Beautiful Peasant Girl: The Young Marquis's Beloved

After returning from Zuiyunxuan, Liu Xu was detained by Xu Ruolan at home to recuperate. This small courtyard suddenly became more peaceful.

Under the careful care of the mother and daughter, the mushrooms gradually matured.

It was late autumn, and the air was getting cooler in the morning and evening. While the two little ones were still sleeping, the mother and daughter went to the utility room to pick mushrooms. Looking at the clusters of mushrooms still covered with dew on the mushroom bed, their faces were filled with joy of the harvest.

"Xu'er, look how well the mushrooms are growing. Even if we don't spend the money, we won't be afraid of winter this year." Xu Ruolan was always frightened by the fact that Liu Xu had gone deep into the mountains to make money. Now that she has a stable income from mushrooms, she feels a little more at ease.

"Yes, Mom. While the weather is good, let's pick this batch and dry them. When the mushrooms from Uncle San's family are ready, we'll send them to Zuiyunxuan together." Liu Xu understood her mother's concerns, so she put aside the idea of ​​looking for snow fungus for the time being.

The sun shone through the clouds into the yard, and the mother and daughter were happily busy in the yard.

Two days later, Xing'er came happily to tell Liuxu that the mushrooms in her house were ready to be picked.

She hopped into the yard like a happy little bird.

"Xu'er, Xu'er, we can pick mushrooms from my house!" Xing'er's voice was clear and loud. Chen Lan also came with them. With the arrival of several people, the courtyard suddenly became very lively.

Chen Lan looked at the baskets of mushrooms in the yard and said to Xu Ruolan with a smile:

"Since Miss Xu didn't come to see her uncle, I guessed that you must have all been exposed to the sun."

"Don't just stand there. Come in and have some water." Xu Ruolan invited everyone into the house.

With Liu Xu buying more and more from the town, the house is now in good shape. The table and stools were originally sent by Liu Dongxiang's family. There is a set of ceramic teapots on the table. Although the texture is rough, it is quite good in a rural farm. In addition, Liu Xu picked some honeysuckle flowers when picking mushrooms and dried them. On weekdays, Xu Ruolan would make a pot of it and put it on the table. She would drink it when she was thirsty.

Xu Ruolan raised her hand and poured a cup for each person, then continued:

"Xu'er said that since we're selling dried mushrooms anyway, we can go together after yours have grown. We don't need to trouble her uncle to run around all the time. It's tiring."

Xing'er finished the drink in one gulp and ran out to look for Liuxu.

Because it was not hot at the moment, the two little ones were put in the dustpan by their mother and sister. The two sisters played with the children in the yard.

Chen Lan took the tea, took a sip and said angrily: "What's the trouble? We are all family." Then she looked at Xu Ruolan and asked:

"Ruolan, Miss Xu talked to her uncle about building a house. Have you two decided?"

"Alan, Xuer discussed this with me, and I agree. As you know, Xuer saved some money, but she was afraid of trouble over there, so she didn't dare to spend it. You can see this old house, if it weren't for her uncle San and uncle Dazhu helping to repair it, not only the roof, but also the surrounding walls would be leaking."

"It's fine now that the weather is warm, but when winter comes... She ventured into the mountains last time just to get the money. As a mother, I can't help her. Since the child is trying so hard to make our lives better, why shouldn't I support her?"

Xu Ruolan said gently. Chen Lan nodded:

"That's right. Xing'er's father came back the other day and discussed with me that while he has some money, he should build a house with your family. I thought about it, Xing'er and Shuisheng are grown up, and they should get along in a few years. It's not good to live in the same house again. Even though there is a partition, there is still a difference between men and women. But my house is a little small, so I can only choose a new site. Otherwise, why don't we build next to each other?"

Xu Ruolan was delighted when she heard this:

"That would be great. We can build our houses together and live next to each other. Then, not to mention their children, it will be convenient for us to visit each other!"

"It's just... I just don't know how much it will cost by then? I won't beat around the bush. Our family has saved more than one hundred taels now. If I'm still short of some by then, can I borrow some from you first?" Chen Lan said with a bit of embarrassment on her face.

"What's the big deal? If it's not enough, just tell me and let Xu'er fill it for you first." Xu Ruolan said as she took Chen Lan's hand.

"Alan, Xu'er and I suffered a lot in that family. If you hadn't sent us food from time to time, we might have died long ago. Even if Xu'er found a way to make money later, wasn't it you and her uncle who protected her? Otherwise, what could a six-year-old girl do? So, you don't have to be so formal. Aren't our two families like one family now? Isn't it natural for family members to help each other when they are in trouble?"

When Chen Lan heard this, they smiled at each other and started talking about other things.

In the courtyard, Liu Xu and Xing Er were teasing two little ones. The two-month-old babies could already lift their heads. Liu Xu put them both down, and Xing Er clapped her hands in front of them, asking them to turn around to the sound...

The two families agreed that it would be better to do it today than to wait for another day.

In the afternoon, the sun was not so strong anymore. Liu Xu went to find Liu Changshun first, and then they brought some mushrooms and eggs and went to the village chief's house together.

At the village chief's house, Liu Dahai was instructing his five-year-old grandson Liu Shuhan in writing in the main hall.

It was unknown whether the others had gone to the fields or were still in the house. The two saw that the gate was open, so they went straight in and went to the main room.

"Grandpa, good afternoon." When she saw the person, Liu Xu greeted him with a smile.

"Uncle" Liu Changshun also bowed.

"Hello, Third Uncle, hello, Sister Xuer!" Liu Shuhan stood up and called politely upon hearing the words.

"Hello, Brother Shuhan!" Liu Xu took out two candies from her pocket and put them in his hand.

"Hey, Shunzi, Xu girl, why are you here?" Liu Dahai asked curiously, then motioned for his grandson to go back to the house to practice, and shouted outside:

"Old woman, pour two bowls of water." A voice responded from the kitchen.

"Uncle, we have something to discuss with you." Liu Changshun said respectfully.

Before Liu Dahai could say anything, Liu Wangshi came in with two bowls of water, smiling:

"It's Xu and Shunzi. Why are you standing? Sit down and have a drink of water." Then he saw the baskets in their hands and smiled even more:

"Hey, you're here so why bring a gift?"

"Grandma, my uncle and I brought some mushrooms and eggs. You can have them as an extra dish for dinner!" Liu Xu handed the basket in her and Liu Changshun's hands to Liu Wangshi with a smile on her face.

"Oh, good, good, what a good child!" Liu Wangshi's old face was full of smiles.

Liu Dahai winked at her, but found that his wife didn't even look at him. She just went out with the basket.

His old face turned red. "Ahem, sorry to have embarrassed you. Just come over next time. We are all family. Don't be so formal! By the way, what's the matter?"

Liu Changshun hurriedly said, "Our two families want to buy land and build a house at the foot of the mountain west of the village. Do you think it's okay?"

Liu Dahai frowned: "Buying land and building a house? This is no small matter. Have you thought about it? Especially Xu girl, the cost of building a house is not small. Does your mother agree?"

Liu Xu stepped forward and said, "Grandpa, don't worry, my mother knows. Hehe, I dug up an old ginseng in the mountains before, and I sold it for 150 taels, which should be enough."

"Nonsense! You dare to say that a little girl like you can go to the middle area!" Liu Dahai's face changed immediately after hearing this, and he scolded her fiercely, feeling angry and sad. This child must have no other choice but to go to the mountains to find a solution!

Seeing this, Liu Changshun glanced at Liu Xu and didn't speak for her.

"Grandpa, please don't be angry. I know I was wrong and I won't do it again next time." Liu Xu lowered her head timidly. She knew that only people who cared about her would scold her, so she admitted her mistakes with a very good attitude.

Seeing her like this, Liu Dahai sighed:

"Grandpa knows that you need money after moving, but you can't take your life lightly, understand?"

"I know, grandpa." Liu Xu said sullenly.

Seeing this, Liu Dahai didn't know what to say anymore, so he changed the subject and said:

"Shunzi, you just said you want to build it at the foot of the mountain west of the village? It's close to the mountain, have you considered the wild animals?"

"Yes, uncle. The main thing is that the land there is all wasteland and spacious. If we build a house together, we can take care of it. As for the wild animals, we can build a higher wall when the time comes. There shouldn't be any big problems."

Liu Dahai stroked his goatee and thought to himself: These two kids do have some good ideas. Although that place is a wasteland, it is indeed spacious. It would be nice if it could be fenced off and well taken care of.

After a while, Liu Dahai nodded and agreed: "Okay, just make up your mind. Wasteland is now two taels of silver per mu, let's go and see how much land you want!"

So Liu Xu, Liu Changshun and Liu Dahai went to the foot of the mountain. They saw that the wasteland was vast and empty, with weeds growing all around, but the terrain was relatively flat.

When they arrived at the place, Liu Xu and the others took a look and decided to make the fence wider so that they could grow vegetables in the yard.

Liu Changshun pointed to the land on his right and said, "Uncle, my family wants three acres here."

Liu Xu also said, "Grandpa, my family also wants three acres, right here."

The old man measured carefully, holding the ruler steady. As he measured, he actually gave each of them two extra points. The two were about to remind him, but the old man gave them a look to shut up.

Liu Xu and Liu Changshun were touched, they knew that the old man was taking care of them. They kept this kindness in their hearts.

Then they hurriedly took out silver from their pockets and gave the old man seven taels of silver each, saying, "Uncle, the remaining 1 tael will be used when you go to get the land deed. If there is any left, you can keep it to buy some wine."

The old man was not happy when he heard this, and said with a stern face, "It won't cost that much." He threw a tael of silver to them and turned away.

Liu Xu and Liu Changshun looked at the old man's departing back, their eyes couldn't help but become moist, and their hearts were full of respect and gratitude for the old man.