Chapter 11 A Generous Gift
Lin Yuesha wanted to say something to ease the tension, but Gou Dan's mother smiled and broke the silence first, "Xiao Shusheng probably won't like the coarse flour pancakes at home, and there are a few eggs..."
After saying that, Gou Dan's mother waved her hand and quickly walked out of the courtyard gate.
"Yes, my wife bought some Korean paper at the market a few days ago. We still have some at home. I'll go back and get it."
The people following behind Gou Dan's mother also said they wanted to bring things. In an instant, the people in the courtyard dispersed.
"Tingyun, look at this..."
Upon seeing this, Chen sighed, wanting to speak but then stopped.
Scholars have always looked down on peasants, a fact that Chen knew well. When she married Lin Shusheng, Xiaoya's father, her family wasn't particularly well-off.
Therefore, Xiaoya's father never did the work of copying books and writing letters for others. He said that it was a disgrace for a scholar to do business.
Xiao Ya was asking the villagers for things, which was no different from selling Spring Festival couplets, so Chen was afraid that her stepson would feel uncomfortable.
"Mother, this is all the villagers' goodwill."
That's not the case at all; Lin Yuesha is lying through her teeth.
In short, these people weren't too thick-skinned and were relatively sensible, so they didn't let her continue talking nonsense. After all, Lin Yuesha didn't want things to get too ugly.
"Mother, it's alright."
Xiao Qi chuckled inwardly. His sister was exceptionally clever and unwilling to suffer losses, which was a good thing.
“I also charge money for writing letters for people in the county. Scholars also need to eat and wear clothes.”
Xiao Qi was not at all pedantic; instead, he advised Chen not to take it to heart, saying it was simply a matter of reciprocity.
"Besides, the teacher gave me red paper, and I can't just take it for nothing. When I go to school after the New Year, I'll have to do something for the teacher."
After Xiao Qi finished speaking, Madam Chen nodded repeatedly, agreeing that it made a lot of sense, and said, "Tingyun is a very capable person."
Lin Yuesha: "..."
She had asked for the things, but her own mother completely ignored her efforts. Where did her sense of self-worth go?
The villagers didn't live far apart, and after about fifteen minutes, everyone returned in small groups.
Lin Yuesha looked closely and saw that there were even more people this time, and none of them came empty-handed.
Dog Egg's mother, carrying a small basket containing ten eggs, said with a beaming smile, "Everyone, line up! First come, first served. Anyway, I'm first. Scholar Xiao, please write a prayer for a bountiful harvest for me."
The villagers just guard their small plot of land, hoping for good weather and a bountiful harvest next year to fill their stomachs.
"good."
Before it got too cold, Xiao Qi moved the table into the courtyard, and the villagers immediately gathered around it.
Lin Yuesha was in a good mood, having brought nothing but her own. She stood on the steps, leaned forward, and looked out over the crowd, watching her stepbrother Xiao Qi write Spring Festival couplets.
Xiao Qi ground the ink, lightly touched the brush tip, and with a strong, suspended wrist, completed the stroke in one smooth motion from top to bottom, immediately drawing cheers from the surrounding villagers.
"good!"
Dog Egg's mother clapped her hands, but unfortunately she didn't recognize the character.
"Spring paints the cotton trees red to welcome the rising sun, and sheep carry golden ears of grain to herald a bountiful year!"
Xiao Qi read it aloud once, and said, "The horizontal scroll reads 'Springtime for All Under Heaven'."
Dog Egg's mother repeated softly, her eyes shining. Next year is the Year of the Sheep, and a bountiful harvest means sheep carrying golden ears of grain. That's wonderful!
"Scholars are just different. Scholar Xiao is so learned that you hardly need to think about it."
The others immediately flattered her. Originally, they only brought a small gift as a token when they came to visit, but Gou Dan's mother said that if Wang Pozi was willing to bring meat buns, then even that stingy and miserly man was willing to give meat, so they couldn't be stingy.
When the guests arrived, they brought extra gifts.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
