The shed was not soundproof, so even though the mother and son spoke in low voices, Meng Qicheng and Tian Shi on the other side could hear everything clearly.
While Madam Zhong and her son were indeed pitiable, weren't their family of three in the same situation? Tian Shi also worried about the uncertain future of their family of three.
Seeing his daughter-in-law wiping away tears, Meng Qicheng's heart ached. He pulled Tian Shi and her daughter into his arms and said with grief, "It's all my fault these past years, causing you and your daughter to suffer with me."
Tian Shi was indeed angry at his past foolish filial piety, but now that he had changed, a simple nod of acknowledgment was enough. What else could she do?
The two small rooms in the shed were filled with low spirits. Just as they were all at a loss, they heard someone speaking to them from outside the shed.
"Qicheng, Yuluo, the rain has lessened. Pack your things and come with me."
"It's Brother Yu." Meng Qicheng pulled his wife and daughter up and said with a smile.
"Yes." Meng Yuluo's gloomy expression vanished as soon as she heard Uncle Yu's voice. "Mom, let's quickly pack our things."
"Okay." Madam Zhong was even happier than her son. She nimbly got up from the straw mat and efficiently packed their meager belongings.
When the five members of their two families walked out of the shed, Fu Yu was still waiting for them outside.
"Have you got everything?"
"Uncle Yu, we have it all."
"Brother Yu, so do we."
"That's good, let's hurry. The sky is too dark, it might rain again soon."
"Yes."
"Alright."
The two families responded and, carrying their belongings, followed Fu Yu towards the large courtyard of Grandpa Meng's house.
In front of Grandpa Meng's house, like many wealthy families, a row of inverted houses (dao zuo fang) had been built. Grandpa Meng's original intention was to have them as storage rooms without partitions.
Later, he listened to the craftsman's advice and partitioned them one by one, saying that this not only made it convenient to store things but also allowed for people to live there if accommodation was tight.
Thus, the two rooms adjacent to the gatehouse were equipped with heated brick beds.
These were now perfect for the two families to live in.
Looking at the spacious inverted houses, Tian Shi asked Madam Zhong to choose first.
Madam Zhong did not decline and chose the room further inside.
Tian Shi's family of three then entered the room adjacent to the gatehouse.
"Mom, this room is so warm." Ke'er instantly fell in love with the room. It was so much better than those two sheds.
"Yes, Mom likes it too."
"Dad likes it too." Seeing his wife and daughter's smiles, Meng Qicheng's spirits soared.
Suddenly, with a crack of thunder, torrential rain poured down.
Meng Qicheng stood at the doorway, gazing at the continuous curtain of rain outside, and said, "Wife, look, it's fortunate that Second Uncle cares about us. Otherwise, after this rain, we would all be frozen."
"Indeed."
Ke'er stood behind her father, looking at the dense rain curtain, her heart filled with gratitude towards Second Uncle-Ancestor and his family.
The rain lasted for a full two hours.
Grandpa Meng sat on the large heated bed, muttering for a long time, "If we had had a rain like this in May or June, we wouldn't have had such a drought. Alas, heavens, I hope you take pity on us poor..."
Grandpa Meng wanted to say: take pity on us poor people. But considering their current situation, with land and a courtyard, calling themselves poor might anger the heavens. So he changed his words:
"Heavens, please take pity on us farmers. Send rain when it's time for rain, and don't be like this year, acting too late."
After Grandpa Meng finished speaking, he secretly mumbled to himself, wondering if the heavens would be displeased with his words.
After all, their family would rely on farming in the future, and this definitely depended on the heavens' blessings.
Qi He also thought of this year's drought. "When I left Qi Village, the village elder said the fields were dry as dust. I wonder how the village is doing since I left."
Thinking of the kind village elder, Qi He missed him dearly.
Fu Xin Ci was optimistic about the coming year. "Grandfather, this region doesn't seem to lack water. As long as we farm diligently, we should have a harvest."
"Yes, our Ci'er is right."
Grandpa Meng most enjoyed listening to his granddaughter chat, as she always brought a ray of hope.
The rain finally stopped.
Qi He was about to run outside.
Grandpa Meng quickly stopped him, "Little He, you can't just run out like that. It just rained, and an autumn rain brings a chill. You need to put on an extra layer of clothing before you go out."
Qi He wanted to say he wasn't cold, but remembering it was Grandpa Meng's concern, he readily agreed.
Fu Xin Ci, knowing what was proper, quickly found thick clothes for the siblings and put them on before walking out of the room.
In the courtyard, the bluestone paved path, washed clean by the rain, became the most intriguing place for Yu'er.
"One, two, three, four... fifteen... twenty."
Yu'er had just learned to count to twenty and couldn't count further. He began to anxiously tug at his sister's hand, asking for help.
Fu Xin Ci: She didn't like playing games with a three-year-old. So she waved and called over Ke'er, who was squatting by the door of the inverted house, watching them talk.
"Ke'er, come here."
"Is Cousin Ci calling me?"
"Yes, Ke'er, take Yu'er to play."
"Okay."
Seeing the two little rascals going to count the bluestones, Fu Xin Ci finally had some free time.
Now that the sky was clear, she wanted to go to the small building in the back and open all the windows to let out the dampness inside.
Qi He had been following Fu Xin Ci. Seeing his sister head to the small building in the back, he guessed what she was going to do.
"Sister Fu, I'll help you."
"Okay."
The first floor was paved with bluestone, so Qi He didn't need to take off his shoes. He was quick and soon opened several windows.
The second floor had wooden flooring, and Qi He couldn't step on it with dirty shoes. He took off his shoes and ran upstairs, opening all the windows on the second floor as quickly as possible.
Standing by the window, looking at the pouring sunlight, it wasn't just Fu Xin Ci, even Qi He found it beautiful.
He turned back and called to his sister, "Sister Fu, come quickly and see! No matter near or far, everything has been washed by the rain and is clean everywhere."
"Except for the dirt roads."
"Right, those dirt roads can probably breed turtles again."
Fu Xin Ci: Qi He had picked up the way people in Wujia Village spoke, and it would take him some time to change.
Fu Xin Ci put her hand to her forehead. Listening to the rustling of the yellowing poplar leaves not far away, she simply wanted to live each day of her life well.
He Xiaoni came out to use the privy and her eyes involuntarily drifted over.