201 The Siblings Reunite
Liu Changmin gloated. “Zhang Defa! He’s even older than Uncle. His hair is white and his face is bitter. He’s getting by helping people move things!”
Old Village Chief sighed and said, “Zhang Defa was so smug back then! His son was taking the county-level examination and his family had business. Why didn’t he think about who gave him these!”
Old Lady Chen curled her lips and said, “He’s suffering retribution! This person! Don’t do anything bad. Even the heavens are watching! Look at Xiaoyu’s family now. They’re so frugal!”
Chen Yaohui agreed. “Yes! It’s retribution. Xiaoyu said that Zhang Defa would meet his karma. Everyone can see it.”
At home, Li Qing said to Li Mei, “Aunt, in two days, I’ll set off to Qingchuan to visit my sister. I’ll go back to visit my parents’ graves next year!”
Li Mei looked at Li Qing and shook her head. “Ji Xiang is sending the goods to the capital. I’m not at ease if you go back alone!”
“I’m not alone. The people from the Four Seas Bank are sending rice seeds to Qingzhou. I’ll go with them and send some new rice seeds to my sister.”
After Li Mei heard this, she thought for a while. “When your cousin gets married next autumn, tell your sister. Sigh! Yu’er won’t have the time to come back and send Zhaodi off! I don’t know when I can see your sister again.”
Li Qing stood up and bowed. “Aunt! I’ve prepared a gift for Cousin. When the time comes, go to the room and get it yourself! I’ll leave the family matters to you!”
Li Mei held Li Qing’s hand and looked at him reluctantly. With tears streaming down her face, she said, “Ah Qing, you have to be careful on the way. Send a message to Aunt when you arrive, understand?”
Li Qing looked at Brother Pig and instructed Li Mei, “Got it! Aunt, Uncle, you have to take care of yourself. Brother Pig has to be strictly disciplined too. Don’t spoil him too much!”
Li Mei felt a little ashamed when she heard this. It wasn’t easy for her husband and wife to have a child again. They were indeed spoiling Brother Pig. Even Ah Qing could tell. It seemed that he couldn’t be spoiled anymore. If they raised him badly, it would harm the child.
“Aunt knows what to do. My Ah Qing is sensible.”
Brother Pig watched from the side as his mother and cousin spoke. He didn’t know that his carefree life would immediately leave him!
Li Yu didn’t know that Li Qing was preparing to set off to see her. She was still teasing Xiaoyu. “Congratulations, Xiaoyu. Look, you and Ruyi got married later than us. You’re already pregnant! Quickly let Ruyi tell your parents the good news!”
Xiaoyu was both happy and embarrassed. She blushed and looked at Li Yu reproachfully. “Madam! You’re teasing me again. I’m ignoring you!”
The days walked forward calmly and warmly. In the blink of an eye, it was winter with snowflakes. The county office had been built! On the ninth day of the winter month, it was an auspicious day. Li Yu’s family moved into the backyard of the county office. Scribe Tu also relied on Li Yu’s family to move into the county office.
The newly built back residence of the county office was a large courtyard with more than ten rooms in the front and back courtyard. A furnace was built in the backyard, and the house was as warm as spring!
The river channel in Qingchuan was completed before December, and the dam was reinforced. The streets of the county city were all paved with limestone roads. Zhou Jia followed Li Yu’s suggestion and built public toilets on every street. He hired more than ten disabled and lonely old people to clean the public toilets and streets. He also built two huts beside each public toilet for the people cleaning the streets to rest in.
A farmers’ market was also built on the wasteland in West City. It was bustling with local sellers peddling vegetables, meat, and poultry.
The location of the stalls had also been set up. There was a street for food, a street for selling bamboo and woodware as well as various knitting materials. The craftsmen were also asked to use bricks to build the foundations for each stall. A stall was six or seven square meters. Every month, they were charged thirty copper coins for hygiene and sixty copper coins for taxes. On the first day, dozens of shops came to sign up and set up their stalls.
After the arrangements were made, the streets were cleaned, and the public toilets were cleaned. Qingchuan City became clean and vibrant.
Zhou Jia was still preparing to build a school in the north of the county city after spring. He would spend all the unused money to repair the county city in Qingchuan City. Now, the people of Qingchuan were no longer worried about being plundered by the bandits and lived happily.
At noon on the 25th of December, Li Qing and Ah Lei finally arrived at the city gate of Qingchuan City. They looked at the newly repaired city wall and the farmers standing in line at the city gate, waiting to enter the city. Li Qing thought to himself, “Qingchuan doesn’t look as bad as Shopkeeper Chu said!”
Ah Lei adjusted his hat and smiled at Li Qing. “Young Master, when Madam and Young Master see you later, they will definitely be surprised and happy!”
Li Qing imagined his sister when she saw him and couldn’t wait. “Yes! My sister and brother-in-law definitely didn’t expect me to come so far to see them. I wonder if they’ve lost weight!”
After the people in front were done, it was finally Li Qing’s turn. The bailiff smiled at Ah Lei and said, “Little brother, rules state you have to hang a bag for the horse dung behind the horse before you can enter the city. It costs three copper coins per bag.”
“Okay.” Ah Lei quickly placed three copper coins in the bamboo basket carried by the bailiff. The bailiff attached a sack to the horse’s behind before letting Li Qing’s car enter the city.
Looking at the clean and tidy streets, Ah Lei boasted to Li Qing, “Young Master, look at how capable Young Master and Madam are. The streets are cleaner than what we see in other county cities.”
Li Qing nodded, feeling very happy. When he arrived at the cross street, he saw the newly renovated county office. Ah Lei sped up, and the carriage arrived at the back door. Li Qing jumped out of the carriage and walked inside. A thin middle-aged man with a crippled leg stopped him and smiled politely. “Little brother, this is the backyard of the county office. You can’t barge in. Who are you looking for?”
Li Qing could only stop and cupped his hands. “Uncle, please inform Madam that Ah Qing is here.”
Seeing Li Qing’s appearance, the man felt that he looked a little like his Madam. He said politely, “Wait a moment, I’ll report it to you!”
A moment later, Li Qing saw Li Yu run to the door excitedly. Li Qing’s tears flowed down uncontrollably as he faced Li Yu. “Sister, I’m here!”
“Rascal! Why did you come without saying anything? It’s so far away. What if something happens on the way!” Li Yu sized up Li Qing with tears and a smile. “You’ve grown taller and more handsome! Are Aunt and the others alright?”
“Don’t worry, everyone made new clothes and shoes for you. I even brought you this year’s new rice seeds.” Li Qing saw that Li Yu’s face was rosy and she was in high spirits. He was relieved and touched his face in embarrassment. “It’s true that I’ve grown taller. How could I be more handsome? Aren’t you afraid that others will laugh at you!”
“New rice seeds! This gift is good. Also! You’re handsome, and I didn’t spout nonsense. Who’s laughing at us? Tell me, did you charm a young lady?”
“Sister! Why are you still the same as before? Is Brother-in-law still working in the government office?”
201 The Siblings Reunite
Liu Changmin gloated. “Zhang Defa! He’s even older than Uncle. His hair is white and his face is bitter. He’s getting by helping people move things!”
Old Village Chief sighed and said, “Zhang Defa was so smug back then! His son was taking the county-level examination and his family had business. Why didn’t he think about who gave him these!”
Old Lady Chen curled her lips and said, “He’s suffering retribution! This person! Don’t do anything bad. Even the heavens are watching! Look at Xiaoyu’s family now. They’re so frugal!”
Chen Yaohui agreed. “Yes! It’s retribution. Xiaoyu said that Zhang Defa would meet his karma. Everyone can see it.”
At home, Li Qing said to Li Mei, “Aunt, in two days, I’ll set off to Qingchuan to visit my sister. I’ll go back to visit my parents’ graves next year!”
Li Mei looked at Li Qing and shook her head. “Ji Xiang is sending the goods to the capital. I’m not at ease if you go back alone!”
“I’m not alone. The people from the Four Seas Bank are sending rice seeds to Qingzhou. I’ll go with them and send some new rice seeds to my sister.”
After Li Mei heard this, she thought for a while. “When your cousin gets married next autumn, tell your sister. Sigh! Yu’er won’t have the time to come back and send Zhaodi off! I don’t know when I can see your sister again.”
Li Qing stood up and bowed. “Aunt! I’ve prepared a gift for Cousin. When the time comes, go to the room and get it yourself! I’ll leave the family matters to you!”
Li Mei held Li Qing’s hand and looked at him reluctantly. With tears streaming down her face, she said, “Ah Qing, you have to be careful on the way. Send a message to Aunt when you arrive, understand?”
Li Qing looked at Brother Pig and instructed Li Mei, “Got it! Aunt, Uncle, you have to take care of yourself. Brother Pig has to be strictly disciplined too. Don’t spoil him too much!”
Li Mei felt a little ashamed when she heard this. It wasn’t easy for her husband and wife to have a child again. They were indeed spoiling Brother Pig. Even Ah Qing could tell. It seemed that he couldn’t be spoiled anymore. If they raised him badly, it would harm the child.
“Aunt knows what to do. My Ah Qing is sensible.”
Brother Pig watched from the side as his mother and cousin spoke. He didn’t know that his carefree life would immediately leave him!
Li Yu didn’t know that Li Qing was preparing to set off to see her. She was still teasing Xiaoyu. “Congratulations, Xiaoyu. Look, you and Ruyi got married later than us. You’re already pregnant! Quickly let Ruyi tell your parents the good news!”
Xiaoyu was both happy and embarrassed. She blushed and looked at Li Yu reproachfully. “Madam! You’re teasing me again. I’m ignoring you!”
The days walked forward calmly and warmly. In the blink of an eye, it was winter with snowflakes. The county office had been built! On the ninth day of the winter month, it was an auspicious day. Li Yu’s family moved into the backyard of the county office. Scribe Tu also relied on Li Yu’s family to move into the county office.
The newly built back residence of the county office was a large courtyard with more than ten rooms in the front and back courtyard. A furnace was built in the backyard, and the house was as warm as spring!
The river channel in Qingchuan was completed before December, and the dam was reinforced. The streets of the county city were all paved with limestone roads. Zhou Jia followed Li Yu’s suggestion and built public toilets on every street. He hired more than ten disabled and lonely old people to clean the public toilets and streets. He also built two huts beside each public toilet for the people cleaning the streets to rest in.
A farmers’ market was also built on the wasteland in West City. It was bustling with local sellers peddling vegetables, meat, and poultry.
The location of the stalls had also been set up. There was a street for food, a street for selling bamboo and woodware as well as various knitting materials. The craftsmen were also asked to use bricks to build the foundations for each stall. A stall was six or seven square meters. Every month, they were charged thirty copper coins for hygiene and sixty copper coins for taxes. On the first day, dozens of shops came to sign up and set up their stalls.
After the arrangements were made, the streets were cleaned, and the public toilets were cleaned. Qingchuan City became clean and vibrant.
Zhou Jia was still preparing to build a school in the north of the county city after spring. He would spend all the unused money to repair the county city in Qingchuan City. Now, the people of Qingchuan were no longer worried about being plundered by the bandits and lived happily.
At noon on the 25th of December, Li Qing and Ah Lei finally arrived at the city gate of Qingchuan City. They looked at the newly repaired city wall and the farmers standing in line at the city gate, waiting to enter the city. Li Qing thought to himself, “Qingchuan doesn’t look as bad as Shopkeeper Chu said!”
Ah Lei adjusted his hat and smiled at Li Qing. “Young Master, when Madam and Young Master see you later, they will definitely be surprised and happy!”
Li Qing imagined his sister when she saw him and couldn’t wait. “Yes! My sister and brother-in-law definitely didn’t expect me to come so far to see them. I wonder if they’ve lost weight!”
After the people in front were done, it was finally Li Qing’s turn. The bailiff smiled at Ah Lei and said, “Little brother, rules state you have to hang a bag for the horse dung behind the horse before you can enter the city. It costs three copper coins per bag.”
“Okay.” Ah Lei quickly placed three copper coins in the bamboo basket carried by the bailiff. The bailiff attached a sack to the horse’s behind before letting Li Qing’s car enter the city.
Looking at the clean and tidy streets, Ah Lei boasted to Li Qing, “Young Master, look at how capable Young Master and Madam are. The streets are cleaner than what we see in other county cities.”
Li Qing nodded, feeling very happy. When he arrived at the cross street, he saw the newly renovated county office. Ah Lei sped up, and the carriage arrived at the back door. Li Qing jumped out of the carriage and walked inside. A thin middle-aged man with a crippled leg stopped him and smiled politely. “Little brother, this is the backyard of the county office. You can’t barge in. Who are you looking for?”
Li Qing could only stop and cupped his hands. “Uncle, please inform Madam that Ah Qing is here.”
Seeing Li Qing’s appearance, the man felt that he looked a little like his Madam. He said politely, “Wait a moment, I’ll report it to you!”
A moment later, Li Qing saw Li Yu run to the door excitedly. Li Qing’s tears flowed down uncontrollably as he faced Li Yu. “Sister, I’m here!”
“Rascal! Why did you come without saying anything? It’s so far away. What if something happens on the way!” Li Yu sized up Li Qing with tears and a smile. “You’ve grown taller and more handsome! Are Aunt and the others alright?”
“Don’t worry, everyone made new clothes and shoes for you. I even brought you this year’s new rice seeds.” Li Qing saw that Li Yu’s face was rosy and she was in high spirits. He was relieved and touched his face in embarrassment. “It’s true that I’ve grown taller. How could I be more handsome? Aren’t you afraid that others will laugh at you!”
“New rice seeds! This gift is good. Also! You’re handsome, and I didn’t spout nonsense. Who’s laughing at us? Tell me, did you charm a young lady?”
“Sister! Why are you still the same as before? Is Brother-in-law still working in the government office?”
