Dinner is just the whole family sitting together eating steamed buns and drinking porridge.

Zhao Xiaolü and Zhao Xiaolan silently lowered their heads and ate their steamed buns. When they heard Aunt He praising Zhao Denglong, they were both very envious.

They had worked at home since they were little, and if they didn't do a good job, they would be beaten and scolded by their grandmothers and mothers.

They wouldn't praise their children like Aunt He did; instead, they would scold them for being freeloaders and say things like, "Why don't you just die?"

This was the most satisfying meal the two of them had eaten in a long time.

I really envy Lantern and Meatball. I wish Aunt He were their mother.

After finishing their meal, He Tiantian led Zhao Xiaolü and Zhao Xiaolan back to her room. Each bedroom had a small cubicle for fetching water and taking a bath, which provided better privacy.

He Tiantian provided them with bathtubs, new beds, and cabinets for storing their belongings.

“These things are for your use. If you have any other needs, you can let me know,” He Tiantian said.

Zhao Xiaolu and Zhao Xiaolan looked at the brand-new things in the room and could hardly believe it.

They could have used their old things, but Aunt He replaced theirs when she was getting new clothes for her own home.

"By the way, Maruko and Lantern are reviewing their lessons right now. Would you like to join in and listen?" He Tiantian asked tentatively.

Zhao Xiaolan and Zhao Xiaolu's eyes lit up for a moment, then dimmed again.

"No, Auntie, I can't trouble you any further," Zhao Xiaolan said. She was only a year younger than Zhao Xiaolu, thirteen this year, but she was much gentler than Zhao Xiaolu.

He Tiantian smiled and patted Zhao Xiaolan's head. "Don't mention the trouble. I'll treat you like my own daughters since you've come to my house. By the way, I'm going to the county tomorrow, so I'll have to trouble you to take care of Xiaomingzhu at home."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaolu excitedly replied, "Aunt He, I can take care of children. I raised both of my younger sisters."

"Okay, from now on, you two will study with Lantern Dumplings every day, and let them teach you. Girls should study too, because girls can do their own things and have their own paths to walk in the future. It's not just about getting married and revolving around a family."

He Tiantian felt that it would be difficult to train them into modern women because there are still many limitations in this era.

But He Tiantian hopes that each of her children can be unique, and that they can pursue their passions and do what they love in the future.

Zhao Xiaolu and Zhao Xiaolan nodded blankly. Although they couldn't understand what was being said yet, they would remember every word.

In the main room, the table where lanterns and dumplings were used for reading and writing was also the same table used for eating.

The four children all carried small stools and sat together. Zhao Xiaolü sat next to Zhao Denglong, and Zhao Xiaolan sat next to Zhao Wanzi.

He Tiantian bought pencils and paper for them from the Modern Mall, so that it would be easier for them to learn to write.

The two new members also started learning from Zhao Denglong in a very serious manner.

"Mom, Brother Zhao Yan said our surname is the first one in the Hundred Family Surnames!" Zhao Wanzi said excitedly, revealing her incomplete front teeth when she smiled.

"But now we've learned the character 'Zhou,' and Brother Zhao Yan even told us stories about the Western Zhou Dynasty."

Zhao Xiaolan looked at Zhao Wanzi with admiration, "Western Zhou Dynasty? What's that?"

"It's the same as what we have now; it's the name of a dynasty," Zhao Wanzi explained. Then she enthusiastically recounted the story she had heard in a vivid and detailed manner.

He Tiantian, holding her child, listened intently. It must be said, Zhao Wanzi has a really good memory.

It's estimated that he repeated every single word Zhao Yan said.

The four children seemed to be more enthusiastic than usual when they studied together.

It wasn't until late at night, and He Tiantian had to urge them several times, before they finally went to sleep.

In this era, every household lit oil lamps, but oil lamps were very precious, and ordinary families used them sparingly.

However, in order to protect the children's eyes, He Tiantian decisively bought two solar-powered desk lamps from the mall.

The lights were so bright that the night was as bright as day.

Elaine Chao and Chloe Chao had seen too many novel things in this house. Although they were curious, they both refrained from asking any questions.

The nights in Changfeng Village began to grow shorter and hotter. Zhao Tingzhang led several strong young men from the village to search the nearby mountains, but they found no water source.

The mountain spring water on the cliffs has dried up, and the water level of the once turbulent river has dropped by more than half.

To encourage the villagers to conserve water, Zhao Tingzhang goes to the well at the end of the village every day to keep watch.

Now each household is only allowed to fill one bucket of water per day, no more.

He Tiantian had to take care of the child at night, so she didn't get much rest. She tossed and turned, glancing vaguely at the sky outside, unaware that a sliver of light had already appeared.

Since coming into this world, the constant early mornings have made her unwilling to sleep in anymore.

Little Mingzhu was still fast asleep when He Tiantian tiptoed out of bed.

After she finished dressing and washing up, she went to the yard and found that the four children had already gotten up.

Zhao Xiaolu was tending the fire in the kitchen, Xiaolan was carrying a basket and was about to go out to dig for wild vegetables, and Zhao Wanzi was trying hard to lead the goat out to tie it to the bamboo forest behind the house.

Meanwhile, Zhao Denglong was busy at the stove, preparing breakfast for the family.

He Tiantian walked to the kitchen and said to Zhao Denglong and Zhao Xiaolü, "Children, your mother is going to the county today. You will be taking care of Xiaomingzhu."

Zhao Denglong nodded, "Mother, won't you eat breakfast before you go?"

"No, I'll be back soon." After saying that, He Tiantian took her bag and left.

The package contained cross-stitch pieces that Liu and Tian had embroidered over the past few months, which had been piling up for several months.

He Tiantian hasn't been to the county for so long, so she doesn't know what's going on with Hong Erniang.

He Tiantian spent two coins to get on the oxcart. Recently, fewer people from the village have been going to the county, and she was the only one on the huge oxcart.

Uncle Li, who was driving the oxcart leisurely, said idly, "Wanzi's mother, it's been a long time since we've been to the city!"

"I'm too busy with family matters to leave home, but I just had some free time and I'd like to go to the city to earn some money," He Tiantian said with a smile.

"Oh my, I heard you bought two daughters from the Zhao family? These days, life isn't easy, why are you adding more mouths to feed?" Uncle Li shook his head; he had three boys who were barely grown up, and they didn't even have enough food to eat.