Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Stone’s Origin Chapter 106: Chapter 106 Stone’s Origin Qingshan Village was abuzz these past few days, and, of course, the topic of conversation was the price Zhang Degang had to pay for repairing his roof—it was said that just the hospitalization of Gao Shunyi and Qiao Congshan cost nearly a hundred yuan.
Li Xiulan adamantly extorted thirty yuan before agreeing to be discharged, and insisted that Zhao Degang’s son and daughter-in-law work on her behalf while she was hospitalized. Regardless, once she was out, they had reached an agreement to have nothing more to do with the Zhang family from then on.
In reality, the doctor at the mune health clinic had said that Gao Shunyi’s condition looked worse than it was; if the bleeding hadn’t been stopped in time, he might have lost his life. But once the bleeding was stopped, he just needed a good rest and he would be fine.
Li Xiulan wouldn’t hear any of it, and she stubbornly waited for Zhang’s family to e negotiate pensation before agreeing to be discharged. She thought she had gotten a great deal, pletely unaware that she had thoroughly offended the secretary.
Li Xiulan also kept saying that she only demanded thirty yuan out of respect for the secretary and was quite pleased with herself, thinking that since her husband got injured while fixing Zhang Degang’s roof, the secretary would have to look after their family a bit more from now on.
During this time, someone else was working in the fields for them, and the food at the health clinic was good. Although her husband’s injury was indeed severe at the time, he was fortunate to pull through. Now they had received thirty yuan in pensation, and she felt utterly delighted.
Luo Qiao was making a delicious meal at home today; she and Little Stone had agreed to have lunch at her place. The boy might be young, but he was clever and not of bad character, so Luo Qiao decided to help the kid out.
Speaking of Little Stone, he too was a pitiable child. His father was a youth sent to the countryside from the city, who returned two years ago with promises to bring them to the city once he was settled. But after getting back, family opposition meant the move kept being postponed.
A year ago, Little Stone’s absentee father came back, fooled his mother into signing divorce papers, and then disappeared without a trace. The uncles and aunts had hoped his mother would move on and remarry, essentially so they could collect another bride price. But she refused to agree to it because of him, and half a year ago, she had an accident in the city and passed away, leaving him behind.
After the uncles divided his mother’s pensation among themselves, they promised to take care of him, rotating responsibility each month. But he was never weled in any home and hardly ever had a full meal.
Luo Qiao had only learned of his story recently; she’d been looking for him for days without success until she finally ran into him yesterday, learning he had to go up the mountain to collect pig grass every day.
They had agreed he would e for lunch today, so Luo Qiao steamed pumpkin buns, stir-fried zucchini with eggs, braised fish, garlic choy sum, and even simmered some porridge.
After preparing the meal, Stone arrived, and Luo Qiao called him in, “Did you wash up in the river?”
Stone replied somewhat sheepishly, “Mhm, I was covered in dust. It was really dirty.”
Luo Qiao smiled, “Sit down over there, I’ll serve the food.”
Stone offered, “Sister Luo Qiao, let me help you.”
Luo Qiao quite liked the boy; he was honest and kind, as well as clever and especially considerate.
There was a large stone in the yard which had previously been used by the educated youths as a table. Today’s meal was served upon it.
Stone gazed at the lavish spread before him and swallowed, touching his head as he said, “Sister Luo Qiao, isn’t this a bit too much?”
Luo Qiao replied with a gentle smile, “You’ve helped me so much. I just wanted to thank you, don’t think too much about it. Sit down and eat. Don’t you have to go up the mountain to cut pig grass this afternoon? If you finish eating early, you can rest a bit before you go.”
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