CHAPTER 125: CHAPTER 125: BORROWED OUR FAMILY’S LUCK

Zhang Shuncai felt aggrieved. In the past, in Kao Village, his family was considered wealthy; they were the only ones with a three-horse cart. But given recent events, they had to consider selling this cart.

Back then, there were many brothers in the family, so when they went out, they held their heads high. But now, it turned into a disadvantage. More brothers meant more mouths to feed. Nowadays, they’re almost living off their savings. Those three lambs wouldn’t fetch much money if sold, and if kept, they’d need to be raised for a long time!

Zhang Lianqiao sat on the kang bed in the east room, leaning against Li Fengzhi, her face devoid of any pleasant expression. In the past, she had an egg every day. Now, not to mention eggs are gone, but meals are prioritized for her brothers and nephews. She and her two sisters-in-law have to eat last, and often there’s not enough left.

"Qiao’er, go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy some salt." Li Fengzhi took out a handful of crumpled bills from her pocket and handed two crumpled ones that were barely recognizable to her.

Zhang Lianqiao took the money and stepped off the kang bed.

Though it was no longer necessary to go out with more than one person, Zhang Lianqiao still avoided it whenever possible. In an unavoidable situation like this, she had to brace herself to go.

"Second Sister-in-law, what are you doing? Come with me to the supply and marketing co-op?" Zhang Lianqiao wanted to pull someone along.

Zhang Shungui’s wife glanced up at her and managed a slight smile. "Aren’t I here picking beans for Xue Wen!"

While she spoke, she grabbed a handful of beans from the stove and threw them into the fire pit.

They had just finished lunch, and there were still flames in the fire pit. Tossing the beans in, they would be cooked through in a moment. Once done, she pulled them out for the child to eat, treating them as a snack.

Zhang Lianqiao clearly saw that earlier, she hadn’t intended to cook the beans for her little nephew Xue Wen. But upon hearing Zhang Lianqiao call her, she used it as an excuse.

Silently, she turned around and left.

After this period, nothing else had happened to the Zhang Family, and it was broad daylight now. Zhang Lianqiao withstood the sunlight overhead felt less afraid.

There were quite a few people coming and going on the village road. Zhang Lianqiao greeted them with a smile, and ahead, she saw Liu Chunyu approaching.

The Carpenter Liu Family was also considered large in Kao Village. Not only did they have craftsmen, but they also owned a few acres of land at the east end of Dayan.

Zhang Lianqiao estimated that her family was wealthier than her own.

Thus, Zhang Lianqiao did not like Liu Chunyu from the bottom of her heart.

Now, seeing the butterfly clip on her head, she felt even more upset. If it was the past, she might have gone up to trouble Li Chunyu, claiming the clip was hers and making her uncomfortable. But their family’s recent events hadn’t completely passed, making her unconsciously restrain herself.

"Oh, Chunyu, your butterfly clip looks so pretty. Your mother must really love you. This clip must be a yuan! Look, as you walk, it’s like a butterfly landed on your head, so beautiful!"

A wife smiled and said to Liu Chunyu.

Liu Chunyu felt a little shy and smiled bashfully, saying, "This wasn’t bought by my mom; it was a gift from a friend."

"A gift from a friend? Someone can gift such a nice thing? Who is it? Do I know this person?" the wife asked with curiosity, mainly wondering if it was a man or a woman.

Liu Chunyu looked young, but she was actually eighteen or nineteen. Her family hadn’t arranged a match because they hadn’t found anyone suitable, and her parents, along with her brother, cherished this girl so much.

People said that someone born lucky lives differently. When a girl has her birth mother planning for her, she’s better off than a child without a mother!

Liu Chunyu just said it was someone from the village without specifying who.

Zhang Lianqiao walked past them with a cold snort in her heart, thinking about how Liu Chunyu had been hanging out with that brat Beisitian recently. Was it Beisitian who bought the clip for her?

The possibility seemed small. She had never seen Beisitian wearing one, so could Beisitian have bought it for someone else first?

Thinking of Beisitian made her even more annoyed. Ever since that girl recovered, not only did she change her nature, but she also seemed to have gained some capabilities. Recently, rumors said she became an embroidery woman at Bao Niang Embroidery Workshop!

A lot of people talked about this, especially since the news came from Zhang Qiao Niang, which made it even more believable.

Lately, it seemed as if Luo Er’s family had become different. People said they were eating steamed buns made from fine flour, raising chickens, buying fish at the market, and so on. All these indicated that Luo Er’s family’s situation had indeed improved considerably.

When other families are not doing well, most people would feel sorry and some might even develop a sense of superiority.

But when families that never did well suddenly start thriving, many people become jealous.

Zhang Lianqiao originally held a great sense of superiority in Kao Village. Now, thinking back on the recent gossip and looking at her family’s current situation, she felt simmering resentment.

On her way back home after buying salt, she pondered over and over again. Returning home, she said to Li Fengzhi, "Mom, do you think our family ended up like this possibly because of Luo Er’s family?"

The knitting needles in Li Fengzhi’s hand continued moving. "Why would you think that?"

"Think about it, didn’t Brother accidentally bump into Luo Anping before that incident happened? Could it be that incident caused our misfortune?" Zhang Lianqiao said, not accusing Luo Er’s family, but underestimating them because she truly believed they couldn’t pull off something like taking luck away.

Li Fengzhi put her hands on her legs and looked up at Zhang Lianqiao.

Zhang Lianqiao continued, "It’s probably like that. You see, while our family falls into hardships, theirs improved. They’re riding on the luck of our Zhang Family!"

Li Fengzhi frowned. Thinking about it that way, it did seem possible. Otherwise, why would the Zhang Family suddenly encounter trouble after being in Changle for so long!

After praying to Huang Daxian, things had improved, but the root of the trouble was with Luo Er’s family!

"Now, the only complete person in their family is Beisitian. People say Aunt Qin’s eyes have recovered. I think it’s all lies. Blind for so many years, how can it suddenly be better!"

"So, what should we do?" Although Li Fengzhi didn’t entirely believe her daughter, the event was too spooky. She was scared since then, staying under covers as soon as night fell, not daring to go anywhere. Even for a trip to the latrine, she needed someone to accompany her.

So, Li Fengzhi decided to rather believe it, considering Luo Er’s family was much easier to deal with than supernatural tales. A family of disabled people wouldn’t retaliate. Bullying them wouldn’t pose much of a problem.

"Let’s go ask Granny Chen at the west end of the village if there’s a solution!" Zhang Lianqiao suggested.

Upon hearing this, Li Fengzhi nodded, got off the kang bed, and followed Zhang Lianqiao.

Granny Chen had bad legs and was once a witch, but superstitions were banned after the reform and opening up. Plus, she aged, now only handling cases like frightened children.

"Granny, do you think it’s because their family borrowed our family’s luck? How else could they have suddenly risen!" Li Fengzhi said with a pale face.

"They were originally due to rise." Granny Chen, who had lost most of her teeth, spoke with a slight lisp.