How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

In the morning, she sells pancakes, then cleans up the house to make fresh sausages. In the afternoon, she sets up her sausage stall. With several children, Dong Xiaohuan has made quite a bit of money these days.

June arrived in a flash. The weather was getting hotter, and cicadas were chirping in the trees. Wang Yong worked for a while and finally selected a few places to take Dong Xiaohuan and the others to see.

It was a good day off, so the family of six went to look at houses.

The houses they had chosen were all in the south of the city; neither the east nor the west were within their reach. The first was in Jishui Lane, also facing the city river, but at the end of the lane. The house they were looking at was at the entrance of the lane. The door led into a narrow passage, with the kitchen to the left. Further inside were the main rooms, each with five rooms. The house was spacious enough to accommodate them.

"Is there anything else?" Dong Xiaohuan was not very satisfied with this yard. There were walls on both sides. Not only could clothes not be hung out to dry in the sun, but there was probably no place to walk in the aisle.

"Next one." Wang Yong didn't say much and led his people to an alley opposite. The yard here was bigger than the one over there, but the house was not big enough to live in.

After looking at several houses, Dong Xiaohuan found none that appealed to her, but she knew there was nothing she could do. Lin'an Prefecture was a wealthy place, with a dock on the Grand Canal. Houses were always in high demand, and prices were much higher than elsewhere.

Wang Yong knew his wife was unhappy as soon as he saw her expression. He patted her shoulder and said, "There are two more, but they're quite expensive. If we buy them, we'll have to tighten our belts and you won't be able to rent your shop."

Dong Xiaohuan was amused and patted him, "Let's see first."

The last two properties weren't on this street, but on the other side, in Kanglefang. Kanglefang was packed with shops, and according to Wang Yong, the largest gambling house was located there. The house they wanted to see was in the southeast corner of Kanglefang, not far from the county government office. The owner's son had become addicted to gambling and had secretly lost the deed. Although he had money to redeem it, he was afraid that his son would gamble again because of the proximity to the gambling house, so he simply moved his family out. Unable to collect the money, the gambling house sold the house to a brokerage firm.

"This house is for two thousand taels." Wang Yong pushed open the door. The courtyard looked almost new. It was obvious that the owner had left in a hurry and left many things behind. The furniture was fully furnished. Following the bluestone path, one came to a screen wall carved with a welcoming pine tree. Past it was the main hall and study. To either side were two side rooms. Beyond the main hall was the backyard, where a small pond was dug and a few lotus plants were planted, swaying gracefully in the breeze.

Along the corridor was the master bedroom and the kitchen. Passing through the hanging flower gate, there were five more rooms at the back, more than enough for each person. If she did have a child in the future, she would still have a place to live.

"How about it? Buy this?" Wang Yong knew his wife liked it as soon as he saw her expression.

Dong Xiaohuan liked the house. It was spacious, had plenty of rooms, and even had a toilet in the backyard. She didn't have to get up in the middle of the night to clean the toilet. But, "It's too expensive. Can our house be sold for a thousand taels?"

"Nine hundred taels at most. I've asked at the brokerage. Our house is in a good location, facing the street in front and the river in the back. If you spread the word, someone will want it." Wang Yong gave her a reassuring look. "If you like it, we'll buy this one."

"But where are we going to live?" Dong Xiaohuan was a little worried about this.

"Hang it up first. Once you pay the money, we can move out within three days. I'll have someone keep it here for me. The people from the gambling house have said a few words to me. I don't think it will be difficult." After all, Wang Yong works in the county government office. Although he is not even a clerk, he still has some face.

"Okay then." Dong Xiaohuan walked around the house again and looked at the children. "How is it? Do you like it here?"

"I like it. It's so big here." Xia Chu nodded.

Xiatian also nodded vigorously and began to look forward to the day when he would live here.

"Can we live here in the future?" Guan Xu asked, pulling his second brother's sleeve.

Zhang Zhou wasn't sure. He felt like he was dreaming. He hadn't bought the house yet. He had to move in to feel at ease. What if something unexpected happened? Ugh, ugh, ugh, he couldn't think like that. But he couldn't help it. He couldn't stop himself from imagining the worst.

After finding a house, they were too lazy to go to the last one. Wang Yong took them out for a meal. Dong Xiaohuan felt bad about the money and muttered to herself, "We're about to buy a house, can't we just go home for dinner? Money is already tight, and this is going to cost us more..."

Wang Yong winked at the children, but did not interrupt Dong Xiaohuan and let what he said go in one ear and out the other.

Dong Xiaohuan started saving money to prepare for a new house. She compared meat and vegetables from several different vendors, choosing the cheapest. She also stopped being so lenient and treating her neighbor's children to free meals when she saw them watching with eager eyes.

Xia Chu was delighted to see her like this. These kids kept coming over, never bringing any money. Especially that Ye Qingqing, who came every day, calling her "Auntie Wang" and praising the sausages, coaxing Dong Xiaohuan into giving her one for free. Once or twice wouldn't be a big deal, but she came every day, as soon as the stall was set up. If she didn't get a sausage, she wouldn't leave even if the other kids called her. She was so young, yet so calculating.

Shi Niangzi hadn't left the house in days, likely due to a serious injury. The burden of laundry and grocery shopping fell on Shi Xiaoshan, who would stare at the stall every day as he passed by. His eyes were dark, especially when he looked at Dong Xiaohuan, and the malice he exuded made Xia Chu shudder.

Xia Chu hoped that Wang Yong would sell the house and move out as soon as possible. It was really unpredictable what a child of Shi Xiaoshan's age could do.

But there is only a thief who steals for a thousand days, but there is no one who can guard against thieves for a thousand days.

That day, Shi Xiaoshan took a middle-aged man home. Xia Chu paid special attention to him and took a few more glances at him.

"That seems to be the doctor from Huichuntang. Could something have happened to Lady Shi?" Dong Xiaohuan asked worriedly.

"I want two of these sausages!" Just then a child came over and handed over five cents.

"Okay, stand away and don't get burned." Dong Xiaohuan didn't have time to care about Shi Niangzi. She cut two sausages and threw them into the pot.

Xia Chu didn't know why she felt uneasy. She couldn't help but look back and saw Shi Xiaoshan walking out of the house. He was walking straight towards her with a bowl in his hand. What was he doing? What was he doing with the bowl? She felt more and more uneasy, "Mom, Mom."

"What's wrong?" Dong Xiaohuan looked at the rice and noodles with intestines in the pot without even turning her head.

Xia Chu was still staring at Shi Xiaoshan. Shi Xiaoshan noticed her gaze and suddenly smiled. It was so creepy that Xia Chu felt a chill in her heart, and the hairs on her back almost stood up. What was he doing with the bowl? Was he going to buy food? He was coming this way. Was he going to buy food?

As they got closer to Shi Xiaoshan, Xia Chu saw what was in the bowl and looked back at Dong Xiaohuan. Suddenly, she screamed, "Brother! Stop him!"