Linxia

Chapter 138, Back

Xiaohe Village.

Qiao Cunzheng and others drove the ox cart back. The little kids who had been waiting at the entrance of the village, when they heard that there was news, especially the letter from the Fang family, they immediately jumped and shouted in the village. When other families heard it, those who had time rushed to Qiao Cunzheng's house.

Soon, the Qiao family courtyard was crowded with people, noisy and bustling.

It is worth mentioning that the Song family and the Bai family are far apart. At the beginning, it was because of Song Kai and Bai Bao. Later, the conflict escalated because of the matter of Song Guangcheng and Old Lady Bai... The two families have been making trouble since they came back from the provincial capital, and it has not stopped until now.

In addition, the people from the Chen family in the neighboring village have been frightened ever since Chen Guiyun, Chen Feng and his wife, and Widow Chen came back from the provincial capital last time, and no one dares to go there anymore.

Back to the scene, as I said before, there is not much entertainment in Xiaohe Village. Every time a letter comes, it is a very lively time, especially Fang Lin's letters, which further increase the expectations.

Nowadays, whenever a letter comes, villagers will come to listen if they have time, and even people from neighboring villages will come if they meet them.

"Fucheng is great. In the last letter from the Fang family, it said that the dragon with benches during the New Year was several miles long. I don't know if I will ever see it in this lifetime."

"What's the big deal about the bench dragon in the city? It's just a little longer than ours. I heard that the Bieshan Lantern at the Lantern Festival is more rare. It's a pity that the Fang family only watched from a distance and didn't say much."

"The last letter said that the city was hoarding grain, and there were thieves who went to steal from Master Ou's house, so my family bought some grain... The taxes this year are so heavy, and it's thanks to the purchases we made earlier. Otherwise, after paying the taxes and the high grain prices, we would have to tighten our belts for most of the year."

……

The things he saw and heard in Fang Lin's letter, as well as the prosperity of the city, were interesting to the villagers and were a rare pastime. Some information, such as the last time he stockpiled grain, brought tangible benefits to the villagers, making them even more eager to listen to the letter.

At the urging of the villagers, Qiao Cunzheng took out the letter from Lao Fang's family and opened it to read.

In this letter, Fang Lin first briefly talked about the debate conference, and then talked about the Qixi Festival, when the family boarded the ship of the dignitaries and watched the Bieshan Lantern from a close distance. The description here is very detailed: "Looking from a close distance, the Bieshan Lantern is divided into pieces. The gods are on the top, the God of Wind and the God of Fire... Below, there are mountain goblins, birds and beasts among the pines and cypresses; in the water, there are fish, dragons, turtles and crabs... When the music started, the God of Wind and the God of Fire came alive, and the birds and beasts below began to run, and fish and dragons emerged from the water..."

Hearing this, a little kid shouted, "Bieshan Lantern! It's the Bieshan Lantern I mentioned last time! Brother Fang is so detailed this time!"

Some adults also whispered, "Didn't we say last time that only nobles in the prefectural city could get close to see the Bieshan Lantern? It's amazing that Fang Jialinzi got an invitation from the prefect!"

"Isn't it? But don't say anything for now, just keep listening!"

……

Next, Fang Lin talked about opening a bookstore, and the business was booming... He also said that he was going to open a branch and invite people to come over: "An'an from my uncle's family is still young, so let's not talk about it for now. The eldest and second uncles can each send one person to help, and grandpa and grandma can also come to take a look. We have already contacted the caravan, and they will pick us up in Haining County. Don't worry about the travel expenses, they have already been paid..."

Fang's father and mother are Fang Lin's father and mother, and Fang's grandfather and grandmother are also Fang's father and mother. In the past, with limited resources, Fang Lin could only take care of his own small family, himself, his father, his mother, and Tian Xuan. Now that the situation has changed, he is willing to expand outward little by little like a concentric circle to the extent of his ability, and benefit some of the old Fang family.

On the one hand, there is still affection between the four branches of the old Fang family. In the past, even if they had their own calculations, they had to do it under the limited stock resources. They had no intention of plotting against each other, and they had no intention of killing each other. For example, the seemingly worst thing, the uncle Fang Jiping pushed Fang Lin's family to go to the capital city, but it was just because Fang Sui'an was too young. In essence, he did not have any intention of killing the third branch. Before leaving, he also gave ginseng.

Later, Fang Lin's family came to the provincial capital to expand their business and gain additional resources. The old Fang family in Xiaohe village also benefited from this and became much more harmonious than before.

On the other hand, from a utilitarian point of view, if Fang Lin wants to open branches, having someone from the same family watching over each store can also play a deterrent and check and balance role. At the same time, it can also set an example for the villagers and gain prestige. After all, if they really want to go out to sea in the future, the villagers and other fellow villagers will be the core team.

The villagers didn't think too much about it. They heard that Fang Lin had opened a store and his business was booming. He also planned to open a branch and bring the two people from the first and second wives of the Fang family to the city... These two consecutive pieces of news shocked them greatly.

In their impression, being able to work as an accountant or a clerk in the city was already a big deal, not to mention opening a shop and being the shopkeeper? After Fang Lin's family arrived in the city last year, every letter they sent back was different. It can be said that they witnessed the changes in Fang Lin's family throughout the whole process, and the more they saw this, the more shocked they felt.

"It's incredible. Linzi of the Fang family has become the shopkeeper now."

"Didn't you hear what was said in the letter? Business is very good. We are about to open a branch store. We also want to invite one person from Boss Fang and Boss Fang to come over!"

"Once you go to the city and find a job, you will be a city dweller from now on!"

……

When the old Fang family, Grandpa Fang, Grandma Fang, the first wife, the second wife, and the fourth wife heard the two news, they were all confused and in different moods.

Grandpa Fang and Grandma Fang were just pure joy, their faces flushed and they couldn't stop smiling: they were happy that the third son's family was capable; they were happy that the third son's family was capable and they still cared about their brothers and their sons lived in harmony; they were happy again; after becoming capable, the third son's family was still so filial and they invited them to the provincial capital; they were happy again!
In the eldest house, the uncle Fang Boxian sighed at the honesty of Fang's father and Fang Lin. The eldest lady Fang Liu glanced at her two sons, and remembered that the last time the second son came back from the provincial capital, he called the eldest son, and that the two of them went to find Qiao Cunzheng to learn calligraphy whenever they had time. In connection with today's news, she understood a little.

In the second room, Fang Wang, the second wife, grabbed her husband's hand, her body trembling with excitement: "Hey! Ha! Ah! Did I hear it right? Linzi said that we should send one person to the city? My son will also be a city dweller in the future?"

He was so overjoyed that he looked a bit like Fan Jin, who had passed the imperial examination.

As for the fourth room, Fang Jiping and his wife smiled a little reluctantly. Only the first and second rooms had benefits, but their own room had none. Although Fang Lin said that Fang Sui'an was still young, they still couldn't help but think too much, wondering if the third room was still thinking about the time when they went to the provincial capital, and felt bad.

The villagers had no idea of ​​the complexity of the Fang family's situation, and they swarmed over, saying all kinds of nice things.

"Congratulations, Zuwang. You two are so blessed. Your children and grandchildren are so promising and filial!"

"Boxian, Zhonggui, your children will live in the city and will be city dwellers from now on. It will be much better than us digging for food in the fields."

"Ji Ping, you two are brothers, and my uncle will not treat you unfairly. When An An is old enough in the future, maybe he will be able to go to the capital city."

……

The big happy event of the old Fang family was accompanied by villagers who said nice things to them. This scene similar to "gorgeous clothes on the street" made the joy swell even more.

After a while.

Qiao Cunzheng asked everyone to be quiet, then took out the next letter, which was from Geng Shi from the Geng family.

The letter mentioned that Su Xiaoqing gave birth to a daughter and named her Geng Xueer... Geng Shi went to Fanglin's store. Compared with his previous job in the grain store, it was easier and the salary was higher... Now, he was not as tight as last year. He had more money and brought a set of clothes for his parents and brother.

This is certainly worthy of the villagers' envy, but today, with the letter from Fang Lin's family as a precedent, the sensation caused by this letter is relatively small.

Then came Zheng Yu's letter.

Originally, there was a trio of Song Kai, Bai Bao and Zheng Yu, but now he is the only one left. He was able to stay away from Song Kai and Bai Bao in order to survive.

The letter mentioned that Zheng Yu was working as an apprentice in a restaurant. The master chef kept his skills secret and asked him to do whatever he wanted. Zheng Yu had to figure it out on his own, but he did figure out some tricks so that his family didn't have to worry.

After hearing this, the villagers thought that this was normal. If the provincial capital was really that good and everyone could become rich easily, that would be wrong!
Later, a letter from Fu Hong of the Fu family further confirmed their thoughts. Fu Hong was thrown into jail for being involved in a gang.

As expected, the content of the letter caused an uproar.

"In the past, Fu Hong was a petty thief in the village... He went to the capital and worked as a clerk in a pawn shop. He was fired for his dishonest behavior... Later, I heard that he went to work in a factory, but he was impatient and always resorted to crooked means."

"Being arrested and imprisoned is better than being arrested by Song Kai. At least he won't be beheaded."

"You talk about this person, the good ones are good, the bad ones are bad. Linzi, Gengshi, and Zheng Yu are all OK, but Song Kai, Bai Bao, and Fu Hong are not OK."

……

Both Mr. and Mrs. Fu were so ashamed that they took the letter and left early.

After reading one letter after another, some reported good news, some reported bad news. The joys and sorrows of each person were different. The villagers talked and discussed, and slowly dispersed.

……

The old Fang family, the eldest wife.

After returning, Fang Chuanhui told his parents what Fang Lin had said to him before he left for the provincial capital last time.

"What can I say? Ever since you came back last time, you have been dragging your brother to learn calligraphy from Qiao Cunzheng whenever you have time!" Fang Liu nodded.

Fang Boxian also sighed after hearing this: "Shuyou and Linzi, the father and son of the third branch are both very loyal! This is very thoughtful. We will keep one of the two boys in our family to carry on the family line. He is a little dull, while Chuanhui is smarter and has learned more about writing and arithmetic. Let Hui go!"

"Okay." Fang Chuanzong agreed. He and Fang Boxian were really cut from the same cloth. They were both honest and kind, and they were brothers. They didn't care who suffered the loss or who took the advantage.

Fang Yuyu listened and wanted to speak up, so she went to the provincial capital again.

Fang Liu knew what the girl was thinking as soon as she saw her: "You went to the capital last time and saw the world. It's time to get your heart back."

"Oh!" Fang Yuyu listened and nodded obediently.

"Mom, Yu Yu is back and has done a lot of work. She is now at peace! Yu Yu, when your second brother goes to the provincial capital to earn money and settles down, I will take you over. The same goes for Dad, Mom, and eldest brother." Fang Chuanhui said.

"Second brother is so nice." Fang Yuyu said happily. She really believed it.

Fang Boxian, Fang Liushi and Fang Chuanzong all laughed when they saw this scene. They just took it as a consolation and did not take it to heart. After all, it was not that easy to take the capital city!

……

Second bedroom.

Second wife Fang Wang came back, still happy: "The dried beans were not given in vain, Linzi is really sentimental... The fortune teller said that our He He would become a high-ranking official in the future, or even if he failed, he could go to the city and work as an accountant. It turned out to be true, it's accurate! It's accurate! Our He He will be a city dweller in the future."

"okay."

Second uncle Fang Zhonggui poured cold water on her: "Don't think about climbing up the ladder and taking advantage of the third family. You should be content with this job. Do you remember what I said? You have to be sincere to the third family Linzi. So, you stay to look after the house, and I will send Hezi to the capital."

"Okay." Fang Wangshi agreed quickly. She was aggressive outside and that was just her role as the bad guy. But at home she listened to her husband because she knew Fang Zhonggui was smarter than her.

Fang He was listening nearby.

During this year, he went to school in the county for a few months and gradually became sensible. He knew that his cousin, who used to play with him, had become very powerful. Now he was about to go to the prosperous provincial capital described in his cousin's letter. He felt happy and nervous.

"Dad, Mom, my sister and I also want to go to the provincial capital to have a look!" Fang Xiaoxiao took the initiative to fight for herself and her sister.

She was lively and clever. She would hide when Fang He was picking up egg flowers, and would even tease Fang He when they were catching fish. "Dad, Mom, I'll let it go. Let Xiao Xiao go!"

Fang Cao'er naturally wanted to go too, but as the oldest sister and relatively mature, she knew that she couldn't be willful and had to take care of the family.

Fang Zhonggui hesitated for a moment and said, "That's fine. Hezi doesn't have a good relationship with Linzi from the third brother's family. Xiaoxiao, you always followed Linzi up the mountain to collect firewood... Yuyu from the first room, when she went to the city last time, I heard that she was very popular with the third brother and his wife."

When Fang Xiaoxiao heard Fang Zhonggui's agreement, she turned her head instantly and looked at Fang Wangshi nervously, fearing that her mother would object and make the plan fail.

Seeing Fang Xiaoxiao's look, Fang Wang pinched her waist and said angrily, "Why, are you afraid that I won't give in? I am partial, but I also hope for your best. I'm not a stepmother."

"In this way, Cao'er and Xiaoxiao can go with them to see the world. Their aunt can let her children go to the city to broaden their horizons, so how can I be worse than her?" Perhaps she was happy that her son could go to the city, or perhaps she wanted to compete with Fang Liu. In any case, she really agreed.

"Great!" Fang Xiaoxiao and Fang Cao'er were very happy when they heard it. They were even happier than during the Chinese New Year!
……

Four rooms.

The young lady Fang Qin said, "Master, do you think the Third Family still blames us? Should we go to the prefectural capital to explain this time?"

"It's useless to go there, so let's just be ourselves and do our duty."

Fang Jiping paused for a moment, and then continued, "Didn't I say last time that we don't care what the Third Family does? We just need to be honest and do our duty. We just hope that the Third Family will treat us a little better than outsiders in the future."

"That's right. To be honest, compared to the first and second houses, we used to have the best relationship with the third house, but now... ah!"

……

Because of today's happy event, the first, second and fourth branches of the Fang family gathered together for dinner tonight. They made dumplings and boiled big bones.

Just under the big poplar tree in front of Lao Fang’s house, the tree is tall and straight, full of vitality, with its treetops reaching straight into the sky, and four magpie nests can be seen high up.

At this time, Fang Xiaoxiao was asking Fang Yuyu how long it took her to go to the provincial capital last time, what it felt like to ride in a ox cart, etc.

"Riding in a bullock cart is like sitting in a sow's belly, rocking and swaying, and it's quite comfortable!" Fang Yuyu said.

"Nonsense, it's as if you've sat in a sow's belly." Fang Liu knocked her on the head upon hearing that.

"Mom, I'm not talking nonsense." Fang Yuyu said seriously, "I've seen it before. A sow is pregnant with piglets. The piglets are in her belly. When the sow walks, her belly moves and sways. Sitting on an ox cart also sways. So riding on an ox cart is like sitting in a sow's belly."

After hearing this, the whole family, young and old, laughed.

"Mom, eat this piece of meat. It needs to be stewed until it's more tender." Mrs. Fang Wang was in a good mood today. She was being attentive and picking up some meat for Grandma Fang.

"I won't eat it. I can't bite it!"

Grandma Fang passed the meat to Fang He next to her and said, "When people get old, they lose their teeth. Their mouths shrink and shrink into a ball, like a wrinkled date that has not been eaten for too long. Without teeth, I can't eat things I can't eat. I don't want to be like a cow, swallowing and spitting out, chewing non-stop. This mouth is not closed, and spitting saliva when talking. If I go to the capital, it will embarrass the third brother's family, so I won't go and be disliked."

"Yeah, let's not bother with it anymore." Grandpa Fang also said.

"Dad, Mom!" The first, second, and fourth wives all tried to persuade them, but they had made up their minds.

"I heard from Yu Yu that I have been to the provincial capital. Yu Yu, can you tell me more about your third uncle's house? I don't remember it." Grandma Fang asked.

"Hey!" Fang Yuyu agreed crisply, and said, "The house where Third Uncle lives has five rooms. Three are for sleeping, one is the kitchen, and one is the main room... This side is the Qiu family, and over there are the Man family, the Xin family, the Ou family, and the Lu family... There is a big osmanthus tree in front of Master Ou's house..."

The whole family listened attentively.

"Okay! Okay!"

The white hair on Grandma Fang's temples sparkled in the sunset. She pulled Fang Chuanhui and Fang He, who were specially arranged to sit next to her today, and blinked her eyes, as if she wanted to imprint them in her heart: "Chuanhui, Hehe, this time you are not like Cao'er and Xiaoxiao, who stayed in the city... Work hard at your third uncle's house, listen to your cousin, and be tactful..."

She kept talking about how her two grandsons had gone to the provincial capital and stayed there, and she didn't know if she would see them again in the future. She held their hands to talk to them and gave them some money. It was true that her most beloved grandson was the fourth son Fang Sui'an, but these two were also grandsons, and she loved them dearly.

Grandpa Fang looked at this scene and said nothing. Xiaohe Village is their root and the old couple cannot leave it in this life and do not want to leave, but they still hope that their grandchildren can go out and change the heavy fate that generations have borne.

……

Joe's house.

Qiao Xu sighed: "When I was on the way to the city, I thought Linzi was extraordinary. I never thought that he would become so prosperous after only one year in the city."

"Linzi from the third branch of the Fang family is very promising. You can visit the old Fang family more often in the future."

As Qiao Cunzheng was speaking, he looked at the sunset glow that looked like a flaming cloud in the sky: "Year after year, who knows what the world will be like in the future!"

……

Geng family.

Father Geng said, "Shitou is following the third son of the Fang family. Even if he doesn't get rich, at least he must be well-off. That's why he has enough money to buy us clothes and other things."

"I thought so."

Geng Cong said, "Dad, you are good at judging people. You said at the beginning that the Fang family is honest and we can get closer to them."

……

Fu family.

When Fu Lao Niang came back, she was indignant: "Why is our son's life so hard? He worked in a pawn shop, but the owner was cruel and deducted his wages... He worked in a workshop, but it was hard and tiring... He just joined the gang and he was arrested..."

"That's enough. A fly won't bite an egg that has no cracks. In that pawn shop, if he hadn't stolen, would they have fired him and asked him to pay compensation? In the workshop, it's hard and tiring, but everyone else can do it, but not him?"

Father Fu sighed: "At least he is better than Song Kai and Bai Bao. He didn't have to let me, his father, collect his body."

When Fu's mother heard this, she stopped talking immediately. Although Fu Hong was miserable, compared with Song Kai and Bai Bao, it was nothing.

"Boss, should we go to the capital city to see Hongzi?"

"It's not like they're going to chop off his head and collect his body, so what are you looking at? Just ask the Fang family to bring him some money. The Fang family's reputation is trustworthy."

……

You family.

You Chaodong has long been an undoubted "Fang Lin fan", and ever since he came back he has been marveling at Fang Lin's prowess.

The You family's wife listened and said, "It's amazing. It's only been a year, and Linzi has built up such a business. Who knows how big it will be in the future? I think Linzi is also loyal. He has taken care of Gengshi and Guihua Sao, who were close to him at the beginning."

"Yes, fortunately our family has a good relationship with Linzi and the old Fang family."

You Chaodong said, "Last time we were talking about how disasters have been hitting Daxia every year... This year, the north has suffered a disaster. If we increase taxes here, maybe one day in the future, we will have to seek refuge in Linzi..."

……

Zheng family.

"It was because our son didn't listen to you. He realized his mistake early and stayed away from Song Kai and Bai Bao. He went to Fang Jialinzi for advice and found a job as a waiter in a restaurant..."

When Zheng's wife got to this point, she suddenly said, "Hey, head of the family, isn't Fang's Linzi planning to open a branch? What do you think? Let's go find someone from the old Fang family and let our son work with Linzi and cook for the branch. What do you think?"

"This... Linzi has his own ideas."

"It's hard to say. Linzi himself hasn't even thought of it. Let's ask the Fang family to go to the capital and help mention it. It's up to Linzi to decide whether to use it or not..."

Zheng's wife looked at her husband's shyness and immediately spat, "Bah, you just can't bring yourself to do that. I tell you, if you don't go today, don't even think about getting in bed tonight."

"This is really not something we can be ashamed of..." Zheng's father looked embarrassed.

"Pay it three times!"

"...Is it not okay for me to go?"

……

White House.

Bai Feng also sighed: "That time when I went to the capital, I saw that Fang Lin was smart, so our family should get closer to the old Fang family in the future..."

As he was talking, there was a commotion outside. It turned out that his boy was fighting with the Song family again.

……

After Fang Lin's letter was sent back, the Fang family became more and more popular in Xiaohe Village and more respected. In terms of reputation, there was even a tendency for them to surpass Qiao Cunzheng's family.

Of course, this is a story for later, so let’s not talk about it for now. Two days later, Fang Boxian and Fang Chuanhui from the first branch of the old Fang family, and Fang Zhonggui, Fang He, Fang Caoer, and Fang Xiaoxiao from the second branch, set out on the journey to the provincial capital.

……

(End of this chapter)