Chapter 221 - Adding to the Dowry (1/2)

The courtyard was still divided into the front courtyard and back courtyard. The former front yard of the old house had almost doubled in size. Also, in front of the three new rooms was a courtyard with a total area of 3-4 mu, which was extravagant! The back courtyard was still close to the lake and was no smaller the front yard. In the autumn and winter, when the lake became shallower, more fertile land would appear!

Before Yu Hai had extended the size of the courtyards, he had discussed it with the village chief and offered to pay for the extra land. This was to prevent other people from complaining later on.

Now that Yu Hai’s connections far exceeded those of his, the village chief also had his own thoughts on the matter. Yu Hai was not only the relative of a general, but even the future head of the Zhou family also treated him differently. Reportedly, Princess Consort Jing, who was building a residence in the West Mountains, also liked Yu Hai’s little girl. Becoming friends with such a person would only have benefits and no harm. Maybe one day, he could even use Yu Hai’s help.

At first, he was unwilling to accept money Yu Hai was using to buy the land. Later, after Yu Hai explained the logic to him, he took the silver as a symbolic gesture. The price of land for residences in the village was low to begin with. In addition, the village chief also deliberately lowered the price even more, so it was almost the same as giving it away for nothing. Yu Hai said that he would remember this favor.

Time had flown by and youth is hard to keep. In an instant, the autumn harvest had gone by and winter had quietly come. Everyone in Dongshan Village began to store food and firewood for the winter. Due to the severe drought in the northeast part of the country and their inability to harvest grain, the price of grain in the northern parts were affected. The price of refined rice and white flour had kept increasing and even the price of coarse grain has increased a little compared to the previous year.

The eldest son of the village chief, who was doing business in other places, often sent back news that the drought impacted the northeast the most. Although the emperor had allocated money for disaster relief, what the common people actually received wasn’t enough to support them through the bitter winter. People in the northeast with relatives elsewhere had packed up their belongings and fled. Refugees are beginning to appear everywhere too.

The situation in Dongshan Village was okay. Although there was less rain in the summer, it was more uniform and had less impact on the crops.

Unknowingly, the day for Xiaocao’s youngest paternal aunt, Yu Caidie, to get married arrived. The day before the wedding, all her relatives and friends had come over to add to her dowry. Although Yu Hai hated Madam Zhang, he was still Yu Caidie’s older brother after all, so he naturally wouldn’t cause problems on her wedding day.

The previous day, Yu Hai had taken his youngest daughter to town. He wanted to buy a silver bracelet for his little sister, but he didn’t believe in his ability to pick a good one, so he took Xiaocao with him.

Xiaocao had no ill feelings toward this weak, kind hearted, youngest paternal aunt of hers. It was said that the family her aunt was marrying into had a good situation, and Madam Zhang, whose heart was full of her youngest son, definitely wouldn’t prepare a large dowry for her. When ancient women married, their dowry represented the degree of importance they attached to her. It also represented her standing in her husband’s family.

In addition to a pair of dragon and phoenix bracelets, Xiaocao also chose a pair of hairpins and a pair of red coral earrings. Coral ornaments were still expensive even though Tanggu Town overlooked the sea. A pair of red coral earrings were worth more than the dragon and phoenix bracelets and hairpins added together. However, spending a few dozen taels was nothing to the current Yu Family.

After thinking about it, they also went to the shop beside the previous melon shop and chose several pieces of cloth. All of them were the kind of fine cloth that farmers would be reluctant to wear. Her godmother had said that a married girl should have several pieces of cloth to store away at the bottom of one’s dowry box.

While they were in Tanggu Town, Yu Hai and his daughter also met some unkempt refugees. The new county magistrate had installed some simple shacks outside the town for them, and they ate porridge donated by larger households. The winters were long in the north, so Xiaocao wondered if they would survive the long winter.

Yu Hai had been standing at the refugee camp for a long time. He looked carefully at them and seem to be searching for something. Xiaocao thought her father was feeling sympathetic for the refugees, so she bought some coarse grain steamed buns and asked the steamed bun shop to deliver it over. It wasn’t that she couldn’t afford to buy white flour steamed buns, but she understood that giving them food that was too fancy might cause a backlash.

At this time, there weren’t many refugees outside of Tanggu Town. Yu Hai handed out the steamed buns one by one to everyone and received countless words of gratitude. Xiaocao noticed her father occasionally asked about Liu Hu. Who was Liu Hu? Why did her father care so much about this person?

At home, during dinner time, Yu Hai sighed and mentioned his older sister who had been married off to the northeast. “My ill-fated elder sister hasn’t sent a letter to me for many days already. I don’t know what the situation in her village is like, will she be like those refugees with nowhere to go……”

Madam Liu softly comforted him, ”Don't worry. Those refugees don't have relatives to take them in. Dongshan Village is your elder sister's maiden home and you are her younger brother. If she really can't make a living, she will come back.”

Yu Hai slowly shook his head and said, ”You know that my elder sister hates Madam Zhang to her bones. Even if she had to beg outside, she won't come home. Although I sent her a letter telling her we have separated from them, I'm afraid that she will go to other places for refuge to avoid giving me problems...”

”That shouldn't happen. If it was me, for my children to suffer less, I would choose to go to a place I was familiar with. Maybe your elder sister is already on her way over!” Oldest Sister in-law had three children, and the youngest one was only a year older than Shitou. She wouldn’t ignore her children for the sake of her pride.

Xiaocao thought about it and asked, “Father, is Oldest Uncle called Liu Hu?