Ugly girl only wants to farm

Meng Jiuxia, looking aggrieved, held the bamboo brush in her hand and started hawking it. Meng Jiuhe then interjected, "Mother, why don't you buy one more? Why are you only favoring her? Little sister has been working hard these days."

Li San Niang slowly shook the handkerchief in her hand before explaining, "Your little sister is too young to eat these things. There will be plenty of opportunities for her to eat them in the future."

Xu Chaoyan stuffed the soft peach into her mouth, chewed it casually, and mumbled, "Mother, you can't be too biased towards me. Buying one for my sister-in-law won't cost much. Our family doesn't need one more."

Meng Jiuhe nodded: "That's right, remember to buy one for Jiudong later too. Mother, you have to be fair. You can't leave anyone out. You can't favor Xu Chaoyan anymore. People who don't know better will think she's your biological daughter and that we were all adopted."

Li San Niang handed over the bamboo tube: "Yan'er, don't choke. Here, have some water and don't argue with them. This is a good thing, and you can only eat it by yourself. Remember that you ate one at the temple fair on the third day of the third month this year? You'll have to give them back ten next year."

"what!"

Xu Chaoyan looked surprised and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Why do I have to return ten of them? Mother, where did you get these? Were you tricked?"

Li San Niang quickly spat a few times: "No taboos, no taboos."

Finally, with a mysterious look on his face, his eyes involuntarily drifted to her stomach. Xu Chaoyan looked down at the dress she was wearing today, and there was nothing wrong with it.

Li San Niang's blatant gaze made Xu Chaoyan feel a little uncomfortable: "Mother, why are you staring at me like that? But my clothes are inappropriate today, I will definitely pay attention next time."

Li Sanniang smiled and shook her head: "Do you know that I got these peaches from the Goddess of Fertility today? You two have to make up for it and let me hold my grandson next year. You ate one peach from the Goddess today, so you have to give me ten next year. That's the rule."

After hearing what she said, Xu Chaoyan couldn't help but hiccup.

Meng Jiuxia chuckled to herself, "I was wondering why Mom was only favoring you. Turns out there was this reason. You can have as much as you want. Or should I go and ask for two more for you later? It'll be very lively next year."

Meng Jiuhe's face was also flushed. He clenched his fist and covered his lips, then coughed lightly. "Mother, what are you saying? How can you say such things in public? Can't we talk about this at home? You all go ahead and do your work. I'm going to read, so don't bother me."

Li San Niangzi stared at the book in her son's hand: "Jiuhe, the boy in the family who is about your age, is already old enough to run errands? Back when your father was your age, he already had you. And even if you want to read, can't you be a little more serious? You're holding the book upside down. Don't you know?"

Meng Jiuhe hurriedly flipped the book back over: "Mother, why don't you go see Father first? We're busy here. Or, let Father take you out for a stroll. It's been many years since you two have had a lively time together."

Seeing her daughter-in-law and son looking shy, Li Sanniang wisely refrained from further teasing: "Alright, alright, I won't bother you anymore. You two can stay here and nurture your relationship. Xia'er, hurry up and come with your mother to find your father and the others ahead."

"You, my dear sister-in-law, please don't!"

Xu Chaoyan had barely uttered those words when Meng Jiuxia was already dragged far away by Li Sanniang, leaving her and Meng Jiuhe somewhat embarrassed here.

Xu Chaoyan lowered her head, silently counting how many strands the bamboo brush had split into, in an attempt to ease the awkward situation between her and Meng Jiuhe.

Since their wedding night, she and Meng Jiuhe have not made any physical advances. Although they sleep in the same bed, he has not done anything inappropriate.

Suddenly being pressured by her mother-in-law to have a child was something she couldn't quite accept. As a modern woman, she wasn't against getting married and having children, but her body was still quite young, and it didn't seem like it was a good time to give birth too early.

In this ancient era where medical care and medicine were scarce, if she were to die along with her unborn child, she would simply kick the bucket. She hadn't even considered enjoying her wonderful life yet.

She didn't want to be the kind of haggard housewife who was always busy with cooking and children, but then she suddenly thought that it wouldn't be bad if she could have a handsome son like Meng Jiuhe.

A faint, almost imperceptible smile played at the corners of her lips. Having someone in this world, someone connected to her by blood, seemed like a pretty good idea.

Meng Jiuhe had been holding that book for a long time without turning a single page. His mother had brought it up in front of him more than once, intentionally or unintentionally, urging him to have a child.

He glanced up at the person haggling with someone in the distance, and seeing her serious expression, his heart fluttered slightly.

He used to think she was just a rich girl who didn't know anything, and all she did was dress up and pester him. But after the changes in his family, he had many different opinions about Xu Chaoyan.

Xu Chaoyan held several bamboo brushes in her hand and quickly started promoting them as people came and went. Everyone wanted to use these bamboo brushes, and since they only cost about three coins each, you could buy two for five coins, so everyone was happy to do so.

The one she had sold quickly. She was afraid that if she had a moment to herself and faced Meng Jiu's cold face, she wouldn't know how to deal with him.

That man had a strange temper, was easily angered, and was extremely difficult to appease; she didn't want to walk into the line of fire.

There were a lot of people at the temple fair today, and thanks to her silver tongue, the bamboo brushes were quickly sold out.

Xu Chaoyan counted the copper coins over and over again, enjoying the clinking sound they made. It was past lunchtime, and her stomach was rumbling loudly. In the village, most people ate two meals a day, but the Meng family ate three.

Xu Chaoyan rubbed her empty stomach and sighed, feeling that there was no oil or fat in her belly.

She dragged Meng Jiuxia to the butcher she knew before and bought some big bones. She also shamelessly asked for a basin of pig's blood and cut off some fatty meat to stir-fry with cabbage leaves, so at least it would have some meat flavor.

They say you are what you eat to replenish your body. Meng Jiu and her injured leg should eat some pork bones and trotters to replenish their strength. But considering how expensive trotters are, it's too extravagant for them right now.

After another month of arduous standing, Meng Jiuhe can now take a few unsteady steps, just like a child learning to walk.

Xu Chaoyan raised her sleeve and wiped the sweat from her forehead. It seemed that her efforts over the past few days had not been in vain. Every time she went to town, she would bargain with the butcher to buy a few pork bones, cook them with radishes to make a fragrant soup, and then take out the marrow to give to him. At least he could get some nourishment.

When they went to town last time, Meng Jiu asked to visit the bookstore he used to frequent before leaving. He asked the owner for some book copying work. Now, he felt a little sorry for his family, which was only relying on him and his younger sister. He didn't have any other skills, but he could copy some books and wanted to help them share the burden.

Meng Jiuxia walked over and pointed to some birds not far away, looking suspicious: "Where did these birds come from? They've been flying around everywhere these past few days, it's so annoying, and they poop everywhere."