We made it once yesterday, and the second time we were much more skilled. Except for Zhou Laoda, Zhao Guihua and the six children were busy until late at night.

Chow Tai Fook and Chow Sang Sang were the most excited, thrilled by tonight's results. The sugar syrup had been boiled and would crystallize in seven days. With the rock sugar, they could start brewing wine.

“We’ll take leave in a few days and come back to help pick bayberries. By then, the bayberries will be ripe.” Zhou Sanfu and Zhou Dafu, the two brothers who valued studying the most, were thinking of taking leave to come back and make wine.

The other three brothers didn't want to miss out either. Zhao Guihua thought that she had never brewed wine before and what if she messed it up? She definitely needed Dafu and Sanfu to teach her on-site, so she agreed to let the five of them take a few days off in six days to come back and brew wine.

The scabs on Xingxing's face have fallen off, and now there are only faint scars. This time, Zhou Dafu and Zhou Sanfu came back and found time to teach her. Xingxing is quick-witted and understood the lessons after listening to them a few times.

She practices calligraphy every day, spending an hour copying books until she memorizes all the characters. Then, she has Dafu or Sanfu read them aloud twice to help her remember them.

Zhao Guihua felt that her daughter was so smart and already knew many characters. Unlike men, girls could not take the imperial examinations. Being able to write and read was enough. There was no need to be too strict about studying. So Xingxing would stay at home for the time being and return to the private school next month.

“We’ll go back to the private school after the scars on your face have completely faded. We can practice calligraphy and copy books at home, and we can also ask the village chief for help when we have time. We won’t fall too far behind in our studies.” Zhao Guihua was worried that Xingxing would make a fuss about going back to the private school, so she coaxed her gently.

Xingxing just wanted to sleep. As soon as Zhao Guihua hugged her, she buried her face in her arms, ignoring what her mother was saying and just wanting to sleep.

In the early morning, Xingxing was awakened by the clanging and banging of the hammers and the shouts of the men, knowing that the house builders had come to start work. She slowly got out of bed.

Still dazed, just as she was about to bury her head under the covers, she felt a lightness in her body and was picked up.

"Second Brother, I haven't combed my hair yet. Can you call Big Brother or Third Brother to come in and comb my hair? Put me down first." Xingxing's soft, still-sleepy voice was simply adorable. Zhou Erfu chuckled and put her back on the kang (heated brick bed).

"Okay, wait a moment, your second brother will go find someone to comb your hair." Zhou Erfu was in such a hurry because it was getting late, and the five brothers had to go back to town in the evening for school the next day.

I can't waste today's last day of holiday; I have to go into the mountains again to see if I can find anything.

Last month, he and his fourth brother performed well and were able to keep up with the teacher's lectures. They were also able to memorize the contents of the book. They could start eating meat.

However, he and his fourth brother had been vegetarian for so long, and they needed to hunt some game to make up for the loss of nutrients over the past month.

Zhou Dafu was practicing calligraphy in the room when Zhou Erfu grabbed him and said, "Brother, Xingxing is up and wants you to go and comb her hair."

Zhou Dafu, who had been frowning, put down his pen upon hearing this and followed Xingxing to her room. Xingxing had already changed her clothes and was sitting in front of her small dressing table, clumsily combing her hair.

"Give the comb to your older brother, and he'll teach you how to comb your hair." Zhou Dafu spoke gently, patiently and tenderly combing his younger sister's hair as he did so, just like always.

Xingxing originally wanted to learn how to comb her hair herself, but when her older brother arrived, she yawned and started daydreaming again.

Zhou Dafu was almost dry from talking, but when he looked up and saw that the little girl was daydreaming again, he helplessly flicked her forehead with his hand. "If you don't learn to comb your hair properly, your older brothers won't be able to comb your hair anymore when you grow up. If you never learn, you'll just wear your hair down and people will mistake you for a little madwoman."

Xingxing tapped her fingers and said softly, "No way, Mother said she'll buy me a maid to comb my hair. It's okay if I can't learn."

"Then we'll have to earn more money in the future, otherwise we won't be able to support you. You don't want to comb your hair now, but once you have a maid to serve you, you'll probably need someone to serve you when you eat and dress. Then you'll be turned into a little lazybones," Zhou Dafu said jokingly.

"Xingxing is not a lazybones. Xingxing is very capable. I can pound the floor, wash clothes, wash dishes, make steamed buns and pancakes, sell steamed buns, dig earthworms, herd ducks, collect chicken and duck eggs, catch rabbits..." There are so many skills that you can't count them all on your fingers. Oh my, Xingxing is so capable!

It's just that I don't know how to comb my hair, so what?

"You're so sharp-tongued, I can't argue with you, big brother." Zhou Dafu smiled indulgently.

After combing Xingxing's hair, Zhou Dafu carried her to the main room. Zhou Erfu went to the kitchen and brought out steamed egg custard and meat porridge, placing them in front of Xingxing. Xingxing quickly picked up the porcelain spoon and began to eat.

"Big brother, look, Xingxing doesn't need anyone to serve her food. She can eat by herself." The little girl looked very proud as she ate a bite of meat porridge and a bite of steamed egg custard with great relish.

"Yes, Xingxing is the most amazing! You have to be just as amazing in the future!"

Zhou Dafu suppressed a laugh. The little girl didn't even realize that he was the one who carried her to the table, and Erfu brought her breakfast. She could have just started eating on her own. She's been waited on hand and foot, you know?

Zhao Guihua and Zhou Laoda are both helping with the construction of the house, and it will be completed in a few days. They are very excited.

In the kitchen, Zhou Erfu and Zhou Sifu packed their lunch. The egg pancakes were fried in lard earlier, six in total, one for each person. There were also six boiled duck eggs, one for each person. Honey water was mixed in two bamboo tubes.

"Let's go, let's go, the sun is blazing now, let's hurry up and set off." Zhou Erfu put Xingxing in his basket and carried it away.

"Why do we have to go up the mountain again? Can't you just stop all day? Erfu, the sun is too strong. Don't bring Xingxing with you. She still has marks on her face and can't be in the sun." Zhao Guihua put down her hoe and chased after them to take Xingxing out.

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