On the second day, early in the morning, Shen went to town to find a well-drilling master and agreed on the price and time. Then Shen went to the old house and found Zhou, but Zhou said she had already discussed partnership with her cousin from her maternal family.

  Shen heard that and wanted to leave, there were still a lot of things waiting for her at home. Zhou pulled her back and asked: "Has your father been helping you with some work these past few days?"

  "What did sister-in-law say? Why would dad help me with the chores?"

  "Do you know that Father went to Chunyus house again? You said, Ive never seen anyone so biased. Two sons are not at home, only the two of us women are left, and no one lends a hand with the work in the fields. Brother-in-law is still idle at home, and the old lady pities her daughter, insisting that Father go to help, and even took away two large baskets of vegetables from our vegetable garden. She said they have many people but little land over there, and cant even get enough vegetables to eat. I dont know what else she might have taken. Fortunately, weve divided the family property, so whatever she takes has nothing to do with us anymore."

  Shens family smiled and said these things she had never mentioned before.

  "By the way, I also told you that it seems like Old Lady Wang is going to slaughter a pig. She said that since transplanting rice seedlings is about to start, pork will sell well. After they kill the pig, Ill let you know and if they dont give you some, you can find an excuse to come over and at least get some pork offal.

  Zhao Shi hadnt seen Shen Shi for a long time, and now that theres no conflict of interest, she poured out all her complaints to Shen Shi. For example, Autumn Jade embroidered flowers every day and kept the money she earned herself, while Tian Shi only knew how to ask his sons for money and worried about marrying off their second daughter, who was not in good health and might not be able to get married.

  At this time, Shen Shi felt extremely fortunate that she had moved away. Out of sight, out of mind; living her own life meant fewer worries."

  In the afternoon, the master of well-drilling came and said to first observe the landform and calculate what needed to be purchased. Shen Shi proposed three requirements: raise the well platform higher, install a pulley, and equip it with a well cover. The master agreed readily and brought two apprentices to start work.

  The following days were busy, cutting wheat, buying a drying mat, pulling pea shoots. All of these tasks were done by Shen and her son Zilu. Zifu was in charge of watering the vegetable garden after coming home, occasionally applying fertilizer. Ziqing could only stay at home to pick some leftover peas for seeds, taking care of the children, watching the well-drilling master, and preparing vegetables to eat. As soon as Shen came back, she could stir-fry them. Its really true that poor peoples children grow up too early! Ziqing was only six years old, not even in kindergarten yet, but had to do so many things.

  Fortunately, Shen Wanfu came over and hastily turned over the mu of peas, without even smoothing it out before leaving. He said he would come back in a few days to help with harvesting the cabbage.

  Digging the well took a full ten days to complete, costing nearly three taels of silver. The well was lined with green bricks, and the whole family was delighted. Shen Shi no longer had to walk so far every morning and evening to fetch water, and Zi Qing didnt have to go to the village to wash clothes or vegetables, making things much more convenient.

  This day, Old Zeng came over to inform that the rape can be harvested. He also brought a few bones and a small piece of pork. Zi Qing opened the door, and upon seeing him, she was quite happy. She waved the things in her hand and said: "Zi Qing, Grandpa has brought meat for you all. Wheres your mother? Isnt she at home?"

  Zi Qing took a glance at the meat, estimated it to be around one catty, and thought it was bought. She wondered which direction the sun rose from today, didnt notice in the morning. "Thanks, Grandma, my mom is busy with work inside."

  Seeing the newly dug well in the yard, Old Master scolded Shens family right away: "You didnt even tell us about digging a well, such a big thing! You say your whole family has many places to spend money, but its just a few more steps to fetch water. Who doesnt fetch water to eat in this village except for the landlords house? Youre really good at wasting money. We still care about you and hurriedly sent some meat for the children when we slaughtered pigs." After finishing speaking, he put down his things and left in a huff.

  Shens mother wiped away her tears, and Zi Lu could only stare at the back of his grandfather, biting his lip in anger. Zi Qing had to step forward and say, "Mother, dont cry. Carrying water is hard work. Once the well is dug, you wont have to suffer anymore, and I wont have to be afraid of falling into the pond every day." Shens mother hugged her child and cried bitterly before finally wiping away her tears.

  Not long after turning around, Tian came over and looked around the whole yard, saying: "Lao Ers family is always saying that you are an honest person, with many children, always crying and complaining. When dividing the property, your father said that your days would be difficult to get by, but who knew that each of you would hide your true intentions? These years, Im afraid Lao Er didnt hand over all his money to me, and its uncertain how much was embezzled. How else could you afford such a big yard? You cried poverty in front of us, but just a few days later, you had the money to dig a well. No wonder your father was so angry when he came back. I think we were foolish to worry about your difficult life and even sent you some pork bones and meat when we slaughtered a pig. Who knows what good things youre eating every day? Its really the son is not controlled by the mother." As she spoke, she took out her handkerchief to wipe away tears.

  "Mother, youre saying this, but the daughter-in-law is really being wronged. The husbands annual silver is counted, and at the end of the year, he always hands it over to you in full. Whether or not theres any embezzlement, Mother, you know in your heart. The daughter-in-law has been in your family for over ten years, and you still dont understand? To be honest, the money used to buy the land was my dowry silver, which Ive been saving for years, waiting for it to come in handy today. But after buying the land, theres nothing left, and the silver for building the house was borrowed from my younger brother. This well, just a few days ago, when my mother-in-law and others came for the hundredth day celebration of our child, they saw me going so far to fetch water in the village, and my daughter having to walk so far to wash vegetables and clothes. My mother-in-law pitied me, a woman with children, and had my two brothers lend me a few taels of silver to tide us over until we have more money later."

  Tian Shi listened and felt a bit embarrassed, but still muttered, "Who knows whats true or false, its all up to you anyway. Besides, you still have your maternal uncle to help you out, poor Spring Jade and her family cant even afford food and clothes, and theres no good brother to care for them."

  "Daughter, look at me, I have a bunch of kids too, and theyre all young. When we divided the family property, I didnt even get a single grain of rice. Every day, I have to buy rice, and every night, its just thin porridge. Look, now that the weather is getting warmer, the childrens padded jackets are all torn and tattered."

  Tian said, "Didnt I give you a few coins? Alright, alright, dont bother telling me your troubles. Who knows how many true words you have?" After glancing at the chickens in the yard, he added, "In a few days someone will come to see Xia Yu, and we wont have anything good to entertain them with, Ill catch two chickens and take them away."

  "Girl, look at this chicken, its not fully grown yet, the big ones are less than two catties, its a pity to catch them. Why dont you, mother, go back and get that old hen instead? That one can still lay eggs." Shen knew that if Tian didnt bring something today, she would definitely be unhappy.

  "Thats okay, Ill go along with you." Tian finally took the old hen back home.

  Zi Qing felt a deep sense of helplessness, it seemed that living a quiet and peaceful life was not possible. In the future, they would have to build a new house with silver tiles, and they would still come over to harvest in autumn. Originally, he had hoped that the old master would help with plowing the land, but now it was no longer possible.