Mrs. Li quickly invited them into the house to drink tea, and then asked Jiaxi Jiaan to go to the fields and call Li Laosan and Li Laosi back.
Soon, the hall was filled with people.
The village chief was also cheerful and straight to the point, explaining his purpose.
"Sister, we came here to discuss something. My six brothers, together they have twenty acres of land. But they are in poor health, and it is very laborious to plant it every year.
Besides, if the harvest is delayed, in addition to the grain tax, there will be no more money. There is only one ration left. It was originally a fertile field. If you cultivate it well, you can always earn two taels of silver a year. It is a pity no matter how you calculate it."
He sighed and said again.
"So, I came here today just to ask your family, do you want to take over these twenty acres of land? Your family has a lot of labor, and these twenty acres should be busy.
In the autumn, in addition to paying the grain tax, give me These old brothers just need to keep a ration. Of course, they can also do some small jobs in the fields on weekdays.
No one will be lazy if they can. Do you think it can be done?"
Mrs. Li was a little dazed after hearing this. , turned to look at his three sons, they were also surprised.
"Brother village chief, when it comes to this matter, are these old brothers suffering too much? Otherwise, you will still be cultivating the land. After we finish our work at home, we will go and help you."
"No, that's not the case. "Uncle Zhao next door was the first to speak.
"Sister, we are all semi-crippled people. Every spring plowing and autumn harvesting, we really can't handle the heavy physical work. Looking at the good fields and the messy planting, we feel uncomfortable.
If your family takes over, we will definitely It won't happen again. As for us, let's help a little bit. In autumn, just get some rations and we'll be hungry."
The other old men also helped out.
"Yes, I have three acres of land. I only planted two acres last year, and the villagers helped."
"It's a pity that good land fell into the hands of disabled people like us."
Mrs. Li saw that they I mean it sincerely. The ten acres of land at home is indeed a bit small.
She thought for a while and said.
"I know that the old brothers are well-intentioned and want to take care of our family. But our family can't take advantage of you. After all, life is not easy. Let's do this. Our family will take over the twenty acres of land.
Don't say anything either. , only one ration is enough in autumn. From now on, you will eat whatever our family eats. Even if there is no harvest in the fields, you will not be short of food."
"That can't be done!" The old men immediately objected.
Although the Li family's life is tight, they cannot be frugal because they have many children.
On weekdays, the Li family's food is the best in the village.
Not only would she often buy white rice and noodles, but Tao Hongying would also bring back meat dishes when cooking.
If they eat with the Li family in the future, the Li family will have to feed six more mouths, but it will be a big loss.
"Yeah, we just need a few bags of sorghum."
"I'm old and can't do any work. I just have a stutter."
The second brother Li is a soft-hearted person and usually takes good care of the old man.
At this time, it is natural to persuade.
"Uncle Zhao, just listen to my mother. We brothers farm well and harvest more grain in the autumn."
"Yes, it's very troublesome for you to start a team on weekdays. Didn't you cook the sorghum rice to paste the day before yesterday? There's no need to eat rice." Li Laosan was so honest that he made the old men blush when he opened his mouth.
There is no woman at home, so they usually just mess around.
It is common for the rice to be overcooked...
Mrs. Li finally said, "Then let's do it. The village chief is here, just in time to write a document. From now on, the fields of several old brothers will belong to our family.
Then our family will provide the food." Now, let's add two sets of clothes and shoes a year. Write it all down, and we won't be afraid if someone gossips in the future."
Several old men were excited after hearing this, which was beyond their imagination.
You don't have to worry about eating and dressing anymore.
Uncle Zhao hurriedly said, "If you write one more sentence in the document, from now on, the firewood cutting and vegetable planting at home will belong to us. No one can steal it, we can still do these jobs."
"Okay, it's settled."
The village chief He slapped the table, his face flushed with excitement, and urged Li Laoer to write the paperwork quickly.
Li Laoer took a pen and paper and wrote carefully and clearly.
Then the three brothers and six old men all pressed their fingerprints.
Finally, it is the village chief who is the witness.
For a time, everyone was happy.
After seeing off the old men and the village chief, Mrs. Li hugged her granddaughter and didn't speak for a long time.
Jiayin struggled to stand up and went to rub grandma's frowning brow.
Mrs. Li came to her senses, kissed her granddaughter with a smile, and then called her sons to talk.
"We have added twenty acres of land to plant, but our family is still a little short of manpower. So, you two, go to the cattle and horse market and buy a mule.
It's best to bring a cart with you to pull things easily. From now on, Hongying's guy on the stove has a lot to do, and he can also be used to pick up and drop off Jiaren."
When Li Laoer and others heard about it, they all became excited.
Adding animals to the family is a big deal.
Mules are not as fast as horses, but they are easy to serve and have good physical strength.
Whether it is farming, pulling a plow stick, or pulling a cart on the road, he is a good hand.
It's a better helper than a donkey, but at this price...
"Mom, I'm afraid if it costs twenty taels of silver, will the family be in trouble?"
Mrs. Li waved her hand and reassured her sons.
"Don't be afraid, I still have more than sixty taels at home, which is enough for spending."
Li Laoer and the others became happy and shouted.
"Tomorrow is the cattle and horse market in the north of the county. Let's go and have a look."
"Yes, it's best to ask each village, just in case there is a suitable one."
"In the future, there is no need to borrow the donkey cart from the village chief's house. "
Old Mrs. Li patted her granddaughter and smiled happily.
Without that idiot Wu Cuihua in the house, there is no need to be wary of her all the time.
It's easier to talk, and no one will interfere with the discussion.
At this time, Wu Cuihua, who was missed by Mrs. Li, was really in dire straits.
She sat on the ground, slapping her thighs and crying.
In a blink of an eye, it has been a month since I was kicked out of my family.
During the twelfth lunar month of winter, she soaked in the cold well water to wash her clothes every day. Her hands were swollen like steamed buns and covered with frostbite.
However, the old lady in charge of the house only gave her ten pounds of sorghum rice a month, and she had to cook her own meals to fill her stomach.
Originally, the food was only enough for her to half-fill herself.
But Wu Ergou came over occasionally and found that she lived and ate by herself, so she came over to eat and live there.
He would get up early, eat, and then leave, hang out in the casino all day, and then come back at night to eat and sleep.
It's really much more comfortable than living without a fixed place before.
This made Wu Cuihua miserable, so she tightened her belt and had to eat close to her younger brother.
Everyone gained weight during the Chinese New Year, but she lost a lot of weight.
Today is the day of food distribution, and she is happy to have a full meal.
As a result, as soon as he turned around, the food bag was gone.
"That man who has killed thousands of swords actually came to my house to steal food. Why didn't he strike with thunder and kill him! It's something that will ruin his descendants and rotten claws!"
At this moment, every family in the courtyard was cooking.
She sat at the door and yelled like this, so naturally everyone could hear her clearly.
No one wants to live a good life and suddenly be labeled a thief.
So, the one with a bad temper came to the fore.
"Wu, before you start to curse, do you want to wipe your eyes? If you are blind, you think we are blind too. There is a thief living in your house. He lost things and blamed others. Why are you so big? Where's your face!"
Wu Cuihua jumped up from the ground with a roar, pinching her waist and scolding her back.
"Whose house do you think a thief lives in? You are blind!"