The dirt road in the mountain village is full of wild charm. Sometimes birds fly overhead, sometimes grasshoppers jump out from under your feet.
Ming Xi and her daughters talked and laughed along the way, stopping and walking, and used wild boar meat to pay back the favors they owed in the past.
The last house she went to was the Zhao family.
The Zhao family is a wealthy family in the village, and Uncle Zhao is also the upright person in the village.
For more than a year, in addition to Mingxi's support from her brother and sister-in-law, it was the Lizheng family that lent her the most food, borrowing 3 kilograms of rice, 7 kilograms of brown rice, and 10 kilograms of radishes.
So she brought the most meat to Zhao Lizheng.
At this time, the sun was setting in the west, and the men of the Zhao family were still in the fields and had not returned. Only Aunt Zhao and the second daughter-in-law were at home to look after the children.
Ming Xi walked to the courtyard door with her three daughters. Before she could knock on the door, the Zhao family's dog came out of the ajar door.
Probably because he smelled the smell of pork, the dog waggled its tail at her, looking extremely silly.
Mingxi looked hot and couldn't help but think: When I have my own house in the future, I will also have a dog! Well, get two!
Mingxi had only seen mechanical dogs in the police force before.
As for pet dogs, citizens like her who work more than eight hours are not eligible to own them, because according to federal law, spending too little time with a pet is equivalent to cruelty, which can lead to fines or jail time.
"Who is it?" Aunt Zhao's voice sounded in the courtyard.
Ming Xi calmed down and pushed the door open with a smile: "Auntie, I brought two pieces of wild boar meat for you and Uncle Zhao."
Aunt Zhao was drying beans in the yard and was startled when she saw Mingxi.
Naturally, she also heard anecdotes about the Ming family's killing of wild boars, but the second daughter-in-law was pregnant and it was a critical period, so it was not convenient to join in the fun. She did not expect that Ming Xi would come to deliver the pork in person, which was quite unexpected.
Of course, what's even more surprising is the bright smile on Ming Xi's face. She used to have a bitter look on her face, but compared with now, she is completely different.
"You still have three mouths to feed. You can keep the pork for your own family. I lent you food before and never thought of asking you to pay it back. We all live in the same village, so we should help each other."
Aunt Zhao had a kind face and did not take the pork from Mingxi's hand. Instead, she picked up half the bamboo basket of beans and gave it to Ye'er, saying, "Take this back and eat it."
Ye'er's face turned red and she raised her head to look at Mingxi.
Mingxi was so moved by Aunt Zhao's simplicity, her heart felt warm!
"Just accept it," she took two steps closer, handed the pork over again, and said with a smile, "We already have enough meat at home, and we won't be able to eat any more. It's getting hotter day by day, so we can't keep this meat." Come on, unless it’s salted to make bacon, but we don’t have that much salt at home, so just think of it as a favor and accept it.”
When she said this, Aunt Zhao found it difficult to refuse.
But after accepting the wild boar meat, he habitually taught Ming Xi in the tone of an elder: "Wild boars in the mountains can gore people to death, so you must avoid them when you encounter them in the future. There used to be a hunter in our village who was accidentally gored to death by a wild boar." ... Don’t waste the uneaten wild boar meat. You can sell it to neighbors at a discount. With the money, you can buy pots and pans. It’s best to raise a few chickens. The weather is warm now, and chickens can survive easily. When the chickens grow up, they can lay eggs. Not to mention getting rich, at least they can make a living... People, there are always times when you are confused, but you can't stay confused. You have to plan for your children. Only if you stand up, will your children be able to make a living. You won’t suffer.”
Mingxi nodded repeatedly, "Yeah, yeah, you said, I'll ask who has chicks later."
Aunt Zhao: “…………”
It's really unaccustomed to suddenly become so obedient.
But since she was willing to listen to the advice, she would have to say a few more words.
Aunt Zhao cleared her throat and asked Mingxi: "You used to cry all day long, so I never had the chance to ask, what are you going to do in the future? Do you have any rules in mind?"
Ming Xi blinked and replied somewhat confusedly: "Uh... I didn't think about it."
Aunt Zhao's expression suddenly became stern, and she seemed to hate that iron cannot become steel.
Mingxi quickly asked humbly: "Please give me some advice!"
"Of course it is a female household." Aunt Zhao said seriously, "I remember that you were good at embroidery before you were married. It happened that you set up a female household and went to the embroidery workshop in the county to find a job. By the way, you could also teach your three daughters. As long as you, mother and daughter, work together, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome."
Mingxi shook her head like a rattle, "No, no, I think our village is pretty good! I want to live in the village with Ye'er, Manjing, and Xiaoxue."
"You want to live in the village?" Aunt Zhao was stunned, thinking that this young lady from the Ming family has been haunted since she was divorced. Isn't it just because she misses returning to the county? Why don't you want to go back now?
"Yes, our village is so nice, with mountains and rivers and beautiful scenery." Mingxi smiled, "When I make money, I will buy a piece of land in the village, build a new house, raise a few chickens and dogs, and breed Order radish and cabbage, hey~ It makes me happy just thinking about it.”
Aunt Zhao was silent.
She thought of the half-dead vegetable patch in Mingxi's yard, and then glanced at Mingxi's delicate hands that had never done farm work before. Finally, her eyes silently turned to the three girls who couldn't carry their shoulders...
If you go to the county town, you can at least make money by embroidering and tailoring, but in the village, men are the serious labor force. With one woman and three female dolls, it can be said that Mingxi has stacked up all the negative things.
Aunt Zhao didn't know whether to call her whimsical or courageous.
"Female household still has to be handled." Mingxi smiled at Aunt Zhao, "When Uncle Zhao comes back, you can ask for me and see how to handle this female household, so that I can get ready."
"Okay." Aunt Zhao nodded, "I'll ask him when he comes back. It's better to do it quickly. The court will collect the household tax soon, and you will have to count your head if you live in the village."
"Then I'll thank you in advance!" Mingxi picked up the bamboo basket in Ye'er's hand and said with a smile, "And these beans, thank you too. You're busy, I'm taking the kids back."
Aunt Zhao walked them to the door, "Slow down on the road, I will give you an accurate message tomorrow at the latest."
Mingxi thanked her again and left happily with her daughters.
Aunt Zhao closed the courtyard door, turned around and saw her second daughter-in-law leading her little granddaughter out of the back room. The second daughter-in-law asked, "Mom, is this the divorced Ming wife who came just now?"
"Yes, she sent two hangings of wild boar meat." Aunt Zhao replied.
The second daughter-in-law was surprised, "I almost didn't recognize her. She has changed a lot."
Aunt Zhao was also puzzled, "It's true that the changes are a bit big, but no matter what, if she continues to cry endlessly, those girls at Ye'er will suffer a lot."
The second daughter-in-law nodded in agreement.
When Zhao Lizheng and his two sons came back from the fields, Aunt Zhao mentioned the matter of establishing a female household to Zhao Lizheng.
Zhao Lizheng was silent for a long time, then sighed and said, "This is not easy to handle."
