School was over at noon, and Xiang Maozi and Xin Mao came back hand in hand.

　　Mengtong's schoolwork is not particularly heavy. They study in the school in the morning, go home for lunch at noon, and review and help with work at home in the afternoon. Most children do not have this self-discipline and do not have to go to school in the afternoon. They often have dinner and then run around and play around the town.

　　So the Xin family met in the kitchen of Sixian Building at noon.

　　Mrs. Xin wanted to ask Xiang Maozi if she had been holding back her stomach.

　　When Xiangmaozi came back, she didn't even bother to eat. She took Xiangmaozi to the corner and asked her what happened in the town these days.

　　Xiangmaozi didn't know why her stepmother was having such a fit, so she asked her why.

　　The stepmother said, "Why do everyone in this town look so nice to you? What have you done these days, you damn girl?!"

　　Lemongrass Zixin said: There are many things to do, but this thing can tell you.

　　So she started talking about Xin Mao's illness. She had been asked about this matter many times, so she was very familiar with it. It started with how Xiangmaozi discussed with Chunyu to find medicine, how he walked through Sun Fuhu's courtyard full of coffins, how he climbed a tree and climbed over a wall, how he was almost noticed by the soldiers, and finally how he devoured people like a big wolf under the moonlight night. The rat fights and finally meets the immortal. Of course, Xiangmaozi didn't say anything about the Ascension Order.

　　In fact, Xiangmaozi's narration is still dry. She is not a person who likes to exaggerate and tell. However, she has indeed been asked to tell this story several times by many people. Practice makes perfect. Secondly, Mrs. Xin became confused when she cared about her. She was very careful and activated her powerful brain supplement system, which actually made her break out in a cold sweat.

　　"Oh my God!" Lady Xin said in her heart.

　　If there were no immortals, if there were no citronella seeds, her Xin Mao would be gone now!

　　No longer able to live happily, he threw himself into her arms sweetly and called her mother!

　　Rarely, Mrs. Xin's eyes were red. She reached out and rubbed Xiangmaozi's hair, and said harmoniously, "Thanks to you!"

　　Xiangmaozi really didn't take it seriously. She didn't do it for Mrs. Xin. She didn't care whether she thanked her or not. But being treated so pleasantly by Madam Xin was quite new.

　　Madam Xin said softly, "You have made great contributions to the old Xin family. Now the whole family has to thank you. What happened next? What happened after you came back with the elixir?"

　　Lemongrass said, "Later, I followed the instructions of the immortal and divided the elixir among everyone when I came back. Everyone has it, so now there is not a single patient infected by the epidemic in Huangshi Town!"

　　Madam Xin looked at Xiangmaozi in disbelief, "What?! You said all the elixir was given to the people in Huangshi Town? Didn't you keep any of it?"

　　Xiangmaozi shook his head, "I didn't stay."

　　Madam Xin's expression changed again, "Then, didn't you say what you wanted?"

　　Xiangmaozi asked her stepmother strangely, "What do you want?"

　　Of course Mrs. Xin was referring to things like money, but she couldn't say it too bluntly. She endured it again and again, but she still couldn't hold it back. She stabbed Xiangmaozi's forehead with her finger, "Damn girl, stupid stupid stupid stupid girl." Yes. This is an opportunity given to you by the immortal, why did you just shake your head and let it go!"

　　Seeing the pain on her stepmother's face, Xiangmaozi thought for a moment and comforted her, "That was indeed the chance for me to meet an immortal, but was that opportunity really just for me? You Think about it, if the immortals didn’t know that all the people in Huangshi Town were sick, could they give me elixirs and talismans? How could I be so brave and think that this immortal fate is for me? It’s like someone entrusting you to give it to the people in the village. You did help by bringing something, but the thing was not meant for you in the first place!"

　　The stepmother choked on the lemongrass seeds and had nothing to say. She could only mutter dissatisfiedly, "Then we should leave more. I don't think you are thinking about your father and me!"

　　Lemongrass has nothing to say about this. She actually kept some of it, but the soldiers went to embarrass the mayor for the second time. In order to solve the mayor's crisis, Xiangmaozi had to donate all the elixir.

　　But she didn't plan to tell her stepmother about this. Firstly, the elixir was indeed gone, and it would be useless to tell her. It would only add to her troubles. Secondly, the stepmother was particularly concerned about it. If she told her to rescue the mayor and his family, There's no telling what trouble she's going to cause again.

　　Similar things have happened before. In the past, in the village, Xiangmaozi once took his friends to catch fish in the back mountain. As a result, a huge sturgeon washed down from nowhere that day. Xiangmaozi was bold and good at water. She first held back a small dam and then asked her friends to divide into two groups to use long branches to drive the fish away and drive the sturgeons into the dam.

　　Xiangmaozi went into the water and dealt with the fish for a long time before picking the fish's gills with water plants and pulling it ashore.

　　During the process of catching the fish, everyone worked hard, but Zi Wan was too focused on catching the fish and knocked her leg on a stone, causing a lot of blood. His clothes were torn and he was crying.

　　Xiangmaozi contributed the most. She waved her little hand and said that it was not easy to divide the fish, so she should take them all back to Ziyuan. After hearing this, Zi Yuan burst into laughter and took the big fish home to cook for her mother.

　　When Xiangmaozi came home in the evening, Xin Mao was too talkative and told his stepmother that Xiangmaozi had gone into the water and caught a big fish.

　　The stepmother searched around the house and found no fish, so she asked where the lemongrass fish had gone. !

　　Xiangmao Zixin said: Last time Xin Mao ate fish and got stuck by a thorn, didn't you say that no fish will be eaten at home in the future?

　　She couldn't bear to ask, so she could only tell Zi Wan the truth. As a result, the stepmother heard this and scolded her for being stupid. She immediately went to Zi Wan's house and came back with half a fish from the pot.

　　This incident resulted in the two families not speaking to each other for more than half a year.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

　　Every time Aster comes out to play with Citronella, she does it secretly, like a thief.

　　With this experience, Xiang Maozi did not dare to talk to her stepmother. If her stepmother went to the mayor's house and asked for half of the property, it would be a question of whether she could continue to live in Huangshi Town, not to mention whether she would be humiliated or not.

　　Therefore, Lemongrass insisted, "There are too many people and few medicines, so there is no need to stay!"

　　As soon as she thanked Xiangmaozi, Mrs. Xin couldn't help but immediately turned against her and beat her. She could only squeeze her ears tightly and twist them hard in anger.

　　The two of them talked for a long time, but Xin Mao couldn't bear it any longer and complained that he was hungry.

　　The stepmother was not willing to starve her beloved one, so she immediately let go of the lemongrass seeds and started setting out the meal.

　　For lunch, I had white rice, scrambled eggs with Chinese toon, and a vegetable soup of salted radish and spring sprouts. A small bowl full of yellow sauce, accompanied by fresh radish leaves.

　　For wealthy people, these meals are really bland and plain.

　　But for Xiangmaozi's family, there is rice, vegetables, meat (scrambled eggs), and soup! It was one of the few times in my life when I ate so well.

　　Several people ate everything in the bowl and plate, and stopped when they couldn't even see a vegetable leaf.

　　After dinner, Lemongrass went to wash the dishes.

　　Lady Xin said to Xin Lang, "Dad, this is a blessing in disguise for us! How could we eat so well in the village in the past? If we could eat so well every time, we would die in peace."

　　Xin Wang felt that what she said was silly. Now that the family had moved to the town, could they still live their lives? In front of his children, he couldn't express anything. He just reached out to hold Mrs. Xin's hand and squeezed it hard. He tightened his grip and let go.

　　Madam Xin's heart seemed to be blooming with joy. She turned around and asked, "Da Mao, how are you doing in school today?"

　　It was okay for her not to ask. When she asked Xin Mao, he remembered what happened in class today and curled his lips, "Mom, I won't go to class tomorrow. You can let my sister go by herself!"

　　Both Xin Wang and Lady Xin looked at Xin Mao in surprise. Lady Xin kept asking, "What's wrong? Is someone bullying you? Why doesn't your sister protect you?"

　　Xin Mao threw himself into Lady Xin's arms and rolled in her arms like a candy. "It's not a classmate anymore, it's a gentleman! The gentleman hit my palm with a wooden board."

　　Seeing that the husband was slapping his palms, both of them had nothing to say.

　　Mrs. Xin then asked, "Why did you hit your palm, sir?"

　　Xin Mao twisted even more, and after a long while he said, "Sir asked me to pronounce the words, but I can't pronounce them."

　　Madam Xin was surprised, "Didn't Mr. teach you this? How come you can't read it?"

　　Xin Mao said angrily, "Sir, I just recited it once yesterday. Everyone went to the mayor's house to watch the fun. How could he recite it?"

　　After hearing this, Mrs. Xin thought it made sense, so she touched Xin Mao's head and said, "Yesterday I only said it once, so you won't get beaten. Today, Mr. Xin must have said it repeatedly. If you learn it, he won't beat you." ”

　　Xin Mao shook his head, "No, sir, he spoke so fast today that I can't even remember it. I will definitely get beaten again tomorrow. I don't want to study. Studying is too hard."

　　How could Mrs. Xin agree? Even though Xin Mao was rolling in his arms, she still refused to let go and forced him to continue going to school tomorrow.

　　"Look, your sister didn't even say no, so you should just go with her. She is older than you and has a weak brain. My husband will beat her first tomorrow!" Mrs. Xin coaxed Xin Mao.

　　Unexpectedly, Xin Mao jumped up and said, "No! Sir, you don't want to hit my sister! He only hits me."

　　Madam Xin was surprised, "Mr. didn't you take the test on your sister? He only took the test on you?"

　　Xin Mao hesitated for a long time before saying, "I passed the exam. But, my sister can do it. Oh, don't ask, sir, I won't hit her anyway."

　　At this time, both Xin Lang and Lady Xin understood. Mr. Qingqing taught him the same thing, but Xiangmaozi learned it all, but Xin Mao couldn't remember it and had to be beaten by Mr. Qingqing, so he didn't like going to school.

　　Now, even Mrs. Xin no longer protected Xin Mao. She patted Xin Mao twice and said, "Don't talk nonsense. Your sister can learn it. Why can't you learn it?! I think you are just lazy." Don't go play later, endorse it at home quickly, be careful that Mr. will beat you tomorrow."

　　After hearing this, Xin Mao felt very hopeless and simply opened his mouth and howled loudly.

　　At this time, Xiangmaozi had finished washing the dishes, changed into work clothes, and planned to go to the front to help Chunyu work. By the way, she was still thinking about the assessment in Fucheng on June 15th. She didn't know how to talk to her parents, so she could only go around and find out the route first.

　　On the road from Yexi Village to Huangshi Town, Xiangmaozi felt that the most useful thing was reliable route guidance. If you know clearly how to walk, where to turn and stop, and how long you need to walk, you will naturally have an idea in your mind, and the more you walk, the more you will feel at ease. This time, she had to find out the route in advance.

　　She came back with dishes and chopsticks.

　　Seeing her neat appearance, Mrs. Xin asked, "What are you going to do?"

　　Xiangmaozi replied, "I'm going to help the shopkeeper and Chunyu. We have trouble with others."

　　Xiangmaozi has long figured out the temper of her stepmother. If you tell her directly to help others, she will definitely talk about you and refuse to let you go. But if you say that you owe someone a favor, she will probably let go of you in the future.

　　If this reason were in the past, Mrs. Xin would also specifically agree to let Xiangmaozi help. They were new here and could establish a good relationship with the landowners. From now on, there would be more room for mutual accommodation.

　　But not today. Madam Xin heard that Xin Mao couldn't keep up with his studies. This matter had now become a major concern in her mind, "Why are you flapping around like a blind bird all day long?! Your brother is not keeping up with his studies now. He can't do it! You still have the heart to run away, let me tell you, the future leader of the family is counting on him, why don't you hurry up and give your brother extra lessons. If my husband slaps his palm again tomorrow, I will give you double the slap!"

　　Carrying the lemongrass seeds, he spread out the paper on the small dining table in the corridor and asked her to read the words to Xin Mao.

　　Xiang Maozi saw that her stepmother's stubborn tendons were aggravated again because of Xin Mao, so she could only sigh and sit down at the table honestly, "Well, on weekdays, I have to help the kitchen wash dishes and vegetables. There are so few people to do the work. It won’t open.”

　　Mrs. Xin thought about it for a while, shopkeeper Chen had just done them such a big favor, so naturally it was hard to get over it. So she said, "Looks like you can do it! I'll do the kitchen stuff, and you can teach Xin Mao here! Remember, if he still can't figure it out, be careful!"

　　Then Mrs. Xin discussed the division of labor with Xin Lang. In the afternoon, Xiangmaozi and Xin Mao reviewed their homework at home. She went to the kitchen to help, and Xin Lang went to the new house to clean up.

　　The division of labor was quickly settled, and Mrs. Xin went to work in the kitchen with great enthusiasm.

　　In the corridor, Xiangmaozi sighed, holding his arms around his shoulders, like a big black cat looking at a little mouse, "What on earth can't you do?!"

　　Without his mother by his side, Xin Mao's level of being a monster immediately dropped by several hundred feet. He said nonchalantly, "I, I don't even remember."

　　Xiangmaozi was surprised, "You don't even remember?! The teacher clearly read it to you three times, and also asked you to read it twice. Didn't you read it very well at that time?"

　　Xin Mao became anxious, "I was reading it with my husband. I forgot about it when my husband left. Who can remember it?!"

　　After hearing this, Xiangmaozi was even more surprised, "What?! You have read it twice with my husband and still forget it? Xin Mao, isn't there something wrong with your brain?"

　　Xiang Maozi and Xin Mao have no learning experience at all, and their friends are not familiar with them yet, so they can only compare each other's learning progress. At this moment, Xiangmaozi mistakenly believed that everyone in the world should learn at the same speed as her.

　　After hearing Xiangmaozi's doubts, Xin Mao began to worry that his brain was abnormal. He looked at Xiangmaozi, then looked down at the words that he had completely forgotten, and burst into tears.

　　When Xiangmaozi heard Xin Mao crying, his head suddenly became as big as a bucket!