“Hua’er has such a good memory…” Madam Qian looked embarrassed.
If she keeps pressing the issue now that things have come to this point, it won't look good.
Moreover, she had only mentioned it briefly, but she hadn't expected her sister-in-law to have such a good memory, remembering everything perfectly.
Besides, it's a good thing that Chunhua can go, since she can't go. It's never a bad thing for a young woman to broaden her horizons.
After Su Hua finished speaking and gave Chun Hua a few more instructions, she took the two little ones back to the end of the village.
As soon as they left, Madam Qian quickly closed the door, pulled Chunhua into the house, and searched under the bed for a long time before finally pulling out a dusty money bag.
He estimated the weight and poured out half of it, then handed the rest, along with the money bag, to Chunhua. "Here, this is your father's monthly allowance for the past few months. Take half with you. If there's anything you like, buy it yourself, and bring some back for your mother as well."
Chunhua stared at the bulging money bag, momentarily stunned.
My mother usually counts each copper coin several times, yet she gave her so much silver?
"What's with that look in your eyes?" Madam Qian glared at her with her phoenix eyes and stuffed the money bag into her arms. "Just take it. The capital is a place where every inch of land is precious. Even drinking water costs money. We can't let your aunt and the others pay for everything, can we?"
"With the whole family going to the capital, even if your aunt is clever, there will inevitably be things she can't take care of. While you're away, you should spend what you need to spend; don't suffer."
Chunhua felt a warmth in her heart. "Thank you, Mother!"
The woman waved her hand, "No need to thank me. When you come back, just tell me about the interesting things that happened in the capital."
In the past, she might have dared to play some tricks, but now that her sister-in-law has risen to become the ruler of a county, the entire Qingshui County belongs to her. Only those who can't understand this would dare to cause trouble under her nose.
Moreover, she had already figured it out. As long as she behaved well, her husband would treat her well and wouldn't skimp on food and drink. He was no longer as cold and sarcastic towards her as he had been at the beginning. Instead of overthinking, she might as well wait for the baby to be born.
After the flood, Su Hua took the lead, and the villagers contributed their efforts to build a school in Shanghe Village. The school was located in the dilapidated temple at the entrance of the village. A scholar from Qingshui County was invited to be the teacher. The school mainly enrolled children from Shanghe Village, regardless of gender or age. Anyone who wanted to learn could register at the school.
These days, the little kids are running to the school every day.
Upon hearing the news that the Su family was going to the capital, they immediately became restless.
Since Su Ji Restaurant opened, it has been buying vegetables from the village. The villagers help with their chores every day and can earn some pocket money. Little by little, they have saved up a considerable amount.
They all asked their parents for the money they had saved up and went to Su Dalang and his brother.
"Big Brother, Second Brother, I've heard there are many delicious and fun things to do in the capital. Here are two hundred coins. Could you help me buy some back?"
"Brother, my sister loves sweets. Here's a hundred coins. Could you bring back some soft candies?"
"Big Brother, Second Brother, I want to eat some cakes. I have twenty coins here. Can you help me buy a bag of cakes?"
"Brother, I'd like to buy a calligraphy brush from the capital. Would one tael of silver be enough?"
"Me too, me too! I want a handful of soil from the capital..."
Seeing this, the Su brothers calmly took out a piece of paper and a charcoal pencil from their sleeves and said slowly, "No rush, everyone come one by one, we'll register you."
We're not even sure if we'll be able to buy it. We can only collect half the deposit now, and we'll settle the other half once we get back and have bought it.
As for the soil from the capital, you don't need to pay for it; we'll bring you a jar back!
The children listened and obediently lined up.
Mudfish looked at the two brothers with envy in its eyes, "Big Brother, Second Brother, when will you be back?"
The two brothers exchanged a glance and shook their heads in unison, "We don't know yet."
The family hasn't said when they'll be back, but the Emperor's birthday banquet is in early September. Their return won't be until mid-September at the earliest. If they stay in the capital for a while, it's even more uncertain when they'll be back.
Time flies.
Before they knew it, it was time for Su Dahu to take the imperial examination. This time, the Su family was very calm. They prepared bedding and food, asked Danfeng to drive him to the examination hall in the prefectural city, and then went about their own business.
On the last day of the provincial examination, the family, along with Xiao Jinhan and others, packed their belongings, picked up Su Dahu, and left Tangshan Prefecture. Coincidentally, they ran into Qin Yucheng and his sister as soon as they left the city gate.
The curtain of the Qin family's carriage was half-lifted.
As soon as the brother and sister saw the Su family carriage stop, they hurriedly greeted them with smiles, "Sister Su! Aunt Su, eldest brother Su, sister-in-law Su..."
The Su family members all smiled and agreed. Su Hua smiled and asked, "Yu Cheng, Ying Xian, are you also going to the Emperor's birthday banquet?"
"No." Qin Yingxian glanced at the person next to her and smiled. "My elder brother has some business to attend to in the capital. In addition, my grandparents are worried about him. Since he knew that you, Sister Su, were going, he waited to travel with you and keep you company."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two groups of people left Tangshan Prefecture and headed north.
Considering Su Bai's motion sickness, the Su family's carriage had its floor entirely made of woven leather strips, similar to spring shock absorbers. In addition, thick fur pads were placed between the wheels and the frame, so the carriage could travel fast without any bumps.
In less than half a day, they arrived at Wuxi Prefecture.
Not long after the group entered Wuxi Prefecture, a man with a full head of white hair rode his horse to Shanghe Village.
All the able-bodied men in the village were working in the workshops, while the children ran to the school under construction every day. Only a few elderly men and women, whose hands and feet were not very nimble, remained under the crooked sycamore tree at the entrance of the village, coming at the sound of horses' hooves.
I thought it was Hua Yatou and the others who had returned.
Looking up, I saw a tall figure dismount. Even though we were far apart, the man's menacing aura sent shivers down my spine for no reason.
The man took a few steps toward the sycamore tree.
Finally, he stopped in front of an old man at the very edge, cupped his hands and asked, "May I ask, sir, are there any families with the surname Xiao in your village?"
The third uncle stared at the white-haired man before him, who exuded an air of nobility, his old eyes momentarily blank.
The face shape, the nose, the mouth, even the eyes... they're so alike, so incredibly alike!
If it weren't for his white hair and half-beard, he would have thought that Jin Han had returned.
Seeing him standing there motionless, and the seven or eight people on the roots of the paulownia tree also looking up without moving, the man thought he had frightened them. He quickly composed himself and forced a smile, "Gentlemen, may I ask if there are any families with the surname Xiao in the village?"
Uncle San came to his senses, swallowed hard, and said, "Well, I...we don't really know. We'll have to find our village chief."
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