Chapter 186:
Luo Zhi’er recalled that when she was just released from prison last time, returning to the village was also such a situation……
Being bullied openly and covertly by the villagers, would anyone dare without someone conniving?
This was also to give her a reminder, perhaps intentionally to give the Old Li Family a lesson, or perhaps to make her leave Zhao Li Village!
Fortunately, she was quite resilient, mentally strong with a tough attitude, and did a few things that made Li Zuzu, Zhao Zuzu, the Village Chief and others look at her with new eyes……
“Husband, I just ask you, will you still live in the village in the future?”
“My home is here, where else would I live if not here?”
“That’s right, even if there’s an opportunity not to live here, you and I, and Miaomiao’s household registration are all in Zhao Li Village, right? When you need to handle something, you have to trouble them, and if it’s particularly important, they use a little trick to stall you, it’s also following the rules, what can you do?”
Li Sanmao hesitated!
“Although sometimes we need to be strong and argue forcefully, but for the village’s managers, if they haven’t done anything on the surface, if you don’t respect and hold them up, and impulsively go make a scene, making them lose face, isn’t that asking for trouble……”
“This……”
Perhaps at that time he would give you a way out under pressure, but later he would inevitably hold a grudge and feel disgusted when thinking back, and if there’s another matter, how could he side with you?
Besides, his family is now at a low point and disadvantage, so when ability is insufficient, don’t delusionally challenge authority! For long-term considerations……
So, take things over, and heavily express thanks, thanking him for bearing such great public opinion pressure for his family during this time.
Luo Zhi’er braised beef, as well as pig ears and pig stomach, baked egg tarts, glad that she bought a lot of ingredients today, and had Li Sanmao deliver them in the evening.
Both Zhao Zuzu and Li Zuzu’s homes received them, saying thanks for taking care of Luo Zhi’er and Miaomiao.
Both families were very surprised, happily accepted them, and felt they were too polite!
Luo Zhi’er said: “Ancestors, thank you for coming to help when I was in difficulty last time, I’ve always kept it in mind, I don’t have any precious items to thank you with, I saw you quite liked the braised meat I made last time, so I made some myself when I had time……”
“There are also egg tarts, your teeth aren’t good, these are soft to eat, and for the little children at home as snacks, if they like them, I’ll make more!”
“Good, good!”
It was they who had poor eyesight before, this daughter-in-law of their grandson really knows how to handle things, generous, down-to-earth, and knows gratitude.
They help out, and at least she remembers the favor.
Some villagers, you speak a few words for them, and they still feel you didn’t do enough, thinking it’s only right, and curse them bloody behind their backs.
So, help people like San Mao’s Wife who know gratitude!
Additionally, at Li Zhengxin’s place, Li Sanmao went personally!
Mainly thanking him for helping handle the matter last time when Li Wei brought thugs into the village to beat people.
Also for helping take care of his wife and daughter when he wasn’t home before.
And thanking him for bearing such great public opinion pressure for his family’s farmland matter, if Zhao Hu hadn’t come, he wouldn’t even know what happened.
And Zhao Hu Zi’s home, Luo Zhi’er went back home to get things and delivered them too……
After Li Sanmao explained his intention, Li Zhengxin politely invited him in……
He originally thought he came to make trouble, already mentally prepared, although Li Sanmao is a good person, but for the entire village’s benefit, offending him was fine!
Unexpectedly, he came to give thanks, it was he who had judged a gentleman with a petty heart.
Taking the things from Li Sanmao’s hands, seeing they were all genuine meat, even beef, various braised pork, and something called egg tarts, said to be specially made by his wife for their little children at home.
Haha! This couple really gets along well, generous and honest, knows gratitude, happily had his wife Aunt Yinxing put them away!
Invited him to eat, Li Sanmao gladly accepted and even drank some wine.
Li Sanmao toasted him a few cups……
“San Mao ah, yesterday uncle had Hu Zi go say that matter, you know it too, uncle was just doing official business, bearing it for so long was no choice, you see, don’t be angry with uncle or grow distant!”
After a few cups of wine, Li Zhengxin said with a slightly flushed face, a bit embarrassed.
“Uncle, I understand your meaning, this matter isn’t your fault, it’s the village’s rules……”
“It’s just, rules are dead but people are alive, and our family hasn’t reached the standard for confiscating land.”
Li Zhengxin smiled awkwardly, that’s true, land confiscation waits for the government officials to issue the official verdict before it can be taken!
“I know what you worry most about is my Old Li Family selling this farmland to outsiders to farm, you know how much my dad values the farmland, it’s his life! He won’t, today, I Li Sanmao make a guarantee, my Old Li Family absolutely won’t sell the farmland, if somehow I was wrong and it’s sold, then I Li Sanmao will personally redeem it back intact to return to the village in the future!”
“As for Li Lei’s portion, take it if you want, he brought it on himself!”
“This……”
Li Zhengxin pondered his words……
“Zhengxin Uncle, look, I Li Sanmao have safely returned, my oldest brother and fourth brother, who knows when they’ll return, why not wait a bit more? Oldest Brother has been diligent his whole life, whenever the village needs help, he steps up, fourth brother will go to Donglin Academy to study after coming out, who knows how it’ll turn out!”
That’s true, Li Daqiang never cuts corners in village affairs, never hesitates to help with anything, much better than that Li Ergou……
And Li Gui still has a chance, in Dongli Kingdom, for relatives’ crimes, depending on severity it affects studying scholars, but only limited to direct relatives, like Old Li Tou, Zhou Shi, and wife and children……
Brothers and sisters can still be handled discretionarily based on severity, even if there’s something, some connections can fix it, maybe Li Lei continues to Donglin Academy for further study and takes the imperial examination!
Spring has arrived, it’s the scholars’ imperial exam time, Li Gu’s previous results were good too……
Yes, if Li Gui passes the imperial examination and gets an official position, how will he face the village when he returns?
Li Zhengxin contemplated, while Li Sanmao stared at his face and observed for a moment. It seemed his wife was right: courtesy first, then force, apply pressure, and finally give him a reassuring pill!
“I know you’re worried, Uncle Zhengxin, that I, Li Sanmao, don’t have that much silver to redeem the farmland. Uncle, rest assured on that point. You see, I have some income from hunting, and moreover, my wife is now selling these egg tarts in town. The business is doing okay, and what she said last time about really knowing County Magistrate’s young master Wang Jiji is true!”
“What?”
Li Zhengxin was shocked, looking at Li Sanmao in shock. He had thought last time that Luo Zhi’er only said that to scare Ding Lao Si and his gang…
Li Sanmao felt a bit guilty inside. This was something his wife had instructed him to definitely say…
“Are you sure your wife knows the County Magistrate’s young master?”
“……Mm……” Li Sanmao swallowed some saliva. “He likes the egg tarts my wife makes, so…”
So that’s how it is!
“I believe I can definitely earn enough of that silver too!”
Li Zhengxin now felt like he had taken a reassuring pill. His old wife had eaten a piece of this egg tart just now and broken off a piece for him. It was sweet and delicious, soft and glutinous, even better than osmanthus cake.
He didn’t know how it was made, but this business had prospects! Even the County Magistrate’s young master liked eating it!
Li Sanmao left Li Zhengxin’s house, and Li Zhengxin stared thoughtfully at his retreating back as he left the yard.
“His father, what are you spacing out for?”
Li Zhengxin turned to Aunt Yinxing and said, “This Li Sanmao and his wife are not simple. Who knows, they might have a stroke of fortune in the future. From now on, be polite to them!”
Don’t act like earlier, when people came and you ignored them, not paying them much attention…
Actually, he had long noticed the crops in their family’s farmland and hadn’t stopped them…
He had deliberately waited until the crops had fermented into an irreparable mess before having Hu Zi notify him.
He knew he would surely rush to the field to check, get furious over it, come rushing in speaking without thinking, lose his composure, and let him catch a mistake to pin him down—making him hand over the farmland obediently in front of everyone, without any complaints or leaving any leverage.
Who knew he had miscalculated. He had lived this long life and never been outmaneuvered like this before. What else could that be but not simple?
“Why?”
A look of ignorance appeared on Aunt Yinxing’s face, which showed some signs of age.
Her family was fairly well-off in the village, and she took care of herself, looking a bit younger than women her age.
“You don’t know a lot of things. Woman, don’t ask what you shouldn’t ask.”
Li Zhengxin flicked his sleeve, planning to make a trip to the two ancestors’ houses!
“Tch! Look at you! You old thing are getting more and more eccentric with age!”
After saying that, she went to clear the bowls and chopsticks.
