Xia Zhi took the fishing line from the upper house and came out, just meeting Dongyue in the courtyard playing with Xia Lin. Dongyue asked her what she was doing, and Xia Zhi told him.

  "Fourth sister, I'll help you string the door curtain too." Jia Yue ran to the west wing room to fetch a thick needle with an embroidery shoe sole and followed Xia Zhi to the front yard. Xia Lin's little fatty also trotted behind, calling out to Xia Zhi in a milky voice, "Fourth sister".

  Back in the front yard, Sun Lan'er had already brought back the sweet potatoes and was talking to Xia Qiao. Xia Qiao seemed a bit worried, fearing that if Sun Lan'er stayed out too long, she would get scolded by her parents when she returned home.

  "I've finished all the household chores. They're busy today and don't have time to bother with me," said Sun Lan'er. Besides, her home was just next door, so if they really needed something from her, a shout would be enough for her to hear, and she wouldn't be delayed.

  "That's good." Xia Qiao heard this and nodded his head.

  "Sister Lan, let's go outside and hang the door curtain." Xia Zhi showed Sun Lan'er the fishing line she had brought, then went to the east house to get a thick needle from Tian Shi's sewing basket.

  Xiaqiao helped them carry the sweet potatoes, and Xia Zhi and Sun Lan'er, along with Lamei, came out of the back door and sat down under the big willow tree in front of Old Wu's house. Several people, including Old Lady Wu, were sitting under the tree enjoying the cool breeze, and when they saw them coming, they all smiled and greeted them, asking what brought them there. Upon hearing that they wanted to string up door curtains, Old Lady Wu and two or three other daughters-in-law proactively came forward to help.

  The old lady saw that there were only sweet potatoes, so she went back to the house and brought out a small bamboo tube, saying it was left over from the last time her family visited.

  "It's just lying around anyway, and who knows when we'll use it next time, so let's give us sixteen strings of door curtains."

  Only using the bean curd strings for the door curtain is a bit too monotonous, adding small bamboo tubes makes it not only lighter but also more beautiful. Old Lady Wu was very skilled with her hands, she directed everyone, even if they only used bean curd and small bamboo tubes, they could still string together a beautiful pattern.

  It's not a complicated pattern, but simple yet distinctive wave patterns are also beautiful enough to delight Xia Zhi.

  Everyone tacitly avoided mentioning Tian Dabao's affair, perhaps because they all knew the answer. But as they chatted on, it was inevitable that they would ask about Tian and Xia Xiuzai hiring a carriage early in the morning.

  "...took things to my maternal grandmother's house." Xia Zhi didn't avoid the topic. Even if she didn't say it, the villagers would eventually find out anyway. "From what I can see, Tian Dabao marrying a wife means our family has to give money."

  Everyone suddenly looked enlightened.

  Over the years, the various deeds of Tian's family have long been spread throughout the village, and it is estimated that many people have already guessed how things would develop.

  "It's only right that a daughter should care about her natal family, but still, there must be limits to everything." Old Lady Wu spoke in a rather indirect manner.

  She is the elder sister of Xia Xiuren's mother, originally close to the Xia family, but later also because of Tian Shi's extreme behavior, gradually became somewhat estranged.

  However, there are also particularly refreshing and straightforward ones.

  "The Lao Tian family's life is only made possible by relying on the Lao Xia family. The xiucai daughter-in-law has gone too far, the Lao Tian family can't make ends meet, she sold one of her daughters and it's still not enough, now she wants to give Xia Zhi to her own family's foolish nephew. If I hadn't visited when Xia Zhi was born, I wouldn't have believed she is Xia Zhi's real mother."

  Another nodded in agreement.

  "The daughter of a scholar has her children in a pitiful state."

  Xia Zhi lowered her head and didn't say anything.

  The old lady Wu hurriedly made eye contact with everyone to stop talking about these annoying things, then deliberately asked Xia Zhi about the house.

  "Your western house I went there before and saw it, can that mat still be used?" asked Old Lady Wu to Xia Zhi.

  "It's worn out a bit, but it still works." Xia Zhi said.

  "That's probably no longer usable." Old Lady Wu sighed, thinking about whether there were any more mats at home that could be allocated to Xia Zhi.

  At this time, no one noticed that Xia Lin, who was playing on the side, ran away with a thud. After a while, the little guy came back again, and because of running in a hurry, he was still panting slightly.

  "Fourth sister..." Xia Lin leaned in close to Xia Zhi.

  "Huh?" Xia Zhi decided that Little Fatty was quite amusing and smiled as he looked at him.

  The little guy blushed, big eyes twinkling, and in a milky voice told Xia Zhi: "I, I have a mat at home, new, mother said to give it to Fourth Sister."

  After saying these words, the little guy seemed even more embarrassed and didn't wait for Xia Zhi to respond before turning around and running back home.

  When the little guy comes out of the house again, he is followed by Mrs. Feng.

  Feng's armpit was pinched with a reed mat, came over to talk to Xia Zhi: "Sixteen, just now I heard Xiao Wu say that your house lacks a mat, it happens that I have an unused one here, still new, just enough for a room, Auntie will give it to you to spread on."

  Xia Zhi hastily got up and told Feng Shi that it was unnecessary, as the mat in her room could still be used.

  "Your third aunt gave it to you, just take it, they're not outsiders." Old Lady Wu smiled and persuaded from the side, "In a young girl's home, good things should be used."

  "Old Aunt is right." Feng smiled and nodded, looking at Xia Zhi again, "If sixteen doesn't want to, then it's like being an outsider to us."

  "Fourth sister, just accept it." Laiyue also advised Xia Zhi.

  "Here you are." Little fatty Xia Lin leaned against Xia Zhi's leg, lifted up his chubby face and smiled at Xia Zhi. His childish voice imitated the way adults spoke, amusing everyone under the big willow tree.

  Xia Zhi is also a straightforward person, seeing that Feng Shi was genuinely giving her things, and the mat in her house was indeed very tattered, so she nodded.

  It took some effort, and the curtains were also strung up. Everyone came to Xia Zhi's house together. Everyone worked together to help Xia Zhi change the curtains and tidy up the door curtains before laughing and dispersing.

  Sun Lan'er, Lao Yue and Xia Lin stayed behind.

  At this time, the house was already very clean.

  "If you change the gauze window again, it will be even better." Obviously, Sun Lan'er is very good at decorating the house.

  Xia Zhi nodded in agreement, she also thought so. However, there were no ready-made window screens at home, and it would be difficult to ask Tian Shi for money to buy some.

  "Sixteen, you've taken over the house, why didn't you tell me?" Little Black Fish came in a rage.

  "Old uncle." Xia Zhi busily smiled and let the little black fish enter the house, "Old uncle, I think it's all settled, then I'll tell you, so you can be happy for me."

  One sentence made the little black fish's anger disappear. However, he seemed to think that this would damage his dignity as an uncle, and if something happened in the future and he wasn't informed in advance, he would purse his lips and put on a stern face without smiling.

  But it didn't last long after all.

  "Sixteen, your aunt asked me to deliver the curtains for you!" Little Black Fish called out to Big Green behind him, who had a bundle of light green curtains on his back.

  Xia Zhi thought, was it Old Lady Xia who guessed that she lacked this thing, or did Feng Shi go back and say something? In any case, this was an extremely kind and thoughtful move. It's likely that the new mat made of woven reeds also had the intention of Old Master Xia and Old Lady Xia behind it.

  "Great, I was just worried about having no window screens." Xia Zhi said loudly in an exaggerated manner.

  The little black fish could no longer hold back and immediately burst out laughing with a curved eyebrow.

  With the help of Xia Qiao's skilled hands and several young girls, they quickly replaced all the window screens in one room.

  Xia Zhi looked at her newly renovated house, feeling excited and a little emotional. From today on, this place would be her home. She not only had a new home but also gained family and friends.

  It's just that I don't know what kind of thoughts Tian Shi has about the house she collected, and whether she feels offended by her authority. The living environment of her daughter is good, but Tian Shi as a mother may not be happy.

  In the afternoon, Tian and Xia Xiuzai finally returned from Kao Shan Tun Tzu.