The stepsister of a peasant family in a book is spoiled by the big brothers

Li Taohua was missing today, so even if they left Mr. Tang San to help at the stall, they were still in a mess.

The ingredients that usually sell out in two hours took three hours today.

"Second sister, why is there still braised meat here? Did you forget to take it out just now?" Tang Yixiao asked when he found some braised meat wrapped in oil paper while packing up.

"I left those here on purpose," Qin Huiyin said. "I'll use these things and take them away later. By the way, Third Grandpa, please take me to the dam entrance."

"What's going on at the dam?" Tang Yi asked with a smile. "It's full of men there, it's a mess. I heard Aunt Li from the village went to see her son, but was chased away without even saying a word."

"You guys go to the teahouse and wait for me, listen to a book, drink tea, and eat something. I'll be back soon." Qin Huiyin instructed.

"I'm not going." Tang Yi said with a smile, "The tea in the teahouse is expensive. The cheapest one costs dozens of coins. Not to mention the food there, which is even more uneconomical. Even if we make money now, we can't waste it on these unnecessary expenses. If you want to go to the dam mouth, we will accompany you. We will come back later to buy things together."

Tang Luwu nodded repeatedly.

Third Master Tang asked, "Are you going to see that kid from the Song family?"

"Yes, he has no other relatives. After all, my mother was his stepmother, so I am his sister. He is so young and already repairing the dam. I want to see how he is doing."

When Tang Yixiao heard about going to see Song Ruize, he said sourly, "He's so strong that even the tigers in the mountains are afraid of him. What's so good about him?"

"You brat..." Third Master Tang scolded, "It's a good thing your second sister is loyal and righteous, why are you pouring cold water on her?"

Tang Yi smiled and pursed his lips without saying anything.

Tang Luwu patted Tang Yixiao's shoulder and said, "His father is gone, he won't take mother and Yinyin away."

Tang Luwu understood Tang Yixiao's feelings best. They liked their current life very much and didn't want anyone to destroy the harmony of their family. After all, Song Ruize was Qin Huiyin's former stepbrother. The two had lived under the same roof for a year. Tang Yixiao was worried that Qin Huiyin would care about Song Ruize and forget about them.

The ox cart arrived at the dam mouth.

Qin Huiyin walked towards the entrance with some scattered copper coins.

"Who are you?" a yamen runner in official uniform said ferociously.

"Brother, is Captain Feng here?" Qin Huiyin said with a smile, "Thanks to Brother Feng for taking care of us on weekdays, I want to thank him."

"A friend of Boss Feng? Okay, wait here for a moment. I'll go ask if he's here today." The yamen runner walked away, then returned a short while later and said, "You came at an unfortunate time. He just left. If you're looking for him, try your luck at the yamen."

Qin Huiyin took out five coins, put them into the hand of the yamen runner, and said, "Thank you very much for helping me make this trip. Brother, my brother is here to repair the dam. I wonder if I can stop by to see him. If it's not convenient, forget it. Actually, there's nothing else. I just miss my brother."

Qin Huiyin's eyes were red, and she forced a bitter smile: "I know that big brother is also on duty. You have strict rules and will not cause trouble for you, big brother."

The yamen runner looked at her red eyes, aggrieved and wanting to cry but forcing herself to hold it back, and a little tenderness arose in the man's heart: "What's your brother's name?"

"My brother's name is Song Ruize."

This dam-building project was a significant undertaking, requiring over three thousand people. These three thousand people ate, slept, and worked together, so only the dam-leaders in charge of each team could barely identify the individuals under their command. Yamen runners occasionally changed shifts to maintain order, and unless they were the most troublesome, they generally couldn't recognize the names of the farmhands.

"Song Ruize..." The yamen runner was puzzled. "I think I've heard of it."

Beneath the mountains of rubble, strong men, shirtless and covered in dust, were carrying the stones.

Some people were responsible for breaking stones, some for carrying stones, some for digging the soil, some for going up the mountain to chop wood, and some for carrying wood...

Jiang Qibin stopped, pounded his shoulders, and said with a bitter face: "Brother Ze, don't keep working like an idiot. The dam head isn't always watching us. You should take a break."

Song Ruize said calmly, "Your leg hasn't healed yet. Even if you don't work, they won't do anything to you."

"If I stop for a day, I'll lose ten cents. My family is still waiting for me to take the money back. How can I dare to be lazy? Besides, I'm smart. I just fill the basket with stones and don't move around." Jiang Qibin said, "I get the money this month, but I still have to pay off my debts. I have to work. If I don't work, I will feel uncomfortable all over."

Song Ruize said nothing more.

Jiang Qibin looked at Song Tiegen who was not far away and said, "Your cousin is such a mean person. He says bad things about you everywhere. Now everyone is avoiding you and deliberately alienating you."

"Your cousin only dares to trip you up and play dirty, but you've offended Yang Baotou, and now all the hard, tiring, and dirty work has fallen on you. Brother Ze, this can't go on! This dam will take years to repair. If it keeps going like this, how are you going to make a living?"

Song Ruize did not respond.

Jiang Qibin had long given up on Song Ruize's response. If it weren't for the fact that he was the only one willing to carry him to the doctor when he was injured that day, and even argued with the doctor on his behalf, Song Ruize's indifference would have extinguished his passionate heart long ago.

But fortunately, he saw the unknown side of Brother Ze and realized that although this person was thin-skinned, he was actually kinder than anyone else in his heart.

"Song Ruize, Batou is looking for you, come over here." Someone shouted loudly.

Jiang Qibin stopped what he was doing and said nervously, "Brother Ze, here we go again. I don't know how they're going to make things difficult for you this time. Brother Ze, please be humble and say a few nice words."

Song Ruize put down what he was holding and went to the tent in Yangbaitou.

Those who passed by him looked gloating.

For the men building the dam, watching Song Ruize being harassed by Yang Baotou was part of their fun. Otherwise, just working all day would be too boring.

"Guess what Yang Baotou wants him to do next."

"The work he's doing now is the dirtiest, most tiring, and most difficult. He has more tasks than anyone else, and it's a relief for him to have managed to hold on until now given his small body. Even if Yang Baotou hates him, he doesn't dare to go too far. The county magistrate and the official from the capital often come to check on the progress. If things get out of hand, it will be difficult for Yang Baotou to handle it."

"This kid is really inhuman. He has completed so much work. To be honest, sometimes I feel a chill down my spine just looking at him."

"Yesterday, Li Su deliberately bumped into him, but he didn't move at all, like a rock. Instead, Li Su fell and hit his head, which cost him one or two taels of silver. This money was paid by the public treasury. When he gets paid, it will be deducted from his wages. Every month, two hundred coins will be deducted, leaving him only one hundred coins for food, drink, and toilet."

“It’s really weird.”