Just as the eggs were about to hit the ground, she hooked one foot and lifted the basket with one hand, catching the eggs perfectly.
She caught the two eggs that had spilled out with her other hand and put them back in the basket.
Qian wanted to snatch it again, and she had truly learned a lot of the essentials from following Yang.
However, when Qiu Yan looked at her, she became frightened and could only withdraw her hand, angrily returning to the courtyard.
The three of them returned to the old courtyard. Qiu Yumei looked at the drafty thatched hut and became increasingly angry.
“My elder brother provides them with food and drink every day. If he knew that his three children have now moved back to the old house, I don’t know how heartbroken he would be. How can anyone live in such a house?”
Qiu Xu shook his head, "Auntie, don't be sad. Before, we didn't have freedom in the Qiu family. Living here is the life we want."
Qiu Yumei sniffed, "Why don't you go stay at your aunt's house?"
Qiu Yumei was two years younger than Qiu Dafu. She married Zhao San from the same village the year Qiu Yan was born. Zhao San had received some schooling in his early years and worked as an accountant in a teahouse in the county town, where he established himself.
Later, the couple spent thirty taels of silver to buy a house on the outskirts of the city.
The house is a brick and wood structure with only two rooms, and a bed takes up most of the room.
The couple shared one room, and their two sons shared another.
If Qiu Yan and her group come, it's acceptable for men and women to stay separately temporarily.
Qiu Yan knew that her aunt meant well. "Auntie, it's okay. We can fix the leaky roof and still live here."
Qiu Yumei choked up as she said, "Once your aunt has made some money and bought a big house, she will take you to live in Baiyang."
Qiu Yan smiled and said, "Auntie is so kind."
Qiu Yumei went to the Li family's house. Qiu Ling'er, who was playing with straw rope with Ye Shi, was so excited when she saw her aunt that she threw herself into her arms. "Auntie, what brings you here?"
"I came to see you." Seeing that Qiu Ling'er's fever had subsided, Qiu Yumei was finally relieved.
Qiu Yumei held Qiu Ling'er and shared half of the eggs and pastries with Ye Shi. "Sister Ye, if it weren't for you yesterday, Xiaoyan and the others would have been very upset. This is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it."
“No, you mustn’t…” Ye refused, pushing his hand away.
"Okay!" Qiu Yumei put down her things and asked Ye Shi to continue to help take care of Qiu Ling'er, as the little girl's health was still unstable and she was afraid of developing a fever again.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, she went to help repair the roof.
Because the thatched house leaked everywhere, Qiu Yumei and Qiu Xu were below, and Qiu Yan was above. She started from the eaves and applied a layer of mud to the roof from top to bottom, and then pressed the thatch on top layer by layer.
Qiu Yan's entire action made the two people below break out in a cold sweat.
After a morning of work, they finally managed to repair the roof.
Looking at the solid roof, Qiu Xu felt a great sense of accomplishment. "Sister, now we won't be afraid of the rain anymore."
Qiu Yan agreed with Qiu Xu's statement. She felt that no matter what, the three of them shouldn't have wasted their hard work for half a day.
“We’ll know if it’s feasible after the next rain. Xiaoyan, Axu, if the roof still leaks next time it rains, you should move to your aunt’s house,” Qiu Yumei said.
"I think it definitely won't leak," Qiu Xu said confidently.
Qiu Yumei and Qiu Xu were exhausted after half a day just searching for some mud in the mountains, let alone Qiu Yan.
This was Qiu Yan's first time repairing a roof. The house construction should be postponed for now, as her younger brother is already ten years old, and it would be better to send him to school first.
At noon, Qiu Yan steamed rice and stir-fried mutton and cabbage. When Qiu Yumei saw the mutton at home and learned that Qiu Yan had made some money selling herbs, she was also pleased.
She gave them her home address and told them to remember to look for her next time they went to Baiyang.
She had previously said she would take Qiu Yan and the others to Baiyang for a visit, but Yang always made various excuses to decline. Now, no one is stopping them anymore.
Qiu Yumei had a quick lunch and then returned to Baiyang, as she still had a lot of things to do at home.
In the late afternoon, Qiu Yan took advantage of a free moment to take her younger brother to visit the village school.
Even though Qiu Yan could recognize all the ancient characters, she still couldn't explain it to Qiu Xu.
On that oxcart, she had already inquired with the villagers that the village school tuition was only two taels of silver a year.
She briefly explained her idea to Qiu Xu, who strongly opposed it, but to no avail.
“Sister, I can earn money even if I stay at home,” Qiu Xu said.
"Ah Xu, let's go ask them first."
Qiu Yan knew that her younger brother was worried about her being overworked. "Ah Xu, just focus on your studies. Don't worry about money. You're young, so you should do what children should do."
"How old is my sister?" Qiu Xu still refused.
"Sister doesn't feel it's hard, Ah Xu. You don't want to be looked down upon and unable to hold your head up for the rest of your life, do you? If you do well in your studies, your sister and I will benefit too. Sister believes in you!" Qiu Yan may be young, but she is big in spirit and mind.
Her eyes were bright, and her voice was gentle yet firm.
She smiled at Qiu Xu, a gentle smile that revealed her dimples, warming Qiu Xu's heart.
Qiu Xu's last bit of resolve finally crumbled. For poor families, education was the only way to get ahead.
And he will be his sister's strong support.
"Qiu Yan!"
Suddenly, a sharp shout rang out. Qiu Yan turned around and saw a man with a dark face walking towards the two of them.
Qiu Yan raised her eyes and stared intently at the man who was walking towards her.
The man was none other than Qiu Dazhi.
"Another one." She, Qiu Yan, wasn't afraid of anyone looking for trouble.
Qiu Dazhi was wearing the Lu Ming Academy uniform, which made him look much more noble.
Qiu Xu stared at Qiu Dazhi's neat hospital uniform for a long time without moving his eyes.
Qiu Dazhi and Qiu Dayu have completely opposite personalities; one is pedantic, rigid, and extremely arrogant, while the other is idle and prone to fighting.
Qiu Dazhi stared at the two men, his face full of anger.
"Qiu Yan, no matter what, Grandma is an elder. How can you beat and scold her at will!"
That's right, he came here to demand an explanation.
He had just returned to the village from the academy when he heard Yang complaining to him. Qiu Dazhi was always filial, so how could he let his mother be bullied by Qiu Yan? That's why he came looking for her.
Qiu Yan withdrew her gaze and asked coldly:
"Qiu Dazhi, did you see me hit her?"
Qiu Dazhi was very displeased that Qiu Yan addressed him by his full name, saying, "My mother said it, how could it be false!"
Qiu Yan: "Your mother is the best liar!"
"How... how can you talk to your elders like that?" Qiu Dazhi didn't want to waste time with Qiu Yan on this kind of thing. He'd rather go home and read more books.
"You three should go home and apologize to my mother. She said she doesn't blame you."
It turned out she was a lobbyist; Yang's malicious intent was blatantly obvious. "Qiu Dazhi, if there's nothing else, please leave. I need to go to the village school with A-Xu; I don't have time to chat with you."
"A village school?" Qiu Dazhi sneered. "Qiu Yan, can Qiu Xu even read a book?"
Qiu Xu tightened his grip. "Why can't I study?"
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