Xu He went up the mountain to cut some bamboo, and used bamboo strips to weave curtains for the windows at the other end of the tea shed to block out the light. But before he went to his fourth uncle's house to call Zhang Shiyue, she came over with her children to help. The crops in the fields cannot be harvested yet at this time of the month, and it is the short farming off-season. There is not much to do at Fourth Uncle's house.
However, their family is planning to build a tea shed, and they need to plant more seasonal fruits and vegetables in the fields. Once the tea shed is open, they won't have to go elsewhere to buy vegetables, as they can pick them in their own vegetable garden. Of course, it is actually easier to buy vegetables in the nearby villages, and the prices are much cheaper than in the city, but Xu He has always tried to save as much as possible.
Zhang Shiyue came over without any attitude of being a guest. He was wearing a gray linen shirt with a collar tied around his waist. He brought Guan Xiao'e with him and started working on his own. His hands and feet were nimble and quick. It was obvious that she was the only one who took care of the family when she was in another county. Not only that, even the timid Guan Xiao'e knew how to do everything. When she heard that she wanted to weave mats, she immediately took a knife and helped him cut the bamboo strips. She was very skilled.
Xu He actually had no intention of letting such a young child do any work. Although twelve years old was not young in the village, the child was still small and he could not bear to let the little girl do it.
On the contrary, Guan Xiao'e said: "Even if you are small, you still need to eat. If you want to eat, you have to work."
Xu He was speechless. She thought the little girl was sensible, but she also thought that Zhang Shiyue had taught her a lot after the accident at home. Now she came back to live with her mother's family. It was originally her home, but as a girl she had to live under someone else's roof. Even though it was sad, she could only do more work to make people feel that it was worth taking in the mother and daughter.
He thought that if he had not been so lucky to meet Zhang Fangyuan, his life in his husband's family might not have been different. Looking at her second sister, she clearly thought that she would live a good life after getting married, but today, she is forced to do a lot of work. It is really sad.
With someone helping at home, Xu He's work became much easier. In fact, Zhang Fangyuan also told him not to do so much, and no one would blame him even if he couldn't finish it, but he always wanted to finish the work.
Zhang Shiyue came over to help. He weeded the yard, pulled up the vegetable patch, and even helped collect firewood and fetch water. Xu He naturally asked the mother and daughter to stay here for dinner and told her about Zhang Fangyuan's plan.
Zhang Shiyue was quite surprised. She was always disliked by her eldest brother, but now the fourth and fifth brothers were competing to let her stay. She felt extremely relieved for a moment.
"Fourth uncle's place is also good, but the place is a little small. It all depends on Second Aunt's opinion. If you come here, you can live in the room where father-in-law and mother-in-law used to live." Xu He picked up some food for Guan Xiao'e: "There are beds, cabinets, tables and everything else. There is no need to tidy up. This is what A Yuan asked."
Zhang Shiyue was a little tempted. She knew that the fourth brother was sincere in taking her in, and his sister-in-law didn't say much or show any displeasure. But the difficulty was that the end was not big enough. Apparently, when the family was divided, my parents gave the old house to my eldest brother's family. I heard that the sixth brother got a lot of land.
On the contrary, it was the middle children who were lacking in weight. Besides, she also knew that the fourth and fifth children were very honest when they were young.
"But I'm afraid that moving here will disturb your life as a couple."
"No, I have to go out to take care of business all the time. It doesn't matter if I disturb you or not. It's a good thing to have more people to help." Xu He spoke directly, and didn't say anything about being a family and working together to support each other when they encounter difficulties.
Even if the second aunt and father-in-law were close when they were alive, that was a matter of the previous generation. Zhang Fangyuan didn't spend much time with this aunt, and saying those sour words would make people feel uneasy. Speaking clearly about the family's situation would actually make people more aware of it.
Xu He was also a bit thoughtful. He waited until the person had done some work before asking for the job. It was no wonder that he was worldly-wise and would only keep people if they were capable. If he met someone like his second sister, wouldn't it be unfortunate to have to invite someone home to worship him? The elders wouldn't be able to lecture others, and then there would be chaos and no peace.
Zhang Shiyue said, "I also heard something from my fourth brother. When the tea shed opens, Xiao'e and I will go over to help run it, and then we will move here to bother you two."
Xu He nodded: "I will tell him when Ayuan comes back, he will definitely be happy."
The house became much more lively after Zhang Shiyue and her daughter moved in, but they did not disturb the couple.
They should work during the day, but they need some quiet time at night when they have sex. However, the room where Zhang Shiyue lives is separated from theirs by a corridor, so they don't feel uncomfortable at all.
Zhang Fangyuan sat at the table in the inner room, drinking herbal tea.
"Are you coming to sleep or not?"
Xu He poked his head out from the mosquito net and looked at the person who had been sitting in the room for an incense stick of time and still refused to go to bed.
"I won't come up here unless you tell me where you hid it."
Hearing this, Xu He lowered the mosquito net and said, "You can sleep or not, the tea shed is almost finished. I will just go over there to clean up and move the pots and pans over tomorrow, and I won't go to the city."
"I don't need to ask you to carry the things. I'll see how you carry them."
"Can't I just carry it on my back?"
Zhang Fangyuan stood up angrily and pulled back the mosquito net. Looking at Xu He pretending to sleep with his eyes closed, he couldn't help but lean forward and touch his chin: "I think you seem to have become much whiter, and your face is plumper."
"Stop telling me these useless things."
Zhang Fangyuan grabbed his arm and shook it: "If you keep it for too long, it will break down. It will just be wasted."
If I had known that Xu He would hide the thing because it was too expensive and would not want to use it, I would not have lied about the price at that time. It was really a mistake.
Xu He opened his eyes: "Then you told me before that buying more would be cheaper, buying so much and hoarding it, isn't it the same now?"
“…”
Xu He pursed his lips and glanced over: "In the cabinet."
Zhang Fangyuan immediately kissed the person on the face and jumped off the bed.
Xu He had no choice but to adjust the mosquito net after Zhang Fangyuan came back. He really didn't like doing those things in the summer. It wasn't that he felt uncomfortable, but it was really hot. And after all the work, he would definitely have to wash off the sweat on his body. Wouldn't that be known to his second aunt?
Although it is common for couples to do this, he still felt embarrassed.
So tell Zhang Fangyuan not to mess around and just do it simply.
Zhang Fangyuan asked: "What is considered simple?"
Xu He blushed: "You ask even though you know the answer!"
"I really don't know. How would I know if you don't explain it clearly?"
"Just so you don't keep switching around."
Zhang Fangyuan originally thought that since they had been married for so long, there wouldn't be any problems like before. He thought of taking out the album he got from An Saner earlier and using it again. After all, he had spent money on it, and he thought that the things in the album were indeed much more sophisticated than his current tricks.
If you can put what you have learned into practice, wouldn't you be able to reach a higher level?
However, before she could even open her mouth, her husband stopped her. He wanted to plead for mercy by saying that it was his birthday the next day, but thinking that Xu He was really afraid of heat and was thin-skinned, he had no choice but to agree.
"Don't be embarrassed. Second Aunt already has a child, and she doesn't even know about ours. Haven't you seen that she never comes out at night?"
Xu He kicked Zhang Fangyuan and said, "Do you think everyone is as thick-skinned as you?"
"Okay, I'm thick-skinned."
The two of them didn't struggle for long before Zhang Fangyuan did what Xu He asked, but he was still sweating all over. Xu He wanted to get out of bed and fetch a basin of water to wash himself, but Zhang Fangyuan was still unsatisfied. He had to wash himself anyway, so he simply dragged the other person to do it twice more before giving up.
The next day, Xu He changed into the new clothes she had made earlier and went to the city with Zhang Fangyuan to set up a stall.
He hadn't been to the city since he started building the teahouse. This time he went because he had promised Zhang Fangyuan that he would go to a restaurant with him on his birthday.
Zhang Shiyue saw the young couple tidying up today and knew they had some other plans, so she smiled and asked, "Can you come back for dinner tonight?"
Xu He was a little embarrassed: "Yes."
Zhang Shiyue nodded, pretending to know nothing else: "Since it's Yuan's birthday today, I'll make two better dishes tonight."
"good."
The two of them set up a stall in the city. After the morning market, they closed the stall, washed up, and took their people to the restaurant.
Xu He had no experience with restaurants in the city, and he thought Zhang Fangyuan would take him to an ordinary restaurant. Unexpectedly, when he arrived at the door, he found a walled courtyard.
On both sides of the entrance are clusters of roses and peonies, and further inside there is even a lake.
In midsummer, when the lotus flowers in the lake were in full bloom, more than ten thatched huts were built on the lake, with tables and benches inside for people to eat.
At this time, there were already three or two tables of people on the lake enjoying the flowers and tasting wine, which was very pleasant.
Zhang Fangyuan pulled the people aside and said, "If you come early, you can sit in the thatched pavilion on the lake. If you come late, you can only eat on the shore. In summer, you can enjoy the flowers here. When the lotus roots are ripe, the lotus roots under the eastern fence are also very delicious. There are sweets, pastries, stewed pork ribs, soup, fried lotus root cubes... There are many dishes."
It was Xu He's first time to eat out, and it was such a nice place, so he couldn't help feeling a little awkward. But after following Zhang Fangyuan to the pavilion nearby, he felt much more at ease. He couldn't help but lean on the pavilion railing and look at the lotus flowers in the pond.
The surprising thing is that there are fish under the lotus leaves.
Zhang Fangyuan sat at one end and ordered a few dishes with the waiter, then went over to watch the fish with Xu He.
"We used to raise koi, and later we added herrings. When they grow strong, we just catch them and cook them. This saves us from having to look for fishermen to buy fish."
The wind from the lake makes the clothes look like ripples, which makes me feel relaxed and happy.
Without saying much, the waiter brought up the dishes and food and set up a small table.
Xu He waited until the waiter left before sitting down and taking a closer look at the dishes.
A serving of garlic-salted cucumber, a whole roasted eggplant, scrambled eggs with bitter melon, and two crabs. The dishes are nothing special, you can even say they are simple home-cooked meals, and the portions are very small.
However, unlike what they usually ate, the bowls and plates were made of porcelain, spotlessly white inside and with patterns of green leaves and lotus flowers on the outside. There was obviously one set of bowls and plates on the table, as if the intention was to just enjoy the meal, rather than to fill the stomach.
Xu He had seen such beautiful bowls and dishes when he went to a shop to buy them before. The shop owner put the items on a high cabinet and ordinary people would not recommend them at all.
He whispered to Zhang Fangyuan: "A meal here must be very expensive, right?"
Zhang Fangyuan hesitated for a moment and said, "Yes, there are some." He did not say it directly because he was afraid that Xu He would be stingy with the money. He was usually frugal. If he knew that he spent two or three hundred coins on a meal this morning, he would be unhappy.
Unexpectedly, Xu He poured a cup of scented tea into it and pushed it towards him. He did not ask how much it cost, but smiled and said, "You only have your birthday once a year, so it's good to come out and broaden your horizons. When our teahouse opens and we make some money, we can buy white porcelain like this for our tableware."
Zhang Fangyuan nodded: "We also use green leaf lotus."
The two of them had a very pleasant meal and did not return to the meat market until late in the afternoon.
"I won't be here with you to watch the stall this afternoon. Go back early to clean up the tea shed and pay the wages to the two cousins. Cook dinner early, as Fourth Uncle and his family will surely come over for dinner tonight."
Zhang Fangyuan responded, "Then you can go back and catch a car at the city gate. It will be faster."
Xu He used to be reluctant to spend this little money, but today he was willing to spend two or three cents on a taxi, mainly because if he walked back, he would waste time on the road.
"Know."
Xu He took the bus directly to the tea sheds. The construction of the sheds began in early June and was finally completed in early July. People coming and going from the surrounding villages all knew that a tea stall was going to be opened here, and villagers from nearby villages would occasionally pass by to take a look at the excitement. Xu He did not chase people away. He even placed wooden benches outside the tea stall and let everyone sit on them regardless of whether they came to drink tea or not.
Zhang Shiyue has cleaned the tea shed inside and out. He will move the pots and pans from home over tomorrow morning and put them in place. He will try to cook and fumigate the house, and he will be able to open for business the day after tomorrow.
Zhang Shiyue patted the dust off her body. She really treated the affairs here as her own. Living here gave people some hope. She smiled and said, "My fourth brother looked up the almanac a long time ago and it said that the day after tomorrow is a good day for opening a business."
Although it was a bit rushed, it was exactly what Xu He wanted. He had wanted to open a business for a long time. He hadn't set up a stall for a while and his hands were itching to open.
"Then it will be the day after tomorrow."
"Little Master, Big Sister, do you want to buy some flowers and plants?"
The two were talking in the tea stall when suddenly an old man appeared from the window with rolled-up curtains.
"The tea shed is now built. It would be nice to plant a few flowers around it to make it festive, wouldn't it? I have mountain orchids, mountain chrysanthemums, and the best golden osmanthus here. Would you like to take a look?"
Zhang Shiyue was about to chase him away, but Xu He walked out around the door. These flowers and plants can be found in the village and the mountains and forests. There is no need to spend money to buy them. However, when Xu He saw the golden osmanthus that was as thick as a thumb and had already bloomed, he picked it up as if possessed.
"My dear, smell it. This golden osmanthus, if planted at the entrance of the tea shed, will surely bring fortune and luck."
"How much?"
"That's all I have. How about thirty cents?"
Xu He laughed and said, "Old man, we are all from the same village. I sincerely support your business, but you are not sincere in selling it. Twelve cents, if you want to sell it, I will buy a lucky one."
The old man clicked his tongue, what a businessman, a vicious-tongued one who couldn't make a penny more.
"Okay, congratulations to Xiao Langjun and his sister on their prosperous business!"
Xu He gave the old man some money and politely told him to stop by here to have tea and rest when he went to the city to sell wild flowers. After watching the man walk away, Zhang Shiyue asked, "Planted at the door?"
"Take it home and plant it in the yard. I've seen many households in the village have jujube trees or peach and plum trees in their yards, but our yard is bare."
Zhang Shiyue smiled and said, "Ayuan doesn't seem to be able to take care of these things by himself. He just keeps talking in the yard. This golden osmanthus is lacking water and some leaves are falling. Take it back and plant it. Water it before the sun comes out. It will surely grow luxuriantly."
The two chatted and laughed for a while, then took Jingui home to prepare dinner.
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