With a full stomach and enough wine, the brothers and sisters-in-law of the host family took their leave first. Yan Rendai, who had drunk too much, didn't forget to take the sheep with him when he left. Shen Shi quietly asked Zi Qing to go to the back mountain to pick two nanny goats, and then busied herself with tea and water to entertain the guests. It wasn't until only the Shen family members were left to help clean up the tables, chairs, bowls, and chopsticks that Shen Shi finally asked He Shi about the origin of the matter.
He said to Shen, "Let's not mention this again. The son-in-law was also in a difficult position at the time, with everyone in the family watching and his own mother urging him on. It's just two sheep, isn't it? Now you're not lacking in these things either, so let's consider it a good deed. Don't quarrel with your son-in-law about this."
Shen's family sneered, "I said why I was so kind to make a new dress for Zi Yu today? It turns out that it was calculated long ago. I'm not reluctant to give them these things, but they are lazy and only think of calculating others. Forget it, one or two people are like this, let's not talk about it."
Shen Jianshan walked over, scolding: "Speaking in front of a large courtyard full of people and asking for things, is this what you call being a man? Not even a bit of dignity. It's not like we're poor and have nothing to eat, what kind of thing is this, looking down on us like that."
Shen's wife was afraid that her husband would be embarrassed by what Shen Jian-shan was saying, so she interrupted him and asked about the harvest. This year's hailstorm had caused significant losses for everyone, but fortunately the late rice crop was growing well and should have a good harvest if nothing unexpected happened. The sweet potatoes were harvested two days ago and sold for three cents per catty, which was not as high as in the previous two years but still a decent income. In May, the price had dropped to two cents per catty, and now many families in nearby villages had started planting sweet potatoes and watermelons, so the drop in price was expected by Zi Qing. Fortunately, Zi Qing had other sources of income.
The Shen family stayed at their daughter's home for dinner before leaving, and also packed some cured chicken and salted duck eggs to take away. He Shi remained behind as usual.
Before going to bed, Zeng Rui Xiang finally had the opportunity to explain the two sheep thing to his wife. Shen Shi sighed and said: "It's not just one or two days, after more than ten years, I still don't know their temper? Want to get angry? There were more outrageous things before, didn't I get over it? Forget it. Because of the two sheep, we shouldn't be awkward with each other, it's not worth it. You also don't take it to heart, our family's sheep will give birth to lambs anyway. They'll become more and more."
Mr. Shen's words moved Zeng Rui-xiang very much, originally he still planned to put down his dignity and coax his wife happy, but unexpectedly there was such an unexpected joy, he picked up his wife and put her on the bed, Mrs. Shen was startled. Just as she was about to say something, her mouth was covered, in the midst of all this, Zeng Rui-xiang didn't forget to blow out the lamp and let down the curtains.
The next morning, Zhou suddenly came to visit and explained that yesterday was not intentionally wanting something. It's just that he couldn't stand Yan Renda's behavior, wanted to speak up for him, let him know the difficulty and retreat, but didn't expect his face to be so thick.
Shen smiled faintly and said it was nothing. The child should indeed drink some goat's milk, she should have taken the initiative to send it over earlier, but got busy with other things. Who doesn't know how to say polite words?
Zhou's family listened and felt a bit embarrassed, then turned to talk about Zi Ping's marriage. They said: "Your older brother went to ask around and said that their family has so many people crowded in one house. Even if the children get married and move out, they will have to rent another house, unless their family is capable of buying or building a house for them. Otherwise, their future life will definitely be very difficult, it's better not to have children, having children will also make it hard to raise them. Why don't you go ask again, can their family buy or build a house?"
Mr. Shen had long been unwilling to get involved in this matter, so he said: "To be honest, I haven't received any news from you for over a month, and the other day I sent a reply refusing it. How about this, you also know her, why don't you go ask her yourself, find out more details, and avoid me being a messenger with some inaccuracies."
Zhou saw Shen say so, and it was not good to force her, so she changed the subject and said: "If you find out about another good family, don't forget to tell me. The child is not young anymore, next year will be 15 years old, as parents we always hope that our children can live a better life. What can we take out of our silver to give her as dowry? Can't rely on the man's side? Now I understand a bit more, being a mother is really having endless worries."
Shen's family just pretended to agree, but in their heart they had already made up their mind not to get involved in this messy affair. Considering the temperaments of Zeng Ruiqing and Zhou's wife, whether things would turn out well or badly in the future, it was all going to end in complaints and grievances. Why bother to find trouble for themselves? Moreover, Shen's family still had a grievance bottled up inside them, so why should they revolve around others?
After seeing off the Zhous, Xia Yu came to the door again and explained with a sense of self-reproach: "Second sister, it's all my fault. If I hadn't been ill, you wouldn't have sent me the sheep, and you wouldn't have been scolded by Eldest Sister and Big Sister."
"Little sister, don't think like that. Such a big thing being raised here, how could it not be known to others? Actually, I'm also to blame. If only I had known earlier that drinking goat's milk was beneficial, I should have sent some over long ago. It's all for the sake of the children, after all. How are you feeling now? And how many days' worth of medicine have you taken? Is there still enough silver at home?"
"It's enough, now I feel that my whole body is not as soft as before, and I can walk a few more steps. I've been taking the medicine for a month now, and I plan to go home in these two days. It's been two months since I came out, and I don't know how things are at home."
"Who sent you back? Or did your brother-in-law come to pick you up? After going back, take good care of yourself and don't overexert yourself with household chores. The goat's milk can still be consumed for about half a year. If not, I'll give you another male goat to pair with it. If it gives birth to lambs after you go back, you can keep them and raise them slowly. Once your mind is opened up and your mood is relaxed, the illness will be easier to cure." After finishing speaking, Shen Shi went into the house to find some dried longan and dates, wrapped two packages, estimated the amount of floral cloth and green cloth, tore off a few feet, put them in a basket, and handed it over to Xia Yu.
Xia Yu saw her waving her hand and said, "Second sister, what you've given me is already enough. I really don't want it. My elder brother and his wife haven't left yet, if I take these things over, won't that be more trouble for you?"
Shen listened and asked: "Then which day are you planning to leave? I'll send you off, and I'll also send that male goat with you on the same day."
Xia Yu still wanted to refuse, but He Shi came out holding Zi Yu and said: "Good child, listen to your second aunt's words, take it. Your second aunt had a hard time in the past, my several sons were not the same, they all thought of their own brothers and sisters, so don't be too distant." Xia Yu only agreed after hearing this, saying she would come over again before leaving. Just then, Zi Qing returned from the back mountain.
Zi Qing saw her mother and second aunt pulling each other, so she smiled and said: "Second Aunt, I'll give you some more good things. Do you want a few peach tree saplings or tangerine tree saplings? Or orange tree saplings?"
Xia Yu listened happily and said she liked the peach tree, saying that when they left, they would come over to take it together. Shen Shi said that the peach tree was not suitable and could not be planted in the courtyard. Zi Qing asked curiously: "Isn't the school also planted?"
"Isn't that place uninhabited? If people lived there, they would plant apricot trees or tangerine trees, orange trees would do too." Xia Yu heard this and ordered a few tangerine trees.