The temple originally had no owner. Jiang Sheng was able to stay there for three years.
But that was when the government did not manage it. As soon as the government decided to renovate and worship again, the temple belonged to the government, to the Dayu Dynasty.
The magistrate of Xieyang County was using a sly scheme, ostensibly getting revenge on Jiang Sheng and her brothers - demolishing their home.
Xu Mo laughed bitterly.
Jiang Sheng cried.
This was the only stable place she had lived for three years, and also where she had found her brothers. She had the clearest understanding of home here, and countless touching and tearful memories.
But now she was going to be expelled.
Because this was not her home, it was the government's temple.
Jiang Sheng bent over to pick up the new cotton mattress she had bought, picked up the bowls and chopsticks she had brought from the medical hall, and tears fell like beans.
None of her brothers could bear it and were furious.
Zheng Ruqian directly hugged Jiang Sheng and said loudly, "Second brother will buy you a new house. We will have our own home."
"Third brother will protect you. No one can take our things." Fang Heng tightened his staff, his eyes murderous.
Wen Zhiyun wiped away tears and grabbed Jiang Sheng's hand, "Let's go back to the medical hall."
Chang Yan's eyes were icy as he exchanged a look with Xu Mo.
At this moment, when reason was not on their side, causing trouble would only lead to suffering.
The two understood each other's meaning, which was to retreat first.
Fortunately, there were two donkey carts stopped at the broken temple gate, and they could fit everything carefully packed up.
And so, Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian drove the donkey carts, carrying all the family's belongings, and slowly left Shili Pu village.
Although it looked like they moved away voluntarily, villagers with eyes knew that these children were driven away by the government, so no one dared to come out to see them off.
Only Aunt Zhang staggered out to the edge of the village and shouted, "Little Jiang Sheng, go slowly."
Jiang Sheng sat in the donkey cart, watching Aunt Zhang get smaller and smaller.
She also watched Shili Pu village disappear from sight.
"Don't be sad, Jiang Sheng." Xu Mo lowered his head to comfort her, "Don't cry. I wanted to move you away anyway."
From the broken temple to the county seat, it took more than two hours one way. Wasting two to three hours commuting every day was obviously not cost-effective.
But Jiang Sheng liked the broken temple, so her brothers were willing to sacrifice time for her.
Now that the magistrate of Xieyang County had driven them out, it was actually an opportunity to move.
"Big brother," the usually quiet Wen Zhiyun said in a low voice, "We can live in the medical hall."
Xu Mo shook his head.
They did not choose to stay at the medical hall at first, partly because it was dangerous, and partly because Wen Zhiyun would be upset.
It was not the best choice now either.
Xu Mo looked at Zheng Ruqian and said slowly, "Maybe we can settle in the county seat. It will be more convenient for second brother to deliver vegetables, and also easier for me to go to school."
"Big brother, you decide." Zheng Ruqian knew what Xu Mo meant by looking at him. "The money in the family was not earned by me alone. Everyone has contributed their efforts, and everyone has the right to use it too."
Xu Mo was the big brother. As a younger brother, he was willing to listen to the big brother.
Although they were not related by blood, because of their little sister Jiang Sheng, they had met and from then on, they were family.
Among family, there was no need to stand on ceremony.
Xu Mo's eyes turned red, and his nose felt sour, going straight to his throat.
How virtuous was he, to meet such outstanding and sensible younger siblings.
He had contributed the least, earned the least money, yet spent the most on tuition fees. Xu Mo had always felt guilty.
But at this moment, Xu Mo's heart suddenly steadied. He no longer felt guilty, but told himself that now he was being supported by his younger siblings, and in the future he would be their pillar of strength, to shelter them from wind and rain, and take on everything for them.
"Then let's rent a house in the county seat," Xu Mo said firmly. "This Xieyang County is expelling us now, but in the future they will have to welcome us back."
This was an oath, and also the goal he was striving for.
Zheng Ruqian nodded and drove the donkey cart straight to Xieyang County.
Compared to the simplicity and poverty of the villages, the county seat was much more prosperous and wealthy. Buying a pound of meat cost two cents more than in town, so renting a house was naturally not cheap either.
The children were mentally prepared, but they were still shocked when they heard the price.
"Are you saying this yard costs ten taels of silver a year?" Zheng Ruqian was incredulous. "With ten taels of silver I could build a whole house in the village."
The agent looked disdainful. "Try building one in the county seat. Not to mention this is a big yard. Even the cheapest alley in the west of the city would cost twenty taels to build a room."
Zheng Ruqian took a deep breath.
"Do you want it or not? This is a rare big yard, a full four rooms. If you think it's too expensive, I can find you a one-room place for two taels of silver a year." The agent pointed to the west of the city.
There were divisions between rich and poor in the city, just like divisions between wealthy and impoverished areas.
The east of Xieyang County was mostly inhabited by rich people, and the streets were prosperous and wealthy too. The west was relatively quiet and simple, a little more rustic.
Zheng Ruqian had chosen a location in the middle of the city, which would be convenient for Xu Mo to go to school in the west of the city, and also convenient for him to deliver vegetables to Gaoyuan Residence in the east of the city.
But the price was too high.
Zheng Ruqian bargained with the agent, going back and forth, and finally reduced it by two taels.
After paying a year's rent and depositing two more taels, and signing and stamping the contract, the four-room yard belonged to them.
"I didn't expect it still cost ten taels of silver," Zheng Ruqian sighed as he pushed open the yard gate.
As the wooden door slowly retracted, the quiet little yard standing there, the plum tree in the yard, and the well under the tree, were like a picture being slowly unrolled.
If the village was simple and practical but not very beautiful,
then the small county yard was elegant, tranquil, and full of scholarly aura.
Even Jiang Sheng, who had her head lowered sadly, was stunned. She let go of the cotton mattress she was hugging tightly, looked up at the sky and walked under the plum tree, gently shaking it so that plum blossom petals twirled and fell.
She stroked the solid wooden doors and carved eaves of the red walls and green tiles, the exquisite printed window paper that she had only seen in other people's homes before, now within reach.
Mist rose in Jiang Sheng's eyes and vanished in an instant.
She turned around and looked at her worried brothers, grinning to reveal her teeth. "I really like it here."
What made the broken temple warm was her brothers being there.
Now they were all here, and had an even more beautiful and bigger house. Jiang Sheng had no reason to be sad anymore.
If there was one, it would only be:
"Eight taels of silver is too expensive," the little girl frowned. "We have to earn more in the future to earn back this eight taels."
The brothers relaxed and chuckled.
Zheng Ruqian even thumped his chest, "Leave this to me!"
The rooms were quickly distributed.
Jiang Sheng was a girl, already eight years old, so she could have a room to herself.
Chang Yan and Wen Zhiyun shared a room, Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian shared a room.
The remaining single room was left for Xu Mo, who needed to study with an oil lamp.
There were already pillows, quilts and so on, they just needed to lay them out to use.
The small yard also had a kitchen, with a stove built of yellow mud inside, so now the pots and bowls also had their own room to stay in.
Jiang Sheng's troubles finally completely disappeared, and she sat under the plum tree laughing every day.
The brothers also finally had time to sit down and discuss the future.
"With Pang County Magistrate here, the magistrate of Xieyang County dare not target us without reason." Zheng Ruqian said, "But he won't let us off either. I'm afraid there will be constant sinister plots in the future."
And the kind that would pin all the blame on them while making themselves look innocent.
"Pang County Magistrate can only deter for a while. Ultimately, we still have to strengthen ourselves." Chang Yan tapped his left hand with his right hand. "Money, power, people - we need them all."
Zheng Ruqian thumped his chest, "Leave the money matters to me."
Fang Heng gripped his staff, "Leave the fighting to me."
Wen Zhiyun moved his mouth but did not speak.
Xu Mo stood up, "My teacher said the county exam results will be announced in the next few days."
Although it was just a county exam, being able to get an excellent ranking in the whole county would also be a great help.
Everyone looked forward to it for a while.
Five days later, the county exam results were posted.
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