In the Wu Dynasty, wealthy families would hire wet nurses when their children gave birth. In addition to providing them with good food and drink, they would also pay a considerable sum of money.
Children from ordinary families naturally don't receive this treatment. They are usually fed by their own mothers, eating whenever they have milk and only drinking rice porridge when there is no milk. Malnutrition leads to a very high mortality rate.
The reason why Granny Gu and Little Gu were able to act so arrogantly in Xiaoshi Village for so many years was because Song Lao Er said to others that Xiao An was able to survive thanks to the care of his mother and daughter-in-law.
If a baby who is short of milk can drink formula, their chances of survival will at least increase.
Moreover, the price of several hundred coins per kilogram is something we can afford if we grit our teeth and do it for the sake of our children.
Song Liyun was not stingy. The next day, in addition to hosting a banquet for more than a dozen tables to treat the villagers, she also gave gifts to the village head's wife and several wives and mothers who often came to her house to keep Yang Hua company.
A few feet of blue cloth plus a bag of snacks brought laughter to the courtyard and its surroundings.
Song Liyun stayed in Xiaoshi Village for a few days.
She remembered to bring milk powder to Yanghua, and Yanghua didn't forget her either.
On the kang table, there was a large pile of men's shoes and socks, which only required Song Liyun to insert a few needles at the end to complete the task.
Yang Hua knew that her sister-in-law could ride a horse and do business, but she didn't like needlework.
Clothes can be bought, but these personal items for your husband are more meaningful if you make a few stitches yourself.
In the past few months, she has been busy not only making clothes for children with the village head and her second aunt, but also making shoes and socks for Song Liyun, the new bride, to give away.
Seeing her busy with these things while heavily pregnant, Song Liyun felt both touched and annoyed.
On one hand, they say that only by making it themselves can they show their sincerity, while on the other hand, they say that sewing a few stitches is also a token of their affection. Isn't this just self-deception?
Are all those embroiderers in needlework workshops brides every day?
Yang Hua covered her mouth and laughed, but the village head's wife was so angry that she came forward to hit her: "What are you saying? Otherwise, you can stay at home and get married when you finish embroidering your dowry!"
Xiao An was returning with Abu when he heard the village head's wife objecting to his sister's marriage. He rushed over, his face flushed, and said, "No way! Brother Ashi promised to get married before the first snow falls, so Second Sister definitely won't be able to finish the embroidery."
The village head's wife laughed heartily: "Xiao An! You're really willing to let your second sister marry so far away, and she'll hardly be able to come back to see you in the future!"
Xiao An scratched his head. He thought it would only take a day to ride a horse to the Balin tribe: "It's not far! My second sister is too busy to come back, so I can go see her. It's even more convenient than going back to Xiaoshi Village to see my eldest brother!"
The village head's wife was taken aback: "So close? It's not far at all. What does your brother A-Shi look like? Have you ever seen him?"
As she spoke, the village head's wife glanced at Abu. When she first saw this bear-like boy, she almost mistook him for the marriage proposal that Song Liyun had mentioned. She was relieved to know that he was just a follower.
Mentioning Brother Ashi, Xiao An grinned and said, "Brother Ashi is better looking than Big Brother, taller than Big Brother, and stronger than Big Brother!"
He spent more time with Zhao Tingduo and learned to ride horses from Ashi and Abu, so he naturally felt it was better than his own brother's.
The village head's wife glared at her brother: "How can you talk about your own brother like that!" But she was secretly delighted.
Although Song Zhenping was not particularly tall, he had quite handsome features.
Especially now that the food is more even and the clothes are more appropriate, they stand out from the crowd among ordinary villagers.
If what Xiao An said is true, and he is better looking than Song Zhenping, then he is a first-rate talent, and I can rest assured.
Seeing that her aunt and uncle glared at her for saying something bad about her brother, Xiao An stuck out her tongue and ran off to play with Abu.
He's much more lively now, especially after returning to the village this time, everyone was all smiles at him.
Amidst their laughter and conversation, Song Zhenping, his face covered in sweat, entered the house: "Xiaoyun, come with me to the backyard!"
After Song Zhenping returned, he built another courtyard on the previously empty space behind the house, and there was also a side courtyard next to it, using the layout of Baolin Residence.
The kang (heated brick bed) in the main room of the backyard has also been set up, in preparation for Yanghua's postpartum confinement.
Song Zhenping led Song Liyun into the side courtyard.
Song Liyun's eyes widened as she looked at the room full of oats piled up to the roof.
Song Zhenping looked a little embarrassed and rubbed his hands, which were rough from working, and said awkwardly, "Xiaoyun, I didn't go back to Suijin Town to prepare your dowry."
"Since you're getting married, I didn't know what to give you as a gift, so I grew oats."
Song Zhenping had told her why he wasn't going back to Suijin Town.
Firstly, he couldn't bear to leave his homeland; it held his parents' graves, his childhood memories, and the kindness of his fellow villagers.
Secondly, in Suijin Town, the honest Song Zhenping increasingly felt that he couldn't help his sister anymore.
With Song Liyun helping him earn money at the garrison, he had already paid all the military corvée he would have to pay for the rest of his life, so he didn't need to serve in the military.
At home, there's Yun Niangzi to take care of her daily life; in the workshop, there's Uncle Han; in the business, there's Manager Mu; even the ten acres of land and the vegetables in the backyard are being taken care of by others.
He and Yang Hua couldn't stay idle at home like the young master and his wife. They felt more at ease returning to Xiaoshi Village, raising some chickens and ducks, and carrying hoes to the fields every day.
Song Liyun felt that everyone has their own preferred lifestyle. It was perfectly acceptable for Xiao An to enjoy watching others eat in restaurants and for Song Zhenping to enjoy growing grain in the village.
However, oats are not something that ordinary farmers like to grow, so he would lose income from corn and wheat if he did so.
“Brother, you won’t have any income if you do this. I’ll give you some money…” Song Liyun took out a stack of silver notes.
Song Zhenping waved his hand repeatedly: "No need, Xiaoyun, the acorn starch will be processed soon, and then we can exchange it for money."
"We can grind oats into flour to eat, and we can press the rapeseed we harvested this year into oil to sell for money to buy grain. Besides, we haven't even used up the money you asked me to bring back last time!"
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