Because she was young then and life improved, she was naturally happy, never thinking about why the family suddenly built a large house, why she had colorful clothes and pretty hair ties.
Zhu Baoping felt a mix of emotions. She immediately changed her mind and said, "So what? His life was saved by our father. If it weren't for our father, wouldn't he have been eaten by wolves in the mountains? That money should belong to us. Yes, it's repayment for saving his life."
After speaking, Zhu Baoping nodded vigorously, as if convincing herself.
"Then, then we don't need to go ask him for money anymore, right?" Zhu Yonghao said this. He was only 19 years old, about the same age as Zheng Wei. When Zheng Wei was at the Zhu family's, only the two of them could have a few words.
"The debt of saving a life has been repaid, but we still raised him for so many years. We can't raise him for free, can we? We must make him know gratitude," Zhu Yongfu disagreed.
Just looking at Zheng Wei being able to build such a large house, he knew he must have a lot of money. He would not be reconciled if he didn't extort a large sum.
Zhu Yonghao looked at his second brother, not knowing what to say. How could it be considered raising him for free?
Except for the initial period of recuperation, after Zheng Wei recovered from his injuries, he went hunting in the mountains. All the game he hunted was given to the family, which was a lot of money.
"Exactly, exactly. We raised him for so many years, we can't raise an ungrateful wretch. Father, Mother, don't you say anything, think of a way," Zhu Yongtao quickly added.
Zhu Kaishan sat on the kang, head down, thinking about what to say. Liu Shi, after hearing her sons' words, immediately slapped the kang table and said loudly, "That's right. I raised him for so many years, and I can't raise him for free. He must give some compensation for the hard work, hey!"
Perhaps having thought of a good idea, Liu Shi chuckled. Her sharp laughter, combined with the sinister expression on her face, made people feel uneasy.
But those present were already accustomed to it and didn't feel anything was wrong. Everyone else also chuckled.
Shen Xiaoyan, however, didn't know that the Zhu family was currently plotting how to deal with them. After dinner, she washed up and went to bed early.
In ancient times, there were really no entertainment facilities. Even if she wanted to do something, there were no conditions. In such a situation, she could only go to bed early. It had its benefits, though: sleeping early and waking up early was good for health.
Zheng Wei lay on the bed with his eyes closed. Only when he heard Shen Xiaoyan's breathing gradually stabilize did he slowly open his eyes in the dark.
Thinking of Zhu Baoping, who had been angered away that afternoon, a hint of a sneer appeared on Zheng Wei's lips. He knew the Zhu family would not remain silent.
Their family… they wouldn't let go until they saw the profit…
However, he was fearless.
Zheng Wei easily shifted his body, finally lying close to Shen Xiaoyan. He placed his hand on her waist before closing his eyes.
Shen Xiaoyan, who had been taken advantage of, didn't notice anything and was still sleeping soundly.
The next morning, Zheng Wei drove the cart to town. He was going to buy a manger for the mule and some bran.
Although the mule was a herbivore, it couldn't always eat grass. It needed variety.
After Zheng Wei left, Shen Xiaoyan and Shen Xiaoming busied themselves in the yard.
Today, Shen Xiaoming didn't sit and read and write as usual, because he knew that Shen Xiaoyan would clear out the vine-like plants of the striped watermelons in the field, and he had to help.
He didn't want to be a bookworm who only enjoyed the fruits of others' labor, relying on his sister's support for his studies but knowing nothing.
The striped watermelon vines were already somewhat yellow and needed to be pulled out by the roots. These vines had no use. They could see if the mule would eat them. If it did, they would keep some for it. If not, they would be thrown into the pond dug behind the new house.
Shen Xiaoming had been exercising with Zheng Wei for some time. His physical fitness had improved a lot, and he had grown taller and fatter. He worked faster than before.
The siblings were both quick. In about half an hour, they had pulled out all the vines in the field.
They piled the vines to the side of the yard wall, washed their hands, and sat down to eat striped watermelons.
These were left over from the striped watermelons Zheng Wei brought back a few days ago. They had kept 6 in total. They had few people, and it was enough. It was said that eating them throughout the summer, even Shen Xiaoming had eaten enough.
Every time Shen Xiaoyan ate striped watermelons, she would save the seeds. These were for next year's seeds.
Although she didn't lack seeds in her space, she had to let Shen Xiaoming and Zheng Wei see that she saved seeds. Otherwise, how would she explain taking them out next year?
"Sister, when can we move into the new house? Can you let Luoluo and Baibai live in the east wing with me then?" Shen Xiaoming asked, looking hopefully at Shen Xiaoyan.
"After the furniture arrives. Besides, the cotton quilts we ordered haven't been made yet. It will be at most half a month, and we will definitely be able to move into the new house," Shen Xiaoyan said confidently.
"Another half a month?" Shen Xiaoming was a little disappointed, but thinking it was only half a month, it would pass quickly, and he became hopeful again.
Shen Xiaoyan directly ignored Shen Xiaoming's request for Luoluo and Baibai to live with him. That wasn't something she could decide. Those two ran off somewhere every day, and it was useless to say where they should live.
Thinking this way, it was better to raise dogs. Dogs were very protective of the home and wouldn't run away.
Besides, their new house was so large, they should raise two dogs to guard it.
Thinking this, Shen Xiaoyan said to Shen Xiaoming, "Xiaoming, shall we raise two more dogs?"
Shen Xiaoming was overjoyed upon hearing this. "Okay. Sister, when will we get them? What kind?"
"Later, let your brother-in-law find your Taobao brother and ask him to find two dogs for us, okay?" Shen Xiaoyan smiled.
"Okay." Shen Xiaoming nodded heavily. He loved small animals the most and was willing to raise as many as there were.
After eating the striped watermelons, Shen Xiaoyan told Shen Xiaoming to play by himself, while she looked at the empty land and began to ponder, cough, she was daydreaming.
Shen Xiaoming watched his sister sit there blankly, her thoughts wandering somewhere. He pretended to be old and shook his head, then got up and walked into the house. He would read his books.
Shen Xiaoyan knew that this area was in the north, and the winters were very cold. It wasn't like her previous life where she could grow two seasons of grain a year; there was only one season.
The grain was planted around the Qingming Festival, and by the Mid-Autumn Festival, there would be a harvest. After the harvest, it would be the farming slack season.
However, Shen Xiaoyan was unwilling to let the land remain idle like this.
But she didn't know how cold the winter here was. What if she planted grain, and it all froze to death?
Troubled, she scratched her head but still couldn't think of a good idea.
Not long after, Zheng Wei returned, driving the cart. Hearing the sound of the cart in the yard, Shen Xiaoyan stood up and walked towards the main gate.