stingy landlady

Chapter 36 Low-lying areas

"Ducks can't live without water. When you let them out during the day, make sure there's plenty of water in the yard."

Guizhi looked at the large wooden box and said:

"You can't put water in the box, it doesn't dry out easily. If it's too damp, the ducks will get sick. Uncle Zhou, let's build a nest in the yard tomorrow, it needs to be a bit spacious. The ducks grow quickly, and there won't be enough room for them later."

Grandpa Zhou, we're growing bean sprouts and garlic shoots inside the house, raising chickens and ducks, and pigs in the garden. Oh, and there's even a horse in the livestock shed! It's so cramped! The place is just too small, isn't it?"

"Third Miss! This is a treasure trove! We have everything you could want!" Old Zhou said with a smile.

These words made Guizhi overjoyed. She just wanted to be rich and live a life where she could buy whatever she wanted!

After Guizhi and Zhou Xiaoyun left the east end of the village, Old Man Zhou and Zhou Mingzhi started chatting.

"Mingzhi, Third Miss, don't underestimate her because of her young age! You mustn't look down on her in the future!"

“Yes, Father! But this Third Miss says she wants to buy land and build a house. It doesn’t seem very reliable to me! She’s always saying she has no money! She can’t even afford the Four Treasures of the Study. Wouldn’t buying land and building a house cost even more money?” Zhou Mingzhi was afraid that Guizhi was just joking.

"The Third Miss wouldn't tease you like that. Just do whatever Master arranges. After inspecting the land tomorrow, go over there this afternoon to discuss it with Master!"

Old Zhou is beyond question.

"Okay, I'll do whatever Dad says!"

"Dad! Husband, shall we eat?"

"Eat! Eat!"

Zhou Xiaoyun remained silent on the way, seemingly lost in thought.

Guizhi asked in confusion, "What's wrong? You're so young, why do you have so many worries?"

Lin Xiaoyun thought for a long time before speaking: "I feel so useless! You're younger than me! And you know everything!"

Guizhi said:

"Oh! Everyone has different skills. It's just that everyone has different pursuits! Look at you, you can read and write, you can ride a horse, you know your kind of etiquette and stuff. I don't know any of that. Maybe by the time my family reaches that level, I'll be old! Haha!"

When the two arrived home, the dining table was already set. The old man and woman were playing with Siya inside. Sun Shi, Gui Xiang, and Gui Hong went into the inner room to get bowls, chopsticks, and food.

"You two hurry up and wash your hands and get ready to eat!" Li said to Guizhi and Lin Xiaoyun.

The two washed their faces and hands before going inside. Just as everyone sat down to eat, they heard the sound of the gate opening outside the courtyard.

Gui Xiang went outside to look, "Oh! My dad and the others are back!"

Everyone put down their bowls and chopsticks and came out together. Li, however, went inside and stood at the door with Siya in her arms.

The fourth brother opened the gate, and Dazhu drove the oxcart slowly in. Erzhu lay on the oxcart with white cloth tightly wrapped around his legs. Dabao sat on the oxcart, holding Erzhu's legs, probably to prevent them from being hurt by the bumps.

"Father!" the girls called out in unison.

"Erzhu! How is it?" The old lady and the old man rushed forward as soon as the car came to a stop.

"Zhao! Second son's wife, come out! Come out quickly! Erzhu is back!"

The old lady screamed!

Zhao had just finished eating and was lying down. She had cried too much today and was feeling weak all over, so she was having Taozhi clear the dishes.

Hearing the old lady's voice, Erbao nudged her: "Mom! Grandma's calling you! Dad's back!"

Taozhi had already gone out, but she didn't know what to do.

"Uncle, Fourth Uncle! Father!"

Zhao came out and went straight to the oxcart: "Husband! What did the doctor say?"

"Second sister-in-law, it's alright now! The doctor treated it and applied medicine, and also gave me a few days' worth of medicine. Just apply the medicine every day and it will be fine!"

"It just takes time to heal him. Peach Branch, go and make the kang (heated brick bed) ready! Let your father come inside to eat and sleep!"

"Hey!" Taozhi went inside to lay out the kang (heated brick bed).

The old man took the reins, and the fourth son carried Erzhu and Dazhu on his back, with Dabao helping to carry them into the house.

"Second Sister-in-law! Taozhi, get some food for Second Brother and Dabao."

Da Bao turned around and went back to the oxcart to get the medicine.

"Second sister-in-law! Fry these herbs and apply them to your second brother every day, then bandage it tightly. Did Da Bao see how the doctor did it? Teach your mother and Tao Zhi later!"

"We're going back! Second brother! Time to eat and get some rest!"

Dazhu left after he finished speaking.

The fourth brother said, "Second brother, you rest! We're going back! Second sister-in-law, call me if you need anything!" and then slipped out.

"Mom! Have you finished eating?" Da Bao finally spoke.

"Peach Blossom, bring me some food! Hurry up and finish your meal so I can go to sleep!"

"I'll go do it now! Mom! Bring out the rice!"

"What? You didn't cook for us? Do you think I'm dead? You didn't even cook for the two of us?"

"Mother! I'm starving!"

"No! Her dad! No! Da Bao! I was worried that the food would be cold by the time you got back, since I didn't know when you'd be back!"

Before we left, I heard Sanya ask her older brother to buy steamed buns! Let's make them now! Let's make them now!

Not to mention the family's constant bickering.

The old man tied the cow up! Lin Xiaoyun fed the cow grass, and Guixiang brought over a bucket of water to water the cow.

The old man patted the head of the cow that was grazing and said to it, "Old friend, you've worked hard today!"

Gui Hong fetched water for Da Zhu and Lao Si to wash their hands and faces in preparation for dinner.

"Mom and Dad! Don't worry! The doctor said my second brother broke his leg. The doctor set it, and with a few days of herbal hot compresses, and as long as he doesn't move around too much, he'll recover! It's just been a lot of trouble for him!"

Dazhu slowly took a sip of soup and said to the old man and the old woman.

"It takes a hundred days to recover from a broken bone! Second son, you'd better learn your lesson this time!" the old man said.

"Wife! Is your belly alright?" The fourth son asked Sun Shi first, still worried.

"It's nothing. I didn't do anything! Let's eat! You must be starving!"

The two of them were completely oblivious to everyone else, showing off their affection!

The little girls giggled. Sun's face immediately turned red; she was so ashamed she wanted to disappear.

The fourth son laughed heartily and picked up a piece of chicken for Mrs. Sun, saying, "Eat some chicken, it'll help our son get some nourishment!"

Mrs. Sun lightly punched him, "You still say that! You don't need to serve me! Eat it yourself!"

The old lady said while eating, "Old man! Look at Erzhu! Isn't it inconvenient for him to cook in his room? He keeps coming in and out!"

The old man took a sip of wine: "So what do you mean? It's inconvenient to get water in our house. If you don't mind the trouble, you can fetch water to cook."

"Father, Mother! Why don't we go to my room?" The fourth son asked, glancing at Madam Sun.

“Your room was just cleaned up, and so many people have made a mess of it. Your wife is pregnant!” the old lady protested.

"Fourth brother! Since your second brother is like this, you'll have to do the work and help carry water to my room. Da Bao can help out then!" The old man made the decision.

“Alright! We’ll listen to our parents!” the fourth son replied. Madam Sun nodded in agreement.

After dinner, the girls cleared the table and washed the dishes. The old man asked, "Dazhu! How much did you spend at the clinic today? Have your mother give it to you!"

"Father, Doctor Qian knew my elder brother today, so he didn't overcharge him. The consultation, bone setting, and application of medicine only cost him three hundred coins, and he also prescribed six extra doses of medicine. Each dose cost one hundred coins. The total was nine hundred coins, all paid by my elder brother."

The fourth brother, fearing that Dazhu would find it difficult to speak, quickly said something.

"Have your mother give it to you!"

"I don't see anything to earn money all day long, but I spend money like two people!" The old lady complained again.

Dazhu glanced at Li Shi, but Li Shi lowered her head and didn't look at him. Dazhu then looked at the children; Guixiang and Guihong were busy and didn't have time to pay attention to him. Dazhu glanced at Guizhi, but Guizhi shook her head. Dazhu didn't understand what he meant.

Seeing Dazhu's puzzled look, Guizhi walked up to him and said, "Dad, just take it if Grandma gives it to you! My fifth uncle still needs money to take the imperial examination. We'll go there every day, so it'll be convenient for him!"

Then he turned to Li and said:

"Mom, I gave the new clothes you made for my fifth uncle today. He was so happy, he said he'll wear them to his exam next month!"

Upon hearing this, the old lady felt quite pleased, knowing that if she gave the money to Dazhu, he would still spend money on Laowu.

"Da Ya! Don't bother cleaning! Let Er Ya and San Ya finish! You come with me to get the copper coins!"

After speaking, he was about to put on his shoes and get out of bed. Guizhi quickly handed him the shoes.

"You do have some sense!" the old lady rarely praised.

Lin Xiaoyun also helped the old man get out of bed and supported him as he walked outside.

Daya wiped her hands clean and came over to help the old lady.

There were so many things to do today. After finishing dinner and cleaning up, Dazhu felt extremely tired and fell asleep as soon as he got onto the kang (heated brick bed).

Li glanced at it but didn't dare ask too many questions, and then went to sleep in a daze.

The next morning, Zhou Niangzi and her son came early as usual to make dumplings. Zhou Mingzhi went with Dazhu to herd the cattle. Zhou Xing went to herd the horses. Since someone had to stay home, the old man fed the chickens and ducks, swept the yard, and pulled weeds in the vegetable garden—he did all the chores himself.

Since we're no longer farming, we don't need to eat so early; we eat together around 7 AM.

The old man went for a walk to check on the land. There's so much land; by the time he comes back from his walk, it will be time for dinner.

Lin Xiaoyun didn't find a chance to help Guizhi, but he got up early to sweep the yard and then went to fetch water for Lao Si. No wonder the old lady dotes on him. He's quite clever.

Zhou Mingzhi followed Dazhu to herd cattle, intentionally driving them towards the West Bridge.

"Master! Yesterday, the Third Miss said that the western area has abundant water and grass. Let's go take a look!"

"Sure! Anywhere is fine! As long as the cows are well-fed! I was exhausted yesterday, so I made two trips to town!"

It doesn't matter to Dazhu, and the cattle grazing isn't in a fixed location, as long as they don't cause trouble on the land.

Upon reaching the west side, Zhou Mingzhi carefully observed the terrain and then followed the oxen for a walk.

"Sir! This wasteland is quite nice! It can be used to grow rice! And it's convenient for irrigation. What do you think?"

Dazhu perked up and began to examine the land closely. Standing on the bridge, he looked along the main road. The wasteland on both sides of the road was quite flat. This was low-lying land; clearing it manually would be too much work. Nobody would buy it, but they could use oxen!

I remember there was a rather deep ditch at the foot of the West Mountain on the west side of the main road.

"Xiao Zhou! I never really noticed before, but if we cleared out these wastelands on both sides, it would be amazing! We could grow our own rice, and at least we wouldn't have to buy rice anymore!"

"Xiao Zhou, you stay here and herd the cattle. I'll go find my dad and ask him!"

"Yes, sir! I think I just saw the old man going up to the land to the north!"

"Okay! It's quite close! I'll stop by the fields on my way too!" Dazhu said, and strode off towards the North Land.