Chapter 39: A Frightening Cold Plunge

rsed.Li Zhensheng and Li Lao'er were so happy they both drank themselves into a stupor and couldn't even see the guests off.Fortunately, even though today was a big banquet, all the guests were family...As people in the village heard the commotion and peeked out to see what was happening, the old woman was still causing a ruckus.

Jia Ren was too lazy to say any more, so he simply turned and ran.

"Hey, you little brat! Don't run away, give me the silver back! Your uncle is waiting for the money to save his life!"

Wu Cuifang chased after him, but Jiaren ran too fast and was soon out of sight.

Wu Cuifang was so angry that she collapsed, slapping her thigh and crying out.

"Heartless wretch! You don't even have a shred of compassion for your own mother. What are you going to do when she gets old Rely on someone else, that's what!"

However, no matter how she cursed, Jiale couldn't hear her. She could only stomp back home...

In Li's courtyard, no one knew that Wu Cuifang had caused another commotion. At this moment, they were entertaining guests because someone wanted to invite Tao Hongying to be the head chef.

This person is also from the neighboring village. They had dinner at Kong's house that day and really liked it.

It just so happened that my family was also getting a daughter-in-law, so I decided to make it more elaborate. I wouldn't have the village women do a half-baked job; I hired a professional craftsman for this. That's how I found the Li family.

The Li family was naturally overjoyed. Even Tao Hongying held her granddaughter close, kissing her again and again, leaving the newly awakened Jia Yin bewildered.

I don't understand what's going on with the dream, and now there's some good news at home.

Actually, the old and young in our family don't really value money.

Just as Lao Si Li and Jia Yi had just been taken by Liu Biaotou to escort goods south, earning a high wage, someone else came knocking on Tao Hongying's door soon after, asking her to take charge.

Seeing that the family's days are getting increasingly prosperous, everyone's heart is truly filled with indescribable comfort.

But Lao Li didn't agree immediately, only saying that there was something going on at home and she needed to think about it. She would give a reply tonight.

That person didn't seem annoyed, so they politely bid farewell.

Li Laotai immediately took Jia Yin out for a stroll, Zhang Ersao and Wu Sanniang were the most well-informed. In just a few sentences, they learned all about the bride's family background.

Upon hearing that he was an honest man with well-behaved children and grandchildren, the old woman allowed Li Laosan to deliver the letter and agreed to give him a job.

Upon learning the truth, Tao Hongying's eyes welled up with gratitude.

Compared to silver, her grandmother valued her safety more, not wanting her to be wronged.

Li Lao Tai knocked on the smoke pot, while coaxing Jia Yin, she also scolded her daughter-in-law.

"Don't make that strange face. I'm your mother-in-law, of course I have to look out for you. I don't want my daughter-in-law to be wronged. Get ready now, tomorrow we're going to work."

Tao Hongying readily agreed, originally thinking that Jia Yin would again clamor to go along. Unexpectedly, Jia Yin was well-behaved this time and didn't show any desire to go. This was quite surprising.

Actually, Jia Yin also wanted to go and see the excitement. Staying at home all day was too boring.

But the weather was getting colder and colder, she didn't want to risk catching a cold and causing trouble for her family. She was worried that her frail body couldn't handle it.

Tao Hongying packed up her things and, along with Li Lao San's wife and their daughter, Jiahuan, went to work.

When he returned home in the evening, he brought back some meat dishes and two ounces of wages.

Hong Ying, as always, gave the old lady her wages. They had a stir-fry for dinner and everyone ate with gusto, their mouths watering and laughing merrily.

Even Wu Cuiflower's unsightly eating habits, which had gone several meals without nourishment, only earned her a blank stare from the old woman, who did not pursue the matter further.

Everybody in the village lived together, and the Li family came and went frequently. The villagers naturally saw this and became increasingly envious.

The Li family was able to establish themselves quickly in the village not only because of their kind and considerate nature, but also because they were a united and hardworking family.

However, Lao Li disagreed with this.

In her heart, the home was so lively, all thanks to her granddaughter.

Everyone would laugh and agree, but secretly they didn't believe it. But teasing Jiayin, who had already grown into a little dumpling, was still very enjoyable.

After a hundred days, Jiayin has learned to roll over and is now striving to evolve towards animal-like movement.

She seemed to have grown quite a bit, even more adorable.

A chubby little face, big watery eyes, long eyelashes, and those tender white hands like lotus roots. Anyone who sees it will love it, just like a lucky doll painted in the same year.

Taking advantage of the fine weather, the old woman planned to sunbathe the quilts. Since Jiayin was napping at noon, she wrapped her in a blanket.

Jiā'ān and Jiāxǐ wanted to play with their younger sister, but they were afraid of waking her up and being scolded by Grandma, so they ran outside to play with the children in the village by the river.

Clearwater Village got its name from the large river outside the village.

The river was wide, with reeds growing along the banks. Occasionally, wild ducks would be startled into flight, and if you were lucky, you might find some wild duck eggs.

The village boys, with nothing to do, liked to come and try their luck.

At this time of year, the reeds are withered and yellow. Some still stand straight, while others seem to have surrendered to the winter's chill, lying prostrate along the riverbank.

The mischievous boys divided their territory by the riverbank and then scattered.

Jiaxi and Ji'an rushed toward the reeds in front of them, and sure enough, a wild duck quacked.

The two boys were delighted and hurried even more to run inside.

But it's unknown who previously came here to fish and dug a large hole in the ice.

Though they failed to catch the ducks, the two boys ended up falling into the river one after another.

The river water was biting, soaking through their clothes and making them even heavier. The two of them shouted loudly.

The other kids panicked upon hearing this. Some pulled their companions away, while others frantically ran towards Li's house.

The Li family lived the farthest in the village, yet it was the people nearest the village entrance who first heard the cries for help.

When the Li family's young and old ran to the water's edge, Jiaan and Jixi had already been pulled out.

Fortunately, the water level by the river was low, so they weren't drowned, but their lips turned purple from the cold.

Li Laotai raised her hand and gave each grandson a smoker's pot, hating iron for not being steel, "You mischievous little devil!"

"Milk...cold..." Ji'an wanted to speak, but her teeth were chattering.

Li Lao Er and Li Lao San hurriedly took off their cotton-padded jackets, one carrying the other on his back, and ran home as fast as they could.

A large basin was filled with hot water, the two boys were stripped naked and pushed in. Big bowls of ginger soup were poured into their stomachs without hesitation.

The whole family was terrified, wanting to scold but unable to bring themselves to do so, feeling angry yet helpless.

Jiayin yawned awake and noticed the strange atmosphere at home. She was startled, thinking that her father and second brother who were out had met with some trouble.

It wasn't easy to get there, and hearing the reasons from everyone around her made her roll her eyes.

These two youngest brothers are so mischievous.

Falling into a river on such a cold winter day is truly miserable.

As expected, neither the hot bath nor the ginger soup did much. However, after half an hour, Jia'an and Jiaxi started to feel feverish, their faces flushed red.

Li Laotai, enduring her anxiety, instructed them at once.

"Go to the village head's house and borrow a car. Go into town to see a doctor. Don't delay, be careful, the fever is serious, there are two fools in the family."

Jiā Xǐ and Jiā n were truly terrified, they cried with sobs. In the end, they were wrapped up like zongzi (sticky rice dumplings) and thrown onto a donkey cart.

Fortunately, the county was close by, so he returned an hour later.

Four doses of medicine, taking it for two days, costs two taels of silver. It's ridiculously expensive, but it's really effective. After drinking the medicinal soup, both boys have a fever break.

When it got dark, he ate a large bowl of braised noodles and slept soundly all night. The next day, he was full of energy.

Including Jia Yin, the Li family's hearts, which had been held high in suspense, finally settled.e Chen family was only a few dozen paces away from the new village.Chen Lao'er shouted at the band, blowing the dirge louder and louder.The sound of the suona, piercing and loud, shattered the tranqui...