The days passed by picking vegetable leaves, cutting vegetable leaves, feeding the chickens, letting them out to pasture, and helping Shens family with washing and scrubbing. Zi Qing no longer worried about who the emperor was or what dynasty it was, after all, her own family lived in a small village at the very bottom of society, as long as there were no wars and prices were stable, Zi Qing didnt ask for much from those sitting high up on their thrones.

  Since that day when she almost exposed herself in front of Zilu, Ziqing asked Zifu to teach her how to read and do math. Every day, she would squeeze out some time for Zifu to teach her and Zilu a few words. As a result, on sunny days, you could often see this scene under the peach tree: ten little chicks lazily scratching in the dirt, next to them two children holding branches also scribbling on the ground, not much different from the chickens scratches.

  No one thought that Ziyin was seriously raising chickens. When the Tian and Zhou families found out, they all thought it was Shen who was wasting money. They would often call Zilu to go up the mountain to gather firewood, but originally, Ziyin should have gone too. However, Shen strongly opposed it, firstly because the child was too young, walking such a long distance was tiring enough, and then having to gather pine needles on the mountain, which required dragging a bamboo rake around in circles, something Ziyin couldnt handle. Secondly, Shen was still recovering from childbirth and needed someone by her side to run errands and help with washing diapers, after all, Zishou was too young. Besides, every day they could barely eat their fill, how could they do physical labor? So Ziyin stayed behind.

  Every day, after finishing the necessary chores, as long as it wasnt raining, Ziqing would take Zishou to Tians vegetable garden with empty hands. Tians vegetable garden was quite large, at least over half an acre. Ziqing knew that small white vegetables and green onions especially loved to grow those plump green worms, which were great for feeding chickens. Of course, Ziqing wouldnt catch them by hand; instead, she would either tear off a small piece of vegetable or use two twigs as chopsticks to pick them up, then find a large leaf to wrap them in and bring them back home. The adults at home thought the two children were just playing around and didnt take it seriously. The little chickens changed day by day, their down feathers falling off, and two small wings coming out. Ziqing loved to catch them and show them off to her mother, Shen Shi would smile warmly and encourage Ziqing a few words. Ziqing immediately became proud of herself, it seemed that as the body grew smaller, the mental age would also change and become younger.

  The little boy is no longer frowning, his eyes are shining brightly, and his skin is rosy. His small mouth is always blowing bubbles, and most of the day he spends sleeping. Zi Qing really fell in love with this adorable little brother, full of affection.

  The day before the Laba Festival, Zeng Ruixiang returned. It turned out that private schools here generally started their winter break on the eve of the Laba Festival and didnt resume classes until the 20th of the first month. The government office where Zeng Ruixiang worked wouldnt have a holiday until after the 20th of the twelfth month, but since the prefecture was relatively close by, Zeng Ruixiang still managed to return home quite often.

  As soon as Zeng Ruixiang returned, Zi Qing and the others were very happy. Tian Shi had all the younger ones stay at home to pick beans, which meant picking out the stones from the beans. Everyone sat together, and Qiu Yus witty remarks were the most numerous, always making everyone laugh loudly. Moreover, she would occasionally sing a few lines of folk songs. Zi Qing loved this strong New Year atmosphere, but she couldnt help thinking about her family in another world. During the busy daytime, it was fine, but sometimes when night fell, this desperate nostalgia would surge up, and Zi Qings heart would ache dully.

  Shen woke up early on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, fed the children and tidied herself up before coming over to the childrens room, only to find that Zi Qing was living with her brothers.

  "Qinger, why are you sleeping here? Didnt you always sleep with Zi Ping?"

  "Mom, I like living with brother, brother can tell stories to Qinger and also teach Qinger to recognize characters."

  "Youre such a nuisance, never mind, youre still young and well be moving out soon anyway."

  "Its not different seats for seven-year-olds? Im only five. Right, Mother, how did you come out, isnt it not yet a month?"

  "Who told you that seven is different? You still dont know much, hurry up, mom will comb your hair for you, go help your aunt early."

  When Shens family brought over their children, Tians family had already cooked the porridge. Zhou glanced at Shen and didnt say a word. Shen took the initiative to step forward and said: "Mother, elder sister, youve been troubled these days."

  "Its not that Im resentful, but its not like I can blame others either. Who made me have a life worse than others? One after another, I was born to suffer." Zhou Shi said with a sigh.

  "Alright, lets serve the porridge to everyone. The second family is holding their child and sitting aside, isnt it not yet time? Tian Shi spoke up and Zhou Shi didnt say anything else."

  The Tian family finished a bowl of hot eight-treasure porridge, walked to the gate, held up the bowl high, made three bows, muttered some words, and offered it in all four directions. Then he returned to the hall, bowed again in front of his ancestors memorial tablet. Zi Qing was surprised that ancestors memorial tablets were usually placed in the ancestral temple, right? Zi Qing secretly asked Zi Lu, who explained that the custom here was for the parents memorial tablets to be kept at home, and on New Years Eve, they would offer sacrifices, burn incense, while those of earlier generations were kept in the ancestral temple. Generally, only on New Years Eve would all the men of the clan gather to worship together. When a new baby boy was born, they would usually update the family tree on the second day of the new year and set up wine and food in the ancestral temple to invite all the men of the clan to eat, while women were not allowed to enter the temple.

  After the Tian family finished worshiping, everyone got a bowl of porridge one by one, in order from old to young. Shens family put Zi Xi on Qiu Yus bed and helped distribute the porridge. When Zi Qing brought over the porridge bowls, the porridge was just warm and fragrant, sweet and delicious. This was the first time since Zi Qing arrived that she felt something tasted good. Unfortunately, a bowl of porridge was quickly finished, and when Zi Qing looked around, no one went to refill it, so naturally, she didnt dare to do it either.

  Everyone finished drinking the porridge, and they all threw away their bowls and chopsticks. Only Shen was cleaning up the bowls and chopsticks. Zi Qing worried that Shen would go wash the dishes, but she hadnt finished her postpartum confinement yet, how could she use cold water? Seeing that Tian and Zhou were silent, Zi Qing quickly ran into the house, pinched Zi Xis butt, and Zi Xi started crying loudly. Zi Qing hastily shouted, "Mother, Little Four is crying, it seems like hes wet his pants, you come over and change him quickly."

  Tians family could only say: "Lao Erjias, you go quickly."

  Shens family just came in and was about to touch the childs diaper, Zi Qing stopped her, "Mom, lets go home and change it later, anyway there is no diaper here."

  As soon as he entered his room, Shen asked, "Speak up, what kind of trouble have you stirred up again?"

  "No, mom. I just dont want you to do it, even Ah Po said youre not supposed to be doing chores today, why cant Aunties wash the dishes?"

  "Your younger aunt wants to embroider flowers, but shes always busy with household chores and her hands are rough, how can she embroider? Your second aunt is not in good health, and your grandmother doesnt want her to do anything. Besides, which family uses their daughter for housework when they have a daughter-in-law? A womans life is just like that, only able to enjoy a few comfortable years at her natal home." What a tragedy. This evil ancient society.

  Before Zi Qing had finished her reverie, Zi Lu came in to ask Zi Qing to go to the market. It turned out that every fifth and tenth day of the month was a big market day in Wutong Town, with people coming from all directions within a radius of ten miles. Every second and eighth day was a small market day, with only villagers from nearby villages attending. On ordinary days, there were only four or five families selling vegetables in the morning, as not many residents in the town engaged in farming.