On the first day of the New Year, the entire village of Liu Family Village gathered funds to build a large water mill, which was inaugurated and officially put into use.
The riverside beneath Qin Yao’s house grew quiet. The usually bustling mill suddenly fell silent.
Second Lang carried back the money box and counted the copper coins inside, a total of eleven copper coins.
"From now on, no one will visit our water mill."
Second Lang regretfully patted the well-worn money box on the table, storing away this final income from the water mill.
Liu Ji also sighed, "Even mosquito legs are meat; accumulating small amounts adds up. Each month, it used to bring in about one hundred and seventy or eighty coins."
Da Lang listened to the sound of the large waterwheel turning from the village entrance and the villagers’ cheers of surprise at the large millstone, and remarked cheerfully:
"But we no longer rely on the water mill’s income for sustenance. It’s a good thing the village has its own mill now."
"Moreover, if we need to use the mill, we don’t have to wait for others to finish. We can use it whenever we want."
Most importantly... Da Lang looked at his father, who was reluctant about the copper coins, and said, "Father, you don’t have to repair the water mill every few days anymore."
With fewer users, the wear and tear is slower. Previously, it needed repairs several times a month, but now, two or three times a year will suffice.
Liu Ji raised his eyebrows; thinking about it like this, it didn’t seem too bad.
After the fifth day of the New Year, the weather grew warmer day by day, and with seven or eight consecutive sunny days, the ice and snow melted, and spring had arrived.
With the river water warming, Ah Wang gathered a large bucket of dirty clothes and called Liu Ji from outside the study door to go to the riverside to wash clothes.
At that moment, the sky was still dim, with a layer of gray-white mist, and the village women’s laundry cohort was not yet up.
Going to the riverside at this time allowed the two grown men to avoid ridicule.
Though Ah Wang usually appeared emotionless, he would flee hastily when faced with the Liu Family Village women’s playful teasing.
Thus, the laundry duo reached an understanding, acting an hour ahead of the laundry cohort each time.
Bed sheets and covers that had slept through the winter needed to be cleaned thoroughly and dried during the warm, sunny weather.
Unable to spread out in the courtyard, it was more practical to go to the riverside.
Liu Ji put down his book, emerged from the door, took a bucket of Qin Yao’s clothes handed by Ah Wang, pulled the collar up to cover his nose, and both of them, skulking through the dim light, made their way to the riverside.
Ah Wang, being strong, was responsible for washing heavy bed sheets and blankets.
Liu Ji took on the lighter laundry tasks.
Today, there weren’t many dirty clothes from Da Lang’s siblings, mainly those of Qin Yao.
Liu Ji had to wash her clothes, shoes, and socks himself; if Ah Wang dared to help, he’d surely get scolded by the master of the house.
This was also why Ah Wang would insist that the unwilling master of the house join in tasks he could have completed alone.
After staying in the village for a long time, whenever Ah Wang fetched water from the well, the village women would often tease him.
Initially, Ah Wang didn’t notice the nuances between husbands and wives, but now, after hearing the women’s hints, he understood that some chores were inconveniently left for the master of the house to handle.
Liu Ji watched Ah Wang, having finished washing the bed sheets early, standing aside with arms folded, staring blankly while waiting for him, and felt resentment!
He cursed himself for being spineless!
The wicked woman tormented him countless times, yet he coldly washed her intimate garments by the riverside!
"Master, they’ve set off!" Ah Wang’s voice sounded slightly tense.
Clearly, the laundry cohort had left a significant impact on the young man’s mind.
Upon hearing, Liu Ji quickly looked up.
He saw a squad of women, led by He and Sister-in-law Zhou, heading towards the river, holding buckets in one hand and bats in the other, chatting and laughing.
Liu Ji was startled awake, hurriedly dunked the robe skirt in his hand into the water, rinsed it twice to remove the soap suds, wrung it out messily, tossed it into the bucket, lifted the heavy wooden bucket, and called Ah Wang, "Let’s retreat!"
"Eh?"
Sister-in-law Zhou curiously pointed towards the bridge, "Isn’t that your third child, He Hua?"
"Where?"
He looked over suspiciously, only catching a glimpse of a familiar silhouette, seemingly carrying something and darting into a house, only managing to catch sight of a wet hem.
Turning back to exchange a glance with Sister-in-law Zhou, the two of them smiled knowingly.
Others asked what they were laughing about, and the two feigned ignorance, but their laughter grew louder and more penetrating, turning Liu Ji, who was hanging laundry in the courtyard, red with embarrassment.
"What’s so funny!" Liu Ji grumbled quietly.
Ah Wang earnestly said, "They’re laughing at us."