Chapter 444 Zhao Sidan is too arrogant
As early summer arrives, it gets light earlier and earlier.
Cheng Wanwan originally wanted to sleep in a little longer, but since the whole family had been up for at least half an hour, she couldn't sleep anymore. She yawned and got out of bed.
Wei Hongying finished washing the clothes early and hung them to dry in a well-ventilated spot on the side of the yard. Then she quickly brought out breakfast.
Breakfast was noodle soup with shredded meat and a fried egg, along with small fish and shrimp that had just been caught from the river. It was incredibly delicious and flavorful.
Just as they were eating, they saw Yu Jiao, the youngest daughter of the Yu family, walk in from the gate of the courtyard carrying a large pile of things.
"Jiaojiao, what brings you here?" Cheng Wanwan greeted her warmly. "Have you had breakfast? Would you like another bite?"
Yu Jiao shook her head: "Good morning, Auntie. I came to find Brother Jing Si. Where is he?"
Just then, Zhao Sidan came out of the house. When he saw what she was holding, his lips twitched. "Well, I was just joking. I didn't really want to learn to draw..."
“I was just joking when I was little, but my dad forced me to learn to paint every day. Since you’ve said it, you have to do it.” Yu Jiao snorted, walked in, and put the things in her hand on the stone table in the courtyard. “A man’s word is his bond. Brother Jing Si, come here quickly, I’ll teach you the basics.”
Zhao Sidan was in a real bind. He had heard that Master Yu's paintings sold for high prices, so he casually mentioned that he wanted to learn to paint.
Unexpectedly, the little girl overheard him and insisted on teaching him. He had so much time to study martial arts and read books every day that he didn't have time to learn this.
“Sidan, I think you really can learn to paint,” Cheng Wanwan said. “Painting can cultivate your character and calm your restless mind. It’s time for you to settle down.”
This kid had only been studying for less than a year when he passed the county exam. He was praised by Master Yu every day and envied by all the other children his age in the village. His heart had already wandered off to who-knows-where.
The path to the imperial examinations is long, and there is still a long way to go. A person with unsteady steps cannot go far.
Yu Jiao raised her chin: "Since Auntie has said so, Brother Jing Si, just obediently learn from me. I'm more than capable of teaching you."
Zhao Sidan scratched the back of his head. Lately, he seemed to have gotten a little cocky. He was better at studying than his peers in the village and could fight as well as anyone. He always felt that he was already very good. But he was only comparing himself to the children in Dahe Village. For example, Yu Jiao, a girl from Huzhou, was only six years old and could draw. How many more outstanding children were there in Huzhou?
He immediately said, "Okay, I'll learn from you."
Yu Jiao spread out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and said earnestly, "Let's learn to paint grapes first. Look, the grapes have already grown..."
Zhao Sidan then noticed that there were many small green grapes on the grape trellis in the yard, hanging in bunches on the vines, which was very pleasing to the eye.
"Oh, Brother Jingsi, you didn't know your grapes have grown? That won't do! My dad says that a painter needs a keen eye for observation." Yu Jiao said, holding up her brush. "Take the time it takes to drink a cup of tea to observe the grapes first, and then we'll begin..."
Cheng Wanwan felt a little embarrassed. She sat in the courtyard every day drinking tea and admiring the flowers, and only then did she notice that grapes had grown.
Judging from how the grapes are growing, it will probably take at least a month to ripen.
The two children were intently observing and drawing in the yard, so Cheng Wanwan didn't disturb them.
She wrote the menu for the lotus banquet yesterday and needs to go and hand it over to Ms. Wen.
Lotus banquet, as the name suggests, is a dish made with lotus flowers. For example, lotus flowers can be used as the main ingredient, coated with egg and flour, deep-fried, and then taken out. However, lotus flowers are mostly used as a side ingredient, using the fragrance and beauty of lotus flowers to create twelve exquisite dishes.
Looking at the menu, Wen couldn't help but say, "Sister-in-law, how did you come up with these dishes? Just looking at the names makes my mouth water."
"I've been idling around all day, so I've been thinking about this all the time," Cheng Wanwan said with a smile. "The lotus flowers will be in full bloom soon, so his second aunt can try making more dishes and practice until she's good at it. Later, when there are other flowers, like peach blossoms, jasmine, peonies... you can learn from them. Once you master one, you can master everything."
Ms. Wen nodded: "I really should use my blockhead. It'll just rust if I don't. I'll think more about recipes when I have nothing else to do."
The two were sitting at the door talking when Sun Xiaolei walked in looking lost and dejected. He accidentally knocked over a shelf, scattering wild vegetables all over the ground.
He quickly squatted down and picked up the vegetables from the ground.
Just as Cheng Wanwan was about to ask what was wrong, Wen Shi tugged at her sleeve.
After Sun Xiaolei went inside to get busy, Wen Shi said, "Before dawn, Sister-in-law Sun came to propose marriage and even set a date... But Mother flatly rejected the marriage. Sister-in-law Sun was quite angry at the time. She just came here and called Xiaolei out, probably to talk about this matter... To be honest, Xiaolei is really a good person, hardworking and honest. I don't know why Mother wouldn't agree to this marriage."
Cheng Wanwan coughed. Actually, it wasn't that the old lady disagreed, but that Chunhua didn't want to marry him. She also felt that marriage between close relatives was not a good thing, so she whispered in the old lady's ear. She didn't expect the old lady to be so supportive.
"It seems Xiao Lei will be heartbroken for a while," Wen sighed. "But Xiao Lei is a good person, and he'll definitely find a decent wife in the future."
Cheng Wanwan nodded. This child is indeed good; he will surely have a good marriage in the future.
"Sister-in-law Zhao, what are you doing here?" Manager Yan came running over, panting. "The gifts are ready, and the carriage is ready. When are you leaving, Sister-in-law Zhao?"
Cheng Wanwan was a little confused: "Set off, where to?"
"The Cao family sent someone the other day to say that they are holding a celebration banquet today. Sister-in-law Zhao, have you forgotten?" Manager Yan wiped the sweat from his brow. "If you don't have time, I'll tell Er Gou and the others that we won't be waiting."
Cheng Wanwan slapped her forehead; how could she have forgotten about this?
Aunt Meng gave birth to a big, healthy baby boy a few days ago, and Cao Defu was overjoyed. Although the boy was born out of wedlock, he was the only heir of the Cao family, so the celebration was naturally a grand affair. As the mother-in-law of the child, she naturally had to attend.
She quickly got up, went home, changed her clothes and hairstyle, and then got into the carriage.
The carriage traveled smoothly and soon arrived at Hekou County. The entrance to the Cao residence was bustling with activity, and there was no room for the carriages. They had to get off the carriages and walk over.
Cao Yingying said helplessly, "Why won't my dad listen to advice? Shouldn't we have kept this a low profile?"
When Cao Hong, the nominal legitimate son, was born, there wasn't such a grand ceremony. Now that a concubine has given birth to a son, what will outsiders say?
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