Hidden Letter
The Zhao family came to the Qian family's house and took away all the things that could be sold as compensation. They also demanded that the Qian family pay an additional 100 yuan. Li Guorong came to the house intending to beat up Qian Duoduo, but seeing that the Qian family's house was leaky, he gave up the idea, fearing that the Qian family would extort her.
The sound of sobbing and crying came from inside the Qian family's house. Lin Shaocheng's eyes darkened. The Qian family was malicious and had tried to scheme against the Li family many times. He had to deal with them before he got home.
He looked at Li Guorong, recalling Li Guorong's disdainful tone when talking about Wang Lin, the blind date his elder sister was going on, and said loudly, "I heard that the blind date my elder sister is going on is with Wang Lin from out of town. He's prepared to give 100 yuan as a bride price, which is a custom in Hebei." The crying inside stopped.
Li Guorong was startled by the voice. What was going on? Lin Shaocheng was usually quiet and gentle, at most he would scold in a low voice. When did he start speaking like this? Lin Shaocheng pointed to the Qian family. Li Guorong's eyes lit up. What was this called? What was this called? Killing two birds with one stone.
"I heard that Wang Lin's family owns a lot of land, top-quality fields." That's true; they can get enough to eat, but it's difficult to get rich through farming.
The Qian mother and daughter stopped crying and hid against the wall. Through the dilapidated window, they could see the dark corners of their clothes.
Lin Shaocheng said, "It's a pity that my eldest sister went to my uncle's house these past few days, otherwise things would have been settled. Also, the town is recruiting soldiers, and I heard that the requirements have been relaxed this time, but unfortunately my household registration is not local."
Qian Mancang also stopped packing his things. The brother and sister exchanged a glance and secretly looked out the window, but the two of them were no longer visible.
Mother Qian cried, "Are you two going to abandon your old mother?"
Qian Duoduo said, "At least when I married someone from another place, my family had food. Now that my family has offended the village, it's hard for my older brother to find a partner. Things will be different after he joins the army."
As soon as Qian's mother stopped crying, she realized that the most important thing in her heart was herself, then Qian Mancang, and finally Qian Duoduo. If Mancang couldn't find a wife, who would take care of her?
The moonlight cast long shadows of Li Guorong and Lin Shaocheng, their shadows intertwined. Li Guorong laughed and said, "You're really wicked. If you were to enter the palace, you'd definitely survive to the end."
Lin Shaocheng didn't understand. "What?"
Knowing he had misspoke, Li Guorong quickly tried to make amends, saying, "I said my husband is incredibly smart; I just wish he were a little happier every day."
Lin Shaocheng held Li Guorong's hand and said, "I am very happy when you are by my side."
Li Guorong thought of a famous line from a female character in the TV series "Lurking" from her previous life, which was about sorrow. She wanted to bring love to Lin Shaocheng like Cuiping did, so that he would no longer be sorrowful.
During the first month of the lunar calendar, Lin Shaocheng was busy collecting Sichuan lovage and angelica. Li Guorong felt sorry for Lin Shaocheng's empty wallet. First he bought a house, then he bought medicinal herbs. Li Guorong couldn't help but worry and said, "These medicinal herbs aren't expensive. They won't fetch much money in Beijing."
Wu Cuihua said, "There's no other way. Our family still has to live in the village. We can still eat the houttuynia cordata ourselves after the trouble your second brother caused, but if we don't accept the angelica and chuanxiong, how will our family live in the village?"
Li Guorong couldn't help but hug Lin Shaocheng, saying, "How amazing my husband is, he thinks of everything."
Li Guojian and Li Guolan returned from their uncle's house looking like two wilted eggplants. Li Guojian cursed, "The Qian family is shameless. My eldest sister had her eye on someone first, but Qian Duoduo snatched him away. I wanted to settle accounts with Qian Mancang, but that brat ran off to join the army."
Li Guolan's eyes were a little red. She didn't actually like Wang Lin, but Qian Duoduo's smug look made her furious.
Li Guorong said casually, "Just find a good one in the village."
Li Guolan lowered her head and ran into the house. Li Guojian sighed, "There are more women than men in the village, you know that. At your age, you can only find a widower."
During the war, all the men in Shigekawa joined the army, leaving only children and women at home to farm. Later, adult women also joined the war, resulting in the current situation where there are more women than men.
Li Guorong had been away from home for so many years that he had long forgotten about this incident. He sat on the ground with his chin in his hand, looking quite distressed.
Lin Shaocheng paused his work slightly and said, "There are still a few days until I go home. Go back to your room and rest. You've always said that you're tired by yourself. Now you can rest more. I can manage on my own."
Li Guorong's eyes lit up. There are many unmarried women in Beijing who are 25. Asking her older sister for help to save money to marry someone from Beijing would be a good idea.
Li Guorong stomped his feet on the wooden floor. "Sister, I have something to tell you."
Li Guolan wiped away her tears with a handkerchief, looked up and asked with a smile, "What's wrong, little sister?"
Li Guorong plopped down on the bed, his eyes sparkling. "Let's go to Beijing, sister, come to Beijing with me!"
Li Guolan clutched the handkerchief in her hand, her eyes shining brightly before immediately dimming. Could she manage? Beijing was so big, and where would she live? Was it really appropriate for her to live with her sister and brother-in-law?
Li Guorong held Li Guolan's hand, unable to stop smiling. She was so lonely in Beijing, and Lin Shaocheng's family was bullying her. If only her older sister were by her side.
“I’m exhausted from preparing food every day. You don’t need to worry about where to stay. There are several rooms available. If you don’t want to stay with us, there’s also a separate courtyard where you can live by yourself.”
Li Guolan's smile seemed genuine as she said, "Then I'll help you."
Then she thought of Lin Shaocheng, "Would my brother-in-law agree?"
Li Guorong patted his chest and assured him, "Lin Shaocheng will listen to everything I say, don't worry. Hurry up and pack your luggage, I'll have Lin Shaocheng buy another ticket."
Li Guolan ran to the window, and Li Guorong hugged Lin Shaocheng's arm and shook it. Lin Shaocheng nodded with affection, and Li Guolan felt relieved. She was going to Beijing too. She needed to get a letter of introduction right away. Even she, who was usually mild-mannered, became anxious.
Li Guojian's eyes lit up. "Go to Beijing. Isn't that a land of opportunity?" he thought, leaning closer to Lin Shaocheng. "Brother-in-law, I want to go too."
Li Guorong shouted, "What will happen to the land at home? My eldest brother is the only adult male. How will we manage to make a living? And my eldest sister is looking for a boyfriend. Why are you getting involved?"
Wu Cuihua also rushed over, "Second son, what are you doing? I'm not dead yet, and you already want to divide the family property? Our family isn't one that leeches off its daughters."
Li Guojian then calmed down, realizing that he would definitely be better off in Beijing than his older sister, but unfortunately, he didn't have the opportunity.
The train rumbled off once again, and Li Guolan followed closely behind her younger sister. It was her first time traveling far from home, and she carried Lin Shaocheng's bundle in her other hand.
Lin Shaocheng said, "Big sister, I'm not tired. You take your things and stay with Guorong."
Li Guorong nodded, "Don't worry, Shaocheng is strong and capable."
Li Guolan whispered, "Guorong, this won't do. I know you two have a good relationship, but you can't let your brother-in-law do everything."
Li Guorong pouted. Her older sister had never been married, so why was she lecturing her? She and Lin Shaocheng had a good relationship. "I'm still earning money for the family."
Li Guolan sighed, "How is your earning power? Lin Shaocheng earns a lot of money, doesn't he? He paid for most of the house, didn't he? When Mom wasn't working in the fields or taking care of the housework, did Dad treat her like you did?"
Li Guorong remained silent, gripping Lin Shaocheng's hand even tighter. In her past life, she earned the money while Ye Fan did all the housework. She didn't think there was anything wrong with it, and she didn't love Ye Fan either. Their relationship was as bland as water.
Seeing that her younger sister seemed to have taken it to heart, Li Guolan said, "If you continue like this, one day you will hurt Lin Shaocheng's heart, and it will be difficult to make amends. Love is mutual."
Li Guorong whispered, "Stop talking, I understand."
Lin Shaocheng turned around, "What's wrong?" The two shook their heads in unison.
The air in the car was still nauseating. Li Guolan tidied up the table and chairs, while Li Guorong blushed slightly, making her seem rather lazy.
Lin Shaocheng opened the book, and Li Guorong also found someone to talk to. She told her older sister about the prices in different markets in Beijing. She had brought a lot of dried chilies from Chongchuan this time, which were all secret recipes for making chili oil. She was going to show off her skills. Lin Shaocheng liked to eat chilies so much, so she would make a lot for him, so that her older sister wouldn't say that she was not good to Lin Shaocheng.
Li Guolan felt a little embarrassed. The two people next to her looked drowsy, and Lin Shaocheng was reading carefully. Her younger sister's voice was so loud that it was disturbing others. Fortunately, a few children were crying, which made her voice seem less loud.
Li Guolan whispered, "I'm sleepy, let's go to sleep."
Li Guorong could only close his eyes and lean against his sister, soon falling asleep. Li Guolan wanted to close her eyes and sleep, but the light above her head was still on even with her eyes closed. She looked at the book in Lin Shaocheng's hand with a hint of envy. She was the eldest sister, and after finishing primary school, she stopped going to school to take care of her younger siblings.
Lin Shaocheng looked up and saw that Li Guorong was already asleep. He took out his leather jacket and covered Li Guorong with it. "Big sister, can't you sleep?"
Li Guolan shook her head. Lin Shaocheng handed her the copy of "Gone with the Wind." Li Guolan smelled the ink on the book and rubbed the frosted texture of the paper with her hands. She opened the book and didn't recognize some of the words, but it didn't affect her reading.
On the other side, Li Xiangxi was in charge of the warehouse today, and his English test paper was covered in scribbles. Luckily, his older brother would be back tomorrow. He looked at the English textbook that Lin Shaocheng had marked up, but he couldn't concentrate on it at all.
Li Jiaoniang walked over gracefully, "Take 8 catties of Coptis chinensis."
Li Xiangxi took the slip and registered it. Usually, there are two people guarding the warehouse. Lin Shaocheng went to Chongchuan for the New Year and no one was willing to work overtime, so Li Xiangxi was left to guard the warehouse alone.
Li Jiaoniang leaned against the table. Li Xiangxi's clothes disappeared. She took out a thin pink letter from her bosom and quickly stuck it into her English book. Her face was flushed. She hurriedly used both hands to cool down and stepped back several steps from the table, standing straight.
Li Xiangxi held the basket, "The 8 jin of Coptis chinensis you requested."
Li Jiaoniang took the basket, rummaged through it, and asked, "When is your brother coming back?"
Li Xiangxi grinned mischievously, his hands unconsciously flipping through the pages of the book. Li Jiaoniang's heart pounded, and her face flushed with nervousness.
Li Xiangxi said in a strange tone, "Don't even think about it. My brother is married. Even if he weren't, he wouldn't be interested in someone like you." He stopped what he was doing and tidied up the books on the table.
Li Jiaoniang pretended to be angry, "You," and ran away with her basket, covering her face.
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