The whole family stocked up on supplies two years in advance, so they could live a life of luxury wh

Just as Xing'er was about to speak, the little mongrel in her arms suddenly whimpered a few more times. Li Dashan asked in confusion, "Where did that puppy's barking come from?"

"It's a puppy I brought back. I saw it looking pitiful on the road, so I brought it home. Brother, I want to keep it."

After she finished speaking, she took the puppy out of the bamboo basket.

Li Dashan was somewhat surprised, but still nodded and said:

"Now that you've made something of yourself, you can raise children if you want. Your father and mother won't object anyway."

"it is good."

She carried the puppy and walked inside.

Everyone is cooking now. Because of the wild vegetables she picked, Grandma Li arranged for the young wives to make wild vegetable dumpling soup and to make small dumplings from the flour that Xing'er bought.

Then chop the shepherd's purse and cook it together.

As for the mushrooms that were picked up, Zhang carefully placed them in the tent. These things were very valuable; a pound could sell for 150 coins, which could be exchanged for one or two bushels of coarse rice.

She had just put the mushrooms in when she saw Xing'er return carrying a puppy. Zhang immediately showed a delighted expression, "What a cute puppy! Xing'er, where did you get it from?"

"Mom, I found this dog on the roadside. I took it in because I felt sorry for it. I remember you also like dogs. I sold our old dog, Dahuang, and now I'm giving you a puppy instead."

Hearing this, Zhang nodded repeatedly and happily took the puppy from her daughter's hands. "Xing'er, this puppy looks quite like our previous dog."

"Mom likes it very much, so don't be foolish and sell it again."

"Don't worry, don't worry, I won't sell it. This dog is called Xiao Huang."

"Okay, from now on it will be our Little Yellow."

"By the way, Xing'er, your father needs to see you. Go and check on him first."

"Where's my dad?"

"Although your father can't move his hands, he can still walk. He's still tending the fire under the stove. Your father just can't sit still, so you'd better try to persuade him."

"Okay, I'll go now."

Xing'er reached out and patted the little dog's head again. Just as she was about to leave, Zhang called her back, "Xing'er, wait a minute. Come over here with your mother."

She pulled Xing'er and walked behind the tent, then told Xing'er to wait. After a while, Zhang brought her a bowl of the thickest noodle soup from the earthen stove.

"Eat quickly. You've been working in the mountains all day, and I'm worried you'll go hungry. I don't know if the dry food you brought this morning was enough. This hot noodle soup will warm you up."

Xing'er was deeply moved by her mother's concerned words. This was her ancestor! She had been an orphan since childhood, and she never expected that she would be able to experience the warmth of family with her ancestors after transmigrating.

She responded softly and then began to eat.

While she was eating noodles, she unexpectedly discovered an egg at the bottom of the bowl.

Xing'er looked up at Zhang Shi in surprise.

"Mom, where did these eggs come from?"

Zhang quickly covered her mouth and whispered:

"My little darling, don't say anything, just eat. Your father bought some eggs at the market. He knows you love eggs, so he made this especially for you."

"Please, whatever you do, don't tell your eldest brother, second sister, your second brother, or your younger siblings."

Zhang looked around nervously. Fortunately, no one had gone behind the tent yet. She whispered a few more instructions and then left like a thief.

Xing'er picked at the eggs at the bottom of the bowl, sniffed, and quickly ate them, almost choking to death.

She silently said to herself:

"My goodness, I have plenty of chicken and duck eggs in my storage space, but I don't dare to give them to you right now. Let's take it slow."

After she finished eating, she wiped her mouth and walked towards the stove, handing the bowl to Aunt Huang to wash. Li Fusheng was still sitting in front of the stove, the firelight illuminating his weathered face.

"Father, what do you want to tell me?"

"Find a rock and sit next to Dad first."

"it is good."

Xing'er looked around and then selected a very smooth stone from the pile. She looked meaningfully at the new house, whose foundation had already been dug.

We can start laying stones tomorrow.

The next moment, she sat down next to her father, holding a stone.

"Father, just tell me. I'll do anything I can."

"I feel a little embarrassed saying this, but I have to explain the situation to you. The choice is still yours. I won't force you to do anything you don't want to do."

Looking at her father's expression, Xing'er knew he was telling the truth. Otherwise, given the original owner's personality, anyone else would have been married off for a dowry long ago.

She raised an eyebrow and said seriously:

"It's nothing, Father. Tell me, what is it?"

"After you left today, the village head came to collect the silver that the imperial court wanted to collect. This time it was ten taels of silver. We also returned fifteen taels of silver to Master Shen, in addition to the purchase of stone and timber."

We only have one or two taels of silver left in our household.

But you don't need to worry about that, your mother and grandmother go out to dig for wild vegetables every day.

We will always survive.

But while our family's problem was solved, others weren't so lucky. This year, the village's harvest was poor, and your Aunt Chen, your crippled uncle, and even your Ninth Uncle couldn't afford to pay the taxes.

Especially since you are Aunt Chen, she has also borrowed money from Master Shen. If she can't pay it back next month, she will have to use Lian'er to pay off the debt. Master Shen is over seventy years old, and Lian'er is only eight years old.

She's about the same age as your fourth sister, and your father really can't bear it."

Xing'er understood what her father was trying to say from his words. Just as he was about to continue talking to her, she interrupted him, "Father, do you want me to lead the villagers into the mountains?"

Li Fusheng nodded:

"Xing'er, I don't want to make things difficult for you, but I really don't know how to respond to their request. Your Ninth Uncle said that half of the mountain produce they collected belongs to us."

If they cause trouble, they should take responsibility for it themselves.

"Dad didn't know how to refuse either."

As he spoke, he began to sigh.

Xing'er had actually expected this news. She pursed her lips and replied:

"Dad, I can bring people into the mountains. But I won't bring adults. I'll only bring the children from our village, one child per family. Anyone who wants to go can go, and if not, that's fine too."

"Xing'er, is this a good idea? Taking all the children is too dangerous. They can't run fast, what if they encounter danger?"

"Dad, I can protect them. If my aunts trust me, they will naturally agree to my request. If they don't agree, they're not very determined. If I take my uncle and aunts in, they might fight tooth and nail over a mushroom."

I shouldn't speak up, or I might get implicated by them.

Li Fusheng nodded thoughtfully, "Xing'er, it's up to you to decide. I'll listen to you. I'll discuss it with your Ninth Uncle and the others later. If they're willing, you can take them with you."

As for our family, you bring your eldest and second eldest brothers along.