When Xing Ge’er recalled it, he felt that experience was more painful.

　　”Everything is expensive in the prefecture and county. My uncle’s family doesn’t have a well, so we have to buy water. If we poop or pee, someone will come to collect it before dawn the next day. My aunt said it’s called night fragrance, but how can that thing smell good? It’s nonsense.”

　　Xing’er has a very clear memory. They stayed there for two days. Their family was crowded in one room. They couldn’t sleep well and didn’t dare to eat enough. If they pooped too much, they would have to listen to what their aunt said behind their backs.

　　”Do you know how much a liter of rice costs in the prefectures and counties?”

　　Li Zhouzhou: “Thirteen cents?”

　　When the rice in the village was sold, the grain merchants offered high prices, but they had many requirements and were very demanding. They also tended to delay payment. They would always find ways to deduct some of the agreed price. Li Da had a stubborn temper, so he sold at the official price from then on. The official price was eight cents less, which was very convenient.

　　The grain shop in the town usually sells rice for eleven or twelve cents. If it is more expensive, the people in the town might as well go to the village to buy it themselves. Even if it involves more formalities and they have to pay to enter the city gate, it doesn’t matter if it costs a cent or two more.

　　Li Zhouzhou thought about the prefecture and county, so he reported one more cent.

　　”It’s too little.” Xing Ge’er snorted, “I heard from my father that a liter of rice in the prefecture and county costs fifteen cents.”

　　Li Zhouzhou was surprised, “It’s so expensive.”

　　”That’s right, that’s why grandpa and grandma urge my family to send food to my uncle every year.” said Xing Ge’er.

　　Li Zhouzhou couldn’t help but think that his second uncle and second aunt were pretty good people. They had been giving gifts for so many years. However – it was not that Li Zhouzhou thought badly of his second uncle and second aunt, but that Xingge’er’s parents were really not the kind of people who would not take advantage of such a great opportunity and let others take advantage of their family.

　　What’s the point of selling grain to my brother’s family for eight cents? It’s a waste of cattle and trouble. What’s the point of selling grain to my brother’s family for eight cents? There’s nothing to gain. Li Er and his wife are not Bodhisattvas. They said they have separated. My parents live in the prefecture and county, and they live in the village. If they really don’t want to send it, then don’t send it. Can my parents come back to fetch grain themselves?

　　After delivering food to Li San for many years, Li Er would complain every time he went to visit. The old couple were also soft-hearted towards their second son and would give him some silver money every time, but it was only eight cents for a liter of rice, and in the end it became nine cents, less than ten cents.

　　The most important benefit was that the old couple painted a rosy picture for Li Er and his wife. Every time they asked how old Guangzong was, they said that Guangzong was smart and that when he grew up in a few years, they would let the couple send the child to the prefecture or county and let his uncle take the child to learn accounting. By then, they would not have to farm for a year and could earn more than twenty taels of silver.

　　When Xing Ge’er was at home, he stayed up at night and eavesdropped on what his parents said, but he didn’t dare to tell Li Zhouzhou about it.

　　This time, my parents took my younger brother with them, probably to send Guangzong to the prefecture and county to be an apprentice to my uncle.

　　Guangzong was fourteen years old.

　　Let’s talk about it after things are settled when I come back this time.

　　”By the way, why did your family buy a mule? Cows are still more useful in the fields. Everyone in the village says so.” Xing Ge’er changed the subject.

　　Li Zhouzhou didn’t ask any more questions and just answered casually that his husband said it would be a better idea to buy a mule.

　　”Listen to your husband again.” Xing Ge’er teased Li Zhouzhou.

　　Li Zhouzhou just smiled and didn’t respond.

　　Two days later, Li Guihua’s eldest son Tiedan came running to report that the family was building a house and that his grandmother was having a birthday. His parents and uncle said that it was a good opportunity to put the two happy events together, so they had a banquet and set a date, and asked his eldest brother and sister-in-law not to forget.

　　Li Zhouzhou grabbed some peanuts for Tiedan as an errand and said he knew. He went back into the house to discuss it with his husband. Gu Zhao slapped his forehead, “I forgot about grandma’s birthday.”

　　This year is Grandma Gu’s 60th birthday.

　　”It’s my fault. I forgot to visit grandma at my uncle’s house during the Chinese New Year last year.”

　　In the entire Gu family, the only ones who truly loved the original body were Grandpa and Grandma. Grandpa Gu passed away a few years ago, and when his father passed away, the brothers naturally discussed dividing the family property. Grandma Gu lived with Uncle Gu, and they would visit during the New Year and other festivals.