Xiao Yue nodded, but her expression turned a little shy. "Xiao Bei-ge, I... I just started working. The money... I'll be able to pay you back in a few days."
Chen Xiaobei waved his hand. "I told you, I gave you the money. Don't bring it up again."
Xiao Yue shook her head slightly. "No, you've already lent me the money, and I'm really grateful. How can I not repay you?"
"I'm working at Zhao Yi's place, and I get 50 wen a month. I'll save up and pay you back."
Just then, a few children appeared from the distance. It was Xiao Mu, bringing a few people toward this way.
He saw Chen Xiaobei and stopped at a distance, not daring to approach.
Clearly, Xiao Yue also saw this and, after saying a few more words, quickly left.
As she walked away, Wu Zhong, who had been watching, looked at Chen Xiaobei with surprise. "How did you get involved with her?"
Chen Xiaobei was equally surprised. "What's wrong with her?"
"Well, if it were anyone else, I wouldn't care much, but since you're involved with her, I have to say something."
"Her name is Feng Xiao Yue. Her father, Feng Peng Ju, was quite a big shot in Qing Niu County, and he worked as an official all the way to the capital. Later, for some reason, he was stripped of his title and sent back home, but things took a turn, and he was then exiled to the border, with all his assets seized. Poor Feng Xiao Yue, one moment she was a young lady from a wealthy family, the next she was a beggar on the streets."
"What? This Xiao Yue girl has such a tragic background?" Chen Xiaobei was surprised by this.
But, thinking about it, in this era, the difference between wealth and losing one's head could happen with just one word, one event.
"Although the emperor hasn't touched her yet, it doesn't mean she's safe in the future. So, you need to be careful."
Chen Xiaobei smiled. "Wu lao-ge, don't worry so much. Didn't she say just now? She's working at Zhao Yi's house. If he's willing to hire her, doesn't that mean he's not a problem?"
"Ah, you don't understand the situation here."
"Zhao Yi's family has people in the capital, so they're not afraid. But we, common folks, don't have that luxury."
Speaking of Zhao Yi, Chen Xiaobei suddenly had a thought. "Lao-ge, isn't this Zhao Yi the one who recently lost his grandson? I heard he wants to buy boys and girls to accompany him in the grave."
Wu Zhong quickly made a shushing motion, looking around to make sure no one was nearby. Once he was sure, he let out a sigh of relief. "Don't talk about this to anyone. Just keep it to yourself. If someone hears it, you'll be in trouble."
"Alright, I won't get involved with these powerful families."
By noon, all the vegetables were sold.
A total of over 50 pounds, and after giving Wu Zhong five big coins, Chen Xiaobei still had 52 coins left.
Wu Zhong was also quite generous, giving him nearly ten pounds of vegetables.
On the way home, Chen Xiaobei started thinking. Without a scale, relying on Wu Zhong's wasn't a long-term solution.
So, once his planting area increased, he would need to get his own scale. However, scales were rare at this time and not cheap; it would cost at least ten big coins.
Since there were no cigarettes at the time, Chen Xiaobei decided to buy some snacks instead.
This way, he could treat Cui Hongyu and Chen Qiao'er to something nice, and also leave some to share with the workers tomorrow, as a small gesture of goodwill.
He also bought some seeds, as some of the green leaves had been harvested today and needed to be replanted as soon as possible.
Driving the donkey cart, he moved at a relaxed pace back toward the village, and by the time he arrived at Heitou Village, it was almost noon.
The village, which should have been quiet, was unusually busy. Many people were hurrying toward his house.
Chen Xiaobei quickly stopped someone and asked, "Third Uncle, what's going on?"
The man answered without turning around, "Da Chun is moving. We're all going to help him out."
Chen Xiaobei knew that Da Chun was moving because he had mentioned it to him before, but he hadn't expected it to happen so soon.
Perhaps it was because Cui Hongyu had been kidnapped, and Da Chun, frightened, decided to leave quickly.
From a distance, he saw that Da Chun's house was surrounded by people, with two horse-drawn carts parked at the entrance.
The people driving the carts weren't from the village; they were probably hired from outside.
Some villagers were helping move bedding out, while others stood at the door watching the commotion.
While there was hustle and bustle over there, Chen Xiaobei's side was much quieter.
He led the donkey cart straight into his yard and tied it up.
Cui Hongyu came over to him and said, "Da Chun is moving, and I wanted to help, but it's so crowded I couldn't get in."
Chen Xiaobei nodded, laughing helplessly. "Then we don't need to go. Da Chun will understand our intentions."
Cui Hongyu hesitated for a moment but eventually nodded and went to prepare lunch.
At that moment, Chen Dachun walked out of his house with a big smile on his face, bowing and saluting the crowd. "Thank you all for helping, thank you!"
Behind him was Xiu Mei, holding a cloth bag in her hand.
The cloth bag contained flatbreads made from white flour.
Xiu Mei handed some to everyone, exchanging a few polite words with each person.
White flour was already a rare commodity, and making flatbreads required adding oil to the dough, making it even more unusual.
Typically, such things were only made for special occasions.
After everyone received their portion of flatbread, they exchanged congratulations once again before gradually dispersing.
Once the commotion around the house settled down, Chen Xiaobei finished his lunch. He stood up, planning to go over and check on things.
As he stepped outside, he almost bumped into Chen Dachun.
"Are you leaving today, Brother?" Chen Xiaobei's voice carried a hint of sadness. As the saying goes, "A distant relative is not as useful as a close neighbor." Having such a neighbor meant they could look out for each other.
Chen Dachun nodded, "Yes, the house in the city is ready. It's the second alley on the right after you enter the east gate. Be sure to visit me next time you're in the city."
Chen Xiaobei nodded, "I'll make a note of it. I'll visit you next time I'm in the city."
Chen Dachun patted his shoulder lightly, then extended his right hand, palm up, holding out a key.
"This is the key to my house. I'm giving this house to you."
What? Chen Xiaobei looked at him in disbelief.
The land the government gave him, he could at least farm for free. But now, he was giving him this house for free too?
"Brother Dachun, this isn't right. If you come back, you'll need a place to stay."
Chen Dachun chuckled, "If I come back, I'll stay at your place. My mother said that without you, we wouldn't have so much money, so this house..."
To be honest, Chen Dachun's house was far better than Chen Xiaobei's. It had five main rooms, side rooms on both sides, a large gate, and a complete courtyard wall. It had been renovated a few years ago when Dachun got married.
Reluctantly, Chen Xiaobei saw Chen Dachun off.
Sitting under the big locust tree, Chen Xiaobei discussed things with Cui Hongyu.
"Hongyu, now that Brother Dachun has given us his house, I'm thinking that when we repair the house tomorrow, we can just open up the wall between our two courtyards. We can fix both of them together, and in the future, we can live wherever we want."