During dinner, Manager Hua told Li Lanzhen that construction of the dock would begin tomorrow.
"Madam, what do you think would be a good name for the pier at Moon Bay?"
Li Lanzhen paused for a moment, then said, "Oh, I mean Moon Bay Wharf. It sounds nice and is easy to remember!"
Manager Hua nodded.
"Shall we have Han Mingjiang and Water Buffalo go together tomorrow?"
Li Lanzhen knew that Manager Hua wanted to give the two children some pointers and broaden their horizons.
He nodded and said, "Okay, let the two of them follow you, run errands, and learn more."
Turning my head, I saw the longing look in the dawn redwood's eyes.
He said to Manager Hua with a smile.
"Manager Hua, why don't you just bring the dawn redwood along too?"
Li Lanzhen also wanted to see how the dock was built.
After thinking about it, I decided to let these young people broaden their horizons.
It would be inappropriate for them to leave first, and then for me to leave behind Buffalo Mother, Bao Ya's mother who is in confinement after childbirth, and these children.
So he didn't say anything.
Seeing Li Lanzhen deep in thought, Manager Hua assumed she was thinking about building a small dock in Peach Blossom Spring.
“Madam, once the Moon Bay Wharf is completed, if you need it, we can also build a wharf in Peach Blossom Spring, which will make it more convenient for you to come and go.”
Li Lanzhen burst into laughter.
"Thank you, Manager Hua. We really need it. Once the Moon Bay Wharf is completed, please take some people to Peach Blossom Spring and build a small wharf there as well."
That evening, the water buffalo mother packed a basket for her two sons, so they could bring their bedding and blankets with them the next morning.
Manager Hua said he would stay there for three days.
Li Lanzhen also packed a basket for Han Mingjiang.
Tomorrow morning, I can just pack up what I'm currently using and carry it on my back.
The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, the front hall of the Sifang Restaurant was already bustling with noise.
When Li Lanzhen got up, she saw that all that was left of the kang mat where Han Mingjiang and the water buffalo were sleeping was now just a kang mat.
I quickly tidied up and went to the lobby on the ninth floor.
As she got closer, she heard it; she heard a noisy commotion.
Upon entering, I found the hall completely full, with everyone already eating.
Han Mingjiang and the others were also eating.
Li Lanzhen glanced around and estimated there were about a hundred people.
Manager Hua is quite efficient; he gathered so many workers as soon as he returned yesterday.
After the meal, Li Lanzhen saw them off at the front door of Sifang Restaurant. There were more than a dozen carts, three horse-drawn carriages, and two donkey carts parked in front of them.
Each vehicle was carrying various tools.
Amidst the commotion and the grand procession, the group of dock builders departed.
When Li Lanzhen returned, she saw that Buffalo Girl and Xiaoju were already in the kitchen helping to clean up the dishes and wash the utensils.
After recovering these past two days, Anji has been following Xiao Er around, always sweet-talking and calling him "brother," and he's also very active.
Xiao Er liked him very much. When Li Lanzhen saw that Shui Shan had also gone to Moon Bay Wharf today, she picked up an axe and went to chop firewood.
After chopping a pile of firewood, Bao Ya came over with Xiao Ju's younger sister and brother.
The two young girls quickly stacked the firewood that Li Lanzhen had chopped onto the woodpile.
Little Ju's younger brother was too young, so Li Lanzhen didn't let him move and let him play nearby.
The children are well-fed and warmly slept here, without any worries, and are in a good mood, laughing all day long.
They are also very diligent, with keen eyes, and will help out with anything they see.
The chefs and waiters at Sifang Restaurant all liked them.
The biggest changes were to Bao Ya's mother and her little brother.
Every day, the kitchen on the ninth floor of Sifang stews chicken and pig's trotters, making soup for Bao Ya's mother.
So she had plenty of breast milk, and the little one ate his fill at every meal and slept soundly.
In just three days, her little face grew plumper, her skin became fairer, and her big, dark eyes opened wide. I wonder if she could see the people and light around her.
For two consecutive days, Silver Fox did not appear, nor did Manager Hua return with the people who were building the Moon Bay Wharf.
Li Lanzhen and Buffalo Mother lived with their child in the backyard of Sifang Restaurant.
That day, Li Lanzhen sat in the backyard basking in the sun, playing with several children, chatting and laughing.
Xiaoju rushed in from the front in a panic.
"Auntie, Auntie, I went out to get some water and saw the village chief!"
Seeing her panicked state, Li Lanzhen stood up, patted her on the shoulder, and said...
"Xiaoju, don't be afraid, don't be afraid, just don't go out and show your face again."
Tell me slowly what happened.
Pulling Xiaoju down to sit, the water buffalo girl hurried over from the front, wiping her hands as she walked, lifting her apron.
Xiaoju told the two of them that she had just seen the village chief pass by.
It turned out that after Xiaoju washed the vegetables, she took the water outside and poured it into the ditch.
I turned my head and saw a group of people passing by.
She spotted the village chief in the crowd at a glance, quickly hid in the courtyard, closed the door, and left it a crack open to peek out.
"It's the government officials! It's the government officials who are holding them hostage, the village chief and his sons and grandsons."
Several villagers followed behind.
Oh, and the village chief from Xiahe Village, along with a few old men and uncles, are also there.
Li Lanzhen and the water buffalo girl exchanged a glance and began to comfort her.
"Don't be afraid, it should be a good thing. I told Manager Hua about the village chief's bullying behavior in the village that day, and I guess the government has taken action."
He reported it to the Youzhou Prefecture government office, and it must have been the government officials who went to Shanghe Village to investigate, which led to their arrest.
This is a good thing, don't be afraid, we should just continue with what we're doing.
Just as the group quieted down, Xiao Er hurriedly came to the backyard and said something to Li Lanzhen.
“Auntie, some of our people have gone to find out the news. Don’t panic. I’ll come and tell you the results once they’re out. Just don’t leave the yard and keep an eye on the children.”
He gave a few instructions and then hurriedly left.
Li Lanzhen and the water buffalo girl both agreed.
The water buffalo woman quickly went back into the house and comforted her eldest daughter-in-law.
Her daughter-in-law was very thoughtful and worried that hearing the news would cause her to be anxious and agitated. If her milk dried up, her grandson would have nothing to eat, and both mother and child would suffer.
In the evening, the waiter came over and told Li Lanzhen.
Seeing his smiling face, Li Lanzhen knew it must be good news, and she smiled and said it too.
"Brother, this must be good news, right?"
"Auntie, you are really smart. The village chief of Shanghe Village is a tyrant in the countryside, preying on the people and even forcibly collecting tolls from Xiahe Village when they pass through their village."
He was sentenced to two years in prison, and his two sons will also be imprisoned for a year.
Upon hearing this, the water buffalo woman quickly asked.
"Brother Er, who is the village chief of Shanghe Village?"
Xiao Er laughed and said, "The prefect ordered all 30-plus people from Xiahe Village to relocate to Shanghe Village."
The village head of Xiahe Village then became the village head of Shanghe Village. After that, Xiahe Village ceased to exist.
"Ah, the two villages have merged?" said the water buffalo woman.
"Great! That's wonderful! I know the village chief of Xiahe Village; he's a kind and fair man, and he's very good to the villagers!"
Looking at the excited water buffalo girl, Li Lanzhen asked.
"Big sister, do you still want to go back? To Shanghe Village?"
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