because of her smile.Now, Xijia An was also happy. He got a big slingshot and circled around the two old men, smiling broadly.The future is uncertain, but for the children, we have to fight through a...Initially, when the courtyards were built, Li's family and the Marquis's courtyard shared the wall in the middle.

But the estate left a five-zhang wide open space in the middle, in preparation for adding houses later if the population grew.

Now the Wen family only has one little baby, Yueya'er. The Li family is really too crowded to live in…

Thus, Tao Hongying decided to occupy this space and build a row of westward-facing sheds, capable of accommodating at least a dozen rooms, enough to house the new recruits.

Mrs. Wen treated the Li family like her own, so she wouldn't care about such a small matter and immediately agreed.

It was that Tao Hongying wanted to give her two hundred taels of silver, but she resolutely refused to accept it.

After all, their family's yard was still built with the help of the Li family, and the open space was also left by the Li family.

That's it, the matter is settled.

At this time, the fruits on the mountain had been picked, and the radishes and cabbages in the fields could still last for half a month.

When the village head and Mr. Zhao heard that the Li family was going to add on to their house, they quickly rallied the villagers.

The heads of the Big and Small Wang Zhuang and Dahuaishu Village also heard about it and wanted to send people to help, but they were politely declined by the village head.

There are still people eyeing the Li family with greed. If bad guys manage to sneak in, it would be a huge loss.

Without mentioning that the Li family once again embarked on a grand construction project, let's just say that on this day, in the front courtyard study of the Wang family, Wang Zechen sat at the table sipping tea, his brows furrowed like an iron lump.

He raised his teacup several times, but put it down again each time. He was restless and agitated.

Across from him sat a thin man in gray, wearing a padded long robe. He looked like a shadow, and even though the late autumn sun was setting, it couldn't help but circle around him...

Wang Zechen couldn't contain his impatience and asked in a low voice, "Second brother, since the Wu family's first attempt failed, when do you think they will make a second move"

Very good, this thin man in gray robes is Wang Ze-kun, the second master of the Wang family.

He smiled faintly, his expression somewhat cold as he said, "Big brother, what's the rush Watching a tiger fight is about patience. You can't afford to be impatient."

Wang Zecheng disliked his brother's demeanor the most. He seemed to think everyone else was foolish, only himself being superior and in control of everything.

He wasn't about to get angry again and kindly reminded, “I know you always feel I'm inept and can't compete with those roughnecks from the Li family.”

But I still want to remind you, the Li family's journey from refugees to their current status as a prominent family is definitely not solely due to luck.

"Don't underestimate the Li family. They thought they had it in the bag, but ended up being played around."

Wang Ze Kun still replied in a non-committal manner, "Big Brother rest assured, with your example before me, how could I not take it seriously!"

"You!" Wang Zechen was so angry his head was about to explode.

He was about to speak, but a long attendant knocked and then hurriedly brought in an official document. "Lord Governor," he said, "a dispatch from the Ministry of Officials has arrived."

Ministry of Officials' official documents

Wang Zecheng and Wang Ze Kun stopped arguing, both with puzzled looks in their eyes.

Wang Zechen did a good job, there was nothing to criticize. Naturally, he couldn't be suddenly transferred or dismissed.

Wang Ze Kun even took sick leave, he didn't go through the motions of applying for it and relying on personal connections, or there wouldn't be any new assignments…

The two brothers quickly tore open the official document and after reading it, Wang Ze Kun's face turned ashen.

Although Wang Zecheng frowned too, seeing his younger brother like this, he unexpectedly felt a sense of satisfaction and said, "You can never underestimate the Li family. You didn't believe it before, but you know now, don't you"

"Someone just forced you out of the shadows with one move. Now you don't have to hide anymore, you can go out whenever you want."

Wang Ze Kun threw the official document, and it sprawled on the table.

He didn't need to sell favors or pull strings, he simply got a new official position, becoming an assistant under the Ministry of Works. Afterward, he would work with craftsmen to research new farm tools...

He quickly racked his brains and figured it out, coldly smiling: "I have to say, the Li family is indeed capable."

"To actually have both the Ministry of Officials and the Ministry of Works move against me, trapping me in this desolate little office!

"

But why is Big Brother so happy As a member of the Wang family, I've calculated every move, all for revenge against the third brother and to support the Wang family!

"If I can't succeed in my plot, wouldn't Big Brother Wang's eldest son be in trouble either"

Wang Zechen was choked and finally closed his mouth.

Wang Zechen coldly snorted, poured himself another cup of tea, and continued, "The Li family's first move is to poach me instead of sending someone to kill me. They intend to face me head-on. "

"That's alright, as the Wu family and the Empress are ahead of me. I still have time to rearrange things, it's just a matter of shifting from a hidden move to an open one!"

Seeing his younger brother had returned to his usual self, Wang Zechen was too impatient to listen any longer. He made up an excuse and left.

Wang Ze Kun remained silent for a long time, then smashed the teacup in his hand angrily.

From dark to light, it wasn't as graceful as he had just said, almost ruining all his subsequent arrangements.

But thinking about having a helper, he felt a little more confident...

In the blink of an eye, another three or four days have passed. At the construction site next to Li's house, a few people gathered all the old and young men in the village.

In early September, the weather was cool in the morning and evening, but during the day there was still a hint of warmth.

Especially when it comes to working, it gets even hotter.

So, many men took off their jackets and only wore the undershirt underneath, bustling back and forth carrying wood and stones, working feverishly.

As the sun reached its zenith, the village head waved his smoking pipe and called out to the crowd, "Everyone take a break, wash your hands, we'll be eating soon."

Hearing the commotion, everyone quickly gathered their belongings and put on their jackets, laughing and joking as they came together.

Once, a young boy fetched some hot water and placed it inside a makeshift shelter of straw.

The village head greeted the several master craftsmen who had come, first having them wash their hands, and then sat down at the table to drink tea.

When the rest of the villagers had washed their hands, maids and servants brought large earthenware basins.

There were two main dishes in the earthenware pot: stewed chicken with mushrooms and braised pork with potatoes. The staple food was white steamed buns.

The villagers each had a large bowl, filled with dishes and topped with several white flour steamed buns. They ate quickly, their mouths soon covered in oil.

And on the wooden table were placed six dishes and a pot of white rice.

The village head accompanied by several masters also had a meal!

There was a master craftsman who loved to joke, and he said, "Uncle Wu, what we look forward to the most is coming to your village to work."

To put it simply, everyone gets along well and doesn't nitpick. We're happy with our work.

“The most important thing is that the food is excellent. In just a few days, my wife has said I've gained weight.”

The other masters also chimed in one after another.

"That's right, Old Wu. If there's any work in the village in the future, we'll definitely call you. No need for payment, just provide us with food."

After eating the meals at my place, they go home and feel like their wives' cooking is only good enough to feed pigs.

The village head was coaxed into a hearty laugh, beckoning everyone to eat more.

"Haha, everyone loves to eat, so eat more. Speaking of which, I actually have plans. In the future, I'll need you all to run back and forth to our village a few times."

The year before last, five or six young men got married in our village. Now there's another batch growing up, and they'll need to marry wives too!

But every household's house is full now, next spring, I'm afraid there will be quite a few new houses built in the village!he Li family had sent many orchids to the academy, as well as the prized table flowers of Cypripedium, which appeared every five days. They were being coveted by all the flower lovers in Kyoto.At thi...