Chapter 274: Changes in the Village
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The villagers became emotional when they talked about these things.
“Yeah, we don’t even have to leave the village to sell our eggs, chickens, and ducks nowadays.”
“Not only that. Every household can make a lot of money with those.”
The villagers were in a craze to raise chickens and ducks.
“What about those perfect and affordable bricks? Su Fengmao’s daughter was the one who developed those.”
“My family repaired our fence wall with those bricks. Our wall is much sturdier now, so we won’t have to worry too much even if it snows heavily during the winter.”
“It’s fortunate that my second brother learned some carpentry skills. Since Su Zhengde set up his construction team, my second brother has joined them. He has earned quite a lot of money from that.”
“Yeah, now that I think about it, our lives are better than before.’
Everyone thought about these things carefully. They knew it was because they benefited from the Su family.
“No wonder the Su family treasures Su Binglan. Su Fengmao is truly blessed to have her.”
yean.
Li Dazhuang’s footsteps were quick when he went home, almost running.
Li Dazhuang’s sister, Li Erying, was in the yard scooping water to wash clothes when she greeted her brother, “Big Brother, you’re back!”
Although she was only ten, Li Erying took care of all the housework. Her hands were rough and had a lot of calluses because she worked all year round. Li Dazhuang said to Li Erying, “You should rest, Second Sister.”
“I’m not tired, Big Brother. I’m just washing clothes and cooking as usual.”
Li Dazhuang looked inside the house and did not see anyone. He asked,
“Where’s Grandma?”
His parents had passed on when he was a child, but his grandmother was still around. The three Li siblings were dependent on their grandmother.
Li Erying said, “Grandma went to Old Madam Su’s house to deliver eggs. She said that Old Madam Su and the others had helped us a lot, so we can’t trouble them to come here and collect eggs every time.
“It’s the same if she delivers them instead, though. I offered to go, but Grandma said I was not suitable to do such things as a child. She wants me to stay home. Also, Little Brother went to the fields to collect more rice.”
They had harvested their rice a while back, but their little brother, Li Sanzhu, still went to the fields to collect what they might have missed because there would always be some that fell on the ground as they harvested their rice.
Li Sanzhu would also help his grandmother raise chickens and ducks. Although he was only eight, he was very sensible for his age.
Li Erying looked at her big brother’s expression and realized he had never seemed so excited. She asked, “Is something the matter, Big Brother?”
“Let’s talk when Grandma gets back.” Li Dazhuang wanted to share the good news with his family because he knew his grandmother would be thrilled.
Soon after, Old Madam Li returned with a basket in her hand and a faint smile.
“Welcome home, Grandma.” Li Dazhuang hurriedly went forward to support his grandmother.
Old Madam Li looked a little older than the other village elders because she was always worried. Her back had also become relatively hunched, and her walking was wobbly because she had worked all year round.
She looked at her eldest grandson and said, “We sold our duck and chicken eggs for 76 coins this time. We should feed more chickens and ducks and save money to help you get a wife in the future.”
Li Dazhuang was already 17 years old, and Old Madam Li was in a hurry to get him a wife. She was worried because his parents were no longer around, and her family was too poor to help the Li family.
Old Madam Li thought she must save more money to find a perfect wife for her eldest grandson. However, Li Dazhuang was the only family member who could do hard labor as Li Erying and Li Sanzhu were still young.
Old Madam Li was too old to work in the fields or do much else, but Old Madam Su and her son started buying eggs from her during autumn.
Before, the Li family had only raised two chickens and one duck, so they had fewer eggs than others. Therefore, Old Madam Li saved a handful of eggs, hatched some chicks and ducklings, and raised them to lay more eggs.
Then she continued hatching more chicks and ducklings before raising them again. Afterward, Su Fengmao would buy the fully grown roosters and ducks. Old Madam Li had saved up a few hundred coins by relying on these.
She thought that if she worked hard, she could save up one silver tael, which would be enough to find Li Dazhuang, a wife.
“Grandma, this money will help you and your younger siblings recover,” Li Dazhuang said.
“Don’t worry about my family and me. It’s more important for us to get you a wife first. We know our family’s conditions best. As long as we can find you a good girl, I will feel relieved.”
Old Madam Li was worried she would be gone soon and no one would take care of the three siblings.
Li Dazhuang was an honest man and only thought about his siblings. However, he did not know what to do for himself. Therefore, Old Madam Li just wanted him to marry as soon as possible so that he could have a family.
Then Li Erying and Li Sanzhu would have a sister-in-law to rely on, so their days would always be better.
Li Dazhuang became teary-eyed, saying, “Oh right, Grandma, Chief Su called everyone for a meeting just now and said that Su Fengmao’s family was hiring people to reclaim land for farming. He chose me to work and will pay me five coins daily.”
Old Madam Li was excited, “R-Really?!”
Li Dazhuang nodded. “Yes, it’s true. I’ll start tomorrow morning.”
Old Madam Li happily patted the back of his hand, saying, “That’s great, but you must work hard. Chief Su has been in charge of the village for many years, so his eyes are sharp. He best knows who is hardworking and who is lazy.
“He must’ve seen how hard you’ve worked over these past few years. That’s why he chose you to work this time. Also, five coins daily is a lot of money,” Old
Madam Li always taught her grandchildren to work hard and live good lives.
“Yes, Grandma, I know.”
“Yes, the Su family’s lives keep improving, and they will need more help in the future, so you must work harder. If you attract their attention, they will offer you more jobs like this in the future,” Old Madam Li often saw things from a broad perspective.
When Li Dazhuang heard this, he felt his heart gain strength as he nodded vigorously.
Li Eryang was also happy when she heard this. “I’ll go and cook now.”
Old Madam Li seemed to have thought of something and said, “Go and call your little brother back. Let’s eat together.”
Meanwhile, Lin Chai and his wife, He Shi, lived in a thatched house in another village. The couple had two young sons who relied on them to work the land.
Lin Chai was simple and honest. He also stuttered, so he had low self-esteem and hardly spoke. He worked hard, even though he was not good at speaking, but he could never sell his grain at a reasonable price.
Lin Chai’s family was impoverished, but He Shi, the wife his parents chose, did not mind that their family was poor.
He Shi had a good personality, but her body was weak. Hence, she could not help her husband much in the fields, especially after she gave birth to their third son and her body became weaker.
Still, Lin Chai doted on his wife, and the couple lived happily with each other even though they were poor.
When Lin Chai returned home that day, he happily told his wife that Chief Su had hired him to reclaim land for five coins daily..
