Seeking guaranteed monthly pass (20+, should still have some left, will update later)

  ***

  Xia Zhi thought Xia Zhu was not being good-natured. Was he intentionally saying this to scare her, or did he really know something? Thinking like this, she noticed that Xia Zhu's gaze had been fixed on her face all along, so Xia Zhi didn't reveal any emotions at all. She just asked Xia Zhu very naturally: "Erbu, when is my mother coming back?"

  He didn't see any panic or fear on Xia Zhi's face, so Xia Zhu was a bit disappointed. He continued to stare at Xia Zhi and told her: "It should be these two days."

  "Is Second Uncle going to pick up my mother?" Xia Zhi asked again.

  "Oh..." Xia Zhuang opened his mouth, then closed it again. He smiled and asked Xia Zhi, "Fourth sister, I heard your mother is coming back, aren't you afraid?"

  Xia Zhi's heart became even more certain, she hadn't misunderstood Xia Zhu. Xia Zhu indeed had no good intentions.

  Tian should have been doing odd jobs in Xiao Wang Zhuang for a month, and it's not time for him to come back yet. But Xia Zhu was very certain, when she asked if it was Xia Er Shu who picked up Tian, although he didn't say anything, his body language had already betrayed him.

  The Tian family will eventually return, thinking of using this to intimidate her, but they really underestimated her.

  "Xia Zhi asked Xia Zhu directly: 'Second pillar, what are you talking about? My mother is back, why should I be afraid?'"

  At this time, Old Man Xia happened to come back from outside. Xia Zhi didn't hesitate and told Old Man Xia what Xia Zhu had just said. "Grandpa, Second Brother said Mom will be back in these two days. He also asked if I'm afraid or not. Grandpa, is it that Second Uncle and Second Aunt are going to pick up Mom?"

  Old Man Xia didn't respond, he just looked at Xia Zhu.

  Xia Zhu couldn't sit still on the bench anymore. He hastily stood up and made a joke with Old Man Xia: "Grandpa, I was just teasing Fourth Sister." Before Old Man Xia could scold him, he quickly ran away.

  "Grandpa!" Xia Zhi looked at Old Man Xia.

  Old man Xia had a dark face and was out of breath.

  Old Lady Xia led a few children back home and asked Old Man Xia, "What's wrong with Xia Zhu? Why did he run so fast?" "It seemed like something was chasing him from behind!"

  "I'm afraid to ask him!" Old Master Xia replied gruffly.

  "Grandpa, don't be too angry with Erzhu." Xia Zhi advised Grandfather Xia, "Actually, Erzhu was quite good today. He even accompanied my uncle and Lai Bao to go out and play for half a day before coming back."

  Old Xia was slightly surprised and looked at the little black fish.

  Xiao Hei Yu nodded: "Uh-huh. We don't let him follow, but he still insists on following. He doesn't know anything and is just a hindrance." Then, he also glanced at Tian Lai Bao.

  Tian Lai Bao quietly approached Xia Zhi and looked down at the purse in Xia Zhi's hand that was being sewn.

  The little black fish swam up to Old Man Xia and covered his mouth with his small hand, speaking in a low voice: "Er Zhuo just slipped away, it's really annoying."

  Old Man Xia grunted and thought for a moment before turning around and leaving the house, saying he was going to find Second Uncle Xia.

  ……

  After dinner, Xia Zhi said to Xia Qiao and Xiao Shu Er: "Mother is coming back."

  Xiaqiao and Xiaoshu were both shocked, looking at Xiazhi in confusion. Xiazhi then simply told the two people what Xiachu had said.

  "Second Uncle is just that kind of person. He's trying to scare you on purpose," Xia Qiao said.

  "I don't think so." Xia Zhi disagreed, "Big Brother, Second Uncle and Second Aunt are people who can't stay idle."

  The little tree didn't quite understand, but Xia Qiao listened clearly, but he still wasn't very willing to believe: "It can't be."

  "Just watch." Xia Zhi also didn't say much.

  At nightfall, Sun Lan'er let out a sigh: "Sixteen, Big Madam is coming back, and I won't be able to keep you company anymore." Her happy days were about to end.

  "Even if your mother comes back, it'll be just the same," Xia Zhi told Sun Lan'er, telling her that she could still come to her place to sleep at night.

  "At most, just come and stay for a few days, if it's more than that, I'm afraid it won't work." Sun Lan'er was very worried.

  "Lan Zi, we'll always find a way." Xia Zhi could only comfort her.

  Sun Lan'er thought for a moment and smiled at Xia Zhi: "Sixteen, being able to spend these good days is something I never thought of. I should be content."

  She said so, and Xia Zhi didn't feel well.

  ……

  East Wing of the Backyard

  Three rooms, the main room was used as a kitchen, and the two southern rooms had partitions installed in the evening. Xia Ershu, Xia Erjie led Xia Zhu and Xia Yang to live in the outer room, Wu Yue and Qi Yue sisters lived in the inner room.

  It was already nighttime, and except for Xiaoyang, all of Summer Uncle's family were lying on their backs on the kang, none of them having fallen asleep.

  "...our dad is what kind of person, what kind of thing hasn't he been through. He's already seen through everything, and it's also because we're not careful in our actions." Xia Ershu said in a low, mournful tone.

  "He's just too stubborn and outdated." Xia Erniu said indignantly, "If it were someone else, we wouldn't even think of it, he should have arranged for his granddaughter a long time ago. A golden treasure falling from the sky, he doesn't pick it up himself, nor does he let us pick it up. As an elder, seeing us eating coarse food and swallowing our saliva, he's delighted."

  "It's no use saying anything." Xia Ershu sighed, "I've already promised Dad that on the day of the market, we'll go take a look at Old Zhao's grandson."

  "I'm not going." Mei said angrily from behind the partition.

  "Don't go anywhere!" Xia Ershu said impatiently, kicking his legs. "If your grandfather gets angry, none of us will have a good life from now on."

  "How can it be that we're so afraid of my grandfather? Look at my grandmother, why isn't she afraid?! They sold my older sister and won't let my older brother Daqiao or Xiaoshu attend school! What did my grandfather do to her? Didn't he get controlled by others?! My uncle is always like this, whatever my grandmother says goes! And my grandfather is so good to the Sixteens!"

  The sound of speech fell to the ground, and in the east wing, a needle could be heard falling.

  After a while, Xia Ershu slowly spoke up: "We can't compare to your mother. Lao Tian's family is really open-minded, barefooted people are not afraid of those wearing shoes."

  "What's the point of wearing shoes on bare feet? You're not even a scholar. If you were a scholar, we wouldn't have to worry about his grandfather's face!" Xia Erniu suddenly said.

  Xia Zhuang let out an inexplicable snort.

  No one saw Xia Ershu's face, he chuckled twice: "That's right, who made me not a Xiucai!" So, in many ways, he had to rely on his old father and did not dare to turn against his old father.

  He said so, others didn't dare say anything else.

  "Old Zhao's grandson is here, we should go take a look." said Uncle Xia.

  "It's up to others to decide in May. His temper, others won't say it's bad, but he'll definitely force us to agree." Xia Erniu was full of resentment.

  In May, she sobbed: "I won't be a daughter-in-law to the Zhuang family. What's wrong with me compared to my sister Yuzhen? Even if I don't live better than her in the future, at least I shouldn't be worse off... Later on, you'll all lose face too, and yet you still expect me to take care of my natal family like Yuzhen does!"

  "Stop crying!" Xia Erbo sternly stopped his daughter, "Let's just go and take a look. I didn't say I agreed to the marriage. At that time, we'll think of a way and find an excuse. Your father can't force us either!"

  "That's all right," said Aunt Xiazhi immediately.

  May was no longer crying plaintively.

  Xia Er Aunt asked Xia Er Uncle: "That thing about Lai Bao..."

  Xia Er Shu wanted to let her give up the idea, but he knew that his daughter-in-law and granddaughter were enthusiastic about it, and had even mobilized their son. If he were to say something absolute, they would definitely not be able to accept it. Moreover, he was also a bit unwilling.

  "Just watch quietly for now, don't be impatient. Not to mention Father won't agree, but Old Lady Tian is the most difficult one to deal with."

  "I also want to slow down, our May Day holiday is on the 15th, if we're any slower, we won't make it."

  "Alas, Tian Lai Bao has come too late." sighed Xia Er Shu.

  The house fell silent again, and May began to sob. She had caught the implication behind Uncle Xia's words - no matter how good Tian Lai Bao was, she was not a possibility for him. Even if Uncle Xia still had feelings for Tian Lai Bao, it was all for Qi Yue's sake.

  "Sister, what are you crying about?" July suddenly let out a sharp cry as she was pinched on the arm by May.

  "Keep your voice down!" Xia Erbo scolded in a low voice.

  "What about Big Sister over there..." Xia Er Aunt asked Xia Er Uncle.

  "I've already passed on all the words, it's just a matter of these few days. Even if your father is suspicious, he can't grasp our handle, so don't worry." Xia Ershu said, "When Eldest Sister returns, you guys take care of it. Once she makes a fuss, at that time, Father won't have the heart to keep an eye on us all the time."

  "These sixteen days were enjoyable enough, now it's time for her to suffer a bit more, and later she'll have reason to cry!" May said with a hateful tone.

  "Right." July immediately agreed, "Let my mother-in-law sell her and marry a daughter-in-law for Tian Dabao!"

  ……

  The next day, after Xia Zhi had just finished breakfast, Lao Yue and Xiao Xialin rushed over.

  "Fourth sister," Lao Yue panted, "I'll tell you something."

  "What's up?"

  "Our dad told third sister a secret, saying that next time we gather, we'll go to town to take a look." Lao Yue took a slight breath, her face still flushed.

  At this age, young girls at home have an extraordinary enthusiasm and concern for their sisters' marriage.

  Xia Lao Ye Zi found a mother's family for Wu Yue, this matter, to Xia Zhi, is not news. She just wondered: "Did the second uncle and them agree?"

  "I agreed!" Lao Yue replied, "Also said that there was no money to make new clothes for San Jie. Dad said he would take out the money and buy fabric for San Jie in town during the market day. Er Shu said it wasn't necessary to go to town, just buying a piece from the general store at the village entrance would be fine. Er Shu had just taken the money from Dad."

  Xia Xia Lin stood beside Rui Yue's legs, Rui Yue spoke hastily and quickly, he couldn't get a word in edgewise, so he nodded his head with an "mm-hm" expression.

  Larou finished speaking and was still excited: "Fourth sister, let's go to the fair too when the time comes." She wanted to see the May matchmaking.

  Xia Zhi indeed planned to go to the temple fair, and she wasn't very interested in the blind date in May, but seeing Nian Yue's eager eyes, she said: "You've already agreed with Third Uncle and Third Aunt, so let's go."

  "It would be best if Grandpa is willing to take me. If Grandpa doesn't want to take me, Fourth Sister, I'll go by myself then. There's no car, but walking is also okay." Nian Yue said this because she was worried that Old Man Xia wouldn't take her, so she came to ask Xia Zhi together with them.

  Xia Zhi thought it was no big deal and readily agreed.

  ……

  When Xia Zhi arrived at the backyard, Old Master Xia was standing in the yard smoking a dry pipe. Judging from his facial expression, he seemed to be in a good mood. Upon seeing Xia Zhi, Old Master Xia asked her to go inside.

  "Your uncle is here, and your grandma has already cleaned up the table for you."

  Xia Zhi responded with a "yes" and walked upstairs. As she passed by Old Man Xia, she suddenly stopped: "Grandpa, why are you so happy today!"

  "Hey!" Old Man Xia chuckled, "You kids don't ask too much." Seeing his granddaughter about to make a good match in his eyes, Old Man Xia was of course delighted, but this delight couldn't be shared with Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi smiled and said: "I already know." Then she stepped lightly into the house.

  "This kid." Old Man Xia smiled and was very fond of him, but also couldn't help Summer.

  Tian Lai Bao arrived on time. Xia Laoyezi was in a good mood today and had some free time, so he personally supervised the three children reading and writing. The east wing of the house was quiet, and no one came upstairs.

  Near noon, Old Lady Xia went to the west wing to help her granddaughter Dan Yue make pancakes for lunch.

  "Lai Bao, you stay and have dinner too." Lai Yue also invited Tian Lai Bao.

  Tian Lai Bao came every day to take some heart, everyone had eaten. He was also familiar with the twelfth lunar month and knew that Xia Zhi would invite guests on this occasion. Today, both Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu Er would go to the twelfth lunar month's house for dinner. Tian Lai Bao was slightly polite for a couple of sentences before agreeing.

  After doing their homework, several children came to the west wing.

  The layout of the west wing is similar to that of the east wing. The house was cleaned up in December, with a quilt on the kang and a kang table set up, inviting everyone to sit on the kang. There were dates and walnuts brought by Old Lady Xia, roasted peanuts and melon seeds prepared by Lamei, as well as cherries, mixed candies, and rock sugar brought by Xiashi, all arranged on the table in a very hospitable manner.

  They had just arrived at the west wing, when May and July came. The two sisters were still wearing the clothes given by Luo Juan, which fit better after alteration. When they saw Tian Lai Bao, they both greeted him very politely.

  July is shy and reserved.

  May wants to help Old Lady Xia make soup in May, but Old Lady Xia doesn't let her touch it. July helps December pour water for everyone.

  "When I'm at home, you two don't do anything!" Xiaoshu peeled peanuts and said slowly, "May and July."

  Little brothers are such creatures! Especially when they're still young and speak their minds freely.

  The little tree doesn't get along with May and July. Now it only listens to its own sister Xia Zhi.

  In May, she busied herself in the main house, pretending not to hear Xiaoshu's words. Qiuyue's face immediately turned red, wanting to scold Xiaoshu, but looking at Xiazhi and Xiao Heiyu beside her, she ultimately didn't dare. However, the hardship of enduring it was all revealed on her face.

  Several children of Xia's family came, except for Xia Qiao who thought he was too old and didn't come.

  The lunch on the 30th of the twelfth lunar month was simple but substantial, with white noodles, scallion pancakes, egg soup, and two small dishes courtesy of Xia Zhi. The small dishes made by Xia Zhi have been very popular in the Xia family these days, they taste good and are easy to digest.

  Tianlai Bao eats quite fragrant, says the pancake is delicious, the soup is good, especially the small dish is particularly fragrant.

  Everyone ate happily, May and July also ate quietly, the two sisters rushed to take care of their younger brother Xiaoyang.

  After dinner, Xia Zhu somehow got an umbrella and volunteered to send Tian Lai Bao home. July seemed a bit uneasy and also followed them out of the gate.

  "Hey Bao Ge, your family is so wealthy, are you used to eating such a luxurious meal?"

  (。)