The Zhou family members almost went crazy tonight, some were laughing hysterically.
They guessed that Li Mai and Zhou Tao might buy back Luhua chickens and chicks, but they never expected that Li Mai would not only buy back things, but also make money.
When Li Mai and Zhou Tao opened the book box and took things out while telling them about their day's harvest, the Zhou family members were all shocked and their eyes widened.
Even Zhou Quan's hand trembled, and the bowl of water he was holding wobbled, spilling some water.
Zhuzhu didn't understand anything about drawing or business; she was just happy that her mother and aunt had bought her a pair of red silk flowers, so that she could style her hair into two high buns tomorrow.
Zhao pressed her hand hard against her chest to calm her racing heart, and stammered as she asked Li Mai, "Xiaomai, weren't you scared back then?"
Li Mai smiled and said, "Mom, how could I not be afraid? But when I think about our family's situation, I'm not afraid anymore. Besides, Xiao Tao was there with me to give me courage."
"On our wedding day, I was very sad when I found out that the chicken we ate was the kind of chicken that Zhuzhu had mentioned. When I was making breakfast yesterday morning and saw that our rice jar was almost empty, I was even sadder."
“Even though it was just me and my grandma in my family, and even though our house was just a thatched hut, I still had to work hard to earn money. I had to keep filling the rice jar and flour urn, for fear that if something happened to me and I couldn’t earn money, my grandma would go hungry.”
“But with such a large family like ours, seeing that you gave me all the ten taels of silver you had as betrothal gifts, I felt really bad. You didn’t want my money, so I thought we should try to make our family’s life better and earn more money.”
"At the time, I was really thinking of buying that hairpin for Xiaotao and I went to bargain with the shopkeeper. But just before I said the words, a sudden inspiration struck me and I had that idea."
Seeing the Zhou family's excited and incredulous expressions, Li Mai felt she should say more to help them gradually accept the fact.
After all, an income of fifteen taels at once could be equivalent to three or four years' worth of their income.
Moreover, there will be more in the future, so Li Mai decided to explain things to them once and for all, so they wouldn't be so frightened in the future.
After Li Mai explained things clearly, everyone felt more at ease and accepted the situation.
Seeing everyone smiling as they looked at the box of books and the silver notes on the table, Li Mai felt at ease.
Zhou Lei was the most excited. He looked at his parents, then at his older brother and sister-in-law, and asked, "Dad, Mom, do I really want to go to school?"
Old Man Zhou slowly wiped the smile off his face, thought for a moment, and nodded, "Well, since your sister-in-law also thinks you have the potential to study, then go to school. Maybe our humble family can produce a scholar!"
Madam Zhao smiled and said, "Go to school. You can go after the autumn harvest. I'll make you two blue robes while we have this time."
Zhou Quan nodded, "Go study. Spend the rest of the year in the village school with the other children to refresh your memory of what you've forgotten. We'll send you to town next year."
Zhou Lei was happy after hearing what his parents and older brother said, but then he thought of something and looked at Li Mai, "But, sister-in-law, when I go to school, who will help my brother? His chair needs two people to carry it."
Looking at this honest child, Li Mai was touched and smiled, "Don't worry, maybe by the time you go to school in town, your older brother will already be better!"
Zhou Lei subconsciously looked at Zhou Quan's leg. His older brother's leg, could it heal so quickly?
Seeing everyone staring at Zhou Quan's legs, Li Mai smiled and said, "I bought some silver needles today, and I've already made arrangements with Doctor Niu, whom I know. In three days, we'll take Zhou Quan to his clinic in town, and he'll take a look at him."
Zhao and Old Man Zhou exchanged a glance and asked in surprise, "Xiaomai, you know the doctor in town?"
Li Mai nodded, "I know him. Most of the herbs we dug up in the past were sold to his family. Doctor Niu is a very nice person. He taught me how to take a pulse."
The couple nodded. "In that case, Dr. Niu is truly a doctor of high medical ethics. Let's take Xiaoquan to see him in three days!"
“Alright, I’ll talk to Wangcai tomorrow and we can borrow his oxcart.” Old Zhou nodded and said.
"I heard that Wangcai's family is going to his nephew's family home for his wedding these days, I'm afraid it won't work out." Zhao shook her head.
Li Mai then said, “Dad, Mom, don’t borrow from the neighbors. When Uncle Wuping comes to pick up the chicken seller’s basket tomorrow morning, tell him that we’ll hire his cart for the day after tomorrow to take Zhou Quan to see a doctor. On the way back, we’ll buy some grain. Just say that I’ll pay 100 coins to hire his oxcart for the day.”
“Besides, we might be back earlier this afternoon, not this late,” Li Mai said to Old Man Zhou.
One hundred coins?
The elderly couple exchanged a glance, and then, seeing their son's leg, Zhao gritted her teeth and said, "Alright, you've worked hard today. Sleep in a little longer tomorrow. Your father and I will go and talk to Wuping, so that your father won't be too clumsy to explain things clearly."
"Also, you don't need to pay for this, your mother will pay. Xiao Tao, go wash your hands with your sister-in-law, we're about to eat. Your mother has cooked red bean porridge and steamed sweet buns." Zhao stood up and told everyone to clear the table, it was time to eat.
Li Mai took the things out of the boxes, including her own books and the ones for Zhou Quan, and quickly brought them back inside. She gave the Thousand Character Classic she bought for Zhu Zhu to take to her father during the day so he could teach her to read.
Zhuzhu happily agreed, and even gave Zhou Quan a flattering smile.
Zhou Quan chuckled and patted her head. "Alright, starting tomorrow, Daddy will be Zhuzhu's tutor and will teach Zhuzhu to read and write."
"Thank you, Daddy!" Zhuzhu was overjoyed, clutching her book and holding her silk flower in her hand, looking happily at everyone in the family.
Zhou Quan smiled at her and silently watched Li Mai's back as she packed her things and carried her out the door.
Today, Limai has once again shocked him.
How did his little wife grow up to be so outstanding? In her presence, he felt inferior once again.
Given her actions today, even he, a grown man, might not have the guts to go and do business with her.
Xiaomai, taking her younger sister out, she really acted like the eldest sister-in-law.
When Li Mai returned, she saw Zhou Quan sitting quietly by himself. Everyone else had gone out into the yard to help carry things or to release the speckled chickens and chicks they had bought.
Their eyes met. Li Mai sat down next to him, smiling as she asked, "What did you do today?"
After thinking about what happened this morning, Zhou Quan realized that he hadn't left the courtyard and had been lying in the house for most of the day. He silently lowered his eyes and said, "I've been sleeping and reading in the house."
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