Transmigrated into a minor official in a county government, with children at home waiting for rice t

Lin Laogui followed Zhang Sanlang into the main room, stood by the table with his hands hanging down, not daring to sit down.

Zhang Sanlang pointed to the chair that Carpenter He had recently finished making, "Sit down."

Lin Laogui then sat down on the side, half of his buttocks dangling outside. He glanced at Lin Qiao'er standing at the door, then at Lin Xiu'er nestled in Lin Qiao'er's arms, and his lips trembled slightly.

"Zhang Qianxing, I'm clumsy with words and don't know how to be polite. If it weren't for you taking these two girls in, they would probably have been sold long ago. I can never repay your great kindness in this lifetime."

He was about to kneel down as he spoke.

Zhang Sanlang reached out and supported his arm. "Sit down and talk."

Lin Laogui was pressed back into his chair, his eyes reddening again.

He wiped his eyes with his sleeve, looked at the fine cloth jacket on Lin Qiao'er, and then at the one on Lin Xiu'er. Although the colors were different, the material was exactly the same as what Xi Mei'er and Qing Ge'er were wearing.

He rubbed his hands on his knees. "Zhang Qianxing, the two girls are eating and dressing well here, a hundred times better than when they were with me."

He lowered his head. "I have a favor to ask of you. Could you let the two girls stay with you? I work in the prison camp, a remote and harsh place. I can barely feed myself, how can I support them?"

Old Lin looked up, his eyes brimming with tears. "When the younger ones have saved enough money and become successful, we'll come back for them. Is that alright?"

Zhang Sanlang picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and said, "What's wrong with that? I've already changed their registration to my nameplate. Even if you don't come to pick them up, I'll still take care of them."

Lin Qiao'er suddenly walked over and knelt down in front of Zhang Sanlang.

"Uncle Zhang," her voice trembled slightly, "you took in Xiu'er and me, fed us, clothed us, and didn't look down on us. Qiao'er will remember this kindness for the rest of her life, and will never forget it even in death."

She kowtowed once, her forehead hitting the ground with a dull thud.

Lin Xiuer stood at the door, watching her sister kneel down, and pouted, wanting to come over too.

Lin Qiao'er raised her head and shook her head at her.

Lin Xiuer stopped, gripping the door frame with both hands.

She straightened up, bit her lip, and said, "Uncle Zhang, I want to go with my father."

Zhang Sanlang paused for a moment, his hand holding the teacup still. happy Mei'er also peeked out from the east room, looking at her with some confusion.

Lin Qiao'er's voice was soft but steady. "My father is alone in the prison camp, with no one to take care of him. If I go with him, I can help him boil water, do laundry, and mend clothes. At least I'll have someone to look after him."

She glanced at Lin Xiuer standing at the door. "Xiuer is still young. Staying with the Zhang family is better for her than with my father. Uncle Zhang, could you let Xiuer stay here a little longer?"

Lin Laogui sat in the chair, rubbing his knees with both hands.

Zhang Sanlang put down his teacup, looked at Lin Qiao'er, and asked, "Have you thought it through?"

Lin Qiao'er nodded. "I've thought it through."

Zhang Sanlang glanced at Lin Laogui.

Tears streamed down Lin Laogui's face. "Zhang Qianxing, I..."

Zhang Sanlang waved his hand, stopping him.

Turning to look at Lin Qiao'er, he said, "Fine. You go with your father. Xiu'er will stay here with me. She can come back anytime she wants."

Lin Qiao'er kowtowed again, "Thank you, Uncle Zhang."

She stood up, walked to the door, and squatted down to hug Lin Xiuer.

Lin Xiuer gripped her sister's clothes with both hands, looked up at her, and asked, "Sister, can you not leave?"

Lin Qiao'er tucked her hair behind her ear. "Sister is going to take care of Dad. You stay at Uncle Zhang's house and be good, listen to Xi Mei'er."

Lin Xiuer's lips trembled, tears fell, and she threw herself into Lin Qiaoer's arms, her hands wrapped around her waist, refusing to let go.

Lin Qiao'er patted her back, pushed her away, stood up, and turned to pack her luggage in the east room.

Seeing Lin Xiuer crying, Xi Mei'er quickly came out and hugged her. "Don't cry. Sister Qiao'er will be back in a few days. You're not even a few months younger than me, why do you only know how to cry?"

Lin Xiuer leaned on happy Meier's shoulder, sobbing uncontrollably.

Looking at his two daughters, Lin Laogui's tears fell again.

He wiped his face with his sleeve, turned around and bowed deeply to Zhang Sanlang, "Zhang Qianxing, your humble servant..."

Zhang Sanlang waved his hand. "Alright. Go back and live a good life. Qiao'er is with you, so don't let her suffer. Actually, it's better this way. With her by your side, you'll have more to look forward to, which is better than living alone."

Lin Laogui nodded repeatedly, "I'll remember. I'll remember. Zhang Qianxing, there's one more thing."

Zhang Sanlang looked at him.

Lin Laogui lowered his voice, "I now know that the man surnamed Kong has a grudge against you. After I return to the prison, I will keep an eye on him for you. If he makes any moves, I will find a way to pass on the message."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened and he knelt down again. "Zhang Qianxing, you have done me a great favor. I can't help you with anything else, but I'm willing to risk my life."

Zhang Sanlang had initially been somewhat dissatisfied with him, but seeing his behavior today changed his opinion somewhat. "Get up quickly, don't act like this in front of those sisters. Also, be careful yourself. Don't be forceful. You must always remember that you still have a daughter to raise."

Lin Laogui nodded, "I understand."

Lin Qiao'er had also finished packing her things and was carrying a small bundle in her hand.

A-Yun came out from the west wing, carrying a small cloth bag in her hand. She walked up to Lin Qiao'er and stuffed it into her hand, saying, "Qiao'er, these are a few handkerchiefs that I embroidered myself. Keep them for yourself."

Lin Qiao'er opened it and took a look. It was half a bolt of plain silk that Zhang Sanlang had given to Sister-in-law Sun and her daughter. She used the scraps to make a few handkerchiefs.

Her eyes reddened, and she pressed the handkerchief to her heart. "Sister Yun, thank you so much."

A-Yun shook her head and stepped aside, rubbing her hands on her apron.

Xi Mei picked out some dried fruit and maltose, wrapped them in dried lotus leaves, and stuffed them into Lin Qiao'er's bundle. "Sister Qiao'er, eat this if you get hungry on the road."

Lin Qiao'er received it and tears streamed down her face.

She bent down and hugged Ximei'er. "Ximei'er, please take care of Xiu'er for me. I'll come to see you again after I've settled in."

happy Mei patted her on the back, "Don't worry. Xiu'er is also my sister. This is your home too. Come back whenever you want."

Lin Xiuer stood on the threshold, her hands gripping the door frame, watching her sister and Ximei hug each other. Her lips trembled, and she burst into tears.

She ran over and hugged Lin Qiao'er's leg. "Sister, don't go. Sister, I want to go too."

Lin Qiao'er squatted down and hugged her younger sister, "Xiu'er, be good. I'm going to take care of Dad. I'll come back to see you in a few days."

Lin Xiuer cried so hard she couldn't breathe, clinging to her sister's neck with both hands. Tears and snot streamed down her face, and her voice was distorted, "Can you not leave?"

Lin Qiao'er's tears also fell. Realizing that she couldn't leave now, she hardened her heart and pushed her sister away, "Father, let's go quickly."

Lin Laogui pulled Lin Qiao'er up and turned to walk towards the courtyard gate. Lin Qiao'er looked back and saw Lin Xiu'er being hugged by Xi Mei'er, crying and hiccuping.

The alley was deserted, with only the wind blowing and a few withered leaves swirling on the ground.