They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 208 With Heart

One remarried and the other remarried, both sides were equal, and neither would feel wronged. They found a matchmaker and the marriage was quickly arranged.

Zeng Xiaojuan's wedding day was set for August 18th.

The news caused a sensation throughout the village.

No, didn't that old woman spread rumors about Zhichun and Yang Ming just a couple of days ago? And now Yang Ming is going to marry Zeng Xiaojuan. What did that old woman do?

In the past six months or so, Liangjia Village has experienced far more sensational events than any other place in the past few years combined.

Everyone was stunned for a moment, and after thinking about the marriage, they realized that they were actually quite well-matched.

"That's great! Isn't it wonderful that they've become a couple? They seem like people who want to settle down, and now they have both a son and a daughter!"

"Yang Ming's luck has really turned around this year. First, his family had a good harvest and life got better. Now he even has a wife. Even if Xiao Juan remarries, she'll still come from a wealthy family like the Zeng family. No one else can compare. Look how beautiful she is, and she's much younger than Yang Ming. She also has a good personality, and she's the daughter-in-law of the village head. Good luck, good luck indeed."

"Stop talking, you're making me jealous. My good-for-nothing son of mine, I don't know when he'll be able to get married."

Everyone was either envious or jealous, and when they talked about this marriage, they couldn't help but bring up Aunt Hua to make fun of her.

Wasn't she spreading rumors about Yang Ming and Xu Zhichun? See? Yang Ming is going to marry Zeng Xiaojuan. It's clear that the old woman has a mouth that's wasted, talking nonsense all day long.

Some people, always eager for a good show, deliberately approached Granny Hua with a grin and said, "Are your eyes getting old and you're not seeing clearly? Yang Ming and Zeng Xiaojuan are a perfect match, how can you drag Zhichun into this? That's not right, hahaha. Look how you've angered Yang Ming, you almost caused a life-or-death situation!"

Aunt Hua was furious. She glared at the annoying person who had come over to talk, muttered something under her breath, and turned away, cursing and swearing at who-knows-who and what.

Those who enjoy watching the drama laugh even harder.

Other villagers also spoke of it with great schadenfreude and glee.

Everyone was very happy to see Aunt Hua's car crash and burn.

Yang Ming's family was bustling with activity.

Their house is too dilapidated and needs to be repaired. They also need to buy some new things for the house.

Previously, he had been hired by Xu Zhichun to work, clearing land and planting konjac, earning more than two taels of silver. He had received a total of four hundred coins for guarding the konjac field for two months. Before and recently, the father and son had worked hard to go up the mountain to find lantern fruit, and had saved up more than four hundred coins in bits and pieces.

After deducting the small amount spent, there are still a total of three taels and a little over one hundred coins left.

Yang Ming gave Zeng Xiaojuan thirty coins as a thank-you gift for the matchmaker, and then gave her one tael of silver as a betrothal gift, so that she and Qiao'er could have two new sets of clothes made and some other things purchased.

That leaves two ounces.

Two taels of silver is certainly not enough to build a house, but replacing the roof with tiles and the doors and windows with new ones is possible.

Uncle Qi Tian generously agreed to help him with carpentry work, such as making doors, windows, and tables. He then suggested that he also make two very practical IKEA-style modular wardrobes while he was at it.

"Don't worry about the money, just pay on credit first. We're all from the same village, why would we be afraid you'll default or run away?"

In the past, Uncle Qitian might have waived wages, but he wouldn't have dared to advance the cost of the timber for fear of running out of money. But things are different now. Not only is he famous for making wardrobes and furniture and has so many jobs that he can't keep up with the demand, but his wife also earns so much every day that she's not afraid to advance the cost of the timber.

Once Zeng Xiaojuan married him, they were practically all on the same side, so there was no need for formalities. Yang Ming was deeply moved, thought for a moment, thanked him profusely, and agreed.

They can still pay off their debts now. The father and son earn two hundred coins a month from Xu Zhichun. Plus, the season for finding lantern fruit is not over yet. Even if they work a little harder, they can still earn twenty or thirty coins a day.

Therefore, they have the confidence to extend credit.

This way, we can save some money, enough to buy two or three sets of clothes, quilts, sheets, pillows, mosquito nets, and a thirty or forty jin of rice. After getting married, we can't skimp on food, let alone anything else.

With another two or three hundred coins left, they could afford to prepare two decent banquets.

Yang Ming was shrewd and meticulous. Although his savings were depleted again, he didn't feel panicked or fearful. Instead, he felt more energetic and motivated.

Yang Xiaoan was also very happy. His stepmother was a good friend of Sister-in-law Tong Zhichun, and he trusted her character. And with such a cute and lovable little sister like Qiao'er, he would definitely be a good older brother in the future.

Yang Ming did his best to prepare for the wedding, which Zeng Xiaoyan saw and her impression of him improved considerably. She privately told Xu Zhichun with a smile, "He seems to care about my second sister. I hope she will meet a good man this time and never have to suffer again."

Xu Zhichun couldn't help but admire him: "Uncle Yang Ming really put his heart into it. He will definitely treat Sister Xiaojuan well."

Zeng Xiaoyan then said, "Should I call him brother-in-law from now on?"

Xu Zhichun couldn't help but laugh: "So, I should start calling you brother-in-law too. I'll just be on Xiaojuan's side, like you."

Zeng Xiaoyan's eyes crinkled when she heard this. "Yes! Second Sister will be very happy. We are all her family. If she is bullied, we will not stand for it."

"Of course."

Magistrate Lu had some capable people under his command. The threshing machine and the windmill were completed in just a few days, and a water-powered mill was also built by someone on the riverbank.

Before Xu Zhichun had even finished her business that day, Granny Ji came with a big smile to personally invite her to the county government office. She also specifically instructed Zeng Xiaoyan and the others: "You can leave first. Madam will arrange a carriage to take Madam Xu back."

Although Zeng Xiaoyan and Aunt Zhu'er didn't know why, they knew it was definitely a good thing, so they quickly agreed and were happy for Xu Zhichun.

The backyard of the county government office was bustling with activity at this moment.

Magistrate Lu, Madam Lu, Clerk Shao, Assistant Magistrate, and Assistant Magistrate's wife were all present. In the center were a threshing machine, a windmill, and freshly threshed rice stalks discarded to the side. Under the windmill, a small basket of golden, half-filled dried rice was placed in the basket, while a layer of empty rice lay on the ground at one end of the outlet.

Magistrate Lu and his men had clearly already tried these two good things.

"This humble woman greets Lord Lu, Madam Lu, and Magistrate Zhao."

"Madam Xu is here! Don't stand on ceremony, come, come, come quickly, Madam Xu, come and take a look at this threshing machine and windmill."

Magistrate Lu laughed heartily and couldn't wait to present the treasure.

It looks familiar!

Xu Zhichun was overjoyed. "Your Excellency is wise. You made it so quickly. This is the first time I've ever seen such a machine. Is this threshing machine and windmill really that good?"

(End of this chapter)