Seeing that everyone had finished watching the excitement, Li Kaishan told the people around him to disperse and go about their business.
Some of them were gloating, because Zhao Yumei usually acted like a virgin, and now she had lost all face and dignity.
Of course, Li Chengye, a student at the academy, was unaware of all that was happening at home.
Back home, Yan Qingqing looked at Li Xiangkang and asked, "Tell me, why did you deliberately provoke her?"
Li Xiangkang whispered in protest, "Mother, I didn't."
Yan Qingqing scoffed and said, "I gave birth to you. Do you think I don't know what kind of shit you poop when you stick your butt out?"
After saying that, Yan Qingqing felt that she was becoming more and more vulgar. She guessed that she had been living in the village for too long and had been influenced by what she saw and heard, so she could say anything.
After grumbling for a while, Li Xiangkang said, "She used to bully Mother all the time, and she was the one who sabotaged my eldest sister's marriage to that cripple."
I overheard her conversation with my grandmother that time. My grandmother was still hesitant, but she said that the lame man could offer two taels of silver as a betrothal gift, enough for my uncle's studies for a while.
After saying that, he looked at Yan Qingqing's face and continued, "Mother, she got angry because I didn't give her the bun. I know I was wrong."
Li Xiangkang thought Yan Qingqing was afraid of Zhao Yumei, just like before.
Yan Qingqing patted Li Xiangkang's head and said, "Who said our Fourth Brother is wrong?"
Firstly, she bullied your mother and harmed your sister; secondly, she scolded you for no reason, so you did the right thing.
"When the family has more money in the future, Mom will send you to school. Remember, you must be a pillar of support for your sisters."
Li Xiangping was delighted to hear this and cautiously asked, "Mother, can I really go to the academy to study like my uncle?"
Yan Qingqing nodded and replied, "Studying is certainly good, but you shouldn't emulate his character. It would be wonderful if you could achieve academic success and benefit the community after you go to school, but more importantly, I hope you can understand right from wrong. I hope your life will offer you more options and possibilities."
Of course, this is on the premise that your mother has enough money. She can't afford to send you to school if she has no means of support at home.
Okay, let's not think about these things now, let's go eat.
Li Xiangkang nodded seriously, having carefully memorized every word his mother had said that day.
The sun set and rose again, and a new day began. Yan Qingqing got up early because she was thinking about making a birthday cake for Grandma Ding.
She first whipped the cream she made yesterday until it reached the perfect consistency, then took out the cake base she made yesterday and started making it.
Since the tools were not complete, it was extremely time-consuming and Yan Qingqing could only do it step by step.
It took Yan Qingqing half an hour to make the surface of the cake smooth.
Then, using cream infused with vegetable juice, he wrote the poem, "From now on, I will embrace the spring breeze and live a long and healthy life as an immortal."
Yan Qingqing looked at it. It was a two-tiered cake, and overall she was quite satisfied, but it felt a bit monotonous.
She did want to decorate with some fruit, but these days, let alone a poor person like her, even a rich person might not be able to afford fruit.
While Yan Qingqing was staring at the cake, Yuan Huiniang and the others got up.
Seeing that her mother-in-law was up even earlier than her, Yuan Huiniang said somewhat embarrassedly, "Mother, why are you up so early? Just tell me and my sisters what you need to do."
Yan Qingqing smiled and said, "This job looks easy, but you guys really can't do it. I've already done it all."
What do you think?
Upon seeing it, Yuan Huiniang exclaimed sincerely, "Mother is truly skillful; this cake is indeed beautiful."
There are words written on this. Did Mother write this? When did Mother learn to read?
Yan Qingqing: ……
How was she supposed to explain this? She didn't even believe the excuses that time travelers usually used—mysterious master, old immortal in her dream—so how could Yuan Huiniang believe them?
Besides, people in ancient times just didn't live that long, and they didn't see as many high-tech things as modern people. It's not like they were mentally deficient.
Suddenly, Yan Qingqing had a bright idea and said, "Even if you haven't eaten pork, you've seen pigs run, right? Weren't there a scholar in our family before? He would show off with classical Chinese all day long, and even Mother has learned some of those things."
Yuan Huiniang immediately understood. Yan Qingqing was talking about Li Chengye. Of course, in the few years since she married into the family, the eldest son of the Li family had been quite the bookworm at home.
Seeing that she had fooled Yuan Huiniang, Yan Qingqing quickly said, "Go pick some flowers, I'll decorate this cake. We need to hurry to the city, otherwise we'll have worked for nothing if we're too late."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Huiniang quickly responded with an "eh," and then went out.
Qingqing carefully placed the cake into the prepared cake box.
The cake box was made by Wang Daqiang, the son of Aunt Wang next door, at Yan Qingqing's request. Wang Daqiang was a few years younger than Yan Qingqing. When he was young, he had learned carpentry from a master craftsman in the city, although he hadn't mastered the craft. But making a box was still no problem for him.
Yan Qingqing also had Wang Daqiang carve simple patterns on the box. Although they weren't particularly beautiful, it was the best Yan Qingqing could do.
Yan Qingqing gave Wang Daqiang ten coins, but Wang Daqiang and his aunt refused to accept them, saying it was just a small favor.
Yan Qingqing didn't insist; she thought she could return it later when she had the chance.
Soon, Yuan Huiniang returned with many beautiful flowers. Yan Qingqing simply arranged a few types, and the cake looked much better.
At this point, the children all got up and gathered around the cake, staring at it intently.
Li Xin's mother asked, "Mother, is this the cake you were talking about? It looks so beautiful."
Li Yueniang chimed in, "Mother is truly amazing; she actually came up with such a wonderful idea. It could fetch a good price if sold."
Li Xiangkang looked at Yan Qingqing and said, "Mom, how about I make you a cake for your birthday?"
No wonder Yan Qingqing likes Li Xiangkang; look at how sweet-talking he is.
Yan Qingqing pinched his nose and said, "Okay, but you stay home with your sister today and take good care of Niu Niu. Your sister-in-law and I are going to the city."
When Yuan Huiniang heard that Yan Qingqing wanted to take her to the city, her face lit up with joy. She was only sixteen or seventeen years old, so she naturally longed for the things that Yueniang had mentioned.
Li Yueniang and the others weren't unhappy. Last time they went to the city with their mother, so it was fair that their sister-in-law should go with them today.
Li Xin's mother said, "Mother, sister-in-law, please go with peace of mind. I will take good care of the family, my younger brother and sister, and my little niece."
Yan Qingqing nodded. Her family was already destitute, and apart from the two hundred coins left over from selling medicinal herbs last time, they didn't have anything of value.
The only thing I'm worried about is the children. After all, the oldest is only fourteen.
However, thinking that this was in the village, she figured that if she asked Aunt Wang next door to look after her later, there shouldn't be any major problems.
Thinking of this, Yan Qingqing said, "Huiniang, hurry up and get ready. Let's go into town now, or we'll miss the oxcart if we're late."
It takes two hours to travel from Canghe Village to the city. Yan Qingqing really didn't want to walk anymore; it was too much strain on her legs.
Yuan Huiniang nodded, quickly packed up, and headed towards the entrance of Canghe Village.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com