Ugly girl only wants to farm

Chapter 111 I at least have some strength

Meng Jiuhe gave a self-deprecating smile. Looking at the newly renovated courtyard, she was filled with mixed emotions. She had experienced too much during this period. Now that her parents were missing, the entire burden of the family fell on her shoulders.

He resented the injustice of the world, which allowed him to linger on in this life. Why didn't they just kill him last time? He's completely useless now.

Meng Jiu and Meng Jiu, looking utterly dejected, both turned and walked back.

"Brother Meng, what's wrong?" Zhang Xuyang's concerned voice came over.

The two houses weren't too far apart, and Zhang Xuyang stood by the fence looking this way.

He went out to the street early in the morning to inquire about the news and came back just in time to see Meng Jiuhe looking so lost. He was a little surprised because Meng Jiuhe never had this kind of expression before. What happened to him or what was wrong?

Meng Jiuhe composed himself and said calmly, "I'm fine. I was just feeling a bit frustrated because I was stuck in the house with nothing to do and couldn't help much."

Hearing this, Zhang Xuyang felt a pang in his heart, and his guilt burned like a flame.

He was truly foolish to have made such a mistake with Qi Tianci and the others. Fortunately, he still had a shred of conscience and left a clue for everyone, allowing Meng Jiuhe to escape with his life. This matter is a thorn in his heart that he will feel guilty about for the rest of his life.

He steadied himself and invited, "If you're really bored, you can discuss your studies with me. I've suddenly realized that I'm not used to the school since you left."

He had thought long and hard before saying this. What he originally wanted to express was that he had become a first-class student after you left, but he had never felt that joy. This first-class status was not legitimate. He still missed the time when the two of them argued with each other about their studies.

Meng Jiuhe politely declined his offer: "With my frail body, I've been lying at home for so long that my studies have long been neglected, and I'm not qualified to discuss this with you."

Zhang Xuyang became so anxious that his face turned red and his neck bulged. He tried to explain, "Brother Meng, why belittle yourself? In my heart, you will always be first-class. I just happened to go to the school today."

When Zhang Xuyang said this, a glimmer of light finally appeared in Meng Jiuhe's eyes, but it quickly dimmed again. He said indifferently, "Oh, how is the Master doing? He's getting old, I wonder if he was injured that day."

Zhang Xuyang noticed that when he mentioned the school, a faint light appeared in Meng Jiuhe's dull eyes.

He wanted to hold onto that sliver of light tightly, to pull him out of the muddy swamp.

Zhang Xuyang asked casually, "Do you still remember Qi Tianci and his buddies?"

Meng Jiuhe, feeling a bit tired from standing, grabbed a stool and sat down.

"Yes, I remember those few good-for-nothings who always gave the teacher a headache."

Zhang Xuyang didn't see any change on his face, so he continued, "The teacher is fine, but he's old and got a fright. I don't know if the school was in disrepair or if the location was low, but everyone else and the teacher ran out. Only Qi Tianci and his few friends were trapped under the collapsed walls and beams."

"I heard that they were rescued the next day. When they were carried out, their arms were limp and hanging down, probably ruined for life. They couldn't even hold a pen properly anymore."

Zhang Xuyang originally thought that Meng Jiuhe would show a happy expression after hearing this, but to his disappointment, Meng Jiuhe still had the same expression, and sighed slightly and said with some regret: "It's a pity that they were perfectly fine, why did they suffer when others ran out."

Seeing that he was talking more today, Zhang Xuyang pushed aside the fence and walked over to him: "That day, the teacher was lecturing, and everyone was listening attentively. You know those few people, they were either dozing off or playing other games while the teacher was lecturing. It just so happened that they were sleeping soundly that day, and the others helped the teacher run out. In the face of life and death, who is selfish? No one cared about them."

Meng Jiuhe pointed to the bench beside him: "Please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality."

Zhang Xuyang pulled over a bench and started chatting with him. The two talked for several hours, and it was almost noon.

Meng Jiu looked outside several times but couldn't see Xu Chaoyan. Meng Jiuxia was busy tidying up the house and kitchen. Before leaving, her sister-in-law told her to take good care of her older brother.

She carefully handed him a bowl of steaming hot herbal soup: "Brother, this medicine is to be taken before meals. I've cooled it down for you. Drink it first. It's scorching hot outside. Why don't you go back inside?"

Meng Jiuhe had just moved the stool under a tree. Although the yard was overgrown with weeds when they came in, the fruit trees were growing well, but their branches and leaves were too dense. Since no one lived there, no one had pruned them, so they could provide some shade from the scorching sun.

He glanced outside again, his worry barely concealed, and finally couldn't help but ask, "Did Xu Chaoyan say when she would be back this morning? Did she say where she was going? Why don't you go check up ahead?"

Meng Jiuxia looked at the medicine in front of her: "My sister-in-law said that this medicine is to be taken before meals every day. You should drink this medicine first, and I will come over to check on you right away."

Meng Jiuhe picked up the medicine bowl and drank it down in one gulp, leaving Meng Jiu dumbfounded. The bitter smell of the medicine still lingered in the courtyard.

"Brother, don't you feel bitter at all?"

"Fortunately."

When my sister-in-law left this morning, she said there were still a few pieces of candy there, and she would cut him a small piece after he finished his medicine. She glanced at my brother, who looked completely at ease, and it seemed that the candy would be useless.

By the time Xu Chaoyan returned, the sun was already setting.

She walked slowly back to the courtyard from outside, gently tapping her shoulders and waist as she went.

After several hours of this day, she was suffering from backache and leg cramps, and sighed again as she looked at the pitiful few copper coins in her hand.

These people are so discriminatory towards women. A grown man can earn about 20 coins, but she can only earn seven or eight coins. She can only grit her teeth and keep going.

She stretched and yawned as she walked, trying to put on a smile.

"Sister-in-law, I'm back."

Meng Jiuxia was feeding her chicks when she saw her return. She immediately went to greet her, wiping her hands on her apron before getting closer: "Sister-in-law, how was your day? Are you tired? Do you want some water? Are you hungry?"

Xu Chaoyan interrupted her: "Could you ask one question at a time? There are so many, which one should I answer first?"

Meng Jiuhe poured her a glass of warm water and handed it to her: "Have a sip of water and rest for a while."

Xu Chaoyan glanced at the chicks running happily in the yard, then downed her cup of water in one gulp and praised them, "Little sister-in-law, you've taken good care of my chicks. Just remember not to let those eagles and wild cats snatch them away. It took me so many years to raise them to this size. When I have some free time, I'll build them a fence so they don't run around the yard and leave chicken droppings everywhere. It's just that my skills aren't as good as Dad's."

She suddenly realized she had said the wrong thing and quickly changed the subject: "Come on, come on, come on, I'll go back and make you dinner. I'm so hungry today."

Meng Jiuxia glanced at her elder brother, and only spoke after seeing that his expression was alright.

"Sister-in-law, I've already prepared dinner. Have some water and rest for a bit. My brother has been worried about you all day. You two should have a good talk. I'll go get the rice now."

Xu Chaoyan glanced at Meng Jiuhe, looking surprised: "Are you worried about me? It's alright, I'm just going out to find a job. Don't worry about these things, you'll recover completely with proper care."

Meng Jiuhe looked like he wanted to say something but hesitated for a long time without actually asking.

Xu Chaoyan looked a little anxious and asked directly, "What do you want to say? Just say it directly, don't ramble on like you're spilling beans."

Meng Jiuhe: "What kind of work can a woman like you find outside? Don't let anyone bully you. Why don't we wait a while longer, until I'm almost fully recovered, then I'll go out and see what kind of work I can do. After all, I'm a man and I have some strength."

When Meng Jiuhe got to this point, Xu Chaoyan suddenly couldn't help but burst out laughing: "You should save your strength. Your hands are for holding pens, not for doing rough work."

As the three of them sat around the table eating, Xu Chaoyan couldn't help but hiss as she picked up food with her bamboo chopsticks.