town.
The bullock cart kept driving forward. After the bumps along the way, Tang Xiuer became increasingly unable to sit still. She always felt dizzy and her body was swaying.
Ji Huai, who was sitting next to her, put his arms around her waist and stabilized her body.
The market is very lively today, with stalls on both sides of the road, people coming and going, and the tea stalls are also full of people, making it noisy and lively.
The bullock cart finally stopped in front of a courtyard. Although this courtyard is not in the center of the market, it is only a few streets away.
"Is the house you rent here?" Aunt Niu got out of the car and looked at the gate. Seeing Ji Huai open the door, she followed him in.
The yard is very small, with only two rooms, but it is still a brick house. Although it is not a new house, it is spacious and not dilapidated.
"It's much better to live here than in the countryside. If there was a house like this in the town, it would be really outstanding." Brother Niu walked in and said with emotion.
Many people in the countryside live in loess houses, and the poorer families live in thatched houses. How can there be such a magnificent house? He has never seen anyone buy a house in the town. Like Aunt Niu, he also thinks that Ji Huai and his wife are renting.
How can I afford a house
"How much is the monthly rent for a house like this?" Brother Niu's wife was very curious. She saw that there was a well in the courtyard, vegetables could be grown in the corner, and she lived in a town, which was really enviable.
They can only make money by farming, but Ji Huai is different. He makes more money from hunting than they do, so he can definitely afford the rent.
"This family went to the capital and didn't want the house anymore. We bought it at a cheap price. We saw that the price was right and we had the money, so we bought it." Ji Huai moved his things inside and saw Tang Xiuer also wanted to take action. He turned his head. He said to her, "Don't move, go and rest aside."
"Bought it?" Brother Niu's wife took a breath and widened her eyes.
Not only was she extremely surprised, Aunt Niu and Brother Niu were also stunned and couldn't believe it either.
Ji Huai: "Yeah."
"No matter how cheap it is, it still costs a lot of money." Aunt Niu followed her to move things on the bullock cart and looked at the yard more carefully.
How can a rented house be the same as a bought house
Tang Xiuer listened to Ji Huai's words and did not move heavy things. When Brother Niu's wife fetched water, she also went to clean the house.
Ever since she learned that the house was bought by Ji Huai and the others, Aunt Niu worked very hard, as if she had endless energy. When she took a break, she sighed, looked at Ji Huai and the two of them and said, "Hunting" It's hard work and dangerous, but who in the village is as promising as you? They all bought houses in the town. Your mother has a harder life than me, and she will soon be happy and live in a big house. Tell me, after working hard all your life, Went early.”
She had no doubt that Ji Huai's money to buy the house came from unknown sources. Hunting a wild boar today and a deer tomorrow, isn’t that how the money comes
Tang Xiuer was standing next to her, and when she heard her talking about Ji's mother, her eyes lowered.
Although Ji's mother will make her work, it is not bad for her, because she worked harder when she was in the Tang family, and she was raised as Ji Huai's daughter-in-law in the Ji family. Ji's mother would not let her get sick. .
She is still grateful to Ji's mother.
"My mother..." Ji Huai paused, "I hope my mother can feel at ease in Quanxia Youzhi, and I will take good care of Xiu'er and the children."
"You said you wanted to move out, and my aunt immediately agreed and hurriedly moved it for you. Didn't it mean that the eldest and second eldest son of your family are really bad. Look, how long has it been since we separated? You already have money to buy a house. . All the things we brought back from hunting and the money we earned went in." Aunt Niu began to complain about the other two brothers of the Ji family, and said angrily, "Three brothers, I will give you a utility room, it's a shame this time No one was hurt when it collapsed. They will attack you, just watch. After you move out of town, your life will definitely become more and more prosperous!"
"My mother is right, you have to stay away, don't believe it." Brother Niu also agreed.
"I believe it." Ji Huai answered, calmed down and said, "Originally I wanted to build a new room at home. That day I went to the market and asked the fortune teller, and he said the same thing. We three brothers If we are in conflict with each other, we cannot help each other. Only by staying away can life get better and better."
He also used this reason to persuade Tang Xiuer to spend all his money to buy a house in the town.
People these days, more or less, believe in fate. You cannot disbelieve a word of what fortune tellers and masters of ghosts and gods say.
Tang Xiuer nodded after hearing this, so she was also very obedient. She would follow wherever Ji Huai said he would go, as long as she stayed away from the Ji family. After falling out with two families, that family was really depressed.
"Let me tell you, once we separate, you will get along well, and you will definitely be incompatible with each other." Aunt Niu folded her hands and patted them, as if she had guessed it a long time ago.
Ji Huai looked helpless and said nothing more.
They moved to the town rashly, and the people in the village and the Ji brothers would definitely discuss it more. If no one put in a good word for them, they didn't know what they would think of them.
Aunt Niu is the matchmaker in the village. Everyone gives her two cents, and she has made friends with half of the aunts in the village. They are all mouthpieces.
The fortune teller part was naturally made up by him. When people in the village have money, their first reaction is naturally to build a green diamond-tiled house in the village. The more elegant the better, so that they can gain respect and will not think of buying a house in the town.
He said this to reduce Tang Xiuer's confusion and worries.
With the help of Niu's family, the house was quickly tidied up. We are all hard-working people, and our hands and feet are neat and tidy. After a lot of tidying up, the house still looks presentable, and it looks much more spacious and renovated than before.
Although it is not a new house, it is still a house bought. Aunt Niu is a very particular person and very superstitious, so she asked Ji Huai to buy firecrackers and set them off.
They have all moved to a new home, except for the bad luck, and it is lively and lively.
Ji Huai and Brother Niu went to the market to buy firecrackers. Not only did they buy firecrackers, but they also bought two chickens and a pound of pork, preparing to come back and cook a feast.
There were meat and vegetables, and I also bought pastries and a big watermelon.
"What did you catch recently? Did you sell it for a lot of money?" Brother Niu expressed curiosity and couldn't help but want to ask.
"They were all big guys, they were all risking their lives to get them. I came to live in the town, but I wanted to stop and find some work." Ji Huai stretched out another string of copper plates, took the meat cut by the butcher, and said He said, "Xiu'er will give birth soon. I won't go hunting in the mountains in the future. If something happens to me, what will the two of them do?"
He did go behind Tang Xiuer's back and beat up some big guys, and the price of the house was reduced. Otherwise, he would not be able to get the money to buy a house just by selling ginseng.
Brother Niu was just a little excited, but he poured cold water over it. Thinking of Ji Huai's legs that were bitten with blood by big insects, he felt frightened. "That's right. Hunting is dangerous. Don't go there in the future."
It is normal for people who hunt to get rich. However, not everyone can do this job. If you are not careful, you will lose your life. Ji Huai was almost bitten to death by a big insect last time.
Even if you make money, you won’t spend your life.
On the way back, Ji Huai also bought five hens, hoping to raise them to lay eggs for Tang Xiuer and replenish her health when she gave birth.
The two bought a lot of things and went back, while a group of people continued to work.
Aunt Niu's two grandsons also came. They were playing in the yard and eating the cakes Ji Huai bought. They saw meat and didn't want to go back.
The person in charge of the cooking tonight is Aunt Niu. With the ingredients, she can prepare a table full of dishes. At a glance, they are all delicious and delicious, making people drool.
Ji Huai also went to buy some rice wine. The grown men had a few drinks, and they were very happy.
That night, the Niu family did not go back and slept in another room.
Although Tang Xiuer didn't show excitement all day, she didn't fall asleep that night. She stared at the roof with her eyes open, and she still had an unreal feeling.
The house they slept in was not actually very big, but it had windows, cupboards, and wooden beds. It was still in the town. Compared to the dark and messy environment of the utility room, this place is simply heaven.
Maybe it was because he was in a strange place, and he couldn't fall asleep after tossing and turning. Finally, Ji Huai hugged him in his arms. He suddenly felt at ease and fell asleep after a while.
The next day, when Aunt Niu and the others were going back, Ji Huai bought them some bacon and asked Aunt Niu, "Xiu'er will give birth in a few months. My mother is no longer here. We are parents again for the first time." , I might have to trouble Aunt Niu to come and take care of me for a few days."
Aunt Niu is also a cheerful person, pushing away the bacon, "How many days is enough? If you go to make money, who will take care of her during the confinement period? When the time comes, I will spare some time and come to help you."
She had a good friendship with Ji's mother, and they were both hard-working people. She managed to support her two sons, who married a wife and had grandchildren, and now they are enjoying their old age in peace.
Ji's mother had a hard life, and Tang Xiuer was still young, so she really couldn't stand it.
As her belly got bigger and bigger, Tang Xiuer was actually panicking. When Aunt Niu said this, her panic slowly calmed down and she whispered, "Thank you, Aunt Niu."
This thank you is sincere.
Aunt Niu waved her hand and smiled.
When they returned, Ji Huai still insisted on putting the bacon on the oxcart, and let them take back the half of the chicken left last night. Although Aunt Niu kept clamoring to leave Tang Xiuer to recuperate, he still ignored her.
The bullock cart gradually left. After watching them turn the corner, Ji Huai took Tang Xiuer back.
There was a dead tree in the courtyard that had been eaten away by insects. He went inside, took out his knife, and walked towards the tree. "It doesn't look like it's going to get better, so I might as well chop it down and make a cage at the other end to raise chickens."
Tang Xiuer followed his gaze and looked towards the corner. The chickens he bought were penned in that house. She pointed to the small open space next to her, "I want to grow some vegetables."
If you don’t plant, you have to buy everything, how can you have money
If they were in the countryside, they would not have to pay for anything, and they could still pick wild vegetables and farm. If they went out to the fields, they would be given some food. They were helpless in the town and had children to raise. Just think about it. Somewhat scared.
Ji Huai replied to her: "I have nothing to do today. I will buy seeds and plant them later. You were tired yesterday, so you should rest today."
"I'm not tired." She shook her head. After leaving the Ji family, her heart relaxed. Now living in the town is more convenient. She can often embroider handkerchiefs and purses to sell.
While Ji Huai was cutting down trees to make cages, she embroidered purses on the stone table nearby.
At the same time, Jijia Village.
Before, everyone was discussing the matter between Sister-in-law Ji and Old Man Wang, and because Sister-in-law Ji was bitten by a poisonous snake, everyone said it was retribution and talked about it with great interest.
Old man Wang often did dirty things. Many strong men in the village also smelled that their daughter-in-law might be having an affair, and some even discovered it. They gritted their teeth and swallowed it for the sake of face. This time it was Sister Ji who was discovered. Anyway, they were not the ones who were embarrassed. Sister-in-law Ji and Old Man Wang cannot be let go, and they must be beaten hard.
Brother Ji was also the one who was ridiculed. He had stayed at home for several days without going out. Today he was forced to work in the fields. When he came back, he passed by the village entrance and heard everyone discussing about Ji Huai and his wife.
Yesterday they were driving in a bullock cart, and many people in the village saw them.
"I heard that the house collapsed, and I don't know where to move."
"It's also pitiful. Is Ji Huai's leg just right? His mother spent a lot of money when she died, and my wife is pregnant with a child. Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"Unfortunately, it was rainy and windy the past two days. How could that little shabby house be able to hold on?"
"Hey, did the two brothers from the Ji family do something too great? You said..."
…
In the middle of the discussion, everyone saw Brother Ji coming, followed by Brother Ji and his wife who came back from the fields. Everyone immediately stopped talking and said nothing more.
Taking advantage of Ji's mother's death, the two brothers of the Ji family quickly separated the family, drove Ji Huai and his wife to the utility room, and occupied the house and land. As a result, the two couples now have no place to live. During this period, things happened to the two brothers one after another. Isn't this retribution
Ever since Sister-in-law Ji engaged in such a hookup, Brother Ji has become extra sensitive, and any glance that falls on him will be regarded as malicious by him.
He buried his head and was not prepared to answer, and he also quickened his pace. However, someone was curious and really planned to ask, "Hey, Ji Huai seemed to have moved yesterday? Where is he moving to?"
"How did I know? That house could be repaired, but he didn't say he wanted to repair it and just moved it away." Brother Ji also looked puzzled and emphasized, "He didn't tell us anything, and we were powerless. He left without saying a word, and I don’t know where he moved to, it was such a hassle.”
What he said was: It's not that they don't care, it's Ji Huai's problem.
Brother Ji and Sister-in-law Ji also happened to come over and heard everyone talking about how difficult it was for Ji Huai and his wife. Tang Xiuer was still pregnant with the child. She interrupted appropriately, "It has been really difficult for the two of them since my mother left. Xiuer is still young. How do you know how to take care of a home? The two of them didn’t build a house, but she had to eat eggs every day, and sometimes she had meat every day, otherwise, the two of them could still build a house."
To outsiders, what she said was not that they were mean to Ji Huai and his wife. The other party had been living a good life, but they only cared about eating and drinking well in front of them. That's why they ended up in this situation. It had nothing to do with them. thing!
Sure enough, when everyone heard this, their impression of Tang Xiuer immediately changed, "Eating eggs every day? Ji Huai's wife is too prodigal. No wonder she has no money to repair the house."
People in the village couldn't eat meat more than once a year. When they heard that Tang Xiuer ate eggs and meat, her sympathy was reduced a lot, and she even felt it was outrageous.
"That's right. She is young, and my mother is gone. Ji Huai was bitten and lost half of his life not long ago. Now he is still living like this, and he has to eat cakes from the town from time to time. How can he survive? "Second Sister-in-law Ji also looked helpless.
"The money Ji Huai earned from hunting is not saved to build a house. Such a way of spending money is really a waste of money." One of the aunts shook her head and said to Ji Er's sister-in-law, "Your mother didn't teach her well when she was alive. This is not a disaster. Home door?"
Whose daughter-in-law lives like this? When you get married, you can’t let your house be filled with water
"Isn't that right? The house collapsed and they didn't repair it. Instead, they killed and ate the only old hen in the house." Sister-in-law Ji didn't know what to say when she talked about this matter. She was really puzzled.
Ji Huai and Tang Xiuer didn't show any sadness. Instead, they killed the hens and ate them. They greeted the Niu family and then packed up and left.
"Isn't this nonsense? Your mother would be so angry that she would burst out of the coffin if she knew it!" The aunt spoke very seriously, and even muttered something to Tang Xiuer, "If this is my daughter-in-law, won't she make me angry to death?"
People are so strange. Just now, they sympathized with the two brothers of the Ji family for bullying Ji Huai. Now after listening to Ji Er's sister-in-law's words, she felt that Ji Huai and his wife were "poor people and there is something hateful about them." No one else's pregnancy is as "pretentious" as Tang Xiuer's.
The women in the village didn't stop for a day even if they were pregnant. How could anyone eat eggs every day and meat every other day? Don't they deserve to live in a hut
The two couples are simply "eating too much and being lazy"!
Sister-in-law Ji sighed and answered, "If my mother were here, they wouldn't be like this. I don't know where they moved, and they didn't tell us. Even if we separate, we are still one family after all. We just live like this." It’s not possible.”
Everyone is living a hard life. As long as they hear that Tang Xiuer eats eggs every day and often eats meat, everyone will look down and think that Ji Huai and the others deserve to live a hard life.
"Definitely not." The aunt who was sitting nearby said forcefully, "Is it possible that Tang Xiuer is still a young lady in the town? She eats eggs and meat every day. She can't live in the village. She has to live in the city. .”
This is naturally ironic. How can people in the village go to the city? Most of us have been in the village all our lives, and there are many old people in the village who have been to the town several times in their lives.
Second Sister-in-law Ji listened to them discussing the "ignorance" of Ji Huai and his wife. Although she did not echo the words, she was still very happy. Even Brother Ji, who originally wanted to leave, felt relieved when he heard that everyone shifted the point of conflict to Ji Huai and the others.
At first, everyone was saying that their brothers treated Ji Huai poorly and were mean to him, without caring about brotherly love. But they are also living a hard life, and Ji Huai and his friends are not living a hard life.
Speaking of which, they are more miserable! Why did you bully and treat Ji Huai harshly
While everyone was discussing, the Niu family came back in an ox cart. The family was talking and laughing. Ji Huai secretly stuffed Aunt Niu's two grandsons with small red envelopes and were holding the few coins to Aunt Niu. Showing off, and saying that he would save it to buy candied haws to eat.
When everyone saw Aunt Niu and the others coming, some good people had already walked up, "Didn't you go to help Ji Huai move? Didn't you just come back today?"
"Yes." Aunt Niu said cheerfully.
"Where are you moving to? To another village?" the aunt asked again.
If the houses here are not repaired, why not live in another village? I heard that some villages have "extreme households". Those houses are still good, but no one lives in them anyway. If you don't have a house to live in, you have to live there.
When the other party asked, the three members of the Ji family were also listening.
Ji Huai's move was indeed in compliance with their wishes. It would have been better not to come back, and the utility room belonged to them.
Aunt Niu got off the oxcart with her grandson in her arms. She smiled broadly and was very excited, "What village is it? Ji Huai and his wife went to the town to buy a house."
Speaking of which, she was proud of Ji's mother. Let’s see whose son can buy a house in the town? There was a scholar in the previous generation, but he was no better than Ji Huai.
"What? Did you go to town to buy a house?" The aunt covered her head, and the rest of the Ji family were also stunned.
How much does a house in town cost? they do not know. Even the slightly better teahouses in the town would not be entered by them, and they usually just take some things to sell in exchange for what they need.
"Yes. Although the yard is smaller, it is much better than the house in the countryside, and it is not far from the market." Aunt Niu also became interested and praised Ji Huai again.
"We've all gone to town to sell our houses. Hunting is really profitable." The aunt hadn't come back to her senses yet.
Aunt Niu explained: "It was hard for him to hunt, and he was injured some time ago. If he is not careful, he will lose his life. But he also made some money, and the house collapsed, so he simply stopped hunting. For the sake of his children and wife, he just Take Xiuer to the town to make a living."
"That's a lot of money." The aunt was sour when she saw the bacon on the oxcart, "Are you back from buying bacon? What's the happy event?"
Bacon is not cheap either and is only eaten during the Chinese New Year.
"Aren't we going to help Ji Huai move? He gave this to me, and I'm embarrassed to accept it." Even though Aunt Niu said so, she also thought so, but meat is precious after all, and if Ji Huai gave it to him, their family would be able to Happy for a long time.
"Ji Huai is really profitable when hunting." The aunt sighed again, "No wonder his wife eats eggs every day. If she has money to buy a yard, she can also afford meat. That girl is so lucky. She will enjoy the blessings with Ji Huai."
The three members of the Ji family were stunned by the news, and they all suspected that they had heard wrongly.
Did Ji Huai buy a house in the town
How can this be? When Ji's mother was ill, the family had a lot of money. It was definitely not the money Ji's mother left, so after the separation? After the separation, they got worse and worse, but Ji Huai got better and better.
When they think about it, they feel that the gap in their hearts is too great and they cannot accept it.
"The third brother went to town without saying a word and didn't say anything to us. We were still thinking about helping him repair his house. Besides, why are we so far away? Even if there is a little misunderstanding, we are still our brothers." Sister-in-law Ji Er Still didn't believe it, so Ji Huaian was charged with a crime.
This means that once you are rich, you can enjoy your happiness alone. You would rather let outsiders help you than tell your brothers. This is unkind and unjust.
"Since your mother's death, how many big things have happened in your family? The fortune teller said that your three brothers are destined to be in conflict with each other. The farther away the better, otherwise Ji Huai will keep the money to build a house. You can't live together. If If we live together, life will never be prosperous." Aunt Niu said seriously.
Hearing this, the expressions of the three members of the Ji family suddenly changed again. During this period, things happened one after another in their family, and I was convinced of it right now.
"Yes, your family's affairs are not small." The aunt also recalled it and asked curiously, "Do all three of them have conflicts in their lives? Or is it only Ji Huai who conflicts with them?"
The three members of the Ji family also wanted to know the answer, but the second sister-in-law Ji answered first, "Only the third brother can compete with us, right?"
If this is the case, Ji Huai is the broom star. If he moves away, they will live well. The key is that they can't move away anymore.
"Of course the three of them are against each other, and you three are all against each other." Aunt Niu emphasized her tone, not sparing anyone, and glaring.
She was very eloquent, and with her facial expressions and movements, everyone present didn't believe her. Sister-in-law Ji was very anxious. Even if she tried to explain, she was not convincing at all.
As for Brother Ji and Brother Ji, they were tortured by what happened during this period and were completely convinced.
It turns out that they are destined to conflict with each other. Then we will definitely not be able to live together, one person must move away. And they both hope it's the other person.