Chapter 29: Preparing to Build a House

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

After thinking for a while, Zhang Lan still felt that it was inappropriate. “No, I don’t feel at ease. Why don’t you return it to him now?”

As she spoke, she stood up.

Zhou Xiaoli hurriedly pulled Zhang Lan back. “Hey, Mother, Mother, don’t be anxious. Listen to me. Actually, Wei Chiyu is richer than us. He sold his fox skin for 20 taels of silver today.”

“Really?” Zhang Lan was shocked.

Zhou Xiaoli nodded. “Of course, why would I lie to you? Besides, from my understanding of Wei Chiyu, if we insist on returning the money to him, he will definitely be too embarrassed to come to our house to eat. He’s alone and doesn’t know how to cook, so he can only drink water and eat steamed buns every day. How pitiful.”

Zhou Xiaoli said with certainty.

Zhang Lan hesitated. “This…”

Zhou Xiaoli patted her chest and said proudly, “Moreover, your daughter’s cooking is so delicious. She’s a master chef. A beautiful chef that’s rare to come by. Five taels of silver is too cheap for her service.”

Pfft!

Zhang Lan was instantly amused by Zhou Xiaoli. She reached out with her hand and tapped Zhou Xiaoli’s nose as she said dotingly, “You’re really boastful to praise yourself like this. Alright, let’s keep this money for now and make more of Chiyu’s favorite foods in the future. If he needs money urgently, we’ll return it to him then.”

Zhang Lan was used to being careful and she would not bear to take advantage of others at all. She would feel deeply uneasy if she took advantage of others.

Zhou Xiaoli responded with a smile.

Then, she asked, “Oh, right. Mother, take this money first.”

Zhang Lan immediately refused. “No, no, I’ve never received so much money before. Besides, I don’t care about money or anything. What if I lose it again? No, no.”

“It’s better for you to keep it. Also, don’t just think about our family. Think about yourself more. You have to save some money so that you can bring it as part of your dowry in the future. When I recover, I’ll go out and earn more money for you too.”

Zhou Xiaoli was speechless. “Mother, isn’t it too early to be thinking about dowry?”

“Not at all, not at all.” Zhang Lan stuffed all the money into Zhou Xiaoli’s hands and said earnestly, “Others have saved for their daughters since they were born. It’s because I’m not capable of saving up for you.”

“Women aren’t as comfortable in their husband’s home as they would be at their own home. If you have more dowry with you, you can be more confident in front of your husband’s family.”

Seeing that Zhang Lan started to delve deeper about marriage, Zhou Xiaoli quickly ended the topic. “Alright, I’ll keep the money first.”

Anyway, this money would be spent on the entire family. It didn’t matter who had it for now.

As they chatted, they talked about the donkey and the old hens.

Zhang Lan told Zhou Yu to build a barn for the donkey tomorrow.

Zhou Xiaoli nodded as she sat beside the oil lamp to carve her compass. “Yes, and those two hens are still laying eggs. Let’s go to the next market and buy a rooster. We can have chicks in the future then.”

Zhou Xiaoyu and Zhou Junjun were dozing off on the bed. When they heard this, they immediately raised their heads and their eyes lit up. “Sis, Sis, Second Brother said that chickens lay eggs, and chickens come from eggs. Will our family have many, many chickens in the future?”

Zhou Xiaoli couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, yes, you have an endless supply of chicken.”

Zhang Lan also smiled until her eyes were just crescents. “I think it’s fine. Oh, right, when the time comes, I’ll cut some cloth and buy some cotton too. It’ll be autumn soon. While I’m feeling better now, we’ll have to prepare winter clothes and quilts for our family.”

When they were chased out of the old Zhou family courtyard, they had only brought along with them a few pieces of clothing and a set of yellowing quilt.

Zhou Xiaoli nodded and memorized everything she said.

—-

The next morning, the sky was clear and refreshing.

After breakfast, Zhou Yu carried a few pieces of wood to build a straw shed for the donkey. Zhou Xiaoyu and Zhou Junjun ran to the back of the house to pluck grass for the donkey to eat.

As for Zhou Xiaoyu, she left the house with a bag of pastries.

As soon as she stepped out of the door, she saw Wei Chiyu walking out of his courtyard with rabbit fur in his hands.

Zhou Xiaoli was still curious. “Hey, Wei Chiyu, I thought you didn’t want to build a house. What made you change your mind?”

When they were having breakfast earlier, Wei Chiyu heard from Zhou Xiaoli that she was going to the village chief to discuss the purchase of land to build a house, and he said that he wanted to tag along.

Wei Chiyu glanced at Zhou Xiaoli and said, “I think what you said yesterday makes sense.”

Zhou Xiaoli was stunned for a moment before she realized that he was referring to the matter of building a house and getting a wife.

She almost laughed out loud.

Coughing to hold back her laughter, Zhou Xiaoli patted Wei Chiyu’s shoulder in a serious manner, as if she was an elderly giving advice. “Alright, alright. It’s good that you’ve thought it through. Let’s go then.”

The two of them chatted as they walked towards the village chief’s house.

When the two of them arrived, they saw the village chief feeding quails in his courtyard. After hearing their intentions, he smiled and led them into the house.

After entering the house, Zhou Xiaoli placed the pastries on the table. “Uncle Village Chief…”

Before she could finish, she was interrupted by the village chief.

Zheng He’s face turned serious. “Child, why did you bring something over again? Why? Do you not trust me, the village chief?”

Zhou Xiaoli smiled. “Uncle, you must be joking. Why wouldn’t I trust you? Besides, I didn’t say that this was for you. I bought this for Lingling.”

Lingling was Zheng Heping’s granddaughter.

At this moment, Liu Yan and her eldest daughter-in-law, Madam Wang, walked over with tea. When they heard this, Liu Yan smiled and asked, “What did you buy for Lingling?”

Zheng Heping explained the purpose of their visit. “Tell me, do you think this girl is sensible or insensible?”

Zhou Xiaoli smiled and said, “Uncle Village Chief, look at what you’re saying. I like Lingling. She’s so sweet to me every time she sees me. That’s why I want to be close to her.”

Liu Yan had a different reaction from Zheng Heping. Instead, she smiled and took the pastries. She said to Zheng Heping, “Alright, look at how angry you are. You’re scaring Little Li again. She said that this is for our Lingling, so don’t flatter yourself.”

Liu Yan’s words instantly dispelled the tense atmosphere and everyone laughed.

Wei Chiyu quickly took out the rabbit fur and said, “This is for Lingling too, to make a scarf.”

Liu Yan was stunned for a moment before she laughed. “You brat!”

“Alright, then I’ll thank you on behalf of my granddaughter.”

Madam Wang, who was standing behind her, hurriedly served tea. She smiled and said, “Come and have tea.”

Lingling was the daughter of Wang Caiyun and Zheng Fugui. She had once disliked Zhou Xiaoli because of her reputation as a jinx.

However, ever since the pork incident, her opinion of Zhou Xiaoli had changed. This time, Zhou Xiaoli even bought some snacks for her daughter to eat. She began to like Zhou Xiaoli.

After Liu Yan and Wang Caiyun left them, they got to the main topic of the day.

“Is Chiyu going to build a house too?” Zheng Heping looked at Wei Chiyu and asked with a smile.

Wei Chiyu nodded. “Yes.”

Zheng Heping nodded in relief. “It’s good to build a house; a shelter from wind and rain.”

As he spoke, he took out a piece of paper from the box on the table and spread it on the table. “This is the land division map of our Boyu Village. Other than the lands which are considered as fertile fields, the rest are meant for building houses. Take a look and choose a piece.”