Village chief Atai said with the simplicity unique to people in the mountains:

"Little brother, don't talk to anyone else. If you have anything to say, just say it."

Although the village chief Atai said so, Lin Zhanqing knew that living in the village was a big burden for him.

He hesitated and didn't dare to speak.

It was Artest who urged:

"My little brother is so hesitant. He really doesn't look like a man."

Lin Zhanqing then spoke:

"I want to stay in the village for a few days."

Artest didn't answer, looking embarrassed.

Lin Zhanqing quickly said:

"I won't live here in vain."

As he spoke, Lin Zhanqing took out a small handful of copper plates from his arms. He counted them out and found exactly ten.

Lin Zhanqing handed ten copper coins to the village chief Atai.

Artest didn't answer, but looked at the ten copper coins and could hardly move his eyes.

Ten copper coins is considered a lot of money to the people in the village.

Especially now when there is no source of income at all.

Village chief Atai looked at the ten copper coins in Lin Zhanqing's hand, thought about it again and again, and finally said:

"The village is having a hard time. I didn't agree to host my little brother before, so I'd like to apologize first."

Lin Zhanqing immediately said:

"It's my fault. It's really inconvenient to live alone in the village."

Artest said:

"The little brother gave me ten coppers. Of course the village has no reason not to welcome him. It's just that it's not easy to arrange where the little brother lives."

Lin Zhanqing said:

"Just any house will do. Even if it's not good enough, I can make do with it in a woodshed or something like that."

Village chief Atai said:

"Little brother, you may not know much about it. Most families in the village have several people crowded into one room. There are not many people who have spare rooms to entertain people. And the families in the village are not used to hosting strangers."

Lin Zhanqing didn't speak any more, but looked at the village chief Atai longingly.

The village chief, Atai, thought for a long time and finally slapped his thigh and said:

"Now that I think about it, we can host our little brothers at her house."

When Lin Zhanqing heard that she could live in the village, her face was filled with joy and she immediately asked:

"Brother Artest, whose family is it?"

Artest said:

"She has a spare room in her house, which is clean and spacious. The only problem is that she is a widow."

…

"Ali, Yingshui, stop washing clothes, guests are coming."

"Village Chief Atai is here. Please sit down at home. Who is this?..."

Ali and Yingshui were washing clothes in their yard. When they saw the village leader Atai, they hurriedly wiped their hands and stood up to say hello to Atai.

Ali is in her twenties, neither tall nor short, and very thin. She is so thin that she can be blown away by a gust of wind.

Ali was dressed in coarse cloth, her face was pretty, and her skin tone was somewhat paler than that of ordinary mountain women.

Yingshui is only seventeen or eighteen years old, which is younger than Han Yuning.

Yingshui is half a head taller than Ali, her appearance is more beautiful and delicate, and her complexion is fairer.

Although it is far from comparable to the ladies in bustling towns who are good at taking care of themselves every day, it is pretty good in this mountain.

However, Yingshui is very thin, even thinner than Ali. Her neck is almost as thin as Yingshui's already slender wrist.

Both Ali and Yingshui are like paper-thin figures.

Ali's man died two years ago. Ali has not remarried and has a five-year-old son by herself.

My unmarried sister Yingshui also came to join Ali the year before last.

Ali, her sister Yingshui and Ali's son are in the village

A hard life.

Ali's house is pretty good. It was built by Ali's man when he was still alive. It has three wooden houses for people to live in and a utility room made of thatch and mud.

But Ali didn't want Lin Zhanqing to live there.

"Brother Artai, I can't let him live in my house."

"Ali, your family is the only one who has a vacant house in our village. At least you can entertain me, and you can stay here for a few days and then leave."

"Brother Atai, I am an orphan and a widower, and Yingshui is not yet married. How can I entertain a grown man at home?"

"Ali, it's outrageous to live in your house, and it's even more outrageous to live in someone else's house."

Ali was choked up at this time. Outsiders can't imagine how difficult a widow's life is.

Village chief Atai saw that Ali was unwilling and was not in a hurry, so he slowly took out eight copper coins from his chest.

It was stuffed into Ali's hand.

Ali looked at the eight copper coins and was very happy.

Artest said:

"I don't live in vain, these eight copper coins are what I gave you. Eight copper coins is not much, but it is still an income. It is difficult for your family to earn eight copper coins now."

Ali didn't want Lin Zhanqing to stay at home at all, but the temptation of these eight copper coins was too great.

You know, Ali only earns a few hundred copper coins after working hard to grow rice for one season.

From two rice crops a year, plus digging some herbs in the mountains, Ali and her sister Yingshui's income could not reach a thousand copper coins throughout the year.

Moreover, it is winter now, the rice harvest is over, and there is no way to dig out herbs. I am afraid that I won’t be able to earn a single copper plate throughout the winter.

Life was already tight, and Ali had not spent money for many days.

At this time, Ali couldn't resist the eight copper coins.

"Okay, Village Chief Atai, let him live in my house. But I don't know what is going on with him as an outsider. What if he has evil intentions?"

Artai leaned over to Ali's ear and whispered:

"If he is up to no good, call someone."

Ali felt relieved and returned to the house.

Lin Zhanqing was sitting on the pony in the house. Ali's sister Yingshui poured Lin Zhanqing a bowl of water to drink.

Few people in the village have tea, and a bowl of water is the best sincerity to entertain guests.

Ali's child was hiding in the back room because he was afraid of strangers.

Seeing Ali and village chief Atai come out, Lin Zhanqing stood up quickly, her eyes full of anticipation.

Lin Zhanqing's eyes are very clear, bright and beautiful eyes that are rare in mountain villages.

Ali and Yingshui saw this look and felt that Lin Zhanqing did not look like a bad person, so they became a little less defensive.

Village chief Atai said to Lin Zhanqing:

"I made an agreement with Ali, and my little brother can stay at Ali's house without worries."

Lin Zhanqing nodded, turned to Ali and Yingshui and said:

"I'm sorry to disturb you. If you need any work, you can call me. I have the strength."

Ali ignored Lin Zhanqing, but smiled softly and said:

"Brother, you're welcome. I'm afraid we don't have anything good to entertain you at home."

Lin Zhanqing quickly said:

"There is no need to entertain me, I will eat whatever you want."

In response, Ying Shui didn't reply, only smiled lightly.

After the village chief Atai finished explaining, he turned around and left.

Ali hurriedly chased out the door and asked:

"Brother Artai, how can I entertain him?"
To be continued...