The mule cart swayed up a gentle slope and arrived in front of Zhang's house.
The Zhang family who were eating in the yard were shocked when they saw the mule cart.
Zhang Hugua hurriedly opened the courtyard gate and let the mule cart drive in.
Zhang Digua, the driver, drove the mule cart into the yard and stopped, then jumped out of the carriage and said, "Mom, Dad, we are back!"
What he saw was his third son and his family coming back. Zhang Laodou also guessed that they would be coming back in the next few days. After all, they had not seen each other for a long time, and they were still a little worried about them.
"Why did you get home at this hour? You haven't eaten yet. Hurry, come over and eat first."
Old Mrs. Deng hurriedly directed Zhang Lihua and Zhang Zaohua to go to the stove room to get the dishes and chopsticks.
And those who got off the mule cart one after another were Mrs. Liu, Zhang Xinghua and Zhang Bai who were dressed in pink skirts and had peach-like faces.
Zhang Digua strode towards the dining table, while answering what Zhang Lao Dou said, "We rushed home after the shop closed in the afternoon. Isn't it just this time? We haven't eaten yet. The fourth brother and sister made it today.
What? It smells so appetizing!"
The three Lius also came over and called people one by one. The Zhang family's courtyard was filled with excitement.
Old Yuan had almost finished digesting his food. When he saw Zhang Digua and his family coming back, he must have something to talk about, so he stopped standing in the yard and hurriedly winked and asked Song Qiu to follow him into the house.
Song Qiu looked away from the other side and followed Old Yuan into the house without saying much.
It was still early, so they definitely couldn't sleep. After washing their faces and feet, the grandfather and grandson sat in the stove talking and passing the time.
Song Qiu couldn't help but smile as she thought about Zhang Lihua winking at her when she was taking the dishes and chopsticks.
The kitchen door was closed, and the buzzing of insects outside was deafening. I could only hear voices in the Zhang family's yard, but I couldn't make out what was said clearly.
Naturally, you can't hear what's being said in the stove room from outside.
"Nai, I heard from Lihua that Uncle Digua and the others want to send Sister Xinghua to the palace for a talent show. They said they need money. I guess they will come back today to get the money."
Old Yuan had already dragged Song Qiu into the house that day, so he didn't know what Zhang Hugua said later. Song Qiu also learned about it from Zhang Lihua's mouth, and he had just mentioned it to Old Yuan.
When Old Yuan heard that it turned out that Zhang Digua and his wife were planning such a thing, he was also shocked. Without thinking, he said: "For a family like ours, it is not a blessing to enter the palace draft. Xinghua is beautiful.
But I can’t tell what will happen next.”
"Isn't it better than marrying an ordinary person, being a girl with a flat head, loving your husband and wife, and living a down-to-earth life?"
Old Yuan said a few words, and when she saw her granddaughter nodding her head in agreement, she couldn't help but laugh. Her granddaughter is still young, what do you know? But if she can listen to what she said, that's good.
"You, Grandma Deng, and the others may still be able to get some money. Since they all have this idea, we can't say anything. Is it such a close relationship, or do we hope that Xinghua will have a good ending along the way? Zhang
Can we have a good family, right?"
This is true. Since they have made up their mind to send it in, as close neighbors, they naturally want to wish Xinghua the best. At least, they will not cause trouble and save their lives, which is better than nothing else?
But you can't say it so harshly. What if a piece of apricot blossom has that fate?
Blessing is something you can't say for sure.
Song Qiu nodded, but couldn't help but said: "There is money, but who earns it? They are all granddaughters. Sister Xinghua dresses so well, and Lihua wears clothes to mend scars, and she doesn't even eat meat.
.”
Old Yuan knew that she and Lihua had been on good terms since childhood, and they were as close as sisters. Naturally, they were attracted to Lihua, so he sighed: "Every family has sutras that are difficult to recite."
Song Qiu saw that her grandma didn't seem to want to talk more about it. Thinking about it, her grandma and Grandma Deng were almost like sisters.
Every family has sutras that are difficult to recite. As she advised Lihua, just work hard and save money. This is more practical.
It was getting light the next day, and Song Qiu went out to work with a basket on his back. As soon as he left the yard, Zhang Lihua happened to come out too, carrying a basket on his back. The two of them bumped into each other and went up the mountain together.
On the way, Zhang Lihua inevitably murmured to Song Qiu, "My third uncle and the others came back yesterday asking for money. My grandparents both fell in love, and they asked for fifty taels of silver!"
The money Zhang Laodou brought back in the early years is long gone. Otherwise, it would be impossible for Zhang Hugua not to have a shop for him when he comes here.
These fifty taels of silver were all earned by Zhang Donggua and Chen from working as long-term workers in the Cheng family.
Calculating the years, they have worked in the Cheng family for fifteen years, which is eight taels a year, and they get back a lot of money.
In the early years, Zhang Xiangye got married with wages, and the dowry was very impressive.
I have slowly saved up over the years, but now I have fifty taels to take out, and I'm afraid there won't be much left.
If Zhang Hugua wants to open a shop, he may have to wait for several years.
Zhang Lihua thought about how her fourth uncle and his wife didn't say anything yesterday and were still happy to see the result. She couldn't help but sigh. She knew that the matter of getting the money was a certainty. How could she change anything?
"Although you are right, Aqiu, the money in my grandma's hands is not ours to spend. Who uses it and how it is used? What difference does it make? I just think about my parents getting up early all year round.
It's so hard and I don't even have a break, I feel a little angry just thinking about it."
"Even if Sister Xinghua is selected in the draft and becomes promising, our house will not be able to benefit from it. This means that even though we have worked hard, we will not be able to thank you. It is really boring."
Song Qiu patted her shoulder to express comfort, but she didn't know what to say otherwise.
Fortunately, Zhang Lihua had always been open-minded. She just muttered a few words and quickly adjusted herself.
"Aqiu, you are right! I can't count on my parents' wages. I still have to work hard and save money to find a wife for my brother and a dowry for myself!"
Zhang Lihua raised her arms high and looked full of enthusiasm.
Song Qiu almost cut his nose because of her suddenly raised elbow. He quickly covered his face and moved half a step to the side. Seeing Zhang Lihua like this, he couldn't help but said: "By the way, your brother hasn't been back for a long time, right?"
Zhang Yang had a temper that refused to be disciplined, and Old Deng couldn't control him at all. Zhang and Old Dou were too lazy to take care of him, so he knew how to run and jump. He had a temper that was fearless, and he couldn't run around anywhere.
After I turned ten years old, I ran away a lot, and it was common for me to come back every ten days and a half.
This time it's better, I'm afraid I haven't been back for two months.
Zhang Lihua was stunned when Song Qiu mentioned this, and then she became worried, "Aqiu, do you think nothing will happen to my brother?"
Song Qiu retrieved Zhang Yang's deeds from his memory and felt that it was hard to tell. From the perspective of future generations, this person would be just a little gangster.
This is the ancient time when human life is as small as grass. It doesn't matter if you offend any rich kid, or if you are killed and his body is thrown into the wilderness.
But looking at Zhang Lihua's worried look, Song Qiu opened his mouth and said: "You still don't know that your brother, who was abducted by human traffickers at such a young age, can then trick the traffickers into taking him to the county government and throw himself into the trap, so