Chapter 84: Storytelling

In Miaoqian Village.

The villagers helped Jin Xiaoshu carry the things he bought back home, and someone asked, “Xiaoshu, do you want us to help you set up the bed?”

The bed Jin Xiaoshu bought hadn’t been set up yet.

“That would be troublesome for uncles and elders.” Jin Xiaoshu smiled.

“It’s not troublesome at all.” The villagers stepped forward to help Jin Xiaoshu set up the bed and tidy up other things for him.

At this point, Jin Xiaoshu suggested finding someone to help build the house.

Previously, whether it was Li Qingzhi or Jin Xiaoshu asking for help to build a house, the food they provided was very good. Now, hearing Jin Xiaoshu’s words, many people were willing to help.

Jin Xiaoshu was eager to settle matters at home quickly so he could go out and earn money. He immediately made an appointment with these people to help build the house tomorrow.

Just as they were talking, Jin’s mother, who had heard the news, came back and saw the bed in the hall, as well as various other things placed aside. She couldn’t help but feel distressed, “Xiaoshu, we used to sleep well on the wooden planks…”

“Mother, you’ve worked hard for so many years, how could I let you sleep on wooden planks all the time?”

“Then… we don’t need to build another house. We can sleep in the hall…”

“Mother, the hall is where we eat. I don’t want anyone to sleep here.” Jin Xiaoshu said.

“But…” Jin’s mother hesitated.

“Mother, just listen to me!” Jin Xiaoshu said firmly.

Once the money was in his hands, he could spend it however he wanted!

Jin Xiaoshu made a decision, and Jin’s mother had nothing more to say. The villagers flattered even more:

“Xiaoshu’s mother, Xiaoshu really cares about you!”

“He bought a lot of things, all for your use.”

“Xiaoshu’s mother, your son is really filial.”

…

Hearing this, Jin’s mother couldn’t help but smile.

Meanwhile, Jin Xiaoshu went with a few people to the Jin family to move their grain.

Last night when they divided the family property, he didn’t take things like tables, bowls, or pots, but he did take the grain. They had eight chickens at home, and he took four of them.

In addition, the Jin family had four ducks and two pigs… After discussing it, Jin Xiaoshu didn’t want the ducks, and the pigs were temporarily kept by the Jin family. He would take one during the New Year.

Jin Xiaoshu didn’t want to raise pigs, as for the four chickens… he planned to send them to Li Qingzhi’s house along with the grain.

When it’s time to slaughter the pig, he could also give Li Qingzhi half, after all, they would be eating at Li Qingzhi’s place next.

The group arrived at the Jin family’s house in a grand procession.

Yesterday, after dividing the family property, Grandma Jin stayed in bed and didn’t move. She hadn’t even gotten up to eat today.

Of course, when Aunt Jin brought her food, she ate it all, then scolded Aunt Jin for wasting food, complaining that she had made white rice.

Now, hearing the commotion indicating that Jin Xiaoshu was coming to move the grain, Grandma Jin leaped out of bed and went to the warehouse to watch, afraid that Jin Xiaoshu would take away too much grain.

Jin Xiaoshu felt particularly speechless, but he had long stopped caring about his grandmother. After she finished her portion, he simply packed up the remaining grains and carried most of them to the Li family’s house.

Some of the villagers who came with him helped carry the grain, and some caught chickens for him. Everyone left, chatting and laughing.

When leaving the Jin family’s house, Jin Xiaoshu felt much lighter.

His father was irresponsible, so from now on, he would be the head of the household!

Jin Xiaoshu was especially happy. Seeing him like this, Aunt Jin couldn’t help but feel angry: “A barking dog doesn’t bite, and the Jin family is not a good bunch either. They’ve taken away our precious willow tree to build a dock…”

Jin Liushu was Aunt Jin’s firstborn. He was sweet-talking and persuasive. Aunt Jin couldn’t bear to see him suffer even a little bit.

Jin Liushu was indeed tired now.

He usually lazed around at home. Although he didn’t completely avoid work, he did very little!

That was one thing, but at the dock construction site, the officials saw he was tall and strong, so they assigned him the heaviest tasks!

Jin Liushu was digging mud to the point of tears.

The people around him, seeing his troubled expression, couldn’t understand: “What’s wrong with you? How can you complain about such a small task?”

“Yeah… I never expected you, looking so strong, to be so weak.”

“Young man, this won’t do. You need to practice more!”

The people working with Jin Liushu really couldn’t understand him.

After all, in their eyes, the work they were doing was already quite easy.

They were used to the exhaustion of farm work at home, and the work they were conscripted for by the government before was much harder than now.

Most importantly, this time, they were given meat!

They thought they were served meat yesterday because Magistrate Gou was present. They didn’t expect to have meat again today, and they didn’t even get less than yesterday!

“The taro stew with meat at noon is so delicious.”

“I agree, it’s really fragrant!”

“Magistrate Gou is indeed a good person, actually giving us so many delicious things to eat.”

“I wonder what we’ll eat next.”

As everyone was chatting, someone came to fetch them: “Food is ready!”

Their eyes lit up immediately.

Everyone grabbed their portion of food, about to start eating, when someone approached them: “I have good news for everyone! Magistrate Gou has arranged for doctors from the medical hall to come. If anyone feels unwell, they can go to the doctor, and if they get injured while working, Magistrate Gou will pay for their medicine! Of course, if it’s another illness, they’ll have to pay for it themselves.”

Such good news? Everyone was overjoyed.

You see, when they were conscripted in the past, it was truly a matter of life and death!

Even when they felt unwell, they were forced to work. Many people ended up dead.

“Magistrate Gou is truly benevolent!” Everyone exclaimed.

The surprises didn’t end there! At this moment, someone else came and said they wanted to tell them stories.

Zhu Qian was a proactive person, and since he had previously arranged for people to spread stories about Magistrate Gou… After discussing with Li Qingzhi in the morning, he had these people come to tell stories to the laborers in the afternoon.

Many people in the county had heard these stories about Magistrate Gou, but most of the laborers who came to build the dock were from the countryside, and poor countryside folks at that. Most of them had never heard these stories; at most, someone had mentioned a few words to them.

Now, someone was reading stories to them… Everyone listened obediently.

Li Qingzhi’s stories were already good, and coupled with the fact that these people had no entertainment activities before… Everyone listened with rapt attention. Unfortunately, the stories weren’t finished yet, and they had to continue working.

But the storytellers also told them that they would continue with the rest of the stories tomorrow.

“These stories are so enjoyable.”

“Someone from our village went to the teahouse in the county town and heard them before, then told me about them, but the person who told us didn’t tell them as well as the storytellers today.”

“I can listen to stories tomorrow… I wish tomorrow would come sooner.”

Just as they were talking, the bailiff came over: “From now on, those who work diligently, besides getting eggs, will also get to sit at the front to listen to stories!”

The laborers: “!!!” They must work hard!

Jin Liushu: “…” He had heard some of these stories before, but never finished them.

He was quite happy to be able to listen to stories while working, but the work was really too exhausting!

And he definitely couldn’t work fast… Jin Liushu grimaced and bit down, working hard.

On the other hand, Jin Dajiang ate until he was full again, and the chef praised him for his performance, giving him an egg.

Jin Dajiang put the egg in his pocket, intending to take it back to his wife.

His wife always left him some delicious food, but he had never eaten anything really good.

Jin’s mother, whom Jin Dajiang thought hadn’t eaten anything good, was staring blankly at her son-in-law’s stewing meat.

Jin Xiaoshu finally divided the family, and Li Qingzhi planned to make something delicious to celebrate.

So today, he specifically bought six pounds of meat. He rendered the fat, used the residue to stir-fry garlic shoots, minced some lean meat and steamed it, and the rest he sliced and braised with dried tofu.

These six pounds of meat were all cooked by him.

Mrs. Jin’s heartache reached its peak, especially during the meal when Li Qingzhi kept serving her more dishes.

She wanted to give her portion of meat to her two children, but at that moment, Li Qingzhi said, “Mother, do you dislike my cooking?”

“No, no.” Mrs. Jin hurriedly denied, quietly eating her meal.

Because there were so many people eating, Li Qingzhi didn’t let Li Damao and Li Ermao join them at the table. He served them their meals and some vegetables, then let them sit on the doorstep to eat. The two children were quite happy, chatting and eating. Zhao Xiaodou saw this and also sat on the doorstep with his bowl.

On the other hand, Jin Dajiang, who was carrying the egg home, was a little confused—where was his wife?

As for Jin Liushu… as soon as he got home, he went straight to bed and didn’t want to move.

He was really exhausted!

Most of the laborers who went to build the dock were accustomed to hard work, and there were very few like Jin Liushu.

Plus, those who were short or elderly were assigned lighter tasks… the others didn’t feel tired at all.

Before dawn the next day, the villagers of Miaoqian Village were eager to set off.

They were going to listen to stories!

And these stories were written by their own Li Qingzhi!

Li Qingzhi was really amazing! Before, Yao Zhenfu said he wasn’t well-educated, but they believed that anyone who could write such good stories must be very knowledgeable.

The people going to build the dock were very happy and were thinking about bragging about their village’s Li Qingzhi to the people in the neighboring village.

Li Laogen was also very excited. Before going out for tea in the morning, he couldn’t help but ask Li Qingzhi, “Ah Qing, you wrote those stories, why didn’t you tell me?”

“Father, I did tell you before, but you didn’t believe me,” Li Qingzhi said.

Li Laogen: “…” It seemed that Li Qingzhi did say it, and he didn’t believe him.

But no matter what, he could brag about it when he went to drink tea today. These stories were written by his son! He would definitely become the most talked-about old man in the teahouse!