After much stumbling and stumbling, the Su family finally settled down in Tubeishan.
Ten days passed by in the blink of an eye.
During this period, the Su family also got to know Tubei Village somewhat.
The people who live here are people who were exiled from various places to open up wasteland.
The mean woman who met them first had only two people in her family. Her husband's surname was Huo, and he was not in good health. He stayed at home all day long. When they were not farming, they went to and from Fengyun City to do some small business. They were in Tubei Village. A dozen or so households are living a good life.
As for others, they struggle on the verge of death every day and live a decadent and numb life.
There is no hope at all in this place.
Seeing the beginning of spring, the Su family looked at the bare Tu Beishan behind the house and felt worried.
Opening up wasteland and cultivating land to support a family is not something you can just do.
They now have neither farm tools nor seeds, and it is difficult for a clever woman to make a meal without rice.
Old man Su squatted under the eaves of the hall door, frowning, "The snow on the mountains has almost melted. After the good time for spring plowing, if you want to open the land for farming, you won't be able to make it in time."
Old woman Su was helpless in the face of this situation.
During this time, the family's survival depended entirely on the things the granddaughter brought out.
If the ground cannot be planted in the spring and there will be no food for the next year, do we have to rely on our granddaughter to support them for a year or two, or for a lifetime?
What's that thing called?
She had already made up her mind not to ask for anything from her granddaughter until she could support her family.
She was really afraid of ruining her granddaughter's fortune.
Even if Tianbao has it, they can't keep asking for it, and they can't take it for granted.
It should be their responsibility as elders to support their families and children.
"Old man, look at the kids at home, I'll go next door." Old woman Su straightened her clothes and prepared to go out.
He hesitated for a moment before going out, then returned to the kitchen and took out a handful of dried fish from the bag hanging in the corner.
Since the yard of the house was built, the granddaughter started playing the throwing game again. Every day they could pull out big and small fish that kept beating out from every corner of the house, as well as hares and pheasants stuffed into bags...
There was too much for the whole family to eat, so they had to secretly air-dry and bake these good things so that they could be preserved longer.
I was going to visit each other to ask for help. After weighing it, Old Madam Su took some out, so that it would be easier for her to speak.
Mrs. Su put the dried fish in a small cloth bag and went directly to Huo's house, which was closest to her home.
When he reached the courtyard gate, he raised his voice and shouted inside, "Is Madam Huo at home?"
The sound of footsteps soon came from inside, and the closed courtyard door creaked open a crack. Huo leaned against the door and raised his eyebrows, "What's the matter?"
Old Mrs. Su didn't mind her attitude. She looked around and saw that no one was paying attention. She quickly put a bag of things in her arms into Huo's hands and said with a smile, "Ms. Huo, I'm sorry to bother you. I'm here." I want to ask you something."
The things in his hands were heavy, and he could smell the fragrance of fish through the cloth bag. Huo's eyes moved, and his face seemed to improve, "Hey! Why are you so polite to neighbors from far away? Just ask whatever you want to ask! I know. I definitely won’t leave anything behind!”
"You see, spring won't start soon. My family is worried about clearing up wasteland. Madam Huo, I would like to ask those who come here to open up wasteland. Where can I get the farm tools and crop seeds?"
"Tsk! This is a bit difficult to handle." Mrs. Huo glanced at the things in her hands, hesitated, pulled Old Mrs. Su into the door, closed the door again, and then spoke openly, "Auntie, let me tell you the truth, what do you want to do?" I can find a set of farm tools for you by looking around the surrounding area, but you have to go to the city to buy the crop seeds, and the price is not low."
"Why is it so difficult to plant a field?"
"Tubei Mountain is also divided into hills. There are countless fields in Zhuangzi under the hands of some powerful people. What they lack are workers, so they have gathered all the crop seeds and cannot buy them from outside. The people who came to open up wasteland have no seeds to plant and cannot earn money to eat. Yes, in order to survive, I can only end up working as a tenant for those families, do you understand?"
Old woman Su was speechless.
Huo made it so clear, how could she still not understand?
There are people who are unkind and want to treat people like beasts just for the sake of wealth!
Working as a tenant, you have to work very hard all year round, not to mention making enough food and clothing, and you may end up owing rent to your employer! This kind of thing happens everywhere.
In the eyes of the rich, tenants are worse than dogs!
For the sake of the package of fish, Huo's words were a little more sincere, "Moreover, even if you get crop seeds, what you grow in the end may not fall into your own hands. Tu Beishan is not easy to deal with. There are jackals everywhere, otherwise you would think that such a big area behind is completely deserted? It’s not that no one wants to plant it, it’s that no one dares to plant it. After planting, they are all snatched away, and the powerless people cry every day. The spirit can only be slaughtered by others."
Old woman Su turned pale and trembled her lips, "...Does the court just not care?"
"The imperial court? Tsk! The imperial court has given up on this place a long time ago and has no control over it. This place is not as simple as you think."
The door of Huo's courtyard opened and closed. Mrs. Huo opened the small cloth bag and saw the dried fish inside. Each one was well-proportioned and beautiful in color. She grinned happily, "My boss, I'll prepare something delicious for you tonight!"
A suppressed cough came from the room, "Cough cough cough! What good stuff?"
Huo stepped into the house and showed the things to the man, "Fish! Dried fish! Everyone looked like beggars when the Su family came. They didn't know how to hide the good things, but I didn't find it!"
"It is indeed a good thing. The Su family can take it as a thank you and as a sign of trust." The man coughed twice and sighed softly, "You just scared people."
"I'm just telling the truth. Do I want to be obedient and fool them?" The woman disagreed.
It's not that she doesn't know how to say nice things, but what's the use of saying it no matter how nice it is? Reality cannot be glossed over with nice words.
But the Su family is really in trouble.
How many children do you have to feed? Tsk.
"I see that this family is grateful. If you can help, please help."
"Okay, okay, I got it, you're the only one who talks a lot! Do you want to eat dried fish?"
"Eat, I'll cook it for you."
"Stay! I'll do it!"
The woman gave the man a dirty look and asked him to cook. The smoke from the stove was not enough to make him choke, so she couldn't help but feel sorry for her?
The corners of the man's lips moved, and a low smile escaped from his mouth.
On the other side, Mrs. Su returned home in despair. When she entered the yard, she saw an old man sitting under the eaves looking after his children, and four little ones who were smiling and carefree. The emotions in her heart suddenly became unbearable, and she squatted down. I burst into tears when I came down.
Old man Su was so frightened that he stood up and rushed to the old woman to help her up. His voice trembled with anxiety, "What is this? Are you being bullied?!"
Su An's three cubs were also frightened by Grandma. They all rushed over to hug the old woman's feet and kept calling Grandma.
"Old man, what should I do, old man? I can't get the seeds. Even if I get them, it's useless. I can't plant them. I can't plant them. Ugh!"
