When Yang Ruqing came to the backyard for breakfast, she found everyone there except Luo Tiejiang.

"Where's my uncle? Why didn't he come for breakfast?" Yang Ruqing asked.

Zhou Xia, on the other hand, suddenly developed a conscience and packed her belongings to go to the clinic to serve Luo Dade.

Therefore, the blacksmith Luo didn't need to go to the doctor's office in the county town. He stayed home and took care of his family affairs.

At breakfast time, however, she wasn't there. Yang Ruqing couldn't help but ask about it.

Luo Fengtang said, “My uncle is in the front courtyard hall. Several villagers have come to our house, some from our own village and some from nearby villages.”

“Is it because of the fish for the New Year?” Yang Ruoheng asked again.

Luo Fengtang nodded. "Almost."

Wang Cuilian put away the clean dishes and walked over, saying: “Some families here are truly struggling and unlucky. Even if they come to borrow money, there’s no way to refuse them. When the autumn rice harvest comes, most of them will pay back their debts.”

>

"But there are also some people here who are lazy and good-for-nothing. Every year during Chinese New Year, they come to borrow fish but never pay it back. This year, I told your uncle that for those who haven't repaid their debts in three years, we should stop lending them money. We don't need to care about what others think; if they don't care about us, then we shouldn't either."

Yang Ruqing nodded, "What the aunt said is right, our family isn't running a charity. We don't have that capacity to help so many people. Besides, some people are malicious. If you help them this time, they'll expect you to help them every time. When you don't help them someday, they'll jump out and complain!" Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

"Why bother with all that? Let's just follow the proper procedures!"

Just as breakfast was almost finished, Lu Tiejiang finally arrived.

"How's it going? Have you sent them all away?" Wang Cuilian asked first.

The blacksmith Luo chuckled wryly: "This fishpond has just set the date for fishing, and nearly eighty jin of fish have already been pre-ordered. They haven't paid in cash yet this year, they won't until next spring when the first batch of rice is harvested."

Here is the translated content:

“See? I told you so! These people... really are something else!” Wang Cuilian shook her head in anger.

>

Yang Ruqing and Luo Fengtang also smiled wryly.

Although the family doesn't expect the income from this fish pond to support them, nor do they care when those people pay back their debts.

But, Uncle worked tirelessly from the beginning of the year to the end, diligently taking care of the fishponds, all for these people to have dried salted fish for New Year's?

"Uncle, you agreed to everything they said?" Yang Ruqing asked.

The blacksmith Luo shook his head. "I used to readily agree in past years, but this year, I can't."

"How come there's none? Don't you always talk about your hometown and fellow villagers?" Wang Cuilian said intentionally, a little annoyed.

The blacksmith, Luo Tiejian, grinned and said, "This year's harvest from the fishpond is hard to say. A large number of fish died during the summer heat, and I'm worried that we won't be able to catch as many as in previous years."

Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

"I told them, I can't promise that right now. I have to prioritize selling to the usual fishmongers first, then my family members. Who knows how much will be left at the end?"

Wang Cuilian let out a breath and said, "Well, that's a flexible way of putting it. That's more like it!"

Yang Ruqing smiled and said to Luo Tiejiang, "Uncle, if the amount of fish isn't enough, just have those fishmongers give us a little less. Tell them clearly, if they understand that's best, if they don't, we can't do anything about it. At worst, we won't do business with them next year!" Please note that the original text did not contain any content within the "<<<>>>" tags. I have simply removed the tags and left you with an empty string. If you had intended to include text within the tags, please provide it and I'll be happy to translate it for you.

Luo Fengtang said, "If things were up to me, I'd rather have my uncle stop tending to this fish pond altogether. It's such hard work, taking care of it all year round, even in the sweltering heat, setting up a makeshift shelter by the pond and watching over it day after day!"

Luo the blacksmith said, "No hardship!"

Wang Cuilian said, “Are you not tired? Sleeping by the fish pond in such hot weather, catching a big handful of mosquitoes by the water. The children are so filial, they don’t lack for your food. You don’t know how to enjoy yourself!”

>

The blacksmith Luo still chuckled and said, "I'm not idle anyway, besides, I haven't had the chance to enjoy my retirement yet at my age. Let me keep busy for a few more years!"

In that case, let's not say much more.

Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

For Luo the blacksmith, this is a joy. Life needs to be fulfilling, and fulfillment is what gives life value.

When the Luo family's fishpond was harvested, the first batch of fish was sent to Yang Ruqing's natal home.

Why?

After the joyous occasion of Xiaojie's marriage, Yang Huazhong's family welcomed another happy event.

That is Xia Duo betrothed to Xiang Shengnan, the second nephew of a cattle vendor from Xiangjiazhuang.

Relatives and friends naturally need to be invited over, so fish is made into dishes. Luo Tiejiang sent all the big fish of the first batch to Yang Huazhong.

“Sister, I don't want to wear new clothes or put on makeup. Today is just a betrothal ceremony, not a wedding, there’s no need to make such a fuss!”

In Xiaoduo's room in the backyard, Xiaoduo was sat on a stool in front of her dressing table by Yang Ruqing and Xiaohua. The dressing box before her was wide open, its contents of various rouges and powders dazzling her eyes.

On the side, all sorts of beaded flowers, silk flowers, hairpins, and earrings are also freely selectable.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Yang Ruqing said: "Today's engagement, you have to dress up beautifully and highlight that you are the female lead!"

Little Duo couldn't help but smile and cry.

Xiaohua also said: "Today, all the relatives and friends from our family came. Xiaojie and her family, Lao Zhang's new relatives, all came with a family of four. You dress up and let everyone see your style."

Xiao Duo shook her head and twisted, when the house was filled with laughter, Liu Shi came in.

"Little Flower, your biological parents are here!"

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

When Liu said this, the comb in Xiao Hua's hand, who was busy combing Xia Duo's hair, suddenly fell to the ground.

"Aunt Four, what are you talking about? What kind of parents?!" Xiaohua was stunned, forgetting all about picking up her comb.

"It was your parents who gave birth to you! You didn't just pop out of a crack in the stone!"

Now, Xiaohua was stunned again.

"While Xiaoduo directly slapped the table and said to Liushi in an annoyed tone: "Fourth aunt, what nonsense are you talking about? Xiaohua's biological mother is my aunt. When Xiaohua was very young, my aunt passed away from illness, so where could her biological mother have come?"

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Liu was also taken aback, then raised her finger towards the door: "It wasn't me who said it, they came to introduce themselves, saying they were here to look for relatives..."

>

“The man said his name was Xu Dahuai, and the woman's maiden name was Lu. Could they be father and stepmother?” Liu asked again.”

When she heard the name, Xiaohua's face paled. Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Little Duo wasn't much better either, “What? He said his name was Xu Dakui?”

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Then, Xiaoduo turned around and looked at Xiaohua in astonishment: “My uncle’s name is probably this, right?”

Xiao Hua didn't nod or shake her head, but her body trembled slightly uncontrollably.

Yang Ruoqing hurriedly supported Xiao Hua and said, "Don't panic, if he really is your biological father, it's nothing. He's not a robber or bandit. Besides, this is truly your home now. Your parents and we are all here, so don't be afraid!"