Chapter 294 Return to the Capital City
In the next two days, Gu Yan and Li Wanqing went to the pine forest to pick pine cones, and collected more than thirty sacks of pine cones in total.
The two of them stopped because there were still many small animals in the pine forest, and they had to leave some for them to survive the winter.
Gu Yan kept his word and stayed for two more days, so he really did.
On the morning of the third day, he took Li Wanqing and Xuexue out of the mountains.
After resting in the county town for another day, he drove the carriage back to the provincial capital.
"Master, Madam, you are back." The maid Xiaoju came out to greet them.
They came to the provincial capital and brought Xiaoju with them.
Aunt Qiu, Uncle Wang and their family all stayed in the county town.
Of course, there is work to do in the county town. Uncle Wang and his family are now responsible for growing greenhouse vegetables in winter.
"Well, you take care of packing up the things in the carriage.
I'll give it to Madam Ye and Madam Zhao next door later." Li Wanqing got off the carriage holding Xuexue.
"Okay, ma'am." Xiaoju agreed obediently.
Li Wanqing had already taken out a lot of things in the carriage.
"Mom, where is my brother? I'm going to find him." Xuexue struggled to get down.
"Your brother and the others went to the academy and will be back in the evening." Li Wanqing said this and put Xuexue on the ground.
"Wife, I'll go deliver the prey to the restaurant." This is also their annual practice. They keep enough for the family to eat, and sell the rest for money.
Just by selling game every year, Gu Yan can earn enough to cover his family's food and clothing expenses for a year.
"Okay, go ahead. Old rules." Li Wanqing blinked to show that she understood.
They also have a small courtyard on this street, which they bought after coming to the capital.
Normally no one lives in that small courtyard. Every time Li Wanqing comes back from the mountains, she puts the prey in the space into that small courtyard, and then Gu Yan sells them in batches.
"Xiao Ju, please take care of Xuexue. I'm going out for a while." After Gu Yan left, Li Wanqing also followed him out.
"Wanqing, are you back?" As soon as I went out, I saw the neighbor next door.
"Well, I just got home. Sister Zhao, what were you doing?" Li Wanqing stopped and greeted her.
"Well, I'm going to buy some vegetables. Xiaoqin will come back with my grandson later, and I'll go buy some delicious food." Sister Zhao said.
"Oh, Xiaoqin is back today? I have to cook more delicious dishes. Xiaoqin hasn't been back for several months, right?" Li Wanqing knew Xiaoqin. She was Sister Zhao's youngest daughter.
She married and moved to Chang'an County, dozens of miles away from the provincial capital, and rarely came back.
Every time Xiaoqin comes back, Sister Zhao treats it as a big deal. Not only does she buy vegetables and meat for her, but she also brings a lot of things for her when she returns.
This also caused dissatisfaction from Sister Zhao's daughter-in-law, who said a lot of sour words.
"My grandson loves the sweet and sour pork tenderloin that I make the most. I have to go buy meat quickly. If I go too late, the pork tenderloin will be sold out." Sister Zhao said and left in a hurry.
Li Wanqing went to the courtyard to take out all the things to be sold. She did not wait for Gu Yan here, but went back home.
Xuanxuan and Hengheng both love the dumplings she makes. She has been away from home for two months, and the children must be craving for them.
It’s still early now, so I’ll make some dumplings and cook them for the children in the evening.
"Xiao Ju, today we're going to make dumplings stuffed with shepherd's purse and pork.
"Chop the meat later. I just brought back some shepherd's purse." Li Wanqing instructed Xiaoju directly.
"Mom, you're back? I've been waiting for you for several days." Hengheng walked in and saw Li Wanqing, and immediately ran over excitedly.
"Mom." Xuanxuan has finally grown up. Although he is very excited that his parents have returned, he still tries his best to control his emotions.
"Hey, are you guys out of school? You must be hungry, mom made dumplings today.
Go wash your hands first, and you can eat soon." Li Wanqing patted her two sons on the shoulders one by one.
"Okay, Mom, where are my dad and sister?" Hengheng looked around and didn't see Gu Yan and Xuexue, so he asked.
“Your father is out selling his game, he should be back soon.
Xuexue was tired and fell asleep in the house. She kept muttering for a long time, saying that she wanted to find her brother. Later, she was so sleepy that she fell asleep.
But it's almost time for dinner, so go wake her up after you wash your hands," Li Wanqing said.
"I know, Mom. We miss Xuexue too."
At the dinner table, while his parents were both there, Xuanxuan talked about what the teacher at the academy had said to him today.
"Mom and Dad, the teacher told me today that I should give it a try this year," Xuanxuan said.
"Really? My son is amazing." Li Wanqing first praised him, then said, "What do you think? Do you want to take the exam now?"
"I want to give it a try. I'm young, and even if I fail the first time, I can still take the test a few more times to accumulate experience." Xuanxuan said.
"Okay, as long as you've made up your mind. There are still a few months until the prefectural exam, so you should concentrate on preparing. Your father and I support you.
But don't feel pressured. As you said, you're still young. Even if it doesn't work out this time, there's always next time, and the next time." Li Wanqing picked up a piece of pig liver with her chopsticks and handed it to Xuanxuan.
Eating more pork liver is good for the eyes, so Li Wanqing would cook it for them in different ways every few days.
Today's dish is braised pork liver. This year, Gu Yan hunted a few wild boars and made the pork into bacon and sausages. The pig offal was not wasted and was braised by Li Wanqing.
"I know, Mom. I just want to try it out. It's my first time, so it's normal that I won't pass." Xuanxuan thought very clearly.
"Tell your mother if you need anything." Gu Yan has always been taciturn in front of children.
But just this one sentence also shows an attitude of support.
"Brother, I support you too. I'll give you my wolf-hair brush." Hengheng knew that his brother was going to be in trouble, so he generously gave him his most beloved brush.
"And me, and me." Xuexue didn't know whether she understood or not. She was afraid of being left behind, so she quickly raised her hand to express her opinion.
"Okay, I get it. You're such a troublemaker. You're indispensable everywhere." Li Wanqing tapped Xuexue's little nose.
"I'm not a nosy mom. I'm not a nosy mom." Although Xuexue is young, she knows that being a nosy mom is not a nice thing to say.
"Okay, okay, our Xuexue is not a troublemaker." Xuanxuan quickly put down his chopsticks and picked up his sister to coax her.
"Brother, this is for you." Xuexue took out a piece of candy from the small purse she carried with her and gave it to Xuanxuan.
"Xuexue, why did you only give it to the eldest brother and not to the second brother? The second brother is sad, sob, sob." Hengheng pretended to be sad.
"Second brother..." Xuexue looked at her small purse with only one piece of candy left in it in a troubled look.
None of Li Wanqing and the others spoke. They just looked at Xuexue with a smile, waiting to see what choice she would make.
After hesitating for a long time, he took out the last piece of candy with reluctance.
"Brother, don't cry. Xuexue will give you some candy." Xuexue took one last look at the candy and handed it over reluctantly.
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