"This is a bit difficult..." Xia Shu's eyes rolled around, then scratched his head, "Hmm... it's not impossible though..."

  "What's next?" Xia Zhi narrowed his eyes.

  "Sister, I've finished this task. Can you, can you tell Uncle and let me go play with Da Qing?" Xia Shu's big eyes shone brightly as he looked at Xia Zhi.

  "Deal!" Xia Zhi replied decisively, "Can't let Mom and Dad know."

  "Absolutely." Shu's excitement was almost palpable.

  The sister and brother high-fived each other, and this matter was settled.

  After that, Xia Zhi watched as Xia Shu used all his strength to wrap himself around Xia Xiucui and Tian Shi like a twisted sugar cane. The couple finally couldn't hold on any longer, although they felt Xia Shu was being a nuisance, but still brought this youngest son along with them.

  See off the horse-drawn carriage going far away, summer solstice wave goodbye.

  Xia Shu also waved goodbye.

  Tian asked suspiciously: "Xiao Shu, how did you and your sister become so close?"

  "Heh heh." Shu only smiled and didn't say a word.

  Xia Xiuzai didn't think much of it: "Little Shu has grown up and become sensible. He was brought up by the 16th, so their feelings are naturally good."

  Because he still had important things on his mind, Tian didn't pursue it further.

  Xia Zhi returned, and began to sort out the Western house. Xia Qiao didn't go to the ground, stayed behind to help Xia Zhi. The miscellaneous items stored in the Western house were moved, some to the main hall and Eastern house, while others were placed outside.

  There is a simple shed outside, usually piled with firewood, which can prevent sun and rain.

  All the miscellaneous items were moved out, and the room suddenly became much more spacious and bright. Xia Qiao also collected some broken tables, chairs, boards, and stools, borrowed some tools, and came back to make a set of table and stool for Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi was in charge of sweeping. Just as she was busy, there were voices talking in the front yard. Xia Zhi stood on the kang and walked to the window to take a look outside.

  A fourteen or fifteen year old girl came, of medium build, with a clear and delicate face, and a big braid hanging behind her head.

  "Orchid sister." Xia Zhi called out crisply.

  Sun Lan'er heard Xia Zhi's voice and smiled in response. She walked quickly into the house, stopping in the main room, and called out again to Da Qiao Ge.

  Xiaqiao, who was busy with her work, quickly stood up and smiled warmly at Sun Lan'er. "Lanzi is here, come in quickly, Shi Liu is inside the house."

  "Ah." Sun Lan'er responded, stepped into the west room, and then was shocked, "Sixteen, what are you doing?"

  She told Sun Lan'er about the conversation they had on the summer solstice when they were packing up the house.

  "Sixteen, you take a break first." Sun Lan'er was very happy for Xia Zhi. She took an egg from her bosom and stuffed it into Xia Zhi's hand, while snatching the rag from Xia Zhi's hand to do the chores for him.

  Holding the still warm eggs, Xia Zhi's heart felt warm. Sun Lan'er lived in the house next door to Xia Zhi's family and was Xia Zhi's best friend, always taking good care of her. Xia Zhi also liked this two-year-older girl who was both gentle and beautiful in her eyes.

  Sun Lan's family was not well off, and her situation at home was even worse. She wasn't someone who could afford to eat eggs. Although that was the case, whenever she occasionally got something delicious, Sun Lan would quietly bring it over to Xia Zhi, even if she herself didn't want to eat it.

  "Lanzi sister, these eggs..." Xia Zhi looked at Sun Lan'er and asked in a low voice.

  "My mother laid fewer eggs yesterday, and I just picked one up when no one was looking. Sixteen, sister will boil some water to cook it for you to eat in a while." Sun Lan'er also lowered her voice, with joyful sparkles jumping in her big eyes.

  "Alright, we'll cook and eat later." Hearing her say that, Xia Zhi also smiled and quickly put away the eggs.

  "Sixteen, about that thing with your older brother..." Sun Lan'er asked Xia Zhi while helping her with work. She had been following her father to do temporary work for the past two days and heard about Xia Zhi's situation, but hadn't had time or opportunity to come ask about it until now.

  "That's all over now." Xia Zhi didn't say too much in detail, just roughly describing the situation.

  Sun Lan let out a sigh of relief for Xia Zhi. "You scared me to death. If that's the case, then it's better than Da Yue sister. It's all settled, there won't be any more reversals, right?"

  "It won't happen." Xia Zhi's tone was very affirmative. Things had blown up to this point, and even if Tian Shi changed his mind later, she would be able to withstand it now and in the future as well.

  "That's good, I'm relieved too." Confirming that her sister was no longer in danger of marrying a fool, Sun Lan'er felt completely at ease. She looked around the room and helped Xia Zhi come up with ideas on how to tidy it up.

  "When I was sixteen, I still had a lot of sweet potato stems, so I made a door curtain for you."

  The house of Xia Zhi has no door screen yet, and the door screen made of bean sprouts is most suitable for summer use, which is not only beautiful but also cool and can prevent mosquitoes.

  "Alright." The two of them had discussed and decided, then told Xia Qiao.

  Xiaqiao smiled and wiped the sweat from his forehead: "That wooden frame is mine, I'll be able to make it for you in a while."

  "We'll hang the curtains quickly, let's put up new door curtains today." Sun Lan'er said with a smile, and quickly ran back home to fetch sweet potatoes.

  "I'll go get it from the backyard." Xia Zhi said as he headed towards the backyard.

  In the upstairs room, both Old Man Xia and Old Lady Xia were present. When they saw Xia Zhi arrive, the old couple invited her to sit on the kang.

  "Have your parents gone up to Mountain Village?" Old Man Xia asked.

  "Hmm." Xia Zhi definitely wouldn't help Xia Xiuzai and Tian's family hide it. "I don't know what they discussed last night, but today they took big and small packages and left. It looks like they plan to spend money for Dabao to marry a wife."

  "It's as expected." Old Xia sighed.

  "Grandfather, don't get anxious for their sake, just let them struggle on their own." Xia Zhi said, then immediately added, "If they plan to sell me to Da Bao to raise money for his wedding, Grandfather, you must intervene."

  Xia Lao Ye Zi was left speechless by Xia Zhi's words, then let out a deep sigh: "Sixteen, your elder sister's matter, I'll take care of it. I risked my life to stop her... Alas, your elder sister... that child..."

  "Grandpa, I know everything, don't be sad about this, maybe things will get better in the future." Xia Zhi hurriedly said.

  "Hmm," Old Man Xia nodded, "Let's borrow the auspicious words of sixteen."

  "Hehe," Xia Zhi laughed, because he didn't see Xiao Hei Yu'er and asked a question, knowing that Xiao Hei Yu'er had gone out to play again. "Grandpa, grandma, I discussed with my father, the house where I live is going to be thoroughly cleaned up." Xia Zhi said about cleaning up the house, and also said that Sun Lan'er would help with the door curtain.

  Old Lady Xia immediately asked: "What's still missing? Look at Grandma and Grandpa, are they okay?"

  "Mum, I still need some thread for the door curtain." Xia Zhi said with a smile.

  "It just so happens I have some here." Old Lady Xia got down and opened the cabinet to take out a spool of fishing line, which she handed over to Xia Zhi.