Chapter 20
Gu Xiangrong quickly agreed, and in two or three steps he rushed in front of Gu Xinxin, and took Gu Xinxin to the bamboo forest as if he was familiar with the place.
The brother and sister cut down six bamboos and took them home to dry them in the sun, soak them, and dry them again, repeating this process several times until the bamboo changed its color and became soft and would not break easily. Only then was the first step completed. Next, they could split the bamboo, polish the bamboo strips, and then weave them.
Gu Xiangrong didn't know where he got the energy from, but he started working as soon as he came down the mountain without stopping for a moment.
Gu Xinxin had nothing to do, so she simply started doing horse stance and lifting buckets - she had been so busy this morning that she hadn't exercised at all.
Although Gu Daniu had promised not to hit her, she still felt that people had to rely on themselves. Relying on someone else's promise was like hanging your life on the edge of a well, and you didn't know when it would fall in.
It was dark when Gu Daniu came back. He didn't find the beehive, but he hunted two rabbits and a chicken.
He drank from the water scoop for most of the day before saying, "Tomorrow I'll take Xiang Rong and the clerk to town and sell these. Then I'll go to the school to pay the tuition and send them to school."
There was a school in the town, opened by a scholar. After passing the imperial examination, he made no further progress. Later, his parents died, and his brothers were unwilling to support his studies, so he returned home and opened a school.
Most of the children in the town who wanted to go to school went to his school.
The price of the tuition was clearly marked, four taels of silver per year.
One person is four taels, two people is eight taels. Gu Daniu looked at Gu Chenshi, who tried to pretend not to see him, so Gu Daniu reminded her: "Take the silver."
Gu Chen was dissatisfied and stood up and kicked over a stool.
Gu Daniu frowned and glared at her. Gu Chen turned around and went back to the house. After a long while, she came out with two gold ingots in her hand. She said meaningfully, "This is all our family savings. If we spend it now, we'll have to tighten our belts in the future. Especially Xinxin and Xiangrong. They can no longer eat as many eggs as they want like before."
This matter can't be resolved, right?
Gu Xinxin quickly said, "Oh, right, I went to the county town to get medicine and it cost me three taels of silver. My stepmother gave me the silver, and I will return it to the county magistrate's daughter when she comes to see me. I have also learned about propriety, righteousness, and shame. I can't take other people's money for free. Dad, do you think I am right? Am I doing the right thing?"
Gu Daniu opened his mouth and closed it again.
Three taels of silver, he was reluctant to give it, he pretended he didn't hear what Gu Xinxin said.
Gu Chen quickly gave the silver to Gu Daniu: "Be frugal with it. Also, sell these and buy some pork, celery, and red dates as a gift for your apprenticeship."
Each person should give at least one pound of pork. There is no clear rule on this. If you have money, you can give more; if you don’t have money, you can give less.
Gu Daniu stuffed the silver into his arms without a word and asked Gu Xinxin: "What are you having for dinner?"
Gu Xinxin went to the kitchen to bring out dinner. She made wild vegetable soft-wheat pancakes today. She used too many vegetables, so the pancakes were not formed and were lumpy. It looked really ugly.
Gu Xinxin ordered Gu Qiuhe: "Go and bring the garlic juice over."
Gu Qiuhe looked at Gu Chenshi, who didn't say anything, so Gu Qiuhe hurried to the kitchen, fearing that she would anger Gu Xinxin. Gu Xinxin went to get a machete.
Gu Xinxin looked at Gu Chen and said, "We don't have much seasoning at home. I'll go to town to buy some tomorrow. Dad is also going to town, so we can go together. Bring me some money."
Gu Xinxin wanted to go to town and it would cost money, so Gu Chen would definitely not agree.
But Gu Daniu stared at Gu Xinxin for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay, you can go with me tomorrow. There's no rush to buy the seasonings. I'll go with you."
Gu Xinxin thought Gu Daniu wanted to know the recipe for honey fried dough twists. She wasn't afraid of others stealing the recipe, so she nodded and agreed openly: "Then Dad, remember to take me with you tomorrow morning."
Early the next morning, Gu Xiangrong came to wake her up.
Gu Daniu was already prepared. Gu Wenshu was a little reluctant, pouting as he followed behind. Gu Chenshi chased after him and told him, "Be obedient. If the teacher tests you, answer if you know the answer, and say no if you don't. Don't treat it like you do at home."
Gu Daniu just focused on his journey, and Gu Chenshi stopped chasing him when they reached the village entrance.
When we arrived in town, we first sent Gu Wenshu and Gu Xiangrong to school.
There was no suspense about their admission to the school. After all, they had already paid their tuition and presented their apprenticeship gifts. The teacher only gave them instructions on the books they should buy, as well as the pens, inkstones, and paper, and the school schedule.
What time do you arrive in the morning and what time do you return in the evening?
Because their village is relatively close to the town, the two brothers can go to school and go back by themselves. It only takes half an hour.
After finishing this matter and leaving the two brothers to adapt to the environment at the school, Gu Daniu took Gu Xinxin to the department store in town to buy ingredients. Of course, some of them were not needed for the time being, but since Gu Daniu was willing to pay for it, Gu Xinxin was still willing to buy more.
After they finished shopping, Gu Daniu took her out of town. She realized something was wrong and stopped immediately: "Dad, this doesn't seem to be the way back to the village?"
"I'm not going back to the village, I'm going to the county town," said Gu Daniu, still holding the prey he had hunted yesterday. After a pause, he explained, "The price I can get in the county town is higher."
Gu Xinxin didn't quite believe it, so Gu Daniu said, "Hurry up, I'm counting on you to make money. Can I sell you?"
That's hard to say.
What if someone is willing to pay twenty taels of silver to buy her?
She wouldn't listen anyway. Even if she had a way to do business, how long would it take to earn twenty or even a hundred taels? If she told the buyer that she had a recipe, the buyer might even be willing to pay more.
Gu Daniu couldn't find any way to make money, but the buyer definitely had a way to make Gu Xinxin talk.
It's not that she is too dark-minded, it's just that... she has read too many novels, and in this era, she is more inclined to think about things in this way.
Gu Xinxin quickly smiled and said, "Then I won't go. I'm going home now, so I can make some honey fried dough twists this afternoon. Dad will come back just in time to eat fresh ones. If I go with him, Dad will have to pay for the trip."
In the village, at least she had Second Aunt's family to stop her. If she wanted to go out alone with Gu Daniu, even if Gu Daniu beat her to death on the way, there wouldn't be anyone to stop her. This household registration thing... if she hadn't been able to conjure it out of thin air, she might have escaped to somewhere long ago.
Of course, it made no difference whether she escaped or not. Because apart from this village, all places were unfamiliar to her, and all people were potentially threatening and could hurt her.
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