The news of Xiao Qingming passing the scholar examination was considered a joyful event for the entire village. People came to congratulate him from morning till night without a break. It wasn't until the sky turned dark that the crowd gradually dispersed.
Xiao Dazhu had been feeling suppressed for many years, but now he finally had a sense of pride in the village. He was pleased with the way people looked at him today and the flattering words they said to him. As he sat in his chair, the echoes of their words lingered in his ears, and he couldn't help but burst into laughter.
While he was laughing, he saw his grandson walking towards him, waving his hand.
"Qingming, your grandpa always believed that you would pass the examination. You didn't disappoint my expectations."
Xiao Qingming's eldest uncle also added, "Indeed, father had good insight to see that Qingming would pass. It wasn't in vain that we supported you financially and made sacrifices to ensure you could study."
Xiao San, the third uncle, didn't fall behind and quickly chimed in, "Since my second brother and sister-in-law passed away, my heart has been heavy. Knowing that you loved studying, even if our family had no money, we would find a way to support your education. Fortunately, you've succeeded."
Xiao Qingming's grandmother, Li Shi, had a smile on her face. She glanced at her two sons and then at her eldest grandson. "These years, it's thanks to your grandfather and uncles that they supported you. Now that you've passed the examination, don't forget to repay their kindness."
Li Shi hadn't forgotten how Xiao Qingming had treated her last time, and now she didn't forget to remind him of his obligations.
Zhao Shi and Zhou Shi quickly added a few words, emphasizing their own favors to Xiao Qingming. Now that he had achieved success, they didn't want him to forget them; they expected to receive benefits from him.
Ji Wan'er looked at the expressions of the people in the hall and found the scene absurd. She recalled the past when the family couldn't even have enough food, and she didn't see anyone from the old residence coming over to inquire about them. But when she earned money by selling food, people from the old residence showed up. And now, when Xiao Qingming passed the examination, people from the old residence came again.
They were nowhere to be found when they were at a low point, but now that he had succeeded, he was suddenly remembered by these few people.
However, she wondered what Xiao Qingming thought about all of this.
In ancient times, blood relations were considered more important than anything else. After Xiao Qingming's parents passed away, he and his two siblings had been living in the old residence. From an outsider's perspective, it was true that the old residence had supported them for many years and provided for Xiao Qingming's education.
Although she didn't want to, Ji Wan'er had to admit that it was likely the people from the old residence would also seek some benefits.
With that in mind, Ji Wan'er looked towards Xiao Qingming.
Coincidentally, Xiao Qingming glanced back at her. There was no particular expression on his face; he simply looked at her indifferently.
Ji Wan'er couldn't quite figure out what he was thinking at the moment.
After giving Ji Wan'er a deep look, Xiao Qingming shifted his gaze and looked at Xiao Dazhu, who was seated at the head of the room. "If there is a debt of gratitude, it should naturally be repaid."
Xiao Dazhu was immersed in the joy of his grandson passing the examination, but upon hearing those words, his smile froze on his face. Why did he feel that there was something off in his grandson's statement? It seemed like there was an underlying meaning.
As the others noticed the change in Xiao Dazhu's expression, they gradually understood the implication and turned their gaze to Xiao Qingming, who stood in the center of the room. They saw a dark expression on his face, sharp and piercing, sending a chill down their spines.
Since when did this young man who admits to beating and scolding, transform into this appearance? Although he still had the same silent demeanor and the same appearance as before, he seemed like a different person at a glance.
He had matured, become more composed, and gained some edges that made him sharper.
"What do you mean by that?" Xiao San, the third uncle, couldn't hold back and was the first to speak up.
"Has all the food and money in the family gone into the dogs' bellies?" Zhou Shi couldn't help but blurt out angrily.
Xiao San's words were still within limits, but Zhou Shi directly pointed out Xiao Qingming's intention. She had witnessed Xiao Qingming's transformation before, and recently, she had interacted with Ji Wan'er a few times, so she had a clear understanding of their personalities. At this moment, she had a good idea of what Xiao Qingming was thinking.
"Third daughter-in-law, keep your mouth shut!" Li Shi reprimanded with a stern face.
Although she wanted to say more, Zhou Shi didn't dare to speak again after glancing at Li Shi.
"Qingming, what did you just say?" Li Shi looked at Xiao Dazhu and asked.
"If there is no favor, there is no need to repay it," Xiao Qingming completed the latter half of his sentence. When he spoke, there was no warmth in his voice or his gaze.
The people present were already aware of Xiao Qingming's recent changes. However, some of them had not seen it with their own eyes and couldn't bring themselves to believe it. Now, they finally witnessed it.
Xiao Dazhu's expression turned cold as well.
Xiao San angrily rebuked, "So now that you've passed the examination, you don't want to acknowledge us as your relatives anymore, is that it? Don't forget, who has been supporting you all these years! You ungrateful brat!"
Zhou Shi joined in with a few insults of her own, "Let me tell you, don't even think about it. It was us who raised you three siblings, providing for all your needs under this old residence roof."
Zhao Shi wanted to say something, but seeing that her husband remained silent, she refrained from speaking.
The room was filled with constant arguments, mostly between Xiao San and Zhou Shi, occasionally mixed with Li Shi's voice.
Xiao Qingming remained silent, and Ji Wan'er also didn't speak.
Ji Wan'er could overpower them with her words, but she found these people particularly laughable.
Just a moment ago, she was unsure about Xiao Qingming's current thoughts, but now she had a somewhat solid understanding. It seemed that Xiao Qingming had already prepared himself for this. Judging from his tone, he probably had more to say. She wasn't in a hurry; the real drama was yet to unfold.
Xiao Dabo (the eldest uncle) had been observing Xiao Qingming, who stood in the center of the room. His nephew had truly changed. Although he used to be silent and reserved, not speaking much, it was different from his current state.
There were some things he didn't want to say. Let Xiao San and his wife handle the task of offending others; he wanted to leave a good impression on his eldest nephew.
However, as time passed and Xiao Qingming remained silent, Xiao Dabo's heart grew heavy.
He pondered for a moment and then spoke up.
"Qingming, Uncle knows that you have recently passed the imperial examination and have changed. However, we are your elders, whether you become a scholar or even the top scorer in the future, you must show respect to us," Xiao Dabo said. He paused for a moment and continued, "Your grandparents are still alive, and in our dynasty, filial piety is highly valued. It is an unspoken rule wherever you go."
Upon hearing Xiao Dabo's words, Ji Wan'er glanced at him.
She remembered that Xiao Dabo had also received an education in the past. The words spoken by an educated person and an uneducated person were indeed different. This statement was much more powerful than what the couple from the third household had said.
They were essentially using filial piety as a threat against Xiao Qingming.
"Big brother is right. If you dare to be unfilial to your grandparents, we will go to the county office and appeal to the magistrate," Xiao San proudly declared.
In our dynasty, filial piety is highly valued and deeply ingrained in our marrow. Therefore, even someone as fierce as Zhou Shi appeared cautious in front of Li Shi. Xiao San hadn't thought about this before, but as soon as Xiao Dabo reminded him, he immediately understood.
At this moment, Xiao Dazhu also spoke up, scolding, "All these years of education have gone to waste!"
Xiao Qingming glanced at Xiao Dazhu and lowered his gaze.
Observing the expressions of the people from the old residence, Ji Wan'er felt even more sorry for Xiao Qingming. What kind of relatives had he ended up with?
She cast a glance at Xiao Qingming, who stood beside her. As the sky gradually darkened, there were no oil lamps or candles lit in the room. She could vaguely make out the silhouettes of people, but she couldn't see their expressions clearly.
But she could sense that Xiao Qingming was unhappy at the moment.
However, she didn't want Xiao Qingming to be unhappy.
She lowered her head and looked at the sleeve of Xiao Qingming's robe. Earlier, she could see his hand hanging outside, but now it was no longer visible.
She raised her hand and held onto Xiao Qingming's hand, or more precisely, his tightly clenched fist.
In that moment of being held by Ji Wan'er, Xiao Qingming's fist gradually loosened, and he lowered his gaze to glance at the person beside him.
Ji Wan'er smiled at Xiao Qingming.
Under the wide sleeves, their hands intertwined.
Suddenly, Xiao Qingming felt his previous sadness dissipate.
"Yunshuang, go and bring the oil lamp from my study," he said.
Yunshuang, who was still upset and crying, quickly wiped her tears and went to the study.
The people from the old residence didn't understand Xiao Qingming's intentions, and everyone fell silent, looking at him.
After a short while, Yunshuang returned with the oil lamp, and Xiao Qingming lit it, placing it on the table next to Xiao Dazhu.
"What are you doing?" Li Shi asked.
Xiao Qingming didn't answer that question. Instead, he took out a red piece of paper from his sleeve, which seemed to have some age to it.
"Grandfather, this is the inventory of my mother's dowry. Now that I am married, shouldn't it be handed over to me?" he said.
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire room fell into a deathly silence.
Even though the dim light made it difficult to see, the expressions on the faces of the people in the old residence resembled a palette that had been overturned.
Xiao Dazhu looked at the dowry inventory in front of him, and his hand trembled slightly. He wanted to touch it, but felt that the paper was as hot as a burning coal, so he withdrew his hand. After several hesitant attempts, he couldn't decide whether to touch it or not.
At that moment, he looked up at his eldest grandson standing in front of him.
Seeing the indifferent expression on his grandson's face, Xiao Dazhu suddenly felt a sense of panic. He had thought that he had raised his grandson very well. His grandson only knew how to study and didn't care about anything else. That's how it was when he was a child, and it remained the same as he grew up.
But now, this grandson of his seemed a bit different from the one he had known before.
It turned out that he knew and understood everything, but pretended to be indifferent, pretending not to know.
His second son and second daughter-in-law had passed away several years ago, and his grandson had known about it for several years now. During these years, he had remained silent and had not mentioned anything.
Was he waiting for this day?
The more Xiao Dazhu thought about it, the more frightened he became of his eldest grandson.
Third Uncle didn't think the same way. After a moment of panic, he immediately calmed down and said, "Who knows where you got this piece of paper from? Are you trying to fool us?"
"Yeah, you just randomly bring out this paper and claim it's my sister-in-law's dowry inventory. Can't I also bring out a piece of paper and say it's my dowry inventory?" Zhou Shi began to argue.
Xiao Dazhu was taken aback for a moment. Suddenly, he realized the implications.
Indeed, this dowry inventory was his daughter-in-law's personal item, known to very few people. Moreover, his daughter-in-law had passed away many years ago. Now there was no concrete evidence, and no one could prove its authenticity.
Xiao Dazhu's heart gradually calmed down, and the panic on his face gradually faded away.
Xiao Qingming sensed the change in the atmosphere in the room, but his expression remained unchanged as he asked again, "Grandfather, when will you give it to me?"
Xiao Dazhu became furious when he saw his grandson still being aggressive. This was the attitude of his well-educated grandson. As soon as he became a successful candidate in the imperial examination, he started settling scores with him.
"How dare you speak to your elders like this? Look at what you're doing! Just because you passed the imperial examination, you bring out a random piece of paper and demand things from your elders. I think it would be better if your scholar status is revoked!" Xiao Dazhu exclaimed.
If there was anyone in the Xiao family who was closest to Xiao Qingming, apart from his parents, it was his grandfather. In his childhood, his grandfather taught him how to read and the principles of being a good person. Later, he sent him to study in the school.
He used to think that his grandparents disagreed with the division of the family under pressure from his uncles. But after the division, his grandfather never paid attention to him or cared about him.
The reaction he saw from his grandfather when he showed him the dowry inventory chilled his heart.
"This inventory has been notarized at the county office."
Xiao Dazhu was about to reprimand him again, but upon hearing this, his words got stuck in his throat.
The others present in the room also became uneasy. Xiao San (Third Uncle) accidentally broke the teacup in his hand. Startled by the sound of the teacup hitting the ground, he snapped back to reality.
"Don't think you can fool us! The three of you have enjoyed our hospitality for so many years, and now you want to turn around and bite us?" Xiao San argued.
The atmosphere became slightly more tense.
"Uncle San, you can go to the county office tomorrow and verify if what I said is true," Xiao Qingming said in a cold voice.
As soon as those words were spoken, the room became even colder than before.
After a while, Xiao Dazhu asked in a trembling voice, "What exactly do you want to do?"
"Since we have divided the family, there is no need for further interaction between the two sides," Xiao Qingming said with a stern face.
"In the end, you're just afraid that we'll take advantage of you! Be careful, we might report your disobedience and lack of filial piety to the authorities!" Zhou Shi couldn't hold her tongue.
"Shut up!" Xiao Dazhu reprimanded angrily.
This daughter-in-law is really foolish, unable to see the situation clearly.
"Very well, I'll take the dowry inventory and let the county magistrate settle the case," Xiao Qingming said.
"Nephew, don't get angry. Your Third Aunt is just joking with you, joking," Xiao San quickly pulled Zhou Shi back and gave her a stern look.
"My mother's dowry is worth at least a hundred taels. Consider it as my parents' filial offering to my grandfather. If we no longer interact, I won't bring it up. But if you come knocking on our door again, then we'll see each other at the county office."
Xiao Dazhu and Xiao Qingming's maternal grandfather were friends when they were young.
Back then, Xiao Qingming's maternal grandfather had ventured out to do business and accumulated a considerable amount of silver.
When Xiao Dazhu saw that the other party had become successful, he reminded him of the childhood engagement they had agreed upon.
Xiao Qingming's maternal grandfather was reluctant to marry his only daughter into such a family, but his daughter's heart was captivated at first sight by Xiao Dazhu's second son. Reluctantly, he agreed to marry off his daughter.
Not long after his daughter's marriage, Xiao Qingming's maternal grandfather was killed by bandits while traveling for business.
All of his possessions ended up in the hands of Xiao Qingming's mother. That's why she had so much silver. She didn't flaunt it and planned to save it for her son's education through frugal living. However, with her and her husband's untimely demise, these belongings fell into the hands of the people in the old residence.
Those funds had long been used by Xiao Dazhu to purchase land, buy things, and spent. They wouldn't easily have access to such a large sum of money. Selling the land was naturally something they were reluctant to do.
The people in the old residence had a grand day here, but left dejectedly in the end.
Before Xiao Dazhu left, he turned around and looked at his grandson, saying, "I truly raised a good grandson!"
Xiao Qingming's figure paused, and as the wind blew, his silhouette appeared somewhat fragile.
Ji Wan'er took a step forward and smiled, saying, "Grandfather, your words are incorrect. My husband was raised by his biological father and mother. You people, all these years, have relied on the wealth of your daughter-in-law for survival."
"You!" Xiao Dazhu glared at Ji Wan'er.
Xiao Qingming stepped forward and blocked Xiao Dazhu's line of sight. "Take care on your way, Grandfather. It's getting dark, and the road might be slippery."
Xiao Dazhu cast a final glance at his grandson and left in frustration.
It must be said that some things are destined. Even though Xiao Qingming didn't experience the same events as in the book, he still did similar things.
Times may change, but one's nature is hard to change.
It can only be said that Xiao Qingming was always this kind of person, and the events further accentuated his character.
Watching the back of the people from the old residence disappear, Ji Wan'er turned her head and looked at Xiao Qingming. Just as before, she held his hand.
"Husband, let's go home."
Xiao Qingming turned back and looked at Ji Wan'er. He held her hand beneath his sleeve, and the two of them walked home hand in hand.
He didn't want to bring up these matters, nor did he want to be so harsh.
He could endure some grievances himself, but he didn't want her to suffer.
Upon entering the main hall and seeing Yun Shuang and Zi An, Ji Wan'er wanted to retract her hand, but Xie Qingming exerted a slight force, stopping her from doing so.
Ji Wan'er glanced at him, but he didn't look at her. However, she noticed that Xie Qingming's ears had turned red.
"I'll go cook noodles for everyone." They had been busy all day and hadn't been able to have a decent meal.
"Great!" Yun Shuang and Zi An were filled with enthusiasm.
Ji Wan'er glanced at Xiao Qingming.
But Xiao Qingming still didn't let go of Ji Wan'er's hand.
Hand in hand, the two of them headed to the kitchen.
Seeing Xiao Qingming standing there absentmindedly, Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "How about you make the noodles today?"
Xiao Qingming seemed to be contemplating and didn't respond.
Ji Wan'er chuckled and said, "I was just joking. How could we really-"
But Xiao Qingming interrupted, saying, "Alright."
Upon hearing this response, Ji Wan'er raised an eyebrow and asked, "You'll do it?"
Xiao Qingming nodded solemnly.
Seeing Xiao Qingming's serious expression and thinking about how the people from the old house had treated him earlier, Ji Wan'er wanted to divert his attention. She said, "Alright, I'll teach you."
"Mhm."
And so, with Ji Wan'er giving instructions by his side, Xiao Qingming began to knead the dough for the noodles.
Although it was Xiao Qingming's first time making noodles, he was intelligent, so he quickly learned and managed to make them look decent.
When they tasted the noodles, Ji Wan'er noticed that Xiao Qingming's noodles were chewier and tastier than hers. Indeed, having strong hands made a difference.
When Ji Wan'er mentioned this, Yun Shuang and Zi An kindly complimented her on her cooking, and Xiao Qingming also praised her noodles.
Although Ji Wan'er knew they were probably being insincere, she still felt happy hearing their words.
After dinner, Xiao Qingming voluntarily washed the dishes.
Lying in bed at night, Ji Wan'er thought about what had happened earlier.
The people from the old house were relatively unfamiliar to her, but to Xiao Qingming, they were his blood relatives. Being treated like that must have hurt him deeply.
Ji Wan'er wanted to alleviate his pain, so she kept talking about things that happened at the shop until she became too tired and gradually fell asleep.
Moonlight streamed into the room, and as Xiao Qingming looked at the person lying in bed, his heart softened.
In the past, he had wondered why the people from the old house treated him that way, why his grandfather treated him like that, and it had made him somewhat uncomfortable. Now, he felt that those people and those things didn't seem so important anymore.
He had his own home, his own family, and people and things that mattered more to him.
The next morning, when Ji Wan'er woke up, Xie Qingming had already gotten up to study.
It must be said that Xiao Qingming was truly a hardworking person. After resting for only a few days, he was already back to studying. Although they had agreed to close the shop for five days, it wasn't time yet, so Ji Wan'er didn't go to the shop. Their relatives and neighbors knew that Xiao Qingming had passed the scholar exam, but her maternal family didn't know yet. She planned to visit her maternal family and tell them about this matter.
With the improved conditions at home, Ji Wan'er made shredded meat and egg soup for breakfast. Each person had a generous amount of meat in their bowl, along with plenty of eggs. It was delicious and nutritious. Xiao Qingming had three large bowls of soup and ate two steamed buns.
During the meal, Ji Wan'er brought up the idea of visiting her maternal family. She said, "Husband, do you have time today?"
Xiao Qingming set down his chopsticks and said, "Yes, my lady. What is it?"
"How about... you come with me to visit my maternal family?" Ji Wan'er suggested.
Xiao Qingming had never gone to Ji Wan'er's family with her before, and he didn't know if he wanted to go or if he would object to the idea.
Xiao Qingming seemed a bit nervous. He pursed his lips and said, "Alright."
After the meal, Ji Wan'er picked twenty eggs, carried a basket, and got ready to leave.
Xiao Qingming specifically went back to change his clothes and glanced at the basket in Ji Wan'er's hand.
"Shall we go?" he asked.
"Okay."
As they walked through the village, Ji Wan'er noticed that the villagers' attitude towards them was like night and day compared to before. Everyone was extremely warm and friendly, which made her feel uncomfortable, so she quickened her pace.
It wasn't until they walked out of the village that Ji Wan'er finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The two of them chatted and laughed along the way, and soon arrived at Ji's village. Ji Wan'er was about to head towards her maternal family's house when Xiao Qingming suddenly stopped at the entrance of a shop in the village.
He turned around and went inside to buy five pounds of pork.
Ji Wan'er was surprised that he remembered this matter and felt a sense of delight. Xiao Qingming was truly becoming more understanding of social conventions.
After the purchase, they continued on their way towards her maternal family's house.
Just as they arrived at Ji's house, they came face to face with Ji Wan'er's neatly dressed parents.
"Father, Mother."
"Wan'er!"
"Are you planning to go out?" Ji Wan'er asked, puzzled. She also felt a sense of irony that they happened to come at this particular moment.
Nanny Dong glanced at the items in her daughter and son-in-law's hands and immediately knew they had come specifically to see them.
She looked at Xiao Qingming and smiled, saying, "It seems we had the same idea. I was thinking that Qingming has been away for many days, and I was worried that you would have a hard time taking care of the two children alone and that you might be afraid, so I wanted to come and see you. I didn't expect you to come on your own."
In fact, Nanny Dong had heard last night that her son-in-law had passed the examination for the position of a scholar, and she wanted to visit her daughter's house to confirm if it was true. However, it wouldn't be appropriate to mention it directly in front of her son-in-law.
"Everyone, come inside. Don't stand here," Nanny Dong smiled and invited her daughter and son-in-law.
Yesterday, her son-in-law learned about his success in the examination, and today he came to visit and share the news. It seemed that this son-in-law wasn't as bad as she had previously thought.
When facing Nanny Dong, Xiao Qingming appeared even more nervous and somewhat uneasy, as if he had done something wrong.
"Qingming, have some tea," Nanny Dong handed a cup of tea to Xiao Qingming.
Xiao Qingming hurriedly stood up and received it with both hands, saying, "Thank you, Mother. I can pour it myself."
Nanny Dong smiled and said, "Don't be so formal. Sit down and let's talk."
"Alright." Xiao Qingming sat down, but he still appeared visibly tense.
Ji Wan'er glanced at Xiao Qingming and then at Nanny Dong. She thought to herself that she wasn't the only one who was afraid of Nanny Dong. Despite Nanny Dong's frequent smiles, her eyes seemed to see through people's hearts.
Ji Wan'er didn't want Xiao Qingming to be so nervous, so she quickly explained, "Father, Mother, Qingming passed the scholar examination."
As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of everyone in Ji's family lit up with joyful expressions.
Xiao Qingming also turned his head to look at Ji Wan'er.
It was the first time his wife called him by his name, and it sounded so pleasant.
"That's great, passing the exam is great!" Nanny Dong said with a hint of excitement. As she spoke, she took out a handkerchief and wiped away her tears. Although she had heard about it yesterday and guessed their purpose when her daughter and son-in-law came over, having the confirmation still stirred up emotions that were hard to control.
She had been waiting for this moment for too long.
Ever since she was driven out of the capital, she had vowed to return with dignity someday.
Passing the scholar examination would give him the opportunity to pass the county-level examination, and then the imperial-level examination, and eventually go to the capital, receive an official position... She had been persistently pursuing this dream for half of her life.
It was getting closer, so close.
At least, she finally saw a glimmer of hope.
"Mother, please don't cry. This is a joyous occasion," Ji Wan'er gently patted Nanny Dong's back.
"Yes, it's a good thing. Mother is happy," Nanny Dong said, easing her emotions.
On the other side, Ji Huaijing had already approached Xiao Qingming and looked at him with admiration, saying, "Brother-in-law, you're amazing."
"Ahem, study hard, and you will also pass the exams," Ji Huaijing nodded earnestly.
Ji Dazhong, true to his name, was honest and kind, maintaining a cheerful demeanor throughout the situation.
After saying a few words, Nanny Dong thought of something and looked at her husband, saying, "Husband, go to the shop at the village entrance and buy some melon seeds, peanuts, and snacks to share with our neighbors. This is a joyous occasion, and we should celebrate."
"Yes," Ji Dazhong immediately stood up and went out.
When he returned, Nanny Dong accompanied him to distribute the treats to the neighbors. By doing so, everyone in the village learned that their son-in-law had passed the scholar examination, and they came to their house one by one to congratulate them.
Nanny Dong's face was filled with pride.
Having known Nanny Dong for so long, Ji Wan'er had never seen such a pleased expression on her face. Thinking about the descriptions of her in the books and Ji Huaijing's name, she understood what Nanny Dong was so persistent about.
Seeing that it was almost noon, Ji Wan'er and Nanny Dong went to prepare the meal.
Nanny Dong originally intended to cook herself, but Ji Wan'er refused.
"Mother, please taste your daughter's cooking."
"Alright."
Today, the villagers had sent over a lot of vegetables, and with the addition of the chicken and fish that Ji Dazhong had bought, their ingredients were abundant.
Ji Wan'er started by preparing the ingredients.
She planned to make braised chicken with potatoes, red-cooked fish, and stir-fry a couple of vegetables. However, Nanny Dong insisted on using the meat they had just brought with them, feeling that the dishes would be too few otherwise.
So, in addition to those, she made Four Happiness Meatballs with some lotus root inside.
She also made Braised Pork. When she made it that day, she noticed that Xiao Qingming particularly enjoyed it.
At Nanny Dong's request, Ji Wan'er also stir-fried two vegetarian dishes.
In this way, there were four meat dishes and four vegetable dishes, a total of eight dishes.
Nanny Dong watched with increasing satisfaction. Her daughter had truly grown up, cooking with skill and precision. Although she hadn't tasted the dishes yet, just by smelling them, she felt they must taste good.
However, Ji Wan'er felt that something was lacking because her parents' house didn't have many seasonings.
Before long, the meal was served.
Ji Wan'er's cooking wasn't like many people's haphazard stewing. She paid attention to the presentation, aroma, and taste. Even before tasting it, just looking at the dishes was pleasing to the eye.
"Qingming, don't be polite, start eating," Nanny Dong beckoned to her son-in-law.
"Yes," Xiao Qingming quickly stood up and responded.
"We're all family here, no need to be so formal."
"Alright."
As Nanny Dong started to eat, the others also began to eat.
Ji Huaijing had only eaten his sister's food at the shop and hadn't tasted her stir-fried dishes yet. Today, when he took a bite of the fish, his eyes lit up instantly.
"The fish is so tender and smooth, it's delicious," he said, his eyes shining as he looked at Ji Wan'er.
Ji Dazhong had been silently eating his meal, not saying a word. Upon hearing his son's comment, he responded, "The Four Happiness Meatballs are delicious too."
After taking a bite, he added, "Even better than what your mother makes."
Upon hearing this, Nanny Dong glanced at her husband and pretended to be angry, saying, "So you're saying my cooking isn't delicious? Well then, I won't cook anymore. You can cook for yourself."
Ji Dazhong realized that he had been a bit too enthusiastic in his praise and laughed twice, quickly saying, "Everything is delicious, everything is delicious."
Nanny Dong also had a few bites of the Four Happiness Meatballs and said, "Your father didn't say it wrong, it really is tastier than what I make. You added lotus root inside, giving it a crisp texture and making it less greasy."
Although Ji Dazhong didn't say anything, he nodded repeatedly, feeling that his wife's words were absolutely right.
Ji Wan'er smiled as she watched her parents and used her chopsticks to pick up a bite for her mother and then for her father, saying, "You two should eat more. When you want to eat it in the future, your daughter will cook for you."
The meal was enjoyed with great delight.
After the meal, Ji Dazhong went to the kitchen to wash the pots and dishes. Ji Wan'er and Xiao Qingming wanted to help but were refused by Nanny Dong.
In the past, Nanny Dong was a maid in the backyard, known for her beauty, and there were rumors that the young master intended to take her into his room. Ji Dazhong, on the other hand, was a poor boy who had been sold into servitude and was not clever at all; he was just an errand runner.
One day, when Nanny Dong came to the study in the front yard, she instantly took notice of the honest and kind Ji Dazhong.
Ji Dazhong, who had only eaten scraps all his life, suddenly had a taste of the finest delicacies, which made others envious. Some people even mocked Nanny Dong for being foolish. They said she chose to marry such a person instead of marrying someone better.
In life, one knows best the warmth and coldness of the water they drink.
It turns out that marrying Ji Dazhong wasn't a bad choice after all.
When Nanny Dong was expelled from the estate back then, Ji Dazhong didn't resent her. He willingly left the estate with her and has been listening to her ever since, always putting her first in everything during these years of living in the countryside.
Nanny Dong glanced at her son and then at her son-in-law, saying, "Huaijing, you admire your brother-in-law the most. Why don't you talk to him while your mother talks to your sister?"
"Okay."
As soon as they entered the room, Nanny Dong took her daughter's hand and said, "You've finally come out on top, and I can finally rest assured. Although I believed in my judgment of people, these past few years, seeing you go through hardships, I've been feeling uneasy and blaming myself over and over again. Now that your husband has passed the scholarly exam, I can finally say I didn't misjudge, and I no longer have to worry about letting you down or about your future."
Nanny Dong's sincere words left Ji Wan'er unsure of how to respond.
In fact, she had always felt that although Nanny Dong had her own ulterior motives, she genuinely cared for her daughter. If she were truly a manipulative and ruthless person, she could have easily brought her beautiful daughter back to the capital and married her off to someone more influential. With Ji Wan'er's appearance, it wouldn't have been difficult for her to become a favored concubine, and their family could have smoothly returned to the capital.
But she didn't.
She still had her daughter's best interests at heart and found an honest and decent scholar for her.
"Mother, what are you saying? I have never blamed you," Ji Wan'er replied.
"Alright, let's not talk about it anymore."
With that topic brushed aside, Nanny Dong brought up something that had been weighing on her mind, "Have you consummated the marriage with your husband?"
Consummation... Ji Wan'er had guessed as much ever since Nanny Dong wanted to have a private conversation with her. Although her relationship with Xiao Qingming had improved compared to before, it hadn't reached the point of consummation.
Seeing her daughter's shy and embarrassed expression, Nanny Dong knew that they hadn't consummated the marriage, and she felt disappointed.
"Could it be that your husband is still sleeping on the floor?" Nanny Dong asked.
Now that her husband had passed the scholarly exam, things were different. How could he still be sleeping on the floor?
"Or maybe you should let your husband sleep on the bed," Nanny Dong suggested.
Ji Wan'er... how could she say such a thing? If she said it, wouldn't it be like indirectly inviting him?
Seeing her daughter's disagreement, Nanny Dong dropped the idea. She recalled her son-in-law's behavior today. It seemed that his eyes would occasionally wander towards her daughter. During the meal, he knew to serve her daughter food, and after the meal, he even offered to wash the dishes.
"Doesn't your husband care about anything other than studying?" Nanny Dong suddenly changed the topic.
Ji Wan'er shook her head and told Nanny Dong about Xiao Qingming's behavior, including the small things like washing dishes.
As she spoke, she was afraid that Nanny Dong would bring up the topic of consummation again, so she quickly mentioned the incident of the people from the old residence coming over yesterday. She also mentioned what happened when the people from the old residence came into their home and went to the shop.
This news shocked Nanny Dong. She didn't expect such things to happen in her son-in-law's family. The people from his family were so unreasonable. However, what she didn't expect even more was that her son-in-law would be so decisive and protective of her daughter.
The dowry from the in-laws was probably long gone, and if they were to ask for it now, they probably wouldn't get much. Her son-in-law was now a scholar with a promising future, and causing a big fuss would not be good for him.
If they could use this money to prevent the people from the old residence from coming to cause trouble, effectively severing ties with them, it would be a profitable deal.
In the future, her son-in-law would have no more involvement with the old residence, and he would become even closer to her daughter.
Seeing Nanny Dong's interested expression, Ji Wan'er thought she had forgotten about the consummation issue. However, after talking about the old residence for about two quarters of an hour, Nanny Dong suddenly said, "It's hot now. It's quite cool to lay a mat on the floor. Why don't you also sleep on the floor?"
Ji Wan'er: ...
"If your husband doesn't take the initiative, then you have to. You've been married for so long, and you still haven't consummated the marriage. It's laughable if people find out. Men are all the same. As long as you take the initiative, he'll take the bait," Nanny Dong said.
Ji Wan'er's face turned red, and she couldn't say anything.
"I can see that your husband is very interested in you. You two are not young anymore. It's time to have a child," Nanny Dong continued.
They were just talking about consummation, and now they were already talking about having a child.
"Let's... let's talk about it later. It's not urgent," Ji Wan'er blushed and said.
Nanny Dong nodded at her daughter's response. "It's not urgent indeed. It's fortunate that you don't have a mother-in-law, otherwise, you would have been pressured countless times by now."
After chatting for a while, the mother and daughter went out.
As they left, Ji Wan'er's face was still red. Xiao Qingming felt a bit puzzled and kept looking at her sideways.
After some more conversation with others, Ji Wan'er and Xiao Qingming prepared to leave. Before leaving, Nanny Dong brought them some pastries and candies.
Seeing her daughter and son-in-law's refusal, Nanny Dong said, "These are not for the two of you, they're for the two children. Bring them some delicious treats. Speaking of which, it's because Wan'er is not sensible enough that she didn't bring them along. Next time you come here, remember to bring the children."
"Understood, Mother."
On the way back, Ji Wan'er was still thinking about what Nanny Dong had told her earlier.
With no one around at the moment, only the two of them, Xiao Qingming asked, "Wife, did mother-in-law talk to you about something? If you find it difficult to solve, you can talk to me about it."
Upon hearing his words, Ji Wan'er's face suddenly turned red, and she glared at him.
Normally, when the two of them were together, it was Xiao Qingming who would blush and feel shy. But today, the roles seemed to have reversed, and it was Ji Wan'er who blushed.
"Why is your face turning red?" Xiao Qingming asked, puzzled.
Ji Wan'er lightly patted her own face and avoided eye contact. "It's nothing. Let's hurry back. The sun is scorching." With that, she quickened her pace and walked ahead.
Xiao Qingming looked at the sun, then at his wife. After giving it some thought, he took off his outer garment.
Ji Wan'er was walking when she suddenly felt a bit of shade. She looked up and saw Xiao Qingming holding his clothes above her head.
Seeing his thoughtful gesture, a faint smile appeared on Ji Wan'er's lips.
Seeing his wife smile, Xiao Qingming also felt relieved.
From then on, the two of them chatted and laughed along the way.
When it was time to sleep at night, Ji Wan'er lay down on the bed first, watching as Xiao Qingming spread a mat on the ground. There was a moment when Ji Wan'er wanted to stop him. However, after hesitating for a while, the words failed to come out.
Before long, the two of them turned off the lights and lay down.
Xiao Qingming truly cherished these days. His wife was by his side every day, and he could enjoy the delicious meals she prepared. However, such days couldn't last forever.
"Wife, are you asleep?" Xiao Qingming asked.
"No." Today, the words spoken by Nanny Dong had a great impact on Ji Wan'er, and she couldn't fall asleep.
"I might have to go to the county town for studying in a few days."
"Ah? Go to the county town for studying? But..." Ji Wan'er was about to ask why but hesitated and couldn't get the words out.
She had always thought that Xiao Qingming would continue studying at home, but she was wrong. The knowledge he had previously acquired had been studied for many years, and he could study at home. However, now that he had passed the imperial exam and would be participating in the autumn examination to become a juren, the content would become even more difficult. He would struggle to learn it all by himself.
"Oh," Ji Wan'er's voice sounded somewhat dull.
It had only been about a month since Xiao Qingming had left, and she was already feeling somewhat uncomfortable. If he was frequently away from home, she would definitely feel even more uneasy.
Hearing his wife's words, Xiao Qingming also felt an overwhelming sense of gloominess. If he went to the county town, he wouldn't be able to accompany his wife every day. It might be several months before he could see her again. The last time he was away for a month, he missed her dearly. How could he endure being apart for several months?
After a long while, Ji Wan'er asked, "When are you leaving?"
"In five days."
"How long will you be gone?"
Xiao Qingming remained silent for a moment and replied, "Three months."
"So long," Ji Wan'er blurted out.
"Perhaps... two months."
Still quite a long time.
Ji Wan'er paused and said, "Well, I'll pack more clothes for you and prepare some food."
"Okay."
The previously pleasant atmosphere between the two of them had become subdued after discussing this matter.
Ji Wan'er didn't sleep well that night, so she woke up later than usual the next morning. While cooking breakfast, her mind was elsewhere.
Yun Shuang was quite happy. After years of hard work, her elder brother had finally passed the exam and become a xiucai. Their family would no longer be bullied and could finally hold their heads high.
She couldn't help but want to share her inner joy with her sister-in-law. However, after saying a few words, she realized that her sister-in-law didn't seem to be as happy as she expected. That shouldn't be the case.
"Sister-in-law, is something troubling you?"
Ji Wan'er glanced at Yun Shuang and said, "It's nothing much, but your brother will be going to the county town to study in a few days."
Yun Shuang nodded. She thought it was quite normal since her brother had always been studying outside before, except for the past two years. She had gotten used to it.
Whether her brother was at home or not didn't make much difference to her.
However, when she saw the expression on her sister-in-law's face, she suddenly understood what was going on.
Her sister-in-law couldn't bear to see her brother leave, could she?
Well, their relationship was so good now, it was only natural that she would be reluctant.
Yun Shuang didn't know how to comfort her sister-in-law.
After a while, seeing that her sister-in-law's complexion still wasn't looking good, she changed the subject, "Sister-in-law, shall we go to the shop tomorrow?"
Ji Wan'er replied, "We have to go." Even though Xiao Qingming was going to the county town, they still had to run their business.
After saying that, Ji Wan'er paused for a moment as a thought suddenly emerged in her mind.
Yun Shuang noticed that not only was her sister-in-law in a bad mood, but her brother also seemed to be not feeling too well. During the meal, her brother kept staring at her sister-in-law with a distant look in his eyes, showing signs of reluctance.
Yun Shuang quickly urged her younger brother to finish his meal, and the two of them left the main hall, giving some space to the couple.
"Just now, I heard Yun Shuang saying that you will be going to the shop tomorrow?" Xiao Qingming asked.
"Yes."
"These few days, I'll go with you," Xiao Qingming suggested. He wanted to spend more time with her before leaving home.
"Okay."
After dinner, Xiao Qingming went to the study to read, while Ji Wan'er returned to the side room.
Once in her room, she took out the money she had earned over the past few months and counted it. Since opening the shop, she had earned more than thirty taels of silver. However, she had spent a lot as well. The biggest expense was Xiao Qingming's exam, which cost four taels. After deducting the expenses, she was left with around thirty taels.
In the village of Xiao's family, this amount of silver could be considered a substantial savings.
Renting a good location in the town would cost around four to five hundred wen per month, and in the county town, at most, it would be two to three taels. With this money, it would be enough.
Yes, when Yun Shuang just mentioned going to the town tomorrow, Ji Wan'er had a thought.
She wanted to open a shop in the county town!
Their conflicts with the people at the old residence run deep. If Xiao Qingming were to leave, it would be just her and the two children at home, and she didn't feel very safe. Moreover, now that Xiao Qingming had passed the exam and become a xiucai, even though they had promised to distance themselves from the old residence, living so close would inevitably bring them some influence. It would be better to keep their distance.
Xiao Qingming would be eligible to participate in the autumn examinations next year, and according to the storyline in the books, he would succeed. But even if he didn't, it didn't matter. She could accompany him in studying for a few more years. She could stay by his side and cook delicious food for him.
If he succeeded, they would soon be going to the capital city.
She had no roots or connections in Xiao's village, and staying here had no real meaning for her.
Besides, she had great skills, and if she opened a shop in the county town, she would definitely be able to earn more.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was a win-win situation. It would be beneficial for Xiao Qingming and for herself.
After counting the money, Ji Wan'er carefully planned her next steps.
Once she had a plan in mind, her first instinct was to find Nanny Dong. After all, she was knowledgeable and experienced. When she opened a shop in town last time, she had consulted Nanny Dong. Ji Wan'er wanted to ask her if this idea was feasible.
However, before seeking out Nanny Dong, she decided to go to the study and find Xiao Qingming.
Xiao Qingming's inner turmoil was also quite unsettled. He had been staring at the book for a while without flipping many pages.
"My husband, what do you think about me opening the shop in the county town?" Ji Wan'er asked.
Upon hearing her question, Xiao Qingming was initially taken aback, but then a gleam of excitement flickered in his eyes.
"Excellent," he replied.
Observing Xiao Qingming's reaction, Ji Wan'er understood his thoughts, but she deliberately asked, "Oh? Then, my dear husband, tell me what makes it good?"
Xiao Qingming pursed his lips, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "Anywhere is good."
Ji Wan'er raised an eyebrow.
Xiao Qingming cleared his throat and said, "Ahem, as long as I can be with my wife, anywhere is good."
Seeing Xiao Qingming's slightly flushed face, Ji Wan'er's stern expression softened, and a bright smile adorned her lips.
He was getting better at expressing himself.
Unable to resist, Ji Wan'er leaned closer and planted a gentle kiss on Xiao Qingming's cheek. Seeing the astonishment in his eyes, she whispered softly, "Alright, then let's go to the county town and open the shop!"
A new life was about to begin.
"My dear husband, focus on your studies. I'll go home and ask my mother for her opinion," Ji Wan'er said.
"I'll accompany you," Xiao Qingming replied.
"No need, I can go by myself. You stay home and study," Ji Wan'er insisted.
"I'll accompany you," Xiao Qingming repeated.
"Alright, then let's go together."
Ji Wan'er initially planned to leave without bringing anything, but since Xiao Qingming insisted on going, it couldn't be that simple. They needed to bring some things. Glancing at Yun Shuang and Zi An playing in the courtyard, she remembered what Nanny Dong had said yesterday and called the two children to join them.
If they were going to the county town, it was likely they wouldn't come back to live here again in their lifetime. Ji Wan'er directly caught two hens from the chicken coop and brought them along.
Seeing the reluctance in Yun Shuang's eyes, Ji Wan'er said, "I'll make it up to you in the future, little sister-in-law." The matter was not yet settled, so she didn't explain much to Yun Shuang.
"No need, sister-in-law."
"Let's go."
With that, the family set off for Ji's Village.
Today, Ji's house was still lively. Many relatives and neighbors came to congratulate them, and it felt even more like the celebration of someone becoming a scholar than their own house.
Seeing the arrival of Xiao Qingming, the main character, everyone congratulated him. When they saw Ji Wan'er carrying two hens, they turned their heads to congratulate Nanny Dong for marrying her daughter into a good family.
Nanny Dong was very pleased.
After the guests left, Nanny Dong asked, "Why did you come again today?" They had already visited yesterday, so there must be a reason for their return.
"After discussing with my husband, we thought about opening a shop in the county town. What do you think, Mother?" Ji Wan'er asked.
Nanny Dong's face showed no signs of surprise upon hearing her daughter's words, as if she had known all along.
On the other hand, Yun Shuang and Zi An stared with wide eyes, their gaze shifting between the adults.
"I already guessed that you would go to the county town," Nanny Dong said.
"Huh? How did you know, Mother?" Ji Wan'er asked in confusion. She had only learned yesterday that Xiao Qingming wanted to go to the county town to study, and it was only today that she had decided to accompany him.
Nanny Dong smiled and said, "Qingming became a scholar, so he will naturally go to the county town to study. You newlyweds want to be together, and Yun Shuang and Zi An will miss their older brother. It's best for the whole family to be together."
In fact, if her daughter hadn't come today, Nanny Dong would have gone to find her in the next couple of days. After her happiness yesterday, she started thinking about the future. Since her son-in-law had become a scholar, he would certainly go to the county town to study. The relationship between her daughter and son-in-law had finally improved, and she didn't want it to be strained because of studying. Moreover, there were so many temptations outside, and who knew what might happen when the young couple were separated for several months.
Looking at the two children sitting nearby, enjoying their fruits, Nanny Dong felt that it was too difficult for her daughter to take care of the two children alone. They needed a man in the house, and there were also issues with the old house.
Little did Xiao Qingming know what his mother-in-law was thinking. He only heard the words "affectionate" and "together." Thinking back to his wife kissing his cheek in the study just now, he felt his face getting a little warm.
Ji Wan'er also felt a bit shy from the comments, but she was stronger than Xiao Qingming and could respond.
"So, Mother, do you think it's feasible?" Ji Wan'er asked.
"It's feasible, but the food in your shop can't be as simple as in the town. We don't have vendors selling tofu pudding in our town, but there are several in the county town. With your culinary skills, you don't have to worry about not having customers," Nanny Dong said.
Ji Wan'er nodded.
In fact, she had already had some ideas in her mind. She didn't want to open a simple breakfast stall; she wanted to open a small restaurant.
"I was thinking, instead of selling breakfast, I want to open a small restaurant," she said.
During her time here, she had grown to love cooking even more and enjoyed trying out new recipes. Seeing everyone enjoying their meals and their happy expressions made her feel satisfied.
Selling breakfast every day would become monotonous, and she would lose the excitement of trying something new.
And besides...
A restaurant could also earn more money.
Nanny Dong didn't expect her daughter's appetite to be so big. She thought her daughter would open a breakfast stall in the county town, maybe offering a few more dishes, but she never expected her daughter to want to open a restaurant directly.
She didn't answer immediately but pondered silently. After a moment, she said, "That could be a good idea. You have a talent for cooking, and the taste of your dishes is excellent. If you open a restaurant, you can earn a good amount of money. It has better prospects than opening a simple breakfast stall."
Seeing that Nanny Dong found it feasible, Ji Wan'er felt even more at ease.
It wasn't that she lacked confidence in herself, but rather that she didn't fully understand this era. She wasn't sure if her ideas aligned with the times. With Nanny Dong's approval, she could be sure that at least her ideas were not problematic.
After a while, Nanny Dong called her daughter into the room and had a private conversation with her.
"In fact, our family already has a shop in the county town."
Ji Wan'er was extremely surprised.
"When we first returned from the capital, I bought a shop in the county town. The reason we didn't live there was that we didn't have a strong foundation, and I was afraid of those influential figures. With just a few words from them, they could determine the fate of a family. If you don't have enough ability, having too much money will only attract attention and might not be sustainable. Besides, the cost of living in the county town is higher. Your father and I decided to come back home, buy a couple of acres of land, and live a simple life."
Ji Wan'er agreed wholeheartedly.
She had thought that her family had some assets, which allowed them to live better than others. But she never expected her mother to be so insightful—buying a shop and then renting it out to generate a continuous income.
"If you want to open a shop, I can take back the shop and let you use it. Although the location is not very good, at least you won't have to rent another shop," Nanny Dong offered.
Ji Wan'er immediately refused Nanny Dong's suggestion.
"Mother, it's not necessary. I'm already married, so I shouldn't continue relying on my family's resources. Otherwise, things will become unclear in the future."
"In these past few months, I've earned a good amount of money. Qingming also gave me some silver, and I have tens of taels of silver on hand, which is enough," Ji Wan'er explained.
Seeing her daughter's resolute refusal, Nanny Dong didn't insist any further. She quickly calculated and said, "Your husband has a promising future. The Autumn Examination is next year. Even if he doesn't pass next year, he might succeed in the one two years later. If you rent a shop in the county town, assuming a monthly rent of two taels, that's a little over twenty taels per year. Add in daily expenses, your husband's study expenses, and so on, it would be at most fifty taels per year. The shop will definitely make money. With a restaurant, you could earn four to five taels a month at the very least. Even if it fails, you can still sell tofu pudding like before and make just as much. Plus, your husband is now a scholar, so he will have additional income. It would be enough to support yourselves and even have some surplus."
As Nanny Dong continued speaking, her expression relaxed.
Ji Wan'er felt the same way.
Since the chickens were not yet fully grown, Nanny Dong decided to raise them for some time. She put them in the chicken coop.
Although they didn't eat the chicken Ji Wan'er brought today, Nanny Dong sent Ji Dazhong to buy a whole chicken. Ji Wan'er prepared Kung Pao chicken, spicy chicken, braised chicken with potatoes, and chicken stewed with vermicelli. They had a hearty meal.
Upon returning home, the atmosphere in the house was different. The prospect of moving to the county town filled everyone's faces with joy.
Xiao Qingming took a few more glances at his books.
The next morning, the whole family went to the town together. Although they were going to the county town, the lease for the shop in the town hadn't expired yet, so Ji Wan'er planned to wait until the end of the month before leaving.
After a few days passed, Xiao Qingming left for the county town to continue his studies.
Knowing that the family would be reunited soon, there wasn't much sadness on anyone's faces.
With Xiao Qingming gone, Ji Wan'er also didn't stay at home and moved with her two children to the town.
Ji Wan'er informed Aunt Zeng and Sister Yun in advance about their plans to go to the county town. Their homes were far from the county town, so they couldn't go with them. She hoped that the two of them would make their own arrangements.
A few more days passed, and Ji Wan'er, along with Nanny Dong and Ji Dazhong, went to the county town to look at the shop.
They first went to Ji's shop and took a look. The shop sold fabric, and the location was not bad, but it wasn't suitable for opening a restaurant.
The county town was much larger than the town, and they visited six or seven times before finally deciding on the location of the shop.
The location of the shop was good, not particularly excellent, but also not bad. Moreover, there was a crucial factor—it was close to where Xiao Qingming was studying, making it convenient for him to have meals there. There was also a small courtyard behind it, so the family wouldn't need to rent a house outside.
With the front and back courtyards combined, the monthly rent was two taels, and the lease was for one year, totaling twenty-four taels of silver.
With so much silver being spent, Ji Wan'er's savings diminished considerably, and their family resources were almost depleted.
Once the shop was confirmed, Ji Wan'er began the gradual process of moving their belongings to the new place.
Nanny Dong and Ji Dazhong couldn't bear to see Ji Wan'er working so hard, especially Ji Dazhong. They both helped her with the moving process. After a few rounds of moving, most of the belongings were transferred.
When the lease in the town expired, Ji Wan'er had to leave.
On the day they left the village, Ji Wan'er didn't say anything to anyone except the neighboring Sun Xinghua's family.
"Ah, we've been living together for so long, and now that you're leaving, I can't help but feel reluctant," Sun Xinghua said.
"Sister-in-law, we'll have a chance to meet again in the future," Ji Wan'er comforted her. But in reality, she couldn't be certain if they would ever meet again. This wasn't the modern era where traveling was convenient.
Sometimes, seeing someone once might be the last time in their lives.
Man'er also couldn't bear to say goodbye to Yun Shuang, and the two little girls cried as if they were tears themselves.
As Ji Wan'er boarded the carriage bound for the county town, she looked back at the place she had lived for half a year and closed the curtain.
A new life was about to begin.