Chapter 137:
Luo Zhi’er observed for a moment; this slope above was no longer swamp, but wasteland.
It was probably about eight or nine mu in size. Although the vegetation wasn’t as dense as below, it got direct sunshine.
From afar, it couldn’t be seen; only upon getting close did she discover it was a fairly gentle arc-shaped upslope, with relatively dry soil that had sand.
After digging pits, she could make it into a terraced pattern and plant things in the field; it should be good.
This piece of wasteland was surrounded by mountain ranges on all four sides; the front could be made into farmland, and the back into fields.
The areas on both sides against the mountains could be chopped and reclaimed later to make fields too, connecting to the wasteland below for over twenty mu.
As for the spot where she dug things, there was a cliff below; reclaiming this wasteland still couldn’t reach that area for now!
As for this spring water?
She planned to turn it into a well and cover it when not in use.
Not letting anyone else know!
When needing water, draw it from inside, or build good ditches in the fields and make a water storage pool; if that didn’t work, make a waterwheel to sprinkle into the fields.
There would always be a way.
A very sharp and miserable cry whistled through the sky, startling the air and stopping the clouds, attracting her attention!
Looking at the sky, vultures were circling above her head with long, sharp claws dragging; she smiled knowingly!
When leaving, Luo Zhi’er thought for a moment.
She took a bag from her chest pocket and threw two coffee beans into the soil of the upper half of the wasteland, covering them lightly with soil.
She scooped some of this water and watered them.
Then she left here.
On the way back, she didn’t choose to cross mountains and ridges, but went through the wasteland swamp via a small path.
She kept walking and walking until she finally reached a place with houses.
On the road, she shook off the leeches on her body and begged for a sip of water at that household.
Hearing her say she was picking mushrooms, got lost, and came from Ma Huang Gou, it scared that mother-in-law!
She really hadn’t expected anyone alive to come through from that mountain.
“Auntie, where is this?”
“Girl, did you get confused wandering in the mountains? This is Tongtian Village, bordering Luojia Village. Go straight along the avenue ahead, turn a few bends, and you’ll be heading toward Luojia Village.”
Although Luo Zhi’er grew up in Luojia Village since childhood, she had never been to Tongtian Village; getting lost and not recognizing it was normal!
“Oh, I see, thank you, Auntie!”
Luo Zhi’er gulped down the water, bid farewell to the household, and continued on her way.
In ancient times, there were no clocks; time was told by the sun, and now with the sun tilted west, it was about three in the afternoon.
After walking a while, she indeed arrived near Luojia Village.
Looking at the familiar yet strange village, Li Xi’er was stunned.
Her feet unconsciously lifted, heading toward the village.
She wanted to go home and see.
This was the obsession in the real Luo Zhi’er’s heart.
She followed the body’s instincts and walked in.
In the afternoon, also a hot time, after finishing farm work in the morning, everyone was resting at home; she didn’t meet many people on the road!
Old Luo Tou’s house was actually less than fifty meters from the village entrance. This home had a good foundation, so Old Man Luo’s second brother had thought about it for a long time; she went straight home following her memory.
This could no longer be called home; it had become a garden plot, and the house had collapsed after years of weathering.
The yard center had been turned into a garden plot!
The soil from the house walls had collapsed, perfectly outlining it, facing the ground above, planted with garlic sprouts, scallions, green vegetables.
The middle main hall was enclosed with wooden boards, with pigs kept inside.
The room she used to live in had chickens, ducks, and geese.
This had become Second Uncle’s family’s private space.
The fruit trees, pear trees, persimmon trees, and jujube trees that Old Luo Tou had planted around the yard edges before were all chopped down.
Luo Zhi’er’s heart was filled with desolation.
Scenes from before flashed before her eyes: “Father, the dates are ripe! Beat the date trees!”
“Hey!”
“Father, Zhi’er wants to eat pear!”
“Good!”
“Zhi’er, Father made your favorite braised pork today.”
They say there’s a home to return to only if parents are there; without parents, there’s no home to return to—that’s true.
“Father”
Crystal-clear teardrops burst from her eyes, pattering down, dripping into the soil like beads off a broken string.
“Who’s there?”
A harsh, sharp voice broke her thoughts.
“Luo Zhi’er, is that you? I knew it was you, this unfilial daughter!”
Luo Zhi’er looked over coldly; this person was precisely Old Luo Tou’s own younger brother’s wife, Second Aunt.
“Second Wife!”
“Tell me, why did you come back?”
Second Aunt stared at her suspiciously, looking her up and down, seeing her carrying a bamboo basket, filthy all over, especially her pant legs covered in mud.
Her fat face was crying miserably.
“You weren’t… weren’t divorced by Old Li Family, were you?”
“You jinx, you killed your father and that’s one thing, but now you’ve gotten Old Li Tou’s family into prison!”
“Since you’ve married out, don’t come back to scourge us; what did you come back for?”
“Let me say it first: this foundation is already ours. You have no inheritance rights to that paddy field or mountain land. Luojia Village doesn’t welcome you, a married woman who’s been to prison, an outsider!”
Second Aunt blurted out everything she wanted and needed to say.
They planned to build a house here in the future; just didn’t have silver yet, so they made it a garden plot first!
“Ugly words up front: a married daughter is like spilled water; who comes back to scourge their maternal family? Besides, we’re not your maternal family; whatever happens, don’t come to us for help!”
Second Aunt had always felt Luo Zhi’er would be divorced and sent back; she had this intuition, so she was very afraid of her appearing.
“What’s going on?”
It was Second Uncle Luo Xihai.
Old Luo Tou’s original name was Luo Yinglin.
“His Father, look who came back?”
Second Aunt quickly gave him a look, anxious beyond measure.
Luo Xihai gave her a reassuring look.
His gaze turned to Luo Zhi’er: “You should know Luojia Village’s rules: a married daughter doesn’t return to divide her parents’ farmland.”
Luo Zhi’er chuckled lightly: “Second Uncle, long time no see.”
If not for Father, she, Luo Zhi’er, wouldn’t come back.
Luo Xihai wanted to see through her; what did she mean by this?
“I just heard your Second Aunt say you were divorced by Old Li Family?”
“Heh, probably your Second Aunt is overthinking; did you abandon them and run away?”
He knew this Luo Zhi’er too well: no responsibility, timid and cowardly.
“A woman follows her husband after marriage; you’re not a child playing house. Throw a tantrum and run home anytime; look at you, what a disgrace!”
Looking at her pants with contempt and disdain, lecturing her with big principles.
“If nothing’s wrong, go back. Old Li Family may be in prison, but you can’t do something like abandoning husband and child!”
Luo Zhi’er said indifferently: “Small temple has strong evil wind, shallow pond has many turtles. Thanks for the teaching, Second Uncle; Zhi’er will take her leave!”
With that, she turned and left.
“What does she mean? Was Luo Zhi’er cursing us?”
Second Aunt was quite angry: “Luo Zhi’er, come back here!”
Luo Zhi’er, fat as she was, ran fast and vanished in the blink of an eye.
Leaving Luo Xihai and his wife baffled: sent off so easily?
Looks like she was still scared!
He had been thinking whether to give her a few coins to send her off; after all, her returning to the village like this and being chased away would lead to backbone-pointing.
Li Xi’er had long since looked lightly on family ties deep in her heart, so she didn’t feel sad.
In this world, there is good and bad; everyone is on different frequencies, so live freely and let oneself go!
Only Luo Zhi’er felt heartbroken.
Unknowingly, she arrived at the pond, planning to squat down to wash her hands; sweaty all over, wash her face too.
“Luo Zhi’er?”
“Is it really you? Stop, stop!!!”
Water splashed on her face; Luo Zhi’er didn’t hear someone calling her at all and continued bending over to rub her face.
The person threw down the water buckets on his shoulder and ran over quickly.
Luo Zhi’er sensed something wrong, quickly sidestepped, and turned her head sharply.
Enemies meet on a narrow road: Luo Wenzhou?
She saw him plop straight into the pond!
A few plops.
Luo Zhi’er watched him coldly.
Luo Wenzhou stood up, hair disheveled, soaked through, wiped his face, and yelled loudly,
“Luo Zhi’er, are you stupid? You were cursing me fiercely just a while ago, and today you come to play dead?”
“What? That Li Sanmao doesn’t want you anymore? You came to jump in the pond again?”
“Oh, I heard he went to prison, Old Li Tou’s whole family went in; can’t live anymore, so planning to end it all?”
“You’re really something; can’t live without a man? Do you live up to your father?”
Luo Zhi’er rolled her eyes!
