As the two walked along the dirt road in the village, they saw mostly low thatched houses. Only after hearing Fan Jin's sigh did Shui Qing realize how difficult it was for a woman with no land or savings to raise six children!
She marveled at Fan Jin's thoughtfulness: "No wonder you went to Aunt Zhang's house first."
Fan Jin smiled shyly, "Aunt Zhang may be poor, but she is a very good person, and the six children she raised are the same, all of them hardworking and diligent."
Shui Qing understood the meaning behind Fan Jin's words.
This is a family that deserves our help.
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Inside the low fence, chickens, ducks, and geese were squawking and clucking noisily. A girl of about fourteen or fifteen years old was squatting down, chopping wild vegetables to feed the chickens and ducks.
A voice called out from the dimly lit thatched hut behind: "Little Grass, come in and have lunch!"
"Hey, they're here." Zhang Xiaocao rubbed her numb legs, stood up excitedly, and saw Fan Jin and Shui Qing outside the fence.
Confused but smiling, she asked, "Second Brother Fan, Second Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"
Then he turned and called into the house, "Mother, Second Brother Fan and Second Sister-in-law are here!"
Hearing the noise, Aunt Zhang rushed out and greeted the two with a smile, "Oh, what a coincidence! It's lunchtime! Have you eaten yet? Come in and eat with us!"
As he spoke, he turned to go to the kitchen to make more porridge.
Their family has limited food supplies, and they always make do with what they have, so even half a bowl is out of the question.
Shui Qing stepped forward in a few steps, smiling as she stopped her, saying, "Auntie, don't rush, we've already eaten."
Food is precious, let alone for Aunt Zhang's family, but Shuiqing was deeply moved by her kindness.
Fan Jin then said, "Auntie, we really have already eaten. We came here because we have something to tell you."
Seeing that the two insisted, Aunt Zhang wiped her hands on the hem of her clothes and changed her mind, saying, "Alright, shall we go inside and talk?"
Our family only has a few acres of abandoned land that we've cultivated with millet, corn, and other coarse grains. We really don't have any surplus food. Sigh...
Shui Qing and Fan Jin followed him into the house.
Upon entering the house, the musty smell emanating from the old thatch hit her nose, which Shui Qing tried hard to suppress, doing her best not to let anyone notice.
Now I understand why Sun Jinhua cared so much about the Fan family's three brick houses!
Thatched huts are low-ceilinged, poorly lit, and prone to leaks, not to mention that they develop an unpleasant odor over time.
As soon as the two sat down, Zhang Xiaocao brought over two cups of water in bamboo cups.
Aunt Zhang was extremely embarrassed. "I don't have any sweet soup or tea here, so you two will have to make do with plain water."
He then asked, "Did you come here because I spoke up for your wife this morning? If you ask me, you're too kind; there was no need for you to make a special trip."
Fan Jin first sincerely thanked him before explaining his purpose.
Aunt Zhang's mouth dropped open in surprise, and she asked blankly, "What did you say?"
The children who were originally squatting around in the yard drinking vegetable porridge all perked up their ears.
"Little sister, did big brother hear me right?" Zhang Jinniu turned to Zhang Xiaocao, who was closest to him, and asked.
Zhang Yinniu swallowed the gruel in his mouth and said hurriedly, "No, brother, I heard it too!"
Uncle Fan said he wanted to buy water chestnuts, offering two and a half jin of rice in exchange for one jin of peeled water chestnuts, and emphasized that they had to be fresh.
Fresh ones contain moisture; it takes two or three pounds of fresh ones to get one pound of dried ones, right?
But Uncle Fan wanted to exchange two and a half jin of rice for one jin of fresh rice!
The remaining fourteen-year-old Bronze Ox, thirteen-year-old Iron Ox, and twelve-year-old Wooden Ox were so nervous that they forgot to drink their vegetable porridge and all looked into the house.
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