Perhaps Our Families Could Be Joined By Marriage
Jiang Yimian curiously asked, “Grandfather, what are you sprinkling?”
Old Man Liu smiled and said, “Sprinkling soil. The soil from the rotten withered branches and fallen leaves in the woods is the most fertile. Sprinkling it into the fields is good for the crops.”
The small low-lying land only has some chicken manure and rabbit manure, which is not enough to use as fertilizer. Using this soil from the rotten withered branches and fallen leaves is quite good.
There are many trees in the woods, and fallen leaves are everywhere. Plus, it rains from time to time, so the leaves on the ground rot in the fields, which is perfect for natural fertilizer.
Jiang Yimian responded. Seeing Gousheng and Liu Dayong and the others finish sprinkling the soil in the field and then go to get more soil, she didn’t disturb them any further and went straight to the Chen Family.
Liu Xiaoyun and Wang Fengqin went out to wash clothes at this time. Only Chen Tiezhu was in the house.
Chen Tiezhu sat under the eaves weaving a bamboo basket. Seeing Jiang Yimian come over, he smiled and said, “Yimian, come, sit.”
Jiang Yimian responded, then curiously asked, “Uncle Chen, where is Tiedan?”
She hadn’t seen the little one for many days. Only during those few days when the weather was coldest, she could see the little guy inside the house warming himself by the fire. She hadn’t seen him these past few days.
Chen Tiezhu smiled and said, “Sleeping inside. He was restless last night and wouldn’t sleep, only falling asleep this morning.”
Jiang Yimian didn’t ask further.
Little Tiedan was really a handful. Every night, when going to bed, he had to be held and swayed. If not swayed, the little guy would instantly wake up, crying loudly, very troublesome. Only during the daytime naps was he well-behaved.
Liu Xiaoyun mentioned it every time, full of worry and helplessness.
Jiang Yimian didn’t ask about Tiedan anymore, instead asking about Chen Tiezhu’s recent condition.
Before the new year, she was originally going to operate on him, but she had been busy, and wanted to observe his condition further, so it was delayed until now.
Now the weather is neither as cold as it was a while ago, nor as hot as summer, making it a good time for surgery.
In summer, the weather is hot, and if the wound becomes infected, it would be troublesome.
Chen Tiezhu put down the half-finished bamboo basket, touched his leg covered by a blanket, hesitated for a while, then said, “It’s gotten much better recently. Xiaoyun and Gousheng regularly massage me as you instructed, and I also move my leg from time to time, so it’s much better than before when I couldn’t use my strength.”
Saying this, he lifted his trouser leg.
Jiang Yimian checked his leg, and it looked indeed better than before, at least it wasn’t completely muscle atrophy.
Once she removed the bone fragments, and he did more rehabilitation training, it was estimated that he could stand up again.
Jiang Yimian took his pulse again. His pulse was steady, and his weakened body had also recovered quite a bit. He was indeed ready for surgery.
Jiang Yimian then said, “I’ll perform the surgery once I prepare the things. It should be in these few days.”
She had to go to town to buy some alcohol.
There was alcohol in her space, but not much. It was enough for wound disinfection, but not enough to disinfect the house. She could only extract some alcohol from the alcohol.
Fortunately, it was winter, and it wasn’t a time when bacteria easily bred.
Chen Tiezhu was stunned. After a while, he excitedly said, “Good, Yimian, is there anything I need to pay attention to?”
He was really excited. These days, he could already do most things while sitting in a wheelchair, but it wasn’t enough. He wanted to stand up again; he dreamed of it.
At the thought of having the surgery, and the possibility of regaining his legs, he trembled.
Seeing how excited he was, Jiang Yimian quickly said, “There isn’t much to pay attention to. However, you won’t be able to stand up immediately after the surgery. You need to wait for the wound to heal and slowly rehabilitate and adapt to your legs. This could take a few months, or it could take half a year or even a year, depending on your rehabilitation progress.”
Chen Tiezhu nodded repeatedly, indicating that he understood.
Several days passed, and the people in the small low-lying land were busy. After sprinkling the soil from the withered branches and fallen leaves in the fields, they began to reclaim the wasteland.
Until the twenty-third day of the first lunar month, the day of the market, Zhao Dashu and the others finally had a chance to rest.
Liu Dayong also came this time. Several people carried a full basket of things on their backs and carried several more in their hands, walking down the mountain.
From dawn till bright daylight, they planned to wait for the ox cart at the village entrance.
The village chief had told them last time that if they wanted to go to town, they could wait for the ox cart at the village entrance every morning, and it only cost one copper coin to get to town.
For fear of being late, Jiang Yimian and the others got up early and went down the mountain.
Before they reached the village entrance, they saw a familiar person.
Little Zhang was talking to several other people waiting for the ox cart.
She was carrying a basket covered with cloth. It was estimated that she was also going to town to sell things.
As soon as she saw Jiang Yimian and the others, she greeted them happily, “Oh, it’s you! You’re going to market too? What are you selling?”
Saying this, she curiously looked towards their back baskets and the buckets they were carrying.
However, the back baskets and buckets were all covered, so she couldn’t see. She didn’t dare reach out to uncover them, so she glanced a few times and withdrew her gaze, smiling and asking, “Why don’t you come live in the village? It’s not only cold on the mountain, but there are also many wild beasts; it’s very dangerous.
The other refugees who came to live in the village are already here. The family at the foot of the mountain even asked the village chief to hire a bricklayer to build a house. It seems like they’re going to build a house with green bricks and big tiles. This is the first family in our village who can afford to build a house with green bricks and big tiles.”
The other people waiting for the ox cart heard this and immediately gathered around, their eyes full of curiosity.
“Little Zhang, are you sure it’s a house with green bricks and big tiles? That house must cost a lot of silver to build!”
“Yes, it’s said that refugees are all fleeing famine. Where would they get so much silver? If they have that much silver, wouldn’t it be better to buy a small residence in town?”
Little Zhang glanced at her, and said displeasedly, “How would I know? I only heard the village chief say that he helped them find a bricklayer. Yesterday, I saw that the few dilapidated houses at the foot of the mountain were all demolished. I guess it was the refugees who asked the village chief for help.”
Another woman nodded knowingly, “The land at the foot of the mountain is not small. It can probably accommodate five or six houses. That refugee family must have quite a few people. If they use the same amount of silver to buy a residence in town, they wouldn’t be able to buy such a large one.”
“That makes sense, but to build it with green bricks there, it would probably cost more than ten taels.”
As soon as these words came out, a woman with drooping eyes who had just walked over instantly lit up, “Hey, I wonder if that family has a marriageable daughter or son. My Huzi and Chunhua are about the age to marry. If it’s suitable then, our two families can become in-laws.”
As soon as this was said, everyone was stunned.
Little Zhang was the first to react, laughing heartily, “Chen Guixiang, how unmarriageable is your Chunhua that you’re so anxious to find her a husband? Huzi is only fourteen, and you’re already thinking about getting him a wife. Isn’t it because you think that refugee family has money? Maybe they’re just a couple with a child. Look at the idea you’re coming up with.”