Xu Nannan was very curious about what He Qiusheng used to do, but He Qiusheng didn't say anything, even avoiding outsiders.
Xu Nannan is not the kind of ignorant person either. She knew that He Qiusheng was trying to avoid suspicion and didn't want to involve her, so she didn't talk to He Qiusheng in front of outsiders.
"Nannan, how are you doing at the farm?"
On the way off from work, Xu Nannan met adults who were coming to work from the field. Song Guihua saw her and immediately ran over to ask.
Seeing Song Osmanthus, Xu Nannan was still very grateful. If Song Osmanthus hadn't reminded her, she would still be working in the field. Originally, she also wanted to give Song Guihua something, but Song Guihua was very aware of her family's situation, so she didn't dare to take things casually, lest she would make a fuss.
"Auntie, I'm fine. I have to thank you for this."
"Thank you, it's just a lip service, it's up to you. Nannan, you have to work hard, there will be more opportunities in the future."
"Hmph, Erya, you still say yes, and don't go home for dinner." Zhang Cuiqin came over.
Ever since Xu Nannan went to work on the mountain, Zhang Cuiqin had no chance to tease her, and the old lady was also very strange recently, she didn't get angry anymore, and served this damn girl with delicious food and drink all day long. I don't know what the old lady is thinking.
Seeing Zhang Cuiqin approaching, Song Guihua's face turned cold, "Who didn't go home, but you have a lot of things. What's wrong with me talking to Nannan, is it hindering you?"
Song Guihua was not afraid of Zhang Cuiqin, in her eyes, this bitch was just looking for trouble.
Zhang Cuiqin was humiliated and felt very uncomfortable. She glared at Xu Nannan fiercely, "Damn girl, you're the one to look at."
After speaking, he left in a hurry. She planned to go home and chat with the old lady a few more times to show Erya a good look.
"Nannan, do you see that you can't be soft when dealing with this kind of person. You are fine now, and she dare not mess with you. You used to be so easy." Song Guihua taught Xu Nannan. She felt that being a human being should not be too soft, otherwise everyone would bite her. Now it's not the past. She doesn't believe that the old Xu family can really do anything to the Nannan sisters. As long as Nan Nan is a bit tougher.
Xu Nannan deeply agreed.
When they arrived at the door of the house, Xu Nannan thought that there was going to be another mess at noon, and he would feel uneasy about eating, but Zhang Cuiqin honestly helped the old lady serve the rice bowl without saying anything. The old lady also had a calm face. After seeing her, she let her eat.
Zhang Cuiqin hummed twice proudly.
Now let this dead girl be proud for a few days, and when she gets married, she will suffer.
Xu Nannan felt strange, frowned, and wanted to enter the house with the bowl and chopsticks. The old lady raised her eyelids, "When will Xiaoman be able to get out of bed and work, it's not a problem to always lie down."
"That's right, someone else's baby doesn't have such a good life, and she goes to bed every day." Zhang Cuiqin said beside her.
Liu Qiao glanced at the two of them, signaling her man not to get involved. These days the old lady looks weird, always seems to be holding back bad things.
Xu Nannan twisted the corners of his mouth, "I still want to tell my grandma, Xiaoman hasn't recovered after so long, I'll see if I should go to the health center to have a look. Last time my dad came back, he also told me to go and see."
Xu Jiansheng didn't say that, but now that he's away and the old lady doesn't ask, it's just a matter of using it.
Hearing this, the old lady snorted coldly, "Girl, if there is anything to watch, just have a bite to eat. We don't have Miss Qianjin's life in our family, let her lie down."
Xu Nannan didn't talk back, and went back to her hut with the bowl and chopsticks in hand.
Now that she is free from work, she spends more time with Xu Xiaoman. She wanted to find a chance to take Xu Xiaoman to the mountains, let Xu Xiaoman sit in the small shed when she was working, and teach Xiaoman when she was resting.
At noon, there were only pickles and vegetable leaves at home, so Xu Nannan bought some dried meat and marinated eggs in the Taobao store. The two sisters ate deliciously.
"Sister, it's really delicious." Xu Xiaoman's belly was bulging after eating. This child is very easy to raise. During this period of time, he has been eating better, his face has improved a lot, and he is growing flesh.
"Xiaoman, did grandma come to see you during the day?" Xu Nannan was worried that the old lady would come to check on Xu Xiaoman, and she would see something by then.
Xu Xiaoman shook his head, "Grandma never comes into the house. She always yells outside when she has something to do."
Xu Nannan knew that the old lady didn't abide by any privacy, but didn't bother to enter the house at all. This room used to store sundries, it was dark and damp, and other people usually didn't bother to come in.
"Today grandma asked about you, and I said you're not well, so grandma told you to lie down. Xiaoman, if you don't want to lie down, I'll take you to the mountain, and I can teach you arithmetic then."
"Really?" Xu Xiaoman's eyes lit up.
She has been studying very seriously recently, and she can already write a few words. But she knew that they were still far behind Hong Hongjie. She heard that Hong Hong had gone to middle school. She doesn't know what middle school is, but it should be a very literate one.
"Of course, as long as you want, sister will take you there."
"Thinking about it, sister, when you're not in the house, I'm always scared by myself." The room was dark, and the coughing sound of grandma outside could make her shiver.
Xu Nannan smiled and said, "Okay, after dinner, I'll take you to the mountain when they're all gone. When I go out, I'll carry you on my back, and when others can't see you, you can go down by yourself."
There's no way, we can't let others know that Xiaoman has recovered from his illness, otherwise he will be arrested again and forced to work hard. She can't take care of her when she's not at home.
After everyone finished eating at noon, everyone didn't rest, and Xu Gensheng called them to go to work. Relatively speaking, Xu Nannan's farm is not so strict. The hogweed has been cut in the morning, and he fed it once when he came back, so there is no need to go so early.
After everyone left, Xu Nannan asked Xu Xiaoman to get dressed and go outside together.
Xu Nannan waited for a long time, but Xu Xiaoman was still awkwardly on the bed.
"What's wrong?"
Xu Xiaoman blushed and said, "Sister, no, no pants."
"Pants?" Xu Nannan frowned, then stared suddenly. She just remembered that she and Xu Xiaoman only had a pair of long trousers, Xu Xiaoman usually picked hers to wear, and when he rolled up the trouser legs, he put them on. It was okay before, anyway, I changed it every month. When I'm not working, I lie under the quilt after washing and wait for the pants to dry before I can wear them. But she likes to be clean and works on a farm, so she wears two pairs every day. I just washed yesterday's pants this morning.
"..." What's more embarrassing than starving is not having any pants on. What a day it was.
"It's okay, I still have pants at home. I planned to keep them for you to wear during the New Year." Xu Nannan turned around and rummaged in the broken box in the corner. Taking this opportunity, I bought a pair of nostalgic pants in Taobao. The color is gray and the material is not good, it is very rough. Xu Xiaoman saw it, and his eyes lit up, "New pants. Sister, it's new pants!"
This kid can be so happy in a new pair of pants.
Xu Nannan held back a sigh and put it on for her. A little longer, rolled up a section of trouser legs. Xu Xiaoman's eyes were shining, and he kept looking down at his trouser legs.
"Sister, where did you get the new pants? Are they from your parents?"
How can it be! Xu Nannan thought twice, he didn't do that. She can't explain the origin of the pants now, so she can only acquiesce.
After getting dressed, Xu Nannan carried Xu Xiaoman on his back and prepared to go out.
The two sisters were just about to open the door of the hut, when they suddenly heard the voice of the old lady talking outside, Xu Xiaoman shivered, "Sister, the grandma is outside."
Xu Nannan was not afraid of the old lady, but he didn't want to scare Xu Xiaoman either. This child has been squeezed for so many years, and he can't get rid of the old lady's shadow all at once.
She put Xu Xiaoman down, looked outside through the crack of the door, and was going to see if the old lady came into the house.
Outside, the old lady was receiving two women with a smile. To be precise, they were two middle-aged women. One of them was a bit big and had a dark face.
"Auntie, I can help you decide on this marriage. Sister Liu is also very willing. When do you think you will send her over? The past few years have been bad, so let's just forget about those vain gifts." The one who spoke was The woman who came with the black-faced woman squinted her eyes and spoke loudly.
Xu Nannan looked familiar, but when he thought about it again, he remembered it. This woman with a loud voice is also the daughter-in-law of Xujia Village. Her husband is a carpenter with some skills. The family lives well, so she doesn't have to work in the fields. This woman is also eloquent, so she started to help mediators. Because her maiden name is Qiu, she is known as Qiu Great Matchmaker.
What is this person doing here? No one in the family wants to marry a wife. Xu Nannan's heart sank for no reason. Quickly close the door and listen to the outside.
The black-faced woman said, "Auntie, you have heard about our family's situation, and I agree to your request. Fifty catties of barley, twenty catties of flour, and thirty catties of sweet potatoes, this is what our family can afford. , and another thirty yuan will be given.”
"Look, what a great dowry gift. Those big girls in our village who get married seldom give so much to their natal family. Nannan, your family, is only fifteen years old. He is really a promising child." Qiu The big matchmaker laughed from ear to ear. The more dowries she gives, the more face she will have as a matchmaker, and the more benefits she will naturally get.
Xu Nannan was terrified when he heard it in the room. Ma Dan, this old lady is going to heaven, but she actually promised her a kiss!
It's no wonder that the past few days have been honest and calm, and it turns out that there is something bad here.
"If you don't marry, don't marry, whoever wants to marry will go!" Xu Nannan couldn't hold back, and rushed out from inside, yelling at several people.
The three of them didn't expect that Xu Nannan was still at home, so they were all taken aback. The old lady's face turned blue with anger, "What are you doing? What is your attitude in front of outsiders, making people say that our family is uneducated."
"Our family is not well-bred. My dad told me to wait for a few years, and now you give it to my husband's family. What's the reason?" Xu Nannan said loudly on purpose.
The black-faced woman was unhappy at being made such a fuss, but upon hearing Xu Nannan's words, she asked, "You are Nannan? Why is it different from what they said?"
The big matchmaker Qiu quickly said, "This kid has been feeling unwell these days, and his temper is a bit uncontrollable, but he is usually pretty good."
"What's the matter, anyway, I'm not happy. If you really let me marry, I'll make a mess in the family." Xu Nannan knew that it's useless to reason with these people, it has to be tough.
Black-faced women's faces are even darker. "That doesn't look very good."
"Sister Liu, no matter what she is, she is not missing an arm or a leg, and her appearance is not bad. Besides... no matter what, just go back and take care of it? You still can't control your daughter-in-law?" muttered on the side.
In any case, the marriage must be done. Otherwise, how much less benefit will be gained. As for the second girl of the Xu family, she was going to marry sooner or later anyway, who was not married
The old lady also said, "When I go to your house, they are your family members, and you can do whatever you want."
The black-faced woman also began to hesitate. I looked at Xu Nannan a few more times, and Xu Nannan felt hairy all over, "What do you look at, anyway, I don't agree."
The woman ignored her, just looked at the old lady and nodded, "Yes, yes, but I won't give you thirty yuan, this child is hard to manage."
The old lady glared at Xu Nannan, as if she was blaming her for lowering the price by making such a fuss. "There is no need for money, and there is no shortage of food." The family has been eating for half a year, and they haven't had a full meal for a long time.
"We agree, what are you talking about?" Xu Nannan stared.
They negotiated the price as if she didn't exist. The old lady sent the two of them away. When the people left, the old lady turned her head to look at Xu Nannan with an angry face, "This matter is beyond your control. Even if your parents come back, they can't care about this matter."
"It's a new society now, and it's against the law for you to do so."
The old lady didn't take it seriously, "It's not breaking the law. If our family can't raise a child, let them raise it for a few years. If anyone disagrees, let them raise you." After finishing speaking, she said earnestly, "Erya Grandma, there is nothing I can do. Your temper is getting worse and worse. Grandma can't control you. Your parents are not at home. We have to find someone who can control you, and we can't let your temper get worse. It’s broken. Besides, the blacksmith’s family has craftsmanship, money and food at home, you can eat and drink when you go there, and you will enjoy yourself in the future.”
Xu Nannan held his fingers tightly, "I don't agree, no one can let me marry. You can't control me."
"Then I still don't believe it. With so many people in our family, we still can't send you away." The old lady snorted coldly, turned and entered the house. The kid was leaving the house anyway.
As soon as the old lady left, Xu Nannan trembled angrily. Without an ID card, her household registration is in Xujia Village, so she can't go anywhere except here. If the old lady is determined to send her away, either Xu Jianhai or Xu Jianping can restrain her.
Xu Xiaoman hid behind the door and cried, "Sister, what should we do?"