When the pears are green

Chapter 157: Not Mist, Not Flower

Wu Lishi did not walk directly into the room. She stopped in front of the open door and shouted, "Mingshu."

Wu Mingshu and Yang Jing quickly walked over and introduced it to Wu Li: "Mom, this is..."

"It's Jing'er, right? Mingshu often mentions you. Today I see that you are really a good girl. Thank you Jing'er for saving Mingshu, otherwise I don't know how you would be beaten by Yang Cheng, that heartless guy." Mrs. Wu Li interrupted Wu Mingshu. She first took a quick look at Yang Jing, then scolded Yang Cheng, and then asked Yang Jing to stay in the Wu family for a few more days.

Yang Jing looked at Wu Li in embarrassment, and she explained to her, "Aunt, I also want to spend a few days with Sister Mingshu. However, the day after tomorrow is my father's death anniversary, and I have to go back tomorrow. I came here to see Sister Mingshu, and secondly, my mother doesn't leave the house on weekdays, and my third brother is about to get married, and I can't find anyone to discuss it with, so I want to ask Sister Mingshu for help."

"In that case, please Jing'er come over and talk to Mingshu more often in the future. However, Mingshu is still young after all, and she doesn't understand these things. Don't let her delay your brother's life." After calming down, Wu Li seized the loophole in Yang Jing's words. She felt that even if the relationship between Yang Jing's family and Wu Mingshu was good, it was unlikely that Wu Mingshu, who came from their Yang family, would be allowed to inquire about such matters. She was afraid that there would be other plots behind the scenes, so she tactfully refused Yang Jing's request for Wu Mingshu's help.

Yang Jing was a little anxious after hearing this. She could only explain again: "Aunt doesn't understand the situation of my family. My eldest sister-in-law has always wanted to marry her sister to my third brother. Later, my father passed away, and her sister couldn't wait any longer, so she gave up. My second sister died of dystocia many years ago, and both the adult and the child were not saved. Several uncles in my family are better off than my family, and they also look down on my parents. It was not until my third brother passed the imperial examination that the families began to interact with each other. My uncles' homes are far away, and my mother doesn't usually interact with the neighbors. After thinking about it, she has a better relationship with Sister Mingshu in recent years, so she shamelessly came to ask Sister Mingshu for help."

"Alas, everyone has their own problems at home. If you can help Mingshu, just ask her directly. Jing'er, go back tomorrow. Now that you are here, talk more with Mingshu. Treat this place as your own home and don't be so formal with me." Wu Li was unable to refute Yang Jing's words. Although this matter sounded a bit unreasonable, she just regarded it as asking Wu Mingshu to repay the favor of Yang Jing's family.

Mrs. Wu Li asked Wu Mingshu and Yang Jing to go back to their room to talk, and then called Wu Minghui, who was peeking at the wall, over.

"Mom, what are you calling me for?" Wu Minghui asked, pulling Wu Li's sleeve.

Mrs. Wu Li pointed at the sun above her head and said, "Minghui, look where the sun is now. Of course it's time to cook. Your elder sister has to accompany Jing'er, and I can't let Jing'er do it by herself. So I can only let the lovely Minghui help me. Are you willing?"

The word "cute" filled Wu Minghui's mind. She nodded quickly and agreed, and also offered to help wash the pots and dishes after dinner.

When Song Li and Song Yue were about to reach the Song family, Song Yue held Song Li's arm and whispered, "Sister, let me tell you something. Mom had a dream a few nights ago, and she cried all day after she woke up. If she said something unpleasant, don't mind it."

"I understand, Yueyue. Did mother say what dream she had?" Song Li's mood sank. She instinctively felt that Zhang's dream might be related to her.

Song Yue shook her head and said that Zhang just cried after waking up and refused to speak no matter who asked her. In the end, it was Song Changhe who persuaded Zhang to stop.

"Then when did Dad come back?" Song Li's eyes darkened. When she looked towards the gate of the Song family, she saw Zhang walking out of the courtyard gate.

Before Song Yue could answer Song Li's question, Zhang walked up to the two sisters.

"What are you two girls doing standing here? Why don't you go inside? Aren't you tired of the hot sun?" Zhang urged the two sisters to go home quickly. Song Li looked at Zhang, she opened her mouth but didn't say a word, her legs felt as if they were filled with lead and became heavy and painful.

Zhang saw Song Li's painful expression, and she asked anxiously, "Xiao Li, what's wrong?"

"Mom, my legs hurt." Song Li replied with a pout.

Song Yue hurriedly took the basket from Song Li. Zhang squatted down and rubbed Song Li's legs. She asked as she rubbed, "Are you feeling better?"

"Mom, it's okay." Song Li moved her legs and felt much better than before.

Zhang saw that Song Li's expression had eased a lot, so she stood up and comforted Song Li: "Xiao Li, don't be afraid, you must be tired from walking. Take a good rest today and go back tomorrow. Come, I'll help you."

Zhang and Song Yue supported Song Li and walked slowly towards the home. When the mother and daughter walked into the yard, Song Changhe and Song Xing were assembling things. There were many wooden planks of different lengths and sizes scattered around them.

"You two, stop busying yourself. Xiaoxing, go get a stool for your elder sister." Zhang shouted at the father and son who were immersed in carpentry work.

Song Xing looked up and saw Zhang and Song Yue supporting Song Li. He quickly ran to the kitchen and got a stool and placed it next to Song Li.

Zhang and Song Yue helped Song Li sit down slowly.

"Mom, what happened to my elder sister? She was fine when we came back!" Song Xing asked worriedly.

Zhang waved her hand and told Song Xing: "You must be tired, just take a rest."

Song Changhe quickly put down the hammer in his hand, and when he came over and saw that Song Li looked fine, he breathed a sigh of relief. He suspected that Song Li had suffered from heatstroke, so he asked Song Yue to get some water.

"Yueyue, remember to take the pork out of the basket." Song Li shouted loudly to Song Yue in the kitchen. As soon as the words fell, Song Yue responded.

Zhang smiled and tapped Song Li's forehead. She asked Song Li to rest first, and then told Song Yue, who came out with the bowl, to go cook with her.

Song Li took the bowl and drank slowly. She asked Song Changhe curiously, "Dad, what are you doing?"

"I'll make a cart for you and Qingzhou. You can't always use other people's stuff. Changsong and Changrong have gathered some wood for me." After saying that, Song Changhe went back to work.

Although Song Li's legs no longer hurt, Zhang didn't dare let her move. Even when Yang Jing and Wu Mingshu came over, Zhang asked her to lie on the bed and not move.

Yang Jing looked at Song Li with a bit of self-blame. She thought it was because she walked too fast at noon.

"Jing'er, it has nothing to do with you. It's probably because you haven't had enough rest recently." Song Li hurriedly comforted Yang Jing. She couldn't say that she was scared, so she had to make up an excuse.

The two agreed to go back on Old Man Wang's ox cart tomorrow morning.

Song Changhe and Song Xing worked from the afternoon until dark and finally finished the cart. They happily pushed it around in the yard a few times, making Zhang, Song Yue and Song Li all laugh.

Zhang asked them to go back and rest quickly. Although the utility room had been cleaned up, Song Li could not resist Song Yue's pleading and went into the previous room with Song Yue.

Song Changhe returned to the room and saw Zhang sitting at the head of the bed with her legs curled up. He quickly asked Zhang softly, "Xiangxiang, what's wrong? Are you thinking about the child again?"

Zhang shook her head. She looked up at Song Changhe with moist eyes and said, "Changhe, burn the tablet. Xiaoyue should have said something to her. She is a smart child. The pain in her legs must be because she was frightened."