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  Sun Lan'er's low voice told Xia Zhi all about the conversation between Da Ya and Er Ya that she had overheard from Sun Wang Shi. Seeing Xia Zhi's slightly furrowed brow, Sun Lan'er was worried for him.

  "My mother said that those two are cunning. Sixteen, I'm the bad guy. From now on, be careful when you're with them." Sun Lan'er told Xia Zhi this, and her purpose was just this sentence. In her opinion, although Xia Zhi is clever and capable, he's too kind to others and doesn't have much worldly wisdom, so she's afraid that Xia Zhi will suffer at the hands of Da Ya and Er Ya.

  She had been close to Xia Zhi for many years. Whatever the Tian family did to make up with her mother's family, she basically knew about it all. So, Sun Laner initially thought that the people of the Tian family were not good at fighting and were also not good people.

  If he's a good person, how can he be so ruthless and do so many things that harm others for his own benefit.

  Xia Zhi was silent for a while, and didn't expect Da Ya and Er Ya to be so anxious. She saw Sun Lan'er worrying about her, and quickly told her not to worry.

  "I'll be careful. This is our own home, I'm not afraid of them." Xia Zhi said to Sun Lan'er.

  After Sun Lan'er made up her mind to help Xia Zhi keep an eye on Da Ya and Er Ya, she asked Xia Zhi: "Sixteen, your family has added two more mouths. In the future, you... hmm, will Madam...?"

  Xia Zhi smiled slightly. She knew that Sun Lan was worried that Tian Shi would favor Da Ya and Er Ya, and would be even worse to her in the future.

  "Lanzi, don't worry about this." How she lives at home and her status in the family are no longer decided by the Tian family. "Lanzi, I'll tell you something, but don't go spreading it around."

  Xia Zhi leaned in close to Sun Lan'er's ear and told her about the negotiation results between herself, Xia Xiucan, and Tian Shi.

  "Afterwards, the family's affairs will be managed by me and my brothers. I am now half of the household, and in the future it will only get better, not worse."

  Sun Laner initially didn't dare to believe Xia Zhi's words, but seeing Xia Zhi's smiling face, which wasn't joking, she had no choice but to believe.

  She carefully digested and pondered for a while before understanding the meaning of this matter. "Sixteen, I'm really happy for you." Sun Lan'er grasped Xia Zhi's hand, she was so excited that she almost hugged Xia Zhi.

  In the past, when Xia Zhi was still young, she would often carry Xia Zhi in her arms. But over the past two years, Xia Zhi has grown taller quickly and is almost as tall as her now, so she no longer carries Xia Zhi.

  "Sixteen, this is too good, too good!" Sun Lan'er was so excited that she didn't know what to say.

  Xia Zhi also smiled and asked Sun Lan'er: "Lan Zi sister, has your mother been bothering you for the past two days?"

  "She can't find fault with me, whatever she says goes. It's still the same as before, I'm used to it, nothing much." Sun Lan'er also smiled slightly. The relationship between the sisters was getting better and better, and she was happy for her sister. At the same time, she didn't want her sister to worry about her either, nor did she want to cast a shadow over her sister's happiness.

  "Lanzi sister, I'll go tell your mother to let you come back and keep me company." Xia Zhi said.

  "Don't, don't go and say anything." Sun Lan'er hastily stopped Xia Zhi. "It's no use even if you do say something. She's in a delicate condition now and says she's uncomfortable everywhere, insisting that I wait on her hand and foot. It'll be better once she gives birth to the child."

  This last sentence was both a comfort to Xia Zhi and a comfort to herself.

  But Xia Zhi knew it wasn't like that.

  "When the child is born, you will be even busier." Xia Zhi sighed. At that time, Sun Lan'er would have more work to do. She washed the diapers of her two younger brothers. In the cold winter, there was no hot water, and she used ice-cold water to wash them.

  Two people were talking, when they heard Sun Wangshi's voice from the Sun family courtyard: "Where have you picked the bean sprouts to? Are we still eating dinner tonight?"

  Sun Lan'er heard that it was Sun Wangshi's voice, so she didn't dare to talk to Xia Zhi anymore. She hurriedly ran back and quickly picked a basket full of bean sprouts, then went upstairs.

  Xia Zhi let out a soft sigh. At this time, Xia Qiao and Xiao Shu Er had just returned from the ground. Xiao Shu Er still used her sleeve to hold some black sweets for Xia Zhi.

  "Sister, have some black sweets." Little Shu said to Xia Zhi with a treasured expression.

  What is called black sweet, is actually the fruit of Solanum nigrum. When it's ripe, it turns dark purple and tastes very sweet. As long as you don't eat too much, there's no harm, and it's a popular snack among rural children.

  Xia Zhi lowered her head and took a look, seeing that Xiao Shu had indeed picked quite a few. She then smiled and asked: "Xiao Shu, you followed your brother down to the ground, but you only paid attention to picking these?"

  The little tree just chuckled and neither admitted nor denied it.

  Xiaqiao smiled and said, "Even if I went down to take a look, there's nothing much to do. I even helped Xiaoshu pick some." This is what it means to protect one's younger brother.

  Xia Zhi smiled and said, "I'm not really going to scold Xiao Shu. I guess it's almost time for dinner. Xiao Shu, go deliver half of the food to Lao Shu, and we'll eat when you get back."

  The little tree happily agreed and left some black sweets for Xia Zhi, then took the rest and ran to find Little Black Fish. He came back soon.

  "Sister, Uncle asked if we've eaten yet. He said come over to our place for dinner."

  Xia Zhi said "I know" and the three siblings shared the black sweet treats before entering the courtyard, first going to the well pavilion to wash their hands. Da Ya was at the side of the well drawing water, saw them coming, hurriedly smiled and greeted them, then very attentively carried a basin of water for them to wash their hands.

  "Let Xiaoya rest," Xiaqiao wouldn't let Xiaoya fetch water, "I'll do this from now on. It's too much trouble for you girls to do this."

  It was summer solstice and she couldn't let Da Ya serve her by washing her hands, so she had her put down the basin.

  Dà yāo suddenly had red eyes.

  Xia Zhi, Xia Qiao and Xiao Shu Er exchanged a glance with each other, all of them feeling somewhat perplexed.

  Dà yā saw their surprise, and hurriedly accompanied a smile. "Nothing, nothing, I'm used to doing these chores at home. If I don't do them, I won't feel comfortable."

  She was actually moved by Xiaqiao's words.

  In the Tian family, even more strenuous chores were done by Jiang with the girls. Although they had brothers and Tian Dabao was physically robust despite having intellectual disabilities, Tian Dabao should have been able to do any task, but Old Man Tian and Lady Tian couldn't bear the thought of Tian Dabao doing labor.

  Their father, Tian Dabo, didn't do any work at home either. At most, he would follow Old Tian into the mountains to tend to the fruit trees. According to Tian Dabo's way of thinking, all the household chores were supposed to be done by the women. As a big man, he couldn't possibly do these things.

  With such a contrast, Xiaqiao's words were just ordinary, but they touched Daxia deeply. Because for her, this was the first time in her life that she had heard such considerate words, being treated as a girl and not like at her own home where she was taken for granted and ordered around like a servant.

  It never occurred to Xia Zhi that a casual remark from Xia Qiao would cause such a big stir in Da Yu's heart. Da Yu also felt that her reaction was too big, and she put down the water basin with some embarrassment.

  "Big Bridge Brother, Xia Zhi, Little Tree, dinner is almost ready." Da Ya said to the three siblings.

  "Alright, you go ahead with your business." Xia Zhi said.

  Da Ya seemed unwilling to leave, but after being glared at by Xia Zhi twice, she had no choice but to walk away and go to the outer house to help Tian Shi with her work.

  After a while, Da Ya came out again: "Big Brother Qiao, Xia Zhi, Little Shu Er, it's time to eat."