You are unlucky and I am tough

After washing the clothes, Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang carried the clothes back home. Before they reached home, they saw Zhao Daya moving a stool and sitting at the door, scolding the thief for stealing the melons from her field.

The two of them unconsciously quickened their pace as they passed by. As soon as they entered the yard, Cheng Shuang rolled her eyes at the person next to her and said, "I was implicated by you."

"I really didn't mean it."

Wei Qinglang was helpless. "Where we are, these melons grow in the ground and we can eat them at will. I forgot for a moment."

Cheng Shuang snorted and went to hang out the clothes.

They have conflicts with their neighbors. They've only been living here for a few days and have already been scolded three times. They need to build a new house quickly and move away.

Mr. Cheng is the only wealthy family in Chengjia Village. He lives in a large blue brick and tile house with two courtyards. He has many fields at home and also has a shop in the town that collects rent.

This year, because it was his 60th birthday, his family spent a lot of money to hold a grand celebration for him. In addition to relatives and friends, they also invited the whole village to dinner. The house could not accommodate so many people, so they set up 30 tables in the threshing ground.

I heard that any villagers who want to go can go directly to the banquet, and they can eat from the afternoon to the evening after one group takes over. There are people who are responsible for cooking and adding dishes, and there are enough ingredients.

As soon as it was afternoon, many villagers took their children to the threshing ground, fearing that they would be late and have to queue because there would be no place.

Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang followed Cheng Lizheng to the home of Cheng Lao Xiucai. From a distance, they saw the large blue brick and tile house decorated with lights and red silk fluttering, which looked very festive. There were also several carriages parked in the open space in front of the house.

There was a servant at the door setting up a table to register the guests. When they entered, the headman put a string of copper coins into the gift box, which looked like there were about two or three hundred coins.

The old scholar's house had two courtyards. The front yard was not very tidy, but it was clean and tidy. There were two tables where guests sat and talked.

After passing through the corridor next to the main house, you will arrive at the backyard. The backyard is much larger than the front yard. It is planted with seasonal flowers. The scenery is beautiful with flowers and trees.

There were also tables and chairs in the yard, and guests were gathered in groups of three or five, chatting and laughing.

These people were all guests to whom Mr. Cheng, an old scholar, had extended invitations. Among them were his old friends, business partners of his two sons, and college classmates of his grandchildren. Younger people from other villages who were already students or scholars were also invited.

Most of the guests from the town and the county brought their families with them. The women wore silk clothes and had pearls and jade on their heads, looking wealthy.

Cheng Jinxiu was originally talking to two rich young ladies in the town. When she turned around, she suddenly saw Cheng Lizheng coming in with Wei Qinglang.

She was immediately delighted and was about to go over, but then she saw Cheng Shuang pause.

Why is she here? Shouldn't all the villagers be at the threshing ground?

Everyone who comes to her house today is a distinguished guest. How can a village woman have the qualifications to enter her house?

Ever since Wei Qinglang was so cold to her last time, she always thought of him unconsciously and felt unwilling.

She is Cheng Jinxiu, the only rich family in Chengjia Village. Those illiterate girls in the village are far superior to her. Why shouldn't Wei Qinglang look at her differently?

Seeing the headman leading two people to the banquet hall, Cheng Jinxiu knew that they were definitely going to see her grandfather. She stood up, said she was going to change clothes, and followed them.

Old Scholar Cheng was talking with some old friends in the banquet hall when he heard a servant come in and say that Cheng Lizheng had arrived. He apologized and left.

Old Scholar Cheng, wearing a brand new brown satin suit, stepped over the threshold with a smile, "Ah, brother, I'm sorry for not welcoming you in person."

Cheng Lizheng bowed with a smile on his face, "May you live a long and happy life, my brother."

Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang followed silently all the way without saying a word. Now that they saw the birthday boy, they congratulated him in unison, "May the old man be blessed with good fortune as vast as the East Sea and live as long as the Southern Mountains."

Old Scholar Cheng smiled and nodded. Looking at the two of them, he understood that Cheng Li had something to do, so he invited the three of them into the side hall to talk.

The servants brought tea, and the two old men sat down and chatted for a while, lamenting the passing of time. Then Cheng Lizheng directly explained the purpose of his visit.

He asked Wei Qinglang and Cheng Shuang to come forward and introduced them to the old scholar, "This is Qinglang, the third son of Wei Changgui's family in the village. He got married and separated from the family a while ago. Next to him is his wife Cheng Shuang."

Old Scholar Cheng nodded. He never cared about the affairs of the village, but he also heard some things from his granddaughter Jinxiu. She said that a girl in the village got married and brought her younger siblings with her.

Cheng Lizheng said: "You have many guests today, so I won't beat around the bush. These two children have a miserable life. They got married without a dowry, and they didn't get any land when the family was divided. The whole family needs to eat.

The village accounts only have wasteland and no good farmland. Didn't you say before that you wanted to sell the 100 acres of good farmland at the foot of the northern mountain? I know you want to sell the whole lot to the rich people in town, but I saw that four or five acres are scattered. So I'm shameless enough to come to you and see if you can sell those acres to them.

Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang looked at each other. This old village headman really came to ask for help in buying land for them. In fact, they could buy food directly without farming, but it was not easy to say anything now.

The old people of this dynasty had a deep-rooted idea that if the poor people did not farm, they would have nothing to eat, and the fields were the foundation and guarantee of their livelihood. The old people also had good intentions.

Scholar Cheng is aloof and noble. He is not a kind-hearted person, but he is not a stingy and narrow-minded bad person either. He and Cheng Lizheng grew up in the same village, and he has always respected Cheng Lizheng, a selfless and noble-minded village head.

When he heard that he just wanted to buy a few acres of land from his family, he immediately said that it was a small matter and he could send someone to do it in a few days.

Cheng Lizheng thanked him repeatedly, and Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang also stood up and bowed, thinking that this old scholar was a pretty good person.

Cheng Jinxiu, who was hiding outside and eavesdropping, snorted in disdain when she heard that Wei Qinglang came to buy his family's land.

The old scholar asked Cheng Lizheng to stay and sit with him at the main table after the banquet started. Cheng Shuang and Wei Qinglang naturally did not have the face to do so. If they wanted to attend the banquet, they could only go to the threshing ground in the village.

The two left on their own, but just as they reached the front yard, Cheng Jinxiu chased them out and blocked their way.

"Brother Qinglang, you are a guest, why are you leaving now?"

Cheng Jinxiu looked at Wei Qinglang and finished speaking. Then she pretended to have just noticed the person next to her and said with a smile on her face, "Sister Shuang'er is here too. There were so many people today that I almost didn't see you."

Cheng Shuang looked at Cheng Jinxiu in front of her. She was wearing a lavender chest-length skirt made of excellent fabric, with rouge and powder on her face and a pearl flower on her head.

Actually, she looks okay, but the smile on her face seems so fake and hypocritical.

What do you mean I almost didn't see her? How blind must she be standing there at such a big age?

It was obvious that this girl was hostile to her, and it was because of Wei Qinglang.

Cheng Shuang gave a perfunctory smile and took a small step to the side to watch the show.

Wei Qinglang was also annoyed with this girl, and perfunctorily said, "Ms. Cheng's family is full of distinguished guests. We villagers don't know the etiquette, so we won't stay long."

"How could that be?" Cheng Jinxiu's face was full of sincerity.

"I'll let you stay. Grandpa won't say anything. Today, we've invited the chef from Yunhe Tower in the county town. It's different from the big pot meal we asked the villagers to help make at the threshing ground. It's a rare opportunity for you to stay and try it. Sister Shuang'er can sit at the table with me. I'll take care of her."

Cheng Jinxiu had a smile on her face, but she was thinking in her heart that all the ladies at her table were from wealthy families, and those ladies would definitely be disgusted by Cheng Shuang's poor appearance.

She just wanted Cheng Shuang to embarrass herself in front of these rich people, and then she would rescue them to appear beautiful and kind.

Cheng Shuang glanced at Wei Qinglang. Is she sick? Do I look like a fool?

Wei Qinglang received the look from the person next to him and looked at Cheng Jinxiu expressionlessly, "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Cheng, but my wife and I like to eat from a big pot."

After saying that, he took Cheng Shuang and left.

Cheng Jinxiu looked at the two people leaving in disbelief and stomped her feet behind them.

She was almost furious. No one in the village would ever have the chance to attend such a grand banquet in their lifetime, and yet they dared to refuse her kind invitation.