The two families spent two days clearing out their backyard and planting vegetables.
Then the men all went to town to find work.
We can't just sit around and live off our savings, can we?
There was a brick factory in town, where all the work was manual labor, and you could earn ten coins a day.
Li Mingfan, Chi Dashan, and Chi Sanhe then went to do it.
Old Man Chi and Old Man Li originally wanted to go too, but it was just too tiring. After working for two days, the two old men couldn't take it anymore.
My family persuaded me not to go anymore.
The two old men couldn't stay idle either. After asking the village chief, they started cultivating wasteland right on their riverbank.
Putting everything else aside, at least we can grow some sweet potatoes.
Sweet potatoes can be used as a staple food!
The women took advantage of these few days to wash and clean their bedding, then added a lot of cotton and made new quilts.
Uncle Wei and his friends from next door shamelessly came to ask Aunt Chi and the others for help, asking them to take apart, wash, and remake their bedding.
They provided the cotton and said they would pay for it.
It didn't take much effort, and since they were neighbors, Aunt Chi was too embarrassed to ask for money.
They even helped a few old men take apart and wash their cotton-padded jackets and trousers.
The three old men were moved to tears.
Later, when the village chief found out, he came to thank him and brought a bag of sweet potatoes with him.
If we can't get other grains, sweet potatoes will do.
Later, with the village chief's help, Aunt Chi and the others found work in the village.
It involves helping families in the village without wives to disassemble and wash their quilts, cotton-padded jackets, and cotton-padded trousers, and then paying them a small fee.
Even if they offer you money, I won't accept it. We're all from the same village.
Besides, I didn't have much money, so I just gave my own things to my family.
Some people would pick two baskets of vegetables from their own garden and bring them over over several days in a row.
Some people give a few kilograms of brown rice or dark flour.
Some were given two jars of their own homemade rice wine.
Some give you some cotton.
In short, there were all sorts of things, all kinds of gifts.
Because of this, the Li family quickly established a social circle in Meihe Village, and the entire village swiftly accepted them.
That day, Uncle Wei came to talk again.
"...There are about twelve of us old brothers, all living alone. We'll all move next door in a few days. We'll provide the supplies, and you can help us cook, okay? When the wheat harvest comes next year, we'll give each of you fifty catties of grain as payment."
They don't have much money.
The little money I manage to save is all I'll ever have for my funeral.
"The only good thing about our village is that the imperial court doesn't collect taxes, so we can keep all the grain from the fields."
That's why they were willing to give up grain as a form of repayment.
"I'm just getting old, too lazy to move around, and I just want to eat something ready-made, hot and delicious..."
Uncle Wei was very embarrassed.
Why is it that none of the many brothers can cook well?
In recent years, we've just managed to stay alive and not starve.
If Li Jiachi's family hadn't come, they could have continued to live until they died.
But after eating something delicious, it's really hard to resist the aroma of food from next door every day!
Hearing Uncle Wei's sincere and pitiful words, Aunt Chi and Aunt Li discussed it and agreed.
After all, they weren't at a loss; they even gave us grain as payment.
They were short of food.
Even if they can only be given the wheat harvest next year, that's fine too!
"Alright, Brother Wei, it's settled then."
"Yes, yes, we'll eat two meals a day. Between 7 AM and 1 PM... that way it won't interfere with your own family's meals... When you get old, two meals a day are enough."
It's like eating one meal at nine in the morning and another at three in the afternoon.
Aunt Chi readily agreed.
After Uncle Wei left, Aunt Chi and Aunt Li discussed that their two daughters-in-law would go there in the future, and the grain they were given would be divided equally between the two families.
Sister-in-law Chi and Li Mingfan's wife were both quite happy, feeling that this was an unexpected joy.
This way they can earn some food.
"Mommy, Mommy, I caught so many fish! I don't know why, but the fish kept jumping into my arms!"
Chi Shuxing carried a wooden bucket in each hand, and the buckets were full of fish that would occasionally jump, but would obediently refuse to jump out of the buckets.
There are carp, grass carp, and snakehead fish.
They were all big fish, weighing seven or eight pounds each!
"Why did you go to the river? It's cold now, you're not allowed to go swimming in the river!" Sister-in-law Chi's first thought was about her son's safety.
Chi Shuxing pouted, looking unhappy: "I know, I know, you women just love to nag."
"Hey, you little rascal!"
Aunt Chi grabbed her son's ear, but before she could exert any force, Chi Shuxing struggled free and ran out.
"I'm going out to play, I'll be back for dinner!"
Chi Shuxing was naturally wild, and it only took him two or three days to integrate into the group of children in Meihe Village and become a little leader!
These past few days, I've practically been away from home every single day.
What Chi Shuxing didn't mention was that he went to the river to catch fish with his friends, so he gave each of them two big, fat fish!
Xingxing is a good friend; he's genuinely generous when it comes to things!
"That wild boy, he's always running around like a madman! Can't he just stay home quietly?" Sister-in-law Chi was exasperated, her temper flaring.
Looking at the little wooden padlock and Si Lang and Wu Lang quietly playing with in the yard, Sister Chi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, the youngest son is obedient and well-behaved.
"The little guy is just being naughty. Especially at this time of year. Let him play. There's nothing for him to do around the house."
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