With life becoming more comfortable, everything became easier and more efficient, and Feng's mother's embroidery skills improved even further.
Now, they are no longer limited to embroidering handkerchiefs for sale, but often take on larger projects such as screens and back panels.
If you can embroider one piece a month, the income is already quite good.
This kind of life was something that Feng's mother could never have imagined before.
Mrs. Feng had already received a message from the orphanage.
The bedding in each room was aired out early in the morning. The sheets and duvet covers were also taken down, washed, and replaced.
The Zhao family's bedding is no longer like it used to be, which required constant sewing after each wash, a real hassle.
Instead, they replaced them with sheets and duvet covers, which are very easy to wash.
Not knowing when the Zhao family would arrive, Feng's mother went early in the morning to buy a lot of vegetables and rice.
It was her personal savings, of course.
She believed that no matter how much money she spent, the host family would reimburse her.
As expected, after the Zhao family arrived, Huang checked everything inside and out and then gave Feng's mother the money she had spent.
After quickly cooking some porridge, Zhao Qingyan went out. When she returned, the cart was full of grain, vegetables, meat, and eggs.
Upon arriving in the prefectural city, Zhao Qingyan strictly controlled the food selection, resolutely refusing to eat anything bought from outside before the exam.
Before each room was occupied, the Zhao family inspected it inside and out, sprinkled insect and snake repellent powder on it, and only dared to move in after the smell had dissipated.
Feng's mother didn't understand the Zhao family's actions and wanted to say that she had cleaned everything up.
When Huang saw that Feng's mother looked like she wanted to say something but hesitated, she knew that she was really overthinking it.
"Hey, Feng family, we know you keep this house clean."
The reason we're conducting this checkup is because our family members have some kind of psychological trauma, a lingering fear.
Do you know that when the earth turned upside down, one family's house ended up as a pond? That's because a snake's nest was discovered in that house.
That house was originally bought by our Zhao family.
So that's why, even though I could buy a bigger house, I only want to buy a small one.
The house cost over two thousand taels of silver when it was purchased, and money was also donated to build a pond, bringing the total cost to over three thousand taels of silver.
That much money could buy so many delicious treats for the children. It breaks my heart just thinking about it.
Mrs. Feng was very surprised to hear this. The famous pond was actually converted from the owner's house.
Of course, Feng's mother was also heartbroken about spending so much money.
The family is supporting thousands of orphans in the orphanage.
Now I understand why the Zhao family checked the place so thoroughly. Anyone who has lived in a snake pit wouldn't feel safe.
After all the inspections were completed, and each room was fumigated with mugwort, the rooms were assigned and everyone was allowed to rest.
The next day, early in the morning, after completing the registration procedures, the prospective test takers began to study diligently.
The exam is in three days, so even last-minute cramming can be effective.
On the day of the exam, the entire Zhao family came out together.
After sending the six candidates, led by Zhao Changgeng, into the examination hall, Huang suggested that they take a stroll around.
Surprisingly, instead of shopping at any stores, they wandered over to the sales home.
The people at the orphanage were overjoyed to see that it was the family that had come, especially the children, who treated Madam Huang as if she were their own grandmother.
Don't underestimate them because they are young; they know who their benefactors are and who saved them.
Ms. Huang accepted the children's thanks.
Surrounded by children chatting and laughing, he looked completely happy, a stark contrast to his time at Qingshan Xiaozhu.
His face was beaming like a blooming chrysanthemum.
Zhao Qianci stared at his wife in disbelief.
It was as if I could see that young girl again, standing in front of me, smiling radiantly as she held a bouquet of wildflowers and handed it to me.
"If you accept these flowers, you'll be my man. From now on, I'll protect you, and no one will dare to bully you."
The once domineering girl now has a face full of wrinkles, but she still looks as cute as ever.
Yunyou had always known that the Zhao family was doing good deeds and accumulating merit.
But I never imagined that the Zhao family's good deeds would be so direct and effective.
Since returning to secular life, Yunyou has rarely told fortunes or performed face readings.
Just a quick glance at the children's faces revealed that many of them had had their fates altered.
He should have had a short life, but now he has a life of wealth and honor.
Several others exuded an air of nobility.
Looking at Huang, even when he was traveling, he could no longer see through Huang's fate.
Since arriving at the orphanage, Zhao Qingyan has checked every room to make sure the children are well-fed, warmly clothed, and not being bullied.
This is different from later generations. Even with surveillance, it still couldn't stop some kindergarten teachers from abusing children.
Now we can only rely on people's conscience. But conscience is often the least valuable thing.
The kitchen and storeroom were also inspected. Even every single bag of rice and flour was checked with a sniper.
Make sure that no one here is lining their own pockets or feeding the children bad food.
Zhao Qingyan paid special attention to those nursery rooms.
After wandering around for a while, she asked Ms. Huang to hold a meeting with the caretakers. She took the children to one place and asked them all sorts of questions.
Essentially, it's about obtaining more direct information when there's no caregiver watching over you.
Fortunately, Zhao Qingyan was satisfied with the children's answers. She touched the children's little arms and legs and found that they were quite chubby.
Once she was certain the children had not been abused, Zhao Qingyan was relieved.
Yunyou's professional instincts kicked in today; he wanted to read Zhao Qingyan's fortune.
With just one glance, Yunyou closed his eyes.
This brat's golden light almost blinded the old man.
With just that one glance, Yunyou became even more determined to cling tightly to the Zhao family.
Although returning to secular life might affect my lifespan, I can eat and drink well and travel with the Zhao family for free, so it feels worth it.
After all, longevity is not necessarily happiness, and Yunyou really couldn't remember how old he was this year.
He only remembered living for a very, very long time. It was only after experiencing the warmth of everyday life again that he understood what happiness truly meant.
That evening, Mrs. Huang generously gave the children an extra meal.
This task naturally fell to Zhao Qingyan again.
After wandering around for a while, when he returned, there were three slaughtered, fat pigs in the carriage.
These pigs were raised in Zhao Qingyan's space, and each one weighs three to four hundred pounds.
The fatty meat was naturally used to render oil, while the remaining lean meat, bones, pork, and offal were stewed together in one pot.
The pig was too fat; the fat made up a third of its weight, followed by the bones, and then the offal, which also had to be removed after cleaning.
Today is the happiest day for the children.
I had meat to eat and I even saw my grandma.
During mealtime, the little ones held their plates and chattered around Mrs. Huang.
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