Chapter 217 Queuing for Hair Washing

The night gradually darkened.

Cheng Wanwan checked the soap in the bamboo tube; it had completely solidified and was quite firm.

She tapped out the finished soap and smiled as she handed one to each of her children: "You can use this to bathe, wash your hair, and wash your hands from now on."

Zhao Dashan looked left and right: "Mom, what's this?"

"This is made with lard and wood ash, so let's call it soap," Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, using a modern name. "Go try it out and let me know what you think after you use it."

Zhao Ergou took the soap, walked to the side, washed his hands, and was immediately filled with surprise.

He remembered that a long, long time ago, his mother seemed to have taken something called soap from his eldest uncle's house. It made baths exceptionally clean. This soap, made from wood ash and lard, was in no way inferior to the original soap. Of course, he didn't know what soap was.

His heart skipped a beat, and a few thoughts arose, but he quickly suppressed them. The matter of the cloth was not yet resolved, and he could not think of anything else.

Cheng Wanwan was washing Zhao Sidan's hair with soap. In the past, she could only use rice water or wood ash to wash it, which didn't get it very clean. After rubbing it with soap, the hair felt clean and refreshing. The only drawback was that the hair wasn't smooth enough. She had to add special chemicals to make the hair smooth and flowing. However, in this day and age, it was already quite good. One shouldn't have too high expectations of others.

After washing the fourth son, she called over the third son, Zhao Sanniu, who came over and lay down with a look of being flattered.

Cheng Wanwan helped him untie his hair tie and said, "You're always running around, how many days has it been since you washed your hair?"

Zhao Sanniu coughed, not daring to say that he hadn't washed for almost ten days.

He immediately changed the subject: "Mom, when I went to deliver food to my cousin today, he said he would teach me kung fu, and that it was Mom who told him to. Is that true?"

"Yes, he will be your master from now on." Cheng Wanwan ruffled his hair. "If you like learning martial arts, then learn diligently from your master. Don't give up halfway, understand?"

Zhao Sanniu's eyes lit up: "Then when can I become an apprentice?"

"Let's do it tomorrow," Cheng Wanwan said thoughtfully. "I don't know what I need to prepare for becoming an apprentice. I'll ask tomorrow."

Zhao Sanniu nodded vigorously.

Zhao Sidan came over and said, "Mom, I want to learn martial arts too."

Cheng Wanwan looked at him seriously: "Learning martial arts isn't something you can sustain just because you're interested for a short time. It's a very difficult and long road. Once you become an apprentice, you have to persevere. You need to think this through carefully. Also, now that you've officially started your studies, you spend most of your time reading and writing. Do you really have time to learn martial arts?"

Zhao Sidan pondered deeply.

Shen Zheng shoved him away: "Four Eggs, go sit over there and think about it. Don't bother me while I'm in line."

Young Master Shen sat down in front of Cheng Wanwan like a well-behaved child.

Cheng Wanwan: "..."

Did she mention washing the children's hair in turns?

Si Dan is young, so it's fine for her, as his mother, to help wash him. But San Niu hasn't been washed for many days, so she has to do it herself.

As for this young master Shen, didn't he bring his pageboy Afu with him? Why not just have Afu help with the washing?

However, when Cheng Wanwan met Shen Zheng's expectant gaze, she couldn't bring herself to refuse; she was just a child who lacked love.

She dried Zhao Sanniu's hair and said, "Come and lie down."

Shen Zheng immediately got up, lay down on the bench, and thoughtfully untied his hair, saying, "I just washed my hair the day before yesterday, it doesn't smell."

Zhao Sanniu was covered in sweat. So, his hair smelled really bad just now?

Sigh, he should be more diligent in the future, otherwise his position in his mother's heart will soon be squeezed out by Shen Zheng.

Cheng Wanwan was about to finish washing Shen Zheng's hair when she looked up and saw Afu's excited expression.

She rubbed her forehead and said, "Afu, come here."

Ah Fu scurried over and lay down, excitedly waving his arms and legs. He was so happy to receive the same treatment as the young master.

Cheng Wanwan washed the hair of four children in a row and was really planning to call it a day.

But she noticed that Cheng Zhao had somehow appeared to be standing to the side, seemingly engrossed in reading a book, but actually glancing at her the whole time.

Oh well, washing one is the same as washing a group.

Because she is the only elder in this family.

"Zhao'er, come here, let Auntie wash your hair."

Cheng Zhao quickly put down his book and lay down on the bench.

After Cheng Zhao finished washing, it was Zhao Ergou's turn, and finally Zhao Dashan. Wu Huiniang and Cao Yingying, being girls, naturally couldn't openly lie in the yard and have others wash their hair for them. The matter was finally over. Cheng Wanwan was sore and tired, especially her hands, which were a bit dry and white. The soap didn't contain any skincare ingredients, so her hands would look like this after being soaked in water for a long time.

After she finished her work, Zhao Sidan came over and said seriously, "Mother, I've thought it through. I really want to learn martial arts. From now on, I'll get up earlier and go to bed later so that learning martial arts and studying won't interfere with each other."

I study to get ahead in life, and I learn martial arts to protect my mother.

He wanted both of them.

Seeing his determined gaze, Cheng Wanwan realized he had truly thought it through, so she nodded: "Alright, then you and San Niu will become apprentices together tomorrow morning."

In Dahe Village, apprenticeship is also common. For example, one might become an apprentice to learn carpentry, bricklaying, or pig slaughtering. The apprenticeship ceremony is not complicated. At noon, one kowtows and offers tea, and then a meal is provided. This is considered to have a master, and one will visit him as a proper elder in the future. This is a lifelong commitment.

Cheng Wanwan got busy early in the morning.

The other party's identity was clearly not simple, so she couldn't make her apprenticeship banquet too shabby.

Although it's just a meal for the family, it still has to be formal so that He Xiao knows how much his family values ​​learning martial arts.

He Xiao recovered quickly, but because of his injured thigh, he was still unable to walk normally and needed someone to help him get over.

He sat in the main seat despite his injuries, while Zhao Sanniu and Zhao Sidan entered through the main entrance, bowing three times with each step.

He Xiao's expression remained calm until the two men offered him tea, at which point he showed some emotion. He took a sip from each bowl and said in a low voice, "Now that you have become my disciples, you two are officially my disciples. The path of martial arts is arduous and cannot be mastered in a day... In martial arts, virtue comes first. You must always be respectful and humble, never disrespect your teacher, never forget righteousness, never be aggressive, and never bully the weak..."

Zhao Sanniu and Zhao Sidan bowed and replied, "We will remember our master's instructions."

After the apprenticeship ceremony, the two presented the apprenticeship gifts, which were the six traditional gifts for apprenticeships in Dahe Village: celery, red dates, lotus seeds, longan, red beans, and strips of meat...

The two presented the apprenticeship gifts.

He Xiao looked at the offering of money in front of him with an extremely cold expression.

His demeanor makes him seem unapproachable; he's as aloof as can be.

Only he knew how embarrassed he was.

He thought that only Zhao Sanniu had become his disciple, so he only prepared one gift. Now that he had two disciples in front of him, who should he give the gift to?