CHAPTER 164: CHAPTER 164: SOMETHING SEEMS OFF

Jiang Hu paused as he was about to enter the house for dinner, took the envelope, opened it, and was instantly stunned.

"A deed?"

Liu Zhi nodded while continuing to eat heartily, "Yeah, when Uncle found out you hadn’t processed the deed yet, he asked someone to help you with it. See, your name is on the signature line."

Jiang Hu saw it.

He originally planned to process the deed once the house was completed; he didn’t expect Uncle Liu had already sorted it out for him.

Jiang Hu was both surprised and delighted, "Too much trouble for Uncle Liu,"

Getting the deed isn’t hard, but it saved him a lot of hassle, especially given how busy the family has been lately.

Liu Zhi waved his hand, "I’m heading back. You all have your meal first."

Jiang Hu cheerfully showed the deed to Eryang. Strictly speaking, this was their first time owning a property deed.

Before coming to Fu’an Village, the deed was in their parents’ hands.

Since settling in Fu’an Village, they only had a land deed, but no property deed.

After all, they haven’t been settled for long; the government probably has other priorities, and apart from new houses, most old houses haven’t had deeds processed yet.

Eryang gently rubbed the deed in her hands repeatedly, unable to hide her joy.

"That’s great; this is our own house now."

A sense of calm and stability they had never felt before; at this moment, they were completely settled in Fu’an Village.

"Mom, can I take a look?"

Xiao Mi was tiptoeing beside, having never seen what a deed looked like.

Beside her, Xiao Xue was equally curious, while only Tie Dan didn’t quite understand.

Eryang bent down quickly and placed the deed in front of the two sisters.

A piece of paper, slightly yellowed but seemingly new, perhaps just the paper’s natural color.

It detailed the house’s structure, style, and size, with Jiang Hu’s signature at the end.

"So this is a deed." Xiao Mi was both curious and amazed.

Eryang carefully put the deed back into the envelope and handed it back to Jiang Hu.

"Yes, this is a deed. With this, we can stay in the new house forever."

No longer needing to worry about living arrangements.

Though they’ve been living in the house, without a deed, it wasn’t quite as reassuring.

That’s why, in recent years, anyone with some savings in the village has built their own houses, given that new house deeds are processed quickly.

"You all eat first; I’ll go put this away."

Usually mature and composed, Jiang Hu was now elated beyond measure.

Even while eating, Jiang Hu’s smile never left his face.

The joyful and bustling harvest lasted for more than half a month, with every household beaming with smiles.

Every household set aside some rice separately, including the Jiang household.

"These will be next year’s rice seeds, stored after paying the grain tax, and the rest sold off."

Jiang Hu patted two large sacks beside him, containing pristine rice with no husks.

These two bags were handpicked last year for their more abundant growth, larger grains, and higher yields!

Last year, they only harvested a few kilos, but luckily planted over half an acre this year with those seeds.

Despite being just half an acre, they harvested over three hundred kilos from this plot!

Jiang Hu was amazed by this discovery, but couldn’t help murmuring.

"After learning from corn and sorghum’s previous experiences, many will definitely come again to trade for rice this year. Come next year, Inspector Xie might even visit again. Er Niang, remember to set aside our seeds early after paying the grain tax."

For the three acres of paddy fields, an estimated thirty kilos of seeds are needed, so better reserve fifty kilos just in case.

Er Niang was holding a large broom, sweeping the husks just separated onto a pile.

The corn and sorghum once piled in Liu Ze’s room had long been cleared, with the remaining grains moved by Jiang Hu into the storeroom.

Piled high on the grass heap, with Xiao Hei and Xiao Mi at home, there was no worry about mice or pests.

As for these, after the grain tax, sell some seeds to the neighboring villages, keeping the remainder.

He casually hoisted a large sack, carried it inside, and put it down. These two bags were marked especially, to avoid mix-ups when paying the grain tax.

Qi Xi had been working a lot recently, gaining more strength. Imitating Jiang Hu’s moves, though not as smooth, he could hoist a big sack now too.

Liu Ze wanted to help as well but after trying, ended up putting it down red-faced.

Let alone carrying a sack of grain, he couldn’t even drag it.

"Miss Xiao Xue, where’s Xiao Mi? Why is she missing again?" Xiao Mi has been vanishing suddenly these past few days.

Xiao Xue was helping her mother sweep the floor, without lifting her head she replied, "Xiao Mi said the turtle eggs should hatch these days; she’s watching them every day."

Liu Ze was surprised, "I almost forgot about that."

He thought for a moment, "Now that you mention it, turtle eggs hatch in about forty to fifty days, but I never told her, how did Xiao Mi know?"

Xiao Xue wasn’t surprised at all, "Xiao Mi is so smart, she definitely figured it out herself."

Xiao Xue was right, Xiao Mi indeed was checking on the turtle eggs.

Xiao Mi didn’t figure it out on her own; she read it in a book.

The turtle eggs were about to hatch; because the climate in the space was appropriate, she noticed movement when she went to sleep last night, and by the time she checked this morning, only shells were left.

By noon, she remembered the turtle eggs under the bed and hurried back to her room to check after finishing her chores.

With slight movements, Xiao Mi exclaimed, "It’s moving! The turtle egg is moving!"

Xiao Mi’s voice carried outside, and soon Xiao Xue, Liu Ze, and Tie Dan came over.

"Xiao Mi, have the turtle eggs hatched?"

Xiao Xue was the first to rush in, Liu Ze stood at the doorway of the sisters’ small room, craning his neck to look but stepping no further.

Only Tie Dan, knowing nothing, stuck his head in, squeezing between the two sisters.

"Sister, what egg has hatched? Is it a little tortoise?"

Just as he spoke, Xiao Xue knocked his forehead, "Not a little tortoise, it’s a turtle."

Standing at the door, Liu Ze couldn’t help but chuckle, "Miss Xiao Xue, a turtle is also called a tortoise, that’s accurate."

However, Xiao Xue seriously and solemnly looked at him, "It’s different, ’tortoise’ is a curse word, it’s insulting, can’t say it."

Liu Ze was taken aback, then earnestly nodded, "Alright, I understand Miss Xiao Xue."

Xiao Xue looked satisfied, just like when she educated Tie Dan who responded obediently.

Xiao Mi looked at her second sister, then at Liu Ze, feeling that something seemed off?