Goldfield
Chapter 221: Adding the Mahar

The page is still divided into front and back pages. The former front yard of the old house was almost twice the size. Also, in front of the three new rooms was a courtyard with a total area of 3-4 mu, which was incredible! The backyard is still close to the lake and no smaller than the front yard. In autumn and winter, when the lake becomes shallower, more fertile land will appear!

Before Yu Hai expanded the size of the courtyard, he had discussed it with the village chief and offered to pay for the additional land. This is to prevent others from complaining later on.

Now that Yu Hai's connection far exceeded his, the village chief also had his own thoughts on the matter. Yu Hai was not only a relative of a general, but even the future head of the Zhou family also treated him differently. Reportedly, Empress Jing, who was building a residence in the Western Mountains, also liked little girl Yu Hai. Making friends with such a person would only be beneficial and not detrimental. Maybe one day, he could even use Yu Hai's help.

Originally, he was unwilling to accept the money Yu Hai used to buy land. Then, after Yu Hai explained his logic to him, he took the silver as a symbolic gesture. Land prices for housing in the village were initially low. In addition, the village head also deliberately lowered the price even higher, so it is almost the same as giving it for free. Yu Hai said that he would remember this favor.

Time has passed and youth is hard to sustain. In an instant, the autumn harvest had passed and winter had arrived quietly. Everyone in Dongshan Village started storing food and firewood for the winter. Due to severe drought in the northeastern part of the country and their inability to harvest grain, grain prices in the northern part are affected. The price of refined rice and wheat flour continues to increase even the price of grain rose slightly compared to the previous year.

The eldest son of the village chief, who does business elsewhere, often broke the news that the drought was most impactful in the northeast. Although the emperor had allocated money for disaster relief, what the common people actually received was not enough to support them through the bitter winter. People in the northeast with relatives elsewhere had packed up their belongings and fled. Refugees are starting to appear everywhere as well.

The situation in Dongshan Village is fine. Although rainfall is less in summer, it is more uniform and has less impact on plants.

Unknowingly, the day for Xiaocao's youngest paternal aunt, Yu Caidie, to get married arrived. The day before the wedding, all his relatives and friends came to add to the dowry. Although Yu Hai hated Madam Zhang, he was still Yu Caidie's elder brother, so he naturally would not cause any trouble on his wedding day.

The day before, Yu Hai brought his youngest daughter to the city. She wanted to buy a silver bracelet for her younger sister, but she did not believe in her ability to pick a good one, so she took Xiaocao with her.

Xiaocao had no ill feelings towards his aunt from this weak, kind, and youngest paternal side. It was said that the family that her aunt would marry into had a good situation, and Madam Zhang, whose heart was full of her youngest son, would definitely not prepare a large dowry for her. When ancient women married, their dowry represented the degree of importance they attached to it. It also represented her position in her husband's family.

In addition to a pair of dragon and phoenix bracelets, Xiaocao also chose a pair of hairpins and a pair of red coral earrings. Coral ornaments are still expensive even though Tanggu City faces the sea. A pair of red coral earrings is more valuable than the summed dragon and phoenix hair bracelets and hairpins. However, spending a few dozen taels was nothing to the current Yu Family.

After thinking about it, they went to the store next to the previous watermelon shop and chose a few pieces of cloth. All of them are types of fine fabrics that farmers refuse to wear. His godmother once said that a married girl should have a few pieces of cloth to keep at the bottom of someone's dowry box.

While in Tanggu City, Yu Hai and his daughter also met some unkempt refugees. The new county magistrate had set up some simple shacks outside the city for them, and they ate porridge donated by larger households. Winters were very long in the north, so Xiaocao wondered if they would survive the long winter.

Yu Hai had been standing in the refugee camp for a long time. He looked carefully at them and seemed to be looking for something. Xiaocao thought his father was sympathetic to the refugees, so he bought some coarse-grain steamed buns and asked the steamed bakery to deliver them. It was not that he could not afford white flour steamed bread, but he understood that giving them food that was too luxurious could cause a backlash.

Currently, there are not many refugees outside Tanggu City. Yu Hai handed out steamed buns one by one to everyone and received countless thanks. Xiaocao watched his father occasionally ask about Liu Hu. Who is Liu Hu? Why does his father care so much about this man?

At home, at dinner, Yu Hai sighed and mentioned his older sister who had been married in the northeast. “My unfortunate female brother hasn't sent a letter to me for a few days. I do not know what the situation in his village is like, will he be like a refugee who does not know where to go ... ”.

Madam Liu softly comforted her, “Don't worry. The refugees had no relatives to take them in. Dongshan Village is the home of your older sister's girl and you are her younger brother. If he really can't make a living, he'll come back. ”

Yu Hai slowly shook his head and said, “You know that my older sister hates Madam Zhang very much. Even if he had to beg outside, he would not go home. Even though I sent him a letter saying that we had separated from them, I was worried that he would go somewhere else to take cover so as not to give me any problems. ”.

“That shouldn't have happened. If it was me, in order for my children not to suffer too much, I would choose to go to a place I know. Maybe your sister is on her way! ” The oldest sister-in-law has three children, and the youngest is only a year older than Shitou. He would not ignore his children for his pride.

Xiaocao thought about it and asked, “Dad, is Oldest Uncle Liu Hu?

One night without a conversation passed. The next day was the day to add Yu Caidie's dowry. Originally, Yu Hai was planning to give them things and go home. However, many people had only come to add dowry due to his relationship with Yu Caidie. When he saw one person, he would chat for a while, and when he saw another person, he would chat a few more minutes; suddenly he could not leave for a while.

Yu Caidie's handkerchief was given to a married village woman who wanted to be nice. They all gathered around the room on the east side of the house and congratulated him. Yu Caidie's face flushed red, and she timidly lowered her head, occasionally showing a timid smile.

His dowry was in the main room, and there were a total of six chests. For the farming village, it was pretty good. Even though Madam Zhang likes money, she is still his daughter. Therefore, he will not be stingy about dowry. In addition to the engagement gift given by the man's family and the six dowry chests, he added ten taels of silver and hid six taels and six mace of fortune between dowries.

When Yu Hai came to add the dowry, Madam Zhang did not come out. When the man returned to the courtyard, the married girls and women all rushed over. Li Xiaomeng, a good friend of Yu Caidie, joked with a smile, “Caidie, take a look at all the good things your second brother brought you. This is a big bag! ”

Another round-faced married woman said, “I'm sure it won't be bad. There were only two families in Dongshan Village who lived in brick houses, and Brother Dahai's family was one of them! Their house was similar to the house of a wealthy person in the city; there was even cornice on all four corners! How stylish! ”

Li Xiaomeng nodded and said with a smile, “Ya! Yep! It's said there's some mu land just in the yard. Brother Dahai has made a lot of money from the early ripe vegetables he planted in his yard. Next year, he will definitely earn more than what he earned last year! ”

A married woman, clearly jealous of their success, curled up and wryly said, “Having money does not mean they are willing to give up! Heh, look at that old cotton cloth wrapper, you don't even know how old the fabric is! They were not even willing to spend money on cloth wrappers, how good were the items inside? ”

Madam Zhang quietly stood behind the crowd with no expression on her face. Suddenly, his expression turned into something fierce. He took a step forward and smiled at the angels and the wives present. He loudly said, “Caidie, look at what kind of good things Second Brother brought you !!”

His voice shook the ears of the people in the room, and even the men in the courtyard clearly heard it. Madam Zhang originally thought that because of what she did when she was young, Yu Hai still had a deep hatred for her. So he definitely won't send anything good. He wanted to tell the villagers that Yu Hai became rich and demeaned his family. Let's see how he behaves in the village after this.

The old cloth was immediately opened by him, and the red, blue, and flowery textiles within were visible. There are at least five or six different ones. One of the wives exclaimed and took one of the fine cotton bolts with red flowers on a blue background and said, “Wow! It's chintz! ”

“Try me see, try me see !!” Li Xiaomeng squeezed and touched it with his hands. Without envy, he said, “This is real! Last time, when I was in the fabric store and saw the fine cotton fabric, it didn't taste as good as this one! One foot is fifty copper coins! This piece of cloth was at least six feet long. If you are careful with it, you can make clothes and still have advantages. ”

“Ck ck! Six pieces of fine cotton cloth and each of them is six feet tall. Brother Dahai is so generous! ” The round-faced wife gently stroked a piece of cloth and was reluctant to let go.

Yu Caidie was still looking from the side and had a smile and tears in her eyes. He turned his back on them and gently wiped the corner of his eyes with a handkerchief and thought, ‘Second Brother is still Second Brother who cares for me ..’

Li Xiaomeng was looking through every single strand of cloth, and suddenly a very beautiful wooden box fell from the deepest piece of cloth. With his sharp eyes and nimble hands, he quickly caught it. Looking at that beautifully carved box, he knew that the items inside must be extremely valuable. If they went bankrupt, he wouldn't be able to afford it!

“What is this?” The wives and girls gathered around, curiously looking at the box in Li Xiaomeng's hands.

“I know! The last time I went to town for an exhibition, I was separated from my family. Somehow, I walked to Dongcheng District, where the house was very beautiful. Among them are jewelry stores, the largest and most magnificent. A woman, wearing silk and satin, came out from inside and her maid was holding a box like that. I secretly asked about the cheapest earrings in the store and it was a few taels !! ” Who spoke was the youngest daughter of the village chief. She is one year younger than Caidie and has found a household she is due to marry next month.

The hand of Li Xiaomeng holding the box shook slightly, very close! Fortunately, it did not fall to the ground.

“Xiaomeng, open and view!” The youngest daughter of the village chief with an urgent spirit.

“What do you see? It was just a pair of earrings that cost some silver. What is worth talking about! ” After seeing that Yu Hai was not humiliated, Madam Zhang's old face was pulled for so long that it looked like a shoelace. He reached out to pull the box out of Li Xiaomeng's hand.