Because of the move, Yun Jinshan and Yun Jinhe also rushed back from the county town.
Anyone in the village, young or old, who had free time came to lend a hand...
"Guihua, put that down and stop fiddling with it. You can't carry it. I'll have Daman carry it over for you later!"
Gu Shi took the pots and pans from Zhao Guihua's hands, afraid she might strain herself.
Liu Cuirong, carrying two bundles, mumbled, "Hmph, you're so biased, you don't even see that I'm sweating profusely from exhaustion."
Gu Shi didn't hear this, but Chen Xiaoran did...
She rolled her eyes at Liu Cuirong, "Second sister-in-law, you've only made one trip back and forth this morning, while Eldest sister-in-law has made seven or eight trips!"
"Besides, Eldest sister-in-law's belly is bigger than yours, and it's harder for her to walk. How can you be so selfish?"
Just then, Xiao Xitian walked over and, hearing Chen Xiaoran complaining about her second sister-in-law, raised her little head to look at her reaction...
"No, whose little child are you? What business is it of yours what I do?"
Liu Cuirong threw down the bundles in her hands and sat down on them. "I'm pregnant too. Who will care about me!"
"Hearts are made of flesh. Do you all just want to watch me die of exhaustion?"
Chen Xiaoran: "..."
With your attitude, whoever marries your son in the future will be unlucky.
What kind of mother-in-law is this, someone who doesn't understand human language.
Yun Jinshan ran over and tugged at Liu Cuirong, "Mother, we're moving. What are you shouting about? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at..."
Once they moved to the large house, he would have his own room and could come home every day.
But upon seeing that his mother hadn't changed at all, he suddenly didn't want to come back.
"Cuirong, go work!" Gu Shi glared at her.
With so many people around now, it wasn't convenient for her to say too much to Liu Cuirong.
After the move was finished and things settled down, she would settle the score with Liu Cuirong properly...
The new residence was actually a very spacious courtyard. Upon entering the main gate, one could see large tiled houses on the east and west sides.
The eastern house belonged to the old Yun family, and the western house was for Xiao Jinheng and the servants.
In the center was a hand-cranked well...
The ground was paved with blue bricks, so it wouldn't be muddy even when walking on it in the rain.
Inside the large tiled houses, there was a main room, two side rooms on the east and west, and two smaller rooms.
Xiao Xitian's house was built separately and did not connect to the main tiled houses...
There were also storage rooms, utility rooms, woodsheds, and back rooms, all complete.
There were many rooms, so the old Yun family could accommodate more guests in the future.
Adjacent to the back of the large tiled houses were the stables, pigpens, and areas for raising chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs, also of considerable size...
Xiao Jinheng knew that the Yun family had many people, so whether it was the kitchen or the storage rooms, he had instructed the craftsmen to leave ample space during the initial design.
The summer in Daguai Village was too hot, so Xiao Jinheng even built a bathing room for the Yun family.
Inside, there was a water pool and a large stove for boiling water...
He was afraid that Xiao Xitian would get too hot and develop lice.
The most eye-catching part of the large residence was the backyard garden.
To the south of the large tiled houses on the east and west sides was a stretch of garden.
It had a pavilion, a rockery, a pond, a stone bridge, and so on.
Although not large in scale, such a landscape in a farmhouse courtyard was probably unique in the Daliang Kingdom...
Even wealthy and influential families in the county town rarely had such luxurious residences.
"Oh, as expected of Young Master Xiao. This house is built better than the imperial palace!"
Du Laosan put down the table, stood with his hands on his hips, and peered into the backyard...
The village chief kicked him, "What nonsense are you spouting? Have you been to the imperial palace? Hurry up and work. The sun will be out soon and it'll bake you, you scoundrel!"
Du Laosan casually rolled a pipe of dry tobacco and put it in his mouth, puffing on it. "I haven't seen the imperial palace, but can't I imagine it?"
"Hey, Village Chief, you've been a village official for so long, haven't you ever been to the capital or the prefectural city?"
Seeing Du Laosan wink at him, the village chief kicked him again, "You scoundrel, what kind of official am I? Why don't you try being one for a few days and see how it feels?"
He didn't want to do it anymore...
There was no subsidy or money given. Any major or minor incident in the village was decided by everyone together. His word didn't count!
"Heh heh, give me money and I'll do it!" Du Laosan threw away the cigarette butt and continued carrying the table.
They say a broken home is worth a thousand taels of gold, but the old Yun family really had too many things...
By the end of the morning, the villagers who helped were all exhausted, and there were still many bottles, jars, and large vats of pickled vegetables to be moved.
Meanwhile, the west room where Xiao Jinheng lived was very quiet.
All his belongings were newly purchased, including bedding, matting, pots, pans, tea sets, and vases, all brand new...
The tables, chairs, and benches were also made of fine nanmu and sandalwood.
The carpenters had finished before the houses were even built.
In the morning, Kong Xingzhuo and Granny Jin, along with two maids, had been busy for a while.
It wasn't even noon yet, and they were already starting fires to cook over there...
"Old Yun, what are you having for lunch? I'm starving and can't work anymore!"
Fu Daqiang sat on the warm wall of the main hall, wiping the sweat from his face.
Old Yun glanced towards the kitchen, "Whatever the family has, we'll make it. Everyone will just make do for lunch. Later, I'll have Daman go to the county town to buy some cooked food. We'll have something decent tonight..."
The old Yun family never took advantage of the villagers. Since they came to help, they couldn't let them work for free.
Jin Huaihua and Hu Xier were picking beans in the kitchen, and Gu Shi led her daughter and Chen Xiaoran in.
"Huaihua, do you still have half a jar of oil residue at home?" Gu Shi asked.
Once the oil residue was rendered, it had to be stored in the vegetable cellar, otherwise it would go bad...
"Ah!" Jin Huaihua nodded.
"Then stop picking beans. Scoop up some sauerkraut, chop the oil residue, and let's make some dumplings for lunch!"
With so many people, making dumplings was quick. They could be boiled in a large pot and were done...
Moreover, dumplings didn't require other dishes, making them convenient and labor-saving.
"Ah!" Jin Huaihua responded, got up, and went out.
Gu Shi then looked at Hu Xier, "Xier, get the water boiling. See if there are any more garlic, mash some garlic paste. If not, borrow a couple from Young Master Xiao..."
Hu Xier squatted on the ground, continuing to pick beans, as if she hadn't heard. She remained silent.
Gu Shi frowned, "Xier?"
"Ah?" Hu Xier suddenly looked up, startled.
She had been lost in thought and didn't hear Gu Shi calling her.
"Gu, Madam Gu, what is it?" Hu Xier stood up.
Gu Shi: "..."
A quarter of an hour later, the sound of chopping filling could be heard from the kitchen.
Liang Yueshui, Wang Suzhen, and Aunt Zhang also came to help make dumplings.
The men set up three large dining tables in the main hall. When the steaming sauerkraut dumplings were served, lunch began...