She had also heard that Fu Xinci's grandfather was planning to build a small building for her.
Meng Qizhong and Mrs. Pan, hearing their daughter's words, their eyes darted around as they started thinking of ideas. "Why don't we go together next time, gather more, keep some for ourselves to eat, and sell the rest to the owner of the general store for some goods."
Mrs. Pan also showed a pleased expression, "Why don't I go with you all?"
What they were saying sounded as if it were true, but Meng Yuxia's next sentence poured cold water on their enthusiasm.
"Not everyone who goes to the river is taken along. I heard the family next door (Master Meng Wu's family) say: they are only going to the river this one time, which is why they are digging with all their might."
"Just this one time, then why wasn't our family informed?" Meng Qizhong said indignantly.
"You'll have to ask your good sister-in-law, those two are already in with them and enjoying good food and drink every day."
"This ungrateful wench who sides with outsiders, I'll beat her to death!" Hearing her eldest daughter-in-law's words, Mrs. Ma went into a frenzy again, searching inside and outside the house for a firewood stick.
Mrs. Pan: This is a good excuse to get rid of that mother and daughter. She didn't want to be stuck in the kitchen cooking every day, it was too hot.
Just then, Meng Qicheng returned from the fields and seeing this familiar scene, his face darkened further.
"Mother, what are you up to again?"
"You still ask what your mother is up to? Your rebellious son, all day long he only knows to favor that bitch, and you still have the nerve to come back?"
"Fine, I won't come back again from now on." Meng Qicheng said, then turned to leave.
"Mother, Mother, you can't let the second son leave, if the second son leaves, who will do the work in the fields."
"Second son, you come back to your mother. Second son, you little scoundrel, hurry up and come back to your mother."
But no matter how much Mrs. Ma shouted, Meng Qicheng did not look back.
Meng Qicheng walked hazily towards the small river. He had seen clearly these past few days, there was no place for their family of three in that household.
So, he wouldn't go back either. He would ask his second uncle for help later and become a long-term laborer for his second uncle. Otherwise, his wife and child would continue to suffer.
As the night deepened, torches were lit at the entrance of the Meng family's shack. Everyone pitched in to help, and they finally managed to sort out all the seafood from the day.
Looking at the rows of dried sea fish, and the dried shrimp and squid hanging from the roof, everyone's hearts were filled with joy.
Seeing that everyone had finally finished, Mrs. Fang said with some helplessness, "Hurry and wash up by the river, we can eat dinner. I'm cooking seafood congee tonight."
"Yes." The most enthusiastic reply came from Qi Tian. When it was getting dark, they were the ones who led the charge, saying they would eat after they finished working.
They were very tired, and they were afraid they wouldn't want to move after eating, so they said they would eat together after finishing their work.
Seeing the unsteady steps of the children, Grandpa Meng also felt a pang of sympathy.
Ke Er held her father's hand and chattered excitedly to him, "Daddy, Auntie's seafood congee is delicious. It has not only shrimp, but also scallops and crabs. I can eat one or two bowls every meal."
Hearing his daughter's words, Meng Qicheng's heart felt even worse, and his resolve to become a long-term laborer for his second uncle was further strengthened.
As night fell, Fu Xinci waited until Mrs. Fang fell asleep before she quietly entered her space.
She first glanced at the strange notice board, and then went to check the land where she had planted seeds last night.
When she teleported over, she was delighted to find that both the wheat and grain seeds had sprouted.
"..." Fu Xinci really wanted to laugh, but thinking that she would be foolishly laughing alone in the space in the middle of the night was a bit creepy, so she didn't dare to be too unrestrained.
She thought about what Qi He had told her during the day, that she could also plant sorghum, peanuts, soybeans, and many other crops here.
Then she thought of the large patches of corn planted by the small river, and she made a decision.
Sorghum, corn, and soybeans, one mu of each. For the remaining empty land, she decided to plant peanuts.
Once she had made her plans and spoken her thoughts, she turned and left the space.
Perhaps she was too tired during the day, but she slept very soundly that night.
...
After delivering the seafood that Master Li had used, Mengjia Village returned to its superficial peace. As for what other undercurrents might be brewing, it was not within the considerations of Fu Xinci's family.
One morning, the second branch of the Meng family's direct line welcomed a woman dressed to the nines. Looking at her attire, even a discerning person could guess her profession: a matchmaker.
After arriving, the matchmaker introduced herself, "Old Madam, greetings to Second Madam Meng. I am Madam Wei from Saltwater Town, my husband's surname is Wang, and those familiar with me call me 'Wang's'."
Mrs. Li and Mrs. Liu exchanged glances, knowing that this matchmaker had come to propose marriage for their second daughter, Meng Yuyan.
It turned out that Yu Lian had returned yesterday and had already informed them. Wang Dabao had taken a liking to Yuyan.
They had come to understand Wang Dabao's character these past few days. He was a sunny and straightforward young man.
Mrs. Li and Mrs. Liu had no objections, and Meng Yuyan also had no objections.
The matchmaker's visit today was merely a formality.
Mrs. Liu no longer had her previous idea of insisting that the matchmaker visit multiple times to make her daughter seem more precious.
Her current thought was that as long as her daughters could marry cleanly, she would die without regret in this life.
No one was one to dither. After Madam Wei, holding Meng Yuyan's *gengtie* (birth date details), left on a donkey cart, Meng Yuyan sat behind a large tree, still feeling as if she were dreaming.
Little Mrs. Li watched as Mrs. Li and Mrs. Liu sent off the matchmaker, her heart also filled with anxiety.
Her daughter was also fourteen this year, and she wondered what kind of family she would marry into.
Although Mrs. Tao was helping Mrs. Fang cook in the kitchen, her mind was also on her daughter's marriage, and her gaze kept drifting over there.
Mrs. Fang could understand her worries and quietly comforted her, "I think Second Cousin-in-law is a good person. She will be diligent in the matter of Yusu's marriage."
"Yes, I think so too."
With Mrs. Fang's comfort, Mrs. Tao's mood seemed to improve considerably.
Qi He took Meng Qishan and the others to the mountains to collect firewood. Fu Xinci did not go with them and was idly pulling weeds in her own vegetable patch with Yu'er.
This vegetable patch had originally been cleared from a grassy area, and the weeds were very numerous, appearing endlessly.
These past few days, Grandpa Meng and Fu Yu had been squatting in the vegetable patch pulling weeds.
Fu Xinci and Yu'er followed suit, diligently pulling weeds behind the adults every day.
The cabbages and radishes were growing quite quickly. While busy in the vegetable patch, Fu Xinci secretly channeled her wood-elemental ability to the small cabbages when no one was around nearby.
Seeing the small cabbages change instantly, Fu Xinci immediately stopped channeling and then moved her legs, pretending to be unfazed and continuing to pull weeds.
Alas, she was truly doing a good deed without letting anyone know.
"Squeak squeak squeak." It started boasting again.