Ugly girl only wants to farm

Chapter 262 The Calm Lake (2)

So these days, Zhang Xuyang and Meng Jiuhe take turns picking up and dropping off the two of them.

The weather is getting hotter and hotter, and people are wearing thinner clothes. It is said that the weather in February and August is unpredictable and people are not sure what to wear. Xu Chaoyan has no idea what to wear lately. In the morning, she is wrapped in a thick cotton-padded coat, but by noon, it is so hot that she wants to wear tank tops and shorts.

That day, Meng Jiuhe was heading to the shop with Xu Chaoyan and the others when she stopped him: "It's still early. Why don't you rest in the house for a while? What are you doing coming with us? These days you have a lot of studies to do. We get up at dawn every day, and you get up with us too. Your dark circles have gotten much darker."

Meng Jiuhe opened the door nimbly and followed after him, saying, "I'm worried about you going out with two women, you and my sister."

Zhang Yueniang happened to come out of the house and said a few words to the two of them: "Brother Meng, you should rest a bit more. You can come over with Xia Xia later. It's still early, don't you mind being tired?"

While holding a lantern to light their way, Meng Jiuhe opened the courtyard gate and said, "Anyway, I can't sleep. I'll remember better if I get up early. You guys go ahead and I'll review yesterday's lessons."

"Forget it, let him come along. We're going to the butcher's to get some bones anyway, and that stretch of road is indeed a bit dark and difficult to walk on."

Meng Jiuhe gently knocked the courtyard gate shut: "That's right. At least I can contribute to this family. I don't want to be seen as an ungrateful wretch who lives off his wife."

He spoke his last words somewhat softly, still somewhat bothered by what the others had said, but Xu Chaoyan still heard them.

It's normal for Meng Jiuhe to have these concerns; it's also her fault for not paying attention before.

"Okay, you can carry all the bones and pork in a bit, is that alright now?"

Meng Jiuhe then smiled and said, "By the way, my wife, I've noticed that our shop is doing quite well these days. I heard that some people on East Street are following suit and doing the same thing."

Moon Lady was also planning to talk to her about this when she had some free time. Their shop had been open for about ten days, and word of mouth had spread that the business was booming. At noon, the students would rush over. The ordinary set meal for seven coins was economical and affordable, and the meat tofu hot pot base for two to three people was better than the wontons and pancakes they ate outside. Besides, they didn't have to trouble their families to make a trip back and forth.

Xu Chaoyan: "This is normal. After all, we are outsiders and it's normal for people to be jealous of our temporary profits. We should just do things with a clear conscience. Small businesses make small profits but quick turnover. Those people won't follow suit if they see that there's not much profit to be made. This business requires getting up in the middle of the night, and some people can't endure the hardship, especially in cold weather."

Meng Jiuhe nodded: "What you said makes some sense, but some people are envious and can't stand seeing others do well. You should always be wary of others. You women should be extra careful in your daily lives."

Just past the alley entrance was the butcher's house. The sky was still pitch black, with only the occasional bark of a dog, which startled Xu Chaoyan so much that she couldn't help but shrink back inside.

She had been chased and bitten by a vicious dog before, so she was traumatized, and her body instinctively leaned towards Meng Jiuhe.

He sensed her fear and held her hand tightly, gently reassuring her, "Don't be afraid, I'm here for you."

Zhang Yueniang picked up a bamboo pole from the side and tapped it on the ground a few times: "I didn't hear it a few days ago. I don't know where the stray dog ​​came from. Don't be afraid, sister."

The barking grew closer and fiercer, causing Xu Chaoyan to tremble slightly in fear.

"Is this Boss Xu?" The butcher's wife's voice suddenly came from inside.

Holding the lamp in one hand and protecting it from the flickering light, she said, "I'm sure you've scared Mr. Xu. There have been a lot of stray dogs lately, and my pigs' offal has been snatched away several times. Please be careful when you come here. The rapeseed flowers are in bloom these days, and there are rabid dogs everywhere. I heard that if you get bitten, you can get rabies."

The butcher's wife had a round face and a rather short, plump but strong build; she looked quite auspicious. She threw a few pebbles at the dog not far away, muttering curses under her breath.

"Ms. Xu, is this your husband? He's really handsome. He looks very learned. I wish my son could be that handsome, but unfortunately he can't read a single word."

I had met the butcher's two sons, Xu Chaoyan, before. They helped their parents with whatever they could, and once even carried bones back to the shop for them. The two young men were both sturdy and robust. Their skin was a little dark, but their features were quite regular.

Xu Chaoyan smiled and accepted the praise, after all, her husband was indeed quite handsome, there was no doubt about that.

"Thank you for praising my husband, sister-in-law. But please don't praise him too much, or he'll get all cocky. By the way, did you save the pig's blood I asked you to save for me? I'm craving it today."

The butcher's wife, who had a loud voice, pushed open the courtyard gate with a creak: "Boss Xu, of course I've prepared what you wanted. Pig's blood isn't anything rare. If you want more next time, I'll prepare more for you. My shop will have to rely on your patronage from now on."

Xu Chaoyan chose them from among many butchers. The couple were kind and never haggled with anyone. They would give her pig's blood and offal for free.

After adding firewood to the stove, Meng Jiuhe got up and patted the dust off his clothes: "Wife, I'm going now. Be careful in everything. My eyelids have been twitching a lot these past few days. Don't act rashly if anything happens."

"Hurry up and go there in a bit, don't be late. Or you should change your clothes, it won't look good to go there smelling like smoke and fire. I've prepared a new set for you in the backyard."

Meng Jiuhe patted him casually a few times: "It's alright, I'm not going to find a match."

Shen Siheng, with his loud voice, took half the head and started running: "What's there to look at? Who wants to look at someone's fortune? Is it that kid Zhang Xuyang?"

"Ouch, can't you be a little gentler? This is a head, not a watermelon."

Zhang Xuyang: "Talking behind people's backs is karma."

"The match they were talking about just now, if it wasn't you, who else could it be but me? But you're getting on in years, it's time to get married and have children, don't become an old man. I thought the bookstore owner's daughter was quite nice last time, but you insisted on dragging me away."

He had barely finished speaking when Xu Chaoyan and Zhang Yueniang came over and asked, "What girl? How old are you? Do you have any complaints about having a divorced older sister?"

Zhang Xuyang's face turned a deep shade of liver as he hurriedly tried to defend himself: "Sister, I didn't listen to his nonsense. Don't believe everything you hear."

Xu Chaoyan also looked gossipy: "As long as the girl is kind-hearted, that's fine. Our Xuyang is also a handsome scholar, so he's sure to attract young girls. Tell me which bookstore it is, and we'll go take a look when we have time."

With a loud thud, Zhang Xuyang hurriedly tripped over the stool.

"Don't go! Zhang Xuyang, your ears are all red, sorry."

village

“Mother, why don’t you go back to Hongmiao Village and stay for a while? It’s almost Qingming Festival, and you still need to go to sweep the tombs and pay respects to our ancestors.”

After stammering for a long time, Meng Xiuzhi finally got to the point. These days at home hadn't been easy for her either. Her husband was never home; when he came back, he was drunk and would beat her. Her son's marriage was off, and she was constantly complaining and blaming everyone else.

Grandma Meng slammed the chopsticks on the table with a "bang," and the bowl rolled a few times before finally falling to the ground and breaking in two. The tabby cat darted over and began to wolf down the bowl.

Meng Xiuzhi, looking distressed, quickly shooed it away with her foot: "You beast, get out of here! What a waste of this porridge! There's a spoonful of lard in it! What a sin! Mother, you don't know how to be careful. Don't you know how expensive this grain is?"

"I raised you with my own hands and feet, and you're not even worth a bowl of rice. You unfilial daughter, you tricked me into coming here and promised to take care of me in my old age."

Grandmother Meng could change her expression in an instant by pinching her thigh.

"Xiuzhi? What happened to your family again? Did your husband beat you again? This man is your everything. Just say a few nice words and you'll avoid physical pain." A neighbor's sarcastic voice came from the next courtyard wall.

"Pah! That shrewish old woman just loves to watch the fun and ridicule people."

Mencius' mother still had a displeased look on her face.

Meng Xiuzhi coaxed and tricked her: "Mother, you're just going to sweep the graves and will be back in a few days. The other day I heard from the villagers that my nephew is doing very well in the county, eating and drinking well, while you are here not eating or wearing enough. That's unfilial of him. Go back and ask Changgen's family for details."

“This unfilial descendant has gone too far! He has no worries about food or clothing, but he makes his grandmother suffer. Pack your things and I’m going back right now.”