stingy landlady

Chapter 30 Picked up someone

Everyone worked together to unload the goods from the oxcart and piled them into the large pillar house, which was packed full.

Guizhi thought to herself, "I'm still short of money. I desperately need a bigger house. There are no perks coming from this transmigration; even without a cheat system, having a spatial ability would be great!"

Okay! I can only dream about it.

Daya took the pork, and Erya, Guizhi, the old man, and Old Man Zhou drove the cattle out. This large group of old people and children were going to do assembly line work: selecting beans, soaking beans, sprouting beans, and, oh right, herding cattle.

The ox walked slowly, and so did Old Zhou. The group chatted and laughed, not in a hurry. They were home anyway, so they did the familiar chores. They accompanied the two old men slowly towards the east end of the village.

When they reached the place where they were going their separate ways, Guizhi remembered that her pigsty needed to be reinforced and the straw on the pigpen needed to be leveled to prevent leaks.

Guizhi asked, "Grandpa! My father doesn't have time. Could you and Zhou Xing re-secure the pigsty in the backyard?"

The old man, used to doing this kind of work, said, "Alright! Then you go herd the cattle? And the hay in the pigsty needs some more added, let Zhou Xing go up there. I dare not go up now, if he slips and it'll be a disaster!"

Guizhi was about to call out from the doorway when Zhou Xing and Zhou Qiong ran out. It was almost time to choose the beans, and the two children had come out to check.

"Zhou Xing, did you water the garden today?"

"Third Miss! I've already watered the vegetables! Third Miss, some sprouts have appeared! I don't recognize what kind of vegetable it is!"

The old man chimed in, "The seedlings are still too small, they've just sprouted, so it's too early to tell. We'll be able to tell when they're a little bigger!"

Guizhi said, "Zhou Xing, you don't need to herd the cattle today. You and Grandpa will help tighten and reinforce the fences in the pigsty. Do whatever Grandpa tells you to do! You're young and quick, but you have no experience, so listen to Grandpa."

Zhou Xing nodded in agreement and went into the vegetable garden with the old man to repair the pigsty.

Zhou Qiong said in a crisp voice, "Third Miss, shall I herd cattle with you or pick beans?"

"Where do you want to go?" Guizhi asked.

"I'm going to herd cattle with the Third Miss!"

"Okay, two people will keep each other company. Let's go then!"

The cows found their own grass to eat. Guizhi and Zhou Qiong lay listlessly on the ground.

Zhou Qiong asked, "Miss, how long will it take for our vegetables to grow?"

"Miss, the grass the cows eat is all green. If only we humans could have vegetables all over the mountains and fields! It would save us the trouble of growing vegetables!" The little girl didn't care whether Guizhi answered or not; she was bored anyway and kept talking to herself.

"Humans aren't cows, how can they eat grass?" Guizhi replied casually.

"Third Miss, these look like the garlic sprouts you planted? Who planted them here? And they're not growing well!"

"Let me see, who plants garlic at this time of year? Why are they out so early?" Guizhi wondered as well.

"Oh! It's wild garlic! This is good stuff! We have to dig it up! What should we use to dig it up?"

"Use a stick to dig!" Zhou Qiong had already dug out a tree with a stick.

Guizhi looked down again to see if there were any more wild garlic roots, and saw a clump of serrated, lush green wild vegetables.

"There's also shepherd's purse! We can pick it by hand, wash it clean, and use it to make dumplings!" Guizhi exclaimed excitedly.

"Zhou Qiong! We'll have wild vegetables to eat tonight! You're fast, go home and get a small basket. Also, get the spatula you use for cooking, and dig up some wild garlic. Tell my eldest sister and second sister! They're the best at digging wild vegetables!" Guizhi excitedly instructed.

This is so exciting!

In modern times, Guizhi's favorite food was dumplings made with shepherd's purse! Well, after transmigrating, she barely has the means to buy flour and meat!

By the time Zhou Qiong brought the basket over, Gui Zhi had already picked a small pile of shepherd's purse. She put it in the small basket, filling it about halfway.

As for wild garlic, tools are needed to dig it up, and cassia branches are usually overlooked.

Time flies when you're digging for wild vegetables. Before you know it, Daya and Erya have come over excitedly with two earthen baskets in their arms.

"Third Sister, are there many wild vegetables?" Er Ya asked.

Seeing the basket of vegetables, she exclaimed, "Wow! So many! Quick, quick! Sister, let's look for some too!"

Daya looked around and asked curiously, "Third Sister, didn't you come to herd the cattle? Why don't I see any cattle?"

Guizhi's heart skipped a beat. Oh no! She'd been so focused on digging for wild vegetables that she'd lost the cow!

"What should we do? Third Miss! The cow is lost! Waaah!" Zhou Qiong got up but couldn't see the cow, and burst into tears in panic.

Daya and Erya also became anxious.

"Sanya, you brat! You two were herding cattle, and you still managed to lose them? Why didn't you even glance at them?"

"This place is so open, you can see it at a glance! What if someone led it away? That cow should be led by someone else!"

"If you lose this, your mother will beat you to death!"

Everyone panicked and looked around.

Guizhi, her voice trembling with tears, cried out, "Eldest sister, second sister! Stop scolding me! I know I was wrong! Please help me find the ox!"

He then said to Zhou Qiong, "The place where the cow was grazing is over there. Let's follow the path the cow took!"

Guizhi was panicked and filled with self-blame. What to do if the cow is lost? What to do?

This family finally managed to get a cow, and now they've lost it. If someone really stole it, where are they going to find it?

Oh, you mustn't lose me!

Ox, you're our ox, don't let just anyone follow you.

If this were transported to the world of cultivation, it would be wonderful if it were a spirit-like ox. A divine beast!

He cursed himself inwardly, wondering what he was thinking!

Why are you out herding cattle and digging for wild vegetables? You should be careful around the cattle, even if you see wild vegetables! How could you forget about the cattle?

Guizhi, who was blaming herself, was suddenly awakened by Zhou Qiong's loud shout.

"Miss! The cow is over there!"

Guizhi followed Zhou Qiong's finger and saw the cows grazing leisurely down the slope. Guizhi then felt her limbs go weak and she could barely stand. She simply sat down on the slope and watched the cows.

Zhou Qiong patted her chest, smiling through her remaining tears, and said, "Miss, we've finally found the cow! Miss, the cow didn't run away!"

After saying that, he sat down. The two looked at each other and then burst into laughter again.

"What are you two grinning about? Have you found the cow?" Er Ya's voice came from afar.

Guizhi turned around and called out, "Eldest sister, second sister! We've found the ox!"

Da Ya and Er Ya were relieved to hear that the cow had been found.

Daya shouted, "This time, don't go anywhere! No more playing around, just focus on herding the cattle!"

Er Ya also shouted, "San Ya! You better watch your step! Who are you trying to scare to death? Keep a close eye on the cow!"

The two sisters went to dig for wild vegetables again.

This time, Guizhi and Zhou Qiong dared not be half-hearted and focused wholeheartedly on herding cattle!

The cow walked further and further away, with Guizhi and Zhou Qiong following slowly behind.

Without realizing it, I looked back and couldn't see my two older sisters anymore, nor could I see the houses in the village.

It was too far from the village, and the two little girls, Guizhi, suddenly felt apprehensive.

"Eldest sister! Second sister!" Guizhi cried out in a panic!

No one agreed!

Zhou Qiong was also scared. "Let's go back, Miss! I'm a little scared!"

"Okay! I'll go get the ox!" Guizhi ran to get the ox, preparing to walk back.

I saw a cow rooting around something; it looked like there were clothes or something. Who left their clothes here?

The cow was still nudging, but the clothes moved slightly.

Guizhi was startled and screamed, "Ah!"

"Miss!" Zhou Qiong ran over.

"It seems to be a person?"

It lay face down on the ground. Guizhi mustered her courage and kicked it. It was still quite supple; it seemed to be alive.

Guizhi thought to herself: Is this the male lead? Is he some kind of spirited young man? A hero saving a damsel in distress? No! A damsel in distress saving a handsome man!

Pah! Pah! Pah! Instead of saving people, you're thinking about all sorts of things.

He cursed himself under his breath and shouted, "Zhou Qiong, there's someone here. I don't know if they're dead or alive!"

Upon hearing that the person might be dead, Zhou Qiong dared not come forward.

"Miss, let's go home! I'm scared!" Zhou Qiong pleaded with Guizhi.

"Okay! I'll see if I can survive! They say saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda! Can I build a seven-story pagoda too?" Guizhi muttered to herself.

I crouched down and turned the person over. It was a child, their face filthy, making it impossible to tell if they were male or female. I put my hand under their nose; they were still breathing.

"Hey! Wake up! What are you sleeping here for? Aren't you afraid a wild animal will come and snatch you away?" Guizhi slapped the man's arm and shook him hard!

He opened his eyes briefly, and the mosquito hummed, "Hungry!" before closing its eyes again.

"Oh! What does that mean?" Guizhi thought for a moment but couldn't figure it out.

"It's getting dark, aren't you going home yet? It's time for dinner!"

"Miss, let's go home!" Zhou Qiong was still afraid.

"Okay! Let's go home! Hey! Can you walk? If you can, get up. Where do you live? Why don't you come to my house for a meal first? You said you were hungry, right?" Guizhi asked again. This time she understood; he was just too weak from hunger.

The man opened his eyes again and reached out his hand, gesturing for Guizhi to help him up.

"Are you hurt? Is someone chasing you? I don't want to get into trouble!"

Gui Zhi's words were startling. Gui Zhi truly didn't want to get involved. She'd read too many novels; what if she randomly picked up someone with a tragic past, and she didn't have the skills for palace intrigue or martial arts battles?

The man waved his hand.

"Alright, saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. I'll save your life today too! Come with me! Zhou Qiong, come on, let's help you up!"

"Coming, Miss!" Zhou Qiong was quite obedient, doing whatever she was told. Since this was a living person, she wasn't afraid.

The two of them, panting heavily, helped the person up the slope, but they were too exhausted to walk any further.

"I can't walk anymore! I can't walk anymore! Sit down and rest!"

All three of them sat down, feeling weak and powerless.

"Oh dear! The ox hasn't been led up. Why doesn't it follow by itself?" Guizhi looked at her ox's carefree appearance and was speechless.

“Miss, I see the eldest young lady and the second young lady! I can also see our house!” Zhou Qiong said excitedly.

"Where? Where?" Guizhi looked around and then turned back to see two little figures squatting not far away, digging for wild vegetables.

Guizhi shouted loudly, "Eldest sister! Second sister!"

"Eldest sister! Second sister!"

She called out several times, and Daya seemed to hear her, standing up and looking towards Guizhi. Guizhi quickly waved her hand, signaling her two older sisters to come and help.

Daya didn't hear clearly and thought there were wild vegetables there, so she quickly waved her hand. She also raised her basket to indicate that it was full and she wouldn't go. Then the two sisters stood up, each carrying a basket, and strolled home.

He ignored Guizhi.

Guizhi was a little frustrated. She felt tired and wronged. Her sister ignored her, and she was too small to do anything.

Looking at Zhou Qiong, she also looked dejected.

It's not a big deal that the two little girls were leading the cow back, but it would be quite heavy for them to help someone older than them, even though he was only eleven or twelve years old!

She had to lead the ox, otherwise it would run away again, and where would she find it? It was getting dark. The little girl was on the verge of tears!

Guizhi gritted her teeth and stood up, saying, "Xiaoqiong, go home and call him. I'll go and fetch the ox first! He'll wait here!"