When the pears are green

Although the summer harvest had passed, the family had not yet finished the farm work. Apart from eating and sleeping, the family worked non-stop, and Song Li had not found a suitable opportunity to ask Zhang.

One day, two days...it was not until five or six days later that the Song family had some free time.

Song Li lay in bed and slept until noon before waking up. If she hadn't been hungry, she would not have been willing to open her eyes.

Song Li climbed out of bed slowly and heard a commotion in the yard. She leaned over the window and looked out secretly. It was Song Changhe arguing with someone.

Because the man had his back to Song Li, Song Li didn't know who he was. From the back she could only tell that he was a young man.

"Get out of here. If you come to my house again, I'll break your legs." Song Changhe angrily picked up a wooden stick from the wall and was about to hit the young man.

The young man jumped up in haste and shouted, "I call you uncle to give you face. Your daughter has lost her reputation, so it's not a loss for her to marry me..."

Without waiting for the young man to finish speaking, Song Changhe picked up a stick and hit the young man. The young man ran out of the Song family's gate while cursing.

Song Li hurried out and saw Song Changhe walking in from the courtyard gate with a flushed face and a wooden stick in his hand.

"Dad, don't be angry. Who is that person?" Song Li hurriedly comforted Song Changhe.

Song Changhe casually put the stick against the wall and said to Song Li fiercely, "That's a scoundrel. You don't have to pay attention to him. Don't believe what others say. Your mother left some food for you. Go and eat it!"

The Song family knew that Song Li was timid and afraid of people and things, so no one told her the rumors in the village.

While eating, Song Li thought: What kind of rumors could it be? For a girl, the biggest rumor is innocence. Was Song Li having an affair with someone, or was she rescued by a man when she fell into the water? According to what the Song family said about Song Li's personality, it was most likely the latter. According to the development of the incident, the rescuer should be married. Song Li's current situation is a bit embarrassing, so the Song family should have this reason for their eagerness to arrange a marriage for her.

Song Li sorted out the events according to what she had seen and heard. Could the man who fell into the water, the crazy woman that Song Yue mentioned, and the young man who came to the house today be related?

Feeling a little headache, Song Li quickly shook her head to clear her mind.

After dinner, the family sat under the locust tree to pass the time.

Song Changhe looked at the three children who were counting leaves nearby, and whispered to Zhang: "Xiangxiang, Uncle said that we may have to go out to work in ten days or so."

Zhang stopped smiling. She was silent for a while and said calmly, "Just leave. Although I don't want you to leave, how can we afford the taxes with just a few acres of land at home?"

Song Changhe learned carpentry from his uncle Song Ershun since he was a child, and his skills were pretty good. He often went out to work with Song Ershun, sometimes in nearby villages, sometimes in temples and Taoist temples, and sometimes in some wealthy families.

I can earn some money in a year, which can ensure that my family doesn’t go hungry.

Song Changhe wanted to wait until Song Xing was older and let him learn this craft as well.

After all, in this era, not every family can afford to read books, and there are only a few families in the entire Wuzhuang village who can afford to read.

After Song Changhe heard what Zhang said, he asked, "What about Xiaoli?"

"I'll talk to her later. It has to be settled before you go out. I'm worried about her child no matter where she marries." Zhang replied.

After Zhang finished speaking, she gently called the three siblings over.

"Come over here, I have something to say to Xiaoli, and you two should listen." Zhang pointed to a stool on the side.

Zhang saw Song Li and his brother sitting down, she smiled and said, "I won't beat around the bush. I went to your grandmother's house to visit relatives before the wheat harvest. Your eldest aunt said that she had a nephew from her mother's side. His family had fields and houses, and he was good-looking and about the same age as Xiao Li. So I wanted to talk to Xiao Li about him to see if we could get married. However, this child has no father or mother, and only a younger brother at home. Xiao Li is simple-minded, and she will definitely not be able to cope with too complicated family relationships, so I think this family is a good choice. Xiao Li, what do you think?"

Song Li lowered her head. Zhang had already said this much, wasn't she just trying to get her to agree? How could a little girl be the master of the house with her parents' orders and the matchmaker's words?

"Mom, you and Dad can make the decision for me." Song Li put her head on Song Yue's shoulder, looking shy.

Song Li didn't look up, but she could feel the joy of Zhang and Song Changhe. Even if she didn't want to hear the laughter, it kept reaching Song Li's ears.

Zhang walked over to Song Li and squatted down, patting her on the back and continued, "Xiao Li, I told you last time that this child is from the village next to your grandmother's, Jiangjia Village. The child is named Jiang Dahu, five or six months younger than you. His brother is Jiang Erhu, and he is about the same age as Xiaoxing. Both brothers are capable and can endure hardships, so you won't have a hard life if you marry into their family."

Song Li raised her head, her cheeks flushed, actually because she had rubbed them against Song Yue's shoulder.

Zhang thought that Song Li was embarrassed, so she stopped talking. She turned to look at Song Changhe and said with a smile: "Boss, since Xiaoli has no objection, you can go to my eldest brother's house and tell them. I agreed with my eldest sister-in-law at the beginning. If you agree, you can take Xiaoyue and Xiaoxing with you. If you don't agree, you can only take Xiaoxing. In this way, even if you don't say it clearly, it won't be too embarrassing. You can take Xiaoyue and Xiaoxing with you tomorrow."

Song Changhe nodded, and then told Song Yue and Song Xing: "You two will go with me tomorrow. Don't talk nonsense and don't cause trouble. Got it?"

The Song siblings were a little afraid of Song Changhe. They nodded quickly to show that they understood.

The sky gradually darkened. Zhang and Song Changhe went back to their rooms. Song Yue and Song Xing also went back. Only Song Li was left sitting under the locust tree.

Song Li looked up at the stars. She didn't want to tell her lifelong affairs in just a few words, but what could she do if he disagreed? She just hoped that Jiang Dahu would be a good man.

Song Li calmed herself down and slowly walked towards the room.

Song Yue hasn't gone to bed yet. She is sitting by the window waiting for Song Li.

After Song Li went in, Song Yue hurriedly comforted her: "Sister, don't think too much. When we get to my uncle's house tomorrow, I'll ask Sister Ruyi. He's her cousin, she must know. If it doesn't work, even if my parents beat me up, I'll ruin this matter."

Looking at the indignant look on Song Yue's little face, Song Li laughed softly.

"Yueyue, when you get to your uncle's house tomorrow, you and Xiaoxing must abide by the rules and don't make trouble. You can't let people look down on our Song family's children. I also want to thank Yueyue. If not, you definitely can't let Yueyue get beaten. I will take it myself. What do you think?" Song Li felt much better when she looked at her thoughtful sister.

Song Yue helped Song Li untie her hair. While combing her hair, she said, "Sister is different now. She couldn't talk so much in a day before."

"Really? I don't even remember it." Song Li asked in surprise.

"Yes, although I miss my previous sister, I also like my current sister." Song Yue put away the comb, and Song Li's hair was completely combed.

Song Li lay down, and she imitated her past behavior to coax Song Yue to sleep: "Yueyue, go to sleep quickly. I think there is almost no more eggs in the basket. I will ask mother to boil eggs for us tomorrow."

Song Yue asked confusedly: "Sister, how do you know that mother will agree?"

"I nodded my agreement to this marriage, which was equivalent to giving her face in front of my aunt. My mother has always been worried about my marriage. Now that the matter has been resolved, she is naturally happy." Before Song Li finished speaking, Song Yue had fallen asleep.

Song Li was a little overwhelmed by the days of high-intensity labor, let alone this thirteen-year-old kid!