183 Chapter 183: The Liu Family’s Plans
“What if…” That man was still worried.
“There’s no if.”
“People like her are terrified of death.”
Wang Dashi gave that person a glance. “Don’t worry. If something really happens, I’ll bear the responsibility,” he said.
!!
Only then did everyone feel relieved, and no one looked back anymore.
That night, at the Liu family’s place in Brook Falls Village.
Uncle Liu and Aunt Liu called their two sons over for a chat.
“It’s getting drier and drier these days. It’s not just our village. I can see that you’re bringing back fewer and fewer goods.”
“Your mother and I are thinking that if things really don’t work out, the two of you should stop going out to collect goods for the time being. We can talk about it again after the drought.” Uncle Liu looked at his two sons as he smoked a long-stemmed tobacco pipe
It had been hard on the two of them recently. The two of them had turned as black as charcoal from working long hours in the sun.
The two brothers looked at each other.
Finally, Liu Daniu looked at his father.
“Alright! Then I’ll go to town tomorrow to inform Mrs. Song.”
“And Big Girl and company, should we… ask them to come back?” Liu Daniu asked with uncertainty.
His wife and sister were leading a good life in town, with no shortage of food and water.
From the bottom of his heart, he did not want them to come back and suffer.
However, if he and his younger brother did not go to collect goods, his wife and sister would have less work to do in town.
He was afraid that his parents would not agree to allow the girls to continue to stay in town.
Hearing his eldest son’s words, Uncle Liu glanced at Aunt Liu.
Aunt Liu only gave Uncle Liu a look and did not say much.
“No need,” Uncle Liu then said. “They are helping Eldest Son Song’s family sell bean sprouts and weave straw sandals so they are able to make some money. It’s better for them to stay in town than at home.”
“Besides, your wife is pregnant. We’ll feel more at ease if she stays in the town.”
When Liu Daniu heard this, he felt relieved.
“Then, Father, what should we do next?” Liu Erniu asked quickly.
The crops in their fields had dried up, and almost all the livestock in the house had been sold off.
Now that they weren’t collecting goods, they had to do something else, right?
Uncle Liu turned his head again and looked at Aunt Liu.
After seeing Aunt Liu nod, he looked at the two brothers again.
“The two of you should already know what happened at the Wang family’s place today.”
The two brothers looked at each other and nodded.
Wang Dashan was really unlucky to have such parents.
Uncle Liu sighed.
“Madam Qian has brought back news that the Qian family’s village is already preparing to flee.”
“Also, based on the situation of those villages you went to, most of the villages within ten miles are not doing well, except for a few.”
“Your mother and I are worried…” Uncle Liu did not finish his sentence.
Both Liu Daniu and Liu Erniu’s expressions changed.
“Father, what are you worried about?” Liu Erniu asked him directly.
Uncle Liu looked at his second son.
“I’m worried that if the drought continues, more villagers will flee. At that time, I’m afraid our Brook Falls Village will also be affected.”
He had lived in Brook Falls Village for most of his life, so he was naturally unwilling to abandon his home.
However, with so many villages fleeing, some people in their own village would definitely be tempted to follow suit.
At that point, once someone followed them, there would be fewer people in the village, and it would be troublesome later.
“Didn’t Uncle Village Chief say that the people of Brook Falls Village will not flee?” Liu Erniu asked immediately.
Uncle Liu glanced at his second son.
“That’s what the village chief said to calm the people down. If you don’t leave when you have no other choice, are you going to stay and wait for death?” he said.
Liu Erniu’s expression changed.
“Then what do we do?”
Liu Daniu also frowned as he looked at his father.
“Our family has also made some money during this period, and now we just about have enough food at home. We don’t have to follow them and flee, do we?” he asked.
“Mm-hmm.” Uncle Liu nodded.
“But if we don’t go, other people will. It might not be good for us to stay,” he continued.
Upon hearing this, everyone was silent.
They could imagine what their father was worried about.
One of the most important reasons everyone was able to live in peace in the village was that there were many people.
...
If the villagers were to leave while the Liu family continued to live in the village, they might run into a lot of trouble.
The family might even encounter danger.
“Then, Father, what are your plans?” Liu Daniu quickly asked Uncle Liu.
Liu Erniu also turned to look at his father nervously.
Uncle Liu took a deep puff of the pipe and blew out some smoke.
“If things really don’t work out, we will also move to the town,” he said after sighing.
The two brothers were stunned when they heard that.
Then, their faces lit up.
“Father! You mean, we are going to town to buy a courtyard dwelling?” Liu Erniu asked immediately.
“Father!” Liu Daniu also shouted out excitedly.
Uncle Liu looked at his two sons in annoyance.
...
He took out his pipe and knocked it on the table.
“That’s easy to say! It’s not that easy to buy a courtyard dwelling in town!”
The Song family had spent almost 250 taels of silver on that courtyard dwelling. All of the Liu family’s assets added together were not even half of what the Song family had.
Based on the previous market rate, he might be able to buy a smaller courtyard house near the market on West Street.
However, in the current situation, there were probably not many who were willing to sell their courtyard houses.
Besides, the family couldn’t possibly spend all their money on a courtyard house and not keep a single coin on their hands.
If the famine really started, the food in their family would not last long either.
Upon hearing this, the two brothers looked a little disappointed.
Seeing this, Aunt Liu finally spoke.
“Your father and I want to rent a courtyard house in the town. Even if that isn’t possible, we can consider renting a few rooms.”
Seeing the two brothers looking at her, Aunt Liu continued, “There aren’t many people who want to enter the town now. You guys can take this opportunity to go into town tomorrow and ask around.”
“If you can rent a courtyard house, you two can live in town. Then you can look for work in town.”
Aunt Liu looked at Uncle Liu as she spoke.
“Your father and I will stay in Brook Falls Village for the time being. If the villagers are really preparing to flee, we will go to town and live with you.”
There were many people in town, and there was a lot of work, so it was easier to earn a livelihood.
No matter how they thought about it, it was better than fleeing.
The two brothers looked at each other.
Then, they all nodded.
If they could get a place to live in town, it would indeed be much easier to find a job.
“Okay! Then I’ll ask Mrs. Song and the others for help when I deliver the goods tomorrow. They’ve lived in town for so long, so they’re more familiar with the situation there than we are.”
The two rooms that his wife and sister rented were arranged by the Song family.
Not only was the house good, but the rent was also cheap.
Now that they were looking for a house, it would be most reliable to ask the Song family for help.
“Mm-hmm! That’s what I was thinking too,” Aunt Liu said.
After thinking for a while, she added, “Don’t go empty-handed. Tomorrow, I’ll pick 20 chicken eggs for you. Take it to them as a small token of our appreciation.”
Liu Daniu agreed with a smile.
The next day, in the Song family’s courtyard.
Liu Daniu arrived early in the morning with Liu Erniu.
At this moment, the Song family was still selling water in the courtyard.
Qin Xiaoyao and the others were also busy harvesting bean sprouts in the sheds.
After learning that the Liu brothers had arrived, Qin Xiaoyao finally came out of the shed.