Chapter 90: Drama 1/3

After buying some snacks, Li Qingzhi bought some spring roll wrappers, tofu, and pork.

Many families had started to slaughter pigs recently, so there were more people selling meat. Even at such a small market, there were vendors selling meat.

Spring roll wrappers were only sold during the New Year’s period. The woman making them was middle-aged. She set up a small stove and placed a thick, round iron plate on top. She kneaded the sticky dough in her hands and spread it on the iron plate, producing a spring roll wrapper.

Li Qingzhi thought this process was similar to making pancakes, but spring roll wrappers were usually peeled off when they weren’t completely dry. As for the filling, it was sold by weight. The woman’s husband sat on the side, occasionally adding firewood to the stove. When someone wanted to buy something, he was responsible for weighing it.

They used a scale with stone weights. The weights were stones that had been polished and drilled with two holes, making them into scale weights.

Li Qingzhi really liked the atmosphere here, especially the smiles on people’s faces.

After Li Qingzhi bought the spring roll wrappers and finished praying in the temple, Jin Xiaoye came out with some candles and firecrackers in her hands. “I bought some candles and firecrackers for the New Year. The monks here are quite smart. They said their candles were used in front of the Buddha, and everyone rushed to buy them. The prices for candles here are the same as in the county town, so I bought some too.”

Jin Xiaoye kept muttering about what preparations were needed for the New Year.

In their village, it was best to buy a pig’s head for the New Year. If a pig’s head was offered on the table on New Year’s Eve, it would be very dignified!

This resulted in the price of pig heads remaining high for a month before the New Year.

Jin Xiaoye didn’t want to be a sucker and buy an expensive pig’s head. She planned to buy some pork ribs when Jin Xiaoshu slaughtered the pig. As for the rooster they needed for the New Year, she had already made a deal with a household. They would just go to their house on New Year’s Eve to grab it.

Jin Xiaoye had already arranged everything for their family’s New Year celebration.

Li Qingzhi looked at her with a smile, feeling particularly good, and reached out to touch her.

Jin Xiaoye gave him a glare and then extended her hand to him.

Li Qingzhi held Jin Xiaoye’s hand in his palm and used his abilities to help improve her blood circulation and prevent blood stasis, so she wouldn’t get frostbite.

Few people in Miaoqian Village didn’t suffer from frostbite. Those with mild cases had a little on their hands or earlobes, while those with severe cases had them on their legs, which could become ulcerated.

Li Laogen’s frostbite would ulcerate, and even though he had been careful to keep warm, it still occurred after many years.

The two children were still young and wore more clothes this year. Jin Xiaoye even made gloves for them, so they didn’t suffer from frostbite.

But Jin Xiaoye had frostbite herself. She didn’t wear gloves for convenience while working, and one day, when she came back at night, Li Qingzhi felt a lump on her little finger.

That night, he helped her treat it, but it reappeared after two days…

What else could he do? He would treat it slowly!

Jin Xiaoye was unaware of this. She saw Li Qingzhi touching her hand with special affection and said, “We’re eating well and dressing warmly this year, and I’m not getting frostbite on my hands anymore. It’s great!”

Li Qingzhi: “…You’re not getting frostbite? Your frostbite was clearly stifled in its cradle by me!”

“Let’s go; let’s find some helpers,” Jin Xiaoye said, taking Li Qingzhi’s hand and walking forward.

Li Damao and Li Ermao, seeing this, hurried to catch up, wanting to hold Li Qingzhi’s hand, but Li Qingzhi was holding things in one hand and Jin Xiaoye’s hand in the other…

The two children glanced at each other and simply held hands, following behind.

Jin Xiaoye was looking for helpers to take with her to the county town to accompany her to look at houses.

As for who to find…

There were plenty of people in Miaoqian Village!

Jin Xiaoye had a good relationship with most of the people in the village, and now it was the off-season… She walked around with Li Qingzhi and found four strong men.

She asked them to accompany her on a trip and said, “When we get to the county town, I’ll treat you to noodles!”

These four men all declined, saying, “That’s not necessary, no need!”

“Yeah! We’re just accompanying you for a stroll, not doing anything else.”

“No need to spend that money.”

…

Although they said so, their enthusiasm was clearly higher now. Jin Xiaoye said, “Noodles are a must; I can’t let you guys go for nothing.”

After Fang Jinniang came to Miaoqian Village, she didn’t move around much in the village. Today, with the temple fair, Jin Xiaoshu took her for a walk and bought some snacks.

Now that Jin Xiaoye had found some helpers, Jin Xiaoshu took them on a boat to the county town.

Jin Xiaoye didn’t want Li Qingzhi to go, but Li Qingzhi still followed along. There might be conflicts today, and he thought it would be better to go with her.

“I’ll protect you if you go.” Jin Xiaoye pinched Li Qingzhi’s restless hand.

Li Qingzhi said, “Then I’ll stay outside and watch, not going in.”

“Okay.” Jin Xiaoye found it feasible.

Jin Xiaoye didn’t dare to let Li Qingzhi follow along, knowing that there might be a conflict today over the disciple of Zhao Sanni’s husband occupying the shop. Many people knew about it, and she didn’t want Li Qingzhi to get involved. After all, last time Li Qingzhi had his arm broken by a child!

Seeing Jin Xiaoye’s expression, Li Qingzhi knew what she was thinking and couldn’t help but say, “Actually, I’m quite good at fighting.”

Jin Xiaoye said, “I believe you’re good at fighting, but your body… still needs more rest.”

Li Qingzhi had traveled a long way to escape to Miaoqian Village, so he wouldn’t be completely incompetent in a fight, but with his current body…

Jin Xiaoye sighed inwardly.

Li Qingzhi said, “…” His body had actually improved somewhat recently!

As for his fighting skills… In the last life, he wasn’t particularly strong, surviving mostly due to his abilities. But considering the circumstances at that time, he inevitably had to face zombies.

His fighting skills in the apocalypse weren’t strong, but in this world, he was definitely considered strong.

Even if his body wasn’t completely recovered now, his combat power was still not weak.

When he broke his arm before, that was entirely intentional!

But Jin Xiaoye thought it was fine for him to be weak. Li Qingzhi liked being protected by Jin Xiaoye.

He was no longer alone.

After arriving in the county town, Jin Xiaoshu first found a place to store his boat, then the group went to Sister Wang’s place together.

Zhao Sanni was already waiting there. Seeing Jin Xiaoshu bring five big and tall young men, she smiled.

Hmm, she ignored Li Qingzhi.

“Let’s go see the house,” Jin Xiaoye said.

“Okay.” Zhao Sanni smiled faintly and led Jin Xiaoye to their shop.

Jin Xiaoye actually knew where the shop was, but Li Qingzhi hadn’t been here before and looked around curiously, wondering who was following them.

Li Qingzhi sensed someone following them, but since they didn’t seem hostile, he ignored them.

Before long, they arrived at the entrance of the shop.

It was a funeral goods shop, marked by a wreath placed at the entrance. Jin Xiaoye saw it and said to Li Qingzhi, “Wait outside and be careful. We’ll go in and take a look.”

“Okay,” Li Qingzhi replied.

Upon hearing this, Jin Xiaoye turned and led the group into the shop.

The disciple Zhao Sanni’s husband took in was named Shen, a shopkeeper in his thirties who seemed quite kind. No one would have suspected that he would do something as audacious as occupying his master’s shop.