The child raised his head, his eyes filled with determination. "I will try my best and will never let Madam Meng and Master Wei down."
Meng Zhao's business is booming now, and she has some money. Sponsoring a few students to study is not a big deal. However, sponsoring them from a young age will eventually have a slower effect and is indeed risky. But even if only two or three of them become successful and remember her kindness in the future, she will not have lost out.
Besides, even if they have no hope of passing the imperial examinations in the future, they can still work for her. She didn't expect these favors to make them work for her, she only hoped that they would be more loyal and attentive when they worked.
Thinking that there were probably still things to do at home, Meng Zhao chatted briefly with Master Wei before hurrying back.
Before she even got home, she was surrounded by a group of people, all talking at once about what was happening in the fields.
"Qing'an's wife, the fertilizer you sell is really good! Our wheat seedlings are growing much stronger than in previous years, it's a joy to see." Uncle Li smiled from ear to ear, his face crinkling into a deep wrinkle.
They could prepare the materials for the composting recipe taught by Meng Zhao themselves, but not every household had that much manure, so they still had to buy it from the pig farm. Worried that they wouldn't be able to control the dosage, Meng Zhao kept a close eye on how they used it, and by this time they were quite familiar with them.
"Uncle Li is so hardworking. There aren't many families in the village like you, running around in the fields every day."
Uncle Li waved his hand and laughed even more heartily, "Hey, what else can an old farmer like me do if I don't go to the fields? I've been growing wheat for so many years, and I've never seen it grow so well! Right now, I really can't wait to harvest the wheat and see how much I can bag!"
Meng Zhao sat in the middle of the group, listening to them chat about their own land, each with a beaming smile, and she felt happy too.
A banquet requires a lot of tables, and it's not cost-effective to buy or rent them, so everyone brings out their own tables to use.
After the meal was nearly finished, the crowd gradually dispersed, each carrying their own tables and chairs away.
After the cooks hired by the Gu family finished cleaning up the stoves, they left. The remaining cleaning had to be done by the family members themselves. Usually, at times like this, it was the relatives of the host family who lived nearby who stayed to help.
Meng Zhao was well-liked, and even though they weren't close relatives, many of the aunties and grandmothers in the village volunteered to stay and lend a hand. With everyone working together, they quickly washed the used pots and pans clean.
Madam Gu divided the washed items into portions and handed a few plates to Shen Qingze. "These are from your Aunt Li Si's family. Go north from our house, and you'll find the one with the big locust tree in front of the gate."
"Mother, I know the way." Shen Qingze was somewhat dissatisfied with his mother's instructions.
Madam Gu smiled and said, "Isn't it because I was afraid you were too young to remember?"
There were still some leftover dishes, which Gu packed into several portions and handed to Shen Qinghe. "When your father passed away, if it weren't for the help of your uncles, he wouldn't have been able to be buried smoothly. They were close to your father, and I imagine they are all happy for you today. Take these things to them."
But no one took the outstretched object. Puzzled, he asked, "Qinghe?"
Shen Qinghe snapped back to reality, took the packages, and said, "Okay, Mother, I understand. I'll go right away."
After Shen Qinghe left, Meng Zhao walked to Gu Shi's side and whispered, "Mother, don't you think my second brother is acting strangely today?"
Madam Gu also noticed, her brows furrowing. "I don't know either. Ever since we came back from the county, he's been absent-minded. He won't say anything when we ask him. Sigh, this child, I don't know who he took after."
Recalling the redness and swelling on his face just now, Meng Zhao couldn't help but frown.
Shen Qinghe was always calm and rarely got into conflicts with others, let alone fights.
So in the evening, after everyone had gone back to their rooms to rest, Meng Zhao ladled out a bowl of steaming hot mushroom and seafood soup from the kitchen and gently knocked on Shen Qinghe's door.
Inside the room, Shen Qinghe was sitting at his desk, holding a book in his hands. The words in the book were clearly visible, but they seemed to be separated by a thin mist, making it impossible for him to concentrate. He tried to calm himself down, but his gaze could not focus. The sudden knocking on the door directly disrupted his thoughts.
"Who?" Shen Qinghe's voice was tense, even a little flustered.
"Second brother, it's me. I've brought you a bowl of soup. Drink it before you go to sleep." The voice was extremely gentle, but to Shen Qinghe it sounded like the Grim Reaper. Was the thing he had been worried about all afternoon finally about to happen?
He gritted his teeth and tried to make his voice sound calm, "Sister-in-law, no need, I'm not hungry yet."
People's feelings can change. When Meng Zhao first arrived, she was indeed somewhat distant from Shen Qinghe, but after spending so much time together, she had come to regard him as her younger brother. Seeing his dazed expression and the injuries on his face today, she couldn't help but feel a little worried.
"You seem a bit restless today. Have a bowl of soup, and you'll sleep better tonight."
Inside the room, Shen Qinghe's hand, gripping the book, trembled slightly. His knuckles turned white from the force, and the veins were faintly visible. He was both afraid of what was about to happen and unwilling to turn the person away, so he remained silent. But the person outside was relentless.
"Second brother? What's wrong?" Meng Zhao's voice came again, tinged with concern.
Shen Qinghe finally could not hold on any longer. As if driven by some invisible force, he slowly put down the book in his hand, got up and walked to the door. He placed his hand on the door latch, paused for a moment, and finally gently opened the door.
Outside the door, Meng Zhao, dressed in a pink dress, held a bowl of steaming mushroom and seafood soup and looked up at Shen Qinghe.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
