At night, two square tables were put together to form one table, and the whole family sat down in a crowded place.

The children eat fast, and they leave the table after eating the few mouthfuls that should be eaten, just in time for the woman who is holding the bowl and standing next to the child to eat.

"Eat, the second sister walked most of the way here, she must be hungry. Now that I'm back home, eat more."

Zhang Shixin greeted Zhang Shiyue and Guan Xiaoe for dinner, looking like a big brother, very enthusiastic.

Zhang Fangyuan rolled his eyes sideways, and put the two tables together to eat, and the three or two dishes he served first were not afraid of being laughed at on the big long table. Then he brought the meat to him, and his wife fried a pork heart, and cooked a meat bean curd with sliced ​​meat, and now his uncle can present a meal to entertain his sister.

However, he didn't open his mouth to say such nasty words at this time, and after starting the chopsticks, he was the first to grab Xu He's Dou Huaer with a chopstick.

This time the bean curd is tender and has a smooth taste, but it is not easy to pick it up. The process of making bean curd is complicated, and it is generally not eaten at home. Unless there are guests, they will use these things that are not easy to make quickly to entertain people, so as to show their enthusiasm for the guests.

It was a good intention to serve Zhang Shiyue with bean curd, but it shouldn't be just that one dish.

Zhang Fangyuan thought that if he didn't eat two big bowls of rice, he would be sorry for the meat he brought over today. So while Zhang Shixin and Zhang Shicheng were chatting with his second aunt, they kept wiggling their chopsticks, and from time to time they picked up vegetables for Xu He.

His aunt even joked about their good appetites, but Zhang Fangyuan ignored them and ate more instead. Everyone in Zhang's family knew what kind of temper he was, and it was no longer easy to talk about him.

On the contrary, the two daughters-in-law of Zhang Shixin's family wanted to move their chopsticks more when they saw so many delicious dishes today, but they dared not lose their courtesy because they were hindering their mother-in-law's face and laughing at Zhang Fangyuan.

"Second Sister, how are Xiao'e's father and brother Guan all these years? I only met you once when you were married."

Zhang Fangyuan was telling Xu He that the meat bean curd tonight was delicious, with kimchi, and the bean curd with sliced ​​meat, not greasy at all. Suddenly, a table spoke well, his second aunt put down her chopsticks and her eyes turned red, and the people at the table immediately stopped their chopsticks and looked at each other.

"What, what's the matter?"

Zhang Shiyue calmed down for a while before saying: "Two years ago, her father was taken by the county government to serve in the capital, and there was no news after he went there. Although he couldn't read, it would be good to ask someone to write a letter for him to come back. Wait and see, this year can be regarded as news.”

Speaking of this, Zhang Shiyue couldn't stop crying: "The county government said that he met a group of robbers on the way back, was seriously injured, and died before he came back."

The people at the table were shocked, and Xu He raised his heart, and subconsciously grabbed Zhang Fangyuan's clothes corner under the edge of the table. Natural disasters and man-made disasters have happened to ordinary people too much, but it is embarrassing for their relatives to encounter such things.

Fortunately, the family still had some spare money to pay taxes, otherwise it would be a risky thing for the man in the family to serve in such a distant place.

The man sighed and sighed, and the woman comforted Zhang Shiyue. Although the sad thing did not fall on her head, seeing the same woman suffer this time, she couldn't help being sympathetic. Zhang Shixin's two sons were out shopping, and the woman and the child were at home. Hearing such a tragedy, he couldn't help worrying about his own man.

"He used to have only his father-in-law, and he went there two years ago. There is no one at home now. Xiao'e and I have had a rough time there. This year's taxes also cost the old house and ten acres Susukita sold it and paid for it, and I really can't live on." Zhang Shiyue's voice became quieter, and she couldn't help crying again.

Hearing the words, Zhang Shixin and his wife exchanged glances, and then asked, "Second sister sold all the property and land, how will she live in the future? Where will she settle down? But she will bring Xiao'e to remarry."

Zhang Shicheng gave his elder brother a disapproving look. It would be too ugly to say such a thing at this time, why bother to insult his sister.

"Those acres of land don't produce food. After the autumn, we paid the food tax and materials, and there is almost nothing left. Besides, Xiao'e, an orphan and widow, and I can't manage it, and we really can't." Zhang Shiyue actually listened to Zhang Shixin. It meant that he didn't want to accept her and Xiao'e, but he had no choice but to be cheeky: "Brother, I don't plan to go back this morning, so just give me a small room, and Xiao'e and I can do anything."

Zhang Shixin took a deep breath, but felt that something was wrong with the girl suddenly bringing the child back. He thought it was because the family was having a hard time and wanted to borrow money to ask for something, but he didn't expect that she came to seek refuge.

"Second Sister, you know what's going on at Eldest Brother's house. The two eldest sons have married wives and have children. Even though they are away all year round, there is no spare room at home. Besides, this Two years away, the business is not easy to do, and the crops in the field are not good, I'm afraid it will not give you and Xiao'e a good life."

"That's right, Second Sister. It's not that your elder brother is cruel, it's really difficult at home." Zhang Shixin's daughter-in-law, Wang Shi, quickly helped to speak: "It's okay to say if there are many people in the land, but the problem is that the family has a large population and can handle it. There is only so much space for cooking, otherwise I wouldn’t be willing to go out and do some small business.”

What he said meant something, and Mrs. Wang glanced at Mrs. Zhang Shicheng and Mrs. He without any trace.

Zhang Shiyue wiped her eyes, feeling chilling in her heart: "Brother, the crops at home were damaged by insects and rain that year. Life was difficult. The family had no money to pay taxes, and it happened that you were married to your sister-in-law. Parents couldn't borrow money everywhere. The Guan family is poor and can't get a wife locally. They passed by our Jijiu Village and wanted to marry a wife back home. For you and the family, my parents took 2,000 Wen and married me to another county. You are doing well now Well, how can you..."

"Talk about things carefully, why are you bringing up those old things!" Zhang Shixin became a little annoyed: "Besides, is it just for me? Don't you have younger siblings at home who want to eat? You are going to get married. Parents are watching Brother Guan is honest and reliable, so he agreed to marry you, why is it just for me."

Seeing that there was going to be a quarrel, Zhang Shicheng quickly interrupted: "Second sister was at home in the past when life was bad at home, and life got better later. When parents were alive, they often said sorry to second sister. How many brothers and sisters in the family? Everyone has lived a good life, except that the second sister married to another county. After so many years, I don’t know how good or bad it is. But there are only three people in the family, so we can still get by.”

Hearing that Zhang Shixin had settled down, he changed his tone and said: "The family remembers the second sister's kindness, so it's right now. The fourth child has a lot of land, and the fifth child left behind. It’s all at the fourth’s side. It’s just right for the second sister to help, so let’s stay here.”

Zhang Shiyue actually didn't want to trouble her younger brother, but the eldest brother was cruel, and she could only agree to it while feeling sad.

After eating, Zhang Shiyue and Guan Xiaoe went back to Zhang Shicheng's house. After Zhang Fangyuan and Xu He followed for a while, they parted ways at the small road.

"Second Aunt, please bring Xiao'e over to play tomorrow." Before Xu He left, he invited Zhang Shiyue, who still had some red eyes.

Zhang Shiyue nodded: "Okay. Come back quickly, it's getting late."

"OK, then we'll go back first."

Zhang Fangyuan took Xu He's hand, and the two walked towards their own path together. In midsummer, the moon is bright, and the road can be seen even without lighting a torch. The surrounding soil ridges and fields are filled with the cries of grasshoppers and frogs, which are quiet and noisy.

Xu He sighed slightly.

"What are you sighing for?"

"Second Aunt has so many brothers and lives so hard. If something happens to me in the future, I don't even have any brothers."

Zhang Fangyuan pulled him closer to him: "If there are brothers like my uncle and sixth uncle, it doesn't matter whether they have brothers or not. Besides, isn't there me? You don't need to rely on anyone, you still want to Curse me to death."

Xu He glared at him: "Open your mouth and shut it up, and I will worry less if I don't cause trouble in the future."

"I don't cause trouble." Zhang Fangyuan smiled flatteringly: "If the other side of the tea shed is busy, you can go ask the second aunt for help, she will be very happy, if you treat her like a guest, it will make her feel alienated." .”

"understood."

Zhang Fangyuan continued: "When my father was alive, my second aunt took good care of him before she got married, and she always mentioned it to me before. If I know that my second aunt has lost a man and has a daughter with no one to rely on, I'm afraid it will happen again." It will be a sad one, they are all hard-working people. If the fourth aunt doesn't want her to live there..."

"You can bring people over." Xu He said what Zhang Fangyuan hadn't finished.

"You really think so?"

"Our family has a small population, which is the advantage of paying less taxes. After the tea shed is opened, most of the family will be busy, and we may have to ask for help at the other end, and it will cost money. If there are enough people in the family, someone You can breathe a sigh of relief if you help with the matter."

Zhang Fangyuan became happy. When the room was quarreling, the two juniors didn't speak up, but they thought of going together. He felt very happy in his heart, and felt that he and his wife were of one mind.

"I originally thought that if they didn't want my second aunt to stay, I would call people to our house. But my fourth uncle would not see my sister have nowhere to go."

Xu He responded, "Sibo's family is kind-hearted."

"It's a kind heart, but their house is small after all. There are only two rooms that can be lived in. I don't know how to squeeze them tonight. I guess I can only clean up the utility room and live in it."

There is no choice even for the utility room, and it is not easy to have a shelter from the wind and rain. Xu He thought to himself that his previous narrow house was just a utility room. Even if he lives there, the sundries in the house are still piled up inside, often leaving only a place to lay his feet.

He collected his thoughts, the left and right could not live anymore, the house at home is quite big now, and there are still two vacant rooms that no one lives in. Even if Zhang Shiyue came to live in one room with their children, they still have a vacant room, which they can live in when they have children in the future.

"Let's talk again, hurry up, go back to wash and rest, you have to go to the city to set up a stall tomorrow."

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