The road to wealth of a peasant widow

Chapter 135 Separation

Chen Cuicai didn't care what the people in the Liu family's old house thought, or what Liu Youliang was planning. The family returned to the county town in the afternoon of the first day of the new year and resumed their daily lives.

Because all the neighbors knew that they were in mourning, no one came to visit and wish a happy new year, so the house was very quiet.

Although the market has not yet opened, the family has already stockpiled enough food before the New Year. Mai has spared no effort to cook for the family in different ways. After dinner every day, the children would touch their stomachs and move around in the backyard to digest the food.

School doesn’t start until the 18th day of the first lunar month, so the three children can stay at home for the past half month.

Chen Cui felt that the children were busy at school and wanted to let them take a break and relax during the New Year holiday. However, none of them listened to her advice and continued to read books every day.

Even on the day they returned to their hometown, they each took a book back and recited it silently before going to bed.

Chen Cui felt that this was not a good way to go. While loving learning was important, a good body was also crucial. Sitting most of the day and getting so little exercise would sooner or later put her body in a state of disarray.

Chen Cui remembered the ancient aerobics she had heard of before, and asked Chang Ping if he had heard of the Five Animal Exercises.

Changping was a little puzzled. He had only heard his teacher mention it occasionally. How did his mother know this medical method of health preservation?

Chen Cui replied calmly, "I heard from an old doctor who treated the county magistrate's wife that he once suggested that Madam Zhang practice the Five Animal Exercises when she has nothing to do. It will help replenish qi and blood and strengthen the body."

Chang Ping nodded: "Our husband said the same thing. He often practices the Five Animals Exercises. He said that this method is especially suitable for people who sit for a long time or do not move often. Mrs. Zhang is quite suitable."

"Then go ask the teacher if you can learn from him after school starts. Once you learn, teach us. I think our whole family should practice it."

"Okay." Changping replied.

When he was studying recently, he often felt discomfort in his neck and his eyes occasionally felt sore, and he really needed to move around more.

As for the opinions of his two younger brothers, he never thought of asking. He and his mother had already practiced, so how could they say no?

On the seventeenth day of the first lunar month, the imperial envoy Hu sent someone to summon Chen Cui and her family to the county government office.

It turned out that Lord Hu was preparing to return to Beijing in the next two days. In gratitude for Chen Cui's technical help in growing corn, he specially invited her and several sons to meet him before leaving.

Although Lord Hu had been immersed in farming for many years, he had also studied hard for many years. As a graduate of the imperial examination system, he was not lacking in talent and learning. When he learned that they had only started studying last year, he casually tested them with a few sentences.

Although the questions were not difficult, I didn't expect these children to answer them fluently without any stumbling. It was obvious that they must be very hardworking and have a solid foundation.

"Good, good, good, they are all good children. They will have the opportunity to pass the imperial examinations in the future. We will see each other in the capital. Mrs. Chen will enjoy her happy days ahead!" Lord Hu praised.

"You are too kind. We come from a farming family. These children are of average talent and started school late. But we are diligent. It is enough for us to be able to study and understand. We dare not think about fame and fortune!"

Chen Cui said modestly.

"That's not necessarily true. The children's future is still to come!"

There seemed to be some deep meaning in Lord Hu's words, but he stopped talking and turned to talk about corn planting.

After leaving the county government office, Chen Cui and the children were in a good mood. Changping held Suisui in her arms and fell asleep, while Changfu was whispering with Changan about Lord Hu's appearance.

They didn't expect that the imperial envoy from the capital would be so ordinary and looked no different from an old farmer in the countryside.

Changping felt that although Lord Hu looked ordinary, his demeanor was extraordinary. This was probably the so-called "official authority".

The saying “where you live changes your spirit, and where you eat changes your body” is nothing more than this.

A thin man with an ordinary face can become a superior person and have many common people bow down to him just because he has achieved fame and become an official. This is the benefit that reading brings.

After school started, the three brothers plunged into intensive study. Changping taught the Five Animal Exercises that he learned from his teacher to the whole family, and everyone started practicing.

Hearing that this could help strengthen the body, Aunt Mai also took Xiao Ya to practice it. Seeing this, Sui Sui also joined in the fun, imitating the movements.

At the end of the month, Chen Shangen brought Zhang into the city, and Chen Cui finally had the opportunity to talk to her father.

She first asked about the family's situation, and after making sure that everyone was in good health and nothing was wrong, she asked her father about his plans for the money.

When it comes to the issue of money, Chen Shangen's face showed a worried look: "I was just about to ask you for advice. I always feel uneasy holding such a large sum of money in my hand. I don't know what to do. I want to divide it among them, but I can't make up my mind how to divide it. I'm worried!"

This actually coincided with Chen Cui's idea, to divide the house and share part of the money as well.

The family was not divided before because we had no money and could not build houses for each family. If the family was divided, the children would have no place to live and there would be no extra money. After the family was divided, we would immediately become destitute and could not make ends meet.

Now that I have several hundred taels of silver in my hand, this problem no longer exists.

There are too many people in the family now. There is not enough space for two tables for dining. They are all young people who can eat a lot. One meal uses a bowl of noodles, and the dishes are cooked in bowls. Even if there are people working in shifts, cooking a meal is exhausting.

Chen Shangen was not a pedantic person. He felt that if the family property was divided, his sons would no longer be under his control and he would lose his authority as the head of the family.

He also knew that when a tree branches out, it will branch out, but he had not yet decided how much money each family should give when the branches split.

"Dad, just give each family money to build a house, and a few dozen taels extra for living. The marriages of your grandchildren will be calculated separately when the time comes. You can keep some of the rest of the money with you, and the rest can be used to buy land, which can be rented out later. You and mom won't have to work anymore, and you can earn income every year."

Chen Cui suggested sincerely.

"What? If I buy land and rent it out without working, then I'm not a rich landlord, right?"

Chen Shangen said in astonishment that he had thought about buying a few more acres of land, but he wanted to farm it for his own family and never thought that he could become a local landlord!

There is little land in Chenjiagou and it is scattered, so there are not many landlords. The village chief’s family, which has the most land, has less than 20 acres. They usually manage it themselves and only hire temporary workers to work during the busy farming season.

"Dad, you and mom are old. You have worked hard all your life. It's time to take a break. Don't always think about working in the fields. Isn't it good to enjoy a peaceful life?"

Chen Cui advised patiently.

Last year, the brothers came back from selling charcoal and stayed at her house. They mentioned that their parents were busy working and were so tired that their backs ached, but they refused to rest. No matter how much they were persuaded, they refused to listen until their backs could no longer be straightened, and then they agreed to rest.

In fact, Chen Cui understood the reason. They just wanted to earn more money while they were still able to work, so as to save more assets for their children and grandchildren, so that their descendants would not suffer in the future.

But they never thought that as children, they couldn’t bear to see their parents suffer like this!