Shen Tang's house is almost finished, the next focus is to harvest the rushes.
Because Shen Xingwan's performance was too weak on the first day, everyone later decided through discussion to leave her and Banxia to take care of Da Ya in the thatched house, look after the house and prepare dinner.
After four days of harvesting, all the rushes hidden in the mountains had been separated. Shen Tang borrowed an oxcart and set off at dawn, transporting them to the largest drugstore in the town and selling them.
After dinner that night, I brought a pot of fire to the house and lit it. In the southern climate, this thatched house with drafts from all sides was quite cold at night.
Everyone sat down casually around the fire pot. Shen Tang took out the cloth bag from his arms and opened it to find a few pieces of broken silver and some copper plates.
"This is the money I got from selling rushes these days, about eight taels in total."
Under everyone's hot gaze, Shen Tang took out three liang and gave it to Zhou, "Brother and sister, this is what you and Erya earned."
Mrs. Zhou quickly waved her hand, "You discovered the rushes and sold them to you. Erya and I just helped cut them, so how could we be embarrassed to take the money?"
Mrs. Zhang took the money and stuffed it into Mrs. Zhou's arms, "We have been together for so many years, sisters-in-law. If you don't talk about this, you are raising two children by yourself. It is the time when you need money."
Mrs. Zhou also knew Mrs. Zhang's character, and she was not a pretentious person. She took a look at Da Ya who was still sick and frail, and finally accepted the money.
I vowed silently in my heart that I would repay my second roommate if I have the opportunity in the future.
"Ahem, Dad, when are we moving?" Shen Xingwan asked while coughing.
There is nothing in the thatched cottage, so it's fine for a few nights. It's really a bit overwhelming after a long stay.
"Did you catch a cold when you slept at night? Why did you start coughing?" Mrs. Zhang worriedly touched her forehead.
"We'll move tomorrow!" Shen Tang immediately announced, "It's just hard on Yu'er, having to run back and forth to go to school."
"I'm fine. I have to get up early every day and go on the road in the village. I've long been used to it." Shen Yu said indifferently.
"Then I'll pay the money and write the paperwork early tomorrow morning, and you can pack up at home. We'll start moving tomorrow afternoon."
Shen Tang has almost negotiated the price, which is twelve taels of silver per year. The house is in a relatively remote location in the town, but it has a quiet and nice environment.
"Is there enough money?" Shen Xingwan asked.
"That's enough. After all these years, your parents still have some private money." Mrs. Zhang said.
After all, the Shen family can not only support a few scholars, but also provide food and drink for the eldest family in the town. They are definitely not really poor.
The poverty shown is just a way to manipulate other houses, or to suck blood.
Of course, other people are not fools and have their own ways to save money secretly.
Mrs. Zhou held Erya's hand and the second room left. It was definitely not safe for her to live in a place like this as a woman with a child.
And she doesn't care about the people in the Shen family's old home either.
"His second uncle, could you please help us look at houses in the town? If you don't have any requirements, just give our mother a place to stay."
Before the death of Zhou's parents, he had seen a little of the world from his father and learned the ways of the world from his mother.
Over the years, the Shen family has endured the humiliation for the sake of their two daughters, and has almost turned into a mute and transparent person who only knows how to work, and anyone can step on her.
But she had a plan in mind. She kept the things her mother left to her before she died without telling anyone, as her last resort.
Madam Zhang sighed and looked at Madam Zhou's old face, "If it doesn't work out, you can live with me first."
She had watched Da Ya and Er Ya grow up, and she was usually called sweet and hard-working.
Mrs. Zhou knew Mrs. Zhang's kindness, "Second sister-in-law, don't worry, my mother left something for me when she passed away. I can still survive for a while."
Shen Xingwan listened and yawned silently.
Everyone in the Shen family is really "talented" from top to bottom. Even the Zhou family, who seems to be the most honest and easy to bully, has some back-ups.
As expected, one cannot underestimate the intelligence of the ancients. She was the innocent one from beginning to end.
"Well, the house I rent is quite big. You can live together."
"Then we have to pay the rent. You have already helped our mother a lot. We can't keep dragging you down."
The Zhou family has always been very clear-headed. Now that they have embarked on this road, no one can help them for the rest of their lives. They must stand up for themselves.
But Da Ya was seriously injured and Er Ya was still young. In this day and age, she was a woman with two children, so temporarily staying with her second wife was the best choice.
But as a person, you can't push yourself too far. Since she can still come up with money, she can't keep taking advantage of the second house.
Mrs. Zhou directly gave Mrs. Zhang the three taels of silver she just received, "If it's not enough, I'll make up for it."
"That's enough." Shen Tang said, "Three taels of silver are enough for the three of you for two rooms."
Early the next morning, Shen Tang took Shen Yu, who was resting, to pay the money and go through the formalities.
Shen Xingwan finished his night of wild vegetable porridge as usual in the morning and began to pack his things.
Her main possessions are various exquisite clothes and some fabrics brought back from the Hou Mansion in early summer, autumn and winter.
Originally, she didn't plan to take it with her when she left, but Madam Hou sent her maid to help her pack her luggage, and she wished she could bring all the things in the house with her.
The dignified Marquis's residence has no shortage of these. Shen Xingwan simply showed his sense of interest when leaving, and Madam Hou didn't want to make things too ugly.
Still, Shen Xingwan insisted that it would be difficult to carry too many items on the road and would not be needed when returning to the countryside, so in the end they were streamlined a lot.
Mrs. Zhang had almost finished packing. She looked at Ban Xia and Shen Xingwan sorting out the gorgeous clothes, "When you live in the town, you can wear them without having to hide them."
"These untouched fabrics will be used to make beautiful clothes for my mother." Shen Xingwan said sweetly.
Mrs. Zhang said in high spirits, "That mother will definitely make a lot of money so that you can have the confidence to wear these clothes."
Shen Xingwan has been wearing relatively simple clothes in the past few days since she came back. Unfortunately, she is still eye-catching. Some people in her old house and in the village look at her with jealousy.
Mr. Zhang didn’t say anything, but he always saw it in his eyes.
"Our family is hard-working and we will get better and better when we get to the town." Mrs. Zhang is full of energy. Her son and daughter are both smart and clever.
It's worse now.
Shen Xingwan felt a little guilty. She couldn't endure hardship at all and just wanted to lie down.
In the afternoon, Shen Tang specially spent money to rent an ox cart from the village and prepared to move.
First put some soft goods on the bullock cart and throw away those bottles and cans. The two families together don’t have much.
Finally, Da Ya was put on the cart and put on a quilt for her to sit on.
Shen Tang was driving, and Shen Xiaoguo sat with Shen Tang.
Others followed the ox cart on foot, and everyone set off towards their new home under the setting sun.
Mrs. Zhou's waist that had been bent over in the Shen family straightened up immediately, and she said without any nostalgia, "I hope I will never come back again."
