1-10

Chapter 1

"Whoosh--"

The knife-like cold wind mixed with fine snow made the windows rustle, and the shadows of the trees in the yard were like ghosts, almost breaking through the windows.

Lin Zhen quickly stretched out her hand to block the flame of the oil lamp that was almost out of breath due to being blown long, and went to the main room.

Her "husband" Gu Da died of drinking, and her husband calculated that the second day of next month would be a good day for burial, so the coffin was placed in the main room first. The oil lamps and paper money could not stop every day, and relatives who came to pay their respects and villagers who came to help had to be entertained. Not only did she spend money like water, but she also had red eyes from staying up all night.

Lin Zhen pushed open the door of the corridor connecting the right wing and the main hall, and saw the small figure kneeling in front of the coffin. He walked over and said, "I'll guard the second half of the night. You go to bed and take a nap. There will be a big banquet the day after tomorrow, and you still have a lot to do."

It's ridiculous to say that Lin Zhen is a small businessman in modern times. He has a net profit of 600,000 or 700,000 yuan a year. Although he is not rich, he lives a carefree life.

Yesterday, he drank a little too much in the bar, sat in the car waiting for the designated driver, and arrived here as soon as he opened his eyes.

After a day and a night, he finally came to his senses.

He is not a small boss anymore. He is now the male wife of Gu Da, the richest man in Datianzi Village.

And the timing of his coming is not good or bad. Her husband Gu Da went to the town to drink and died, and his body was pulled back by people from the same village.

The kid kneeling in front of the coffin was born to Gu Da and his previous wife. He is seven years old this year and his name is Gu Shuanzi.

Gu Da is a capable man. When he was young, his family was so poor that he couldn't even wear pants. He was a bird with two eggs and was laughed at by the villagers when he was outside. His parents favored the youngest son. They would chew up anything that stuttered and feed it to the youngest son, and he would not get a cent.

So when Gu Da was fifteen, he had a complete quarrel with his parents, turned the house upside down, and left the house, living alone under the cliff in the village.

He had no choice but to wrap his clothes around his head and go to the town barefoot to do hard labor. He didn't know how he caught the attention of a big shot, who taught him to read two books and specialized in selling things in the mountains. Then he married a village beauty who was counted in several nearby villages and gave birth to Gu Shuanzi.

But the village beauty was unlucky. She died of a serious illness two years after giving birth to Gu Shuanzi. Two years later, Gu Da married the original owner of this body, Lin Zhen, who had the same name and surname as himself.

Lin Zhen is also a small successful person in modern times. He is about the same age as Gu Da and can figure out Gu Da's psychology.

Gu Da really had some feelings for his original wife, and he was also really good to their only son Gu Shuanzi.

He would marry Lin Zhen because, firstly, there was no one at home to take care of the father and son; secondly, Lin Zhen was a boy, and he was a boy who was beaten by his previous husband's family because of a light pregnancy mole. He couldn't have children and would not pose a threat to Gu Shuanzi; thirdly, Lin Zhen was good-looking.

(?_?)

Lin Zhen still couldn't accept what kind of boy he was.

It was obvious that his thing was just a little small, how could he sleep with a man and still have a baby!

It was so fucking ridiculous!

Fortunately, his pregnancy mole was just a mark that couldn't be seen unless you looked carefully, and it wouldn't remind him of this bad thing all the time.

Gu Shuanzi, who was only seven years old, didn't even look at him, kneeling on the ground and adding paper money to the basin in front of the coffin.

Lin Zhen couldn't shout anymore, so he turned around and went to the kitchen to heat up a bowl of rice with several dishes, and put it on the chair next to him: "Eat when you are hungry. I still say that you are your father's only son, and you still have things to do. You will have the strength to work only when you are full."

Then he went to the small house behind the main hall to count the incense, candles, paper money, and linen cloth that are indispensable for funerals. Gu Shuanzi's mother's family will definitely come on the day of the big feast, even if it is to support Gu Shuanzi.

As for Gu Da's parents and those relatives, I'm afraid there will be nothing good if they come.

But there is a saying that goes, smile three points when you meet people, no matter whether they want this face or not, the more you dislike someone, the more you should praise them.

And Lin Zhen also has his own plans. It is impossible for him to stay here. It is best to entrust Gu Shuanzi to his mother's relatives, and then leave here to find a way to make some money and continue to live his free and easy life as a small boss.

He is used to being free and easy, and doesn't think he can take care of a seven-year-old child and carry a person's life.

The dim oil lamp cast a small halo of light, which was reflected from the small room behind the main hall to the wall of the main hall, and also illuminated the tail of the coffin.

Gu Shuanzi, who had been kneeling here since Gu Da died, listened to the sound of his stepfather rummaging through things, and his eyes unconsciously fell on the fried rice on the stool next to him.

He looked at the shadow on the wall, picked up the bowl and dug into his mouth, as ferocious as a little wolf cub, and he would fight anyone who dared to snatch it from him.

After counting the things, Lin Zhen estimated that he would have to ask someone to go to the town to bring a few rolls of linen tomorrow, and buy some lamp oil and paper money, while holding the oil lamp and walking over the high threshold.

Gu Shuanzi, who was eating voraciously, raised his face covered with oil and held the chopsticks tightly in his hand.

Lin Zhen pretended not to see him and walked past him. When

he was sure that there was no sound behind him, Gu Shuanzi's small back suddenly relaxed, and two lines of tears slid down his dark face with a mouth full of rice that he couldn't even stuff in.

He looked at Gu Da's coffin, pounded his chest and swallowed the food, wiped his face with the back of his hand, and continued to burn paper money.

Outside the main hall, Lin Zhen remembered that the lamp oil had not been added yet, and was about to come in to add it. Looking at Gu Shuanzi, who was only seven years old, although stronger than children of the same age, he felt a little depressed.

In the memory of the original body, the biggest and most common impression of this stepson was three words: stumbling block.

Gu Da loved this son very much. He carried him on his shoulders when he went to the mountains, and took him to the town. Not to mention that when he was at home, Shuanzi called him so affectionately that the original body bit the quilt.

The original body had many times flattered Gu Shuanzi in front of Gu Da, saying that he was very wild, chasing chickens and dogs all day or fighting here and there, and couldn't sit still for a quarter of an hour.

And every time after saying these words, he would touch his belly with a shy face and ask Gu Da for sex, saying that if it was our child, it would definitely be very well-behaved.

But Gu Da didn't care at all, and said that this was his offspring, and he was like this when he was a child.

It can be said that Gu Da may not be a good husband in his original body, but he must be a good father.

He loves Gu Shuanzi as much as his own eyeballs.

Looking at the big black coffin and Gu Shuanzi whose eyes were smeared red and couldn't wipe away the tears, Lin Zhen turned back to the house tactfully.

It's okay to add lamp oil later.

The next day, before dawn, people from the village came to help.

According to the rules of the village, if there is a funeral, the whole village must come to help. The host family is responsible for two meals and drinks, and the coffin can be carried up the mountain on the day.

Otherwise, with just a few people, digging the grave and carrying the coffin, it is impossible to get it up the mountain.

Lin Zhen just leaned against the bedpost and squinted his eyes, when a woman in her fifties nudged his shoulder: "Hey, Mr. Gu, how can you still sleep? We haven't prepared the vegetables and meat yet." Lin

Zhen rubbed his eyes: "I cleaned up last night, and I still have four dou of sorghum and one and a half dou of rice. There will be no problem with lunch and afternoon meals today."

"As for the dishes, a plate of shredded pork and lettuce, a plate of cabbage, a plate of pork offal, and a pot of cabbage and tofu soup will be enough. I'll send someone to buy the vegetables for tomorrow's lunch, it won't be a problem."

The old lady was hit by his words: "You... haven't discussed it with our cooks yet..."

"Auntie, it's the same whether we discuss it or not. These are the only things in the kitchen."

As he spoke, Lin Zhen took out a notebook from under his pillow: "I have written down what I should buy and what I should replenish. I will go to the kitchen to tell you first, and then ask someone to go to the town to buy things."

The old lady followed behind him, looking at the small notebook bound with thread: "You can still read?"

Lin Zhen paused: "My husband taught me in the past. Everyone in the village knows that he is lucky and has won the favor of the people in the town. He can recognize a few books."

"That's right, Gu Da can read." The old lady looked at Lin Zhen and curled her lips.

Everyone in the village knew Gu Da. He was rich and willing to spend money. On weekdays, they called him affectionately, hoping that something would fall from his fingers into their hands. As for

Lin Zhen, everyone called him "Gu Jia" on the surface, but in fact, they often made up stories about him and spit on him behind his back.

Look at her dissolute look that attracts men. She can only marry Gu Da because of her face. Otherwise, she can't lay a single egg. She is a slut who was divorced by the previous man. She doesn't want to be given away.

It's still early, but there are many people coming. Except for a few people who pull tables and benches, they all gather in small groups of three or four.

When Lin Zhen came out of the house, many people's eyes fell on him.

Especially those men with evil intentions.

Lin Zhen is really good-looking, with a small face, long and curved eyebrows, a straight nose, and slightly fleshy lips. Not to mention in this village, even men who often go to town have never seen such a mark.

Not to mention that he keeps his skin covered at home every day, his skin is white and smooth, and it makes people want to touch and pinch it to see if water can be squeezed out.

Lin Zhen walked through the crowd without looking around and walked to the group of seven or eight middle-aged women who were preparing meals: "Aunt Zhang, Aunt Luo, Aunt Xu, I thought about it last night. There will be no problem with the meals for lunch and afternoon today. Three dishes and a soup can all be prepared."

"As for tomorrow's dishes and sorghum rice, I will ask someone to buy them later so that tomorrow's work will not be delayed."

The middle-aged women were silent for a while. Since Gu Da died, Lin Zhen has never taken care of things. What to eat and what to cook are all arranged by them. Lin Zhen only takes the money. They know how many tricks there are.

Suddenly, Lin Zhen has calculated so clearly, and they are not easy to do about some things.

The middle-aged woman called Aunt Luo had an expression of the sky falling on her face: "You, the Gu family, have never done these things, and you don't know the losses involved. I think it's best to keep it the same as before. We old bones may be tired, but we must do things properly for you."

Chapter 2

"It's pitiful for you. It would be great if Gu Da was here. He had an idea early in the morning and evening..."

Before Lin Zhen could do anything, Aunt Luo started crying with tears in her eyes.

Lin Zhen said, "It's my fault. I have troubled the aunts and sisters to help for so many days, so I want to thank all the aunts and sisters."

"After carrying my husband up the mountain and settling this matter, I will give each of you aunts and sisters thirty coins as a thank you for your hard work."

"Thirty coins!" Aunt Luo's eyes widened, "Gu family, you are telling the truth."

Lin Zhen nodded, "There is no reason to take back what you have said. Thirty coins is not less than a cent."

"However," Lin Zhen looked at them who were overjoyed, "I will find someone else to do the shopping these days, and it will also help the aunts and sisters."

"..."

Several women looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.

Those who were smarter knew that Lin Zhen had discovered their tricks, but did not point it out, but used this roundabout way to calm things down. She

turned her eyes and said, "Let's do as the Gu family said. We are really busy cooking, so it's just right to ask others to do the rest."

As she spoke, Aunt Luo next to her wanted to jump out, but she was held back.

Lin Zhen looked at this smart man and said, "That's good. Let's make a plate of shredded pork and lettuce, a plate of cabbage, a plate of pork offal, and a pot of cabbage and tofu soup for lunch today. Aunts and aunts, please get busy first. I'll go first."

After saying that, Lin Zhen left.

Aunt Luo hurriedly pushed the people next to her and

said, "Why did you ask him to leave? We can take both money and things. In the future, he will find someone to buy things, and we won't be able to take much." Aunt Zhang, who was pushed, said, "Listen to his tone, will he ask us for both money and things?"

"Why not? Now he is begging us to do things!"

Aunt Zhang said, "But there are more than you who can cook in the village. If you annoy him, he will be restless and find someone else to cook. What can you do to him?"

Aunt Luo was choked back.

Yes, in the village, people would be hired to cook for funerals and weddings, but they would cook home-cooked dishes. As long as she said she would not do it anymore, there would be plenty of people to do it immediately.

After all, everyone knew that there was money in the kitchen. Not to mention the extra money Lin Zhen gave, they could also take some food home to eat.

They just thought that Gu Da had no relatives or brothers to help him in the village. After his death, only Lin Zhen and Gu Shuanzi, a seven-year-old child, were left at home. They wanted to get something out of it. If it were another family, they would not dare to have such an idea.

Lin Zhen also understood these people's thoughts, so what happened just now happened.

In this place where clan forces are united, Gu Da, who has only a few people, can't rely on anything except money. Instead of making trouble, it is better to give a little money to buy peace.

And even if there is trouble, the person who is replaced is almost the same.

Who said that the Gu family originally moved from outside, and Gu Da was kicked out of the house with nothing to rely on.

For the shopping, Lin Zhen found an uncle who was popular with people and asked him to buy sorghum rice and some vegetables. As for cabbage, which was available in the village, he bought it in the village. Not only did he save effort, but he also got a favor from these people. After all, these things were available in every family, and they couldn't be sold. Lin Zhen could still make some money.

As the sun rose higher, men, women, old and young in the village came to eat and watch the fun.

The gentleman who was specially invited to pray for the dead beat the gongs and drums and chanted the sutras that no one could hear clearly. Gu Shuanzi was wearing mourning clothes and holding a prayer flag. He knelt down and stood up as the gentleman ordered, and his dark face was tense.

Lin Zhen was so busy that he was dizzy. He was looking for something here and there, and his feet never stopped.

Suddenly, the sound of firecrackers rang out not far away. The uncle who bought vegetables for Lin Zhen said, "It's the relatives who came to pay their respects. The Gu family quickly took Shuanzi to greet them."

Lin Zhen looked up and saw more than a dozen people coming over here, with sackcloth tied on their heads.

He called Gu Shuanzi and knelt down on the roadside to greet them. A young woman suddenly knelt down and hugged Gu Shuanzi and cried loudly: "Shuanzi!!!"

Gu Shuanzi stretched out his small arms and hugged her hesitantly.

The people who came with them hurriedly persuaded: "Zhou's family, get up quickly. This person's fate is uncertain. You have just recovered from your illness. Don't let the disease relapse again."

"Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about Ying Meizi's Shuanzi. How will he live in the future without his parents at such a young age?"

These two sentences made Lin Zhen understand who came.

Gu Da's original wife, Gu Shuanzi's mother's family came. The man with a medium build and a handsome appearance was Gu Shuanzi's uncle, and the one who hugged him and cried was his aunt.

After being persuaded by others, Gu Shuanzi's aunt held back her discomfort: "Yes, Shuanzi is still young, I still need to support him."

She stood up, took Gu Shuanzi's hand, and her eyes fell on Lin Zhen who also stood up.

Lin Zhen greeted her first: "His aunt is here."

Ma looked at him, and her expression became a little indifferent: "Here she is. My sister is unlucky. She left her husband and son behind. But she has someone else at home. Shuanzi can't be left alone."

Her husband Zhou Tao frowned, but looking at his nephew who was in mourning at such a young age, he didn't think it was too much.

The child lost his biological parents when he was still young, and will live with this stepfather in the future. If Lin Zhen has any second thoughts, the child will be pitiful.

They are strong now, so Lin Zhen dare not underestimate Shuanzi.

Lin Zhen, who figured out the meaning, smiled and said to the couple: "His father always said that everything in the house belongs to Shuanzi. Now that his father is not here, we should do it according to his father's wishes. Uncle Zhou and aunt are relieved about this."

"Please go in quickly, and burn incense so that we can set up the feast."

Ma felt that Lin Zhen was still a sober person, nodded and pulled Shuanzi inside.

They were of the same generation as Gu Da, so it was impossible for them to wear mourning clothes for Gu Da. Instead, their sons and daughters wore white cloth on their heads and linen clothes like Shuanzi. They first burned incense for Gu Da and then kowtowed.

After they kowtowed, they invited their relatives and friends to have a feast.

Ma sat with several relatives and friends, cracking melon seeds while talking to the people next to her.

Her handkerchief twisted her arm and gestured for her to look to the left.

She looked and saw that the boy that Gu Da married was holding a notebook and talking to two men. His face was pale and his waist was so thin that it could be pinched with one hand.

"No wonder Gu Da married such a boy who couldn't have children. He looks like this, tut tut."

Ma herself was not beautiful. After giving birth to three children, she looked much older than her actual age. If her family was not better than Zhou Tao, she would not have married the handsome Zhou Tao.

So what she disliked most was women or boys who looked like fairies. In her opinion, women or boys had to be a little rough to be acceptable. People like Lin Zhen were not good-looking at first glance.

But he is a family member after all. She said, "If Gu Da is capable of marrying him and raising him, that's fine."

Handkerchief Fist patted her hand and said, "You just don't know what he was like when Gu Da was here. Who cares? Now that Gu Da is gone, isn't that right?"

"I heard that he is only eighteen years old this year. Anyway, he has been married for the second time, and maybe the third or fourth time. If he takes the family's money and runs away, Shuanzi will be finished."

Ma stopped eating melon seeds, her face full of doubt: "No way, you heard what he said just now, everything in this house will belong to Shuanzi in the future."

"Anyone will say something when they talk back and forth, just wait and see, there will be trouble in the future."

Ma's originally firm heart was shaken by her words. On the way back from the banquet, she quietly pulled Zhou Tao: "Head of the family, in a few days it will be the day when Gu Da will be buried. What are you going to do with Shuanzi?"

"What do you mean by what to do?"

"His stepfather..." Ma had been thinking about it all the way and decided to say it bluntly, "I mean, why don't we bring Shuanzi home? After all, he is a seven-year-old child and can eat and dress himself. We can take care of him for a few years, and when he grows up, we can find a husband for him. It will also be considered as doing something for Ying."

Zhou Tao's heart skipped a beat. He didn't know when his wife came up with this idea.

He said, "Although Gu Da is gone, Lin Zhen is his father, and he should live with Lin Zhen."

"Oh," Ma clapped her hands, "Do you think Gu Da married Lin Zhen to live a good life? It's because he is good-looking, and Lin Zhen is probably after Gu Da's money."

"If Shuanzi follows him, how can Shuanzi have a good life when he gets all the money in the family?"

"Let's not talk about anything else. Just because Shuanzi is Ying's flesh and blood, we will not treat him badly. It's best for him to follow us."

Zhou Tao has a good relationship with his sister Zhou Ying. Zhou Ying has been beautiful since she was a child. She is the only daughter in the family. Zhou Tao was upset for a long time when she got married.

Naturally, he also loves his sister's son a little.

He was moved by what Ma said.

Yes, at the best of times, he will have his own family to take good care of him. Lin Zhen's appearance is indeed not enough to raise a child with peace of mind.

He looked at the road ahead and said, "We also need to get Shuanzi's consent for this matter. See if he wants to follow us or stay at home."

Ma nodded repeatedly, "I think so too. Let's ask after his father's funeral."

Lin Zhen didn't know that the couple thought of him this way. He didn't eat a hot meal until dark. He asked the kitchen to heat up a few dishes and rice, and brought them to the front of the coffin on a square plate from the village: "Eat something."

Gu Shuanzi hesitated for a moment, then knelt down to get the bowl and chopsticks.

Lin Zhen took advantage of his small size and straightened his legs and put them on the ground. Seeing that he was about to return to his original position, he pressed them down directly: "Your father loves you and won't be angry because you didn't kneel down to pay respect to him."

"If you kneel down again, you will lose your legs."

Chapter 3

After kneeling for a long time, Gu Shuanzi's legs were swollen, but because his pants were too wide, no one noticed.

When Lin Zhen pressed him, he almost cried out in pain, but he gritted his teeth and endured it.

He looked at the step-husband his father married, and thought of how he used to say bad things about him in front of his father every day, and secretly rolled his eyes at him when his father was not around. He ate the meal without saying a word, and continued to kneel and burn paper money after eating.

The next day was the main meal, and it was also the last day that Gu Da's coffin would stay at home. After tonight, it would be carried to the mountain.

According to custom, almost all the people in the village came early in the morning, carrying tables and benches, picking vegetables and cooking, and in the afternoon, the few relatives of the Gu family came to eat the banquet.

Zhou Tao and Ma, like that day, brought their children in mourning to kowtow to Gu Da and gave him fifty coins. Some friends that Gu Da made in the town also came and gave twenty or thirty coins.

The bustling banquet and the deserted main hall where the coffin was parked formed a sharp contrast. Lin Zhen rubbed his calves. It was almost done. This matter would be settled tomorrow.

Lin Zhen had just accepted the incense, candles and paper money brought by Zhou Tao and Ma according to the rules when the crackling sound of firecrackers rang out at the door again.

However, it was also mixed with the sound of firecrackers that seemed to be damp, making a fart sound.

Lin Zhen thought that those children were picking up firecrackers to play with, but he didn't expect that two groups of people squeezed in the next second. The villagers who were originally eating in the courtyard saw it and their eyes fell on Lin Zhen's face.

Lin Zhen looked at the two groups of people, and saw on the left an old man and an old woman with a huge difference in height. The old man was okay, but the old woman's eyes and eyebrows were full of meanness and calculation. At first glance, she was a ruthless character.

Behind them were two middle-aged men and a few young people. The child being pulled pointed at the food on the table next to him, crying and stamping his feet: "Grandma, I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat! ah ah ah ah!!!"

The old woman slapped him on the back: "You think this is your own home, you can eat whatever you want."

"If you want to eat meat, go find your aunt."

Then she pushed the crying child forward, pushing him in the direction of Lin Zhen.

The child had a clear goal, ran to Lin Zhen and grabbed his hand: "I want to eat meat, my grandma said you have to give me meat."

Lin Zhen raised his eyebrows, looked at the quiet surroundings, and grabbed the child's dirty hand that he didn't know what he had grabbed: "Good child, I can't bear your aunt. After I got married, my husband told me that he had no parents and jumped out of a crack in the stone."

Lin Zhen could still feel a little distressed for Gu Shuanzi, the little bastard, but he didn't have the heart to protect this kind of child who was taught badly by his family.

The eight or nine-year-old child who didn't get what he wanted was very fierce. He punched and kicked Lin Zhen, and his legs were covered with muddy footprints.

Lin Zhen pinched his wrist and twisted it behind his back, as if he didn't hear what he said, "I'll call my grandma to chop you to death" and "you little whore, little slut, you're so dirty." He twisted the child in front of the old woman and the old man and said, "Uncle, aunt, you still have to take good care of your own children. Don't recognize relatives randomly when you see them. There are many people here today. It would be bad if someone coaxed them away with candies or pieces of meat."

The people on the old woman's side were livid.

The woman in her thirties hugged the child, her face red with anger and said: "Look, everyone, look, this is the brother my eldest brother married. Not only did he not greet the family members politely, but he also pestered a child. Aren't you afraid that my eldest brother will not be able to close his eyes down there!"

Lin Zhen blinked: "Sister, how can this be your eldest brother?"

The woman pointed angrily at the coffin parked in the main hall: "Gu Da is my eldest brother, you are just so arrogant because he can't deal with you now. If my eldest brother was still here--"

"If he was still here, he would have killed you all with an axe!"

"You little rascal!" The old woman was so angry that her eyes turned red, and she pointed her finger at Lin Zhen. The old man next to them and the two brothers of the Gu family wanted to rush over and slap him.

Lin Zhen looked straight at the old woman who gave birth to Gu Da: "I can't bear it, I can't bear it, I just said some big truths."

Everyone in the village with eyes knows what kind of life Gu Da lived. At the age of four or five, he took a hoe taller than himself and went to the fields. The sickle on his waist was never idle. He was exhausted and had no food to eat when he returned home. He cried with hunger, but the old woman Gu and the old man Gu didn't even look at him or ask a question.

It was only after the old village chief at that time couldn't stand it and scolded him several times that Gu Da managed to survive by eating wild fruits.

When he grew up a little, the old woman Gu lied about his age and took him to the town's bricklayer's house to work when he was free from farm work. He carried dozens of yellow mud and piles of materials every day, and there was never an inch of good meat on his shoulders.

At that time, Gu Da was only nine years old, but he was tall and looked thirteen or fourteen years old.

The opposite of him is his two younger brothers, who are protected by Gu Lao Ma like newly hatched chicks. They are afraid of the sun when it is sunny and the rain when it is raining. Although they are only one or two years older than Gu Da and Gu Da, they can't even lift a hoe and dare not work in the paddy field. They pester Gu Lao Ma all day long to eat this and that.

So, on the day when he went to the mountain to chop wood and almost fell to his death at the foot of the cliff, Gu Da took the stick in his hand and smashed the house to pieces, and lived under the cliff. For

10 or 20 years, Gu Da has never gone back once, and the Gu family never visited him.

When they didn't come a few days ago, Lin Zhen thought that the matter was over, but he didn't expect that he still underestimated this family.

Old lady Gu raised her chin and said arrogantly: "What are you doing in front of me? Get out of here!"

"I'm not from any gang. I'm the wife of Gu Da who was married to me after three matchmakers and six engagements. This house belongs to my husband, and this land belongs to my husband. But you, without anyone inviting or asking, just rushed into my house and told people to get out. I think you have lost your manners."

Old lady Gu's eyes bulged: "What does it have to do with you that I come to my son's house!"

Lin Zhen looked at their family and felt a little sad for Gu Da: "Your son?"

Old lady Gu straightened her back: "I gave birth to him after ten months of pregnancy. Everyone in the village has seen him and knows him. Since he married you, you have to call me mother-in-law according to the rules."

The morals of their family are just as she said. Everyone knows it. Except for Gu Da, the two young men in the family are afraid of trouble. They walk here and stand there all day long. Whenever they make a sound, they scold their daughter and wife.

Because they did not work and lived a tight life, Mrs. Gu ate wherever she went and had to pack something in her hands, which annoyed everyone who saw her.

If they hadn't thought about the rich Gu Da, everyone would have grabbed their pigtails and made fun of them a few times.

But as Mrs. Gu said, Gu Da was her son after all, and even if Gu Da didn't go back for many years, it couldn't change this fact. Filial

piety is more important than anything else, and no one dared to cross it.

"Since you said that, I have something to tell you too," Lin Zhen looked around at the people around him and said, "My husband told me something. After he left home and lived under the cliff for a while, he went to find your family and signed a certificate of severance of relations with you, right?"

Mrs. Gu couldn't remember it clearly, but Mr. Gu remembered it, and he frowned.

Lin Zhen looked at his expression and said, "It seems that Mr. Gu still remembers."

Lin Zhen said loudly, "It is written on that paper that Mr. Gu does not want a single needle or a grain of rice from the Gu family, and he will have nothing to do with the Gu family from now on." "

And the nine taels and eight cents of silver he earned from working for many years was all given to you two old people, just as if he had bought out the blood relationship between you two. From now on, you two old people don't want him to support you or bury you."

Lin Zhen's voice was loud, and everyone present heard it. They all looked at the Gu family couple and Gu Er and Gu San behind them, as well as their wives and children.

Too cruel.

It was simply too cruel.

How old was Gu Da at that time, a little over fourteen and less than fifteen. When he left home, it was the harvest season, but the Gu family couple still let him leave home naked.

It is said that even a tiger will not eat its own cubs. The couple did not take Gu Da's life seriously at all.

The discussion of the people around them became louder and louder, especially those who were also treated harshly by the elders in the family, who felt the same way.

"Shameless, they did something that broke off the relationship back then, and now they are pretending to be good people."

"They are relying on the fact that Gu Da is dead and no one dares to punish them."

"If I were them, I would just soak my head in the urine bucket and die. It's embarrassing."

There were also some elderly people who were a little biased. Although they felt that the Gu family couple had gone too far, their parents were still their parents after all, and they could not be broken by a piece of paper.

They knew the purpose of Mrs. Gu's visit today. Seeing that the situation was not right, she also remembered the paper on which she had pressed her fingerprints without thinking. She sat down on the ground and cried with her mouth open: "What sin have I committed? My son passed away at such a young age. I want to come and see him but I have to be stopped here like a criminal being interrogated."

"Son, come back and see your mother. You are a piece of flesh that fell from your body. How can your mother not feel pain?"

It must be said that she is almost fifty years old, but she looks ten years older. The way she sat on the ground and cried was really intimidating. At least Lin Zhen heard several people of her age telling Lin Zhen not to go too far. This mother-son relationship should be preserved.

Lin Zhen thought it was funny. Mother-son relationship? If he really asked the Gu family to kowtow to Gu Da, Gu Da would really die in peace.

He was wearing a linen shirt, his back was straight: "It's no use for Aunt Gu and Uncle Gu to cry in front of me. You can deny what is written on the paper, as long as the government recognizes it. At worst, I won't carry the coffin tomorrow. I'll go find the master to settle the matter first."

His words completely caused an uproar. Gu Shuanzi, who was kneeling in front of Gu Da's coffin, rushed over like a cannonball. Lin Zhen picked him up and met his fierce eyes.

"He is my father." Gu Shuanzi's voice was hoarse. If his hands and feet had not been held tightly by him, they would have definitely hit him.

Lin Zhen lowered his eyes and looked into his eyes, "I know you don't want to delay your father's affairs, but if you let them make a fuss here, your father will really not be at peace."

Chapter 4

Lin Zhen did not hide what he said to him. Seeing that he was going to get serious, the crying old lady Gu was stunned for a moment.

The government office was too far away and too scary for them, the common people. On weekdays, when they went to the town to attend the market, they would hide far away when they saw the yamen runners in robes on the road, fearing that they would accidentally provoke them.

But old lady Gu was unwilling to give up. She looked heartbroken and pointed at Lin Zhen with trembling fingers: "You are so vicious. Not only did you not let me see my son, but you also dragged his old mother to see the official. Look, fellow villagers, this is not a daughter-in-law. You wish that my old Gu family would break up so that you can occupy my son's property."

The other people in the Gu family were also afraid when they heard that they had to see the official, but with old lady Gu rushing in front, they became a little bolder.

They didn't believe that Lin Zhen would really not hold Gu Da's funeral to make trouble for them. Then they didn't need to do anything, and the people in the village would talk about him to death behind his back.

Lin Zhen curled his lips coldly and said loudly: "You all saw it. It's not that I didn't persuade them, but they just wanted to run into my knife."

He looked at Gu Shuanzi in his arms: "Wait until I get the documents from that year, and go to the government office with them to sort it out, and then I will handle the funeral of Shuanzi's father."

As he said that, he was holding Gu Shuanzi and was about to go to the house to get the documents. Originally, the old man Gu, who was just standing behind and watching, hurriedly asked Gu Er and Gu San to pull up the old woman Gu, and put on the airs of an elder and angrily poked the ground with his cane in his hand: "Misfortune for the family! Misfortune for the family!"

Lin Zhen threw a knife at him, and he immediately became silent, and ran away with the Gu family in disgrace. When he ran, the spoiled child who was not loved at all cursed his mother.

The villagers looked at Lin Zhen standing there, and their hearts were a little numb.

Although the old woman Gu and the old man Gu were a little too much to Gu Da, the posture of Lin Zhenzhen to sue them in court also made people feel uneasy.

It is said that family disgrace should not be made public, and his behavior is really...

Lin Zhen did not care about the looks of these people. After the Gu family left, he let people go on as usual.

It was time to eat at the feast, and to do things. By the way, I would like to tell everyone that tomorrow would be a bit tiring, and I would like to trouble everyone to help carry Gu Da up the mountain.

Another group of people who came with the old lady Gu's family came to Lin Zhen, and their eyes were red before they said anything.

Lin Zhen knew the identities of these people from the original body's memory. They were the original body's father, father, brother and sister-in-law, and they lived in Liyu Village, which was more than ten miles away from Datianzi Village.

It would take at least a whole morning to walk from there, so the feet of several people were covered in mud and their trouser legs were dirty.

"You didn't even tell anyone to tell us about such a bold thing

. If we hadn't happened to meet someone from your village when we went to the market, your father and I would still be in the dark." "You make me so sad."

Seeing the thin middle-aged man couldn't hold back his tears, Lin Zhen hurriedly said, "I was so busy that I didn't remember anything... Dad, father, come and sit down, drink some hot soup to warm your body."

The original father said, "You go about your business, no need to greet me, we can talk tomorrow after the matter is over." After that, he took his family to find an empty place to sit.

It must be said that Lin Zhen was relieved by his behavior. He was not so busy that he didn't remember it, he simply forgot that the original body also had a family.

But fortunately, compared with the Gu family, the original body's family is simply the least troublesome.

The banquet was set up until four or five in the afternoon. When night fell, there was no one left in the yard except for the gentleman who came to perform the ritual. After all, it was not like the modern times, with cars and electricity, and it was convenient to go anywhere. Everyone had to go back before dark to avoid encountering any bad guys on the road.

Lin Zhen changed into a pair of clean socks and shoes, and went to the wing room on the right with a clean quilt.

Liyu Village was far away from here, and it was dangerous to travel at night, so the Lin family stayed.

Zhou Tao and Ma also stayed with them. They were placed on the bed that Gu Da and Lin Zhen had originally slept in. Lin Zhen made the bed for them first, and then greeted the Lin family.

As soon as he walked in, the quilt in his hand was taken by the Lin family's sister-in-law: "Brother Zhen, please sit down and rest for a while. I see that you look a little pale."

Lin Zhen felt embarrassed. How could he let the guests take action?

But the father Lin next to him pulled him to sit on the bed, his voice a little hoarse: "Your sister-in-law is right, I felt that you looked ugly when I came here today, we are a family, we don't care about those false etiquette."

As he spoke, father Lin suddenly cried and held his hand tightly in his hand: "You, child, really make people worry. Dad has advised you before that although Gu Daren is not a bad person, he is not your good man, but you just plunged into it."

"Now he is gone, you are alone with a child, how can you survive?"

The Lin family is ordinary. The original Lin Zhen has been arrogant since he was a child because of his good looks. He always wanted to marry a landlord in the town with his face.

Who would have thought that as he got older, his pregnancy mole, which symbolized a brother, became lighter and lighter, which led to his dream of marrying a rich man shattered. After all, in this era of many children and blessings, no family wants to marry a brother or wife who can't give birth to children.

And he was unwilling to be a concubine to those who could be his father.

So when he was sixteen, he knew that the young master of the Qian family in the town passed by the village. He tried his best to roll on the haystack with the young master of the Qian family, and bewitched the young master to death and insisted on marrying him. He entered the Qian family despite the worries of his father and the displeasure of the Qian family.

But the wife of the Qian family was not a pushover. Today, she gave her son a maid, and tomorrow, she gave her son a concubine. In the end, she kicked Lin Zhen out of

the house on the grounds that he had no children after one year of marriage. Lin Zhen, who was forced to go home, was used to the life of having everything provided for him in the Qian family. Naturally, he couldn't stand the poverty of the family, so he turned around and hooked up with Gu Da.

But Gu Da was a shrewd man. He would never get big money, but he would keep getting small money.

If Gu Da had been fine, the original life would have been easy.

Lin Zhen grew up with his grandparents in modern times. When he was in junior high school, his grandparents passed away one after another, so he was not used to the closeness of Lin's father.

He moved his fingers and said, "Dad, it's okay."

"Look, I'm fine now, aren't I?"

"What's wrong with me?" Father Lin looked at his red and bloodshot eyes. "You saw what Gu Da's parents did today. They are unreasonable and unreasonable. You will be tormented by them in the future." "

And there is the child left by Gu Da," Father Lin said earnestly, "Zhen'er, it's not that mother doesn't love the child, but there are so many people around him."

"Even if you are innocent and don't want anything from him, in the eyes of others, you raised him because of Gu Da's family property. If the child is obedient and grateful, it's okay, but I'm afraid that you will raise an ungrateful person and make you suffer in the future."

There are too many examples like this. Few stepsons and stepmothers have a good ending.

It was easy to say when Lin Zhen was young and strong, but it was sad when he was old.

He said it sincerely, and he really wanted Lin Zhen's good.

Lin Zhen's strange feeling of being cared for faded a little. He looked into Lin's father's eyes and said, "Father, actually, ever since Gu Da died, I have been thinking about how to do this."

"After thinking about it, I have a plan. In a few days, I will find all the money in the family and deposit it in the bank in the town. I will also sign a contract with Shuanzi. I don't want any of this money. It's all left by his father. But he is young and ignorant. The silver bills for withdrawing money will be kept by me or other trustworthy people for the time being, and I will give them to him when he grows up and starts a family."

His approach is the modern way. Before children reach adulthood, the money will be kept by relatives and friends, and all the money will be given to them when they reach adulthood.

However, it was beyond the expectations of the Lin family that he did this. Father Lin was stunned for a moment, patted his hand, and said with relief: "It's good that you think this way. The child lost his father at a young age. If he doesn't have money, it will only be more sad."

They were talking in the house and didn't notice that a small figure stood outside the house at some point.

Gu Shuanzi listened to the words of his stepfather inside, and clenched his hands tightly at his side. He quietly left from the side wall and returned to the main room as if he had heard and seen nothing.

He thought his stepfather was very strange. He had done many things that disgusted him in the first few days after his father died, but he had completely changed overnight.

At dawn the next day, the people who helped in the village ate a meal of mixed grains steamed with sorghum and rice, and carried Gu Da's coffin to the mountain amid the mournful sound of gongs and drums.

After working for several days and not closing his eyes once, Lin Zhen sent off Lin Adie's brother and sister-in-law, and fell asleep on the bed.

When he woke up again, his mind was dazed. Looking at the gray sky outside, his head slowly moved forward like a dung beetle. It was still so early, he could sleep a little longer.

The next second, Gu Shuanzi's aunt walked in, wearing an apron around her waist and holding a pair of clean chopsticks in her hand: "His uncle, get up and eat something. You have been lying down for a whole night and a whole day. Don't hurt your body."

It was dark when he lay down yesterday. Ma said that he had been lying down for a whole night and a whole day, so it was evening now!

Lin Zhen got up from bed, lifted the quilt, and put on his shoes: "Thank you for taking care of him."

"What's the big deal? This is my nephew's house, not outside." Ma said, and went to the main room with chopsticks.

Lin Zhen spread the quilt flat on the bed, first went to the pot in the kitchen to get water to wash his face and rinse his mouth, and then tied his hair into a high ponytail.

Gu Shuanzi, who was going to the kitchen to serve dishes, saw him and called him in a muffled voice: "...It's time to eat."

After Gu Da was buried, he took off his linen clothes and wore a dark blue cotton robe and pants, and a pair of cotton shoes on his feet.

Gu Da loved him and bought him good things. The cotton was solid and looked warm.

Lin Zhen nodded: "I'll be there soon."

Chapter 5

The Gu family's house is the only blue brick and tile house in the village besides the village chief's house. In the middle is the main hall for worshipping ancestors. Behind the main hall is a slightly narrower room, and on both sides are two rooms of the same layout.

This is the most common house style in the village. The older generation lives behind the main hall, and the sons and daughters-in-law live on both sides.

But other people are not as rich as Gu Da, and they can't afford bricks and tiles, nor can they build such a large house. I don't know how many people are envious .

When Lin Zhen entered, the table was already set with food. Zhou Tao sat on the stool on the left, and Ma and Gu Shuanzi sat on the stools on the right. He took a look and sat down at the lower seat.

The food was all leftovers from the banquet, but no one present disliked it.

It was greasy and meaty. They were not landlords who had meat to eat every meal, so how could they not like it? For a while, the only sound in the house was eating.

Ma was thinking about something, and she looked at Lin Zhen while eating.

Before Gu Shuanzi's biological mother died, and Gu Da married him, Ma and Zhou Tao had never visited.

But now that Gu Da is gone, leaving only the only son of the younger sister-in-law, Ma's idea has become more and more intense.

And she is really worried about Lin Zhen, look at that face...

She bit her chopsticks and said to Lin Zhen: "His uncle, I want to discuss something with you."

Lin Zhen, who was eating quietly, looked at her: "What is it?"

Ma looked at Gu Shuanzi who was sitting next to her, and then looked at her husband who had also stopped eating, and said: "I discussed it with Uncle Shuanzi, and I think it will be difficult for you to make a living with Shuanzi, so why not let Shuanzi follow us."

"First, I also have three children at home, and the younger one is the same age as Shuanzi, so they can play together. Second, the two old people in the family have always loved Shuanzi's mother and miss him very much." "

Look at this..."

Lin Zhen didn't expect that before he had thought things through, someone wanted to take over Gu Shuanzi's cheap job.

He did have this idea, to let the relatives from Gu Shuanzi's mother's side take over Gu Shuanzi, and then go out for a walk.

But even if he had an idea, he was Gu Shuanzi's stepfather. He couldn't just plant Gu Shuanzi into a hole, no matter if the hole was suitable or not, or if the radish would grow well.

It wasn't that he had any "mother-son" feelings for Gu Shuanzi, but that his education didn't allow him to do that.

That was a child, and that was a person's life.

So when he heard Ma's proposal, he didn't agree immediately, but looked at Gu Shuanzi: "What do you think?"

Ma hurriedly said: "He is a seven-year-old child, what ideas can he have? It's us adults who make decisions for him."

Lin Zhen shook his head: "The child's ideas are also ideas. If he wants to, then things will be done according to your procedures for raising him. He is Gu Da's son, and Gu Da's wealth should all be his, but he is still young, and it's not safe to hold the money in his hands. We should find some safe ways to ensure that he can use the money safely in the future."

"If he doesn't want to, then forget it."

Ma and Zhou Tao were vaguely uncomfortable with his words.

It sounded as if they adopted Gu Shuanzi for his money. He was their own nephew. How could they covet such petty gains?

Ma's face looked a little unhappy: "His uncle's words are chilling!"

Lin Zhen blinked and said seriously: "His aunt, it's better to say something in advance, so that everyone won't be unhappy in the future." And what he said was clear enough. He didn't want the money left by Gu Da. No one except Gu Shuanzi should touch the money.

After saying that, he looked at Gu Shuanzi: "You heard what your aunt and I said, right?"

Gu Shuanzi nodded while holding the chopsticks.

Lin Zhen asked him: "Then what do you think?"

What did he think?

Gu Shuanzi was a little confused and at a loss.

He was Gu Da's beloved son. In his dictionary, besides taking a group of younger brothers to make trouble from the head of the village to the end of the village every day, he went to the town with his father.

He knew that his father was rich and didn't have to wear ragged clothes and eat coarse grains that hurt his throat like those younger brothers in the village.

But he couldn't think of more. He could understand too little about the place that gave birth to him and raised him. When Lin Zhen asked him about it, he even felt a little aggrieved and complained a little.

Wasn't Lin Zhen his stepfather? Why did he let him go with his uncle and aunt?

The seven-year-old child pursed his lips and stiffened his neck stubbornly. He almost broke the chopsticks in his hand.

Seeing this, Ma quickly hugged his shoulders and said, "Shuanzi, your father is gone, and there is no one in this family who can take care of you. Come with me. Your cousin Fangfang, cousin Xiaocao, and cousin Wen are the same age as you. It will be fun for you to be together in the future."

Then she said, "And you are not going to come back in the future. When you grow up and can support a family by yourself, you can come back and live here."

"Look, your father built such a nice house for you. You will definitely marry a beautiful wife in the future."

Zhou Tao, who had been taciturn all the time, looked at Gu Shuanzi, who looked a bit like his sister, and felt kind in his heart. He nodded and said, "Your aunt is right. Your cousins ​​like you very much. Didn't you go there when you were a child? They even took you to catch crickets and dig frogs."

"And your grandparents often talk about you."

It has to be said that the environment at Zhou Tao and Ma's place is pretty good for a child. There are friends of the same age and elders who care about him.

Meanwhile, there were only the annoying Gu family. Given their character, there would be more trouble in the future.

But Gu Shuanzi still said nothing.

Lin Zhen stopped Zhou Tao and Ma: "Since the child didn't say anything, let's put this matter aside for now and wait until the seventh day after his father's death."

Ma was still a little unwilling, but thinking that Gu Shuanzi's father had just died, she felt sorry for her nephew, so she didn't say anything.

It was a delicious meal when he was eating, but at the end he had a few thoughts.

But Lin Zhen was fine. After two bowls of rice, he forgot about everything else.

Although the funeral had been held, there were still many things to be put away in the house. The linen clothes and white cloth that had been worn had to be burned, and the bowls and chopsticks borrowed from the village had to be returned to each family. By the way, he had to inform a few nearby families and ask them to help on the seventh day after Gu Da's death.

The first seven days are not like funerals. There doesn't need to be many people, just seven or eight will do. When the time comes, go to Gu Da's grave and carry a few baskets of soil to cover the grave, and cook for the master who is chanting sutras.

So Lin Zhen invited Aunt Lan and Aunt Lu, who were in the kitchen during the funeral.

He knew that these two people were kind-hearted. Although they took some of the things they bought at that time, the amount was small, and they worked quickly, much better than the others.

Aunt Lan blushed and felt embarrassed when she was asked to come. She said softly, "I'll go, I'll go earlier that day."

They knew what they did. They just bullied Gu Da because he had no roots in the village and Lin Zhen's mother's home was far away. But Aunt Lan felt uncomfortable after taking the things. She worked very hard in the next few days just to make herself feel better.

What she didn't expect was that Lin Zhen actually came to her again, without mentioning her taking the things.

Lin Zhen said, "Then it's settled, Aunt Lan, I'll go to Aunt Lu next."

"Okay, I will definitely not delay your business."

Lin Zhen was busy with this and that, and he almost fell asleep every day, so he didn't notice that the brat stared at him from time to time with a gloomy look in his eyes.

——

Soon, it was the day before Gu Da's seventh day.

After buying everything he needed to buy and inviting everyone he needed to invite, Lin Zhen was finally able to take a breath and sat by the stove, looking at the snow falling harder and harder outside the window. He frowned slightly.

This snow was different from snow. If there was too much snow, it would freeze. Even on the dirt roads now, let alone building a grave for Gu Da, you would fall down if you walked.

If it snowed as much as a university, it would be better, at least it would be soft to step on and not so slippery.

"Beep--"

A piece of firewood made of unknown wood exploded with a string of small sparks, which fell on Lin Zhen's knees and trousers.

As soon as he stretched out his hand, a pair of small black hands reached out and slapped the sparks away.

He turned his head to look at Gu Shuanzi, who had said no more than five sentences in these days, and grabbed those hands and looked them over.

Gu Shuanzi wanted to break free, but Lin Zhen was an adult after all. He held his hand tightly and looked at it, saying, "That's fire, not something else. Don't reach out and hit it next time. Be careful not to burn your hand."

His fingers were slender and his skin was fair. The first man he married was the son of a landlord, and the second man was the rich Gu Da. He didn't need to work in the fields, so he didn't have any calluses at all, and

his skin was as soft as tofu. Although Gu Shuanzi was only seven years old, his palms and fingers were not small, but they were black, with some mud in his nails, and the back of his hands were a little chapped, which formed a sharp contrast with his hands.

After confirming that his hand was fine, Lin Zhen let him go. Gu Shuanzi put his hand behind his back and rubbed it hard on his clothes.

These days, Ma and Zhou Tao have been telling him to go back with them.

Gu Shuanzi didn't agree, but he didn't say anything.

He was not familiar with those cousins, but he had an impression of his grandparents who had come several times.

But he couldn't bear to leave the house built by his father. There were many, many memories of his father and him here, and he didn't want to leave.

Yu Xi And this stepfather has also changed a lot, especially the words he heard that day, which made Ma and Zhou Tao's words less tempting.

He has made up his mind in his heart that if Lin Zhen really does what he said, he will respect Lin Zhen and provide for Lin Zhen in his old age.

Staying up late for more than half a month has made Lin Zhen and Gu Shuanzi lack sleep. They wash their feet and go to bed as soon as it gets dark. In the middle of the night

, Gu Shuanzi was awakened by the urge to urinate. He got up in cotton pants and cotton clothes, relying on his familiarity with his home. There was snow outside, so he didn't even turn on the lights and walked towards the toilet.

Just after passing the left wing, a familiar male voice said, "My dear, didn't you say that you would wait for me at the entrance of the village with the box containing his silver after Gu Da was buried? I have been waiting for several days without seeing your shadow. Did you encounter any difficulties?"

Gu Da had a box containing silver. Gu Shuanzi knew that his father had shown it to him many times, saying that the things inside would belong to him in the future, and that he would marry a wife and buy land for him, so that he could live the life of a landlord.

Besides the father and son, the only person who knew about the box was Lin Zhen, the man beside him. After all,

Gu Da was a somewhat arrogant person. He didn't think that Lin Zhen could steal his things, and he didn't hide it from him when he went in and out.

Gu Shuanzi had just crawled out of the bed, and his warm body instantly fell into the ice cellar.

He walked lightly and quietly along the wall. He saw a tall man standing next to the old pear tree next to the wing, and the man standing opposite him was his stepfather Lin Zhen, who he had photographed sparks with that night.

He was wearing a light green cotton robe and a pair of cotton trousers underneath. The robes and trousers that made others look bloated fit him perfectly. His pale face was reflected by the shadow of the snow, which bewitched the man in front of him.

Chapter 6

"Crack--"

The firewood piled in the corner was stepped on and broke, making a clear sound in the snowy night.

The man standing opposite Lin Zhen turned around in fear, and the next second he saw a child who was slightly taller than his waist holding a shiny axe and chopped towards him.

The man ran to the side in a panic, and asked Lin Zhen for help while dodging: "Zhen'er! Zhen'er, quickly hold this Gu kid! Someone is going to die!"

Gu Shuanzi swung the axe without holding back, chasing the man to run away with his

head in his hands. The expression on his face was very calm, as if the axe in his hand was not a life-threatening axe, and the person he was chopping was not a person.

Lin Zhen's heart tightened: "Gu Shuanzi!"

Gu Shuanzi stopped for a moment, and Lin Zhen took the opportunity to hug him from behind and hold the axe in his hand tightly: "What are you doing, are you going to die!"

Lin Zhen was scared just thinking about it. Where did such a young child get such a strong temper, holding an axe and hitting people like chopping melons and vegetables.

Gu Shuanzi was held and couldn't struggle out. He turned around and spit on Lin Zhen's clothes. His eyes seemed to have two burning flames.

The man who was chased by him and was covered in cold sweat saw that he was trapped by Lin Zhen. He came over breathlessly and raised his hand to slap him in the face.

Lin Zhen kicked him to the ground: "I will pretend that I didn't hear those words tonight. Go back to where you came from."

He was still a little confused about the situation just now. He didn't understand why he was just out to the toilet, but a figure suddenly appeared and held his hand and said a bunch of nonsense. Now he gradually came to his senses.

This man should be the lover found by the original Lin Zhen. The two planned to take advantage of the chaos at home after Gu Da died and take Gu Da's property and run away.

But the current Lin Zhen is no longer the original one. Not to mention that he can't do such a thing as taking other people's property and running away, just because this man keeps calling him Zhener and wants to sleep with him, Lin Zhen has goose bumps all over his body.

Roll, roll, roll, roll, the farther the better!

The man was kicked in the stomach by him, and he looked at him with a puzzled look: "Zhen'er, what's wrong with you? Didn't we agree on this?!"

As soon as he spoke, Gu Shuanzi, who was held by Lin Zhen from behind, struggled desperately to chop him, rushing around like a calf.

Suddenly, the light in the dark right wing came on, and Ma and Zhou Tao got up from the bed when they heard the noise.

The man was guilty, and when he saw that there were other people in the room, he turned around and ran away without waiting for Lin Zhen to reply.

So when Ma and Zhou Tao came out, they only saw Lin Zhen and Gu Shuanzi struggling in his arms: "What are you two doing?"

When Ma saw the axe in Gu Shuanzi's hand, she shouted and ran over: "You are doing evil, Shuanzi, give me the axe quickly, what if I hurt you!"

Ma and Lin Zhen worked together and finally snatched the axe from his hand. When Ma put the axe back into the pile of debris next to him, Lin Zhen let Gu Shuanzi go.

He pushed Lin Zhen away fiercely, ran to Zhou Tao and Ma, and said coldly: "Uncle and aunt, I will go to your house with you."

Zhou Tao and Ma, who had been talking so much these days but still didn't get a word from him, were overjoyed: "Okay, let's go back after your father's first seven days are done."

Lin Zhen, who was pushed away, looked at the three people standing together and frowned slightly. He asked Gu Shuanzi: "Have you thought it through?"

The child obviously took the man's words seriously and thought that he was going to snatch his father's money with the man, so he didn't trust him and wanted to go with Zhou Tao and Ma.

Lin Zhen didn't think there was anything wrong with him doing this. After all, that was his biological father, and he had a deep relationship with Gu Da. It was normal for him not to trust himself after witnessing what happened just now.

Gu Shuanzi stared at him with a pair of eyes, said nothing, and turned back to the house.

Ma and Zhou Tao, who stayed where they were, looked at Gu Shuanzi's back as he entered the house, and then looked at Lin Zhen, but didn't say anything.

The next morning, the families who were invited to help all came. Aunt Lan and Aunt Lu washed rice and vegetables, while the men followed Lin Zhen, Gu Shuanzi and the master to Gu Da's grave. They first read a few scriptures and then added a layer of soil to Gu Da's grave.

This piece of land was chosen by the master for its Feng Shui. The whole Datianzi Village could be seen in front, and there were continuous mountains behind.

Gu Shuanzi knelt in front of the grave as the master said, and added soil to Gu Da's grave with his hands.

When the crackling firecrackers rang, he was pulled up by the master, and the work for the day was over.

Lin Zhen walked at the end of the crowd going down the mountain, and said to Gu Shuanzi who was a few steps ahead: "You can live with your uncle and aunt, but the things your father left behind should be kept as I said that day. Put the big head in the silver shop in the town, let a trustworthy person keep the banknotes, and sign a document that only you can move, and keep some small silver on you."

"Give it to you for safekeeping?" Gu Shuanzi turned around and looked at him gloomily.

Lin Zhen shook his head: "Even if what happened last night hadn't happened, I wouldn't have kept it."

"Ask the village chief or the elders in the clan who are more virtuous. They have experienced a lot of things and can handle it more safely than me."

Gu Shuanzi didn't expect that he would dare to mention what happened last night. He saw and heard it with his own eyes and ears. He didn't know how Lin Zhen had the face to say this in front of him.

But he knew that what Lin Zhen said just now was right. There was a lot of silver left by his father. He couldn't take all the silver to his uncle's house. The best thing was to follow Lin Zhen's method and change it into silver notes and put it in his pocket.

This was also the reason why he planned to live with Lin Zhen and not go to his uncle's house after hearing what Lin Zhen said that day.

At that time, he thought that Lin Zhen was really planning for him.

After a few words, the two went their separate ways. They went back home to greet the people who helped to finish their meal and send off Aunt Lan and Aunt Lu who cooked the meal. Only then did the family return to peace completely.

Because Gu Shuanzi agreed to go to his home, Ma and Zhou Tao both had a little smile on their faces, and were packing clothes, pants and shoes for Gu Shuanzi.

Gu Shuanzi had never been short of these things, and he had several sets for all seasons. The latest one was this year's cotton-padded jacket and trousers, which were thick and warm just by looking at them.

Lin Zhen called Gu Shuanzi: "Come with me."

Then he took Gu Shuanzi to his and Gu Da's bedroom, took out the wooden box in a clay pot under the bed, and took the account book for the past few days.

He sat on the chair and said to Gu Shuanzi: "This is what your father left behind. I'll count it for you in front of you."

Ma and Zhou Tao, who were packing things for Gu Shuanzi in the room, were also called over by Lin Zhen. It was a well-known fact that Gu Da was rich. Instead of being involved in confusion in the future, it was better to settle it clearly now.

He looked at Gu Shuanzi and Ma and said, "All the money in the family is here. I haven't used a penny except for some for the funeral."

As he spoke, he opened the box and saw some broken silver pieces on the top. After picking up the broken silver pieces and putting them on the table, there were more than a dozen large silver ingots. Below the silver ingots were two gold ingots and some gold hairpins, gold bracelets, gold rings, and the title deed of this house.

In this era when farmers produced four or five taels of silver a year and two taels of silver could comfortably live for a year, the gold and silver ingots on the table were tantamount to a huge sum of money.

Zhou Tao and Ma's eyes fell on it uncontrollably, and then looked at Gu Shuanzi.

Gu Shuanzi estimated the silver here and the silver his father had shown him before, and found that the missing part was only a very small part, so he didn't say anything.

In ancient times, silver was weighed with a scale. Lin Zhen went to get the scale and weighed the broken silver first: "Here is a total of nine taels." Lin

Zhen knew how to use the old-fashioned scale, and he weighed it impartially. He also put the scale bar in front of the three people. After looking at it, the three people nodded and thought it was okay.

Then Lin Zhen put the broken silver aside and weighed one of the seventeen silver ingots of the same size. It was exactly ten taels, adding up to one hundred and seventy taels.

Finally, he weighed the gold ingots, which were also ten taels each, but one tael of gold and ten taels of silver converted to two hundred taels.

The remaining gold hairpins, gold bracelets, and gold rings weighed twelve taels.

Adding all these things together, there was a total of four hundred and ninety-nine taels of silver, as well as the current blue brick and tile house. As long as Gu Shuanzi didn't do anything to ruin the family, there would be no problem living comfortably for the rest of his life.

Lin Zhen picked up all the gold ingots and put them back into the box, leaving only nine taels of silver.

He said to Gu Shuanzi, "Although you are going to live with your uncle, you are still the son of the Gu family." As he spoke, he looked at Ma and Zhou Tao, "He is a boy, and it is time for him to grow up. His aunt and uncle should give him more food on weekdays, and don't be too frugal with clothes and shoes--"

Before he finished speaking, Ma said, "Don't worry, I will not shortchange his if my own children do."

"It's not a matter of shortcoming," Lin Zhen took over her words, "You know his situation. He is his only father, so naturally he is the only one to inherit the things his father left behind. Not to mention him alone, even if there are three or five more people, they can still live a good life."

"Yes, yes, we know." That's right. The silver in the box might not be spent in a lifetime.

Lin Zhen continued, "Although he lives there, he will eventually come back. He cannot be as filial to you forever as your own children. So I thought about it and decided to ask you to take care of him. How about I give you four taels of silver a year?"

Ma and Zhou Tao looked at each other, "This..."

Gu Shuanzi also looked at him.

"This is not good," Ma recovered, "How can we take his money? How much can a child like him eat? We can't take it."

Zhou Tao also said the same thing: "We don't want it. We raise him out of kindness."

Lin Zhen said: "I know you all want Shuanzi to be well, but it's not right to let Shuanzi hold the money and watch you eat pickles."

"And I plan to deposit the bulk of the silver in a silver shop for Shuanzi, and stipulate that he can only withdraw it when he reaches a certain age, to avoid any problems in the middle."

"Why deposit it in a silver shop? It's safer to keep it with myself," Ma said, thinking of what happened in the village before. "We have family there, and I don't know where I heard that it's safer to deposit money in a silver shop. Who would have thought that the silver shop would collapse not long after, and many people couldn't get the silver they deposited back. The old lady and old man of that family almost drank medicine and died."

Lin Zhen still insisted on his idea: "There are many silver shops of all sizes on the market. We want to find a big money shop that has been open for a long time, is a well-known brand, and has stores in other places."

"Otherwise, if you carry so much silver with you and it gets lost or stolen, it will all be for nothing."

He spoke in a series of words. Ma and Zhou Tao had never been to school, and they thought that as long as the silver didn't fall into his hands, it would be fine, so they nodded.

Chapter 7

Gu Shuanzi waited for him to finish and said, "I don't put the banknotes for savings with other people. I don't trust others."

Lin Zhen frowned, "It's not safe."

"I'll put it in a place where no one else can find it." Ever since what happened last night, Gu Shuanzi has been a little obsessed. He feels that he can't see many people clearly, just like Lin Zhen. He thought he could finally trust him and live with him, but soon he ran into Lin Zhen and other men trying to take the family's money and run away.

So, he doesn't trust anyone now.

He doesn't even trust Ma and Zhou Tao, who are going to support him.

Seeing that he was like a stubborn donkey, Lin Zhen rubbed his head hard in his heart, thought for a while and said: "That's fine, but when I take the silver to deposit it in the silver shop, I have to tell the shopkeeper. To withdraw this silver, three conditions must be met. First, you must be over 15 years old. Second, when you withdraw the money, you must have your household registration documents and silver notes. All three are indispensable."

"If you are under 15 years old, you can also withdraw this money, but you can only withdraw 10 taels a year."

"What do you think of this?"

Based on the humanitarianism in his heart, Lin Zhen felt that he was really worried about this cheap son, but fortunately, after this time, he can retire and live his own life.

Gu Shuanzi thought his current method was okay and nodded.

So Lin Zhen divided the 499 taels of silver into two parts, one 480 taels to be deposited in the silver shop, and the other 19 taels to be left.

Of the 19 taels, 8 taels were given to Ma and Zhou Tao, which was considered as the money for Gu Shuanzi's food and accommodation for two years. The remaining 11 taels were for Gu Shuanzi to take and keep on him for emergency.

Lin Zhen handed the silver to Ma: "His aunt, the child is still young and inevitably a little naughty. I don't want you to favor him or spoil him. I just ask you to be fair and let him grow up well."

He is the son that Gu Da married and the stepfather of Gu Shuanzi, so it is reasonable to say so.

The old lady of the Zhou family only gave birth to Zhou Tao and Zhou Yingzi. After Zhou Yingzi got married, all the fields and houses in the family belonged to Zhou Tao.

But Zhou Tao was not rich either. He was busy from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. The tax silver he paid was just enough for his living. He could not save much money. If he encountered a big problem, he would have to borrow some from outside.

The eight taels of silver in front of them made the couple's hearts tremble.

Ma looked at Zhou Tao and moved her mouth: "This, this is really..."

"Take it." Lin Zhen stuffed the silver into her hand and said to Gu Shuanzi, "You and I will go to the town later and deposit the silver."

"Yes." Gu Shuanzi nodded.

After locking the box, wrapping it with a piece of cloth and putting it in a basket, and then covering the basket with some vegetables from the field, Lin Zhen took Gu Shuanzi to the town on foot.

Datianzi Village is not a remote mountain village, and the road leading to the town is relatively flat.

Lin Zhen walked in front with the basket, and Gu Shuanzi walked behind. Neither of them spoke, but just kept their heads down and hurried on.

About half an hour later, Lin Zhen saw a group of low buildings from a distance. Because there was no wall like the prefectural city, he could clearly see the thatched houses on the periphery and the increasingly dense tile houses as he got deeper.

The smoke from cooking was curling, full of the smell of fireworks.

After entering the market, there were vendors and shops on both sides of the muddy dirt road, and people on the road were in a hurry because of the cold.

Lin Zhen had the memory of his original body and knew that after he married the young master of that town, he often went out to buy rouge and powder, but he had no idea where the money house was.

He looked at these strangely familiar streets, walked to a shop selling candy and cakes, and asked the shopkeeper inside: "Aunt, where is the longest-running and largest money house in the town?" The

middle-aged woman in her forties seemed surprised to see him: "Isn't this the son of Young Master Qian? I haven't seen him for a long time."

"Oh, is this the servant of your house? Why is he so dark?"

"..." This luck is unmatched. As soon as he asked, he asked a familiar face who knew his original body.

Lin Zhen smiled: "I divorced Young Master Qian a long time ago. This is the son of the man behind me."

"Divorced!" The shopkeeper of the candy and cake shop went to live with her daughter in the capital for two years. She remembered that when she went there, Young Master Qian loved this boy very much. He would come to her shop to buy things four or five times a day. People in the town called Lin Zhen a vixen.

Unexpectedly, they divorced.

The shopkeeper was a little embarrassed by the sad story. She said in a low voice, "It's my fault for not knowing what's going on." She looked at Gu Shuanzi, who looked unfriendly, and handed him two round candies. "There are two money houses in our town, one is Tongcai Money House and the other is Huiyin Money House. If you want to find the oldest one, it's Huiyin Money House. Turn left at the third intersection on this street. There is a flag with copper coins embroidered on it, and you can see it at a glance."

Gu Shuanzi didn't take the candy from her hand, but stepped back a few steps, and the thorns on his body stood up visibly.

Looking at the somewhat embarrassed shopkeeper, Lin Zhen said, "He doesn't like sweet things very much. Thank you for your kindness."

"So that's how it is. It's rare for a child to not like candy." The shopkeeper put the candy back.

Lin Zhen said, "Then I'll go to the bank first. See you later, aunt."

"Ah, see you later."

The shopkeeper's wife looked at the two figures in front and behind, and couldn't help sighing that things are impermanent. When Lin Zhen first married Young Master Qian, all the boys in the town were envious and jealous. How could a boy get so many good things? He was almost praised to the sky by Young Master Qian.

Who would have thought that after only two years, he would remarry someone else.

And looking at his current dress, the person he married must be not as good as Young Master Qian.

This person's fate is really hard to explain.

Lin Zhen didn't know the shopkeeper's wife's sigh, and took Gu Shuanzi straight to the bank. I

saw a flag embroidered with copper coins fluttering in the wind on a cold day. As soon as I walked in, I was wrapped in warm air.

Looking at the two pots of charcoal fire burning in the shop, Lin Zhen really thought, it's worthy of being a bank, rich.

A servant in a grey cotton gown came up and asked swiftly, "Sir, are you going to deposit or withdraw money? Bring your household registration banknotes and other documents."

After carrying the silver for so long, Lin Zhen's hands were sore. He said, "I'm depositing silver."

When he heard that he was depositing silver, the servant's smile deepened. Money houses like theirs were most afraid of customers withdrawing large sums of cash, resulting in insufficient cash on the books and not being able to use the silver for other things.

So anyone who came to deposit silver had to be more enthusiastic.

The servant bowed slightly and led him to a counter near the inside. He pulled a rope beside him and heard the bronze bell at the other end of the rope clang clang clang clang: "Wait a moment, sir. Someone will come to deposit your silver soon."

Sure enough, after the bronze bell rang a few times, a thin tall old man walked out of the small door next to him. He first reset the abacus to zero with a clatter, then lowered his eyes and asked Lin Zhen: "Deposit silver?"

Lin Zhen took off the leaves on the basket and put the box on the table. "Yes, this is four hundred and eighty taels of silver. Deposit it all."

The tall old man nodded, put the silver and gold on the scale separately, weighed it himself, and then said: "Four hundred and eighty taels of silver, deposit it in the warehouse. Our Huiyin Money House is a century-old big house. As long as you have the silver bills of Huiyin Money House, you can withdraw silver no matter where you are."

"But I have something to say in advance. Our bank only recognizes banknotes and not people. No matter who brings the banknotes, they can take the money away. So please keep the banknotes and vouchers to avoid trouble."

Lin Zhen heard this and said, "Father-in-law, I want to ask if there are any other requirements for my money?"

The tall old man stopped fiddling with the abacus: "Oh, tell me?"

"My husband and I are in business. There are gains and losses in this business. I am worried that one day this child will suffer with us, so I want to save this money for him." "

First, the child cannot take this money before he is fifteen years old. Second, the child himself, the household registration documents, and the banknotes are indispensable when taking it. If you force it, you can only take ten taels a year."

"What do you think?"

The tall old man has been an accountant for so many years, and this is the first time he has heard such a strange request.

But after a little thought, he understood the meaning behind these terms. The biggest use of these terms is to ensure that the money can be used for the children. Even if something goes wrong in the middle, as long as the children are there, they can be protected.

He couldn't help but stroke his beard: "You two really love this child."

"However, our Huiyin Money House has never had such a deposit method..."

Lin Zhen felt something interesting from his tone, and said: "Everything starts from nothing. I believe that I am not the only one who has such ideas and plans, but I just haven't said it out loud."

"Father-in-law, you can ask others to spread the word when other people come to deposit money. Maybe there will be some gains." The

tall old man's heart moved, and he was tickled by his words. He looked at this quiet and smart brother, thought for a while and said: "Then deposit it according to your idea."

Soon, he handed out the filled-in silver note from the small opening of the counter: "Here, this is your silver note. It not only writes the time and date of the deposit, but also your terms." "

And these terms are also recorded in our account book. In the future, we can only withdraw the silver after confirming it in person."

"Thank you, father-in-law." The banknote in his hand was thicker and tougher than ordinary paper. There were some sloppy words written on it, and several seals of different sizes were stamped on the words. The big words "Huiyin Money House" were the most conspicuous.

Lin Zhen felt at ease. He put the banknote in the purse of his inner clothes and walked out with Gu Shuanzi.

At some point, fine and fragmented snowflakes began to float in the sky again. The vendors on both sides of the street quickly shrank their necks and hid under the eaves.

Lin Zhen lowered his head and said to Gu Shuanzi, "After you go to your uncle and aunt's house, I will not live in your father's house. When you have time in the future, go and sweep the dust and pull the weeds in the yard, so that you don't come back to the house when you grow up and it's shabby."

Lin Zhen did not hide what he did from him. The four hundred and eighty taels of silver really fell into his pocket as Lin Zhen said, and he didn't even keep half a penny for himself.

Gu Shuanzi's heart loosened a little. He choked for a while and finally said to Lin Zhen, "Where are you going."

Chapter 8

"I haven't decided yet. I should go home and take a look, then do some small business and go out for a walk."

Gu Shuanzi: "You don't have money."

Lin Zhen smiled: "Money is earned. I have hands and feet and I won't starve to death."

"But you," Lin Zhen suddenly stretched out his hand and pressed his coarse hair, "People will have to calm down when you go there, but you don't have to feel that you owe anyone. You have money, don't wrong yourself."

The snow in the sky was as sparse as salt particles, and it melted in the blink of an eye when it fell on people.

Gu Shuanzi was short, so he had to look up when talking to him, so from his angle he could clearly see the snow falling on his head and face, and passing through his eyelashes, and falling on his slightly round eyes, but not childish, but rather a little charming.

And his white melon-seed face, straight nose, and slightly fleshy lips.

Gu Shuanzi nodded unconsciously, and he had some doubts about the scene last night.

But these are all trivial matters, just like Lin Zhen married his father after divorcing Master Qian, maybe Lin Zhen will marry someone else soon, which has nothing to do with him.

In less than a day, the news that Gu Shuanzi went to live with his uncle spread like wild grass.

Some said that Lin Zhen was going to marry someone else without this burden, and some said that Lin Zhen couldn't tolerate him as a stepson. Anyway, they were all bad words.

The Gu family, who were humiliated by Lin Zhen in public, were so angry that they could hardly breathe. The family gathered together to discuss countermeasures.

"Tell me, why did you send Gu Shuanzi to his uncle's house and let his uncle's family get the benefits? He is our family!"

Old Mrs. Gu slammed the table, and her old face with drooping skin looked scary and frightening.

The second daughter-in-law who was sitting below her agreed: "That's right, Shuanzi is our child. Lin Zhen kicked him out because he didn't want to raise him. He just wanted to occupy the money and house left by his eldest brother. He's a wicked man who eats people without leaving any bones."

"Mom, we can't let Shuanzi go to his uncle's house. We should ask him to live with us."

Old man Gu, who was puffing on his water pipe, frowned tightly. He put down the pipe and said, "Let's go to the house early tomorrow morning to block them. No matter what Shuanzi's father says, Shuanzi must not be kidnapped."

"And that boy, a boy who ignored his husband's children just to get his husband's money, he must not be let off easily!"

The Gu family had a good plan, and they went there with torches before dawn the next morning. Unfortunately, they didn't see a ghost, and at dawn, the old woman from the village chief's house came over and said, "Shuanzi gave me the key to the house before he left, and asked me to look after it. What are you doing here?"

In fact, she didn't say that Lin Zhen also gave him two taels of silver from the eleven taels left by Gu Shuanzi, asking her to look after it.

After all, with the Gu family's bad behavior, they might forcibly occupy this blue brick and tile house as soon as they left. It would be better to spend some money and ask someone who can control them to look after it. When the Gu family

heard that they had left and entrusted the house to the village chief's family, their faces turned green.

Old lady Gu asked stupidly, "When did they arrive? Why didn't anyone tell us?"

"They left last night. Shuanzi also asked me to tell him that he had the document you wrote to sever ties with him. If you go and make trouble, he will sue you on behalf of his father."

Old lady Gu sat down on the ground, "Oh my God, what kind of grandson is this!"

No matter how they make trouble, the matter has been nailed down. As for the gossip in the village, Gu Shuanzi and Lin Zhen can't hear it at all.

Lin Zhen carried a bulging bag and walked to Liyu Village according to the route he remembered.

Liyu Village is much more remote than Datianzi Village. There are only thirty or forty families in the village. Because the land is not good and there are few paddy fields, every household has a hard life.

When Lin Zhen arrived, the last ray of light in the sky had gone out. He patted the shabby door and said, "Dad, Father, I'm back."

In the house, Father Lin and Father Lin were discussing how much food to plant after the New Year and whether the family would have enough food to eat until the next autumn harvest. They were so eager to spend every penny.

Hearing the knock on the door, Father Lin got up quickly. When he saw Lin Zhen outside, he pulled him in and said, "You're here so late. When did you leave?"

After entering the door, the scene inside was clear. The two brothers and their wives were sitting next to the fire pit, surrounded by seven children. The oldest was eight or nine years old, and the youngest was still bleating in the arms of his sister-in-law.

Sitting on the stool in the middle was a boy of fifteen or sixteen years old. He looked four or five points like Lin Zhen, but because of years of hard work, his skin was darker than wheat and his hair was dry and yellow.

The most conspicuous thing was the patched clothes on them and the narrow house that made it almost impossible to squeeze in.

Father Lin pulled him in and pressed him on the chair he was sitting on, and then he pulled a straw stool: "You came here by yourself, where is Shuanzi?"

Lin Zhen replied: "He went to live with his uncle and didn't come back for a year or two. I thought it was not appropriate to live there, so I packed up and came back."

"Going to his uncle's house?" Father Lin was surprised for a moment, then nodded, "That's good, he is a child, at least he has his own relatives around him, and there will be someone to help him when he encounters problems."

"Then you can live at home in the future, and you will not starve if you have a bite of food from your father."

Father Lin really loves Lin Zhen. He is worried that Lin Zhen has nowhere to go after leaving the Gu family, and he must not let him be homeless. When

these words came out, Father Lin and the two fathers didn't have any thoughts, but the two sisters-in-law and the youngest brother were a little strange.

It's not that they didn't let Lin Zhen enter the house, but there was really no room for people in the house.

The Lin family had only two rooms, one of which was divided into two halves by a straw mat. The two elder brothers of the Lin family lived in one with their respective children, and one room was occupied by Lin's father, Lin A'die. Then there was a room for Lin Xiaoyao, the younger brother, and the two elder brothers' little girls and boys. The other room was where the whole family ate.

There were fourteen people in total. When eating, except for the little baby who was still held by his sister-in-law, the little ones like Lin Xiaoyao could not even get to the edge of the table. They all squatted in the yard to eat with the vegetables on the rice. When

Lin Zhen came, food and accommodation became a big problem.

Moreover, Lin Zhen's behavior over the years was also chilling. Whether he married Master Qian or Gu Da, he never came back to visit once. Not to mention a piece of candy, he never brought back even a strand of hair.

But the two sisters-in-law and Lin Xiaoyao knew that the father and the two men in the family still had affection for Lin Zhen. Even if they were unwilling in their hearts, they dared not show it.

Seeing the undercurrents in the house, Lin Zhen pretended not to notice and only said to Lin Adie and Lin's father: "He has his own place to go. I am not worthy of his father. I have saved all the money in the family in the silver shop for him. I have also discussed some things with his uncle. If we are destined to meet in the future, maybe we can meet again. If not, it doesn't matter."

"By the way, these are some things I bought when I went to town yesterday."

Lin Zhen took out the things that had been wrapped early from the bag and opened them. There was a block of icing sugar and a bag of light blue cloth wrapped in several layers of oil paper.

The eyes of everyone in the room fell on them. Sugar, that is a good thing that the Lin family has not seen for several years. And the cloth, the two sisters-in-law and Lin Xiaoyao lingered on it several times.

Father Lin's heart trembled, and he grabbed his hand and used force: "Why are you wasting all this money?"

"Father, it's not a waste. Although I gave all the money in the family to Shuanzi, Gu Da also gave me some in the past two years. It's okay to buy these things."

"You have to keep it for yourself!" Father Lin lived a hard life, and he knew the difference between having money and not having money.

His Zhen'er is now alone, and his future life is completely hopeless. If he doesn't have any money to rely on, it will be so hard.

Lin Zhen patted his hand: "It's okay, father. I haven't been filial to you and father for so many years, and I haven't bought anything for my brother, sister-in-law and younger brother. Just

think of it as a souvenir when I visit relatives." As he said, he stuffed the bulging candy to Father Lin: "Dad, share it with everyone."

Father Lin paused and took the candy.

He is not blind, and naturally knows that Zhen'er's behavior over the years has hurt people's hearts.

Although he was sad sometimes, that was his own flesh and blood, and he thought about it again after he was no longer angry.

But he couldn't make this request to his two daughters-in-law and other people, it was unfair.

Holding the candy, Lin Adie stood up and looked at the family gathered around the fire. He gave the first piece to the little grandson who was still crawling in Lin Dasao's arms: "Tiedan, come here, this is the candy your uncle bought, it will make your mouth smell delicious."

"Ah ah..." Tiedan, who was not fat, but was sturdy, seemed to know that it was delicious. He looked at the candy in Lin Adie's hand with his round grape eyes and reached out to grab it.

After grabbing it, he ate it with a smacking sound, and his saliva flowed down his chin.

The resentment that Lin Dasao had towards Lin Zhen in her heart was somewhat dissipated by her son's eating style, but she felt very sour in her heart.

After marrying into the Lin family for so many years, she was busy day and night, so busy that her waist was about to break, but her own child couldn't even have a piece of candy, and she had to ask Lin Zhen to bring it to her.

But life in the village is the same for everyone. There are families worse off than hers, who have to sell their children to survive.

Mrs. Lin was feeling sad, but Mrs. Lin, who was a boy like Lin Zhen, didn't have so many thoughts. Whenever Lin's father brought him something, he would ask the child to take it.

He was from Liyu Village. Unlike Lin Zhen, who was born with a fair complexion and soft flare, he was almost as tall as the second brother Lin, with bold features and a slender and healthy figure.

Years of farm work left calluses all over his hands, and all the exposed skin was black.

But his teeth were white, and when he said thank you to Lin Zhen, it reminded Lin Zhen of a certain toothpaste in modern times...

Chapter 9

Lin Xiaoyao took the candy and looked at Lin Zhen.

He turned his back and licked the candy quietly. He was instantly mesmerized by the sweet taste, but he did not continue to eat it. Instead, he waited for the water marks on the candy to dry before putting it in the purse he sewed.

He wanted to keep it and eat it slowly until the Chinese New Year.

There were six children and a brother in the family, and there was only one tip missing from the bag of candy.

Lin Zhen didn't know whether to laugh or cry, and said to Lin's father: "It's not just the children who need candy, the adults also need it. Dad, you should give it to my brother, father, and others, and you too. Don't leave any behind."

"Whatever the adults need to eat, it's better to keep it to coax them. After the Chinese New Year, you can also pack some to visit your uncle. It's a very good New Year gift."

"..." Lin Zhen almost hit his head against the pillar. Just a bag of candy was actually considered a New Year gift!

He said quickly, "Dad, Dad, when I bought it, I thought that our whole family could eat it. Aren't father, father, brother and sister-in-law a family?"

"There's still a long time to go, and there will be opportunities to eat candy in the future."

Lin's father, who was holding the candy and preparing to put it into the house, looked at his third son with bright eyes and his eldest son, second son and wife who had been digging for food in the fields all year round, and hardened his heart: "You are right, we are a family, and we should eat together." He opened the oil paper and gave them candy.

Lin Changgui, the eldest brother, waved his hand: "Why should we adults eat candy."

Lin Changshun, the second brother, also shook his head: "Just give it to these little ones."

Lin's father, who had changed his mind, didn't listen to them and just stuffed the candy into their hands: "The things were brought by your younger brother, you can tell him if you want."

Then he gave two pieces to the two daughters-in-law, picked a piece that looked a little bigger for Lin's father, and took a small piece for himself, and put it in his mouth happily.

This was the first time his son had given him candy in so many years, and he must taste it well.

A piece of candy made everyone in the room smile, and even the room was much brighter.

After chatting for a while, the Lin family, who had worked on the farm all day, yawned from time to time. Father Lin thought for a while and called Lin Xiaoyao to his side and said, "From now on, your brother will sleep with you. Let's squeeze together for a few days. Tomorrow I will discuss with your father to see if we can build a small house next to you for your brother to move in."

Lin Xiaoyao is fifteen years old this year. He is the youngest son of Father Lin and Father Lin. However, like Lin Zhen, he has a very light pregnancy mole, and he is tanned from working every day. His marriage has not been decided yet.

He thought about the candy in his pocket that he had only licked a bite of, looked at Lin Zhen who was dressed thickly and neatly, and nodded: "Okay, then I'll make the bed first," and then said to Lin Zhen, "There is hot water for washing feet in the pot, third brother, you can soak your feet."

After that, he turned and walked towards the room separated by a mat behind the stove.

Father Lin said to Lin Zhen, "Our home is not like Gu's. You just deal with it for a few days, and your father, brothers and I will think of a way."

Lin Zhen looked at Father Lin, who was only over 40 but had half a hundred hair and fine lines around his eyes, and felt uncomfortable: "It's okay, Father. I was ignorant before and made you worry and feel sad for me."

"I've thought about it. I'll go to the town in a few days to see if there is any cheaper business to do. I can't say I'll make a lot of money, but I will definitely not ask you to worry about me."

"Business is not that easy to do. I'm afraid you'll lose all your money." After half a lifetime, Father Lin wanted to live a stable life. He said, "It's better to buy some fields and land. This is the proper way for us farmers to live."

Lin Zhen knew that this was the idea of ​​many people now, but he really couldn't do it by farming honestly.

However, since the work had not yet been done, he would not tell Lin's father that he would definitely succeed. He only said, "Just wait and see, we will be able to make ends meet."

"Dad does not ask you to be rich and powerful, as long as you are safe and sound and everything goes well."

"Okay, I will be fine."

After washing his feet with the ancestral wooden basin, Lin Zhen stepped on cloth shoes to go to where Lin Xiaoyao slept.

The separated area was only about six square meters. Chunxiang and Xingxiang from the eldest sister-in-law's family slept on the aisle side.

On the other side were Huaixiang, the younger brother of the second sister-in-law's family, and Lin Xiaoyao. As soon as he entered, the already narrow space seemed even more cramped, and it seemed that he even had difficulty turning around.

Huaixiang still had the taste of sugar in her mouth. When she saw him, she whispered, "Uncle."

Chunxiang and Xingxiang also followed and called, "Uncle."

"..." Uncle is uncle.

Lin Zhen smiled slightly, agreed and walked to Lin Xiaoyao's side.

Lin Xiaoyao, who had already made the bed, took the initiative to sleep in the innermost part with Huaixiang, leaving the outer part: "Brother, you sleep outside. Huaixiang rolls around at night, and she's afraid of falling if she sleeps outside."

"Okay." Lin Zhen took off the coat he brought from Gu's house, and after sitting on the bed, he found that the bed was made of stones, with wooden boards and a layer of straw on the top. It made a creaking sound when he sat on it.

The three children and a little adult in the room all looked at him unconsciously. He was different from them. His skin was so white, his hair was so smooth, and it was dark as if it was soaked in oil.

His clothes didn't have any patches, and they looked well-fitting and good-looking.

Several children involuntarily pulled the quilt to their chins, covering the patched shoulders and sleeves.

Lin Zhen was stunned for a moment, and sat on the bed, unpacking his bag in the light of the tung oil lamp on the small table at the head of the bed.

Inside were his clothes, three sets of cotton robes and cotton pants, and seven or eight sets of thin clothes for summer and autumn.

He waved to Chunxiang and Xingxiang who were lying on the other stone bed, then turned his head to Lin Xiaoyao and Huaixiang and said, "This dress was made last year. It's a little small for me this year. Ask your grandfather to alter it tomorrow. I should be able to make two sets of clothes for Chunxiang and Xingxiang."

Winter clothes are made big, and Chunxiang and Xingxiang are both thin, so it's more than enough for them to be altered into two sets.

Chunxiang and Xingxiang's eyes widened and they just shook their heads desperately: "No."

Lin Zhen said: "It's settled now. I'll talk to your mom and mother in person tomorrow."

Then he took out another cotton robe and put it on Lin Xiaoyao's quilt: "This one was also made last year. It's a little small for me, so it's perfect for you. You can wear it even next year."

Lin Xiaoyao frowned and pursed his lips: "This is yours. What will you wear if you give it to us?"

Lin Zhen touched his head: "I have some. If all else fails, go to town to buy some cotton and cloth, and ask dad to make me two sets."

"You have to be frugal with your money and don't spend it indiscriminately." Lin Xiaoyao said righteously. The tone of his words was exactly the same as Lin's father, and as he spoke, he pushed the cotton robe on the quilt towards Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen pressed the cotton robe down: "

Do you dislike the ones I've worn?" Lin Xiaoyao immediately said: "No--"

Lin Zhen: "Then take it!"

"..." The thick cotton robe pressed down on his body, Lin Xiaoyao's lips moved, as if a little embarrassed, he said, "Thank you, brother..."

"That's right." Lin Zhen rubbed his head, took out the last cotton robe and said, "Huaixiang, Chunxiang and Xingxiang are the same age. This cotton robe can be altered into two pieces. We'll see which one to give it to then."

There are six children in the family. Chunxiang and Xingxiang are girls, Huaixiang is a little boy, and his younger brother is also a boy. There is nothing wrong with wearing his old clothes. After all, they are all going to get married in terms of their attributes_(:з」∠)_

But the other children are different. They are all boys, so they still have to avoid suspicion.

As soon as they arrived, they got new clothes. The children couldn't suppress their joy. They looked at Lin Zhen with eyes full of joy. If they were not afraid of disturbing the adults at home in the middle of the night, they would have rushed to him and shouted at him.

Even in their dreams that night, they were extremely happy.

Lin Zhen propped himself up and turned off the oil lamp, and slightly tucked his legs into the quilt. There was

no way. If he stretched his legs straight, they would stretch out of the quilt. Who said that this bed was prepared for the children at home, and never thought of welcoming an adult like him. But

perhaps returning to this place made him feel at ease, and he felt sleepy faster than he thought, and fell into a dream in a daze.

The next day, Lin Zhen was awakened by a voice that was a little suppressed but could not be blocked at all.

He looked at the roof with some thatched leaves hanging on it, and his thoughts that were immersed in dreams slowly came back. He put on his clothes, pants and shoes and walked to the stove to boil water.

Mrs. Lin, who was taking care of the children at home, saw him wake up and said with a smile: "Were you woken up by the children? If you are sleepy, go back to sleep for a while."

"No, I got enough sleep." Lin Zhen looked at the house and saw that the people who had filled the house last night were gone. There was only Mrs. Lin and the child in his arms, and the one-year-old child who could walk and snuggled up to Mrs. Lin yesterday.

Lin Zhen said: "Did father and the others go to the fields?"

"Yes, we have to turn the fields before the New Year, so that the snow can freeze the insects in the fields to death, and there will be fewer insect pests next year."

Farmers work hard to make a living. They have to plant, harvest, and turn the fields after the harvest. They don't stop all year round.

Even so, they still can't avoid the harm of reduced production caused by bad weather. If they are even more unlucky, a year's hard work will go down the drain.

Lin Zhen walked over to scoop up some water to wash his face, and after washing his face, he said to Sister Lin: "I told Xiaoyao and the others last night to alter my two cotton robes for Chunxiang, Xingxiang and Huaixiang. I am not good at sewing, so this matter depends on Sister Lin."

"How can this be!" Sister Lin was not the kind of person who was greedy for petty gains. Her first reaction after hearing this was not to take advantage of her own children, but to think that this matter was inappropriate. Lin Zhen

said: "What's wrong with this? Besides, I have already told the children, and I can't go back on my word."

"But this--"

"Okay, sister-in-law, it's settled. I'll bring the clothes and you can see how to alter them. Anyway, you know my sewing skills are terrible!"

He was determined, and it was useless no matter how hard Sister Lin talked.

Chapter 10

Sister Lin had no choice but to nod.

Lin Zhen went to take out the cotton gown and put it on the clean table.

As soon as Sister Lin saw the material of the cotton gown, she knew that these clothes were not old and could not be worn. They were all high-quality cotton cloth and cotton that had only been washed a few times. Not to mention in their family, there were many people who wanted them even in the town.

She touched the clothes and kept saying, "It's a pity to alter them. This should have been made by a clothing store in town. The stitches are dense and neat."

"I would like it to be sparser so that it won't be a waste of time when I take it apart now." Lin Zhen was not good at sewing, so she held Sister Lin's little son in her arms and went to tease the boy from her second brother's family.

Mrs. Lin glanced at him and suddenly smiled: "To be honest, third brother, you are really not the same as before."

Lin Zhen held the child and looked back at her: "How are you different?"

"Last time I went there, you said that you would give all the money left by Gu Da to his son. That surprised me. In the past, you valued money more than anything else, and it was impossible for others to get a penny from you." "

This time, you gave such nice clothes to Chunxiang, Xingxiang and the others. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would have thought that someone else was making it up to deceive me."

Mrs. Lin is outspoken and says whatever she wants. She also doesn't hide the fact that she doesn't like the previous Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen said: "I don't know how, but I suddenly figured it out."

He looked at Sister Lin's hands and feet, picking up the stitches with a needle: "In life, there is really no need to be trapped by money. The more you have, the better, but if you don't have much, you should be free and easy."

He has a typical boy's figure, not as tall as a man, so the tall Sister Lin is about the same height as him, and even looks more burly than him because of years of hard work.

Sister Lin looked at his pale, handsome face that she had never seen anywhere else, and her heart felt like being stung by a bee.

This third brother is really different from these mud legs. With his appearance, I'm afraid it won't be long before someone comes to propose marriage.

The two of them were picking up stitches and the other was playing with the child, and the room was bustling.

Near noon, Lin Zhen saw that Sister Lin still had a lot of work to do, so he simply carried Lin Tiedan, who was still unable to walk, on his back and said to her, "Sister Lin, you continue to work, I'll go cook."

"Okay," Sister Lin really liked Lin Zhen after chatting for a whole morning.

She looked up and said, "The sorghum flour and buckwheat flour are in the jar next to the cupboard, and the vegetables are radish and cabbage." She thought for a while and said, "The top layer has bacon, you wash it, cook it, and stir-fry a dish."

Lin Zhen picked up the lid of the jar and saw that it was filled with gray sorghum flour, and buckwheat flour next to it.

These are two crops with relatively high yields, but the taste is average. Whether it is made into steamed buns or noodles, they are harder than wheat.

Lin Zhen estimated the amount of food his family eats, scooped three scoops of sorghum flour and three scoops of buckwheat flour into the basin, then diluted the hot water in the pot into warm water, added it in and kneaded it vigorously.

After kneading the two kinds of flour thoroughly, she covered them with a dustpan. According to what Sister Lin said, she took down the bacon that had been untouched for who knows how long, washed it and put it in the pot to cook, then washed the radish and cabbage, and washed a large basin of it.

The meals of the Lin family were cooked by Lin Adie, Sister Lin Dasao and Sister Lin Ersao in turn. Because sorghum flour and buckwheat flour were not as soft as wheat, they were almost all made by adding a little water and stirring them with chopsticks into lumps smaller than the tip of the little finger, and then steamed into lumps of rice.

Although it was not delicious, it could fill the stomach.

Looking at Lin Zhen's method, Sister Lin thought about it and followed him.

Lin Zhen was not like them. He had not lived through many hard times, so it was normal for him to know what they did.

The second dough was well-rested and only slightly larger than before. Lin Zhen poked it with his finger, put the dustpan aside, picked up the bacon and cut it into thumb-sized cubes.

As soon as he put the cubes into the pot and stir-fried them, the voices of Lin's father and Father Lin could be heard outside.

Lin Zhuzi, who ran into the house first, was sweating profusely. He called Sister Lin in a fierce voice: "Mom, is the meal ready?"

Lin Zhen said: "It will be ready soon. Wash your hands and face and you can eat."

Lin Zhuzi saw Lin Zhen by the stove and said with a red face: "Uncle."

They had just eaten Lin Zhen's candy yesterday, and he had a strong liking for Lin Zhen as his uncle. Smelling the delicious aroma that made people drool, he bravely asked Lin Zhen: "Uncle, what are we having for lunch today?"

"Cat ears. By the way, wash your hands and help me take the bowl to the table."

Cat ears? ? ?

Cat ears are so small, can you eat them?

Lin Zhuzi was confused, but he didn't ask. He agreed and ran out to wash his hands and face.

The other brothers who were still outside saw him and sniffed the unique oily aroma of bacon. They couldn't wait to ask him, "Brother, what are we going to eat?"

"My uncle said we should eat cat ears."

"Cat ears?"

"What cat ears?"

"Can cat ears be eaten?"

Several adults were confused and went in with their hands washed with doubts like Lin Zhuzi.

Lin Zhen had already fried the bacon to bring out the aroma and oil, and then added a few large ladles of water to the pot, put the cabbage and radish that had been boiled once into the pot, and pressed the dough of the second dough with one hand and quickly pulled it into the pot with the other hand.

Pieces of dough fell into the boiling soup, and after being cooked, the color became lighter than when it was raw, and floated to the top.

"Dad, come and serve." Lin Zhen scooped a large spoonful and filled the large bowl, calling Lin Dad and Lin Father.

The family had not eaten meat for a long time, and they swallowed their saliva just by smelling the smell. Lin Dad picked up his bowl, looked at the large pot of cat ears, and ate with peace of mind.

As soon as he took a bite, he couldn't help but say, "Delicious!"

Lin Zhen couldn't help but laugh. He was very confident in his cooking skills. After making a lot of money in his previous life, he worked hard on food. No matter what cuisine he was from, as long as it was delicious, he would not refuse it.

Although the sorghum flour and buckwheat flour were hard, they were just right to be boiled and eaten in thin slices. With the aroma of bacon, the well-cooked cabbage and the refreshing radish, it was just right to eat in winter.

Others couldn't wait any longer and started eating with their own portions. For a while, the room was filled with the sound of eating and drinking soup.

"It's delicious." Huai Xiang, who was only six years old and followed to collect firewood, squinted his eyes, holding a bowl bigger than his head, wishing he could bury his face in it.

Lin Zhen squatted beside him and put a piece of diced meat in his bowl: "Then let's eat this tomorrow, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Why not!"

Before Huai Xiang could speak, the people around him who heard this also spoke.

Father Lin, who was sitting on the stool, was smiling happily. He nudged Father Lin with his elbow and motioned him to look at Lin Zhen and the others who were squatting together. He was so happy in his heart.