Seeking monthly ticket, striving for additional updates at night

  The old man thought that Xia Zhi was simple and unpretentious, not fond of vanity, this virtue is very rare in a young girl. He liked such an unassuming junior. At the same time, when Xia Zhi opened her bundle to take out new clothes, Old Master Xia also saw what was inside her small, flat bundle.

  Apart from the set of thin cotton clothes made by Xia Zhi herself, and a pair of new large green cloth shoes also purchased by Xia Zhi, there were two sets of old trousers and jackets, which were made from the old clothes of Xia Xiucai and Xia Qiao, and had been worn for many years, with patches all over them.

  Old Master Xia sighed secretly, in their Xia family, only Tian treated his daughter like this. He thought for a moment, then took out a string of money from his pocket and handed it to Xia Zhi: "Sixteen, you take this."

  "Grandpa, I don't want to." Xia Zhi was startled.

  A string of cash in an ordinary peasant household can also buy quite a few things. No one would casually take out a string of cash for children to spend.

  "Grandpa is giving it to you, so take it. It's your pocket money." Old Man Xia insisted on giving the money to Xia Zhi and explained that it was only for her, with no share for Xiao Hei Yu. "When you go to your eldest aunt's house, listen to your eldest aunt and take good care of your uncle. You're a well-behaved child, I won't remind you of anything else."

  As he spoke, Old Man Xia patted Xia Zhi's head. His expression was very kind, but when Xia Zhi looked up at him, she felt that his eyes were somewhat complicated.

  That was a complexity after seeing through everything.

  Xia Zhi thought, although Old Man Xia didn't say anything, he should know everything by now. After all, both the palm and back of one's hand are made of flesh.

  Mr. Xia gave this money to Xia Zhi on his own initiative, and Mrs. Xia had also prepared some pocket money for Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei after they entered the city.

  Old Lady Xia took out a small box, inside which were scattered some copper coins, probably around ten or so.

  Summer big aunt took the little brother and little niece back home to be a guest, naturally will arrange everything properly, nothing needs the children to spend money. So she let Summer old man and Summer old lady not give the two children pocket money.

  "When I get there, I can still lose to Xiaolong and Sixteen! Dad, mom, you keep this money for your own use."

  "You're spending your own feelings, what we give to the two children is ours. Your father and I have given money to the kids, can't you just not spend it?!" Xia Lao Tai Tai smiled and still handed the small box to Xia Zhi.

  Xiao Hei Yu and Xia Zhi are uncle and nephew, with Xia Zhi holding the purse strings.

  The little black fish has no objection.

  When Xia Zhi saw the push, she couldn't refuse anymore. When she saw Xiao Hei Yu's smiling face, she took all the money and put the small wooden box into her own bag.

  Old Lady Xia also helped Xiao Hei Yu pack a small bundle, which was handed over to Xia Zhi for safekeeping.

  Xia Sanbo and Zhang Sheng had already loaded the car outside. Xia Lao Ye, Xia Lao Tai Tai, Xia San Jiu, and a group of people including Ruan Yue saw off Xia Da Gu, Xia Zhi, Pearl, and Xiao Hei Yu Er as they got into the car with reluctance to part ways.

  The carriage was not too spacious, but there was only one adult, Xia Dagu, and Xia Zhi, Pearl, and Xiao Heiyu were all underage, so they didn't feel crowded when sitting.

  Changsheng hurried to get on the carriage, and Daqing was also brought along (Xiao Heiyu had specially requested it, he couldn't bear to be separated from Daqing for so many days), and lay down on the opposite side of the carriage. Under the reluctant gaze of the Xia family, the horse-drawn carriage quickly left the village and headed onto the official road leading to the prefectural city.

  Daxingzhuang to Fucheng, had to go through Lishui Town. Xia Dagou took Xia Zhi and a few others without getting off the bus, and Changsheng bought some food, hastily packed a simple meal, and then continued northward.

  Everyone chatted and laughed along the way, Zhang Sheng drove the carriage at a moderate pace, and by dusk, they arrived at the prefectural city.

  Xia Dagu's family lived on Xishi Street, with three storefronts facing the street, which was the Guo family's general store. Next to the storefront was a doorway, with a tightly closed black lacquered wooden door.

  The horse carriage arrived at the gate, and a young servant hurriedly opened the door. Changsheng drove the carriage into the courtyard. After entering the gate, it was a small yard. In the center of the yard was an ancient pine tree, which looked like it had been hugged by one person for many years. There were several rooms in the north house and east and west wing houses, as well as cattle sheds and low eaves.

  Xia arrived and they got off the carriage in the courtyard. Xia's aunt told her and Xiao Hei that the shop assistant lived here, and this was also the warehouse of the grocery store.

  The north house is a vestibule, after passing through the vestibule and turning around a powder-white shadow wall, it is the courtyard where Xia Dagu's family lives. The three main rooms are where Xia Dagu and Guo Shu live with Zhenzhu, the two east wing houses are uninhabited, storing more precious goods. There are also two south houses, which are the kitchen and the servant's quarters.

  Guo Changsheng did not live with his parents in the same courtyard, but lived in a cross courtyard on the east side, connected to the main courtyard by a moon gate, and could also be directly accessed through a narrow corridor to the front of the first courtyard.

  Changsheng led the way, carrying their luggage downstairs. Xia Dagou led Xia Zhi and Xiao Heiyu through the grape arbor in the courtyard to the upper house. The main house had three rooms, one bright and two dark, with the bright room serving as a living room. Xia Dagou first led them to sit down in her and Guo Gufu's east wing.

  The east room had a kang by the window, covered with half-new mats. The floor was filled with trunks and chests, all of which were also half-new and half-old. A young maid brought in tea and two plates of fruit.

  Xia Dagu let Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu'er drink some water and eat some snacks first.

  "Mother Liu has already cooked dinner, we'll be eating soon." Xia Dagu said, and Changsheng personally carried in the luggage of Xia Zhi and Changsheng. Xia Dagu smiled and asked Xia Zhi, "Sixteen, do you want to live with your sister Zhenzhu?"

  Summer solstice naturally says good.

  Then, Aunt Xia asked Xiao Hei Yu again: "Xiao Long, are you living in this house with your sister and brother-in-law, or with your niece and nephew in the western house?" Aunt Xia's intention was to have Xiao Hei Yu live with her.

  Little Black Fish thought for a moment and said: "Sister, I'll still live with Sixteen."

  Xia Dagu smiled: "That's okay." Then, she let Changsheng go ahead and urge Guo Gufu, while she personally carried the two children's luggage to the west room.

  As soon as Pearl arrived home, she went to the west wing by herself. Now she has changed her clothes and is being served by that little maid who is helping her wash her hands and face. At the same time, she is giving orders in a spoiled tone: "Tell Liu Shu, I want to eat tofu skin buns with filling, add some Jinhua ham, and chop it into small pieces."

  Summer's aunt came in and heard it, smiled, and let Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei sit on the kang.

  This western-style house also has a large kang by the window, with a big red woolen blanket on it. The floor is also filled with chests and cabinets, which are different in style and color from those in Xia Dagu's room. There is also a full-length mirror, a rare dressing table in the countryside, all of which are very new. It can be seen that Xia Dagu and Guo Gufu are very fond of this little girl, and the good things at home are all given to her first.

  Zhenzhu saw Xia Dagu put the bundles of Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu on her kang, her small face clouded over. Xia Dagu walked over, first sending the maid Xiao Hong out, then personally wiping her daughter's face.

  "...your sister and fourth aunt will live in this house with your uncle. You must take good care of them for me."

  Zhenzhu lifted her face and looked at Xia Dagou for a moment, remained silent for a while, then softly responded.

  Summer elder sister just said a good child, then took the pearl over, letting the pearl move out a grid from the kang cabinet to put summer and small black fish's package.

  Before Xia Dagu could make any arrangements, the sound of footsteps and voices came from outside. "It's Lao Zhang back!" Xia Dagu said with a smile, and quickly took Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei out.

  Uncle Guo wore a blue satin changshan, he was not tall, round and plump, with a gentle face, speaking in a soft and gentle voice.

  Xia Dagu let Xiao Hei Yu and Guo Gufu meet, and specially introduced two more sentences about Xia Zhi: "Big brother's daughter, her full name is Xia Zhi, and her nickname is Sixteen."

  Guo uncle and Xiao Hei Yu'er are familiar, but to Xia Zhi is a bit strange. However, he was very polite, first asking about the well-being of Xia Lao Ye Zi and Xia Lao Tai Tai, then chatting with Xiao Hei Yu'er for a few words, and then inquiring about Xia Xiu Cai and Tian Shi to Xia Zhi.

  After a while, Liu's wife brought in the meal with Xiao Hong. The meal was placed in the main room, and everyone sat around it in a circle.

  "...just make yourself at home, don't be polite." Guo uncle said to Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu with a gentle tone, then picked up a dish for Xiao Hei Yu. Only then did everyone start eating.

  For dinner, they had plain rice with three dishes and a soup. There was meat, and in front of Zhenzhu was a dish of steamed buns wrapped in bean curd skin, just what she wanted.

  The people in Guo's family didn't speak when they were eating, and Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei followed the local customs. Everyone quietly finished a meal, and Liu Sao and Xiao Hong came up to clean up the table. Then Guo Shu said he had something to do and took Zhang Sheng away with him.

  Xia Dagu thought that after sitting in the car all day, Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu must be tired, so she came to the west room to take care of the two children. Zhen Zhu used a pink quilt and pillow, she had several sets by herself. Xia Dagu didn't let anyone move Zhen Zhu's, instead, she asked Liu Sao and Xiao Hong to bring over quilts and pillows from her own room, one set with big red satin, one set with old green satin, all with auspicious dragon and phoenix patterns.

  "It was also made by your grandma when I got married." Xia Dagu personally helped Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu'er make their bed, and whispered to Xia Zhi with a smile. After finishing this sentence, she raised her voice again to remind the two children. "Although it's warm during the day, it's still quite cool at night. Don't be greedy for coolness, cover yourself well with the quilt and sleep."

  Summer naturally agreed and promised to take good care of Little Black. "At home, my uncle accompanies me, and I also take care of my uncle."

  Xia Dagu smiled and nodded: "I've heard your mother say it. You're a sensible child, you can be with your uncle, we're all at ease." What she meant by saying those words just now was also to ask Xia Zhi to take care of Xiao Hei Yu. She couldn't come over every night, and Zhen Zhu wouldn't know how to take care of people either, so it had to be Xia Zhi who could be entrusted with this task.

  Then, Liu and Xiaohong brought in water for the three children to wash their faces.

  "Let your uncle and fourth sister wash first." Xia Dagu said to Zhenzhu.

  "We have nothing to do with each other, let Pearl wash first." Xia Zhi hurriedly said, and then discussed with Xia Da Gu, "Let Liu Shu and Xiao Hong serve Xizhu, from now on, these things, my uncle and I will take care of them ourselves."

  In Xia Dagu's household, there were four servants in total. Da Liu and his son Liu Qiang were in the outer courtyard, responsible for rough chores, night shifts, and following Guo Gufu and Guo Zhangsheng out. Liu Sao and her daughter Xiao Hong served in the inner courtyard, doing cooking, sweeping, washing, and all other household chores were their mother-daughter duo's responsibility.

  Things outside the hospital were unclear to Xia Zhi, but inside the hospital, Liu Shu and Xiao Hong were not enough. Apart from those rough tasks, Xia Dagu did many things by herself. The only one who needed to be served in everything was Zhu Pearls.

  Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei came as guests, but didn't expect to be treated like pearls. So Xia Zhi brought it up first.

  "Don't worry, Big Auntie. Although my little uncle is small, he can take care of himself and with me keeping an eye on him, everything will be fine."

  Xiao Hei also nodded. Before he came, Old Lady Xia had instructed him many times. "Big sister, I don't need anyone to serve me, having Sixteen keep an eye on me is enough."

  At home, there are two more children. If everything needs to be taken care of by others, then the manpower is really not enough. Xia Dagu also didn't stand on ceremony, but only scolded Zhenzhu with one sentence: "You should learn from your husband and fourth sister."

  Zhenzhu looked at Xiaozhi and Xiaqi, hummed softly, but didn't say a word.

  Xia Dagu watched Xia Zhi and the little black fish wash up. Xia Zhi quickly washed and dressed the little black fish, then took care of himself.

  At this time, Pearl was already sitting in front of the dresser, with Little Red serving her to remove hairpins and comb her hair. She herself opened a three-layered dressing box and slowly searched for cosmetics and jewelry inside.

  Xia Dagu's gaze moved away from her daughter and slowly fell on Xia Zhi. Xia Zhi was holding a wooden comb with missing teeth to comb his hair. This wooden comb was also discarded by Tian Shi.

  Mrs. Tien had great expectations for her daughter's visit to the city, but she only hastily made a skirt for her (of course, she also wanted to give her daughter rouge and powder, but there was no rush in summer), other things she didn't think of at all, or rather, she didn't notice at all. Mrs. Tien had never really cared about her daughter, with flaws everywhere.

  Xia Dagu sighed and turned to leave. When she arrived at the living room, she heard her uncle Guo from the east house talking with Zhang Sheng. Xia Dagu hesitated for a moment before heading towards the east house.

  "Mother, have you arranged for my uncle and Sixteen?" Changsheng stood up, waiting for Xia Dagu to sit down on the kang before sitting back down himself.

  Xia Dagu let out a sigh.

  "What's wrong, Mother?" Changsheng hastily asked.

  Guo's uncle didn't say a word, but his eyes were also fixed on Xia Dagu.

  Xia Dagu took out a key from under her collar and handed it to Changsheng: "Go to the lower house to fetch a dressing box, just like the one your sister used. Also pick up a set of fine combs, hairpins and so on, just like your sister's."

  Kuo Chang-sheng immediately took over the key and left without asking any questions.

  Uncle Guo's face was somewhat gloomy under the lamp light, and he asked Aunt Xia: "The child's mother, what is this..."

  (。)