The harvest in Xiaxi Village was pretty good this year, and they also harvested a few more tons of grain. An Ran sold the old grain and kept all the new grain.
Old Dingtou drove the donkey cart and safely took Mrs. Ding to the town. Today, Xiao Shitou's friend had a birthday, so Xiao Shitou took a few boiled eggs and went to the village in the morning.
After Sister Chen sent everyone away, she opened the door and plowed the vegetable patch again at home. Now she just happened to plant some cabbage for winter consumption.
The three of them arrived at the entrance of the village and picked up a few people from the village who were going to the town. There were more people, chatting and laughing, and it didn't feel like they were far away all the way there.
When they arrived in town, An Ran and Mrs. Ding first bought some cloth, needlework, and then went to the grain store to buy some fine flour, salt and oil. ?.?????.???
The last drug store An Ran went to.
Over the past few years, Enron and drug stores have become very familiar.
"Sister-in-law An, you are here. How many medicinal materials have you brought today?" Someone familiar came up to greet An Ran immediately.
An Ran smiled and said: "Let Mr. Liu take a look. The medicinal materials are growing well this year. I think this batch of shopkeepers will be satisfied."
The shopkeeper came over, checked the medicinal materials in An Ran's basket, and said, "Sister-in-law An is an honest person. She doesn't have to choose what she brings every time. She goes down to weigh it and weigh the money."
An Ran thanked the shopkeeper with a smile, took out a pair of shoes from the bag, and said, "I have been taking care of the old shopkeeper in the past few years. Every time he comes to deliver medicinal materials, he never beats my price. The little woman is really grateful. I will take the time to make a pair of shoes, so don’t let me disapprove."
Shopkeeper Liu laughed. Sister-in-law An was such an honest person. She took the shoes and said, "We are all acquaintances, so I won't be polite."
Then he asked: "Why didn't your little stone come with you today?"
An Ran smiled and said: "His little friend has his birthday today. He went early in the morning, otherwise he would have been clamoring to come. Two days ago, he said he would come to see you, compare his wrists with you, and see if he looks good. Stay strong."
Shopkeeper Liu chuckled, "This kid, in a few years, I really won't be able to defeat him."
An Ran brought Xiao Shitou here. Xiao Shitou knew from his mother that shopkeeper Liu took good care of his family and paid his mother a lot of money for the medicinal materials. He immediately coaxed the old shopkeeper into a happy mood with his sweet words.
Every time he would bring some snacks and secretly give them to shopkeeper Liu, which made the old shopkeeper laugh with his goatee raised, so he became more and more fond of this boy.
This time I paid more than five taels of silver. An Ran thanked shopkeeper Liu with a smile and left the pharmacy.
Waiting for people from the same village at the entrance of the town, he drove back home.
It was already past lunch time when they got home. Sister Chen steamed vegetable buns, cooked porridge, and mixed cold dishes for them.
An Ran and the others had just finished eating when they heard a knock on the door.
Old Dingtou opened the door and saw that it was Aunt Hua, the eldest daughter-in-law of the house. An Ran hurriedly asked Aunt Hua to sit down in the room.
Seeing that Aunt Hua was leaving in a hurry, Sister Chen brought a bowl of water and asked An Ran: "Auntie, what's going on? But something is wrong."
Aunt Hua gasped and said: "I heard in the village today that the Ding family in Fucheng was doing something in the county. There were people in our village doing odd jobs there, so they casually told you about it. I heard I didn’t even go home after that, but I came to you first. If the people of the Ding family in Fucheng knew about this, they would definitely not let you leave the child behind."
An Ran was stunned, "Don't the Ding family live in Fucheng?"
Aunt Hua said: "I heard that he is a servant of his family. He is doing something in the county. After finishing the work, he returned to the capital. Can you not tell the boss?"
Mrs. Ding also came over at this time and said angrily: "Who is the one who insists on causing trouble for grandma?"
Aunt Hua said hurriedly: "Don't worry about who said it, think of a solution first. The Ding family knows that they are coming to pick someone up, so you have to prepare in advance."
An Ran said coldly: "So what if we are prepared? Can we escape from the Ding family or can we fight against the Ding family?"
Aunt Hua also sighed and said, "You can make up your own mind, I'll go back first."
An Ran sat blankly in the chair, feeling weak all over.
Mrs. Ding also said anxiously: "Then, if the Ding family knows that someone will definitely come, maybe it will be just in the next few days. Grandma, you can make up your mind."
An Ran said to Mrs. Ding: "Go to the village and ask Xiao Shitou to come back. I have to tell him about this in advance, otherwise no one can comfort him because of his temper."
Mrs. Ding agreed and turned back to the village.
An Ran looked at Sister Chen again, "Sister Chen, life is difficult in the Ding family mansion, and I don't want you to suffer too."
Sister Chen actually smiled, "Grandma, I've been here with you for five years. I have nowhere else to go but you. No matter whether the days ahead are hard or tiring, just take me with you. I can't live without you." Leave you and Xiaoshi."
When An Ran saw Sister Chen saying this, she stopped forcing him. He said: "In the past two days, we have sold all the chickens in our yard, buried half of the grain in the cellar, and sold the rest. There is nothing left in other homes."
Sister Chen said: "Why do you still need to sell grain?"
"Life is hard in the big house. We need some cash on hand. This half of the food is enough for a few of us to eat for a year."
Sister Chen said: "Okay, I will go find Uncle Ding now."
Xiao Shitou came back quickly, trotting all the way, leaving Mrs. Ding far behind.
When he got home, he jumped up and hugged his mother's neck with both hands. An Ran held Xiaoshi Shitou's butt with one hand and held him steady.
