Chapter 6: get a foothold first
Chapter 6 First we must gain a foothold
Widow Qu heard her asking for tea, but she was generous, and she brought out a clay pot teapot: "This is tea made from the leaves of the yellow-skinned fruit tree. It clears away heat and quenches thirst. I don't know if you are used to drinking it."
How can Zhao Liya be picky? Quickly thank you for taking it.
She thought for a while, then smiled and said politely: "By the way, Aunt Qu, can we borrow your stove to cook some porridge tonight? It's not in vain. I can pay for it. Please do me a favor."
Widow Qu smiled: "Why does the neighbor say that there is no money? You just come!"
"Thank you, Aunt Qu!"
Zhao Liya went briskly.
This tea is light amber in color, cool in the mouth, with a hint of aftertaste, and the whole family is so thirsty after working for a long time, they drink it from a rough clay bowl, which is greatly praised.
After drinking the tea, she tidied up for a while, Zhao Liya said something, and scooped up a big bowl of millet to go to Widow Qu's house.
Their bowls are used on the road, but they don’t have a pot, and they haven’t had time to buy them yet, so they have to borrow from Widow Qu’s house.
This big bowl of millet weighed almost a catty, enough for cooking porridge, and even two bowls for Widow Qu. Borrowing firewood and pots from other people's stoves, of course you can't eat alone. Let's return this favor later.
Cooking porridge is really necessary, and it is also important to inquire about the situation in the village by the way.
Coincidentally, Widow Qu seemed to be quite interested in their new neighbors, and asked a lot of questions. Zhao Liya told her everything she could say. And what Zhao Liya asked, Widow Qu also said everything.
The two had a great chat.
Only then did Zhao Liya know that Widow Qu is a widow, and she lives here with her daughter Qu Yutao, and she is deeply impressed. The mother and daughter must have some ability to gain a foothold here. She is also a nice person, a capable person.
The millet porridge has been cooked for more than half an hour. The cooked millet porridge is sticky and smooth, and the rice is full of fragrance. When you smell it, you will feel ironed. One bite will appease the spleen and stomach.
Zhao Liya filled two steaming bowls and put them on the stove, "Auntie and Sister Yutao also try something new. It's such a hot day to drink some porridge to nourish the stomach and nourish the people!"
"Hey, I'm asking you to spend money!" Widow Qu didn't refuse, and thanked her with a smile, and then took out a few fresh cucumbers from the small basket and put them in the basket: "Take it and try it out."
"Thank you, Auntie!" Zhao Liya thanked with a crisp smile, took the pot and basket and said goodbye, "I will return the pot and basket to Auntie later."
"Hey, no rush, no hurry!"
Zhao Liya took the dinner home, and the whole family shared it.
There are no stools in the room, and everyone spread out mats to sit on.
Tired after a day of tossing, the fragrant and yellow millet porridge is particularly attractive.
"Hey, this millet porridge is really fragrant! Is it good?"
"Delicious!"
"It's your sister who is good at craftsmanship, haha!"
"Father, you don't need to be skilled in cooking porridge."
"I want it, I don't know how to be a mother!"
Everyone laughed. In the afterglow of the setting sun, the whole family was talking and laughing, cherishing and happily sitting around drinking the delicious millet porridge, simple but happy and warm.
The millet porridge was boiled very viscous. The adults tacitly hugged the two little ones first to make them full. The adults probably ate about 70% full.
After dinner, the twilight grew stronger.
They also had moxa sticks bought in the pharmacy, so they smoked them everywhere in the house, and then lit them outside the door. Smoke mosquitoes.
Then, everyone sat on the mat and discussed future arrangements.
First of all, of course, you have to take stock of your money to see how much property is left.
When Zhao Liya came, he extorted two thousand taels of silver from Li Guogong's mansion. Hu Ling caught up with them later and brought four hundred taels, a total of two thousand four hundred taels.
It looks like a lot, but it costs even more on the road.
Six hundred taels were given to the escorting officials just as a gift, and they had to be bribed by buying some wine, meat, pastries, and seasonal fruits from time to time, which cost more than two hundred taels.
They themselves spent a lot of money along the way, especially when they stayed at the inn, they were taken as a victim and slaughtered, and it was not good if they were not allowed to be slaughtered. If something happened, who knew what would happen?
At this time, after counting, there were more than one thousand and thirty taels of silver left.
Although it looks like a lot, but with their current identities, they may need to go bankrupt at any time to eliminate disasters. Therefore, they must leave around 600 taels as life-saving money, which must not be used lightly.
In other words, all they can use now is five hundred taels plus a fraction.
I took a look at this house without a door—everything needs money to fill in it!
Zhao Xiangdao: "Ya'er, from now on in our family, you will be in charge of the money. You are thoughtful, and I will work hard for you in the future."
Mrs. Deng also smiled lovingly and agreed: "Yes, my Ya'er is a good person. Fortunately, you are a blessing to my parents!"
Hu Ling grinned: "I also listen to my sister."
"Alright then, let me tell you about my plan"
Zhao Liya originally planned to worry about this family to the end, even if she is not the head of the family in name, she will actually have the final say.
It's not that she likes to seize power, but that her parents have never lived this kind of life, and they don't know where to start. It's okay to be brave, but nothing else is good. If she doesn't stand up, who else can she expect?
As far as the current situation of their family is concerned, there is no need to say anything, let's first gain a firm foothold in the village.
This place is different from other villages. They are either exiled prisoners, or relatives or descendants of exiled prisoners. It cannot be said that there are all heinous villains here, but there must be a mixture of dragons and snakes and more villains.
All have lower morals.
So, Zhao Liya can't say exactly how to do things like gain a firm foothold, and can only be covered by soldiers.
For example, if you are a widow, you should make friends; if you are a rogue, of course you must have fists.
"Our house must be properly reinforced and built, so that it will be safe. Tomorrow, my brother and I will go to the county town to inquire, and hire more people to build the house quickly."
This statement was unanimously approved by everyone.
Ms. Deng especially felt lingering fear, couldn't help but glanced at the dark framed door again and said, "It's really scary to live in this house, the sooner it's built, the better, otherwise I'm really worried, worried."
Zhao Liya smiled: "Don't worry, mother, I will hurry up early. With me, father and brother here, no matter what time you go to sleep at night, you can rest assured!"
"Not bad!" Everyone laughed.
As the dust settled, the tense mental energy along the way subconsciously relaxed. Everyone was tired and sleepy, and after a while, they all went to rest.
There are too many things, anyway, I can’t finish it in a while, so I’m not in a hurry tonight.
Build the house well first. Personal safety and property safety must be guaranteed first, and the rest will be done step by step.
Don't panic if you have money in your pocket, they still have some confidence.
(end of this chapter)