3 03. Not normal times

"Miss, we are already in Konglu Village." The voice woke up Lee Mei Li. The memories of this place are quite foggy, but luckily she remembered her aunts face.

She was seemingly waiting for her as she rushed out of her yard as soon as she heard carriage. "Xiao Mei, you are finally here."

Her aunt married a poor scholar and had a rather calm and content life. But as they were almost poor, they were barely surviving. She still gathered money and bought her a small house nearby and two plots of land.

Lee Mei Li was not a person that was ungrateful and promised herself to pay her back as soon she could.

She didn't have many things with her. One bag on her back, two boxes with vegetable seeds, special made metal hoe that she ordered a while ago, as she saw everyone using a wooden hoe. The few pieces of clothes that were left, a small bag with sweets for the two young cousins and her father's remains.

Lee Roulan took her brother's pot with ashes and hugged it. "Big brother, rest now. Let your soul easily reincarnate and may you have a good life in the afterlife."

Her husband patted her shoulder and pushed her inside and then rushed to help Lee Mei Li to bring her stuff into the yard.

"Let your aunt grieve a bit for her brother. Your house is not far away. While she prays, let's check the house." Chen Shen picked up the bags and Lee Mei Li took the rest and walked behind him, while the two boys respectfully followed them.

The house was just a two-room small house with a yard and right behind was the door to her land. Chen Shen pointed at the land. "Your land is from beginning to end of your house, you see the line? So from the corner of your house, down to the pond. We could buy only two plots, sorry child."

Lee Mei Li shook her head. "Uncle, I am more than grateful for what you gave me. I promise I will repay it to both of you one day. I promise."

He shook his head. "This is our heart. Don't think about it anymore. Come, look do you like a bed. Your aunt sewed new covers."

Actually, she should live with them, but their home was as tiny as this. She would have to sleep in the shed or with boys. But for how long?

Looking at a simple kitchen that was not bigger than her bathroom in a past life she found it cute. It was enough for herself. The other room had those heated stone beds. In winter they are quite warm and in summer cold.

Luckily she was used to sleeping on a hard bed since childhood, so it was comfortable for her. She just missed one thing, no two things. Warm down blanket and chocolate.

She happily smiled as she saw her bed with new beddings and had tears in her eyes. "Than you."

He patted her head and smiled. "We are family. Come to us to eat. Tomorrow we will teach you how to plant vegetables. Your aunt has so many things she wants to teach you."

As they had two boys, she always yearned for her daughter. Lee Mei Li was actually the only daughter in the whole family, as side herself.

But Lee Mei Lee shook her head. ''I already know all those things. Don't give aunt more work. I am sure she has too much work as it is. If I need help with something, I promise I will ask you.''

Chen Shen sighed. ''Good. But keep your promise. We are after all one family.'' Even tho he couldn't afford many things, but feeding one more person shouldn't be so hard. Only the place was too awkward.

As she entered the yard she saw her ain't coming out with red eyes. "Come inside, lunch is ready. Afterwards, boys can show you the village and bring you to Elder Min. He will tell you all about the rules in the village. Listen well. We all had to go through it."

Why does it sound like a big troublemaker is about to talk to her? Lee Mei Li heard that in olden times some people were quite unreasonable. But on other hand, this is not normal olden times.