Chapter 49 Guilty Feelings: Tomorrow we will go to the market, ask Aye to accompany you...
Seeing how obedient he was, Lin Shu smiled with satisfaction. "Then I'll go back first. Don't just think about working and being lazy from time to time. I don't want to be a donkey pulling the millstone, and I don't want others to be the donkey pulling the millstone."
"Well... okay." Zhou Ye watched her walk away briskly.
She had changed into a clean pair of straw sandals, the ones Third Aunt had given her, and they looked like they fit her perfectly. It had just rained, so the ground was wet on the vegetable patch side. Although there were a few stone slabs along the path, there were none near the fish pond. She had just come so close to bring him water, and her clean sandals had gotten wet and muddy, staining the toes.
But she seemed unaware, and just lifted her skirt and walked out on the stone slabs.
The gap between two of the stone slabs was probably too wide. She paused, took a big step across, and almost jumped up. When she stepped on the next stone slab, she swayed her body before she could stand firm.
Zhou Ye's eyelids jumped and he subconsciously took a step forward, but Lin Shu had already walked away on another stone slab.
After Lin Shu's figure completely disappeared, Zhou Ye frowned, put the work in his hands aside, and went to take a look at the stone slab.
There is no stonemason in Tianshui Village. He paved this stone road two years ago, and he specially went to the mountains to find flat stones.
Most of the stone is buried in the ground, with a small part exposed. Some gravel is buried around the stone and compacted with the excavated soil, making it extremely stable.
The gaps in the stone slabs were created based on his estimation of Aunt He's pace. Aunt He would be able to step on the stone slabs with each step.
But as time went on, even the stone slabs, which were buried firmly at the beginning, began to loosen, and the gap between two of them became larger and larger.
Especially after the rain last night, the already loose stone road became even more unstable.
Zhou Ye had long legs and big strides. Normally, when he came to the vegetable patch behind the house, he would take two or even three stone slabs at a time. He wasn't a very careful person, so he hadn't noticed anything before today.
After checking one by one, Zhou Ye found that the three stone slabs were obviously loose, and there was even water accumulated in the loose places, so the space between the stone slabs was particularly muddy. If you accidentally stepped in, your whole feet would be covered with mud.
He found some gravel and realigned the two slabs of stone with a larger gap between them. He filled the loose gaps between the slabs with gravel, covered them with soil, and compacted both the soil and gravel.
Then he compacted the other loose stone slabs one by one.
By the time all this was done, Zhou Ye's hands were covered in mud, but he didn't care about the dirt on his hands. Instead, he stared at the mud between the stone slabs and was distracted.
After pondering for a while, he turned around and took the pebbles left over from filling the fish pond. He spread the pebbles between the two stone slabs, covering up the mud and water.
One layer was not enough, and there were no more pebbles left, so Zhou Ye took a dustpan to the river and brought back two full dustpans of pebbles.
After two or three layers of pebbles were laid, the mud and stagnant water were almost completely covered.
Zhou Ye looked at it several times and confirmed that there was no problem. Then he went to the ditch to rub the mud off his hands, and then continued to plant the Acorus calamus next to the fish pond.
In the main hall, Lin Yushu digested what Sister Shu taught him today, feeling very satisfied.
Although he still wanted to continue learning, an hour had already passed. He was afraid that if he continued to pester Sister Shu to talk, she would be unhappy.
He was already deeply grateful to have met a teacher like Sister A Shu, and he really didn't dare to ask for more.
"Are you sure you understand everything I taught you today? If you don't, ask me. To study, you need to be thick-skinned. No teacher would dislike a student who is quick-witted, eager to learn, and loves to ask questions. When you go to a proper school in the future, you should be even more so. If you don't understand something, just ask the teacher as much as you can. Any teacher with good character will be happy to meet such a student. If you have a bad character, don't be afraid even if he has a fierce and stern face. We all paid tuition to enter the school, and the teacher has the obligation to answer the students' questions..."
Lin Yushu listened to Lin Shu's instructions, nodded seriously, and felt even more grateful.
Thinking of what his mother had told him before he left, he said with embarrassment, "My mother was going to meet my second aunt to weave hemp together today, but she wants to go to town to sell straw sandals tomorrow, and she still has a few pairs of sandals to weave, so she didn't come today."
He Guixiang happened to come over to refill their water. Upon hearing this, she said, "I thought she said she would come yesterday. Why are you the only one here today?"
Lin Yushu's thin face immediately flushed again, and he hurriedly explained, "Second Aunt, it's my fault for forgetting to tell you. I should have told you when I first came here."
"It's okay. Come, drink some spring water when it's hot. This spring water is fetched by your brother Aye every morning from the back mountain. Our family is close to the mountain, and Aye is a man who doesn't mind the trouble, so we can drink it every day."
Lin Yushu replied, "This mountain spring water is indeed delicious, sweeter than the water in the stream."
Lin Shu thought to herself: Cousin Yushu is very smart in studying, but he is not so good at dealing with people. Is Mother asking him to praise the sweetness of the mountain spring water? She wants Cousin Yushu to praise Zhou Ye for his ability, praise Dad for his good vision, and praise her for being blessed!
But the way to deal with people cannot be rushed. It requires teaching step by step, and you have to figure it out on your own.
Lin Yushu was interrupted by this and didn't know how to find a way to continue what he wanted to say. He felt a little embarrassed to speak directly.
Seeing his hesitant reaction, something flashed through Lin Shu's mind and she suddenly understood.
If Lin Yushu hadn't mentioned this, she would probably have forgotten about it.
She had promised her third aunt that she would take her cousin Yu Shu to the bookstore in town to buy books and writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone.
Although Zhou Ye had just told A Niang during breakfast that he would not go to the market tomorrow, he had used Xiao Pu as an excuse and did not mention her foot pain at all, so it was difficult for her to refuse.
She said she sprained her ankle? Then she couldn't go to town for the next two days. Her mother would definitely not let her go.
However, there was only a small wound on my foot. After changing into Aunt San's pair of closed-toe straw sandals, the wound was no longer rubbed or squeezed by the rough straw rope, and the pain was gone. I guess I can sleep tonight and it will be healed tomorrow.
Thinking of this, Lin Shu readily took the initiative to mention the matter, "I walk slowly, so I won't go with you tomorrow. You and Auntie San go to the town to sell straw sandals first, and I'll find you when I get there."
Lin Xiaopu on the side suddenly widened her eyes and looked at her elder sister.
Lin Shu patted her head, signaling her to be quiet, and continued, "There are many people at the market. If I can't find you, we can meet at the door of the bookstore at the end of the day. By the end of the day, I believe Third Aunt's straw sandals will have been almost sold out."
Lin Yushu was just wondering how to bring up the market again when Lin Shu suddenly spoke up. Hearing this, he quickly replied, "They should be almost sold out. The market is crowded before noon, but it gets smaller and smaller afterward. If there are a few pairs left, my mother usually saves them for the next market. But there are only two bookstores in town. Which one should I go to look for Sister Shu?"
Lin Shu's mind turned very quickly, and she said, "Let's go to the one with fewer people."
Seeing his confusion, Lin Shu explained, "Bookstores in places with a lot of customers are usually in good locations. If I'm guessing correctly, that bookstore is most likely to be in a street near the town's school. Things in good locations are also more expensive. On the contrary, those in bad locations may be cheaper because they have fewer customers. It's not a problem if that bookstore has a small selection of books. We want to buy enlightenment books, which can be found in any bookstore."
Lin Yushu nodded his head after listening to this. No wonder Sister Ashu said that studying is not about blindly studying, but about being flexible and adaptable. She also asked him to learn some business skills. Although merchants are humble, there is a lot of knowledge in business skills. If he wants to pursue a career in politics in the future, understanding these things will be of great benefit to him.
After being promised so many great things by Lin Shu, Lin Yushu no longer felt that a career in officialdom was out of reach. He liked reading, and it would be best if he could achieve something in this field in the future. If not, it only meant that he was not well-educated or was not suitable for this path, and he could not blame anyone.
"Thank you so much for your guidance and guidance today, Sister Shu. I've kept you busy for a long time. I'll be leaving now."
After Lin Yushu left, He Guixiang looked at his back and said curiously, "It's only been a few days, how come Yushu looks so different from before?"
Lin Xiaopu immediately responded, "Mother, this is called a scholar's air. Cousin Yushu has been studying with my sister for a few days and has already developed a scholar's air. When he changes into a long gown and wears a scholar's scarf on his head, people will definitely think he is a scholar from the town school! Although Cousin Yushu is smart, the most important thing is that my sister taught him well. He should thank my sister very much. It would be best if Aunt San sent a few more pairs of straw sandals."
He Guixiang gently poked her forehead and scolded her with a smile, "We're relatives, why do you have to be so calculating? Your Third Aunt is almost dragging Yushu to kowtow to your elder sister. The silk handkerchief you're tying the flowers on your head was also given by your Third Aunt. Isn't that enough? I'll take you to town in a couple of days and you'll know how much this embroidered silk handkerchief costs. I'm afraid you won't even be able to wear it on your head by then."
Lin Xiaopu touched the silk handkerchief embroidered with orchids on her head, still holding her head high, and said confidently: "Mother, don't take advantage of me because I have little education. This is just a small advantage for me. It is my cousin Yushu who has taken a big advantage. He has taken advantage, and it is my third uncle and aunt who have taken advantage." After saying that, he looked at his elder sister.
Lin Shu immediately gave great feedback, clapping her hands in a seal-like gesture. "Excellent! With my sister's intelligence, no one will be able to deceive her in the future!"
She admitted that she deliberately guided Xiaopu's way and angle of thinking about problems, but Xiaopu himself was also a very thoughtful child.
Because of her frail health since childhood, Xiao Pu might envy her stronger peers, or feel guilty about adding to the family's burden, but she rarely lets her guard down. She's the kind of child who, even if her parents can't be persuaded not to buy her medicine, simply takes it. She's a positive person who doesn't let her guard down.
Lin Xiaopu was immediately delighted by the encouragement. She felt that in this family, as long as her elder sister agreed, it was right. Her parents' opinions were not as important as her elder sister's.
"But sister, are you really going to the market tomorrow?" Lin Xiaopu asked.
When she was changing her pants in the inner room, her elder sister checked her foot. It was indeed a small cut, and it didn't look serious. There were people in the village who sprained their ankles and continued to work in the fields the next day.
But my sister has been pampered for more than ten years. When her foot was not injured, she might not be able to walk these ten miles. Now there is another wound on her foot.
Lin Shu said, "I promised Aunt San a long time ago, I can't go back on my word."
He Guixiang didn't know she had injured her foot and immediately laughed at her, "Your sister just wants to go to the market to join in the fun! But Ah Shu, our Tianshui Village is sixteen miles away from the town, and mother is worried you can't bear the hardship."
"Mother, walking a mountain road is nothing compared to hardship. Don't underestimate me." Lin Shu had no idea how delicate she was in the eyes of her mother and Xiao Pu. If she hadn't checked her foot a little later, the wound would have healed.
"It's okay. Mom will go with you tomorrow. I also have a few things to buy."
"No need, mother. If you leave, Xiao Pu will be so bored at home alone."
Lin Xiaopu didn't think it was a big deal. "It's okay, sister. I used to be alone at home often. When I was there, I would just bolt the gate and not open it for anyone to come."
As she spoke, she thought of something and added, "Besides, we have Brother Aye at home. He used to go to the fields with Dad, but these past two days he's been staying behind the house digging a fish pond for Sister."
When Lin Shu heard her mention Zhou Ye, she felt inexplicably guilty.
Previously, Zhou Ye was concerned about her foot injury and deliberately postponed the date of going to the town for two or three days. As a result, she agreed to go to the market tomorrow with Lin Yushu. Isn't this a waste of his kindness?
Just as she was thinking about it, He Guixiang, reminded by Xiao Pu, suddenly said, "Ah Shu, why don't you ask Ah Ye to go with you?"
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The author has something to say: My dears, the update will be a little late tomorrow (the 6th), probably around 11pm, and I will try to update a longer chapter.
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