They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 221: Long face

They dared to try to smear Xu Zhichun with this matter; they are the ones who should lose face.

Both of them looked very unwell.

Bai was relatively patient, but Zhang had already boasted to her family.

This year, wealthy families have all started using threshing machines, but not everyone in every village can afford one, so more than 90% of ordinary farmers still use traditional manual labor methods for the autumn harvest.

For this reason, the villagers of Liangjia Village are the envy of all the neighboring villages!
During this period, when the villagers of Liangjia Village met acquaintances from other villages while walking outside, they talked about the autumn harvest with great enthusiasm, pride, and elation!
Zhang boasted to her family as soon as she opened her mouth, which delighted them. They hadn't collected any goods yet, just waiting to show off the threshing machine.

And yet we still have to wait in line!

Of course, they have to queue. Some families are short-handed but have plenty of fertile land, so they can't wait for the threshing machine.

Having accepted money from them, Xu Zhichun would never allow their family to skip the queue.

Time waits for no one. Fortunately, Bai's side didn't tell her family the exact news, so they just brushed it off by saying that the threshing machine couldn't be borrowed, but Zhang's side had asked to borrow it beforehand.

By the time Zhang's relatives have used the money, the autumn harvest will probably be over, so there will be no way to borrow it anymore.

Bai's relatives on her maternal side were quite disappointed, but Bai's words were so eloquent and persuasive that no one blamed her; instead, they all resented Zhang. They felt that Zhang, as the eldest sister-in-law, must be too domineering. Bai, after all, was her brother's wife, and as the eldest sister-in-law, she was like a mother to her brother. Being kind-hearted, how could she dare to argue with her sister-in-law?

Besides, we can't win against them.

Zhang finally got her wish. She reluctantly paid the money herself and told her family that Xu Zhichun had given it to them for free.

Unexpectedly, a torrential downpour began that very day.

Although we borrowed the threshing machine, the rain was really heavy.

Other families had already finished their autumn harvest by hand, but Zhang's family let their grain get soaked in the rain while waiting for the threshing machine. Because the rice was overripe, the sudden rain knocked many grains into the fields, resulting in a significant loss.

Zhang's family was heartbroken and kept blaming her.

Zhang felt extremely aggrieved and frustrated, and spent several days cursing at home.

It wasn't that she didn't want to scold Xu Zhichun; she simply had no reason to.

You can't blame them.

If she really goes, the whole village will laugh at her.

With the vigorous autumn harvest over, Magistrate Lu's commendation of Xu Zhichun arrived in a lively manner.

The phrase "A family that accumulates good deeds will surely have abundant blessings" was personally inscribed by Magistrate Lu. Xu Zhichun respectfully welcomed the guests into his home. The courtyard was surrounded by villagers who came to watch the spectacle. Everyone clapped and cheered with envy and jealousy, but suddenly they felt that they didn't even have the strength to be envious or jealous.

From then on, Xu Zhichun's family was no longer the same as other families!

Families who have been personally commended by the county magistrate are like having a talisman. Who would dare to cause trouble for them? Wouldn't that be going against the county magistrate?

"Zhichun is truly remarkable!"

“Incredible, incredible!”

"By the way, where exactly is her family? I always felt that she looked different from ordinary farm girls, so I'm afraid her family isn't ordinary either."

"I think so too. Ordinary people wouldn't know anything about threshing machines or windmills. These are things that ordinary people wouldn't even think about."

"Yes, and there's also the water mill. The village headman had two built at the village entrance. It will be much more convenient for the villagers to pound rice from now on! Thanks to Zhichun."

"If you ask me, it's fortunate that Zhichun didn't remarry."

"Yeah!"

Speaking of this, everyone is still quite frightened.

With Zhichun in the village, they felt honored and benefited greatly from it, speaking louder than others when they went out.

And then there are tomatoes, and strawberries—Zhichun said she'd sell seeds and seedlings to anyone who wants to grow them next year. Even though it's limited, other villages wouldn't get any even with limited supplies.

From then on, anyone who dared to let Zhichun remarry would be a sinner in the village. That's right! That's exactly how it is!
Liang Lizheng, his fourth great-grandmother, and sixth great-grandfather were overjoyed. They had never seen any other family in the village receive such an honor in their lives.

They discussed opening the ancestral hall and made a special trip to offer incense to the ancestors to report their arrival. Women were not allowed to enter the ancestral hall, but they still allowed Xu Zhichun to pay her respects at the entrance, an honor that no other woman in the village received.

The women were incredibly envious.

Although Xu Zhichun didn't feel any sense of honor, everyone else felt it was a great honor and were very envious, so she cooperated by behaving respectfully and devoutly.

Do as the locals do.

As it should be.

Everyone originally thought the village would benefit from Liang Mingxuan's influence in the future, but unexpectedly, they are now benefiting from Xu Zhichun's influence ahead of time.

These two, uncle and sister-in-law, are truly remarkable, each one more impressive than the last.

"Luckily, I didn't remarry."

"No!"

Xu Zhichun was surprised by Magistrate Lu's integrity. Now she was relieved. With Magistrate Lu's handwritten inscription in hand, it was truly priceless in Qingshan County.

Granny Ji also said that Lord Lu had already reported the three-piece set of threshing machine, windmill, and watermill to the imperial court, and the Ministry of Works had received the items. The reward would be issued in another month or two.

Although the Ministry of Works may not care much about things that come from the common people, if you apply with all your might, you will definitely receive a reward of three hundred taels of silver.

Xu Zhichun repeatedly expressed his gratitude.

from inner heart.

She was lucky; if the county magistrate hadn't been someone like Lord Lu, she wouldn't have received such benefits!

Lord Lu had already given her three hundred taels of silver, and now the imperial court was giving her another three hundred taels, so she had made a fortune.

Making a few hundred taels of silver a day isn't easy, even with small business.

The house of Uncle Yang Ming has been renovated and looks brand new inside and out. The date for Zeng Xiaojuan's wedding has also been set.

Remarriage is a personal choice, and even if Master Zeng and Madam Zeng wanted to interfere, there were limited options. Zeng Xiaojuan was determined to remarry, and unless they sent someone to forcibly take her back, they could not stop her.

Since Zeng Xiaojuan was a member of the Zeng family, she had no choice but to inform the Zeng family.

Madam Zeng had someone inquire about the matter and learned that she was to marry a family even worse off than the Lou family. She sneered and ridiculed them, and she and Zeng Mingzhu and her daughter mocked them for a while.

What a joke Zeng Xiaojuan is making! Is she just throwing caution to the wind? Jumping from one fire pit into an even deeper one!

Fearing that Master Zeng would object to Zeng Xiaojuan's remarriage if he found out, the two tacitly avoided mentioning the matter.

She's just a concubine's daughter who was already married off, and she's remarrying. What does that have to do with the Zeng family? Let her do whatever she wants.

With no word from the Zeng family, Zeng Xiaojuan was relieved.

Let's leave each other undisturbed and enjoy a peaceful life.

Very good.

On an auspicious day, Zeng Xiaojuan happily married Yang Ming. They set up two tables for a meal, inviting only respected elders and close relatives.

Although the event wasn't a grand affair, it received everyone's sincere blessings, and both hosts and guests enjoyed themselves immensely.

Even though it's a remarriage, putting aside how they spend their daily lives, they can't let their wedding night go to waste, otherwise it's considered unlucky.

Zeng Xiaoyan originally wanted to take Qiao'er home for a few nights, but Xu Zhichun smiled and took the initiative to take over, saying, "Let Qiao'er come with me instead, she can keep me company."

Qiao'er was already familiar with them, and Xu Zhichun gently coaxed her to go with her, so she happily went.

Aunt Liang, Aunt Zhu'er, and others couldn't help but sigh inwardly: If Minglang were still alive, Zhichun would definitely be a wonderful mother. What a pity.
(End of this chapter)