Back in the Shens room, a small oil lamp was lit, and Zeng Rui Xiang and Zi Fu were all there. Shens eyes were red, as if she had just cried, Zi Fu and Zi Lu were pursing their mouths, looking very unhappy, only Xiao San stared with a confused expression.

  "Qinger, come, Daddys here. My poor baby girl has been wronged." As soon as Zeng Rui Xiang said this, Shen Shis tears flowed again.

  "Its too unfair, not even sparing the children. What kind of day is this? Waaah, lets just separate households then. Bringing my own kids, whether its bitter or sweet Ill take responsibility myself, during confinement dont even mention old mother hen, they wont even give me eggs to eat, and the kids are also sometimes fed sometimes not."

  "Weve separated, Im not by your side anymore. Youre a woman with five kids, its still tiring. Besides, didnt you want to separate from the big brothers household? They wanted to separate even more than us, but Father wouldnt agree. If we separate, the eighteen taels of silver I earned will probably only give us eight taels at most. Fuer needs to go to school, and in two years Luer will be grown up too. Its tough. Separating is hard, not separating is also hard."

  "After dividing it, theres still a few taels left. If we spend it carefully for a year, it wont make much difference. If we dont divide it, not even a single copper coin will fall into our hands, and all thats left is resentment. Isnt it just because they look down on us for having too many children? If we dont divide it, with just these two rooms, the kids are growing up, where can they live? I still need to save money to buy land and build a house."

  "Haha, youre still quite ambitious. Fuer, youve also learned to read and understand reason, what do you think? Is it better to divide or not to divide?" This old dad is quite democratic.

  "Dad, I also think its better to separate. Ill help take care of my younger brother and sister at home. Ill come back home after school and can also help with some farm work." Zifeng said.

  "And me, I can cook, gather firewood and take care of my younger brother and sister." Ziru also hastily expressed his own thoughts, fearing that Father would not ask him.

  "Father, I can feed the pigs and chickens for Mother, and also take care of the ducks and the big white goose."

  "Haha, Qinger knows a lot, why do you want to feed the chickens and ducks? Do you want to eat eggs?" Zeng Ruixiangs face finally had a hint of a smile.

  "Give it to mom to eat, brother to eat, everyone eats." Zi Qing continued to act cute and innocent.

  Lianzi Fu and Zilu were also amused, and the atmosphere suddenly relaxed.

  "Alright, Qinger knows how to take care of her mother. You are all good children to your mother, with you several by my side, I am content for this lifetime." Shen said as she hugged Zi Qing.

  "It wont be tough, our family will get better and better. Mother, dont worry. Ill study hard and live a good life." Zifeng said.

  "But mom, what can I do? Xiaosan doesnt know how to do anything!" Xiaosans tangled expression was hilarious.

  "Hehe, little three, you can wait until your brother grows up and take him out to play." Zi Qing teased.

  "Oh, then I want to grow up quickly." Zi Shou said with a frown.

  Everyone in the house was amused by Xiao San, this is a warm family. Zeng Ziying made up her mind at this moment, she must protect the warmth of this home. A poor family has many sorrows, the most important thing is to get rid of poverty and become rich.

  "Alright, dont mention the separation to outsiders for now, Ill handle it. Remember? Fuer, come here and let me see what youve learned in the past few days. Luer, take your sister to bed first."

  "Daughter, there are still three buns left, Auntie gave them to me, Ill save them for you to eat when youre hungry." Zi Qing remembered the three buns in her hand.

  "My daughter isnt hungry, you all divide it up and eat."

  "Then just leave it and eat when youre hungry." Zi Qing handed it over.

  "Good boy, then leave one for mom, you two share and eat."

  "Alright, well have one each, Mum and Dad will share one, and leave one for Mum to eat tomorrow. Thats settled." Zi Qing said.

  "Alright, Ill listen to what Qinqin has to say." said Shen Shi with a smile.

  "Daughter, youre teasing Qinger again."

  "Alright, I wont make fun of you."

  Under the dim light of the oil lamp, the family quietly enjoyed the happiness brought by the two roasted buns. And its not bad to say that these buns had sesame seeds on the outside and a thin layer of sweet filling inside, Zi Qing thought they were even more delicious than the mooncakes from last year.

  Zi Rong brought out Zi Qing, just in time to see a twelve or thirteen year old girl holding a lantern and standing in the hall talking to Old Lady Zeng. It seemed like she was seeing off the old lady into the house.

  "Zi Qing, youre out. Are you feeling better? Let Aunt Xiu Ying take a look. Your little face is washed clean today, not bad. Your sister Ping hasnt come up yet, why dont you sleep with me tonight? Anyway, Im alone too."

  "I was originally sleeping in the same room as my cousin." Zi Qing thought to herself, unaware that in another house, her cousin Zi Ping and Zhou Shi were having a conversation:

  "Mother, I just wont sleep with her, shes filthy. She sleeps with pigs and is both dirty and smelly. I dont want to sleep with her." Zi Ping pleaded with Zhou Shi.

  "His daughter saw that she had washed and was quite clean. Moreover, didnt the doctor say that she was cured? His mother thought it was nothing." said Zhou Shi.

  "Who knows, anyway Dads not home, so Ill stay with you today."

  "All right, its really annoying. Then you go tell her that she and her brothers should squeeze in a bit, dont dirty our family bed." said Zhou Shi after thinking for a moment.

  So, Zeng Ziying and Zi Lu finally returned to their own room. Zi Lu turned on the lights in the house, and surprisingly, there was still a bookshelf inside, which seemed to have been used by Zeng Rui Xiang before. There was also a wooden table, and then only one bed was left. The bed was made of wooden boards, supported by two stools, and there was a wooden bucket in the corner. Ziying took off her outer cotton jacket and pants, revealing thick cotton long-sleeved shirt and pants underneath. After getting into bed, Ziying felt that it was soft and comfortable, and realized that the bottom layer was made of thick straw, with a thin mattress on top. It seemed that the straw still played a significant role.

  In Zi Qings conscious chatter, I understood the situation of Aunties family: Old Aunties home was in a small village more than ten miles away from here, very close to Grandmas house. Old Aunties surname is Xiao and he is a hunter, after marrying Auntie they settled down here, this town is called Wutong Town, although its small but its very close to the prefecture. Auntie gave birth to many children but only four daughters survived, even the youngest daughter has kids now, the eldest daughter married Zi Qings uncle, Uncle works in Lin Countys county seat, he took the whole family there with him. The aunt-in-law opened a pancake shop over there. Because Auntie didnt have any sons, Old Auntie remarried to a younger wife Peng Shi, this younger wife gave birth to three boys and three girls, the eldest daughter got married, the two elder sons are already at the age of getting engaged, Old Auntie passed away due to illness for some time now. This time they went back to their hometown to set up a tombstone because Winter Solstice is approaching. According to local customs, after someone passes away and gets buried, you cant immediately set up a tombstone, it has to be done when the Winter Solstice arrives that year, if not then it will have to be done on the next years Winter Solstice.

  What a headache! Such a big family. Zi Qing was still worried and dazed before going to sleep, wondering how they could live like this, and insisted on dividing the house and moving out.