Chapter 72: Ah Jiao and I plan to...
It was completely dark when I got home. The dim light in the Zhao family's house was very warm in this late summer and early autumn weather. No matter how tired or weary the traveler was, this ray of light would make most of his troubles disappear.
When Zhou Mujiao was still the president of Shengshi Group, she returned home at irregular times every day. But no matter how late it was or how bad the weather was, her grandmother would wait for her to come home before going to rest. Zhou Mujiao tried to persuade her several times and was about to get angry when the old lady finally touched her head and said with a pained expression, "Grandma doesn't really like to suffer. Grandma just wants you to know that there are people waiting for you at home."
After her grandmother passed away, she stopped letting her family wait for her. However, the light at the front door was always on. No matter how late she came home or how tired she was, as long as she saw that light, she would know that she was home, could relax, and that someone would protect her.
Although she was in a different time and space, and no longer had the care of her Zhou family relatives, the feeling that ray of light brought her was the same.
Not to mention, there were four little ones who wouldn't eat, sitting eagerly on the doorstep waiting, their eyes practically popping out of their minds.
The first sound Xiao Wu heard was the bell. He paused, thinking he had misheard, and was about to listen more closely when Shi Ba next to him cheered and leaped forward: "Sister Jiao Jiao! Big Brother! You're back!"
Chu Liu and Chu Jiu also rushed over, jumping around in front of the oxcart with a squeaking sound, while Xiao Wu stood still, his little face scrunched up, until he could clearly see Zhou Mujiao and Zhao Yunjing's faces before he stepped forward and said, "Sister, Brother Zhao, you're back."
Eighteen had already climbed onto Zhou Mujiao. Although she got off the oxcart and immediately got down, she still clung to Zhou Mujiao's legs. Her round, white face was full of joy, and her eyes were sparkling: "Sister Jiaojiao, Brother Xiaowu has been waiting for you all day and he's angry!"
Zhou Mujiao reached out her hand and gently pinched Xiao Wu's chubby cheeks, asking, "Is Xiao Wu really angry?"
"No."
Eighteen continued to complain: "Yes, yes, he even fought with Sixth! Sister Jiaojiao, Fifth Brother is so amazing. Before, Sixth Brother could hug him or carry him on his back whenever he wanted, but now Sixth Brother can't even beat him! Fifth Brother can protect Eighteen and Sister Jiaojiao, that's really awesome!"
Xiao Wu covered the little girl's mouth and said the most cowardly thing he could say with a blank expression: "Don't hit someone in the face. Be gentle later."
Zhou Mujiao went over and tried to pick him up like she did at the beginning, but it turned out awkward.
Xiao Wu has grown taller and stronger, and weighs nearly 70 pounds. How could she possibly carry her like that? After several attempts, she gave up.
Judging from his height, he's already about 1.3 or 1.4 meters tall. In another two years, he'll probably surpass her, and after he turns sixteen, he'll probably be as tall as Zhao Yunjing.
The future general of the Great Liang is tall, strong, and handsome. When he wears armor and rides a spirited horse, he will surely capture the hearts of many young girls. It will be a big challenge to select the right girl for him!
Just thinking about it gives me a headache.
Zhou Mujiao couldn't help but sigh, "Our little Wu has really grown into a man; even his older sister can't carry him anymore."
"Little Five hugs his older sister."
As he spoke, Xiao Wu easily picked the person up in his arms.
Zhou Mujiao was speechless, and then Shiba stretched out his hands to her: "Sister Jiaojiao, don't cry. You can't carry Xiaowu, but you can carry Shiba, Chujiu, and Chuliu!"
Chu Jiu is a year younger than Xiao Wu, so it's normal that he's not as tall or strong as Xiao Wu. However, Chu Liu is older than Xiao Wu, and he's not as strong as Xiao Wu either. Moreover, he has fairer skin than Xiao Wu and looks weak and frail. He's practically the kind of useless person who can't do anything, which is quite infuriating.
The fight between Chu Liu and Xiao Wu today started because of this argument, which escalated into a one-on-one fight, and Chu Liu ended up humiliating himself by being unilaterally beaten by Xiao Wu.
"Hmph, so what if you can fight? I know more words than you!"
On the ninth day, looking at this person and then at that person, he said, "On the sixth day, I know more characters than both of you!"
Suddenly, Chu Jiu became the common enemy of Chu Liu and Xiao Wu. The two of them chased after Chu Jiu, shouting as they ran, "Chu Jiu! Stop! Don't run! Let's fight!"
Aunt Zhao laughed and called out, "Be careful!" Then she said to Zhou Mujiao, "Ajiao, the children are fine. Go take a shower. Your Uncle Zhao is cooking, and we'll be eating soon!"
The Zhao family's bathroom was just a simple shower room built with wooden planks. Although there was a well in their yard now, making it very convenient to take a bath, people who were used to shower heads and bathtubs always felt that the conditions were too basic and they couldn't take a good shower, so they were always dissatisfied.
Fortunately, the new house is already under construction, and it has a relatively advanced bathroom with a wet and dry separation, which is a must. After all, she doesn't have to pay extra for the land; she has the bricks and the money, so she can fence off as much as she wants. Once the house is built, her quality of life will be guaranteed.
Although Uncle Zhao's brick-making project went relatively smoothly, it was still manual labor, which was much less efficient than modern methods. Zhou Mujiao's embroidery workshop was a three-courtyard layout, with the front courtyard used for making clothes for the embroiderers and the three courtyards in the back used as a warehouse and two dormitories for the staff on duty.
Zhou Mujiao planned to use it as her own residence, and it was a three-story villa. However, in order not to make it too conspicuous, she still built it according to the style of the times in terms of appearance. The interior was a different story. In short, it was comfortable to live in.
During dinner, Uncle Zhao reported on the progress of brick firing and house construction, saying excitedly, "Ah Jiao, I found brick firing so boring today, and the bricks that came out were also so boring, so I put some flowers, plants, birds and insects on them. Take a look and see if they look nice."
As he spoke, he dragged over a basket of bricks.
Some bricks are indeed carved with flowers, plants, birds, and insects, while others have simply had their designs altered, transforming the entire brick into something else entirely.
For example, this bunch of millet.
Although the handcrafting looks a bit rough and the color is still the original color of the red brick, the shape and spirit of the millet are about 70-80% similar.
Uncle Zhao also carved beams and painted rafters on the bricks, and even used more than a dozen bricks to draw a story about Chang'e flying to the moon!
Zhou Mujiao exclaimed, "Uncle Zhao, who did you learn your brick carving skills from?! They're amazing!"
"Is haphazardly doing something on bricks considered brick carving?"
"How can this be considered haphazard? These flowers, these grasses, these birds, and this little figure—is it an eighteen-year-old? It's very lifelike. Uncle Zhao, if you improve your skills a bit more, you'll be able to match the craftsmen in the palace, and maybe even surpass them soon."
As the saying goes, "Teaching an apprentice can starve the master." In ancient times, any carving technique was never passed on to outsiders. Uncle Zhao was able to figure it out on his own. Whether it was talent or a lucky accident, it was a good thing. If he can become a master in the future or participate in the construction of some important buildings, he will surely be remembered for generations.
Uncle Zhao chuckled, modestly saying he was just doing it casually, but he had already made up his mind to study it carefully and live up to Zhou Mujiao's praise today.
Aunt Zhao sighed helplessly and quickly changed the subject: "Zhao Dahai, put those artworks aside right now and eat! By the way, Yun Jing, Ajiao, why are you so late today? Did something go wrong?"
Zhou Mujiao naturally only reported good news and not bad news, saying that everything went smoothly. She also mentioned that Zhao Yunjing was about to go to Huilan Academy to study. The Zhao family was naturally happy, and the Zhao couple were almost in tears, but they managed to hold back because of the child.
"There is one more thing."
Zhao Yunjing said slowly, "Father, Mother, Ajiao and I plan to get engaged first."
Upon hearing this, the smiles on the Zhao couple's faces vanished.
"Are Uncle and Aunt unwilling?" Zhou Mujiao asked, puzzled.
Uncle Zhao shook his head: "We would be overjoyed if you were willing to marry into our Zhao family, how could we not be willing? But I'm afraid this matter will not go smoothly."
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