Chapter 49: A Couple of beatings and then you’re cool.

Chapter 49

"No."

That evening when Li Yao brought Wang San'er back home, Village Head was still waiting for them in the yard. As soon as he heard that she was asked to go see the County Magistrate, she rejected it without a second thought.

"Li Yao," Wang Jiafu said solemnly, "Let's not talk about giving County Magistrate face for now, but he is an official and we are commoners. As commoners, how can we not obey the officials?"

Li Yao sighed inwardly. The most annoying thing about this social system was exactly this.

Everyone must be divided into classes.

And people at the bottom didn't seem to have the courage to rebel either. She didn't see a shred of the bold spirit of "a man should aspire for more".

"Then let Wang Er go," she said.

"It's better if you go yourself."

"I'm sick," Li Yao said. "I caught a cold from the cold winds on the mountain today. I'll have to stay in bed for at least ten days to half a month. If the County Magistrate can wait, I'll go see him after I recover."

Wang Jiafu's mouth twitched. What nonsense illness was this! But since Li Yao insisted on not going, he had no choice but to lie for her. Fortunately, she said to let Wang Er go, so he could still explain himself.

Wang Er was a little nervous about this task.

This time was completely different from last time.

Last time they were just digging a small well. It wouldn't matter much if they couldn't get water. But this time they were digging a big well, which required the effort of the whole village for many days.

If they couldn't get water, the loss would be huge.

"Don't worry," Li Yao said, "Since the small well has water, you can definitely get water from the big well too."

Wang Er nodded and hurriedly packed up.

When Lv Xiucai heard that Wang Er was leaving for at least ten days to half a month, he also went home and packed some things.

After teaching Wang Er for so long, he realized Wang Er was a promising talent. So he couldn't fall behind on his studies. Anyway, he didn't need to work on digging the well. It would be good to teach him some reading when they had time.

Li Yao didn't object to this. She prepared enough rations for the two and also packed a thick cotton quilt. The night temperature was a bit cold now. It would be easy to catch a cold without shelter and food.

After Wang Er left with Village Head for the county government, Li Yao went to check on the new house construction site.

All the foundations had been laid and were now drying. Over a dozen villagers were helping transport bricks from the foot of the mountain, already stacking large piles.

These weren't the adults Li Yao called on, but people who came to help voluntarily after she had solved the water shortage problem. Yesterday the adults wanted to pay them wages, but no one accepted any money.

But He Xiaoya's cabbage was different. She didn't boil it in water, but used a lot of oil to stir fry it over high heat, and added a lot of lard cracklings right before taking it off the heat.

The cabbage cooked this way had some crispy tenderness, and was permeated with the fragrance of pork lard.

"Xiaoya, your cooking skills are so good!"

"These dishes are too delicious!"

"Sister-in-law Li Yao's casual home cooking is better than what we eat on New Year's!"

Seeing everyone eat the dishes heartily, He Xiaoya was filled with complex emotions.

Her mother didn't even let her eat a lot of these two dishes at home.

She said eating too much fatty meat and lard could make you fat easily. Although people say a broad mind and a fat body are fortunate, her mother didn't think gaining weight was good. She didn't understand why, but just listened to her mother as always.

But in the eyes of these other villagers, this was cuisine they might not even get to eat on New Year's.

This reminded her that not long ago, her family was probably not as well off as the people in front of her. But now, everything was completely different.

And all of this was brought by her mother.

Not only did her mother change their family's life, she also brought blessings to the villagers. So in her eyes, even though her mother was still cold-faced all day, she knew her mother was definitely not a ruthless, unfeeling shrew who didn't even recognize her own family like some people said.

Just as He Xiaoya was lost in thought, shouts suddenly came from the foot of the mountain.

"Everyone come quickly!"

"Zhu Yougui is stealing water to irrigate his fields!"

Upon hearing this, several people who were eating immediately put down their food in righteous indignation.

"Wanting to use water without contributing effort, how can there be such good things?"

"Let's go see!"

"We need to teach people like him a lesson with a beating or two to make him behave!"

Seeing over a dozen people rush to the drought relief well without even finishing their meals, He Xiaoya also felt a little anxious.

"Xiao Si, I'll watch the food here. Go call mother back from the mountain quickly."

"Okay."

Wang Xiao Si immediately ran off like the wind.