Chapter 261 Reluctant to Leave This Place
The people in the courtyard all gasped in shock.
Shen Zheng, who was pretending to read a book in the room, was also suddenly stunned.
Is the Cao family really that rich?
Cao Defu gave Aunt Zhao so many nice things on their first meeting—a whole bunch of clothes and jewelry. His father, on the other hand, seems to have never given Aunt Zhao anything before…
If his father doesn't work harder, Aunt Zhao will be snatched away by someone else.
Shen Zheng angrily slammed the book shut.
Cheng Zhao said calmly, "In your heart, is my second aunt really that shallow?"
“Yes, Aunt Zhao is not superficial at all.” Shen Zheng laughed immediately. “Besides being rich, Cao Defu has countless flaws. It’s one thing that he’s fat—my dad was fat too—but he even has a wife and concubines. Tsk tsk, if Aunt Zhao takes a liking to him, I’ll change my mind. My dad is much better. Not only is his home peaceful, but he also has a sensible and intelligent son like me. If Aunt Zhao marries my dad, she’ll get a great son for free!”
Cheng Zhao: "..."
This kid is hopeless.
Three chests in the courtyard were opened, gleaming with gold.
A pile of gold, silver and jade artifacts together can actually create a pretty strong visual impact.
Even Cheng Wanwan, who had seen a lot in life, was stunned by the scene.
She paused for a moment before saying, "Yingying has been staying at my house for over a month. Even if her daily living expenses are one tael of silver, we don't need this much money."
Cao Yingying pursed her lips: "Living expenses are secondary; the main thing is that my aunt saved me. If it weren't for my aunt, I might be..."
"Did I save you for these thanks?" Cheng Wanwan smiled, took a silver ingot from the box and put it in her sleeve. "This is enough. Okay, you should go inside and pack your things. We'll be going home soon."
The word "go home" is something Cao Yingying has always longed for, but now, she feels reluctant to leave.
She walked into the house and saw Shen Zheng and Cheng Zhao reading, A Fu wiping the table, Chun Hua and Xia Hua busy at work, and Wu Huiniang holding a child.
Wen was cooking in the kitchen, and wisps of smoke were rising from the chimney.
In the backyard, lambs and pigs bleated, while Zhao Sidan recited his lessons and fed the rabbits leafy greens.
She looked out into the front yard and saw her father standing there talking to Aunt Zhao, who was as gentle as ever.
At the gate, Zhao Dashan and Zhao Sanniu returned, one carrying farm tools and the other carrying firewood. Zhao Ergou went to greet them and help.
Her gaze fell on Zhao Ergou, and her reluctance to part with him intensified.
"Our Miss Cao is finally going home! She won't have to break bowls anymore!" Shen Zheng said in a flippant tone. "Hey, you've been staring at Zhao Ergou the whole time, could it be...?"
"Young Master Shen, what are you saying!" Wang Damai walked in at some point and stood next to Cao Yingying. "Don't listen to Young Master Shen's nonsense. He's never serious. Come on, I'll help you pack your things."
Spring Flower and Summer Flower also came over: "We'll help too."
Shen Zheng stroked his chin: "Am I wrong? Cao Yingying's eyes were all sticky when she looked at Zhao Ergou, the two of them definitely..."
"A gentleman neither avoids praising others nor speaks ill of them," Cheng Zhao said calmly. "This concerns a woman's reputation, so be careful with your words."
Shen Zheng: "..."
What a bookworm! All he does is read, he has no curiosity whatsoever.
Cao Yingying came alone, and when she left, she had nothing to pack except two newly made sets of coarse cloth clothes.
Holding her bundle, she said with great reluctance, "I promised to teach you embroidery, but I'm leaving after only teaching you a little bit. I'm really sorry..."
"Sister Yingying, you're too kind," Xia Hua said. "What you've taught me is enough for me to ponder for a very long time. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have known that there were so many patterns in embroidery."
Wang Damai nodded: "Whether you embroider or not is a minor matter. When you go back, don't let your stepmother bully you again."
Chunhua placed a bag of pastries in Cao Yingying's hand: "The osmanthus flowers have all withered by this time of year. I managed to find some and made osmanthus cakes. Take them with you on your journey."
Cao Yingying's eyes welled up slightly.
She also has several younger sisters, who are half her blood relatives, but her sisters constantly ridicule and mock her, and their relationship is not harmonious.
When she arrived in Dahe Village, she met several girls: Wu Huiniang, who was a few years older than her; Wang Damai, who was the same age as her; Chunhua, who was a year younger than her; and Xiahua, who was three or four years younger than her. These girls had one thing in common: they were innocent and guileless. It was comfortable to be with innocent people, and she liked that feeling.
But she knew that this kind of life was not for her.
She belongs to the Cao family, and sooner or later she will have to go back and face those schemes and intrigues.
"Once I'm settled at home, I'll arrange for an embroiderer to come and teach you," Cao Yingying said with a smile. "You all go ahead with your work; I'm leaving now."
She smiled, turned around, and walked outside the gate.
Cao Defu took the bundle from her hands: "Let's go, Dad will take you home."
Cao Yingying stood still, looked at Cheng Wanwan, and suddenly rushed over and threw herself into Cheng Wanwan's arms.
She asked in a low voice, "Auntie, can I come and stay for a while in a while?"
"Of course you can," Cheng Wanwan laughed. "However, I hope you come here happy, not helplessly hiding here after being forced into a corner, okay?"
Cao Yingying lowered her head, secretly wiped away her tears, and nodded with a forced smile: "Okay."
She turned and got into the carriage, hiding inside and secretly crying. She was truly reluctant to leave, reluctant to leave her peaceful life, and reluctant to leave everyone here...
Zhao Ergou stood by the roadside, quietly watching the carriage disappear into the distance.
"Hey!" Shen Zheng shouted in his ear, "The carriage is gone, what are you still looking for!"
"I wasn't looking at anything." Zhao Ergou snapped out of his daze. "I'm hungry, let's eat."
Wen and Chunhua were busy. The food in the pot was cooked and a large table was filled with it.
The whole family sat down at the table and ate home-cooked meals, and Cheng Wanwan finally felt at ease.
This trip to Nanyang City lasted five days, which felt much longer than the one or two months she spent on business trips in her previous life. Unless absolutely necessary, she would never travel far again.
With so many children in the family, shouldn't we give them a chance to learn and grow?
After having a hearty meal, Cheng Wanwan walked to the cart and began handing out gifts to the children.
Because there were so many children—her own, temporary guests, relatives' children… to save trouble, she simply gave each child a bag of special snacks.
Of course, the youngest child in the family, Zhao Yuezhu, had a very special gift: a round, white pearl strung together with red thread to make a bracelet.
Wu Huiniang quickly waved her hand: "Mother, this thing is too precious, you can't use it..."
“I bought this for my granddaughter, it has nothing to do with you.” Cheng Wanwan said gently with a smile. “Little Zhuzhu is still too young to wear it for now. As her mother, you can help keep it safe, maybe it can be kept as part of her dowry in the future.”
Wu Huiniang's eyes welled up with tears.
Little Zhuzhu is still so young, and her mother-in-law has already started preparing her dowry. If the little girl dares to be disrespectful to her grandmother in the future, she will definitely give her a good beating.
Wu Xiaochui was also deeply moved.
He never expected that he would also receive a gift, a pastry he had never seen before. He couldn't bear to eat it and secretly hid it in his sleeve.
Cheng Wanwan glanced at the remaining items and said, "Afu, take these things and come with me to the old house."
Ah Fu ate his snack and nodded vaguely, "Okay."
They're having dinner at the old house too.
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