Nongmen Merchant Girl

Chapter 19 The Second Sister's Marriage
"Is the eldest sister of the Zhang family at home, is Yinhua there?" At this time, a woman carrying a bamboo basket outside the gate shouted loudly.

"It's Third Aunt." Yinhua stood up and walked out.

"Third Aunt, come in and sit down."

"Hello, Third Aunt." Xu Ru stood up and greeted her.

"Well, okay, okay, Si girl is much better now, hey, you, you, what kind of clothes does such a young person go to the river to wash, let others say what others say, why do you care about those things at such a young age, What's wrong with girls, girls can earn money to support their families, but you are still young, look at my Dongmei, although it is not easy to face being a maid, but poor people need no face, this can eat and wear Warmth is the most important thing. Isn’t it good now? There is still one tael of silver every month. So, your mother and father have gritted their teeth to support you so much, you must be good, don’t do it again Those stupid things, did you hear that!" The third aunt said a lot, but her words were fierce, but she was telling the truth.

"Well, Third Aunt, I got it." After hearing this, Xu Ru knew that there was such a thing.

"Big sister is here, Zhaodi, why don't you pour a bowl of water for your third aunt." At this time, Mother Xu came out from the back room.

"Hey, I said you, you are all yourself, why don't you pour water, what's wrong with your feet?"

"It's just a sprain on the mountain the day before yesterday. It's not a problem. It doesn't hurt much anymore." Mother Xu said with a smile.

"It's true, too. Thanks to you for saving the four girls, they only took [-] eggs yesterday. Why did you bring so many eggs today?"

"I know you sprained your ankle on the mountain the day before yesterday, and these four girls just happened to be sharp, and they all need to be mended. Anyway, my family has so many hens, and the cubs are so big, I don't need to eat those. Besides, if it weren't for you, This tiger has already starved to death!" Then she began to talk about the kindness she owed back then.

"Why do you still say these things after so many years, we are all one family!" Mother Xu sighed.

"Third Aunt, we saw Sister Dongmei in the town today. She asked us to bring you a message, saying that she didn't come back this month because she was very busy. She is all well, and she also greets you." Zhaodi said with a smile .

"Hey, this Dongmei is sixteen after the new year. When the contract was signed, it was said to be three years. Now it will be eighteen when it is released. This marriage has broken my heart."

"Dongmei, why worry about it, as long as you save more dowry money, and she is a girl from a rich family, she is well-educated and has seen the world when she comes out. It's not like Yinhua, hey!"

As soon as the marriage was mentioned, Xu's mother felt heavy. Originally, she made a marriage for Yinhua. Taking advantage of others, trying to get everything home, saying that Yinhua is too lazy to make, and has pockmarks on her face, so the man asked the matchmaker to withdraw the marriage.

"You don't have to worry too much. Everyone has their own way of life. For a capable girl like Yinhua, I will help to find out."

……

Autumn nights are a bit chilly.Xu Ru's four siblings slept on the big kang in the east room, Xiaobao fell asleep early, and Yinhua also fell asleep, probably because they were too tired to go up the mountain during the day.But she herself couldn't fall asleep for a long time. She listened to the chirping of insects outside the house, the barking of dogs, and the low chirping of night birds. It was the first time she really felt this autumn night in another world.

Thinking back to my family in another world, I feel a little sad in my heart. I don't know what my parents are doing now, what is Ah Xiang doing?
Xu Ru began to despise herself, since he left her when she needed him the most, then let him go, why is she thinking of that heartless man again now!

the next morning.

"Si girl, come and try this jacket. It was worn by your elder sister a few years ago, and the core inside is a bit hard. I washed it at home in the past two days and made it smaller again. Come and try it. Is it suitable? The weather is getting cold now, and you are not in good health, so wear more sooner or later."

Xu's mother was holding a blue-gray thin cotton padded jacket with several gray patches on it, but the stitches were fine and the clothes were made of iron.

"Mom, I see that the second sister's clothes are also very thin. Why don't you leave them for the second sister? I'm still very angry, but the second sister usually has to work. What if she suffers from frostbite?"

"Your second sister still has an old one, so let's make do with it first. This one has been changed into two pieces, and the other one is made into cotton trousers for Xiaobao. I'll figure out what to do with your second and third sister's."

Xu's mother is also helpless, the family does not have any extra money to make winter clothes for the children, so they can only dismantle and mend and live like this first.

"Today your father is going to grow shavings in the mountains, so you can go with your third sister." After breakfast, the mother said to Xu Ru.

Fortunately, the weather is good today. The sun has risen by now, and the recovered peanuts can be dried quickly.

When eating breakfast, the family specially gave Xu Ru and A Bao a boiled egg, but Xu Ru didn't like to eat boiled eggs, knowing that they were doing it for their own health, so she finally shared half of it with the third sister before barely finishing it.

"Second Sister, remember to stir the grapes with a clean wooden spoon." Before leaving, Xu Ru reminded Yinhua.

I don't know if it's right, but the recipe says so.

Xu Ru and Zhaodi followed Xu's father to their peanut field. Xu Youtian went down headlong, planed the soil loose, and then lifted his head, a nest of peanuts was dug out, and the peanuts buried in the soil were immediately seen. When it was sunny, the plump ones were covered with peanut roots. They picked them off one by one and put them in the basket. Finally, they took the small hoe and searched again at the place where their father turned over, so as not to miss anything. dropped.

She also took the time to pick a lot of wild chrysanthemums that grow on the ridges of the fields. They are excellent for making tea or making pillows. The last time I saw that my complexion was yellow and my skin was rough, I was anxious. In the past, my skin was the most proud of me. The capital is gone, so you still have to wash your face well and take good care of it.The family is so poor, since they couldn't afford skin care products, they had to use local materials to wash their face with chrysanthemum flowers.

"This year's peanut harvest is good. Brother, you have all started harvesting peanuts." At this time, a woman was standing on the road beside the field with a basket.

"Oh, it's her second aunt." Xu's father greeted him and started working again.

"Zhaodi, these peanuts should be very sweet, grab a handful and let my aunt taste it." The second aunt stood on the ridge of the field and said loudly, her expression seemed to be taken for granted.

"Second Aunt, why don't you eat your own crops because there are so many fields in your house? Our fields are all next to each other. Yours should also be harvested. Don't rot in the field like last year." Zhao Di I don't like the second aunt who likes to take advantage the most, her mouth is still very broken, and she likes to gossip.

(End of this chapter)