Qin Xiaoniang nodded and continued to ask, "Then where did you hide the book? You child, why don't you tell your mother anything and add so much burden to yourself?"
“Mother, this is not a burden for me, but an honor. I am happy to have such a shrewd and capable grandfather who left behind such a vast fortune.” Song He’er looked at her with a smile.
Qin Xiaoniang was somewhat puzzled: "Wealth?"
"Of course it's wealth! If we can understand the secrets in the book, we can also accomplish great things in Nanzhao. Then we can settle down in a foreign land, build an ancestral hall for our maternal grandfather, and offer incense. Isn't this what Mother has always longed for?"
Song He'er has no maternal uncles, and her grandfather only has her mother as his daughter. If future generations add a memorial tablet for her and offer sacrifices for her for many years, he will be very pleased in the afterlife.
“He’er, your idea is good, but your mother still doesn’t want you to be too tired. You are too young to bear so much. After this year, it will be your coming-of-age ceremony. Your mother will definitely find an opportunity to make it a big celebration for you.”
"What's all the fuss about? This isn't the capital. Our priority right now is making a living. Coming of age is such a useless ceremony; it's just a way to kill time. I have no interest in it."
Qin Xiaoniang smiled with satisfaction, "What a pity, you're so young and beautiful."
Song He'er knew what Qin Xiaoniang was regretting at this moment. It was nothing more than watching her grow older day by day, not only did she not have a reliable person to entrust her with, but she also had to endure a lifetime of hardship in this cold and bitter place. Any mother would feel sorry for her.
"It's getting late. Uncle and the others will be back soon. Let's go and get some rest. We still have things to do tomorrow!"
Just as Song He'er was about to leave, Qin Xiaoniang called out to her, "Wait a minute, you have to tell me where you hid the book."
"I didn't dare carry it with me the whole way. You know, the most dangerous place is the safest place. So I put the book in an empty water bottle that I was traveling with. When we got to Xinzhou, I found a quiet place to bury it. Don't worry, I will take Mother to retrieve it herself before we leave!"
Song He'er picked up a random excuse to brush it off. She couldn't possibly reveal that she had a personal space, so she could only give a perfunctory answer.
However, at least her excuse had some credibility and wasn't just made up on the spot.
Qin Xiaoniang breathed a sigh of relief and said nothing, then pulled Song He'er into the house...
"It's getting late, you should go inside and rest. Don't run around tomorrow, eat well, and get plump up. You can't be this skinny!"
Song He'er smiled and nodded. After listening to Qin Xiaoniang's words, she obediently crawled into the quilt to rest.
Although men and women crammed into the same cave to rest, the men slept on the westernmost side of the cave, while the women slept in tents. The two did not disturb each other, just like a simple dwelling with one entrance and one exit.
Song He'er truly felt this was the most tiring day. After falling asleep, she didn't wake up until noon the next day.
"I thought you were sick. Get up, it's time to eat!"
Chun Di stood in front of Song He'er, holding a bowl of soup and a plate of side dishes.
"Fourth Aunt? What time is it now?"
"It's already noon, my little auntie, get up and eat something. Your mother said you're too tired and should rest. She even asked me to make you some white fungus and red date porridge! Get up quickly, it'll get cold!"
Song He'er sat up straight, looked at the bowl of crystal-clear porridge on the tray, and then carefully examined the dish of shredded bamboo shoots next to it, and couldn't help but be a little surprised.
"Fourth Aunt, these things aren't cheap, where did you get them?"
"Your third uncle bought these from those merchants last night. They weren't cheap, but we can't just eat pickled vegetables and drink soup, can we? We didn't dare make too much because we were worried about you. These things are precious, so only the younger ones are lucky enough to get some!"
Song He'er swallowed and shook her head. "Fourth Aunt, I don't want to eat it. I'm fine. Why would I need to supplement something when I'm so young? You should take it to Mother and the children."
Song He'er naturally lacked nothing. If she were really starving, she could just take out a few items from her spatial storage and have a full meal.
However, Song He'er still felt somewhat guilty because of how much people were worried about her.
"Eat quickly, we've all eaten. If you don't eat, it will really be a waste of our good intentions!"
Chun Di insisted, and Song He'er had no choice but to get up, wash up briefly, and swallow the 'quite delicious' food.
"By the way, someone came looking for you early this morning. He was a servant. I didn't understand what he was saying. Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law talked to him for a long time. You should get up and ask him yourself if there's anything important."
Chun Di picked up the dirty clothes from the tent again and again, then carried them out.
A servant? In Xinzhou, what servant would know her? She was just someone sent by Jiang Huaifu.
Thinking of this, Song He'er quickly finished the rice in her bowl and then went outside to find out what was going on.
"Third Aunt, was someone looking for me just now?"
While working, Zhang Xiue laughed and said, "Yes, it seems to be that prince. He said that a new batch of goods has arrived in Nanzhao. He asked if you are interested. If so, you might as well go and meet him."
"Oh, did he say where he would wait for me?"
"The boat is right on the shore, I'll have your third uncle take you there."
"No...no need, I can go by myself." After saying that, Song He'er glanced at Qin Xiaoniang, who was watching the child from the side.
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