Two days ago, Master Zhong had mentioned taking Yun Chu as his female disciple, but since he didn't say it directly to Yun Chu, she had to keep it to herself and didn't even dare to tell her family, for fear that if she said it too early, the matter would fall through.
Sure enough, today, just as Yun Chu finished work, Master Zhong told her in front of her that he wanted to take her as his apprentice and asked her to prepare a gift for the apprenticeship ceremony, which would be held at Ren'an Hall early tomorrow morning.
Yun Chu jumped up excitedly, thanked Shen Changliu many times, and immediately told Yun Shenghua as soon as she left the house. When she got home, she immediately told Zhang Shi, Yun's mother, Yun's father, and Yun Ruoxia, who naturally found out as well.
The whole family was happy for Yun Chu. Grandma Yun stomped her feet three times, her smile brighter than a hen laying an egg. She clenched her fists, looking refreshed and invigorated.
“Oh my, who says it’s bad to have a girl? I think it’s wonderful. I can’t wait to go around and shout that our Yun family’s third branch is so lucky, so incredibly lucky. Chun’er became a female yamen runner in the county government, Chu’er became a female apprentice at Ren’an Hall, and Ling’er and Xia’er are doing great business.”
“Great! Our Yun family’s third branch will get better and better. Tomorrow I will burn incense and pray to the Medicine Buddha to bless Chu’er so that she can learn good medical skills at Ren’an Hall and practice medicine to help people in the future, which will bring her immeasurable merit.”
Zhang couldn't bring herself to wash this dish. She thought and thought, then looked around the kitchen and, finding nothing else to do, started washing the dishes again, encouraging herself:
"Chu'er, you're wonderful! You've really made us women proud. I wonder what your maternal grandmother will think when she finds out about this. She'll definitely be happy for our Chu'er."
Yun Shenghua and his father were also happy, but their happiness was tinged with a kind of simple-minded joy. The two of them stood together without prior arrangement.
Nowadays, the young ladies in the family are all more successful than the last, and their status has naturally risen accordingly. As for them... their already low status... they might not even be as good as Xiaobai and Dahei.
As they drank their soup, Little White and Big Black seemed to sense that they were being talked about. They looked up briefly, then lowered their heads to concentrate on drinking their soup.
Yun Ruoxia was overwhelmed with emotions. In this family, Yun Ruochun was successful, Yun Chu was also successful now, and Yun Ling was even more so; this big house was all earned by her. Only she was left...
On second thought, aside from Yunling, the other two weren't as wealthy as her. Money was the right path, the most desirable thing in the world. Thinking about it, she felt at peace, and then she remembered another important matter.
"Yes, Ling'er wrote a letter."
As Yun Ruoxia spoke, she took the envelope out of her bosom, which intensified the joyful atmosphere on the scene. Yun Chu took the envelope, opened the letter inside, and read it aloud word by word.
Zhang's lips slowly turned up, and finally she couldn't control her expression and burst into laughter, while the others looked increasingly uncomfortable.
Old Lady Yun was displeased and, with her hands on her hips, began to complain:
"Goodness, Ling'er. Last time you wrote, you mentioned your mother, but now that you're in Bianjing, you have nothing to say to her. I wonder which young man has stolen your heart. You finally managed to write home, but you're being so perfunctory."
Yun Shenghua had finally seized this opportunity to speak, and immediately said:
"That's right, Sister Ling is being a bit unfair. The letters are getting shorter and shorter. I wonder if the next letter will just be a simple 'I'm coming back'."
Zhang glanced at Yun Shenghua, slightly displeased that he was complaining about Yun Ling like that.
She knew that Yunling was a free spirit by nature, and it was already quite an achievement that she would remember to write home. Even if it was just a few words or a simple message to let her know she was safe, she would be content.
Yun Ruoxia listened to Yun Chu read Yun Ling's description of Bianjing's scenery and longed to go. She had never been to Pingcheng's night market. It was even more lively than Pingcheng's night market. What would it be like?
She really wanted to go and see it; no, she absolutely had to save up enough money to go and see it.
"Wait a minute, Xia Niang, how did you receive Ling Jie'er's letter?"
"Oh, this? Uncle Cao gave it to me when I passed by the Lu Family Trading Company. He told us not to worry, that Ling'er is being taken care of by Young Master Lu in Bianjing, and that if we miss Ling'er, we can write to her."
This was undoubtedly good news, and Zhang immediately said:
“When Ling’er went there, she only took one thousand strings of cash with her. Now that the letter was sent by the Tonglu family business, why not send her two thousand strings of cash? That way, she can have some flexibility in Bianjing.”
With no objections from the crowd, Yun Shenghua quickly brought out paper and pen, first exchanging greetings and pleasantries, and then said:
"Is there anything you want to say to Ling'er?"
Old Lady Yun spoke first:
"Tell that brat to stop playing all the time and remember to buy my Rainbow Bridge sausages."
Old Man Yun followed closely behind and said:
"Yes, yes, and my treasured sword too. But Hua-ge, you have to tell that silly girl that our new house is finished. She can decorate her room herself when she comes back."
Yun Ruoxia then said:
"I just wanted to tell Ling-jie that I've done everything she asked me to do, and we've also agreed on the price for the dyed cloth—530 wen per bolt. I estimate that by the time she receives this letter, the dyed cloth will be arriving in the next two towns soon."
"And those beef tendons, it will take Mr. Yu two months to stock up on them. Judging by the time, the goods from Qingcheng are already on their way and should arrive before the Lunar New Year."
"Rest assured, Ling'er. If there are any problems with the goods when they arrive in the next two towns, I will consult my brother. As for her, if she sees any interesting things in Bianjing, she should remember her aunt."
Finally, there was Yun Chu. Yun Chu had wanted to speak for a long time, but she couldn't outdo them, so she had to keep her words to herself for now.
"Father, I need to tell Lingniang that I have become Master Zhong's female apprentice. She will definitely be happy for me. Hmm... I should ask her to pay more attention to the medical books we talked about before."
The letter ended with Zhang's final addition: "Take good care of yourself and return safely." After Yun Shenghua folded the two-page letter and stuffed it into the envelope along with the twenty banknotes, everyone went back to their own business.
The next morning, everyone in the family woke up before dawn because it was Yun Chu's apprenticeship ceremony. Yun's mother got up early to prepare prayers and other religious rituals. Zhang Shi was no less enthusiastic and had already prepared the apprenticeship gifts for Yun Chu the night before.
Two whole pieces of dried meat, a bag of dried longan, a bag of red dates, a bag of lotus seeds, a bag of red beans, and two whole stalks of celery.
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