"You're too polite. Is it worth bringing a few seeds?" Zhen said as she scooped up the seeds.
The village chief's wife said sternly: "Big strong lady, you're kind of asking for no money for your seeds. What are we doing here begging for nothing?"
"That's right, that's right. What's going on?" The other little wives agreed.
"I can't ask for your seeds in vain." When the village chief's wife saw Xiao Fuyuan coming in with a small schoolbag on her back, she pulled her over, touched her body with a piece of silk satin in her hand, and said with a smile, "This color makes her beautiful." Xiao Yuanbao, ask your mother to make you a dress to wear."
The piece of satin that the village chief's wife took was brought back to her parents' home by her daughter, and she gave it to Xiao Fuyuan.
She didn't feel any pain at all.
If a drought occurs in Shenshu Village and is not handled properly, her man will be the first to be sacrificed to heaven.
Now that she has drought-tolerant swallows and millet, her husband will no longer have to worry about it, and maybe she will win the favor of the county magistrate.
As for whether the yan millet can be planted, she is not worried at all. The seeds that Xiao Fuyuan has touched are necessary for a good harvest, not to mention surviving.
She is more confident than the village chief in this regard.
"Thank you, Mrs. Zhao." Xiao Fuyuan smiled dimpled at the eager eyes of the village chief's wife.
"Xiao Yuanbao, you love to eat cherries. Your brother Qingpi went to the back mountain to pick these." Xia Qingpi's daughter-in-law Zheng smiled and placed a basket of bright red juicy cherries at Xiao Fuyuan's feet.
"Thank you, sister-in-law." Xiao Fuyuan said with a smile.
Although the Bai and Xia families do not interact with each other, their relationship has gradually become less tense over the years. Xia Qingpi and Bai Dazhuang started talking because of the private school matter. Xia Qingpi's daughter-in-law, Zheng, had a good relationship with Xie Chuntao in the past, and the two began to interact in private in the past year.
"Xiao Yuanbao, Auntie doesn't have anything good at home. I'll bring you a basket of eggs laid by the chickens at home." Auntie Hu placed a basket of local eggs in the yard.
"Aunt Hu, if you don't want the eggs, please help Brother Hu to replenish his body." Xiao Fuyuan shook his head and said.
Life in Mrs. Hu's family was difficult, and her only son was in poor health. Xiao Fuyuan has a sense of propriety in accepting gifts. A piece of cloth is nothing if Village Chief Zhao's family has a good life, and it is not difficult for Xia Qingpi's family to live a good life with a basket of cherries. But Mrs. Hu's eggs have to be saved and sold, and Xiao Fuyuan will not be able to live with her conscience.
"Oh, Xiao Yuanbao, you are so sensible. Auntie is not a stingy person. I will feel bad for taking your seed for nothing." Aunt Hu was touched by Xiao Fuyuan's thoughtfulness.
"Okay, I'll accept it then. Thank you, Mrs. Hu." Xiao Fuyuan carried the egg to Zhen's feet.
Mrs. Zhen touched her head, Xiao Fuyuan whispered a few words in Mrs. Zhen's ear, and Mrs. Zhen nodded with a smile.
Aunt Hu had just arrived home after taking the seeds. Bai Zhaomei put a large bag of wheat in front of Aunt Hu's feet and ran away.
"My sister said I would exchange this wheat for my aunt's eggs."
Aunt Hu chased her out, but Bai Zhaomei had already disappeared.
"Xiao Yuanbao is really a troublesome child."
Aunt Hu wiped her eyes. Her family only had a little food left over from last year, and sold it all to give her son medical treatment and medicine. The family's food supply was almost at the bottom, but she didn't expect that this year's wheat had not yet headed.
"Sister-in-law Chuntao, I put the tofu for Xiao Yuanbao in the kitchen." You Qingya said after taking the seeds.
"Thank you, Sister Qingya. I'll give you something later."
Xiaofu Yuantian smiled and ran into the house. When she came out, she held a copybook in her hand and handed it to You Qingya, saying, "Brother Xiaoying bought it. My fifth brother and I both have it. This copy is for you."
You Qingya now goes to private schools to attend classes when she has time, and now she knows many words. She was reluctant to spend money to buy copybooks, so she secretly wrote on branches by the river. Wu Xiaoying saw her handwriting and said her handwriting was ugly. She was so angry that she ignored Wu Xiaoying for several days.
Eugene Gui sat on the porch munching cucumbers with her big belly. She was about to give birth.
Everyone in the village firmly said that she was giving birth to a girl, saying that the pregnancy was the same as when her mother was pregnant with the seven sisters.
Eugene Gui started to tremble again.
When she saw You Qingya bringing a whole fan of tofu to the kitchen, she cursed in her heart.
This girl, instead of telling her to eat, gave the tofu to Xiao Fuyuan by name. She didn't know whose sister she was, and her elbows were turned outwards.
You Qingya held the copybook in one hand and the seeds in the other. When she stepped out of the gate of Lao Bai's house, she saw You Mazi's daughter Zhaodi lingering at the door.
"What are you doing here?" You Qingya asked.
You Mazi was suspected of human trafficking and was exiled. His wife Hu returned home and did nothing all day long. All the household chores fell on her daughter You Zhaodi.
"Liu Gu, let me get the seeds." You Zhaodi said evasively.
She has been here for a long time and dare not enter the Bai family gate.
She knew that her own father almost harmed little Fuyuan, and her mother scolded the old Bai family at home all day long. The old Bai family would definitely not be willing to give her seeds.
Her family's land is suffering from the most severe drought in the entire Shenshu Village. Other people's fields can be plowed, but her family's land cannot be plowed.
Her mother said there was nothing to be afraid of. The worst possible outcome would be to live with Father You in the future.
You Zhaodi didn't think so. Firstly, she was afraid of You Qingya, and secondly, she had planted the land at home, and she couldn't bear to let it go to waste.
So I thought again and again about going to Lao Bai's house to get the seeds, but I didn't dare to go in when I got to the door.
"Okay, don't go in, I'll give you some," You Qingya said.
You Zhaodi nodded.
"Sister Qingya."
Little Fuyuan ran over, holding a small cloth bag in her hand, came to You Zhaodi, handed it to her and said, "Here are the seeds for you."
You Qingya looked at Xiao Fuyuan in surprise.
You Zhaodi's eyes were red, she lowered her head, took out two duck eggs from her pocket, looked towards her home, quickly handed them to Xiao Fuyuan, and whispered: "I only have these for you in exchange."
Just as Xiao Fuyuan was about to take the duck egg, she touched You Zhaodi's hand. Her hands were red and swollen from working, and they were not as rough as a child's.
"You Zhaodi, did you die outside? Why did you stay out for so long, I'm starving to death, why don't you hurry back home and cook." You Zhaodi's younger brother You Genzhu stood aside and yelled fiercely.
You Zhaodi's fingertips trembled.
You Genzhu also attends a private school. Xiao Fuyuan hates him very much. He often bullies the little girls in the village and is arrogant and unreasonable.
"You Zhaodi, what are you holding in your hand? Have you stolen the duck eggs at home again?" You Genzhu looked at the two duck eggs in You Zhaodi's hand with a squinting look on his face.
"I want the duck eggs." Xiao Fu Yuan Nai made a fierce face, "If your family wants my seeds, they have to exchange duck eggs. If you don't want to give them, be careful, I will let my fifth brother beat you."
You Genzhu didn't dare to say anything when he heard Xiao Fuyuan's harsh words. He had pulled Xiao Fuyuan's pigtails in school before, and was lifted up and thrown to the ground by Bai Zhaomei, who beat him violently. He was afraid of being beaten and trembled when he saw Xiao Fuyuan.
"It's none of your business, get out of here." You Qingya scolded him with a straight face.
"You Zhaodi, wait until you get home and get beaten." You Genzhu walked towards home unconvinced. His sister was tired of living and dared to give the duck eggs from home to Xiao Fuyuan. Did he agree with it?
You Zhaodi sniffed, Xiao Fuyuan handed the duck egg to her, but she pushed it back without wanting it.
"Xiao Yuanbao, thank you." You Zhaodi's eyes were red, she took the seeds and lowered her head and left.
(End of chapter)
