Qingchuan City is rich in the east and wealthy in the west, while South Street and North Street are where common people live.
North Street is even worse than South Street. It is mostly where servants of big houses live or houses rented by people who come to the city to do odd jobs.
The Liu family also lives on North Street.
A row of low-rise buildings, small and cramped. The small alley is a bit dirty, and there is an unpleasant smell in the air.
Yue Zhongyao has been here several times, and every time he comes back, he feels an unspeakable sense of guilt.
If Father Liu was still here, why would they, orphans and widowers, move here from South Street?
Before Liu's father's conquest, he was very strong. Although he worked odd jobs here and there, he could still afford to send his only son to school, so that his family of four could have enough food and clothing.
Now the mother and daughter are working everywhere, just so that the last bloodline of the Liu family can have some future, so that Liu's father can feel at ease underground.
"Brother Yue, come in quickly. Could it be that you can't recognize your home?"
Liu Meiniang smiled and raised her hand to Yue Zhongyao from the door.
Yue Zhongyao smiled at Liu Meiniang and raised his legs to cross the threshold.
A very small courtyard, two rooms, a kitchen, and the courtyard wall is shared with the next door.
It can be seen that the neighboring houses were originally a whole, but were later divided and rented out to simple and poor families like the Liu family.
"Mom, Brother Yue is here." Liu Meiniang shouted in the courtyard.
The old wooden door creaked, and Mother Liu hurriedly walked out.
"Is it Zhong Yao here? Come inside and warm yourself up. The wind is blowing again today."
After Liu's mother said to Yue Zhongyao, she said angrily to Liu Meiniang: "You kid. Why did you bring your brother Yue over at this time? Are you delaying business?"
Yue Zhongyao smiled at Liu Mu and said, "Auntie, don't blame her. I just came back from a neighboring county today and after completing my official duties, the county magistrate allowed me to rest for a day. I was just about to go back to my dormitory to rest."
Mother Liu smiled a little more after hearing this.
He also ordered Liu Meiniang to go to the kitchen to prepare meals, and asked Yue Zhongyao to stay here for dinner.
"Where's Youwen?"
Yue Zhongyao scanned the courtyard and did not see Liu Youwen.
The smile on Liu's mother's face became even brighter, as long as she was thinking about Youwen.
"He's still in school right now. He won't get out of school for another hour. If he knew that his elder brother-in-law was coming to see him, he might be able to sneak back secretly."
Mother Liu said with a smile as she led Yue Zhongyao into the room where Liu Youwen lived.
Their home only has two rooms.
The mother and daughter lived in one room, and Liu Youwen lived in a room alone.
There was no flower hall for entertaining guests, not even a main room. When Yue Zhongyao came, he could only sit in Liu Youwen's room.
After all, the room the mother and daughter lived in was not very convenient.
Not to mention the flower hall for entertaining guests, Liu Youwen didn't even have a study room even if he wanted. Moreover, the neighbors were noisy all day long. After moving here, Liu Youwen couldn't calm down and study at all.
Liu's mother had no choice but to let him stay in the school. Every day after school, Liu Youwen was the last one to leave. Fortunately, his husband saw that he was diligent in studying and did not chase him away, so he could always stay in the school.
I didn’t go home until I finished my homework for the day.
Even in the school, Xiu Mu and Liu Youwen carried books to the school to study.
Mother Liu sighed when she thought of this.
Although there is fifty taels of pension money from Liu's father, it is a life-saving money for the family, and they still have to save it for their son to take the exam. In addition, they have to prepare for their daughter's dowry.
She wished she could spend one penny into two or three pence.
Moving here is not just to get cheaper rent.
That's why she thought about settling her daughter's marriage as soon as possible. With the help of her son-in-law, at least the family's situation would be much better. And if there was someone in the family to support the family, they, the orphans and widowed mothers, would not be bullied.
Where in this world is there a quiet place for widows and orphans?
Liu Youwen's room was very small, with a small bed and a pile of books stacked on the side of the bed. There were no bookshelves.
The bed was only big enough for one person, so it was difficult to turn over at will.
There is a desk and a chair at the head of the bed, and two long benches are propped up against the wall at the end of the bed. There is also a box cage.
Apart from this, there are no other furnishings.
Although there were few things, the room still seemed crowded. There was no room for even an extra chair.
Yue Zhongyao glanced at the room and the books placed by Liu Youwen on the desk, then sat on the only chair with his head lowered.
"Youwen is still studying at night?"
"That's right. The child said that it's noisy during the day, so it's quieter at night. I'm even worried that the child's eyesight will be damaged."
Mother Liu said as she sat on Liu Youwen's bed.
Then he poured a cup of hot boiling water for Yue Zhongyao, and he felt quite sorry when he handed it out.
"This is the only condition our family has, and we can't afford tea. Zhongyao, just be more patient."
Yue Zhongyao held the rough porcelain cup and warmed his hands, and said to Liu Mu: "This is very good. I don't have tea at home to entertain guests. When New Year guests come, they can only get a cup of sugar water at most."
After saying that, he smiled.
Mrs. Liu nodded and said, "Yes, people like us don't have to do that kind of thing of making a fool of ourselves."
He looks like a fellow-minded person. This is good and won't be embarrassing.
Mother Liu paused and then said: "During the Chinese New Year, I wanted to take Mei Niang and Youwen to pay you New Year greetings, but I didn't know that I was sick during the New Year, and my two children were worried about me, so they didn't even come to visit me.
Elders wish you a happy new year."
Yue Zhongyao shook his head, looked at Mrs. Liu and said, "Auntie is feeling better? Do you want me to ask the doctor to take a look?"
Mother Liu quickly waved her hands and said angrily: "Why do you need to spend money on a doctor? Just lie down and drink a few cups of hot water. There is no need to spend money."
Yue Zhongyao then said: "You can't avoid asking a doctor because you are afraid of spending money. This minor illness can turn into a serious illness. Next time you feel unwell, you should ask a doctor to come to your home."
Mother Liu smiled and nodded.
The two sat across from each other and exchanged a few words.
During the interval, Mother Liu saw that Yue Zhongyao had stopped talking and was raising a glass of water. After thinking about it, she said again: "Zhongyao, your mother came to see us some years ago. She ate the food cooked by our mother and was full of praises. She was still talking when she left.
He held our beautiful lady’s hand and wouldn’t let go, and said he didn’t know when he would be so lucky again.”
After speaking, Ms. Liu covered her mouth and laughed.
Then he said to Yue Zhongyao: "Your mother must have told you so, right?"
Yue Zhongyao slowly put down his teacup. His mother had naturally told him so.
His mother even asked him when he would marry Liu Meiniang home.
only……
How was he going to say it?
Looking at the family, whose situation has become worse and worse due to the death of Liu's father, Liu Youwen, whose husband praised his talent in reading, is about to drop out of school due to lack of food...
How should he say it?
But what about Jin Niang?
Let Wan'er call someone else her father. It would be better to kill him directly.
Every time he thought of his soft and sweet daughter calling someone else her daddy, smiling and waiting for someone to hug her, he felt like a knife.
It would be better to die on the battlefield with corpses everywhere.
"Aunt, I..."
Looking at Ms. Liu who looked at him expectantly, Yue Zhongyao opened his mouth several times, not knowing how to speak.
"Brother Yue."
Just when he was in a dilemma, he heard Liu Meiniang standing at the door of the room with a smile and calling him.
Before Yue Zhongyao could finish his words, he was interrupted by Liu Meiniang.
He breathed a sigh of relief for no reason.
"Mom, please help me go to the kitchen and see what delicious food I can cook for Brother Yue." Mrs. Liu said to Liu's mother.
There was a hint of daughterly coquettishness in her words.
Mrs. Liu glanced at her daughter, and she naturally saw the pleading in her eyes. This girl didn't know what she was going to say to Zhong Yao when she pushed her away.
However, it's good that the two of them have something to talk about. Only in this way will they be in love with each other after they get married. He smiled and gave Liu Meiniang some instructions, then got up and went out.
Yue Zhongyao looked at Liu Meiniang sitting on the bed and said to her, "Meiniang has something to say to me?"
Liu Meiniang tilted her head and said with a smile: "How did Brother Yue know that I had something to say? Could it be the roundworm in my stomach?"
Yue Zhongyao smiled but did not answer.
Liu Meiniang glanced at him and said, "My mother said something strange to Brother Yue just now, didn't she? Brother Yue, don't pay too much attention, my mother is just worried about me."
Liu Meiniang naturally knew what her mother wanted to say to Yue Zhongyao.
Every night before going to bed, mother and daughter were lying on the small bed, and her mother would give her instructions.
It was just to let her take the initiative with Yue Zhongyao so as to please him. Yue Zhongyao would naturally be kind to her in the future. He would love the house and the land, help her brother, and help her father take care of their family.
In fact, she didn't quite agree with what her mother said.
If they just want to find someone to help their family, Yue Zhongyao is not a suitable candidate.
Not to mention his monthly income of only 800 yuan a month, even if there is some money to be made, but his family is not divided. I heard that his mother Wu came to the Yamen in person to receive his monthly income.
Even though he can't do it now, Yue Zhongyao still has to give his meager monthly salary to his mother, right?
In addition to the adoptive parents, they also have a large family, brothers, sisters, nephews and nieces. How many of them will be exposed to the Liu family?
Then how can the Wu family be easy to get along with?
And he is just a policeman, so how can he have the extraordinary ability to help his younger brother's career?
Although she was unwilling in her heart, her mother was nagging her in her ears day and night. She also felt that Yue Zhongyao might have a future in the future, and with a feeling of guilt and gratitude towards her father, he would definitely treat her well and treat her well.
If their family is good, they will spare no effort to help their family.
Such a man is obedient.
But after she saw that scene on Lantern Festival night, she no longer thought that way.
Dressed in splendid clothes, servants clear the way, servants and women are surrounding them, casually throwing out silver ingots for rewards, and being chased and looked upon with envy all the way...
She wants these too.
Her suppressed heart began to stir.
Only a family like that can completely change their family's destiny, right?
Only then can she support her brother to go to the best academy, have money to support his brother's career, and enable him to go further.
And her brother has become successful, are you still afraid that she will not be able to stand in a wealthy family? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly votes. Your support is my biggest motivation.
