514 Can You Not Leave
In that case, it was no wonder that they all avoided him. However, there were also benefits to this. The few of them would not dare to do anything naughty again.
“Then do I look like a big wild boar to you?” Xia Zhe said as he leaned closer to Qiao Mei.
“I think you’re more like a big bad wolf!” Qiao Mei said with a laugh.
Everyone went about cooking happily in the courtyard. There were definitely not enough pots on the stove at home for such a banquet. They took a metal sheet to form a circle to make a stove and then set up an iron pot on it. That was how they set up a portable stove.
Basically, every family had such a thing. If it was still not enough, they would borrow things from their neighbors and everyone would come over to help.
“Now I know why you like coming back,” Xia Zhe said as he looked at the figures busying themselves in the courtyard.
“Although everything is convenient and I’m happy in the capital, I don’t know many people. But I’m familiar with everyone in the village. Everyone helps anyone who needs help. As long as you treat them well, they will also treat you well with all their heart,” Qiao Mei said.
Qiao Mei turned around and saw that Zhang Qin and Zhang Miao were still peeping at them through the window, looking like they wanted to say something to her.
“I’ll go and take a look at my younger sisters. Go and ask grandfather to come over and then keep an eye on Zhang Wei and Zhang Chao. I’m afraid that these two children will be too clumsy and fall down again,” Qiao Mei instructed.
When Xia Zhe heard this, he went to fetch Qiao Qiang. After the two girls saw Xia Zhe had gone a distance away, they ran out happily to talk to Qiao Mei.
“Elder sister! I miss you so much!” Zhang Miao threw herself into Qiao Mei’s arms, scaring Zhang Qin so much that she held Zhang Miao back.
“Elder sister is pregnant! Be careful!” Zhang Qin chided.
Zhang Miao looked at Qiao Mei uneasily. She was just excited and did not rush over on purpose.
Qiao Mei smiled and took Zhang Miao and Zhang Qin by the hands, placing their hands on her stomach as she said, “Feel it. See if your little nephew is fine?”
“Nephew? Elder sister, what’s a nephew?” Zhang Miao asked in puzzlement.
She was still young. In addition, Old Madam Zhang did not allow the girls at home to read and write previously, so they only knew how to do housework. The old woman did not even allow the two girls to show their faces when there were guests at home. The young Zhang Miao did not know anything about such things.
“Elder sister’s son is your nephew. Once he’s born, he will need to call you little aunt,” Qiao Mei said as she patted Zhang Miao’s head.
Zhang Miao looked at Qiao Mei as if she only vaguely understood what she heard. Zhang Qin also did not quite understand the concept of seniority. Since this was her elder sister’s child, then they would protect him well!
“Elder sister, how long will you be back this time? Can you not leave…” Zhang Miao said aggrievedly.
When Qiao Mei was still in the village, they still had someone protecting them. During the two months whenQiao Mei was not around, they were always beaten and scolded by Zhang Qian. The children from the neighboring villages also bullied them and said that they were fatherless children.
“Did Zhang Qian and the others bully you?” Qiao Mei asked with a frown.
She originally thought that Zhang Qian would behave himself for a period of time after taking the “severance payment”, but after she left, he became even worse.
Zhang Miao covered her face and wailed loudly, causing everyone to look over. Qiao Mei hugged Zhang Miao and said, “The child misses me! It’s fine!”
“Sigh, Qiao Mei is really kind-hearted. She even takes such good care of siblings who are not related to her,” Auntie Wang lamented.
“That’s right. If only that silly boy from my family had married Qiao Mei back then. It’s so difficult to find such a good wife,” another auntie said.
“I remember that someone introduced Qiao Mei to your family back then! Your son chased away the matchmaker without even taking a look at her. You didn’t even like Qiao Mei then!” Auntie Wang said.
The auntie blushed and flicked some water at Auntie Wang. She scolded jokingly, “Shoo, shoo, shoo! I wasn’t snobbish back then! If I had known that Qiao Mei would bring good fortune to her husband and is so beautiful and capable, I would have carried her into my family long ago! I’d be happy to spend any amount of money!”
“Hahahaha, I’m just fooling around! Why are you really angry! I’ll introduce a nice girl to your family if I meet one!” Auntie Wang said with a smile.
Auntie Wang was a famous matchmaker who was well known in the surrounding eight villages. However, she did not usually make introductions as she was afraid that she would offend others and ruin her own reputation. If she was asked to make an introduction, both the families of the man and woman had to give her double the amount of gifts, otherwise she would not render her services.
