The new year passed in a leisurely manner, and the new year was over after the fifteenth day. Soon it was the end of January, and people in the village picked up their work one after another.

    Zhang Fangyuan also slaughtered another pig and left the city early and returned late.

    Now everyone in the village knew that Zhang Fangyuan not only had a black and strong horse, but also started a business in the city's meat market.

    Occasionally, he would help those with disabilities in the village to bring candles and salt back to the village. When it was not the time to go to the market in groups, when he met people who went to the city on the road, he would give people a free ride when the cart was empty. More and more people spoke well of him.

    Some were looking for him to buy and sell livestock, and everyone began to envy this capable young man, and then changed their minds to act as a matchmaker.

    "I'm afraid it's not going to happen. I saw Zhang Fangyuan coming and going behind the door of Xu's house. He probably missed Xu Shaochun."

    "That's a pity. But is it true? I still want to talk to him about my cousin."

    "Really, a while ago I saw Zhang Fangyuan talking to the youngest Xu on the ridge of the field, and gave him something. Do you think it can be fake?"

    Actually, many people in the village knew that the boys would give the things to Xu He and then he would give them to his sister. The village still encouraged this custom of handing over the gifts. It was reserved and courteous, but also bravely pursued the person they liked. Many older people had done something similar like this.

    "Then what if the second girl from the Xu family doesn't pay attention, anyway, the matter hasn't been completed yet, so there is still room for maneuver."

The village woman turned over the ground and prepared to sow the seeds, and talked about these things in her spare time.

    The Xu family naturally got the wind of it. Liu Xianglan didn't say anything outside, but she was actually very beautiful in her heart. In the village, all capable men who make women felt good and wanted to talk to each other were staring at their house, so why she couldn't raise her tail.

    After the spring of the new year, there were more and more sunny weather. Xu Shaochun tidied up her closet at home. The thick jackets she wore in winter were washed by He ge’er, and after drying them in the yard, they were ready to be pressed into the bottom of the closet. Only two sets were left for the spring.

    Liu Xianglan said in the yard: "It won't be long before the government will have to collect taxes again. I hope it will be a little later this year, and it will be nice to wait until the Fei family come to propose to collect the taxes."In this way, if her daughter got married, the family would be able to pay less tax.

    This was a problem that every family had to face, but Xu Shaochun didn't worry too much: "I think so too."

    There were no son in the family, only one daughter and ge’er. No matter how capable Xu He was, he couldn't match a man. Her father supported them alone, and life was not easy. Fortunately, when she and Xu He got married, the old couple could get back some dowry gifts and save some money to enjoy their old age.

    "That Zhang Fangyuan is not bad now. In fact, what your aunt said earlier is also true. As long as Zhang Fangyuan doesn't fool around, he can still make money." Liu Xianglan didn't want to admit it, but she still talked to her daughter like this: "Everyone loves beauty. If you follow Zhang Fangyuan, you will have more money to spend."

    Xu Shaochun disagreed: "Mother, no matter how rich you are, you are not as decent as a scholar."

    "The Zhang family is a farmer, so it can't be regarded as a business, and now it's not as strict as in the past years. Even merchants can take the imperial examination. The Fei family is a good scholar and has a future, but the money for studying is also very expensive. I'm afraid that the days will not be too comfortable."

    Xu Shaochun actually knew these truths, but her mind was on Fei Tongsheng, she knew that Zhang Fangyuan's conditions are good but she didn't want to choose him: "That's just now, if he wins the exam, he will have a good life in the future. "

[童生 tóng shēng: candidate who has not yet passed the county level imperial exam]

    In order to break her mother's thoughts, Xu Shaochun turned the topic to Xu He who was washing clothes beside them and said: "Little brother, is it true that Zhang Fangyuan asked you to hand over something to me and you didn't accept it. If he comes to you to give me something again in the future, don't accept it either.

    Xu Shaochun took it for granted that people in the village were talking about Zhang Fangyuan sending her something, but she didn't receive it because Xu He didn't agree to help him. After all, this person had a very bad reputation at first, and many people were afraid of him. It’s reasonable for Xu He not to want to move him.

    Xu He was listening to the two of them talking, but when Xu Shaochun opened her mouth, he didn't know how to reply.

    Zhang Fangyuan gave him something, but it wasn't for her second sister. The mother and daughter had already said it, and he was too embarrassed to say something.

   Xu He was thinking about to explain it, but he thought about it, if his sister and mother knew that Zhang Fangyuan didn't like his second sister, and the thing was brought for him, it would be fine if they didn't believe him. What worried him the most was that his second sister and mother were unhappy, and they would make him felt guilty when the time came.

    "Yeah."

    "Speaking of which, it's time to look for a husband for you. Hey, I just don't know if it will be easy to find" Liu Xianglan glanced at Xu He and couldn't help but sighed.

    Xu He could take care of the house, which saved her a lot of work. She also wanted someone to work at home for a few more years. It was not a big deal to have a few mouthfuls of food at home, but the taxes were a big deal.

    "Talk later." Xu He put down two words, and went back to his room after washing the clothes.

    Liu Xianglan thought he was embarrassed, so she didn't care.

    In the beginning of spring, the Beishan Tea Garden announced that they recruited tea pickers, and the wage was higher than last year. A pound of tea could be sold for eight copper coins at the tea farm. Xu He knew that his second sister and mother were going to go. In fact, he also wanted to pick tea, but his father had gone out to help someone, and he had to prepare for planting, and it was not his turn to earn the money.

    After thinking about it carefully, anyway, the money for picking tea wouldn’t fall into his own pocket, so it was okay if he didn’t go.

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