thank you for remembering this old woman! Thank you for not minding my slow legs, thank you so much..."
Many people were moved to tears by the old woman; some with shallow eyes shed tears, while others with strong will also had red eyes.
In just over a year, Taohua Village has turned golden every harvest season, with the air filled with the fragrance of fruits all year round. The villagers are still busy from the beginning to the end of the year as before, but unlike in previous years, they have not worked in vain. Instead, they have reaped the rewards of their labor, and the rewards have exceeded their expectations.
Look at this spacious village road, lined with neatly built houses. Every now and then, a patrol team of security guards walks by, ensuring a safe environment. Not far away, in the newly built and opened village school, children who have just finished school are chasing and playing, their laughter echoing all the way...
This isn't Peach Blossom Village, yet it's clearly their Peach Blossom Village!
Zhou Jiaxiao was standing at the very back of the crowd when the person in front of him suddenly took a step back, causing him to be knocked to the ground and cry out in pain.
When Zhou Mujiao discovered it was Zhou Xiaojiu, she was stunned.
She was very busy that year, often going out with Uncle Jiang at dawn and returning at dusk, completely neglecting the Zhou family. It was only when she saw Zhou Xiao Jiu that Zhou Mujiao realized that she hadn't seen the Zhou family for a long time.
Zhou Jia Xiao Jiu is four and a half years old this year. He is dark-skinned and thin. He is the youngest son of Zhou Mujiao's fourth uncle. However, his appearance does not resemble his father or mother. Instead, he looks somewhat like Zhou Mujiao.
Seeing Zhou Mujiao squat down, Zhou Jia Jiu quickly covered her mouth, but she was still sobbing, her shoulders shaking, and she stared at Zhou Mujiao with her round eyes: "Sixth...Sixth Sister~~"
"I'm not your sixth sister. Where are your parents? Why were they letting you come out alone?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jia's little ninth child cried even more miserably: "Father is dead, Mother is dead too... Auntie called me a jinx and kicked me out, waaaaah..."
Uncle Zhou is dead?
Chen Lizheng came over and whispered, "Ajiao, I saw you were so busy this year, so I didn't tell you about the Zhou family's affairs..."
Just as Zhou Mujiao had 'blessed' them a year ago, the Zhou family encountered nothing but swindlers. All the money they earned was used to buy medicine, and their lives became worse day by day. One family member after another fell ill. In the first half of this year, Zhou's eldest and second uncles both committed suicide. One of the eldest and second aunts stayed behind, while the other remarried with her youngest son and daughter.
Now, only the third, fourth, and this ninth son remain in the family. The Zhou family daughters who were married off earlier have been forbidden by their husbands' families from returning to their parents' home.
Two weeks ago, Uncle Zhou went to a gambling den and lost a lot of money. Unable to repay the debt, he pawned Aunt Zhou. Aunt Zhou, unable to bear the humiliation, hanged herself on the spot. Uncle Zhou was also beaten to death outside the gambling den two days later.
Aunt Zhou took care of her two half-dead sons every day, earning no income and struggling to even feed herself. Naturally, she couldn't tolerate Xiao Jiu, so she kicked him out.
For the past two weeks, Xiao Jiu has been fed and clothed by many families. He sleeps wherever he is tired at night. The villagers feel sorry for him, but they know that Zhou Mujiao does not want to associate with that family, so they do not dare to take the risk of openly taking in Xiao Jiu.
Zhou Mujiao stared at Xiao Jiu.
At first, Xiao Jiu was timid and avoided eye contact. Later, she cried and asked, "Sixth Sister, Xiao Jiu can do chores. Xiao Jiu can wash clothes, feed chickens, cut pig feed, and even carry water. Sixth Sister, will you hire me?"
Zhou Mujiao felt a sense of peace towards Xiao Jiu, and she was also puzzled that her 'blessings' had come true for everyone in that family, except for Xiao Jiu, who, although thin, was healthy.
Could it be that he isn't a member of the Zhou family?
That's impossible; he does resemble himself and Xiao Wu to some extent.
Xiao Wu had just finished school and came over when he saw this. He whispered, "Xiao Jiu brought me water before. It seems that Xiao Jiu brought Brother Zhao the day I was buried."
A year ago, Xiao Jiu was only a little over three years old. Growing up in the Zhou family's environment, he naturally wouldn't be very innocent. However, Xiao Wu was saved because he was the one who pointed out the way to Zhao Yun Jing... So Xiao Jiu wasn't affected by her 'blessing' because of his innate kindness at that time?
"Sister..."
“Take him with you,” Zhou Mujiao said. “The Zhou family has wronged you and me, but Xiao Jiu saved you. Remember, everything should be handled separately.”
Xiao Wu then carried Xiao Jiu home on his back. Every day after school, he would teach Xiao Jiu to recognize and write characters. After a while, Shi Ba became a little jealous, thinking that Xiao Wu no longer liked her.
Xiao Jiu picked a bunch of wild chrysanthemums in front of the house, put them in a bamboo tube, and gave them to Shiba: "Sister, here you go~~"
Then Xiao Wu gave her a bouquet of flowers, and she was no longer dissatisfied. Her pouting lips parted, and her eyes smiled into crescent moons.
Eighteen is only one year older than Nine, but since Nine came to the house, she has become a responsible older sister. She always saves some of the good food and fun things for Nine. Nine was very reserved at first, but after playing with Eighteen for two days, she gradually integrated into the atmosphere and went to school with Five and the others every day.
After the village school in Peach Blossom Village was built, Zhou Mujiao asked Liang Shanhai to find several good teachers to teach at the village school and set up a girls' school. The courses were practical, including medicine, embroidery, mathematics, and some common subjects.
Since the start of the school year two or three months ago, villagers have been coming to the village school every day to audit classes. At first, they liked listening to the teachers recite classical Chinese texts, but later they were attracted by the courses at the girls' school and would go to listen to the classes whenever they had free time.
Eighteen's favorite subject is medicine. She said that when she grows up, she wants to become a great general with Xiao Wu.
While distributing the herbs, Xiao Jiu thought to himself, "Since both my eighteenth sister and my fifth brother have become great generals, I'll be their little follower. I'll take care of their food and clothing and make sure they don't go hungry!"
After the New Year and the Lantern Festival, there are only a few days left until February.
When Zhao Yunjing returned from his day off that day, he told Zhou Mujiao that the county examination would be held on the fifth day of the second month.
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