My humble days in ancient times

The weather was getting colder, and a biting wind was blowing. Xu Ruyi rubbed his hands and said to Xu Qinghe, "Brother, the weather is getting colder. Let's go to the county town to buy them some clothes and shoes. Or we can give them some money and let them buy them themselves, so that we don't have to choose something that they don't like."

Xu Qinghe nodded and said seriously, "Okay, how about we go and get them their wages for last month, and then ask them if they want to buy their own clothes or if we can help them. That way, we'll appear to be thorough and considerate."

Xu Ruyi's eyes curved as she smiled and said, "Then they must want to buy it themselves, because then they can buy what they like. It's always better to choose what you like."

The brother and sister soon arrived at the new house. Du Lei's family was busy in the kitchen. The kitchen was steaming hot and filled with the aroma of food.

Du Lei was sharp-eyed. When he saw Xu Ruyi and his sister coming, he quickly put down the work in his hands and walked over quickly.

Du Lei asked respectfully, "I wonder what the eldest lady and the eldest master are doing here today?"

Although he became Xu Qinghe's master, Du Lei still regarded himself as a servant, calling Xu Ruyi "Miss" and Xu Qinghe "Master", always maintaining the proper distance between master and servant.

Xu Qinghe said to Du Lei, "Master, please sit down. Let's sit down and talk."

After Du Lei sat down, Xu Ruyi said with a kind smile on her face, "Master Du, we are here today to pay you your wages. By the way, do you want us to buy clothes and shoes for you, or do you want to buy them yourself?"

Du Lei was quite happy when he heard this. He quickly stood up and said, "I'll go ask them."

After a while, Du Lei came back in a hurry and said, "If possible, we would like to go to the store to buy it ourselves. After all, buying it ourselves will be more to our liking, and we can choose the size and style more accurately."

Xu Ruyi smiled and nodded, saying, "Okay then. It's up to you then."

Du Lei immediately took the account book, and then carefully sorted out the income of the past two days and took it over.

Xu Ruyi took the account book, looked at it carefully, and then said with satisfaction: "Master Du's record is very good. The accounts are clear and concise. I feel relieved."

After that, he began to pay them their wages.

Because they are a family, Xu Ruyi doesn't need to call them all over.

Xu Ruyi took out the silver and said in an orderly manner: "Grandpa Du, six hundred coins, Grandma Ye, six hundred coins, Master Song, one ounce. Master Du, two ounces."

Du Lei was deeply moved. In that era, the average person only earned a dozen or twenty wen a day, with some earning around thirty. Furthermore, because work was unreliable, they typically only worked a few months a year, spending the rest of the time at home. This meant they couldn't earn much in a year, and after accounting for various expenses, they wouldn't be able to save much.

Now that I am living in the master's house, I don't have to spend my own money on food and accommodation, and I can get a stable salary every month. It's really great.

Du Lei was a little flattered and said quickly, "Miss, I think you paid me too much. I really feel bad about it."

Xu Ruyi smiled and said, "Master Du, don't be polite. We are family. Not only are you responsible for the chili oil, but you are also my eldest brother's master. You will teach him martial arts. You can take this money with confidence!"

After Xu Ruyi paid him the wages, he took out another ounce of silver and gave it to him. He said sincerely, "Master Du, this is for you to buy clothes and shoes. Please accept it. Remember to buy thicker winter clothes to keep warm. The weather is getting colder, so don't catch a cold."

Du Lei was moved again, tears even welled up in his eyes, and he thanked him repeatedly.

After leaving the new house, the brother and sister hurried to the county town. When they got there, they saw everyone busy washing vegetables.

When Lei Da saw them, he quickly put down his work, walked over and asked, "Miss and Master, what brings you here today?"

Xu Qinghe smiled and replied, "Today is to pay you wages."

When Lei Da heard this, he couldn't help but be delighted and quickly shouted at them to come over.

The two female helpers each got six hundred wen, Lei Da got one liang and Lei Er also got one liang.

When Lei Dalei saw that the salary was not low, he suddenly felt hopeful about life, as if the future days were full of light and hope.

Lei Da asked them to work first, and he quickly took the account book to Xu Ruyi for review, and then respectfully handed the money he had earned in the past few days to them.

Xu Ruyi took a careful look at it. The expense bill was written clearly and was easy to understand at a glance. Moreover, it was almost the same every day without any major changes. She knew that the account was correct.

Xu Ruyi couldn't help but praise him, "Brother Lei, you've done a great job with the accounts. You manage the store very well, too. My brother and I are very confident. With you here, the business will surely prosper."

Lei Da was very happy to hear this, and a bright smile bloomed on his face. He said, "This is what I should do. Please rest assured, Miss and Master, I will take good care of this shop. If anything happens, I will go to the village to tell you. Even if it rains knives from the sky, I will definitely pass on the news."

Xu Qinghe also nodded and said, "With Brother Lei managing the store, my brother and I are very relieved. We can trust Brother Lei in his work."

Xu Ruyi smiled and asked, "The weather is getting colder now. Do you and Lei Er have winter clothes and shoes? We thought about it and decided to give you some money so you can buy them yourself when you have time. That way you can pick out what you like."

Lei Da was so moved that his eyes welled up with tears. He said with a choked voice, "The eldest lady and the young master are so considerate. I, Lei Da, really don't know what to say."

Xu Ruyi took out five hundred coins and gave them to Lei Da: "This is for you two brothers. Remember to buy thicker winter clothes. Remember to buy at least two sets so you can change into clothes. It's freezing cold out here, don't catch a cold."

"I've got it. Thank you, Miss." Lei Da took the silver, his hands trembling slightly, his heart full of gratitude.

The brother and sister left the shop and hurried to the clothing store. There, they carefully selected two thick winter coats for themselves and their younger siblings, along with thick, warm shoes. They then bought two thick, soft, fluffy quilts. Finally, they bought a few large pieces of oilcloth and some other miscellaneous items before leaving, feeling completely satisfied.

After returning home, Xu Ruyi quickly and carefully spread the old quilts under the bed and placed the new quilts neatly in the yard to dry, muttering to herself, "I can sleep well at night under the warm new quilts."

There were two beds, and Xu Ruyi gave one to Xu Qinghe and Xu Qingyan. Their beds were also carefully made thick, like soft clouds, to ensure they would not get cold.

Xu Ruyuan blinked, a little puzzled: "Sister, didn't we just build a new house? Why don't we move in? That way we won't be cold."

Xu Ruyi gently touched her head and said, "We can move in next year, but by then it won't be a simple house like this one. It will be a beautiful mansion, much better than the one we have now."

Xu Ruyuan tilted his head and thought for a moment, then a happy smile spread across his face as he said, "I'll listen to my elder sister. Let's move next year."

Xu Ruyi and Xu Qinghe worked together to cover the windows tightly with tarpaulins. During the day, they pulled the tarpaulins aside to let the warm sunlight into the house, and at night they covered them completely so that it would not be cold at night.

The four brothers and sisters happily put on their newly bought cotton-padded clothes. In an instant, their bodies were wrapped in warmth, as if they were tightly embraced by the spring sunshine.

Xu Ruyuan and Xu Qingyan finally dared to run out and have fun all over the village. They were like two happy little birds, and their laughter echoed in every corner of the village.

Many people in the village stayed at home and warmed themselves by the fire. The stove in Xu Ruyi's house was never turned off. The charcoal fire in the stove burned red, making the whole house warm.