northernbook Chapter 463 Going to the City to Do Business
Chapter 463 Going to the City to Do Business
Then, he turned his gaze to his sister-in-law Cuihua who was lying on the chair. The expression on Cuihua's face was also incomprehensible to him, like an unreasonable madman.
Cuihua narrowed her eyes slightly, looked at Dagui with interest, and slowly asked, "Would you like to go to the new school in the village to learn to read?"
Dagui's face was filled with confusion when he heard this. When was the village going to open a school? Learning to read? Who was going to go? Was he supposed to go? Didn't he have so much to do at home? Why not let his brothers go? A series of questions swirled in his mind.
Tian Guilan looked at Dagui, who was confused and reluctant to express his opinion, and became extremely anxious. She reached out and pinched his arm hard, cursing in her heart: This brat, he is only paying twenty cents a month for salary, and he is still hesitating!
Dagui felt pain, as if pricked by a needle, and yelled out reflexively, "I want to go!"
"Okay then, let your mother take you to register." Cuihua said, and slowly counted out twenty copper coins from her purse and handed them to Dagui.
Her eyes glared, and her tone suddenly became stern: "But let me be frank, if you don't study hard in school, don't blame me for using family rules to punish you when you come back!"
Tian Guilan stared at Cuihua with eyes wide open, her face full of disbelief. She never expected that this daughter-in-law who was usually as aggressive as a madman would take out the money so easily.
He was stunned for a long moment, then silently reached out to take the money. If he had known it was so easy, he should have said that he wanted to go to school. Then he wouldn't have to work all day. He was so stupid that he let Dagui get the money for nothing.
Beneath the old locust tree, the crowd gradually dispersed. The villagers were all pondering the same question: which of their children should they send to the village's new school? Of course, they had to go, but the question of whether to choose the brightest child or just send all the children was a matter of discussion at home.
Xiuying finished her work in the village and walked briskly back home. As soon as she entered the yard, she saw Dongmei methodically packing the things she would need for the next day's departure.
"Dongmei." Xiuying called softly.
"Madam." Dongmei quickly stopped what she was doing, bowed respectfully and responded.
Xiuying nodded slightly and said seriously, "Dongmei, you will always follow the eldest lady from now on. If the eldest lady marries into the Chen family in the future, you will be her maid. So, this time when you accompany the young lady to the city, you must pay attention to everything. Not only must you take good care of the young lady, but you must also keep an eye on Awang's every move. If there is any disturbance, be sure to report back in time."
"Yes, ma'am." Dongmei responded crisply with a firm expression, loyalty in her eyes.
After carefully explaining the matter to Dongmei, Xiuying turned and walked to Taohua's room. She gently opened the door and saw Taohua packing her luggage.
"Mom, you're here." Taohua noticed the movement, raised her head, and a sweet smile appeared on her face, but there was a hint of reluctance in her eyes.
"Yeah." Xiuying replied softly, her eyes falling gently on her daughter, and she said with concern, "Bring some more clothes with you. If you feel uncomfortable outside, tell your mother and come back anytime."
"Mom, I really have to leave, but I still can't bear to let her go." Taohua stopped what she was doing, her eyes slightly red, and her voice was choked with sobs.
The peach blossom eyes threw themselves into Xiuying's warm arms, like a baby bird longing for its nest.
Xiuying gently embraced her daughter, raised her hand and gently stroked her hair, saying earnestly, "Taohua, when you go out with Awang this time, you must be more careful about everything. Although you have already been engaged, between men and women, you still have to maintain the proper boundaries and must not cross the line. Do you understand what I mean?"
Taohua's cheeks flushed red as a ripe apple when she heard this. She naturally understood that her mother was subtly reminding her not to get too close to Awang.
She nodded slightly, and said shyly, "Mother, I understand everything you have to say, so don't worry. I have always been chaste and know what I should and shouldn't do."
Xiuying's eyes were filled with relief when she heard this. She nodded gently and said, "Mother has always believed in you. From now on, Dongmei will be your personal maid. This girl is meticulous and has learned the rules of the mansion very well. With her by your side, mother can rest assured."
Taohua looked at Xiuying gratefully and said softly, "Thank you, mother, for worrying so much about your daughter."
Xiuying smiled and carefully pulled out a book from her wide sleeves. She handed it to Taohua and said, "Taohua, this is a book about making pastries. It details the steps for making various pastries and is accompanied by realistic illustrations. You must study it carefully after you take it out."
Taohua took the book curiously and flipped open the pages. Her eyes were instantly attracted by the colorful pictures. She couldn't help but exclaimed, "Mom, the cakes and pastries in the pictures look just like the real ones right in front of me. They are so lifelike!"
Xiuying's expression grew serious as she earnestly instructed, "This book was bought from a treasure trove. It's extremely valuable. You must keep it safe and don't let anyone else see it. It could cause serious harm."
The book Xiuying gave Taohua is a colorful picture book, which records in detail the unique methods of making various kinds of baba. The steps of making each kind of baba from raw material preparation to shaping are clearly presented in the book.
The next morning, the family had breakfast early, and Xiuying arranged for Wang Dali to drive the carriage to take Taohua, Dongmei and Awang to the provincial capital.
Xiuying and her other daughters stood on the hillside, watching the carriage slowly go away.
Guihua stood close to Xiuying, her eyes full of worry, and asked softly, "Mom, my eldest sister will come back, right?" There was a hint of uneasiness in her voice.
La Mei's eyes were red, and she couldn't help sobbing and said, "Mom, I can't bear to leave my elder sister." She held Xiuying's clothes tightly.
Shi Liu sighed slightly and said, "My eldest sister is already engaged and will be getting married in a year." There was a hint of helplessness in her words.
Xiaoliu blinked her big watery eyes and asked innocently, "Can't I come back after I get married?" In her simple understanding, she didn't quite understand what getting married meant.
The seventh sister said bluntly: "Then don't get married. Isn't it good for us sisters to be together?"
Xiuying looked at her daughters' faces, each filled with reluctance, and a tenderness welled up in her heart. These seven little ones had never been separated since they were born.
Xiuying wore a gentle smile on her face and said softly, "Don't worry. After your eldest sister has settled everything in the city, you can go visit her."
The sixth and seventh brothers were still immersed in the sadness of separation from their eldest sister, but when they heard this, they jumped three feet high with excitement.