Chapter 61: Moving

The next day, Mr. Liu and Butcher Liu took their leave. When Zhang Cai, Zhang Xiaohu, and Liu Qian saw them off at the village entrance, Zhang Cai repeatedly assured them that he would soon find the clan leader of the Guo family to discuss Mr. Liu's relocation. Mr. Liu, however, said that it could wait until the Zhang family's affairs were settled.

Only then did they part ways.

The days that followed were very plain and lonely. Everyone was unaccustomed to life without Grandma, often thinking of her and shedding tears as they gazed at her little house.

Zhang Xiaohu and Zhang Xiaohua moved into Grandma's little house. They were not afraid at night; although Grandma had left, her presence remained, filled with only kindness and nostalgia, which could not make anyone feel scared. Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian lived in the main room, which had been renovated for their new home. Now, with Zhang Xiaolong injured, he could only stay in bed and be cared for by Liu Qian.

It was already early March, and the spring plowing in Guo Village was almost over. The Zhang family, however, had fallen behind due to the recent events, and now they were just starting. With Zhang Xiaolong unable to work, the others had to work even harder. Fortunately, Zhang Xiaohua now had considerable strength, though it did not last long. It was more than enough for plowing and planting. After finishing his own small plot, he would rush to help Zhang Cai and Zhang Xiaohu. Eventually, the three of them worked on Zhang Xiaolong's plot together, while Guo Sufei and Liu Qian were busy cooking, washing clothes, and taking care of Zhang Xiaolong. The grief was slowly eroded by time, leaving only deep longing in their hearts.

Perhaps it was the effectiveness of the Piaomiao Sect's medicine, or perhaps it was the magic of the Zhang family's well water, but Zhang Xiaolong's injuries healed rapidly, and his complexion improved day by day. By the time the spring plowing and planting were almost done, his injuries were almost fully healed. Fortunately, this time Zhang Xiaolong did not seek help from the veterinarian Old Liu, or Old Liu would have been amazed by his own medical skills again.

Once the seeds were sown, the Zhang family finally breathed a sigh of relief. The busy days had been a deliberate avoidance of their grief. Now that they were relaxed, everyone couldn't help but think a lot. Family members often visited Grandma's grave, and even Grandpa's grave was cleaned up exceptionally well.

It was strange how people felt. Grandpa had been gone for many years, and the Zhang family only visited his grave during the annual memorial services. They rarely thought of him otherwise. However, the sudden departure of Grandma left the family deeply missing her. As Zhang Xiaohua put it, he had never met Grandpa, but Grandma had doted on him for over a decade, so it was natural to feel more for her.

Each time he visited Grandma, Zhang Xiaohua felt a sense of regret and guilt. The feeling of kneeling before her coffin did not lessen with time but grew heavier. Perhaps he was destined to never return to his carefree rural life.

However, he didn't know what to do next.

Could martial arts be learned just by leaving home?

The weather had turned warm, and Zhang Xiaolong's injuries were almost fully healed. Liu Qian, seeing this, began to think about arranging the relocation for her father. She pulled Zhang Xiaolong along to find Zhang Cai.

Zhang Cai then remembered that he still owed his in-laws a favor. During this period, the family's affairs and the fields had been the focus, and he had forgotten about it. However, it wasn't too late, so he quickly prepared a gift and went with Guo Sufei to find the clan leader. What he thought would be an easy matter turned out to be complicated. The reason was simple: there were few literate children in the village, and no one could be found to teach them. The clan's school had been closed for several years, and the school building had been given to a clan member to live in. Now, with Mr. Liu coming, there was no place to accommodate him, and no students to teach.

Zhang Cai was sweating. The clan leader was truly shortsighted. Without a school, how could the children learn to read? Previously, he had been short-sighted and had not let his children study. After interacting with Mr. Liu, he realized that his lack of education made him feel inferior in conversations. He deeply regretted not making sacrifices to send his children to school. The clan leader had cut off the village's hope for education, and if they wanted to study, they had to go to other villages. This only made him more determined to bring Mr. Liu to Guo Village.

Since there was no housing, Zhang Cai had to settle for a second choice, asking if Mr. Liu could move to Guo Village and find his own place to live. The clan leader managed all the affairs of Guo Village, and anyone moving in needed his approval. If the clan leader disagreed, life in the village would be impossible.

The clan leader had met Mr. Liu at Grandma's funeral and had a good impression of him. Mr. Liu's relocation to Guo Village would benefit the Guo clan, at least in terms of finding a teacher. He had no reason to disagree and even offered to help Mr. Liu with the house renovation. Zhang Cai thanked him on Mr. Liu's behalf and then took his leave.

When he returned, he told Zhang Xiaolong and Liu Qian, who were both pleased. They had not intended to use the school building anyway. While it would have been convenient, it was far from the Zhang family and subject to the clan's arrangements. Building their own house would be more convenient, though more labor-intensive.

Behind the Zhang family's house was a small pond, with a bamboo grove on one side and an open field on the other. The field was usually used for garbage and was overgrown with weeds. If cleared, it could be a small courtyard. With the pond, they could plant lotus flowers and enjoy the summer scenery. The bamboo grove added a touch of elegance, and Liu Qian was very satisfied. Mr. Liu would likely have no objections.

However, the field was currently overgrown with weeds, and Mr. Liu might be discouraged if he saw it. So, the Zhang brothers worked together to clear it before Mr. Liu's arrival.

When Mr. Liu received the news and came to Guo Village again, the field was already cleared, and the pond was tidied up. Mr. Liu grabbed Zhang Cai's hand, too happy to express his gratitude. The environment was excellent, with a corner of the village, the rustling bamboo, and a small pond for boating. Though not large, it had a poetic charm, and he was very satisfied.

With Mr. Liu's approval, the Zhang family began construction. Mr. Liu provided the money for the materials, and the Zhang family provided the labor. The clan leader also found some villagers to help during their free time. The small courtyard and house gradually took shape.

With less work in the fields, mostly watering and weeding, most of the Zhang family focused on the house. Zhang Xiaolong treated the work as a way to recover, and by the time the house was complete, he was fully recovered.

Zhang Xiaohua, on the other hand, mostly worked in the fields. Compared to construction, field work was easier. Zhang Xiaolong was originally supposed to work in the fields, but Zhang Cai, considering his new marriage, let Zhang Xiaohua go instead.

However, Zhang Xiaohua became less interested in field work and was preoccupied with his own thoughts, especially about learning martial arts, but he didn't know how to bring it up with the adults.

Another person who was troubled was Zhang Xiaohu.

Zhang Xiaohu was about the same age as Zhang Xiaolong. Previously, he had not paid much attention to the girls around him, but after meeting Liu Yueyue, he fell in love at first sight. He had feelings for her but never had the chance to confess. Seeing Liu Qian and his brother happily married, he was very envious. He finally found an opportunity to ask Liu Qian about his chances with Liu Yueyue.

Liu Qian, now Zhang Xiaohu's sister-in-law, could speak freely. She told him everything about Liu Yueyue, which quickly extinguished Zhang Xiaohu's enthusiasm. His face, which had been flushed with excitement, turned pale, and his expression was very bleak. It was understandable; there were few women like Liu Qian who could see through the complexities of life and marry into the Zhang family. With her good conditions, why would she choose a poor farmer? Everyone wanted a richer, more handsome partner for a better life. Love was just a dream, good for dreaming but not for living.

Zhang Xiaohu, feeling defeated, became disheartened. Thinking about the girls around him and Liu Yueyue, he felt that his future was bleak. He, like Zhang Xiaohua, began to think about changing his life. If he continued to work in the fields and marry a woman he didn't like, his life would be as tasteless as plain water. How boring would that be?

However, he continued to work hard on the house, and Liu Qian thought he might have given up, so she didn't mention it to Guo Sufei. She planned to help Zhang Xiaohu find a suitable or liked girl, hoping he would forget Liu Yueyue and have a good life.

As the weather warmed, with the help of the villagers, Mr. Liu's house and small courtyard were completed. Mr. Liu, living alone, moved in quietly, packing his essentials and favorite paintings, and came over with a cart. He left the rest of his belongings with Liu Kai, accompanied by Butcher Liu and Liu Kai.

Liu Qian, upon receiving the news, was naturally very happy and pulled Zhang Xiaolong to help. Zhang Cai and Guo Sufei also came over. Mr. Liu had few possessions, and they were quickly settled. Looking at his simple courtyard, Mr. Liu felt a sense of relief. His life would be spent here. Looking at his reluctant son and his happy daughter, his eyes became moist.

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