Back in Xinghua Village, there was a sense of stability in the fallen leaves returning to their roots.
The days went back on track and on schedule.
The brothers Liu Zhixia and Liu Zhiqiu returned to the academy once again to prepare for the children's exams for the spring exams later in the year.
Xinghua Village was also busy with a bountiful rice harvest.
Liu Yusheng, who had left Liangshui Village, had no idea that on the day they left, waves after waves surged in Liangshui Village because of her.
Haizi's grandmother's illness was known to everyone in the village, and several teenagers were eyewitnesses to the day she collapsed and couldn't get up from her bed. Her face was white and blue, and her lips had turned a frightening dark purple.
However, the next day at noon, Haizi's grandma walked out of the house, and her face even recovered like a normal person. She took Haizi to the Chen courtyard and told the villagers they met on the road that she was going to thank the Liu family's Nannan.
Her illness has tormented her for so long and she also took medicine before, but there has been no improvement. However, when she took the medicine that Nannan prescribed only twice, her painful symptoms improved a lot, and she felt relaxed all over. As the patient, Haizi's grandma's feelings were the most intuitive.
Furthermore, the medicine that Nannan prescribed wasn't expensive!
She was a kindhearted little healer.
She lived up to her little divine/miracle doctor name.
Unfortunately, when the grandma and grandson arrived at the Chen's courtyard, they found out that the Liu family had left early in the morning.
They weren't able to thank the person, but the matter continued to ferment in Liangshui Village. For a long time, everyone was talking about the medical skills of the young Liu's granddaughter, full of wonder and amazement.
The wave of shock it brought added another strong piece of evidence to the rumors that Liu Yusheng was a young divine doctor.
The number of people who went to seek medical help soared.
This year's paddy fields in Xinghua Village were still a bumper harvest, and it was the happiest day for the families to see the grain entering their warehouses.
The year's busy work came to an end, and the harvest brought them joy in the end – enough to make up for the long year of toiling.
After every harvest in the past two years, a rather amusing phenomenon occurred in Xinghua Village: big families from the town and even from the county would come to buy rice from Xinghua Village. Because their rice was delicious!
How delicious was it? To the extent where people go crazy and loot it. Once put out on the market, it could be snatched up in an instant. If you have the money, you might not necessarily be able to buy it. It has already flipped to the price of extra-premium rice!
The grains grown in the village were bright golden in color and full. When the husk was twisted open, the rice inside was white and glistening, giving off a faint fragrance. The rice cooked with these grains of rice has a distinct and tasty texture, which made it mouthwatering. The most special thing was that after eating it, the body would feel especially comfortable, relaxed and energetic.
The Xinghua villagers never imagined that one day they would be proud of the rice they grew.
Now that the villagers work in the winery, most of them have money to spare. So, many of them were unwilling to send rice to offset their taxes, and directly paid them with money.
Home-grown good quality rice should be kept for their own family! After years and years of hard work, now that they were in the position to do so, they must let their family eat better too!
Only those with abundant harvest would take it out and sell it at a high price to grain collectors for profit.
In short, they adhered to one principle; by all means never give to anyone what you wanted to eat in your mouth!
Relatives came to borrow food?
Sorry, no.
If we lend rice to you, would you be able to return the same rice from Xinghua Village in the future?
When eating our rice, our kids can eat three big bowls a meal. Can you guarantee that the rice you return will keep him fed?
Buy triple the price of the rice?
Sorry, not for sale.
Our parents have good teeth, good appetite and are in good spirits. They recognize their own rice, which you can never buy with silver.
The excitement of collecting and borrowing grain lasted for a long time, and only then did Xinghua village slowly return to peace.
After the autumn harvest, the Liu family's house renovation was put on the agenda.
Li Dalin was waiting to build a new house ready for his son's marriage. He was so anxious that he had found the construction team early, thinking of getting the house done during the rest period ready for their new daughter-in-law to move in after the new year.
After discussion, the Liu family decided to also build a new one on their current land, and then build a second courtyard on some land further out. The first one was for the old couple, the Liu Dalin couple and the Liu Erlin couple. The second courtyard would be divided into four yards, one small courtyard for each of the three children, and the remaining one would be used for the youngest granddaughter's pharmacy.
Fortunately, countryside farmhouses were single-family homes, separated from each other by a considerable distance. They rarely built walls against each other, so the Liu family occupied their own land enclosure, without impact on their left and right neighbors.
With the help of the village chief, the foundation was quickly approved at the same time when the Li family started construction of their new house.
During this period, the Li family all temporarily lived in a neighbor's house to facilitate the construction team. The Liu family still stayed in their own small yard. The construction team first would build the second small yard, and after completion, they would move again. By then, their current small yard would then be converted into one.
As for the construction team's wages and lunches, everyone has negotiated with Li. The Lius' would pay for it, so there was no need to worry about other things. Everything was uncomplicated.
Due to the slack season in farming, the idle and able-bodied laborers of the village and neighbouring villages went to help build the Lis' and the Lius' houses. They were close to home and were able to earn a dozen Wen daily.
There was strength in numbers, thus the progress was unusually fast.
When Qian Wanjin ran over from the capital, half of the Liu family's two courtyards had already been built.
"Tsk tsk, this speed is really something. I think the house will be ready in a couple of months." Standing in the Liu family's vegetable field, Qian Wanjin looked ahead at construction of the house in full swing, gnawing loudly on raw sweet potato. "Remember to leave a room for me, and write 'for the exclusive use of Young Master Qian' on the door."
From then on, he no longer has to sleep in Zhixia and Zhiqiu's old room.
Although he was approachable, humble and low-key, he was also a neat freak young master.
They should treat him better.
"By then, you'll be living with my grandparents in the entry courtyard. They've already reserved a place for you."
"Why can't I live in a second courtyard?"
"You're a guest."
"Why am I a guest now? Damn, you have no conscience. Lucky Nannan, I've treated you with all my heart and lungs, yet you dare never consider me as family!" Qian Wanjin clutched his heart; he was hurt!
Liu Yusheng is helpless. "I'm seven years old and I've got to maintain men and women distance. You're not my brother. Do you think you can still stay with me?"
"Why not?! It's not like we're in the same courtyard!" Qian Wanjin said stubbornly, "Plus, why am I not your brother? I'm six years older than you! Call me older brother anytime, and I'll answer your call! I��m going to tell Grandpa and Grandma to add one more yard. In the worst case, I'll pay for it!"
Why did he have to live outside? He's been like a brother to Lucky Nannan for so many years, right? What was wrong with her?
The Young Master had a bull's temper. He turned his head and stormed out. Liu Yusheng couldn't stop him.
This guy; wasn't it just a place to stay? Was it worth the trouble? It wasn't like he'd be living here permanently.