Chapter Eighteen: To take root, to survive!

adding wild vegetables and tearing apart a roasted chicken bought from the city. The first meal in their new home was ready.As a family, they sat together comfortably, ignoring Wu Cuifang and Wu Erdo..."Everyone, get some rest. Tomorrow we'll go explore the area and try to find a place to settle down. Even if it's not great here, it's much better than out in the wilds. At least we don't have to worry about being attacked by barbarians in our sleep."

Old Mrs. Li soothed her granddaughter with a tambourine, offering words of comfort to the children and grandchildren.

Li Lao'er and the others felt a pang of sadness. They didn't want to worry their mother, so they quickly made up their minds one after another.

"Mother is right, our family together like this is better than living out in the wilds."

"That's right, Liu the鏢頭 even asked me to go back to the鏢局. More work means more money, and things will definitely be better at home."

Lao Li listened quietly, gently patting her granddaughter. Turning away from the crowd, tears welled up in her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, wetting Jia Yin's swaddling clothes...

The next morning, the Li family didn't cook either.

Li Lao Er's several brothers wandered around, and Li Laotai took Jia Yin to find someone and inquire about the news.

A family had clothes drying in the courtyard, and smoke was already coming out of the chimney. She went to knock on the door.

The door was opened by a woman who looked to be about thirty years old.

She saw that Li Lao was getting older, holding a baby, and her tone became very gentle, "Old Sister-in-law, is there anything you need"

Seeing that the woman was easy to get along with, Li Laotai felt relieved and smiled.

"Miss, my granddaughter and I passed by your village and are thirsty. Could we have some water"

Upon hearing this, the woman hurriedly exclaimed, "Ai!" and rushed back into the house to scoop some water with a bowl, offering it to Old Lady Li.

Li Laotai coaxed Jia Yin to drink two mouthfuls. The woman kept staring at Jia Yin, her eyes full of love.

Seeing that the woman liked the child, Jiayin readily beamed a smile. She stuck out her tongue and shook her head at the woman, making the woman laugh continuously.

"Hey girl, let me ask you something. Is there anywhere decent to live around here Our family came all this way to visit relatives, but they're gone and we can't go back. We're hoping to find a place to settle down nearby."

Li Lao Tai returned the bowl to the woman and casually asked a question.

Upon hearing this, the woman felt sorry for Old Madam Li. Moreover, Jia Yin was so adorable.

She didn't hide anything, pulling Li Lao Tai to sit on the stone bench by the door and gossiping like old friends. She told Li Lao Tai everything she knew.

Originally, this village had a name: Qing Shui Village. The village was nestled between mountains and rivers and was once a prosperous place.

Many years ago, during wartime, people from the village fled and died, leaving only a few households behind.

Later, when the imperial court stabilized, many soldiers who had been wounded in battle were assigned to settle here.

The court would regularly give out some copper coins each month as compensation, but they wouldn't concern themselves with anything else after that.

Most of the wounded soldiers had no children. As they passed away one after another, the village population only decreased but never increased, becoming increasingly deserted.

What's worse, there was a locust plague here the year before last, and last year there was a flood that killed many people.

Rumors spread among the nearby villages, claiming that Shimizu Village was cursed.

Those wounded soldiers, bearing the grim aura of the battlefield, brought misfortune to Qing Shui Village as well.

This way, even fewer people would come here.

So, many empty yards and fields in the village lost their owners and were taken back by the county government.

The woman spoke with a dry mouth, but she was kind-hearted and offered advice to Old Lady Li.

"Older sister, if you guys want to settle down, it's not difficult. The first house in Nan Tou, the one with a willow tree at the door, belongs to the village head. You go and talk to him, he will definitely be able to help you."

Lao Li hurriedly thanked her. As she was about to leave, she saw the woman's eager gaze fixed on Jia Yin, so she held Jia Yin close and brought her near the woman.

"Niuniu, quickly thank this aunt," Li Lao Tai teased Jia Yin.

Jia Yin was very cooperative, her big eyes fixed on the woman, smiling to reveal two rows of bald gums, and she even reached out to touch the woman's face.

A pang of emotion surged through the woman's chest, bringing tears to her eyes. Yet, she wore a smile on her face.

"This doll is so pretty. If my little girl were alive, she would definitely look like this."

This is also a poor soul!

Li Laotai sighed inwardly, chatted idly a few more words, then went back.

Along the way, the two generations pondered.

Although the woman just said many bad things about QingShui Village, if you think about it carefully, this place is actually the most suitable for the Li family.

The residents are mostly veterans, with a tough demeanor. However, there is less neighborly scheming than before.

Moreover, it is situated beside mountains and water with fertile soil. It is also close to the county town and just two hundred miles away from the capital city, requiring only half a month for travel back and forth.

As for the rumors of a curse from others...

Jia Yin laughed, her smile so radiant it seemed water was dripping from it. With such a lucky charm by her side, what curse could possibly harm her

Lao Li listened to her granddaughter giggling and couldn't help but lean in and gently kiss her little cheek, asking, "Funiu'er, do you like it here"

Jia Yin immediately clapped her hands twice, “Hmm!”

Li Laotai didn't expect her granddaughter to respond, she was stunned for a moment, then smiled.

"Alright, we'll listen to our little Fortune!"

Back under the big tree, Lao Tai Li called her sons to discuss things. When they had reached an agreement, she took Li Laer directly to the village head's house.

As expected, the village head had a fierce look on his face, looking like he'd been to battle before, but he spoke very politely.

It is said that the Li family has three houses in total, and there is also Li La Er, who can write and calculate. He was very happy about this and readily agreed to the Li family's settlement.

Old Li stuffed him with a piece of broken silver. He hesitated for a moment before accepting it, then led them around the village.

After looking at several empty courtyards, Li Laotai was not very satisfied.

As we walked to the northeast edge of the village, we came across a large courtyard built at the foot of the mountain.

The main house has five rooms, with three side rooms on each side, plus two small ear rooms and a kitchen. It's fully equipped.

There's a vegetable garden behind the yard, and pigpens and chicken coops are built on the side, along with an outhouse. It's evident that quite a bit of thought went into its construction when it was first built.

Most importantly, there are ten mu of land behind the courtyard. It has been cultivated for more than ten years and is prime farmland. However, it seems like it hasn't been planted for the past two years and has been neglected a lot.

"This courtyard is really nice, village head. We'll buy this courtyard. It would be even better if we could buy the fields behind it too."

Li LaoTai immediately made the decision and settled it.

The village head, as if struck by something, seemed to be lost in thought. After a moment, he came back to himself and carefully looked at the Li family once more before finally nodding.

“Alright, this courtyard and land belong to an old friend of mine. He had no children and passed away long ago. The deeds are with me, so I'm in charge now. I'll sell them to you for a hundred taels. Keep the silver, it's perfect for preparing offerings for him every year.”

Upon hearing this, Old Lady Li quickly chimed in.

"Once we're settled, the village head can point us in the right direction and we can pay our respects."

The village head heard this and his face brightened, "Then let's go. Who is the deed to the courtyard and farmland under I'll take you to the county office to register your residence and transfer the deeds."

Li Laotai left the people at home to tidy up the yard. She took Li Laosi, clutching a silver note, and went into the county with the village head.

The transfer and registration went smoothly. In just an hour, two thin contracts were in Lao Li's hands.

Such a large courtyard, plus ten mu of land, was only bought for one hundred taels.

This price is absolutely impossible to find, even if it were located far away from Kyoto, out in the wilderness.

Li Laotai grew more and more satisfied, finally breaking into a smile.

From now on, the Li family will have to start anew and survive in Qingshui Village.th wrinkles in the corners of his eyes.The village head was also excitedly shouting, "Hurry up and get the oven fired up! Recently, there's been a lot of noodles harvested from the Hot Spring Valley....