Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
Zhuâerâs words stunned Liu Shi for a long time.
âZhuâer, who taught you these words?â
âNo one taught me. Everyone does this.â
Liu Shi was a little worried. âMother seems to have dragged the family down.â
Her ability was not outstanding, and her thinking was limited. How could she support Ah Yu like this?
The Wang family members had long grown accustomed to mutual consideration, with family as the baseline. New daughters-in-law entering the family had their conduct assessed in advance. Even if they came with their own ideas and personalities, upon joining the Wang family, they quickly adapted to this comfortable way of life.
On the surface, the entire Wang Familyâs team was becoming larger and larger, but it did not affect the harmony of the Wang Family.
Perhaps itâs because they have elders to care for and younger generations to groom.
Old Madam Wangâs mantra had now become, âWhatâs wrong with this? Is it worth making a fuss over?â
Ah Yuâs catchphrase was, âWhat are your wishes? I can work hard to help you fulfill them!â
With these two stabilizing forces, the Wang Family always had to think before they encountered anything. Is this matter really that important? Will this matter affect the relationship between our family? Is there really a need for me to fuss about it? Can 1 complete it myself? Who in our family can help me? Who can I help?n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
Among the Wang Family, Wang Chuanfuâs family was in the village. With Old Master Hu, Teacher Luo, and the others holding down the fort, the Wang Family had already become a large family in the surrounding villages. Not to mention Wang Chuanfu, even Madam Feng had nothing to say.
Chuanguiâs family could be considered to have grown the fastest. Madam Ma was originally an ordinary woman who listened to her mother-in-law and stayed faithfully by her husbandâs side.
Later on, when she found out that the daughter of the county governorâs family was going to marry into her family, in order to not let her son be looked down upon, Madam Ma also learned a lot of etiquette and upbringing. She learned very quickly. Now, when she spoke to the families of those officials, she was no longer as restrained as before.
There was even less of a need to talk about Wang Chuanyuanâs family. Businessmen needed sharp tongues, flexible thinking, and the ability to adapt to situations.
They had managed the restaurants in Nanhe Town well, and the name of the Wang Family Steamed Bun Shop had long spread throughout Great Chang.
The two of them held the recipe Ah Yu had given them and studied one or two new dishes from time to time. With the reputation of the Wang Family of Hu Family Village behind them, the business was booming.
However, the couple did not have any big ambitions. They only wanted to stay in Nanhe Town and get closer to their eldest brotherâs family so that the others in the family would look more rustic when they returned.
On the other hand, Wang Chuanman, the youngest son, was still running around two years ago. In the past two years, he had been studying the farmstead and mulberry fields. Most of the people who interacted with him were local rich businessmen and influential people. Those people knew that the Wang Familyâs future was limitless, so they tried to please Wang Chuanman, causing him to have no room to use many of his techniques.
Liu Shi had been a female teacher for the past few years. Originally, she was just playing with the children. Now, she had also learned some knowledge, but it wasnât at a very high level. At most, she could only utilize them in the nursery.
Thinking of this, Liu Shi simply put on her clothes again and stood up to walk out.
Zhuâer asked from behind, âMother, where are you going now? Big Sister is probably already asleep.â
âGo to sleep. Iâm going to the study to read.â She was not reading the four books and five scriptures, but the management methods of the bookstore and the Academy. These were all good books that she had exchanged for with great effort. They had never been circulated in the market.
She had already decided on the location of the nursery hall. Why donât she confirm everything before this winter? When the nursery hall opened, she would officially have a career in Wanning City. In the future, if Ah Yu encountered any difficulties, she could help more than just verbally.
If she ventured more outside, her mind and thoughts would broaden and she wouldnât be inferior to even Zhuâer in terms of perspective.
This reading session lasted for four hours. It was only when Liu Shi felt her back ache that she rubbed her neck and returned to her room to rest.
At this moment, Ah Yu had just woken up. She put on her clothes and came to the courtyard. She looked at the beam and said, âItâs only midnight. Why are you up?â
A person jumped down from the beam. It was none other than Hua Rou.
She sighed, âDonât even mention it. An unexpected guest arrived at our estate today, and it left our entire family in a bad mood. 1 was so angry that 1 couldnât sleep most of the night. After thinking it over, it seems like the only place in the whole city of Wanning where I can find solace is here with you.â
âDonât you have a handkerchief exchange? Iâve noticed that the young ladies from those noble families have quite a few handkerchief exchanges. Growing up together, their bond is not to be underestimated. When faced with troubles, they can confide in each other.â
Hua Rou widened her eyes, âWhat do you mean by that? Iâve never looked down on you for being younger. Why would you say Iâm not your âhandkerchief exchangeâ? You get along well with my husbandâs siblings, so whatâs the matter? Youâre not happy to have me as your Big Sister?â
âItâs not that, but thereâs a saying that goes, the more similar in age, the more you can connect. Iâm afraid if you say things I canât relate to, I wonât be able to offer you comfort.â
âThatâs not important, you just need to listen. And why would you make fun of me? Itâs not that I donât have a âhandkerchief confidant,â itâs just that I feel the young ladies in this city are all delicate as can be. Iâm afraid I might make their heads spin with just my voice. But youâre different. I see you as tough and resolute. Besides, so what if I donât have a hankerchief confidant? Do you have one?â
Before formally accepting Ah Yu, Hua Rou had investigated her. Their Wang family seemed to have suddenly arrived in Wanning City, without any roots whatsoever. Apart from a few older brothers who had passed the imperial examination and an unmarried fiance from Duke Yong Manor, they had no other sources of support.
Speaking of which, in the eyes of people like them, such a family was completely without foundation. Not to mention the brothers who took the Imperial Examination, even for the Uncle who had already taken up position as a Governor, one would not even need a month to make their family fall to the bottom if they offended someone with a solid foundation in Wanning City.
With this thought, Hua Rou felt much better. She was not rushing to be friends. She was here to be a backer. How could she say that about her backer?
Do you still want to rely on me?
âI have one,â Ah Yu said. âI have a few handkerchief confidants, but theyâre not here. Theyâre in Nanhe Town. One is Liuâer. She wasnât in good health in the past, so her mother didnât let her go on a long trip. Otherwise, I would have brought her along when we traveled previously. The other is Big Sister Wenwen. Sheâs only a few years older than me. Her parents opened a medicine hall at Benevolent Fragrance Workshop. Sheâll come during the new year festival this year. Iâll introduce her to you then.â
Hua Rou choked when she heard that. This little girl really had one?
She coughed. âHmph, whatâs the big deal? Itâs just two. Moreover, theyâre both separated. In less than two years, theyâll have a new handkerchief confidant. Yours will be useless.â
âTwo is enough. Itâs already a blessing to have a confidant in life, let alone two,â Ah Yu said. âSister-in-law Hua Rou, youâve misunderstood!â
ââ¦â Why did she look for All Yu in the beginning?