Song Sanniang's Journey to Wealth

The next day, everyone slept until noon. When they got up, they looked at each other and smiled, because everyone's eyes were swollen and had dark circles.

It's time to make lunch. The dishes everyone brought yesterday need to be eaten, otherwise we will have to go to the provincial capital soon. Mrs. Song is worried about what to do with the ten chickens at home.

"What's there to worry about? Let Dazhuang's wife come to help feed the chickens every day, and then send a chicken to his family." Seeing how distressed Song Ersao was, Song Laoer said,

After hearing this, Song Ersao also thought it was a good idea, so she planned to talk to Cuihuasao about this matter later. After dinner, Song Laoer would go to the county town with the village chief to finalize the land deed at the county government office.

At noon, there was a boiled chicken and a steamed egg. The vegetables grown by Song Laoer's family finally had a harvest. The leeks and Chinese cabbage were ready to eat. Song Ersao also made a fried egg with leeks and a Chinese cabbage with garlic sauce.

The vegetables grown at home seem to be extra sweet. The choy sum does not need any seasoning at all. It is simply blanched and then drizzled with garlic juice. It is soft, tender and sweet in the mouth.

The water used to blanch the choy sum can be added with a little salt and drunk as soup. If you like a stronger taste, you can add some meat to make it more delicious.

After lunch, the four mothers took Qin Haoxi to play with their friends. Song Ersao went to find Aunt Cuihua to ask her to help raise chickens.

Song Sanniang went to the clan leader's house. She had not given them the gifts she had bought for Song Zuling and Dandan. Song Laoer was going to the county town, so he followed Song Sanniang to the clan leader's house to find Song Dazhi.

Qin Haodong was left alone at home. He didn't know what to do, so he picked up his bucket and went to the village well to fetch water. On the way, curious villagers looked at him from time to time and talked about him from time to time.

"I've seen this strange young man fetching water these past two days. Who is he?"

"You don't know this? It's from Song Laoer's family. They said they invited someone. He brought a little boy with him. They said he was his younger brother."

"Oh, so that's how it is. The Song family is so powerful now that they can even afford to hire people?"

"That's right, but why are you still living in a bamboo house? Are you really making money?"

"Don't you know? Last night, his family invited the Fourth Uncle, the clan leader, the village chief, Niu Lao San, Song Da Zhuang and Liu Dali to his house for dinner.

I heard that the food was very juicy and everyone enjoyed it. There was also good wine. His family said they were going to build a new house and wanted to hire someone."

"Is there such a thing? Hiring so many people to build a house?"

“I heard the village chief talking to someone this morning about two acres of land. It’s a pity that he couldn’t hire me.

It would be nice if you could hire me, I can earn some money, if not, meals would be provided, so I can have a good meal every day."

When someone heard the news, they quickly caught up with Qin Haodong and pulled him, “Hey, little brother, don’t leave yet. I have something to ask you.”

Qin Haodong felt a little strange being stopped, but he was not angry. He put down the bucket and asked, "What's the matter?"

"I heard that Song Laoer's family is going to build a new house. Is it true?"

"It's true." Qin Haodong felt that everyone would know about this matter and there was nothing to hide, so he answered truthfully.

Hearing this, the person who stopped Qin Haodong laughed, and then asked, "Does he need to hire someone to build the house? Can I go?"

Qin Haodong looked at the man's short and thin figure and shook his head.

"Uncle Song has handed over the matter of hiring people to build the house to the village chief, so you can go find the village chief.

I still need to fetch water, so I’ll go back first.” After saying this, he picked up the bucket and left without waiting for the man to speak.

The man saw Qin Haodong leaving, and then thought of what the person he had just chatted with said, so he hurriedly ran to find the village chief.

Song Sanniang came to the home of the Song clan leader. Unexpectedly, the Song clan leader's family did not rest. Everyone was making bamboo bowls in the yard. Song Laoer's family still needed the bamboo bowls, as they would use them for packing later, so it was better to make more.

Song Zuling was polishing the bowl in his hand out of boredom. Seeing Song Sanniang standing at the door, he shouted happily, "Why are you here?"

"I came to see you." After answering Song Zuling's words, she greeted the Song clan leader and the aunts in the yard.

The Song clan leader laughed and said, "Okay, okay, Sanniang is here, then the ancestor spirit will accompany Sanniang to play."

So the two of them went to Song Zuling's room, "Why did you come to see me suddenly?"

"Here, look, this is for you. You can light these candles when you practice calligraphy or embroidery at night. I heard that they have a fragrance when they are lit." Song Sanniang took out the pair of painted candles and gave them to her.

Song Zuling took the pair of painted candles, carefully examined the patterns on them, and then sniffed them. "It really has a fragrance, the fragrance of plum blossoms. I like it so much. Sanniang, thank you."

"As long as you like it. By the way, I also bought a gift for Dandan, as well as a gift for your brother. Are they both at home?"

Song Sanniang was very happy to see Song Zuling like it so much.

"Dandan was taken home by her parents to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. After the autumn harvest, her parents were no longer busy and missed her, so they hurried to take her home to celebrate the festival.

Show me what gifts you bought for them. I'll give Dandan's to her next time you come." Then Song Sanniang handed the gift to Song Zuling.

Song Zuling looked at the other two dresses and put them on the table with a smile, "My gift is still the best. I can see that you picked it specially for me.

My brother has two days off for the Mid-Autumn Festival. He is studying in his study room now. Let's not disturb him. I will give him the gift for you in the evening."

"Okay, I'll trouble you then."

"What's your relationship with me? Are you bothering me?" Song Zuling pouted a little unhappy and said, "I heard that you are going to the capital city. I will have no one to play with me in the future."

"Yes, I will probably leave in the next few days. Don't be unhappy. If you miss me, you can write to me.

You can also take the bus to the city to find me, and I will provide you with food, drinks and entertainment. "Song Sanniang smiled and comforted her.

"Really? Can I go to the city too?" Song Zuling asked in disbelief.

"Of course, when my shop in Fucheng is open, I will need a lot of materials, so I will ask my uncle to transport them to Fucheng.

And your father, maybe you can ask him to help, and then you can go with him."

Song Zuling is happy now.

Song Lao Er followed Sanniang into the Song clan leader's house. The Song clan leader laughed at him again, "Sanniang just arrived, why are you here too?"

"I came to ask Dazhi to take me to the county."

"You go to the village chief's house to find him. He went to tell the village chief about your family building a house."

So Song Lao Er bid farewell to the clan leader and went to the village chief's house.