Chapter Thirty-Five: Peasant Delight

  Seeing the whole room staring at her, Xi Mei only realized how embarrassing she was, playing with her own fingers, and said "I just think this name is really good, hehe, it's really good."

  Ignoring the three sisters' disapproving glances, she herself was smiling foolishly. Zheng's lips landed on that pale and tender little face, "Why is this girl so likable? Want to go home with me?"

  That's totally like a wolfish grandma, Zhang Zhi is covering his face beside her, mom, can't you just not go around losing things everywhere? Zhao Auntie is still watching from the side, can't you just be a bit more restrained?

  Xi Mei covered Zheng Shi's face with both hands, smiling sweetly, "Does Auntie like me? The big ladies in my family also like me and want to take me home." After finishing speaking, she seemed to have thought of something and fell silent.

  Zheng saw Xi Mei's sad face and said with concern: "What's wrong? Why are you suddenly unhappy?"

  Little sister sniffled and said pitifully: "Is it because big sister is too lovely, so that bad person also wants to take big sister home? But why does mother always cry? I don't like them, auntie, can you not let big sister leave?"

  Looking at Xi Mei's hopeful eyes, Zhang Zhongquan spoke up first: "Xi Mei, what's going on? Who wants your sister to go with them?"

  "It's just that the person from the Li family is really bad, and both Father and Mother disagree, but that old witch said that if they don't send Big Sister to her house, she'll let her brother, who is an official, throw Father in prison." After saying this, she started wailing.

  "I don't want my sister to leave, I don't want her to become a concubine." Zheng and his family immediately understood Xi Mei's meaning, and Zheng was furious, "How can this be? Isn't this just kidnapping a civilian girl? Is there no justice?"

  She turned to ask Madam Zhao, "What's her family background, how can they be so arrogant?" Madam Zhao smiled wryly: "Don't listen to Xi Mei's nonsense, their family doesn't have any officials, just an older brother who works as a clerk in the county government."

  "How dare a teacher's brother be so arrogant?" Zheng was incredulous. "You wouldn't know, country people face the yellow earth and back to the sky, for generations no one in their family can become an official, so a teacher's sister can also dominate our village for many years."

  After listening to Zhao's explanation, Zhang Zhongquan smiled faintly, "Don't worry about this matter anymore, I'll write a letter to my uncle right away. Now the little girl can rest assured, right?" Seeing that others had seen through everything with their eyes, Xi Mei couldn't help but smile awkwardly and buried her face in Zheng's neck.

  This move made the Zhang couple cry and laugh at the same time, Zhao looked at what was almost a dead-end situation for her being solved by someone with just a few words, it was unbelievable, until her son reminded her that she finally came back to reality.

  "It's really true, I don't know what to say anymore. Meeting you is our good fortune for three lifetimes, please accept a woman's bow." After saying that, she was about to kneel down in front of the two people.

  "This can't be helped." Zheng Shi hastily got up to help her, "It's just a small effort, no need to mention it. If you really want to thank me, let Xi Mei be my goddaughter, what do you think?"

  "This would be inappropriate for our family, we are not daring to aim high." Madam Zhao pushed back, she really didn't want others to say that their family was greedy for wealth and sold their daughter, and she also really didn't dare to promise recklessly.

  Looking at his wife wanting to say something else, Zhang Zhongquan pulled her clothes and said, "If that's the case, let's wait for the Chen brothers to come before we talk again."

  Looking at his son's obviously fattened face over the past few days, several children didn't fawn on him just because Zhang's family had money, and when looking at valuable things, they didn't show a hint of envy in their eyes. On the contrary, there was a hint of clarity in the eyes of the eldest son.

  It's hard not to sigh in admiration, the Chen family's upbringing is indeed good. Although they are poor, no one is lazy, and compared to some people in town, they are much better off. My intention to befriend them has grown stronger.

  "I don't know where the Chen brothers have gone, why can't I see anyone?" Zheng asked. "It's embarrassing to say, but early this morning before dawn, their father sent Xiujie back to her maternal grandmother's house. Calculating the time, they should be back soon."

  As soon as the words fell, the sound of a cow's mooing was heard outside the door. Ruihao cheered "Dad is back, Dad is back" and ran out to greet his father.

  Chen Tianfa saw the horse carriage parked outside his house before he even entered, wondering which family had a guest visiting. He didn't expect his youngest son to tell him that it was the Zhang family who had come. He quickly dusted himself off and went to greet them.

  Seeing Chen Tianfa coming in, Zhao's expression changed as if she had found her backbone, and she went forward to explain the situation. This father of a spoiled daughter was not pleased at all, who would want their precious daughter to call someone else dad? But he didn't refuse, his eldest daughter...

  Noticing his hesitation, Zhang Zhongquan smiled and said, "We have a long way to go, no need to rush for the time being. Look, it's getting late, let's stay here for the night?"

  "It's nothing, it's nothing, you're being polite. What's the trouble? You're looking out for me." Probably because they were at his own home, Chen Tianfa also didn't have the tension of their first meeting.

  Later, after hearing from Zhao that Jikyu's situation had taken a turn for the better, he was overjoyed and invited Zhao to cook some dishes to entertain their guests.

  "Guests have arrived, you just entertain them well, and leave the cooking to us women. You go ahead." After finishing speaking, she followed her two daughters into the kitchen.

  Chen Tianfa thought for a moment, then called over his two sons and told them to go fetch some wine. "Tonight we'll definitely have a night of not getting drunk and not leaving!" The hearty laughter of the peasant man was infectious to Zhang Zhongquan. "Alright, let's have a night of not getting drunk and not leaving!"

  Night falls, unlike other families' quietness, the Chen family is now bustling with activity. The small table is filled with bowls and chopsticks, and the delicious dishes make one's mouth water. A large piece of chicken meat is paired with mushrooms, and the green vegetables are sour and sweet. A big red-braised carp is placed in the center, not to mention the many kinds of farmhouse snacks.

  Zheng watched her son jumping around like a monkey, holding a big bowl and eating with oil dripping from his mouth. He was also arguing with another servant girl from time to time, although they were quarreling fiercely, the smile in their eyes couldn't be ignored.

  She turned to look at her husband, who was drunk and still hugging the wine jar, muttering non-stop with his eyes almost closed, bragging as if he had forgotten his usual humble and polite demeanor.

  It seems that my son has been running here for a reason. Who wouldn't like such a straightforward and pleasant person, not to mention the lovely daughter here?

  No one took care of the little girl, she sat there quietly and steadily, occasionally picking up something to eat with her chopsticks. Her quiet and gentle demeanor made people want to pamper her to their heart's content, especially when compared to her own son who was gobbling down his food like a wolf.

  Zheng sighed deeply, why wasn't this girl born from her own belly?

  As the night deepened, Madam Zhao helped Chen Tianfa into the house, and Madam Zheng also helped Zhang Zhongquan to the house that Madam Zhao had prepared for them. Looking at her son's already sleeping face, where was the mischievous look from daytime? She kissed her son's forehead and went to bed herself.

  Outside, Zhao's mother was collecting bowls and chopsticks, looking at her sleepy daughter who couldn't open her eyes. She gently reminded them, "You all go to sleep soon too, you're all tired from today, there are things to do tomorrow." Xi Mei shook her head, "Mother, let's clean up together, or else you'll be cleaning until who knows when."

  Looking at her daughter's sensible appearance, Zhao didn't say anything else and just moved her hands faster. At this time, the whole village was quiet, with a bright moon diligently guarding the world, and the bright moonlight spilled all over the ground.

  Everything is so peaceful and quiet.