Gradually, people learned about the situation of Ouyang Nan and his sister in recent years. In the eyes of the villagers, they had turned misfortune into blessing, and it was all arranged by God.
Ouyang Nan did not hide his current situation. He had passed the imperial examination and was now a tribute student. He was about to go to the capital to take up a post.
I came back this time to renovate my grandfather's grave so that he can rest more comfortably in the afterlife.
Secondly, he also wanted to thank the villagers who had helped him and wanted to do some practical things for the village.
The village hasn't changed much since six years ago. The villagers are a little better off than before, but that's about it.
Wu Lizheng sighed. Their village was too poor. Without money, nothing could be done.
Putting aside everything else, take the villagers' drinking water as an example. There isn't a single well in the village, and they have to fetch water from a river several miles away.
There are also some elderly people living alone in the village. Their houses are dilapidated and it is very dangerous to live in such houses. If the houses collapse, people will die.
Ouyang Nan nodded, took out two silver notes from his pocket, handed them to the village head, and said:
"These are two silver notes, totaling one thousand taels of silver. They are for the village. Please keep them safe and use them for Grandpa Wu."
Grandpa Wu can use this money to repair roads and dig wells in the village, and to help the elderly living alone and villagers with particularly difficult circumstances.
Wu Lizheng took the silver note, his hands trembling slightly. This was a thousand taels of silver; he had never seen so much silver before.
"Thank you, brother and sister. I will manage this money well and use every penny wisely to do something practical for the villagers. I won't let you down."
Ouyang Nan nodded and said, "There's one more thing. I want to renovate Grandpa's grave. I'd like to ask Grandpa Wu to help me find some people to come and assist."
"No problem, leave this to me. I will rebuild your grandfather's grave."
“That’s not what I meant. Repairing Grandpa’s grave is a matter for my siblings and me. Grandpa Wu can help us find some helpers, and I’ll take them to do it.”
"Of course I know all that. You've donated so much money to the village this time, doing a great thing for the village. Let the villagers help you repair your grandfather's tomb."
“That won’t do. Their wages must be paid. I can’t let them work for free.”
Wu Lizheng nodded. He understood what Ouyang Nan meant. Ouyang Nan was now an official and about to take office. Repairing a family member's grave was a sensitive matter. If others used it to their advantage and made a big deal out of it, it would not be good for Ouyang Nan.
“Alright, do as you say. If you need any other help, just let me know,” Wu Lizheng said.
Since he would be staying in the village for a few more days, Ouyang Nan planned to clean up the old house and buy a few beds and tables and chairs so they could rest there at night.
The problem of food was easy to solve; there were only six people I brought, so we could just eat at the village head's house.
When the villagers learned that Ouyang Nan and his sister would be staying in the village for a few days and needed to clean up their old house, they all came to help.
Wu Lizheng also rushed over. He wanted to take a look at the house and planned to renovate it properly so that Ouyang Nan would have a place to stay if he came back in the future.
That's only one reason. Ouyang Nan is already a government official, and he hopes that Ouyang Nan's official rank will rise higher and higher, so that his village will also benefit from it.
With so many people coming to help, the old house was quickly cleaned inside and out, and Ouyang Nan and his sister seemed to rediscover the feeling of their childhood.
At this moment, the village carpenter also came over, measured the dimensions of the room, and then went back to choose furniture.
The carpentry shop has ready-made furniture; just choose the one that fits your size.
The furniture was delivered quickly, and once it was arranged, the room felt alive. Ouyang Nan was very satisfied with it.
The weather is neither too hot nor too cold at this time, and the climate is suitable. Basically, there is no need to buy any bedding; a few thin blankets will suffice.
After finishing these tasks, the villagers who had come to help were about to leave when a middle-aged man with a greasy appearance hurried over. Before he even arrived, his voice was already there.
"Nephew, niece, you're back! Your uncle has missed you so much!"
When Ouyang Nan looked up, he saw it was his good-for-nothing cousin. Seeing this man, Ouyang Nan was furious.
Ouyang Nan didn't want to pay attention to this cousin, but he was, after all, his elder, and no matter how dissatisfied he was with him, he couldn't show it.
"Oh, it's Uncle Ouyang. What brings you here?" Ouyang Nan greeted him mechanically.
“Nephew, I heard you’ve returned. Not only have you become a high-ranking official, but you’re also very wealthy. Just now you gave me a thousand taels of silver. From now on, your uncle will enjoy a life of luxury with you.”
The villagers nearby got goosebumps when they heard this scoundrel say such things. This man was shameless, and they wondered how Ouyang Nan would respond.
"Uncle, who told you that? Let's not talk about other things for now. Back then, my sister and I had nowhere to go. If we didn't go out begging, we would have starved to death. If my sister and I come back this time as beggars, will you come to visit us?"
"How could that be? Your uncle knows you're capable and will definitely return home in glory. Look, it's only been a few years and you've already become an official and made a fortune."
"Everyone says I became an official and made a fortune. Back then, when my sister and I were begging on the street, we met a kind person who took us in. He not only gave us food, but also sent us to school."
For six years, my sister and I have been studying and haven't earned a single penny for our benefactor. Some time ago, I passed the imperial examination, and our benefactor is preparing to send me to the capital to continue my studies for three more years. I don't know how much money that will cost.
If my uncle still considers me his nephew, he can support my studies for three years. After three years, I will definitely repay my uncle's kindness and bring him to the capital to enjoy a comfortable life.
Ouyang Nan's words made this good-for-nothing uncle feel a little embarrassed, but he was still unwilling to give up, so he continued:
“Where would I get the money to support your studies? Your uncle knows you have money and don’t lack that little bit. You were so generous just now, giving Wu Lizheng a thousand taels of silver all at once.”
"I'm your uncle, you're so generous to outsiders, how can you be stingy with your uncle?"
"I just gave the village head a silver note for a thousand taels of silver, but this silver belongs to my benefactor."
The benefactor instructed that the silver was for practical purposes in the village, not for any one person, and that the silver would be temporarily kept by the village head.
Uncle, please don't try to take advantage of my sister and me. We don't have any extra money, and my sister and I are still spending our benefactor's money.
Even if I earn money in the future, I will still need to save money for Xiaoyu's education and repay my benefactors, so I won't have any money to give you.
If my uncle can pay for my sister and me to continue our education now, I will never forget him once I start earning money.
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