No matter what, we can't let our daughter's mentor suffer a loss.

…………

After leaving the Wei family, Zhong Wanwan took advantage of the fact that no one was around, transferred the return gift she had prepared for the Zheng family from her own space, and headed straight for Accountant Zheng's house.

Aunt Zheng was sewing shoe soles at home when she saw Zhong Wanwan and said warmly:

"Master Zhong, come and sit down. I was just thinking of going to your house later to measure the soles of your shoes, and here you are!"

"Perfect! Tell me your shoe sizes, and I'll save myself the trouble of going over there!"

Zhong Wanwan did not refuse Aunt Zheng's kindness. She told Aunt Zheng the shoe sizes of the three siblings and took out the things from the basket. Aunt Zheng also thought that Zhong Wanwan was making cotton-padded jackets for herself.

She measured the dark blue cotton fabric and suggested:

"There are two extra feet of this dark blue cotton fabric, but it won't go to waste. I'll make you a cotton-padded jacket and some trousers. I'll use the remaining two feet to make you a vest, padded with cotton, which will be just right for wearing indoors!"

Zhong Wanwan covered her mouth and laughed:

"Auntie's arrangement is really good, let's make it like this for Nannan!"

Aunt Zheng pushed it over and said, "No, please."

"That's not how it works. She's just an apprentice, she hasn't even offered any gifts to her master yet, how could she accept anything from her master!"

Zhong Wanwan repeated her usual explanation:

"Then let Auntie make it herself; this is my way of showing my respect to her!"

Then we absolutely cannot accept it. Aunt Zheng tried to stuff the cotton and cloth back into Zhong Wanwan's basket.

Zhong Wanwan pretended to be angry and said:

"My aunt just said she'd make shoes for us, and I didn't refuse. But she refused the cloth and cotton I offered her. I'm going to get angry with her!"

Aunt Zheng was very embarrassed:

"How can you say that? You taught Nannan a skill without holding anything back, and you even shared your mountain produce with her. How can our family accept your things!"

Zhong Wanwan said with a smile:

"Why can't I accept it? I've never been polite to you, Auntie, when I've had chores to do at home. When I first came here, I even ate one of your big, fat chickens. Please don't be so polite with me, Auntie!"

"I'll leave the things here. When my family makes quilts, I'll ask my aunt to come over and help!"

Looking at the cotton and cotton cloth, Aunt Zheng felt a deep sense of emotion.

Master Zhong is such a kind and honest man, and he's been incredibly good to Nan Nan. She needs to think about what kind of return gift to give him.

After thinking for a long time, Aunt Zheng still couldn't figure it out. She called back Accountant Zheng and Zheng Nannan, who were helping Zheng Nannan with the accounting, and then told her about the matter.

Zheng Nannan offered her advice to Aunt Zheng:

"Mom, this is easy. We'll go to my uncle's house later and ask him to make two slabs of tofu and freeze them. We'll also get a jar of fermented bean curd and two bundles of vermicelli made by my aunt. I guarantee my master will love it!"

Aunt Zheng's family used to sell tofu, and they were quite famous in the surrounding villages. Although they could no longer sell tofu, they didn't lose their skills.

We still make it in winter, but we don't charge money for it. If someone wants some, they can exchange it for beans.

Uncle Zheng's fermented bean curd tastes even better, and he would often send Aunt Zheng a jar of it.

The vermicelli was made by Aunt Zheng's sister-in-law, a skill she brought from her family home. Like tofu, it was only traded for grain in the village.

Aunt Zheng hesitated. She felt that these things were all rather ordinary, and that she was still taking advantage of Master Zhong!

Accountant Zheng thought for a moment and then supported her daughter's suggestion:

"I think Nan Nan's suggestion is good. Let's add another ten catties of the dried tofu that Big Brother makes. That would be perfect!"

Seeing that Accountant Zheng agreed, Aunt Zheng nodded and said:

"Fine, we'll do as you two say!"

As she said this, Aunt Zheng couldn't sit still any longer. She put on her coat and shoes, took out ten yuan from the biscuit box in the kang cabinet, and headed to her elder brother's house!