When the pears are green

Jiang Qingye didn't come back until dusk. He handed two fish to Jiang Qingzhou who was about to go out to look for him, and then hurriedly explained: "Brother, Jiang Yang and I came back from the river beach a long time ago, but we were delayed because we went to deliver fish to my aunt's house. He wanted to use this as an excuse to go see Qingwan."

"I understand. Come in quickly. Your sister-in-law is waiting for you to eat!" Jiang Qingzhou touched Jiang Qingye's head. He stepped aside to let Jiang Qingye go in to wash his face and hands first. He closed the courtyard door and carried the fish into the kitchen.

When Song Li saw Jiang Qingzhou coming in carrying two grass carps, she knew that Jiang Qingye had returned. She hurriedly took out the food that was warm in the pot and placed it on the wooden table in the kitchen.

Song Li invited Jiang Qingye who walked into the kitchen to sit down and eat, and then asked Jiang Qingye what he did this afternoon while eating.

Jiang Qingye told about his visit to Zhang's house with Jiang Yang. Song Li asked quickly, "How is Qingwan doing recently? Did my uncle say anything?"

"My uncle didn't say anything. Qingwan is well-behaved and obedient in their home. Even my aunt can't find any fault with her. I heard from my aunt that she and my uncle took Qingwan to the government office to register two days ago." Jiang Qingye told Song Li everything he knew.

Song Li did not talk about Jiang Qingwan anymore. She asked Jiang Qingye if he would like to go to Wuzhuang Village with her to visit relatives tomorrow.

Jiang Qingye shook his head and said that he would go to the bookstore to play with Li Yi tomorrow.

Song Li did not force him. After the meal, she handed fifty copper coins to Jiang Qingye and told him not to go to the town empty-handed tomorrow. If there were people selling pears, dates and persimmons, he could buy some and take them with him.

Jiang Qingye glanced at Jiang Qingzhou, who smiled and said to him, "This is given to you by your sister-in-law, just take it and see what I do. By the way, if you meet a vendor who collects cicada shells when you are at home tomorrow, sell them. I put them in the basket on the Eight Immortals Table."

Jiang Qingye nodded in agreement quickly. He thanked Song Li happily, carefully took the copper coins back to the west room, and put all the copper coins into his purse.

After Jiang Qingye left, Jiang Qingzhou asked Song Li softly, "Aren't you afraid that Qingye will spend money recklessly, Xiaoli?"

"Of course I did this because I trust Qingye. He is already an eleven-year-old boy and can tell what he should and should not do. Although we are not rich, we are not short of these dozens of copper coins. Why not let him go out and have fun with Li Yi tomorrow?" Song Li felt that there was no need to make things difficult for a child. He could go out without spending money, but he could not be without money.

Song Li looked at the waxing moon in the night sky. The cold moonlight sprinkled on her body, adding a layer of mystery.

Jiang Qingzhou held Song Li's hand and said softly, "Xiao Li, let's go back to the room. We have to get up early tomorrow to travel!"

Song Li nodded. When she walked into the main room, she looked back at the moon which was about to become full, and she hoped very much that it would rain heavily.

Jiang Qingzhou, lying down, gently stroked Song Li's back. He whispered to Song Li, "Xiao Li, you will be seventeen in four months. Let's have a baby by this time next year."

Song Li did not answer immediately. She turned over and smiled at Jiang Qingzhou, then nodded gently. Jiang Qingzhou was dazzled by Song Li's bright smile. He used his hands and feet to restrain Song Li who wanted to dodge, leaving his own marks one by one.

Jiang Qingzhou had a ridiculous dream all night and woke up with a splitting headache. He looked at Song Li who was still sleeping, and wanted to know whether Song Li had dreamed of him as well.

But when Song Li woke up, Jiang Qingzhou was too embarrassed to speak, and he fled under Song Li's inquiring gaze.

This state continued until he reached Wuzhuang Village. He stayed away from Song Li all the way, fearing that Song Li would suddenly ask him what was wrong.

Fortunately, Song Li met Song Yue, Wu Mingshu and Wu Minghui who were talking at the door of the Song family, so Jiang Qingzhou was finally able to be alone. After handing the things in the basket to Song Changhe and Zhang, he lay down on the wooden bed in the tidy utility room.

Song Li smiled and asked Song Yue who came over and took her arm, "Yueyue, what were you talking about with Sister Wu and Minghui? When I just arrived at the entrance of the alley, I heard the three of you laughing."

"Xiao Li, we are talking about Mingde. Jing'er asked Mingde to bring me Sun's braised chicken the day before yesterday afternoon, but Mingde didn't come back. He was afraid that it would go bad, so he ate it with Yun'an. When he came back yesterday, he bought another one and lied to me that it was indeed Jing'er who asked him to pass it on. He didn't know that the Li Ji he bought usually has the word "Li" written on the stem of the lotus leaf, and I caught him in the act." Wu Mingshu answered for Song Yue. She is Wu Mingde's eldest sister, so she can naturally tell everything.

Wu Mingshu then asked Song Li if she was planning to go to the county town on the Mid-Autumn Festival.

"Yes, Sister Wu, are you going too?" Song Li asked hurriedly.

Wu Mingshu nodded and said that many people would come to visit relatives at the Wu family on the Mid-Autumn Festival, and she didn’t want to be gossiped about, so she wanted to go out and avoid them.

Song Li quickly invited Wu Mingshu to go with them, and Wu Mingshu agreed with a smile. She also said that she would go to Yang's house in two days to ask Yang Jing if she was willing to go with them.

"Okay, Yueyue and Minghui, do you want to go?" Song Li asked Song Yue and Wu Minghui who were listening to her and Wu Mingshu talking.

Song Yue remembered that she had already agreed with Wu Mingde to go to town during the Mid-Autumn Festival, so she shook her head embarrassedly.

Wu Minghui looked at Wu Mingshu with expectation. Wu Mingshu smiled and said that she would stay at Yang's house on the night of August 14. Wu Minghui curled her lips and looked at Wu Mingshu a little angrily. She thought that even if Wu Mingshu didn't want to see those people, she could move to the new house and live there for a few days. Why did she have to leave home?

"Minghui, if I stay at home, someone will definitely take the opportunity to ask me to meet their relatives. I don't want to marry again in a hurry. I'm afraid! When I come back, I will bring you a gift." After Wu Mingshu said this, she pinched Wu Minghui's puffy little face.

Wu Minghui looked at the thin Wu Mingshu and buried her face in Wu Mingshu's palms.

Wu Mingshu no longer disturbed the reunion of sisters Song Li and Song Yue. She took Wu Minghui back home.

After returning home, Wu Minghui went into her room and took out all the copper coins hidden under the pillow, in the cabinet, and in the wooden box. Then, she secretly gave them to Wu Mingshu when Wu Li was not paying attention.

"Sister, this is mine. I'm giving it to you now. You should eat and drink well during the two days you are away. I will lend some to my third brother tomorrow. I know you don't have any money." Wu Minghui stuffed the only twenty copper coins she had into Wu Mingshu's hand.

Wu Mingshu looked at the copper coins in her hand. She touched Wu Mingshu's head and asked softly, "Silly girl, how do you know that my elder sister has no money?"

"I heard from mother secretly. She said there was no money among the things you brought back from the Yang family, and father did not give you the eighty taels." Wu Minghui closed Wu Mingshu's open palm. Although the copper coin was cold, it made Wu Mingshu feel extremely warm.

Wu Mingshu then said to Wu Minghui: "Don't worry, my elder sister still has some private money."

Song Li and Song Yue entered the yard and saw Song Changhe learning to read with Song Xing. She smiled and watched for a while, then asked Song Changhe: "Dad, where is Qingzhou?"

"He went to rest and should have fallen asleep." Song Changhe answered, pointing to the utility room.

Song Li went to see him in a hurry. She saw Jiang Qingzhou lying motionless on the bed, so she wanted to help Jiang Qingzhou cover him with the quilt. When she approached the bed, Jiang Qingzhou pulled her down on the bed.

Jiang Qingzhou turned sideways and whispered in Song Li's ear about his dream, which made Song Li blush with embarrassment.