Chapter 80

80. Chapter 80: A Horse Carriage Comes to the Village

However, their Yuhe Village was still considered lucky; at least they had the mountain at their backs, and they survived that drought by gnawing on tree bark and grass roots, but the neighboring villages were not so lucky, as their families were too poor to even open the pot, and they could only sell their sons and daughters.

Many people starved to death back then, and many refugees fled to other places, with the bones of those who starved to death everywhere on the road.

It was also in that year that Xiaoxiao's mother fled to their village, and they had today...

Recalling the past, the villagers were a bit emotional and sighed: "Xiaoxiao's mother is such a good person; the Lao Li Family is really not a thing. How could they treat her like that before?"

"That's right, Xiaoxiao is so obedient and sensible, and she even helped everyone find the water source; she is simply the village's lucky star. The Lao Li Family used to beat and scold her, and if it weren't for her, we wouldn't even have water to drink!"

As everyone's remarks became more and more indignant, the Lao Li Family Old Man on the side silently withdrew from the crowd.

He secretly glanced at Jiang Wei and Jiang Xiaoxiao, who were surrounded in the center of the crowd, a trace of unwillingness flashing in his murky old eyes, along with a slight regret.

But there was not a shred of self-reproach.

If he hadn't agreed to divide the family and break off kinship back then, would the honor gained from these things Jiang Wei did for the villagers have been crowned on their Li family members?

Could the person surrounded by the villagers, being praised and thanked, have been him...

The Lao Li Family Old Man became more and more unwilling as he thought about it; he moved his shriveled lips, took a deep look at the mother and daughter surrounded by the crowd, and finally turned and went home.

Jiang Wei stood on the ox cart, looking into the distance, and after a while, she turned to the Li Zheng and said: "I see that the water flowing down from the mountain still carries gravel and silt; you can dig a pit at the entrance where the ditch water enters the fields to settle the sand and stones, so that the water flowing down the mountain can flow smoothly into the fields."

"Okay!" The Li Zheng nodded with gratitude; there was a lot of gravel and silt on the mountain, and it would easily get into the ditches if one wasn't careful, and since the ditches were newly dug, he had been worrying about what to do with the gravel and silt in them, not expecting that someone would hand him a pillow just as he was getting sleepy.

He put Jiang Xiaoxiao down, turned to the villagers, and said: "Everyone heard it, right? To ensure the smooth flow of irrigation water, it is best for everyone to dig a pit at the entrance where your own ditch water enters the fields to settle the sand and stones, and you should also pay attention to maintaining the ditches regularly."

"Alright!"

This time, no one questioned the truth of Jiang Wei's words, and they all nodded.

Only Zhao Wulai on the side curled his lips impatiently and said: "Digging ditches, digging pits, it's so troublesome..."

"If you don't want to do it, then don't do it; anyway, the silt is going into your own fields." Seeing this, everyone retorted, "That's right, Zhao Wulai, you are too lazy; this time, Zhao Dasao is still lying in bed because you beat her, and I don't see anyone else coming to help you tend to the crops in the fields."

After the ditch water was introduced into the fields, the villagers would have plenty to keep them busy from now on; they should weed where weeding was needed, and catch insects where catching insects was needed... The newly reborn rice must not be ruined by these weeds and pests.

"Alright, everyone, don't gather around; go do what you need to do." The Li Zheng glanced at Zhao Wulai, who was making sarcastic remarks, and simply dismissed the crowd to prevent him from causing trouble again.

However, just at this moment, a horse carriage drove toward the ancestral hall.

The crowd that hadn't dispersed yet was stunned and stopped in their tracks, looking at the carriage in surprise.

Whose carriage is this?!

It looks quite luxurious!

These mud-legged people who spent their whole lives digging for food in the fields, although they didn't have much knowledge, knew that generally, only those wealthy families with status, position, or money could afford to ride in a carriage.

Such a luxurious carriage must belong to a wealthy family; why would a wealthy family come to this poor, remote place of theirs?

The servant driving the carriage flicked the horse whip, and with a "Whoa," the carriage stopped in front of the Jiang mother and daughter.

Immediately, the carriage curtain was lifted, revealing the face of a young and handsome boy.

"Little Lady Jiang, your village was hard for me to find."

"Young Master Jiang?" Jiang Xiaoxiao was stunned, "Why did you come?"

But the next second, seeing Shopkeeper Zhou walk out from behind Jiang Yu, she instantly realized; could it be that this young master was so excited after hearing her mother agree to cooperate with him on the snow cake business that he personally ran to the village to find them?

Shopkeeper Zhou indeed spoke up: "Little Lady Jiang, it's about the business cooperation you mentioned earlier..."

"I recognize him, it's, it's the shopkeeper of Yuelai Restaurant!!"

At this moment, the villagers gathered on the side made sounds of surprise.

"So Xiaoxiao's mother not only does business in town but also cooperates with the town's restaurant! That's truly amazing!"

"This Yuelai Restaurant is the largest restaurant in Yong'an County; Xiaoxiao's mother must be making a lot of money cooperating with such a big restaurant, right?"

Seeing that everyone's discussion was becoming more and more intense, Jiang Wei couldn't help but frown, interrupting Shopkeeper Zhou's words, and said: "Let's go to my house to discuss."

"Okay." Shopkeeper Zhou nodded when he saw the prying eyes around them.

Jiang Wei walked toward the ox cart; Old Man Zhao was still sitting on the ox cart waiting for them, and the three large pots on the cart, as well as those ice cabinets, also needed to be transported home by the ox cart.

Jiang Xiaoxiao followed her mother's footsteps with her short legs, and when she reached the ox cart, she opened her short arms, just about to let Jiang Wei hold her onto the carriage, when the next second she was picked up from behind by a pair of hands, "Little Lady Jiang, let your daughter ride in the carriage with me; you lead the way in front, and we will follow you."

Jiang Wei looked back at her and said: "Okay."

Thus, while Jiang Xiaoxiao was still in a daze, she was carried into the carriage by Jiang Yu.

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "..."

No, why was her mother so at ease with her riding in a carriage with someone else?

Wasn't she afraid she would be kidnapped??

"Tsk, little girl, what kind of expression is that? The ox cart is so bumpy, and you're not happy about being allowed to ride in a carriage?" Jiang Yu looked at Jiang Xiaoxiao, who had a bitter face as if she had been abandoned, and couldn't help but flick her little forehead lightly with his finger.

Jiang Xiaoxiao covered her forehead and hurriedly said: "No, I'm not unhappy; this commoner is just riding in a carriage for the first time and was startled."

This was the Jiang Family Young Master who was wealthy enough to rival a nation in the novel's plot; she must not offend him!

While speaking, she couldn't help but examine the interior space of the carriage, which had an exquisite small tea table, comfortable golden silk cushions, a gorgeous incense burner with curling smoke, and the carriage walls were even decorated with famous calligraphy and paintings...

—Sure enough, filthy rich.

"Forget it, what 'this commoner'; a little girl like you knows how to refer to herself as a commoner? Pretending to be like an adult."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "..."

She simply shut her mouth.

Young Master Jiang was meticulous, and the more she said, the more she would reveal; she had better keep her mouth shut and obediently play the part of a five-year-old child.

"Hey, why aren't you talking, little girl? I thought you were quite sharp-tongued usually?" Jiang Yu looked at Jiang Xiaoxiao's powder-sculpted little face and couldn't help but want to tease her, "Come, be good, call me Jiang Brother and let me hear it; I'll give you candy."

Jiang Xiaoxiao: "..."

She shouldn't have gotten into this carriage...