At this moment, Chen Qiaoer suddenly ran into the house and brought out a bowl of water, placing it in front of Chen Xiaobei. "Brother, drink some water."
Chen Xiaobei took it and gulped down a large bowl, then handed the bowl back with a smile. "Qiaoer, you're so good."
After praising his sister, Chen Xiaobei finally remembered that he had promised to boil water for Li Dong and the others.
But just as he was about to speak, Cui Hongyu spoke first. She pointed to the kitchen. "Husband, you rest. I'll go and bring some water to Li Dong and the others."
Chen Xiaobei shook his head. Thinking of what those men had said to him, if Cui Hongyu went, and if they made any lewd jokes, Hongyu would surely not be comfortable.
With this thought, he stopped Hongyu. "I'll go. I'll also see how they're doing."
Chen Xiaobei brought out a wooden bucket, poured the boiled water into it, and then placed a dipper.
Since there weren't that many bowls at home, everyone would just have to make do.
Seeing that Chen Xiaobei had really brought water for them, Li Dong called out for everyone to stop and rest for a while.
Seeing that two men were submerged in the river, Chen Xiaobei felt uneasy. He scooped half a dipper of water and handed it to them.
"Come, have a drink of water, and rest a bit before you continue."
One of the men soaking in the river was from their village, named Da Yong.
He looked at Chen Xiaobei with a puzzled expression. "I heard you have to pay the village ten copper coins a year for this piece of low-lying land!"
Chen Xiaobei nodded. "Yes, you're right. Ten a year, for twenty years."
Da Yong sighed. "Brother Xiaobei, you've been ripped off. This land is originally wasteland, no one cultivates it."
Chen Xiaobei shook his head. "It's nothing, it's nothing."
"After paying the rent, I feel at ease."
Li Dong next to him chimed in jokingly, "Exactly, Xiaobei wants to raise fish. Just selling a few to the county town will cover the costs."
Da Yong looked at Chen Xiaobei incredulously.
"No way, there are so many fish in the river, and you still want to raise them yourself?"
Chen Xiaobei smiled. "Yes, Brother Da Yong. Relying on the fish in the river is like relying on the heavens for food. It's uncertain day by day. It's better to raise them yourself."
Da Yong couldn't help but point ahead.
"In the reeds ahead, there are plenty of small fry. You can catch them, but it will probably take ages for them to grow."
Everyone burst into laughter again.
Li Dong coughed. "Alright, work hard, and talk less nonsense."
Chen Xiaobei took the opportunity to stand up and walk back. This trip to deliver water was not in vain. At least he got some information: there were many fish fry in the reeds.
However, just raising fry wouldn't be enough. He needed to get some big ones himself.
So, one fishing net wouldn't be enough.
But he was too heartbroken to modify another umbrella. An umbrella cost five big coins.
He decided to develop his own.
Although he didn't know carpentry, his practical skills were still good.
He tied wooden sticks and ropes together and then attached the net. It wasn't very refined, but it would suffice. Of course, the biggest advantage of doing it this way was that it was easy to repair. If a big fish broke it, he wouldn't feel so bad. He could mend it and use it again.
Thinking of this, Chen Xiaobei became excited. He put down the wooden bucket and immediately headed to Da Chun's house. He knew Da Chun's house had a lot of rope.
When he arrived at Da Chun's house, the scene before him made him somewhat stunned.
Da Chun was sitting under the shade of a tree in the yard, lost in thought, not even noticing him enter.
"Brother Da Chun, what's wrong?" Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but ask.
Da Chun snapped out of his daze. Seeing that it was him, he seemed a bit flustered.
"Brother Xiaobei, sit down, please sit."
Chen Xiaobei sat down, his face full of concern. "What's wrong? You seem absent-minded."
Da Chun quickly shook his head. "Nothing, nothing. It's just that I'm about to leave Hetou Village, and I'm reluctant to go!"
Chen Xiaobei was confused. "You, you're leaving? Where are you going?"
"To the city. I bought a house in the county town. I'll be moving there in the next couple of days. By the way, if you go to the county town in the future, you can stay at my place."
"Brother, buying a house in the county town is no small matter!" Chen Xiaobei couldn't help but exclaim.
Da Chun was taken aback. Perhaps he hadn't expected that Chen Xiaobei seemed unaware of this.
"Xiaobei, I have to thank you for this. You saved Liu Tie. I, I feel unworthy."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei understood. At that time, Liu Rumei also wanted to give him money, but he refused, asking for a seemingly useless waist token. Look how practical Da Chun was. He took the money and immediately went to the city.
But then again, if he were to go to the city himself, what could he do? He couldn't seem to do anything.
Da Chun continued, "Since you're here, I was planning to look for you. I had already discussed with my mother that after we leave, we'll leave our five mu of land for you to cultivate. Your family has added a mouth to feed, it's not easy. Just pay our rent, and I won't ask for a single cent more."
Well, that was straightforward. This was a complete break from Hetou Village, even giving up the land.
"Brother Da Chun, think again. You're moving to the county town, you'll need a livelihood, a way to make a living."
Da Chun smiled and said, "I've already thought about it. We'll open a steamed bun shop. Don't worry, if you come to eat buns, I won't charge you."
Alright, since he had a clear entrepreneurial plan, all he could do was wish him a good life.
After all, he was giving him five mu of land to cultivate. Sudian Novel Network.
After speaking, Da Chun stood up. "Come, I'll take you to the fields and explain the boundaries, so you don't get them mixed up."
As they walked out of the courtyard gate, Chen Xiaobei finally understood. No wonder Second Aunt Xiu Mei had come to talk to him about repairing the house. Da Chun couldn't do it.
It wasn't that he was physically incapable, but rather that he looked down on such trivial tasks.
Oh well, since Da Chun wouldn't do it, he'd assign this task to Li Dong. Someone would always do the work for him, so he wasn't worried about that.
What Chen Xiaobei regretted slightly was that, in his memory, growing up in Hetou Village, Da Chun was probably his only good brother. The rest were just casual acquaintances.
But then again, in this day and age, as long as you have money, you are the boss, and your words carry weight.
Da Chun's land was quite far from the village, almost to the southeast foot of Qingniu Mountain, winding around the foot of the mountain.
A small stream flowed down from the mountain.
As long as it wasn't a severe drought, watering wouldn't be a problem.
Upon reaching this place, Chen Xiaobei's first feeling was that it seemed particularly stuffy.
Looking at the fields, they were also drier than other fields.
"Brother, my fields need watering. Remember, you need to water them every few days. My land needs more watering than other places."
Alright, your place is clearly much drier than other places.
"Okay, I'll remember." Xiaobei nodded. Farming couldn't be done with shortcuts. Five mu of land would yield a good harvest of grain by autumn.
"Brother Da Chun, one thing is one thing, I must pay you rent," Chen Xiaobei said solemnly.