Chapter 63 Building a House

Village Chief Zhou’s family was startled.

Shen Nian glanced at Nie Jiu indifferently, then went up to Village Chief Zhou’s family and said: “Grandpa Village Chief, this old drunkard is a liar. He only knows how to set bones, he’s not a great doctor. The powder is stolen. He got drunk and climbed a tree, almost hitting me, and he even cursed at me… uh!”

Seeing the changing expressions of Village Chief Zhou’s family, Nie Jiu instantly remembered the scene of stopping the ox cart, quickly covered Shen Nian’s mouth, and changed his words: “I misspoke just now, it’s ten copper coins, not ten taels.”

He was sure that if he didn’t change his words, and let the little girl continue, he would definitely be kicked out of the village by these people.

Shen Nian was satisfied, she pried his hand open and said to Village Chief Zhou’s family with a smile: “I was just kidding you, Grandpa Drunkard is not a liar, he’s a good doctor!”

After receiving the consultation fee, Nie Jiu left with the Shen family.

Old Man Shen and Nie Jiu walked in front, the others followed behind.

Old Man Shen changed his attitude, he chatted enthusiastically with Nie Jiu. The two old men walked in front, talking and laughing, they were strangers before, but now they were like close friends.

When they returned to the Shen family, as soon as they entered the door, Old Man Shen announced loudly: “Brother Nie has traveled far and wide, with no fixed abode. It’s fate that he came to our house, I’ve decided to let him stay here. Shen Bei, your Uncle Nie will be staying with you, you must treat him well.”

Then, he said to Nie Jiu: “Old brother, I’ll leave my fourth son’s face to you!”

Seeing Old Man Shen make this decision, Shen Dong and the others were not surprised at all. The scar on Shen Bei’s face was not only a worry for Shen Bei, but also a worry for Old Man Shen and everyone else.

If it weren’t for this scar, Shen Bei wouldn’t have missed the imperial examination.

No one in the family opposed Old Man Shen’s decision, they all treated Nie Jiu with courtesy.

Nie Jiu was grinning smugly, but he didn’t push his luck and deliberately make things difficult for the Shen family.

Because Old Man Shen told him that he could stay, but he had to cure his fourth son’s face. He couldn’t use treating his illness as an excuse to make things difficult for his wife and children, otherwise, he would be kicked out of the Shen family. After all, his fourth son’s face wasn’t a must-cure, the fourth son had long gotten used to it!

Nie Jiu chuckled in his heart, these Shen family members were quite interesting.

Shen Bei glanced at Nie Jiu, touched the scar on his face, and felt no great emotion.

What if he could be cured? He’s too old to take the imperial examination now. It’s better to put his hopes on the younger generation and cultivate them into talents.

…

After being disturbed by Nie Jiu early in the morning, Shen Dong’s family went out to set up their stall a little late.

Shen Bo had to go back to the town academy, he went to town with the second and third families.

Seeing Shen Dong and the others carrying scallion pancakes out, Nie Jiu’s eyes followed them.

He wanted to shamelessly ask for two pancakes to eat, but when he turned his head, he saw Shen Nian and Shen Feng with the white wolf staring at him.

Nie Jiu pouted in boredom, if he didn’t want to eat, then he didn’t want to eat, who cares!

After eating the rice porridge cooked by Old Man Shen to fill his stomach, Nie Jiu got up and went for a walk in the village to learn about the village.

It was the end of May, spring, the rice seedlings could be transplanted, every household was preparing for transplanting, there were people everywhere in the fields, there were no cows in the village, plowing the land was all done by people, that kind of tiredness was indescribable, but there was a simple and peaceful sweetness.

Nie Jiu looked at the rice seedlings in the fields, and couldn’t help but be lost in thought.

This village was very quiet and peaceful, and the villagers’ smiles were very simple.

Shen Nian’s chili seedlings could also be transplanted. This was simpler than transplanting rice seedlings. Seeing Nie Jiu wandering around the village, she didn’t bother to manage him, she took her brothers who weren’t going to school today and went to the wasteland.

She acted like a little adult, directing her brothers to pull out chili seedlings, loosen the soil, and transplant them.

They were all busy, sweating profusely.

Fortunately, the sun wasn’t strong today, it wouldn’t make them faint from the heat.

Nie Jiu came back from his walk, looked up and saw Shen Nian and her group of children digging in the hillside, he walked over curiously to take a look.

Then he saw the strawberries. Although they weren’t very red yet, they looked very eye-catching.

Nie Jiu’s eyes lit up, taking advantage of the children’s inattention, he went over and picked two strawberries to taste.

He took a bite, how sour!

“Ugh!” Nie Jiu’s old face wrinkled like a chrysanthemum as he spat out the strawberry.

“Ah! My strawberry! Grandpa Nie, you stole my strawberry!” Shen Nian’s cry came, startling Nie Jiu.

Shen Nian ran over with her brothers, looking at the unripe strawberry in Nie Jiu’s hand with heartache: “These two weren’t ripe yet, and you ruined them, Grandpa Nie! Woohoo! The strawberries I worked so hard to grow! They cost ten copper coins each!”

Nie Jiu glared: “Nonsense, they were clearly five copper coins each?”

Shen Nian looked at him with tearful eyes: “How do you know? Did you see our family selling strawberries? You’ve been eyeing our family for a while?”

Nie Jiu: “…No, I guessed. I’m not interested in your family’s strawberries at all.”

Shen Nian stretched out her hand: “You guessed wrong. It’s not five copper coins, it’s ten copper coins each. You have to pay me, this is the money I and my brothers worked hard to grow and sell, to build a house for our family, to ease the burden on our parents.”

In the end, Nie Jiu paid Shen Nian the ten copper coins he earned from Village Chief Zhou, and still owed her ten copper coins.

Nie Jiu was so angry that his beard bristled: “Little girl, I’m your fourth uncle’s doctor. Your grandpa said he’ll provide me with food and lodging.”

Shen Nian said matter-of-factly: “My grandpa did say he’ll provide you with food and lodging, but he didn’t say he’ll provide you with fruit, snacks, melon seeds… and all those things!”

Nie Jiu: “…”

Shen Nan Family and Shen Xi families went to town, sold their pancakes, and then took the opportunity to find Liu Zhuantou, a professional house builder on East Street.

The first family wanted to build a house, they earned a lot of money selling pancakes, and they also wanted to build a house at this opportunity. They would build together, and it would be more convenient to bargain for materials.

Liu Zhuantou was a famous brick and tile mason in Qingstone Town. He had his own house-building team. Although his price was higher than others, the houses he built were excellent, and ordinary brick and tile masons couldn’t compare.

Since they decided to build a house, they would build a sturdy and safe one.

Shen Nan and the others talked to Liu Zhuantou very smoothly, and soon agreed on a start date, seven days later. By then, the rice seedlings would have been transplanted, and everyone would have time.

When Shen Nan went back, she told Shen Dong about it. Shen Dong smiled and said: “I asked you to go and ask, just to let you decide. This time is well chosen, that’s settled, I have no objections.”

Shen Nan and Shen Xi were relieved.

Then the three brothers went to find Shen Bei. Shen Dong said: “Are you really not going to build a house? If you’re not convenient, we can help you.”

Shen Bei smiled and shook his head: “My family is small, there are enough rooms, and the house isn’t dilapidated, it can shelter us from the wind and rain. I plan to build one in a few years. Brothers, you don’t need to persuade me, I won’t envy you.”

When Shen Dong and the others heard this, they didn’t say anything more.

They had talked to Shen Bei about building a house several times, but Shen Bei just wouldn’t build one. He also had some money on hand, and he wanted to save it for Qi Xuan to study.