Little Zhang shook her head. "Not many. Usually, not many people go there unless they're drying grain, let alone at night."
After a busy day, as soon as it gets dark, everyone goes straight to sleep; no one has the time or inclination to learn to read.
She wouldn't have known about this if Sun Xiaohu hadn't come to call her son a few days ago.
Jiang Yimian nodded, not at all surprised.
Learning to read takes time, and there's not much work to do at night. If more people go and can keep it up, it's a good thing.
As the two were talking, Sun Xiaohu ran over from a distance, carrying a small bucket in his hand. He swayed along the way, as if afraid that the contents of the bucket would leak out, and was quite careful.
After finally reaching Jiang Yimian and the other woman, he put down what he was carrying and was about to run away when he suddenly remembered something and said hesitantly, "Big, Jiang, Sister Jiang, this is milk from my family's ewe. My grandma asked me to bring you some."
After saying that, she ran off without looking back, her steps light and quick, clearly happier than when she arrived.
Jiang Yimian looked at the bucket in front of her. It was mostly filled with clean, white goat milk, and if you smelled it carefully, you could also smell a faint fragrance.
Madam Zhang exclaimed in surprise, "Grandma Sun is really going all out, even sending goat milk! Jiang girl, why is Xiao Hu sending you goat milk?"
She remembered that in the past, when a pregnant woman in the village wanted to get some goat milk from Grandma Sun, Grandma Sun refused to give it to her. Why was she sending it to Jiang Yatou today?
Jiang Yimian was also somewhat puzzled, and said uncertainly, "It might be because of Sun Xiaohu."
Despite saying that, she was still full of questions.
A few days ago, when they bought ducklings, Grandma Sun spoke up for her, but judging from the other party's expression, she clearly still disliked her. But now, looking at the bucket of goat milk in front of her, she suddenly became unsure of what the other party meant.
To say that I'm thanking her wouldn't be quite right, since the teacher was Zhang Xiucai, and it wasn't really her business.
Unable to figure it out, she gave a bowl to Xiao Zhangshi and some of the prepared konjac tofu, asking Xiao Zhangshi to deliver some to Grandma Sun. Then she picked up Xiao Ye and the others and returned to the small depression, intending to use the hard-won goat milk to make some milk tea.
As Jiang Yimian passed by the house at the foot of the mountain, she immediately spotted a person whittling wooden arrows in the yard.
The boy kept his head down, whittling the wooden arrow in his hand, his jawline taut, and a low-pressure aura emanating from him, as if he was still angry.
Jiang Yimian touched her nose awkwardly, hesitating whether to greet him or not, when Gou Sheng hurriedly ran over excitedly.
"Brother Cijian, let's go back for dinner. I haven't practiced archery with you today. Hurry, hurry, hurry, let's go up the mountain and try it out."
As Gou Sheng spoke, he tried to pull the person forward.
These past few days, besides studying characters during the day, he has also occasionally practiced archery with Lu Cijian at night, which has been incredibly fulfilling for him.
Lu Cijian didn't move. He lifted his eyelids and looked at the girl standing not far away with a cold and aloof gaze.
Jiang Yimian paused, meeting that gaze that seemed to carry a hint of resentment. Feeling a little guilty, she coughed lightly before saying, "Grandpa said he needs your help with something."
Lu Cijian didn't speak, but stood up from the stool, put away the wooden arrow in his hand, and said, "Let's go."
The group then headed up the mountain, and along the way, Gou Sheng and the other children chattered about what had happened in the village in the past few days.
The story begins with the Zhang family's dog going missing, then moves on to the Li family's sheep giving birth, and finally ends with the Zhang scholar's family.
"Sister, several little friends have come to Master Zhang's house these past few days. Little Nuan'er likes them very much. Sun Xiaohu doesn't seem to dislike her either. He even helps Little Nuan'er catch bugs."
Little Nuan'er's eyes were bright and sparkling, and her chubby face was full of happiness.
Jiang Yimian smiled and reached out to pinch the little guy's cheek. "Then wouldn't Xiao Nuan'er have a few more friends?"
Xiao Nuan'er nodded heavily, looking quite pleased with herself, completely forgetting her earlier grievances.
When the group returned to the small depression, Wang Fengqin and the other women were still drawing various patterns on the stone slab with charred twigs, including furry little animals and various blooming flowers.
Jiang Yimian glanced at it with some surprise, then remembered that Wang Fengqin was good at embroidery and had drawn some of the patterns, so she could naturally draw some simple things as well.
Liu Xiaoyun and Zhao Xinger also learned from the side. People who were not interested in it before started to learn as soon as they heard that they could use it to make soap.
Jiang Yimian was moved for a moment.
During the day, she only said that she would do the ones with fancy patterns, but her mother and several aunts secretly remembered them and, not wanting her to work too hard alone, they all came to learn how to draw some simple patterns.
Upon seeing them return, Wang Fengqin quickly said, "You're finally back. We can have dinner as soon as your great-grandfather and Uncle Liu get back."
Jiang Yimian smiled and responded, staring at the pattern on the stone slab, "Mother's hands are as skillful as ever, even the patterns are drawn so beautifully. It seems I won't have to work alone anymore."
Wang Fengqin glanced at her and said irritably, "You're so sweet-talking."
Even so, her face was full of smiles, clearly happy to be able to help her daughter.
Liu Xiaoyun and Zhao Xinger were laughing on the side, clearly in a good mood.
There hasn't been much going on in Xiaowadi lately. Aside from occasionally helping out with konjac making and soap making, the women often get together to chat and laugh, and life is peaceful and comfortable.
Seeing that it was still early and the sky was not yet dark, Jiang Yimian took out some paper and charcoal pencils from her space and drew some cute cats and various small animals on the paper, mainly focusing on cuteness and lack of head.
Her painting skills were really not good enough; she could only draw some simple small animals, flowers, and trees. So she didn't intend to force herself to do so. She only planned to draw small animals. As for portraits, she could forget about them; she couldn't draw them or make them.
The patterns that can be made on soap are limited; you can only make some simple landscapes and small animals. It's not easy to make anything too complicated, but that's enough.
The unique art style and rich colors, combined with the scarcity of the soap, were enough to command a high price for her. She was just waiting to visit Huichuntang again.
As she was busy, a shadow was cast in front of the stone table. She frowned and said with displeasure, "It's blocking the light."
She looked up and saw Lu Cijian standing by the stone table. She was taken aback, but remembering that he was still angry, she just waved her hand and didn't say anything more.
Lu Cijian asked in a strange tone, "What are you drawing?"
Jiang Yimian didn't even look up, and casually said, "A soap sketch! You've never seen one before, have you? Isn't it beautiful?"
Lu Cijian chuckled softly.
Jiang Yimian was somewhat displeased. She looked up and glared at the other person, saying irritably, "What are you laughing at? You draw."
She refused to believe it. Although drawing wasn't her forte, she shouldn't be ridiculed for it. She had personally witnessed the astonishment in Lin Yan'an's eyes when he saw the pattern on the soap.
These are just rough sketches, so they're naturally hasty.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
