When the pears are green

Soon, the news that Zhao Xuan went to another place to relax because of shame spread throughout Zhanggou Village. Jiang and Zhang Peng were skeptical when they heard it.

Zhang Peng passed by Zhao's house for several days in a row, but he didn't see Zhao Xuan. However, he unexpectedly heard Zhao Lao Da and Zhao Lao Han quarreling outside the Zhao's yard about who would live in Zhao Xuan's house in town. He thought Zhao Xuan must have really gone to another place, so he hurried home to tell his family the news, and everyone was relieved.

However, new troubles followed.

Some women in the village knew that Ruyi often went to the town to sell small items such as handkerchiefs and sachets. They made up their minds and took the opportunity to ask people to come to Zhang's house to propose marriage to Ruyi.

Jiang learned her lesson and was no longer in a hurry to arrange a marriage for Ruyi. She rejected those women on the grounds that Ruyi was frightened.

After a few days, the weather became warmer. In addition to the wild vegetables in the fields, the elm seeds on the trees could also be eaten.

There is an elm tree growing on the west side of the Zhang family’s yard. The branches of the tree are covered with clusters of tender green elm seeds. When the wind blows, it brings fragrance to the whole yard.

Zhang Ping'an climbed onto a thick branch. He carefully broke off some thin branches and threw them down.

Ruyi and Xia Lin stroked the branches, letting the tiny elm seeds fall into the winnowing basket.

Zhang Jixiang squatted beside the winnowing basket and picked out the elm seeds with insects or eggs in them and put them aside, ready to feed the chickens.

Zhang You also imitated Zhang Jixiang's actions and randomly scattered the elm seeds in the winnowing basket. Jiang, who was standing by, hurriedly called out "good grandson" and carried Zhang You aside.

Jiang was holding Zhang You and saw that there were already quite a few elm seeds in the winnowing basket. She hurriedly asked Zhang Pingan, who was about to continue climbing up, to come down.

"Ping'an, Ruyi, after all the elm seeds have been collected, you two can go together to give some to Qingzhou and Xiaoli." Jiang ordered.

Ruyi has always wanted to find an opportunity to thank Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou. She originally wanted to give Song Li some handkerchiefs, but after seeing that all of Song Li's handkerchiefs were embroidered by Song Yue, she gave up the idea.

These elm seeds were just right. Ruyi happily took the basket, filled half of it with elm seeds as Jiang instructed, and then went to Jiangjia Village with Zhang Pingan.

Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou were doing the same as usual, either going to the market or weeding the reclaimed wasteland.

When Ruyi and Zhang Ping'an arrived at Jiang's house, Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou had just taken off the backpack and wanted to pour out the grass inside.

Seeing that the courtyard door was open, she knocked on it and shouted loudly, "Cousin, cousin."

Song Li wiped the sweat from her forehead. She asked Jiang Qingzhou to go to the kitchen to pour some water. She walked over with a smile and welcomed Ruyi and Zhang Pingan into the yard.

Ruyi handed the basket in her hand to Song Li and said to her with a smile: "Cousin, these are from the elm tree in my house. I picked them early this morning. Mother asked me and Ping'an to bring some to you and your cousin."

Song Li hurriedly took the basket. She first thanked Ruyi and Zhang Pingan, and then asked Ruyi to convey her and Jiang Qingzhou's gratitude to the Jiang family.

"Ruyi, how are your uncle and aunt doing recently? I heard from the neighbors that Zhao Xuan went out of town recently. Everyone can rest assured." Song Li asked with concern. She glanced at the clean elm seeds in the basket. They were all tender green, without any insects or branches. It was obvious that the Zhang family had carefully cleaned them before sending them.

Ruyi smiled and told Song Li: "Yes, cousin. My father and mother are doing well recently, but there are more and more people coming to my house to propose marriage, which is very annoying." After saying that, Ruyi frowned.

In order to make Ruyi happy, Song Li joked that Ruyi was a famous embroiderer in several nearby villages and had a gentle personality, so she would naturally be sought after by everyone.

Ruyi felt embarrassed by what Song Li said. When she saw Jiang Qingzhou bringing out some water, she hurriedly said to Jiang Qingzhou, "Brother, let my cousin drink some water. If she drinks the water, she won't say anything about me."

Several people were amused by Ruyi's words.

Zhang Ping'an, who had been silent, asked Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou to rest first, while he and Ruyi poured the green grass out of the basket.

After Song Li finished drinking the water, she went to the kitchen to pour out the elm seeds in the basket, and then went to see the bean sprouts she had grown. Although the roots were still a little short, they were edible, so she packed some for Ruyi and Zhang Pingan to take back.

Ruyi wanted to refuse, but Song Li forced the basket into her hands. She and Zhang Pingan went home embarrassedly with the baskets.

After Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou finished chopping the grass, Song Li rushed into the kitchen impatiently to prepare to make elm seed steamed bread.

Seeing Song Li's excited expression, Jiang Qingzhou smiled and told Song Li that he was very good at making elm seed steamed bread, and then asked Song Li to rest aside.

Song Li followed Jiang Qingzhou like a little tail, and she watched Jiang Qingzhou's every move carefully. Finally, she and Jiang Qingzhou kneaded the elm seeds mixed with white flour into steamed buns.

Jiang Qingzhou was afraid that Song Li would sweat again, so he asked Song Li to sit at the kitchen door and started to light the fire and steam the food.

Through the swirling white smoke, the two of them talked about Zhao Xuan's trip to another place.

Jiang Qingzhou's hand paused for a moment. He remembered what Chen Yuan told him last time at the market. Zhao Xuan might have met with an accident, but it had nothing to do with him.

Jiang Qingzhou took out a steamed bun, tore off a small piece and put it into Song Li's mouth, then asked with a smile: "Xiao Li, is it delicious?"

Song Li nodded, and she smiled and told Jiang Qingzhou that it had a sweet taste.

Jiang Qingzhou looked at Song Li's smile. He walked to Song Li, lowered his head to cover her, then said with a smile, "It's really sweet."

Song Li looked at Jiang Qingzhou with watery eyes. Jiang Qingzhou wanted to taste it again, but was disturbed by the knocks on the door. He went to open the door in annoyance.

Jiang Qingye and Song Xing looked at Jiang Qingzhou's darkened face. They secretly discussed whether Jiang Qingzhou had accidentally taken rat poison at home. His face looked really ugly.

Song Li eavesdropped on their conversation and couldn't help laughing softly.

"Qingzhou made some elm seed steamed buns. You should go and eat them. He is just unhappy." Song Li explained to Jiang Qingye and Song Xing with a smile.

Jiang Qingye and Song Xing looked at Jiang Qingzhou embarrassedly, and they hurried into the kitchen. Jiang Qingzhou's face became even darker.

Ruyi went to the town alone to sell handkerchiefs. Jiang originally wanted Zhang Pingan to go with her, but Ruyi didn't want her family to know that she owed Chen Yuan money, so she lied and said that she was with Song Li. Jiang then didn't insist.

Song Li woke up early and felt a little headache. She thought it was because she didn't sleep well, so she didn't pay much attention to it. She went to the town with Jiang Qingzhou to sell the sprouts and stored eggs.

Ruyi went to the Li family’s shop first, where she met Li Yun’an, whom she hadn’t seen for a long time.

Li Yun'an looked carefully at the handkerchief embroidered by Ruyi. He told Ruyi that he would draw some new patterns in the county for her and ask Lingling to pass them on to Ruyi when she came next time.

Ruyi thanked Li Yun'an happily, then hurried out of the shop to look for Chen Yuan.

As Ruyi came out of the shop, she saw Chen Yuan not far away. She walked over happily and told Chen Yuan about Zhao Xuan's trip to another place.

Chen Yuan, who had been wandering around Li's shop for a long time, pretended to be surprised. He told Ruyi embarrassedly that he could not help and asked Ruyi not to pay him back in the future.

"But my cousin said that Constable Chen also found some information. Although it's of little use, Constable Chen also spent time and energy on it." Ruyi asked Chen Yuan a little puzzled.

Chen Yuan didn't expect Jiang Qingzhou to say such words in front of Ruyi, and he was very grateful in his heart. He also told Ruyi that he felt it was not easy for a girl like Ruyi to sell handkerchiefs, and the copper coins, handkerchiefs and sachets he had given her before were enough.

Ruyi looked at Chen Yuan with a moved expression. She had been a little afraid of Chen Yuan before, but now she felt much closer to Chen Yuan.

Song Yue and Zhang found Song Li and Jiang Qingzhou who were setting up a stall. Zhang handed a basket of locust flowers to Song Li and asked her to steam them when she got home.

Song Li originally wanted Zhang and Song Yue to go home for dinner, but was afraid that they would miss the ox cart ride, so he went to a nearby butcher's shop and bought two pounds of pork for Zhang to take home.

Zhang couldn't refuse, so she gave Song Li a few more instructions and went to the study with Song Yue to visit Song Xing.

After the gathering, Song Li felt her head heavy and her eyes sore. She forced herself to stay awake and returned home. She lay lazily in bed for the entire afternoon and developed a high fever at night.