farmer's little girl

Chapter 43

"Guest officer, what do you need?" Seeing Han Jin walking in, the man greeted warmly.

Mei's mother and daughter glanced sideways subconsciously, only to realize that they were acquaintances.

"Brother Jin, are you here to buy something?"

"Sister, what a coincidence! My nephew passed away, and a longevity lock is set here. Are you also here to buy things?"

"No, the boss is getting married soon, so I'm here to buy some things."

Han Jin didn't ask carefully, but just nodded.And Lu Jiaoyue had already hid behind Mei Shi, taking advantage of Mei Shi blocking her gaze, she lowered her head and didn't know what she was thinking.

Han Jin moved his eyes to the fabric on the counter beside him, and the top was covered with a piece of red cloth, which obviously matched the things he would buy for the wedding. He said, "I'm afraid there are a lot of things to buy. Brother, do you want to buy something with me?" Come here, if not, I will take you back later."

"Why is this so embarrassing?" Lu Minghai didn't come with him today. What Mei thought was that although there were a lot of things to buy today, they were not heavy. The mother and daughter could also move them, so she planned to rent a car after all the things were bought. The bullock cart helped to take them home,
"It's nothing to be embarrassed about, I'm fine anyway."

As he said that, Han Jin asked if those things were bought by the Mei family and his daughter, then carried them out and put them into the carriage.

After choosing the hairpin and paying the money, Mrs. Mei took her daughter out of the silver house.When the two came out, Han Jin told them to wait for a while, then he turned and went into the silver building, saying to get the long-life lock.

Han Jin came out soon, and asked Mrs. Mei if there was anything else she had left, and then drove to the store where the two kept their things.

After picking up the things, Mei suddenly remembered that he needed to buy some condiments. The condiments for cooking at home were gone, and he needed to buy a piece of red paper to make a red envelope.Han Jin was not impatient, but patiently drove the mother and daughter back and forth.

During this period, Mei went into a store, while Lu Jiaoyue stayed in the car.

Han Jin drove the carriage aside and stopped, the carriage door was open, he turned around and took a look, just in time to meet Lu Jiaoyue's eyes.

Lu Jiaoyue didn't expect him to turn her head back, her eyes flinched, and she lowered her head subconsciously.

Han Jin's eyes lit up, he reached out and took something out of his pocket, and handed it to her.

"Well, it's for you."

It's a slim wooden box.

Lu Jiaoyue took a look, bit her lower lip, and shook her head.

Han Jin didn't speak. He glanced at the shop Mei entered, and looked around to see if anyone was paying attention. He put down the whip in his hand, and stuffed something into her hand.

This is not the first time, every time Lu Jiaoyue wants to avoid it, but he seems to have observed in advance, and every time she cannot avoid it, she can only take it.

After forcing the thing into her hand, Han Jin turned around and sat up straight.

"Open it and have a look, do you like it?" He turned his back and said.

Lu Jiaoyue couldn't tell what was in her heart, hesitated for a while, and reached out to open the wooden box.

What appeared in front of her was a silver hairpin, which was exactly the silver hairpin with plum blossom tassels that she was looking at just now.

How does he know?

Lu Jiaoyue was shocked, and whispered: "I can't take it, it's too expensive."

Han Jin leaned on the carriage, with his back to Lu Jiaoyue, and looked at the passers-by as if nothing had happened, but also lowered his voice: "You like it!"

She did, but she couldn't have his.

"You didn't mean to let your husband buy it in the future, but you are going to marry me, so I will buy it for you in advance."

On the crowded street, the future mother-in-law was in the next shop, flirting with his daughter like this, Han Jin always felt a sense of tension.This kind of tension was never felt when he was fighting alone with 20 people.

But that's exactly what he wanted to do.

He clearly said that enough is enough and not to be impatient, but every time he sees her looking like she is trying to get rid of him in front of others, he always wants to tease her.

Sitting in the car, Lu Jiaoyue blushed instantly.

"Rogue!" She couldn't help scolding.

Han Jin grinned and said, "I'm a hooligan, you know it!"

Lu Jiaoyue stared at his back with resentment, she already knew that he was a bit of a rascal, and this was the first time she had discovered that he was such a rascal.She slammed the wooden box shut, threw it on his back, and said angrily, "I don't want it."

With his back on his back, Han Jin still looked calm, "Put it away, unless you want me to stuff it into your hand in front of your mother."

Lu Jiaoyue subconsciously went to visit that store.

Over there, Mrs. Mei was walking out while talking to the store owner.

Before Lu Jiaoyue had time to think about it, she hurriedly picked up the small box and stuffed it into her sleeve.Although Han Jin was behind his back, he could feel her movement, guessing that she had hidden her things, so he got out of the car and went to meet Mei.

After sending Mei's mother and daughter back to Daxi Village, Han Jin didn't stay any longer and returned to the county.

His nephew passed away today, his sister had already greeted him and asked him to have dinner at home.

When he arrived at Li's house, his brother-in-law Li Shuicheng was not there, and his sister Han Lamei was cooking in the kitchen.The Li family has a bought mother-in-law who usually does chores at home and helps Han Lamei take care of the children by the way.The Li family is usually cooked by that woman, because Han Lamei knows that her younger brother is coming today, and Han Lamei cooks for her. She knows that her younger brother likes to eat the dishes she cooks.

"Sister, where is my brother-in-law?"

Han Jin stood in front of the kitchen door, riding his nephew Li Baozhu on his shoulders.

Xiao Baozhu was only two years old this year, and he was in love with playing like crazy. He knew his uncle, and when he saw Han coming in, he would jump on him.He knew that his uncle would hold him high and put him on his shoulders, and he could play as he wanted without worrying about it.

The uncle lifted him up as he wished, put him on his shoulders, and happily smiled at the little treasure pillar at his mother who was cooking in the kitchen.

Han Lamei looked at her son who was smiling so hard that he couldn't see his teeth, and shook his head with a helpless smile.

Han Lamei is in her twenties this year, and she is in her prime.A head of jet-black hair was simply pulled into a bun, fixed with a simple silver hairpin, and the temples were combed neatly, revealing a smooth and full forehead.She has fair and rosy skin, slightly raised willow-leaf eyebrows, phoenix eyes that seem to be smiling faintly, and bright red lips are plump and plump, making people know that she is a great beauty at a glance.

Han Lamei is indeed a beauty. She was well-known in Hanjiazhuang back then. Otherwise, she would not have married a catcher in charge of a county's security arrest from a country girl.

When Han Lamei got married back then, everyone was shocked. No one thought that she would have such a good fortune.There are many envious people, but only the person concerned knows what it is like.

"Your brother-in-law is in the county government office. I told him to let him come back at noon." Looking at her son Guangle again, she laughed and said, "You brat will bully your uncle. If you piss on your uncle's neck, mother will definitely spank your little ass."

Little Baozhu didn't know if he understood or not, so he smiled even more heartily.

At this time, there was a sound of beating something in the room in the East Wing. Han Lamei's face froze, and her brows were slightly frowned.Han Jin also frowned, looked over there, but said nothing.

The woman named Liu has already washed and cut all the dishes, and is just waiting for Han Lamei to fry.Guessing that her husband would be back soon, Han Lamei asked her younger brother to take her son to play in the yard while she started cooking.

When there was only one dish left, the courtyard door was suddenly pushed open, and a middle-aged man with an ordinary face but a serious demeanor walked in.He was wearing a green shirt, black soap boots, and a saber in his waist. It looked like he had just come out of the yamen.

It was Han Jin's brother-in-law Li Shuicheng.

Seeing his brother-in-law coming, Li Shuicheng nodded: "Come in, go sit in the room."

Han Jin carried his little nephew and followed Li Shuicheng into the main room.

The Li family's house is not big, it is a one-entry house, the front is the upper room, the left and right are the east and west rooms, and the kitchen is next to the west room.The Li family has a small population, and there are only five people including Mrs. Liu, which is more than enough to live in.

The layout of the main room is the same as that of ordinary people. There is a picture of the central hall on the wall facing the front, two armchairs under the central hall painting, a square tea table in the middle, two armchairs and a small black lacquered flower table on the left and right sides.The left side is separated by Duobao Pavilion, and behind it is a huge Eight Immortals table.

Li Shuicheng and Han Jin were talking in the main room. On the other side, Mrs. Liu had already brought up the fried dishes, arranged the dishes, and brought out a jar of wine, which was placed on the Eight Immortals table.After Han Lamei fried the last dish, she went to wash her hands before entering the main room.

"Don't delay, hurry up and eat while the dishes are hot. Granny Liu, go ask Yan'er to eat."

Han Jin and Li Shuicheng came to sit down at the table, Liu Po ​​went to the east chamber, there was another beating sound from the east chamber, Li Shuicheng's face turned dark, and he frowned and said: "Let's eat first, don't worry about her! "

Han Lamei didn't say anything, she just asked her husband and younger brother to drink first, while she brought her son over, looked for something he could eat on the table, put some in a bowl, and fed him with a spoon.After a while, Grandma Liu came back, looking a little embarrassed, her clothes were wet and her hair was a little messed up.

She reported in a low voice: "Grandma, the girl said she is not hungry."

Han Lamei sighed and said nothing.Ask Mrs. Liu to go to the kitchen to get a plate, pick some from the dishes on the table, put it on the plate, and ask Mrs. Liu to send it to the East Chamber.And let Granny Liu go to the kitchen to eat after she left, and there was food left for her in the kitchen.

Mrs. Liu went down with the food, and not long after, she heard the sound of plates and bowls being smashed on the ground from the east chamber.

Li Shuicheng slapped the table and said angrily, "Since she doesn't want to eat, I won't give it to her."

Han Lamei persuaded: "Okay, okay, what's the big deal." Then he greeted his younger brother: "Eat vegetables, and drink two more glasses with your brother-in-law." To interrupt the matter.

From the beginning to the end, Han Jin looked calm and calm, and when he heard his sister greet him, he raised his wine glass and made a toast to Li Shuicheng.Li Shuicheng didn't want to train his daughter in front of his brother-in-law, so he had a drink with him.

Things are over for now.

After eating, Li Shuicheng said that there was still something to do in the yamen, and he had to go back. If he didn't know that his brother-in-law was here today, and his son was giving birth, Li Shuicheng might not be able to come back.He told his brother-in-law to spend most of his time at home with his sister, and said he would stay for dinner at night, so he left in a hurry.

Mrs. Liu came up to clear the table, and Han Lamei led her younger brother to the east room to talk.After Xiao Baozhu was full, he kept rubbing his eyes with his small hands. Han Lamei hugged him and sat on the kang, patted him and coaxed him to sleep.

Han Jin took out the longevity lock from his arms and put it around his nephew's neck.

"Another waste of money!"

"Sister, it's not worth any money, it's just a thought. I'm just such a nephew, an uncle can't be stingy."

This longevity lock is about the size of a child's palm, and the words Longevity is engraved on the front.After Han Lamei married Li Shuicheng, she was no longer the ignorant country girl she was back then. Her eyes were poisonous. Just by glancing at her eyes, she knew that the longevity lock cost her brother at least ten taels of silver.

"Okay, I know it's easy for you to get money now, so I won't argue with you. It's not that my sister said you, you have to save some money, so that you can marry a wife in the future."

Han Jin snorted and didn't answer his sister directly, but said: "Sister, is that little girl still the same?"

He had known for a long time that the daughter left behind by his brother-in-law had always been at odds with his elder sister, but because he came to Li's house less often, he rarely saw her often.From the way I looked at it today, it's not that I don't deal with it, it clearly looks like I have a grudge.

Han Lamei sneered, and said lightly: "You have said that she is a little girl, and I can still argue with your sister. Let's not talk about her. Tell your sister if you have a girl you like. If there is If so, sister will personally help you with the photoshoot."

Han Lamei has asked this question dozens of times, and she has always been very worried about her brother's life.

Han Jin looked at his sister.

Said it was a little girl's movie, but that girl is already fifteen this year, and his sister is only 25 this year.Back then, he disapproved of his sister marrying Li Shuicheng. Although Li Shuicheng's conditions were not bad, he was a bit older after all, nine years older than his sister, and he left behind a nine-year-old daughter.

It's hard to be a stepmother.

Although Han Jin has never been a stepmother before, he has seen how difficult it is for some women in their village to be stepmothers.I won't mention others, just his mother, it's not very difficult, and I can't take it lightly or seriously, and I'm trembling, afraid that others will criticize me for treating the child in front of me badly.

So even if Li Shuicheng's status was not bad, and he had a errand, he didn't want his sister to marry.But his sister persisted, and it was useless for him to stop her.

I remember that on the first day before his sister got married, she took him by the hand and said that the two of them were in a difficult situation, but she was always going to get married. Rather than being sold by the Han family, she might as well choose one by herself. marry.Since she wanted to marry, she had to marry a good one, so that she could support him in the future.

At that time, Han Jin was in a difficult situation. There was no place for him in Hanjiazhuang, and he went to the town to ask for a living. Someone always spread his bad reputation, so that the boss did not dare to hire him.Helpless, he can only go to the warehouse to work as a coolie to support himself, because only this kind of work, others don't care what kind of person he is.

At that time, Han Jin was extreme, sad and indignant, complaining about injustice, and immersed in resentment all day long.After hearing his sister's words, he suddenly woke up.Yes, what the hell is he doing? Knowing that things are powerless to turn around, and knowing that there is no place for him in Hanjiazhuang, he should take a longer view instead of just sticking to a corner.His sister has made such sacrifices in order to change the situation of both siblings. Why does he continue to waste time there? He is a man, isn't he?

After Han Lamei got out of the school, Han Jin turned his face and came to Wannian County. At first, what he did was the same job as when he was in Yuntian Town - doing coolies for others.

But as long as there are people, there will be rivers and lakes.Because Wannian County is a large county in Dongchang Prefecture, and it is located on an important traffic road, there are many people traveling from south to north, so it can be regarded as a rich county.Every corner of this kind of place has its own rules, just like the group of coolies working on the pier, some people form gangs to exclude others, and do not allow outsiders to come to pick up jobs at will. If you want to pick up jobs, you can, you must To join them, you have to pay your share.

On top of this group of people, there is also a group of hooligans. Anyone who works on their territory has to pay them protection fees.

Layers of oppression, layers of exploitation.

Han Jin, who had just arrived at that time, had never seen this before, and he was very unconvinced. He felt that he was working hard, so why should he be squeezed out by others, and he had to share his hard-earned money.

There was no shortage of thorns anywhere, and many thorns were beaten down the first time they appeared.

Of course, there are exceptions, such as Hanjin.The more he fought, the more he refused to accept it. Obviously his brother-in-law was the head arrester in charge of a county's police arrest, but he never thought of asking for it.He knew that it was difficult for his sister. A country girl married into the county and was also a stepmother. Wouldn't it be difficult? He couldn't make trouble for his sister.

In the first two months, when Han Jin was at his worst, he often had nothing to eat, and was chased and beaten whenever he showed his face.When he was most seriously injured, he almost died lying in a ruined temple.But in the third month, he relied on his own strength to entangle a group of coolies who refused to accept being oppressed by layers, and enclosed their own territory.

Step by step like this, Han Jin gradually gained his own influence.But people have to eat, Han Jin can't do anything to bully the poor and ordinary people to collect protection fees, and he can't let his brothers have nothing to eat, so he agreed to cooperate with the boss of Guangji Casino when he came to his door.

If a gambling house wants to gain a foothold in a place, it must take care of all aspects, and the county government must be filial.In the same way, a certain protection force is also required.

And these, Hanjin can provide.

In six years, the two siblings, a coolie who relied on hard work for a living, became the thug leader of the gambling shop on the surface, but actually occupied a certain share of the underground forces in Wannian County.The other is from a girl in the country, to getting married, to gaining a foothold in a strange husband's family, to learning how to be a stepmother.

is it hard?

It must be difficult, but one has to live.

"What are you doing looking at your sister like this?" Han Lamei touched her hair uncomfortably, and said, "Don't worry, don't worry about me, she can't make me angry now."

That she refers to Li Shuicheng's daughter Li Yan'er.When Han Lamei came in, Li Yaner was already nine years old. A nine-year-old child already knew a lot. She knew that the person in front of her was not her own mother, and that her stepmother was a bad person, so she put all her energy into fighting Han Lamei .And Han Lamei was jealous of Li Shuicheng, and had suffered a lot in front of her.

Seeing his younger brother's silence, Han Lamei couldn't help but said again: "Your brother-in-law knows it well, and now he knows that he is facing me, and you have Xiaobaozhu again, so what are you worried about? It's only a year or two before she will be gone." I'm out of the house, and I can't stand her for two years, I don't look at other things, I always look at your brother-in-law, he has been good to me these few years."

"Sister, if there is anything, you have to tell me, don't be bored in your heart all the time. I have some abilities now, and I can protect you." When he knew that his eldest sister was pushed down and had a miscarriage, Han Jin even wanted to pinch her to death That girl's impulsiveness.After all, the relationship here is too complicated, his brother-in-law has always been good to his sister, and the other party is only a little girl in her teens, Han Jin can only bear it silently.

But ever since that time, Han Jin has faintly swore that he will protect his sister in the future.

"I got it, I got it, your sister is not a child anymore, so there is no need to worry about it? Your brother-in-law is still involved in everything!" Han Lamei smiled, but if you look carefully, you can see the faintly moist corners of her eyes . "Okay, let's not talk about my sister, what are you thinking? You are not too young, you have to worry about marrying a wife, mother—" She paused, and said: "She is also very worried about you."

Han Jin smiled sarcastically, "It doesn't matter if she worries about me or not? She is indeed worried about me, but that side is more important than me."

Probably because of becoming a mother, Han Lamei has not been as extreme as before in the past two years, and she has begun to understand her.They are also stepmothers, she is, and so is her mother, although her mother did have some mistakes, after all, after their father passed away, she raised their siblings.

"Don't blame her, she is also difficult."

Han Jin didn't want to discuss this issue with his sister, so he nodded perfunctorily.

Han Lamei knew that her younger brother was perfunctory, but the knot in her heart couldn't be solved in a day or two, so she also tried to persuade her again.

"Okay, let's not talk about these things. It's rare for you to come here, so I'll pull you to tell me if there are any. Recalling the old story, tell your sister the truth, what do you think about getting married, and whether there is any Girl you like?"

When Han Jin heard this, he couldn't help thinking of Lu Jiaoyue.

Of course there are, but it's a pity that the girl hasn't fallen in love with him yet.

Looking at her younger brother's expression, Han Lamei was pleasantly surprised: "Yes? Really? Tell me, which girl is she from? Is she good-looking? Is she virtuous or not?"

Han Jin laughed: "Sister, the horoscope has not been written yet, what are you doing so much?"

Han Lamei patted him, "You are my brother, I don't worry about you, who do I worry about? Tell me quickly."

Han Jin couldn't beat his sister, so he picked and said something to her sister.

"According to what you say, this girl is indeed a good girl. Someday bring it to me to see? Do you want me to come to your door to help you propose a marriage?" Han Lamei was obviously incoherent with joy.

I really can't blame her for this, but she and her brother have mentioned this matter countless times over the years, and he never took it up.It stands to reason that her younger brother would never have girls around her, but unfortunately, he is like an ascetic, and never touches women, which makes Han Lamei almost wonder if his brother has a habit of cutting off his sleeves. Mei Zhuangyi didn't even have a good face.It's rare for a younger brother to take the initiative to like a girl, but it's not to make her overjoyed.

"Sister, it's fine, I don't know what other girls think, and you also know my reputation..."

Han Jin didn't say the rest, but how could Han Lamei not know the meaning?After all, it was all the fault of the Han family.Thinking about it this way, the mood that I wanted to persuade my younger brother and her mother to reconcile, suddenly disappeared.

what to do?Could it be that my younger brother is really going to be reduced to a girl who can't marry a good family in the future?
How could Han Jin not understand what his sister was thinking, so he comforted him: "Sister, don't worry, give me a little time, and I will definitely marry her back as your sister-in-law."

What else could Han Lamei say, she just nodded.

The siblings talked for a while before Han Jin left. Han Lamei wanted to keep him for dinner, but Han Jin refused.

He didn't tell his sister that he wanted to change careers. After all, things haven't been done yet, so it's too early to say anything.

During dinner, everyone in the second room noticed Mei's abnormality.

How could it be possible not to notice that the silver is inserted in the head, and you can see it with a serious look.

Seeing that everyone in the family looked at her, Mrs. Mei couldn't hide her distress in joy: "Yue'er bought it for me. I even said I wouldn't buy it, and bought it secretly. It's a waste of money."

"Mother—" Lu Jiaoyue said helplessly: "You are going to Pei's house to be employed tomorrow. Dress up decently, and our family's face is also bright. The daughter is at home all day, and it doesn't cost much money, so just treat it as a My daughter honors you."

Baibai tender, delicate and weak daughter, good personality, filial and considerate, how could Mrs. Mei have the heart to blame her.She was actually very happy in her heart, but she just felt sorry for Yin Zi.

Lu Minghai glanced at his wife with some guilt, and said, "His mother..."

Mei knew what the man was going to say without thinking, so she interrupted: "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this, let's eat."

On the next day, the couple in the second room took out the clothes they usually wore when visiting relatives, and tidied them up specially, looking energetic and decent.The couple in the second bedroom are not bad looking, the charm of the Mei family is still there, the same as when they were young, Lu Minghai is tall and handsome, the two of them stand together like a couple, they don't look like a farmer's family in the countryside.

And Lu Guangyi even changed his clothes, instead of the coarse clothes he used to wear, he put on the autumn shirt that Lu Jiaoyue had made for him.He was not bad looking, so he changed into a handsome young man immediately.

The three of them took the betrothal gifts prepared for the Pei family and went out.

(End of this chapter)