Before long, Yinhua arrived as well.
Ye Caiping gave each of them a small package containing writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
The group boarded the oxcart and set off together.
When they arrived at the Shen family's residence, they could see Shen Manman standing at the door looking around from afar.
Seeing Ye Caiping approach, Shen Manman pouted and stepped forward, saying, "Auntie just arrived."
As she spoke, she glanced at Ye Jin'er and the other two, but her attitude was different from that towards Ye Caiping; she smiled gently and softly.
"Oh, is this the Ye family's younger sister? Last night, my father told me that several of my sisters would be coming to be my classmates today. I've been looking forward to it all night, and finally, my sisters have arrived."
Ye Caiping's lips twitched slightly. Although...but...she always felt that Chacha was pretentious!
As Shen Manman spoke, she held Ye Jin'er's hand and asked, "How old is my little sister?"
Ye Jin'er looked at Shen Manman and thought she was very beautiful. She blushed and said, "Thirteen, after August, it will be fourteen."
"I was also born in May, I'm three months older than you!"
Then they asked Huan'er and Yinhua, both of whom are twelve years old, one born in September and the other in November.
Shen Manman said, "Jin'er and Huan'er are your aunt's daughters, right? They look very alike. But weren't there supposed to be four sisters? Why is one missing?"
Ye Caiping said, "Jinhua couldn't come because of something. Here, this is for you. Thank you."
He then took out a three-tiered food box from the oxcart: "The first tier of these desserts and snacks is for Master Shen, and the remaining two tiers are for you girls."
“My dad got a share too!” Shen Manman’s bright eyes darted around. “Auntie, won’t you come in and sit down?”
"No, I have to go to the prefectural city. By the way, do Miss Shen and Master Shen like spicy soup?" Because she didn't know their tastes, Ye Caiping had never sent it to them.
Shen Manman said, "I like it! But my dad prefers bland food and doesn't like to drink it."
After understanding the situation, Ye Caiping gave Ye Jin'er and the other two some more instructions before leaving with Ye Daquan.
Ye Caiping went to the prefectural city with Ye Daquan.
Horses are only sold in the prefectural city, but unfortunately, horses are more strictly regulated than cattle; you have to book them half a month in advance.
The horse alone costs fifty taels of silver, plus the ropes for the carriage, etc., totaling fifty-three taels.
Ye Caiping gave ten taels of silver as a deposit and then went home.
At noon, thinking that there would be many people in class, Ye Caiping asked Ye Daquan to pick them up.
Before long, Ye Jin'er and her sister came running back into the house carrying small packages.
Ye Caiping smiled and asked, "What did you learn?"
Ye Jin'er said, "I'm learning etiquette."
"How are things going with Miss Shen?"
"Sister Chen is very kind. She even gave us a demonstration. The teacher said with a smile that she has become our second teacher."
Ye Caiping breathed a sigh of relief: "Did the teacher assign you any homework?"
"Yes, we practiced calligraphy at home this afternoon. Our handwriting is so ugly..." Ye Jin'er said with a bitter smile.
Ye Caiping thought for a moment: "After lunch, call Yinhua over to practice together."
I was afraid that Mr. Wei would be reluctant to part with his brushes, ink, and paper, and would prevent me from practicing.
...
In the evening, Ye Jin'er and the other two were still practicing calligraphy when Jin Hua returned.
"Tomorrow is the Flower Festival, and the county is holding a flower fair. Are you going?" Jinhua asked.
Ye Jin'er paused, pen in hand: "Aren't you at work?"
"The cloth shop gave me a day off..."
Ye Huan'er looked at Jin Hua and wondered if it was just her imagination, but Jin Hua's face seemed flushed. She thought to herself, "It's the Flower Festival, and everyone is busy with their own business. It's strange that this cloth shop gave Jin Hua a day off."
Seeing that they didn't answer for a long time, Jin Hua became a little anxious: "Are you going or not?"
Ye Jin'er said, "But today is only our first day of class, and it doesn't make sense for us to ask for leave tomorrow to go out and play..."
Ye Huan'er nodded quickly, as did Yin Hua.
Jin Hua felt a little annoyed, and Ye Huan'er said, "You can ask Sister Xiao Yan."
Jin Hua's eyes lit up, and she quickly ran out of the room, chasing after Yang Xiaoyan who was sweeping the floor: "Cousin, let's go out and play tomorrow."
Yang Xiaoyan was even more helpless: "I have a lot of work to do."
"Let your aunt give you a day off."
Yang Xiaoyan was about to speak when Ye Caiping walked over and said with a smile, "Flower Festival? What, did someone from your fabric shop invite you to go out?"
Jin Hua's face turned bright red.
Ye Caiping knew what was going on as soon as she saw it. After thinking for a moment, she said, "If your parents agree to let you go, I can let Xiaoyan accompany you, but you will have to find Yong'er or Peng'er to go with you."
"Of course... I... I originally wanted to invite my eldest brother and sister-in-law, or my third brother," Jin Hua stammered.
"Go ahead and ask your mother."
Jin Hua nodded happily and turned to find Madam Du.
While Du was sewing shoe soles in her room, she heard Jinhua talking about going to the Flower Festival, so she squinted at her.
He whispered, "Was it that young master sent you?"
Jin Hua's face turned bright red: "Mother, you...you're talking nonsense..."
"You don't admit it? Humph!" Madam Du sneered. "I've eaten more salt than you've eaten rice. What can escape my discerning eyes? I was the one who saw through your brother and sister-in-law back then."
Jin Hua blushed, her ears turning red, and took her arm, saying, "Mother... then, will you let me go?"
Du was overjoyed, thinking of the young master, who was tall and handsome, far superior to the villagers like them.
Although Jixiang Cloth Shop was run by ordinary people, it had branches in the county seat and other towns, and its business was quite successful.
It's just... a little too good...
But considering that their family wasn't doing badly now, and as the saying goes, "one should bow one's head when marrying a wife, and raise one's head when marrying off a daughter," if the other party truly liked Jinhua, this marriage might not be impossible.
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