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On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, as soon as the morning started, snowflakes began to fall. By the time it reached noon, large swathes of snow started to flutter and cover the ground. 。In a short while, both sides of the dried-up riverbed, the stone-paved streets and embankments were covered with a thin layer of white. 。All the shops on the street had closed early, except for one at the corner. It still had some knives and a few bundles of bones laid out, bits and pieces... 。 This is the only shop in the entire Liuku Town. 。A stout woman with a greasy headwrap stood in the shop, leaning against a dark, squat pillar. Her fat, oily hands flapped as she tossed fragrant pumpkin seeds into the air. 。"Zheng Tu's Lady, how leisurely! On this big New Year's Eve, you don't even wash yourself clean?" At this moment, a woman from the opposite stall came out, holding a wooden basin in her hand. With a splash, she poured a basin of murky water onto the snow. The thin layer of snow instantly turned black and then melted completely. 。The midwife shouted at the plump woman who was shelling melon seeds, and hit her lower back with her fist. It's almost New Year's now, and there's so much work to be done at home that her old waist is hurting. 。"It's Madam Yuan, it's not that I don't want to wash away. It was yesterday, that Li family's Yue girl from the end of the town came to my place and borrowed money for her case. Her brother was sick, she was craving, Madam Yuan, you know, Mr. Li passed away last month, leaving behind six children, treating illness and owing a lot of money. Yue girl is the eldest, several younger brothers and sisters all depend on food. Borrowing from home, it's like giving a bun to a dog – there's no return, but...my mother-in-law has five and three teachings from some monks at Ling Shui Temple. What..." Here, Madam Zheng patted her head in deep thought for a while before remembering. She pointed with her chubby fingers: "Oh, it's the Buddha who sacrifices eagles, something like that. If you have it yourself, if others are in urgent need, just give it away." 。"My Zheng Tu is a filial son, he never disobeys his mother's words, so he wanted to send a gift to that younger sister..." He paused here again, with a pained expression on his face. 。Facing Yuan Mama: “What the Buddha says is what we should listen to, Zheng Dalian has a kind heart like a bodhisattva.” 。"Zheng Tu's daughter, Jiao'er, disagreed with Yuan Ma's words. What does it mean to listen to Buddha's words? Is the Buddha something you eat, drink, or wear? It's nothing at all!" 。Of course, Zheng Tulan would not say this out loud. However, she continued Yuan Mama's words, her tone changed and said: "My mother-in-law is kind-hearted, but Yue Jie'er is ambitious. She wouldn't take things from others for nothing. Just do as I say, let me wash the New Year's clothes in return, it's considered work for credit, this will help me solve a problem. My deadbeat husband and several sons are always causing trouble, I can barely keep up with them. Every day my mother-in-law eats vegetarian food and recites sutras, she doesn't touch any worldly affairs at all. This whole family, there are so many things that make people go crazy! That's why, now that Yue Jie'er is taking over, I am now just like my mother-in-law - enjoying half a day of leisure in this fleeting life. 。Zheng Tu's daughter, learning from her grandmother at home, strung together a jumbled mess of 。Waving his chubby hands, he sputtered and gesticulated wildly, putting on a pained expression as if fearing people would think he was lazy. He described the household chores with such urgency, as if he were about to be beheaded. 。"That's right, everyone in town knows you're the big boss here." 。"Then the mother replied, 'On this street, Zheng Tu's family lives the best. They are always kind and polite in their words, hoping to get a discount of two copper coins when buying things.'" 。However, when it came to Aunt Li Yue, Madam Yuan gossiped again: “Oh, the Lee family has been unlucky these past two years. First, Mrs. Lee passed away a couple of years ago, and now, just recently, Mr. Lee has also died. Leaving these children behind, who knows how they'll make ends meet? Mr. Lee was such a good man, why did a good person have such bad luck?” 。"Mother Yuan sighed, but still didn't forget to give her late husband Li Xiang a good card." 。"Not really" 。Then Zheng Tu's lady nodded in deep agreement, then craned her neck to look around. Among the falling snowflakes, although people came and went, they all passed by in a hurry, none of them paying attention to the two women gossiping. 。Zheng Tulang lowered her voice and said, “Without parents, those children would be on the chopping board. Recently, I heard from my husband that Li Er's wife, the sister-in-law of Li Xianggong, invited the village elder to a meal. There were four bowls and eight dishes, a very grand spread, all because Li Xianggong had died and there was no elder in the Li family. As his second uncle and aunt, they should take charge of the several children.” 。"Zheng Tu's daughter, raising an eyebrow at Yuan Mama." 。"That's only natural, as an uncle and aunt it's their duty to take care of the Li family." 。On one hand, Mama Yuan said it was only natural. 。"Alas, if only she were truly so kind! I suspect that Li Er's wife is hoping to merge Li Da's property with her own. If the east and west rooms of the Li household were combined, it would make one big house... Well, you know..." Zheng Tu's wife's following words were unclear, but her meaning was profound indeed. 。“There’s still Li Yuejie in the Li family, isn't there? Li Yuejie is a young lady now, as an elder sister, she can also support the family, right? Besides, aren't the two elders of the Li family still around? Can they really just stand by and watch this heartless pair scheme like this?” Mama Yuan said with disdain. 。"Old man Li, you know this already, when he fled here during the hardship, he was a son-in-law of the Li family. He never spoke at home, kept to himself, and was utterly spineless. What could a person like that possibly do for those others? And as for Mrs. Li, everyone in town knows her, she's so biased it's gone off the rails. She never liked Li Da, even when he was young. Then, after Li Da's wife came into the family, her anger was unbelievable! You wouldn't believe how much rage she had. Li Da felt sorry for his wife and finally demanded to split from the family. This angered Mrs. Li terribly, they became enemies. Mrs. Li treated Li Da like a sworn enemy and didn't even care about his children anymore. She took all of Li Da's property and gave it to Li Er's family." 。“Zheng Tu’s daughter pulled him again and again.” 。"How could he be so partial? One hand is warm, but the other isn't?" Grandma Yuan shook her head and said. 。Li's wife's favoritism is well-known throughout the whole town of Liuwo. 。“As for Miss Li Yue…” Zheng Tulan continued at this point, “She’s about to get married, so where would she have the time to worry about a few younger siblings…” 。"Married? Isn't she still in the filial piety period? To which family? How come I've never heard of it?" Zheng Tulang's words surprised Yuan Mama. 。"Zhou Jia, the head of the Zhou family from Zhen Dong" 。It is precisely because filial piety is hot that one should cherish it while it's hot, otherwise, one would have to wait another three years. 。"Zheng Tutu's face was full of smugness, showing that she could." 。"Zhou Jia? The Zhou Tiger of this town? Impossible!" Mother Yuan shook her head vehemently. 。This is a match that would never work. The Zhou family would absolutely never look down upon the Li family. Even though Mrs. Yuan might not be very knowledgeable, she would definitely know this to be true. 。There are two tigers in Liuwu, one from the Eastern Zhou and one from Western Zheng. 。The Eastern Zhou refers to the Zhou family who reside in the eastern part of the town. It is said that they are influential, but no one knows their exact rank. All anyone remembers is that once, when Mr. Zhou returned home, the prefect personally came to greet him. Even the county magistrate stood at a distance, showing his respect. In short, everyone in town knows that Mr. Zhou's family is very powerful… As for West Zheng, it refers to the Zheng family who reside in the western part of the town. This Zheng family is currently being discussed by Mrs. Zheng, the butcher's wife. The Zheng family isn't as wealthy or influential as the Zhou family. They don't have thousands of acres of fertile land like the Zhous, but they are infamous in the countryside. Mr. Zheng, their patriarch, was once the executioner in the county seat. Now, his descendants work various dangerous jobs: some as executioners, others as butchers, and some as horsemen or guards. In short, they are all ruthless and fierce people. Therefore, even though the Zheng family is not as powerful or wealthy as the Zhous, they are still considered equal to them as the two most influential families in Liuwo Town. Ordinary people wouldn't dare to offend either family. 。"How could that be impossible? I have insider information. Yesterday, Madam Hua came to my house for a drink and got drunk. You ask why the Zhou family would want to marry Li Yue?" Zheng Tulang spoke mysteriously. 。"Why?" Mother Yuan asked hurriedly, her face full of curiosity. 。"Hearing that Old Master Zhou was close to his end, the Zhou family had decided on a marriage as a way to ward off misfortune." 。Zheng Tu’s daughter strutted down with a smug air. 。"Taking a wife to appease the spirits?" Yuan's mother nearly fainted. "How could Sister Li Yue agree to that?" Normally, no one would take on such a task unless they were absolutely desperate. After all, if it failed, the bride would be labeled a bad omen – someone who brings misfortune and death. She would then be ostracized for life. 。Such a major life event as marriage shouldn't be decided by one person alone. 。Zheng Tu's daughter said: 。"also" 。"The mother felt deeply saddened. Alas, this Li Xianggong's family is facing another hardship." 。"Hey, Yuan Mama, about this matter, what I'm saying is just between you and me. Don't spread it around, okay? If this gets out, it'll ruin the Zhou family, and they won't hesitate to skin both our families alive!" 。When Zheng Tu's daughter saw Yuan Mama's forlorn appearance, she felt a tinge of regret for revealing the matter. Though the Zheng and Zhou families stood as equals in terms of power, their actual positions were vastly different. The Zheng family was superior to the Zhou family, much like an egg compared to a stone. 。"Save, save" 。"Mother also meekly and submissively agreed." 。Then the two of them lost interest in gossip. 。At this moment, a young man walked out of a turn on Qing Shi Street. He wore a blue cotton jacket with a white hemp filial sash over it, a conical straw hat on his head, and white hemp filial shoes on his feet. As he stepped on the snow, there was a creaking sound. 。Her hands cradled a large, exaggerated bamboo basket overflowing with lamps, jars, and other assorted items. On her back, another bamboo basket piled high added to the weight, making it seem like she might be overwhelmed. Yet, her steps were surprisingly light, and her smile held a confident ease. 。。“Sister Yue…” At this time, Zheng Tulan's face was a little embarrassed. She didn’t know if Li Yuejie had just overheard the two of them talking, but seeing Li Yuejie's natural expression, she probably hadn't heard it, right?This is precisely the protagonist Li Yuejie that the two had been chatting about before. 。 |
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