Eye Heat

Early in the morning, a group of laborers had already gone upstream to intercept the river water and were also digging channels to divert some of it. Currently, the river water was slowly receding, but it couldn't be completely blocked, allowing people to stand in the middle of the river.

They had to first clear the scattered rocks and the undisturbed soil in the river, and then build the embankment.

The county government estimated that it would take about twenty days.

Zhou Sirlang looked at the people on the shore who were moving rocks larger than themselves and clearing the riverbank of garbage and soil. In just one day, bloodstains appeared on his shoulders, but he was still better off than the people in the river.

The people standing in the river not only had to clear the rocks but also had to be careful about slipping. Today, ten people had already fallen, and one of them fell heavily, sitting on the ground unable to get up for a long time.

So Zhou Sirlang didn't dare to complain at all, and Zhou Erlang took the opportunity to scare him, "See, it's a good thing you changed your ways." Otherwise, if you continue gambling, you will be expelled from the family, and you will only be left with the option of doing manual labor outside.

Zhou Sirlang shivered and tearfully asked, "Second brother, why are you scaring me?"

"Not scaring you, just think about it." How many brothers do we have in our family? Can we be like the Da family, gambling away their daughters and sons, and even wanting to sell their wives? "Do you have sons and daughters to sell?" Before leaving, Qian mentioned that upon their return, they would need to arrange a marriage for their fourth son. Therefore, they had to thoroughly frighten Zhou Sirlang to prevent him from causing any disruptions in the family. That's why Zhou Erlang was scaring him like this. "It's impossible to sell your nephews and nieces." Besides you, father and mother have five other sons. "There's no shortage of sons."

Zhou Erlang handed him a steamed bun and gestured for him to look at those people squatting by the riverbank eating dry cakes, unwilling to even buy a bowl of ginger soup. "If you get kicked out, you won't even compare to them." At least they have a home to return to. By then, you will be engaged in strenuous outdoor work, and if you fall ill or become fatigued, you will not be allowed to return home.

Zhou Sirlang cried out, "Second brother, I promise I won't gamble anymore. I only gambled once." Ask the fifth brother if you don't believe me. "I haven't even been to the entrance of the gambling house in the county town during this time."

Zhou Dalang said, "Alright, stop scaring him."

We still have work to do later. Who would work if they were scared?

Zhou Sirlang, feeling wronged, nibbled on the steamed bun and drank the meat soup infused with ginger. The soup had a subtle spicy flavor, causing him to sweat profusely.

Most of the people in the water bought a bowl. They also recognized the value of this item. Some people envied Zhou Sirlang, saying, "Your brothers really care about you, coming here to do business."

Some people couldn't stand it and sneered, "If they really cared, they wouldn't have let him serve." "Wouldn't it be more compassionate to serve in his place?" I say. "Zhou Sirlang, you're not married yet, are you?" "How old are you this year?"

Zhou Sirlang said gloomily, "My family is fair. We take turns to serve." "I'm eighteen."

Someone doubted, "You're already eighteen?" Are you lying about your age?

Zhou Sirlang was upset, "My family has six brothers." Do we need to lie about our age?

Some families would falsify their child's age by adding two years to it in order to acquire a plot of land more quickly. By doing this, they could acquire a plot of land at sixteen. But they forgot that becoming a laborer not only required serving but also entailed the possibility of being conscripted, so there were few people who actually did this.

The Zhou family did not lack male laborers or plots of land, so there was no need to lie about their age.

It was said that Zhou Sirlang had become a laborer this year, and someone's heart stirred, asking, "Have you gotten married?"

Zhou Sirlang blushed and said, "Not yet."

Someone laughed and said, "Since you've become a laborer, you should get married." Has your family arranged a marriage for you?

Someone else said sarcastically, "It's not easy for a family with so many brothers to arrange a marriage." "Now that you're married, it will cost at least four or five taels, right?"

"Haven't you seen the brothers doing business?" "The family won't be short of money." These days, watching Zhou Dalang and the others' business gradually improve, today even the vegetables were sold out. Five coins for two scoops, three coins for one scoop, and many people bought them to eat.

Although they didn't know the cost, the cabbage and radishes were grown at home, and the meat shouldn't cost much.

Many people didn't say it out loud, but they felt like they were burning inside, especially the residents of Jiangding Village who couldn't wait to return home and share the news with their families.

But they were being watched by the yamen, and unless it was the half-day rest every ten days, they couldn't leave without permission. Once they left the camp, it would be considered desertion, which could have disastrous consequences.

Zhou Sirlang kept his head down and remained silent.

Everyone knew that he hadn't gotten married, so the people who brought up the topic squatted next to him and patted his shoulder, laughing, "You're not young anymore; you should get married." I have a sister who is fifteen years old this year, and she looks good. I'll let you meet her later.

Zhou Sirlang said gloomily, "My marriage has to be decided by my mother. Big brother, it's no use asking me."

"How is it of no use?" It's your marriage. Shouldn't your mother ask what type of girl you like?

Zhou Sirlang didn't say anything. His mother had asked him what kind of girl he liked last spring, just a few months after he turned sixteen. Of course, he liked pretty girls.

Then his mother told him to work hard. She promised that if he did well during the spring planting and autumn harvest, she would arrange a marriage for him. Last year, he worked hard, and during the autumn harvest, he was even grouped with his third brother.

But then he got carried away and gambled, and the marriage was called off.

Originally, he should have gotten married last year and should have been married before the New Year. Several of his brothers got married at the age of seventeen.

Ah, the family still had to build a house, and he didn't know how many years it would take to save enough money to marry a wife. At this moment, Zhou Sirlang was truly sad, feeling like he was heading towards becoming an old bachelor.

In the countryside, women were also selective about men. For example, if you were over twenty, you were considered an old bachelor and generally not very popular.

Zhou Sirlang, who had spent a lot of time with his buddies, pondered the plight of the young bachelors in the village who could not afford to marry, and he felt a sense of crisis.

This sense of crisis lasted for several days because almost every day someone asked him, "Zhou, what kind of girl do you like?"

"Zhou, in the future, will you listen to your wife or your mother?"

It's no wonder everyone always teased him because among the laborers, he was the only one who hadn't gotten married. There were even people who directly discussed marriage with Zhou Dalang and Zhou Erlang, either recommending their own sisters or suggesting their own daughters.

Zhou Sirlang suddenly became a popular figure, but he didn't feel happy at all.

The feeling of depression peaked when Manbao came to see him.

Because Manbao brought him a piece of candy, emphasizing, "Fourth brother, this is a wedding candy from Daliang's nephew." He is getting engaged and will be married before the New Year. "He said to let you share in his happiness."

Zhou Sirlang: ...

Daliang was Zhou Sirlang's buddy, commonly known as a good friend. Of course, his status was lower. He was the one who started working as a laborer with Zhou Sirlang this year. This year, his uncle came to visit, so he stayed at home to prepare for his wedding.