Watching Uncle Qi flee in a panic, leaving only a slightly shy back for them.
The little girl pouted innocently, "She didn't do anything, why did she make Uncle Qi shy?"
"Squeak squeak." What else do you want to do?
"I really didn't do anything."
"Squeak squeak." You chattered on and on, you made me dizzy, let alone others.
"Uncle Qi is not an outsider."
Xiao Bai grabbed a dipper and covered herself with it, "Squeak squeak." I'm not playing with you humans anymore, let me lie here and die for a while.
"Xiao Bai, I just realized you're really smart, actually using a dipper to... well, just play dead."
Xiao Bai: Let me die a heroic death, otherwise this human is too much.
Finally done with the fuss, Miss Fu picked up another dipper, secretly took out a screwdriver from her space, and with a determined look, started prying oysters.
Smelling the fresh scent, Xiao Bai stopped playing dead and, with the dipper stuck on the reef, watched the human pry oysters for it.
From time to time, it let out a "squeak squeak," which Fu Xinci took as encouragement.
Meanwhile, by the waterhole, Qi Yuanshan's enthusiasm for fishing was even greater, though he occasionally glanced at the short knife tied to his waist.
Qi He was sharp-eyed and immediately spotted the new short knife on his father's waist.
He was envious and thought that when there were fewer people around, he would definitely borrow it from his father to take a look.
...
Their return this time was a huge harvest. Looking at the large sea fish in the big willow basket, Fu Yu's eyes were exceptionally bright. He kept muttering to himself, hoping the courtyard walls at home would be finished soon so their family could lock the main gate and everyone could go to the sea to collect seafood.
The beach belonged to their family, but he and his wife had never been there before, and Fu Yu felt terribly bitter.
Especially when cartloads of seafood were brought back, and he saw his old father, Brother Yuanshan, and the young boys smiling, it deeply stimulated his less resilient heart.
He also wanted to go to the seaside, what should he do!
But every time he saw his old father go to the sea full of energy and return full of vigor, his gloomy mood instantly vanished. As long as his old father was happy, nothing else mattered.
...
The autumn in Liaodong was beautiful, with clear skies and high clouds.
The autumn in Liaodong was short, with continuous autumn rain and a cooling weather.
This morning, as soon as they woke up, the sun was nowhere to be seen.
After breakfast, the sky became even more overcast, and Grandpa Meng kept Qi He and his grandchildren indoors, preventing them from going out to play.
"Rain at this time of year is cold, and being hit by a few raindrops is no joke. At best, you'll drink ginger soup, and at worst, you'll have to go to the garrison to ask Military Doctor Han for bitter medicine."
Yu'er covered his mouth first, "Grandfather, Yu'er will not go out to play, I will stay at home obediently with Grandfather, and not go out."
"Yes, our Yu'er is so well-behaved."
Hearing his grandfather's praise, Yu'er obediently climbed onto the large kang in the east room and lay by the window, looking out at the sky through the glass.
From time to time, he pointed at the dark clouds in the sky and said, "Grandfather, look at those large black clouds, they look like they're about to fall, it's very scary."
Fu Xinci also took off her shoes and got on the kang, sitting beside Yu'er. She looked at Yu'er's increasingly plump little face and really wanted to pinch it.
The original owner seemed to have done this, and she reached out with familiarity.
She pinched Yu'er's little face. It felt so good.
Seeing his sister pinch his face, Yu'er followed suit, reaching out to touch his sister's face.
"Giggle, giggle." The little guy got addicted to it and laughed, his eyes curved into crescent moons.
Fu Xinci: Was this a case of her own making?
Xiao Bai, who had watched the whole scene, kept squeaking, and Fu Xinci couldn't help but think it was gloating.
Fortunately, as fine raindrops "pitter-pattered" down, Fu Xinci was finally rescued.
Grandpa Meng kept his eyes on the window. He felt incredibly fortunate now, "Fortunately, all our walls are built, otherwise this autumn rain might last for who knows how long, and it would delay another day."
Fu Xinci thought the same as her grandfather. Fortunately, their own walls were all completed. Otherwise, with the weather getting colder every day, it would be troublesome.
Grandpa Meng's gaze shifted from the window to his granddaughter, "Ci'er, when we go to town tomorrow, how about I buy you a little maid?"
Fu Xinci did not expect her grandfather to suddenly mention buying her a maid.
Seeing his granddaughter remain silent, Grandpa Meng explained his plan, "I talked about this with your father a few days ago, and he agreed."
"Grandfather..."
"Ci'er, listen to Grandfather first."
"Okay."
"Our courtyard, compared to those in the capital, might not be considered large, but in this area, it's not small. Especially since Ci'er lives alone in the small building in the back, Grandfather and your parents are still worried."
Fu Xinci understood her grandfather's and parents' feelings and nodded, implicitly agreeing.
Then she asked, "Grandfather, are we just buying one little maid?"
"Not exactly. Grandfather and your father have discussed it. Besides buying a little maid for you, we will also need to hire at least two rough servants."
Fu Xinci thought about the household chores. Her grandfather and her cheap father were not suitable to do them, nor was it suitable to hire male laborers. Hiring two strong rough servants seemed to be the most appropriate solution.
Speaking of buying people, Fu Xinci remembered the two families living in the shacks.
"Grandfather, have you thought about how to arrange for Meng Yuluo and his mother, and Ke'er's family?"
When these two families were mentioned, Grandpa Meng got a headache.
"Alas, Grandfather is also troubled. That Zhong Shi is determined to recognize you as her mistress. Grandfather doesn't know what to do now?"
Fu Xinci: This was her doing, and she was also troubled.
"And Meng Qicheng, he follows me around every day, shouting to be a long-term worker for our family. He even says he doesn't need wages, just food."
Fu Xinci: "I don't know what these people are thinking."
"What else can they think? Even though the wind is whistling through the shacks, those two families are unwilling to leave. Alas, if it snows, people could freeze to death."
"Grandfather, what should we do?"
"Let Grandfather think about it."
Fu Xinci: With Grandfather's personality, he wouldn't bear to let those two families freeze to death.
At this time, in the shack, Meng Yuluo was also worried, "Mother, the weather is getting colder day by day. What if Second Great-Uncle doesn't agree to let us mother and son stay?"
"Then it's our mother and son's misfortune." Zhong Shi lovingly stroked her son's hair and said guiltily, "Luò'er, to be born into Mother's womb, Mother has wronged you."
"Mother, you haven't wronged me. It's my fortune to be born into Mother's womb."
"Yes, our Luò'er will be blessed, and Mother is waiting to bask in your glory."
"Mm."