Chapter 18 Chapter 18 Eggs that only she can eat
The sky in the southwest seems to get brighter earlier than in Kyoto.
As soon as a faint light filtered through the window, the chickens in the yard began to crow, and Gu Jiayue felt that her sister Gu Zhigeng beside her had stood up.
"Robin, why are you up so early?" It was still dark.
As Zhigeng dressed, he replied, "Grandpa, the eldest uncle, and the second uncle got up early to work in the fields, so I have to get up and cook."
After hearing this, Gu Jiayue lost her sleepiness and dressed properly before going out with Zhigeng.
Though young, Zhi Geng was incredibly agile. She scooped half a bucket of water from the water tank into a basin, washed briefly, and then poured the water into a nearby bucket, ready to water the vegetables later. After cleaning herself, she didn't waste any time and hurried to the kitchen.
When the two arrived at the kitchen, Gu Bailu from the second uncle's family had already lit the fire.
Zhigeng went out again, fetched half a bucket of water and poured it into the pot. Then he walked to the corner, picked out a dozen sweet potatoes, put them in the bucket, and carried them to the well to wash them.
When the water boils, put the diced sweet potatoes into the pot and cook for a few minutes. Insert chopsticks. If they can penetrate the sweet potatoes, take a bowl of cornmeal from the stove and pour it into the pot. The corn and sweet potato porridge is ready.
After pouring the porridge into the basin, Gu Bailu took out a large bowl, opened the cupboard, took out a jar of pickles, and placed a handful of pickles in the bowl.
Gu Jiayue stood in the kitchen, wanting to help but not knowing where to start.
The two children, who were only ten years old, cooperated with each other in an orderly manner and prepared breakfast for the whole family in a short while.
It is true that children from poor families have to grow up early.
Gu Jiayue couldn't help but recall her childhood self, when at the age of five she would stand on a stool and cook for her grandmother.
At that time, the family was poor and could not afford to buy any electrical appliances. They only used a stove that needed to be lit every day.
At first, she always had trouble lighting a fire. Every time, her face would be blackened and the food she cooked would be burnt and inedible. Once, she even accidentally set the kitchen on fire. Fortunately, a neighbor discovered it, otherwise she and her grandmother would have been homeless.
After starting school at the age of six, he had to complete the day's homework at school every day. Because he had to herd cattle and collect grass for pigs after school, he had no time to study at all.
Looking at the two children in front of her, Gu Jiayue seemed to see her childhood self.
In the past, she had no other options, but now it was completely different. She was wealthy and wanted to find a way to help these girls.
Before Gu Jiayue could figure out what was going on, the noise in the yard gradually grew louder and everyone in the family got up.
Some people were carrying water, some were sweeping the yard, and some were sitting under the eaves packing up farm tools.
In an instant, the smell of fireworks in the yard made Gu Jiayue feel at a loss.
Li Juhua saw Gu Jiayue and hurried over, asking with concern, "Jiayue, why don't you sleep a little longer? Are you not used to sleeping? Or is Zhigeng not sleeping well at night?"
Gu Jiayue quickly waved her hands: "No, no, I'm just used to getting up at this time."
It's just the biological clock that has been developed over the years.
In modern times, as a class teacher, she has to go to school at 7 o'clock every day to supervise morning reading. She lives some distance away from the school, so she needs to get up early every day.
Later, when I traveled back in time, I couldn't sleep in even when I was in the Marquis's Mansion. The mansion had many rules and regulations. Every day, I had to get up at the hour of Mao, pay my respects to my grandmother first, and then to my mother before I could have breakfast.
After breakfast, we will go to Yunjin Academy for class.
When I returned home at the time of Shen, the teachers invited by the Marquis's wife were already waiting for me. The daily class schedule was different, and I had to study until the time of You before I could have dinner.
Everyone is very busy and there is no time to be lazy.
"That's good. Sit down first and I'll boil you an egg."
Gu Jiayue hurried over to stop them. "Mom, there's no need to prepare anything special for me. I'm probably going to be staying here for a long time. Can it be like this every day?"
Eggs are a luxury for farmers. Even pregnant women find it difficult to enjoy them every day. Most eggs are kept at home to exchange for money.
According to the prices of that era, an egg could be sold for one penny.
Don’t think it’s too little. A strong adult man working in the city only earns ten cents a day.
Does this comparison show the value?
Li Juhua was a bit conflicted. "That's what your grandmother ordered." She knew it wasn't a good idea. After all, their third branch already had a lot of advantages in this family. If they only had eggs every day, the eldest and second sisters-in-law would definitely not approve. But Jiayue had just returned, and she had been used to eating delicacies since she was a child. She would definitely not be used to the food at home. If there weren't even eggs...
Alas, she still doesn't have the ability.
Gu Jiayue took the eggs from Li Juhua's hand and carefully placed them back in the basket. "It's okay, it's okay. I'll go back and tell grandma."
Just at this moment, Grandma Gu came out of the room, and Gu Jiayue hurried forward to greet her: "Good morning, Grandma."
Grandma Gu stood there in a daze, wondering: Is this the etiquette of a wealthy family? How should I respond now?
I was at a loss and extremely anxious.
But this did not pose a problem for Grandma Gu. She just looked at him with a stern expression and said "hmm" softly.
Gu Jiayue didn't know how to say the words she had prepared. She wondered if Grandma was in a bad mood. Was she still angry about Hua Pozi taking the hundred taels?
Grandma Gu was also feeling uneasy, wondering to herself: Why is this girl silent? Is it because my response was inappropriate? Do I have to say good morning to her too?
Alas, the rules of this wealthy family are so complicated and boring.
Just as Grandma Gu was about to say good morning, Gu Jiayue spoke first, "Grandma, please don't ask Mom to boil eggs for me. I don't like eggs. I only like corn porridge."
Grandma Gu couldn't believe it. There were people in this world who didn't like eating eggs?
This little girl was still trying to deceive her. Those who said they didn't like the food just had something more delicious.
"Okay, if you don't want to eat, then don't eat." Grandma Gu no longer forced her. She knew that the child was sensible and didn't want to eat because of the chaos she caused at home.
Alas, it’s because we are poor that we have to calculate every egg.
"Well, thank you grandma." Gu Jiayue looked at her grandma and felt a little sad when she saw that she was obviously relieved after she said she didn't eat eggs.
Being the head of a household is not easy, especially in a poor family. If you are not careful, you will become the enemy of the whole family.
My grandmother also had a hard time. She had to do farm work and take care of the family expenses.
Look at the wrinkles on her face, they are all the torture of life. "Grandma, it's time for breakfast."
Oh, how can we change the poverty of the Gu family?
There are so many people in the family that one table cannot accommodate them all.
However, the country people were not so particular. They each scooped a bowl of porridge into a bowl. Some brought small stools to sit on, some squatted under the eaves, and the young ones even sat directly on the steps and started to eat with a slurp.
Breakfast was a quick affair, with everyone placing their bowls on the table under the eaves. The adults would then pick up their farm tools and go out to work, while the youngest would go out to play. The daughters would wash the freshly used bowls and then do the chores left unfinished by the adults.
Everyone is busy and has their own things to do.
But no one assigned Gu Jiayue any work; she just stood there like an outsider.
In desperation, she could only follow her sister to weed the vegetable garden behind the house.
The vegetable garden is not big, about one mu of land, and is planted with cabbage and eggplants, and there are a few pumpkins and some leeks in the corner.
Zhigeng didn't expect Gu Jiayue to follow her, and hurriedly advised: "You should go back, you can't do this job." If she gets hurt, the whole family might blame her.
Gu Jiayue didn't listen and squatted down to start weeding. "Wasn't Wangshu able to do it before?"
Seeing that she was doing a good job, Zhigeng stopped talking. When she mentioned Gu Wangshu, Gu Zhigeng felt a little melancholy and whispered, "Sister Wangshu is very hardworking. When she was at home, she did all these chores. She's a good sister." After saying that, he was afraid that Jiayue would misunderstand, so he quickly added, "You're a very good sister too."
Thinking of the candy Jiayue secretly gave him when he returned to his room yesterday, Zhigeng felt a little more fond of and close to her.
Zhi lowered his head and saw that Jiayue's white fingers were stained black by the mud. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Second sister, what did you do every day in Kyoto?"
Surely you wouldn’t work in the fields like them, right?
There was a sister in the village who worked for a landlord. When she came back, she said that the daughters of landlords were not allowed to touch the ground since they were born, and all they needed to do was give them food, clothing, and other necessities with just a glance.
My goodness, your feet can’t touch the ground?
Wouldn't that mean I have to lie in bed all day?
What a blessing that would be!
Zhi Geng always felt she didn't get enough sleep, as if the sun had just risen as soon as she closed her eyes. During the busy farming season, she wished the world would turn completely dark so she wouldn't have to get up to work.
She secretly speculated that her second sister's life in Kyoto must have been even more comfortable than that of a landlord's daughter. Maybe she didn't even need to wear shoes?
Gu Jiayue pondered for a moment. "I get up early every day to have breakfast with the Marquis' wife, then go to the academy to study. I come back in the afternoon, sometimes gathering with other young ladies to appreciate the flowers, sometimes learning housekeeping and accounting from the Marquis' wife. Most of the time, I just read in the courtyard."
Zhi Geng was shocked. "Can women in Kyoto also read?"
"Of course, there is a Yunjin Academy in Kyoto, and it's full of women." What Gu Jiayue didn't mention was that although Yunjin Academy accepted women, they were all daughters of high-ranking officials and dignitaries.
Although there was no explicit ban on girls from ordinary families going to school, in this era when even boys might not be able to go to school, which family would send their girls to school?
But there is no need to tell Zhigeng about this. It is a good thing to let this little child retain some expectations and imagination.
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