Chapter 198 Can't you be a little more ladylike?
The rain lasted for about half an hour.
The ground in the countryside is all muddy and wet; every step you take will splash mud onto your trousers and skirts.
The courtyard of Old Zhao's house used to be made of mud. A few days ago, Old Zhao found a few thin bluestone slabs on the mountain. So he found a few strong young men to help drag them down the mountain and put them in the middle of the courtyard. Now that it has rained, the courtyard is not so muddy and looks quite tidy.
Seeing Cheng Wanwan approach, Grandma Zhao immediately stopped what she was doing: "Eldest daughter-in-law, what are you doing here on a rainy day?"
She made a gesture, and Chunhua quickly brought a stool and placed it under the eaves at the door.
Cheng Wanwan sat down on the stool and said, "I just have something I want to ask Mom for help with."
Grandma Zhao immediately sat up straight. Every time her eldest daughter-in-law said she needed help, she never helped for free; she always gave her money.
The fact that they've come to me so earnestly suggests that this is no ordinary matter.
Everyone in the Zhao family knew Cheng Wanwan's habit: she said she was helping, but in reality, she was just bringing money.
Because of the rain, no one went out. The whole family was there, and all of them, more than a dozen people, were listening intently to what Cheng Wanwan was saying.
“The children in the family all have their own things to do and can’t find the time, but the family’s braised food needs to be delivered every day, so I wanted to ask someone to help out.” Cheng Wanwan said with a smile, “I take an oxcart to Hekou Town before dawn, and I can come back after delivering the goods to the two restaurants. It takes about half a day.”
Sun's eyes lit up.
The delivery task sounds so simple, it's perfect to have her man do it.
She only dared to think this way, not to speak up. The main reason was that she had offended her sister-in-law badly last time, and was scolded by Zhao Youcai and the old lady after returning. If she dared to step forward and take charge of this matter now, she would be drowned in the old lady's spittle.
Furthermore, even if she took the initiative to do the job, her sister-in-law might not necessarily give it to their third branch of the family.
Sun refrained from speaking.
Wen Shi naturally wouldn't say anything; whatever decision her sister-in-law made was her own business.
She had no objection whether her sister-in-law married a second or third wife.
Grandma Zhao tentatively asked, "Eldest daughter-in-law, what are your requirements for the person in charge of delivery?"
"It would be best if you could speak well," Cheng Wanwan said. "We made three flavors of braised food: spicy, non-spicy, and sweet. We need to adjust the flavors according to the restaurant's supply situation. The delivery person needs to check in with the two managers every few days to understand the situation in detail. It's not too difficult."
Although it's not difficult, it's still a bit challenging for honest, simple rural men.
At first, San Niu didn't like interacting with people. But after being led around by her many times and being influenced by Er Gou, San Niu gradually began to learn to stand on his own.
"When it comes to being eloquent, the third son is better at it," Grandma Zhao said frankly. "The second son is dull-witted. If you entrust this matter to him, I'm afraid he'll mess it up for you."
Madam Sun immediately spoke up: "Zhao Youcai is very eloquent. Back then, it was with that mouth that he tricked me into marrying into the Zhao family. Sister-in-law, you..."
Old Mrs. Zhao suddenly cast a cold glance at her, and Mrs. Sun had no choice but to shut up.
Cheng Wanwan looked up at Zhao Youcai, who was sitting in the inner room weaving a basket: "Third brother, do you think this will work?"
Zhao Youcai swallowed hard: "If my sister-in-law trusts me, I will definitely handle this matter well."
"The monthly wage is eight hundred coins. If you think that's okay, you can start delivering goods tomorrow."
"Yes, yes!"
Zhao Youcai nodded vigorously.
He was genuinely afraid that his sister-in-law would abandon their third branch of the family. Fortunately, she was willing to lend them a hand, otherwise their third branch would drift further and further away from the first and second branches.
After this matter was settled, Cheng Wanwan asked Old Man Zhao to tell the village head that San Niu could not go on patrol for the time being, and that they would talk about it after he finished his studies.
No sooner had she left than Old Mrs. Zhao ushered Sun into her room, sternly reprimanding her: "If Zhao Youcai doesn't do this job well, I'll immediately replace him with the second son! Also, if the braised food delivered to town is short-weight, I'll cut off a piece of your flesh to make up for it!"
Sun's scalp tightened, and she said repeatedly, "Although I'm greedy, I know what I can and can't eat. I certainly won't mess things up and ruin this job..."
Grandma Zhao said coldly, "Alright, stop standing here. It just rained. Let the ducks go out for some fresh air."
Sun immediately went to herd the ducks.
She originally wanted Chunhua to go with her, but when she got to the courtyard, she saw Xiahua carrying a basket of needles and thread and embroidery handkerchiefs, about to go out.
Ever since Xia Hua earned some copper coins by embroidering handkerchiefs, the old lady stopped letting her do any heavy work. Chun Hua was given all the tasks of gathering firewood and digging for wild vegetables. Qiu Hua could also do a little, but she was too young to do much.
Xia Hua would occasionally tidy up the yard, then take her needle and thread to her sister-in-law's place to learn embroidery from Cao Yingying.
She said, "Xia Hua, take your sister Chun Hua with you. Your sister Chun Hua is meticulous. If you learn from her, you might be able to embroider beautiful handkerchiefs too."
Chunhua was reluctant to go. She could only sew and mend clothes; she was really bad at embroidery. Wouldn't that just make her a laughingstock?
But she knew that if she didn't go, her mother would go on and on for a whole day and night.
To get some peace and quiet, Chunhua went inside to get a needle and thread and a piece of coarse cloth, and then followed Xiahua to find Cao Yingying.
“I’ll go with you.” Zhao Dawang put down his work. “I have something to ask Brother Ergou.”
The three of them went out together and met Da Mai on the way.
When Wang Damai saw what Chunhua and Xiahua were carrying, she knew what the two had gone there for. She quickly said, "I also told Yingying that I would learn embroidery from her. Wait for me."
Before Cheng Wanwan moved, Wang Damai lived next door. Damai and Cao Yingying were about the same age and had a fairly good relationship.
After learning that Cao Yingying was teaching Xia Hua embroidery, Wang Damai also wanted to learn. Teaching one person was the same as teaching two, so Cao Yingying naturally agreed.
Wang Damai ran home quickly, then ran back quickly with his needle and thread.
The ground was muddy, and she ran so fast that a string of mud splattered onto Zhao Dawang.
Zhao Dawang grumbled, "Can't you be a little more ladylike?"
Wang Damai has a younger brother who is also studying at the school, so she naturally knows what a lady means. She raised her chin and said, "Only daughters of wealthy families are qualified to be ladies. I am just a rough peasant girl. Whether I am a lady or a peasant girl is none of your business."
Zhao Dawang touched his nose: "Wang Damai, I never knew you could be so fierce."
He only said one sentence, and she immediately countered with three sentences.
"Bring me your clothes later and I'll wash them for you, so you won't go around saying I'm not a lady." Wang Damai snorted. "Spring flowers, summer flowers, let's hurry up and go."
The three girls walked quickly ahead, with Zhao Dawang following behind.
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