Today was not the market day, so Zhou Chunlan did not go to the town with them. However, today was Yu Ge'er's apprenticeship ceremony, and she guessed that Li Yuemei would come to find her to go together, so she did not go out today and just stayed at home to do some chores.

Li Yuemei also woke up early today. After watching Lin Yan and the others leave, she started to busy herself with household chores. She washed the family's clothes from yesterday and hung them out to dry in the yard. She also helped make a pot of dried tofu skin. Yu Ge'er wasn't idle either. After feeding the chickens, he fed the pigs. They were running low on pig grass, so he'd go out and get more in the afternoon.

Since opening the shop, Zhao Qiming has been doing most of the housework. In the mornings, Lin Yan and Li Yuemei prepare steamed buns and pumpkin cakes in the kitchen, while Yu Ge'er feeds the chickens and pigs, and Zhao Shiyun and Zhao Qiming make tofu. After everyone else leaves, Zhao Qiming makes yuba while selling tofu. By the time the tofu is sold, it's almost noon, and he'll be back to feeding the chickens and pigs. In his free time, he'll visit the fields.

The family didn't plant much rice, only five acres. Before setting up the stall, the whole family got up early and worked late to finish the planting, and they had to wait on the farmers from time to time. After opening the shop, this work fell on Zhao Qiming. When Zhao Shiyun came back, he would also go to help, or go to water the vegetable fields.

After Lin Yan and the others came back, one cooked, one fed the chickens and pigs, and one washed clothes. They had no time to rest all day.

Zhao Qiming breathed a sigh of relief when he knew that Li Yuemei was not going to work in the shop but helping out at home. After all, having someone at home with him made him feel more relaxed.

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Li Yuemei cleaned herself up, called Yu Ge'er, took the apprenticeship gift, and walked towards Zhou Chunlan's house together.

Zhou Chunlan was washing jars in the yard and left the door open. Li Yuemei knocked on the door and said, "My dear, you are busy."

Zhou Chunlan looked up and smiled: "I was waiting for you. I knew you would come."

After saying that, she quickly finished washing the jars and wiped her hands on her apron. "Wait while I change my clothes."

"Oh, no rush."

"Come in and sit down first, I'll be quick." Zhou Chunlan walked towards the room and did not forget to turn back and give instructions.

Li Yuemei and Yu Ge'er sat in the yard for a while, and then Zhou Chunlan changed her clothes and said, "Let's go."

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The three of them chatted and laughed all the way and soon arrived at the town. Since they had made an appointment with Brother Li to visit him and become his disciple today, they went directly to Brother Li's house.

Brother Li was working in the yard when Zhou Chunlan knocked on the door. "Brother Li, we're here."

"Come in, please come in." Brother Li quickly stood up and led the group to sit on the stone bench in the courtyard. Brother Li's wife, Feng Suqin, brought over some tea.

"Have some tea." Feng Suqin was a very gentle woman with a calm smile. "My sister is in the next room. Have some tea first. I'll take you there later."

Li Yuemei thanked him and took out a box of dim sum and a piece of meat. "This is a small token of my appreciation. Thank you for your help in introducing me."

Brother Li was surprised and said, "How can this be possible? This is what we should do." Li Yuemei insisted, "Brother Li, this is just a small token of our appreciation. If you don't accept it, we will feel bad."

Feng Suqin looked at Brother Li and smiled to smooth things over: "My dear, they are sincere. Why don't we accept it?" Brother Li still waved his hand to refuse: "Really, it's not necessary. We should all take care of each other. Why do we need these things?"

Yu Ge'er said obediently at this time: "Uncle Li, please accept it, otherwise I will be embarrassed to become your apprentice." After hearing this, Brother Li laughed and said: "You little brat, you have a very sweet mouth." But he still refused to accept the gift.

During the stalemate, Zhou Chunlan spoke up: "Brother Li, sister-in-law, if you don't accept it, it will seem strange. This is just a small gift to express our gratitude, it's not worth much." Brother Li scratched his head, thought for a moment, and said: "Okay, then I will obey your order."

The three of them breathed a sigh of relief and smiled with satisfaction. Then they happily talked about the matters that would occur after Yu Ge'er became their apprentice.

After drinking tea, Feng Suqin led the three of them to the house next door. She opened the door with the key and saw her sister embroidering a handkerchief under the eaves. She said, "Suyao, I'm here with someone."

Feng Suyao paused her work and looked over. She noticed the group and stood up. She was dressed in a pale pink dress, her face delicate and picturesque, her eyes clear and captivating. Yu Ge'er stared blankly, his face flushing slightly. "This sister is so beautiful," Yu Ge'er thought silently.

"Hello, sister. Hello, everyone." Feng Suyao's voice was clear and pleasant.

Zhou Chunlan smiled and said, "This child is Yu Ge'er. He wants to learn some needlework and embroidery from you."

Feng Suyao approached Yu Ge'er, gently took his little hand, and said softly, "This child is born smart. I will teach him well."

Yu Ge'er blushed and lowered his head. Next, everyone discussed the specific details of becoming a disciple, and Feng Suyao agreed to them one by one.

The apprenticeship ceremony was simple but solemn. Yu Ge'er respectfully performed the apprenticeship ceremony for Feng Suyao and served her tea. Feng Suyao took a sip of the tea, helped Yu Ge'er up, and took out an exquisite sewing box from her bosom and handed it to him. "Yu Ge'er, this is a gift from me to you. I hope you will practice diligently in the future." Yu Ge'er accepted it with great joy and thanked her crisply.

The apprenticeship was completed smoothly, and everyone was filled with joy and anticipation.