"Dad, Mom, I’m going to ask the Village Chief about the house! I’m heading out first,"
Xiaoxiao said as she walked out.
"Third child, hurry up and follow!"
"..." Would it really be okay for him to follow? He hesitated, yet his feet did not stop.
They arrived at the Village Chief’s house without speaking a word to each other. Xiaoxiao suddenly realized she seemed to have gained a shadow.
"Auntie, is Village Chief uncle at home?"
"Yes, yes, Yang Ming’s wife, please come in!" The woman took the two kilograms of meat from Xiaoxiao’s hand, smiling warmly as she ushered her into the house.
The Village Chief, hearing the noise, was more enthusiastic than last time and came out to greet them before Xiaoxiao entered.
"Yang Ming’s wife, come inside, what brings you here this time?"
Yang Ming, trailing behind, felt ignored. Wasn’t he, the Scholar, supposed to hold some status in this village? Why was he being treated like air now?
Only upon entering did the Village Chief notice Yang Ming following behind.
"Ah, Yang Ming is here too!"
"..." Yang Ming felt a bit hurt inside.
"Village Chief uncle, it’s , my wife would like to rent a house in our village. Could you help us see if there’s a suitable one?"
Yang Ming thought, since he couldn’t stop her, he might as well help her with everything.
Xiaoxiao didn’t expect Yang Ming to speak up for her about renting a house; wasn’t he opposed to it? What’s happening now?
"We indeed have several vacant houses in the village. How big are you looking for?"
The Village Chief had not expected Yang Ming’s wife to make such a big move so quickly. It seemed he had not misjudged the situation.
"Village Chief uncle, the more rooms, the better, and preferably with a large cellar. We are renting it for Yuelai Restaurant, they want to make kimchi in our village, and they might hire workers too."
"..." Hearing Yang Ming’s words, Xiaoxiao was undoubtedly surprised; so he knew everything she was thinking, he understood all along.
This was the most Yang Ming had ever spoken, it turns out he wasn’t always silent, just not with her.
That kimchi was now the talk of the entire county; having it produced in their village was a huge deal. The Village Chief, hearing this, was all smiles and immediately decided to take Yang Ming and Xiaoxiao to see the houses.
They saw two places, both because households had become extinct, were under village management.
Xiaoxiao and Yang Ming picked a place with a large well and a big cellar, since these were essential conditions. Although the house looked a bit old, it wasn’t a big problem.
The rent for three months was three taels of Silver; Xiaoxiao paid right away and discussed hiring ten workers with the Village Chief. Then she planned to clean up the house with Yang Ming.
"You go back and rest. I’ll clean up!"
"No need, I can do it. It must be tidied up today, I want to move in as soon as possible."
"You’re pregnant, you shouldn’t overexert yourself!"
I can’t do this and I can’t do that? Weren’t ancient women still working in the fields up until childbirth? Why does she feel like she’s being taken care of so well, becoming a high-priority protectee!
She doesn’t even know on which day she and Yang Ming conceived, how many months she’s been pregnant, she’s been here for over forty days, so she must be almost two months pregnant now.
The first three months of pregnancy are very important; if he wants to work, she thought, let him work—no point in wasting free labor.
So Xiaoxiao went back on her own, leaving Yang Ming to work diligently. Since he had promised her, he had to finish the job, and finish it well.
Unknowingly, it was noon, and his stomach started rumbling. He was truly hungry! He thought: If only his wife could bring him some food!