Chapter 29: Fried rice with lard, egg drop soup with rice water...
The family's current situation is entirely due to Qiao Mianmian's hard work. It's just a chicken leg, and Lin feels that Qiao Mianmian should eat it.
This time, Qiao Mancang had an idea. When Lin was picking up a chicken leg, he immediately picked up another chicken leg and gave it to Lin Xiahe.
Lin Xiahe's cheeks were warm. The chicken leg was delicious, but her heart was even warmer.
After the family finished eating, Zhang said, "All four of you should go to Master Lu's place to learn to read. We'll take care of the rest. You're young, so it's more important for you to learn more characters."
Learning to read is such a rare thing, and Zhang didn't know how much patience Lu Zhao had. What if he stopped teaching her later? She had to learn as much as she could now. She sent her four grandchildren away and told her son and daughter-in-law to pack up their stall.
Qiao Mianmian and Qiao Jiaxing were the most excited, while Qiao Jiawang was a little worried. He felt that his brain wasn't working well, "What if I'm too stupid and get scolded by Lord Lu?"
"Brother, don't worry. Let's adopt the right attitude and learn as much as we can," Qiao Mianmian comforted him. "We don't need to take the imperial examinations, so we don't need to be experts or write beautifully. Being able to recognize characters and write them is enough for us."
Previously, they had to consult Xu Mingxuan to review a contract, but now that they can read, they won't need to ask anyone else. In ancient times, being literate was a time-consuming and expensive skill, and extremely rare.
When they arrived at the Lu family home, Lu Zhao had already prepared reed stalks and distributed them to Qiao Mianmian and her three siblings.
At this moment, Lu Zhao was afraid that Qiao Mianmian and the others would mention the time he got drunk yesterday, so without even exchanging pleasantries, he went straight to the point and asked, "Do you know your own names?"
Qiao Jiawang and Lin Xiahe shook their heads, while Qiao Jiaxing said he knew them. "When we were carrying goods, we had to register the items and quantities every day. After a while, I asked the bookkeeper, and he checked it every day, so I remembered it."
Qiao Mianmian didn't speak until Lu Zhao looked over. She realized she probably didn't recognize him, and then shook her head.
"Then I'll teach you three how to write your names first. As for the second brother Qiao, I'll teach you numbers one through ten." Lu Zhao knew that the Qiao siblings learned to read for practical purposes, not to take exams or participate in the imperial examinations, so he didn't use books and started with common characters from daily life.
He usually carries a sword and rides a horse, looking aloof, imposing, and unapproachable. But this time he was very patient. "I'm wrong, Brother Qiao. Your name is wrong. It should be written like this."
Lu Zhao held a reed stalk and repeatedly repeated the names of the four Qiao siblings on the stone slab, not only to let them recognize their own names, but also to help them remember the names of others.
Qiao Mianmian could understand it after reading it once, but she deliberately made two mistakes before writing it correctly.
Qiao Jiawang and Lin Xiahe, standing to the side, blushed. Qiao Jiawang, in particular, had been struggling to write the character "Qiao" for half an hour, but he still frequently misspelled the character "Jia".
Lin Xiahe can recognize everyone's names, but she can only recognize the name when the three characters are put together. If you take out a single character, she can only recognize "Qiao", "Lin", and "Mian".
"Mianmian, you're amazing." Lin Xiahe glanced at her younger sister beside her. Qiao Mianmian could already write everyone's name fluently and had even started to learn to write numbers.
Qiao Mianmian felt guilty. She had lived an extra lifetime, and many traditional and simplified Chinese characters were related; otherwise, how could she have done it so easily?
"Fourth Sister, you're doing great too. Don't rush, let's take it slow," Qiao Mianmian encouraged.
"Hmm." Lin Xiahe took a deep breath and continued practicing calligraphy.
At this moment, Qingjiu brought over tea. "This is osmanthus tea that the other adults gave us. Please have a taste. There's no rush to learn to read. It took me two days to learn my own name."
Hearing that it took two days for the green wine to be made, Qiao Jiawang felt a little better, but Lu Zhao immediately said, "You're so stupid, how dare you say that?"
Qiao Jiawang: ...I'm doomed. Lord Lu will definitely think he's stupid too.
Qingjiu chuckled, "Even if I'm slow, I'll learn it eventually. You can have some tea; it's not completely dark yet, so you can practice a little longer."
The sunset was ablaze with color. The four Qiao siblings sat in the courtyard. Qiao Mianmian changed her position every now and then. After she had learned everything Lu Zhao had taught her, she stood up and stretched. Just then, she saw Lu Zhao looking over and smiled, "Lord Lu, how are you feeling now? Is your head no longer hurting?"
She meant well, and Lu Zhao blushed instantly. "I...I'm...I'm fine, it doesn't hurt anymore."
"It's alright as long as it doesn't hurt. Homemade wine has a strong aftereffect, so next time you can be more direct and don't be shy. My dad thought you were just being polite, but the moment you collapsed, he was terrified." After Qiao Mianmian finished speaking, her second brother also looked up.
“Yes, Lord Lu, you should refrain from drinking when you have social engagements in the future.” Qiao Jiaxing was tired from studying and took the opportunity to relax. “Otherwise, I’m afraid Qingjiu’s son won’t be able to carry you alone.”
Qiao Jiawang nodded earnestly and sincerely, "Yes, yes, when I go out to visit someone, I'll just say how much I can drink."
Lin Xiahe nodded in agreement, "It's a hangover headache, it takes a day or two to get better. Besides, some people have bad drinking habits, they get noisy and disruptive when they're drunk, thankfully you're quiet, sir."
The four siblings each said a few words, helping Lu Zhao recall the events again and again. By the end, Lu Zhao wasn't even blushing anymore.
"Never mind, don't take it too seriously," Lu Zhao thought to himself.
Just then, Qiao Mancang and the others returned from packing up. Lin ran in and glanced at them. "It's getting dark. Let's wrap this up for today and not disturb Lord Lu's rest." Then she looked at Lu Zhao and said, "Lord Lu, thank you so much. Please come over for breakfast tomorrow. I'll have Mianmian make a little extra."
Others have to pay tuition fees when they become students, but her family didn't give any money; they just treated the students to breakfast. The Lin family is much more generous now.
Lu Zhao said no need.
Qiao Mianmian immediately said, "Don't be so polite with my mother. She's usually very stingy, so it's rare for her to be so generous. She values you a lot, and she'll be sad if you refuse."
"You brat, teasing your old lady again!" Madam Lin ran over and grabbed her youngest daughter's ear. She didn't use much force, but smiled and sneered, "If I'm a miser, then you're a miser's daughter!"
"Oh, Mother, I was just trying to persuade Lord Lu to come to our house for breakfast. You are the most gentle and kind person. In my heart, you are still the most beautiful!" Qiao Mianmian broke free from Lin's hand and hugged Lin affectionately.
Qiao Jiawang and his two siblings carefully put away the reeds, then got up and said goodbye to Lu Zhao.
While Lu Zhao was still thinking of how to politely decline, the Qiao family members had already gone back, chatting and laughing.
"My lord, Miss Qiao and Madam Qiao are so close, it's so enviable. Her older brothers and sisters are also very kind to her, and everyone looks at her with smiles in their eyes." Just looking at them warmed Qingjiu's heart, and he even thought how wonderful it would be if they were his family.
When he turned around after speaking, he saw his master was stunned. Thinking of the Lu family's situation, he sighed inwardly and stiffly changed the subject, "It's getting late, sir. Would you like to soak your feet and rest?"
"No." Lu Zhao turned and went into the house. After lying down, she thought of Qiao Mianmian hugging Lin Shi and humming. She knew that Lin Shi was her mother, and she also knew that Lin Shi loved and doted on her, so Qiao Mianmian could be willful and do whatever she wanted with Lin Shi.
Unconsciously, Lu Zhao thought of his mother.
His mother was a very strict and rigid person. From the time he could remember, the question she asked him most often was:
What did you learn in class today?
"Have you practiced martial arts?"
Did you beat Lu Xingzhou in the quiz?
Lu Xingzhou was Lu Zhao's father's concubine's son, a fact known to everyone in the Lu family.
Without hesitation, his father sent Lu Xingzhou to study at the Lu family's private school. Lu Xingzhou and Lu Zhao were only a few months apart in age, and they enrolled at the same time and took the county examination in the same year.
Lu Zhao had always been superior to Lu Xingzhou. His mother wanted him to be competitive in everything, so he did as she said. Only when he said he had outperformed Lu Xingzhou in a test could he see his mother breathe a sigh of relief.
He initially thought his mother didn't love him and only wanted Lu Zhao to make her proud. Later, Lu Zhao learned that his mother was afraid he would be outshone by Lu Xingzhou and abandoned by his father. She herself had already been ignored by her father, and she clung to Lu Zhao as a lifeline, only to drown herself in her father's indifference.
Lu Zhao and his mother never had the same intimacy as Qiao Mianmian and Lin Shi.
Qingjiu said she was very envious.
Indeed, that would be wonderful.
That night, Lu Zhao had a rare dream. In the dream, he was in the school, constantly practicing calligraphy and reciting texts, over and over again, until he woke up at cockcrow.
"My lord, the hot water is ready." Qingjiu knocked on the door.
After the master and servant washed their faces, Qingjiu thought about the Qiao family's breakfast, but he dared not say it.
Lu Zhao felt embarrassed to eat the Qiao family's breakfast for free, so he thought he would bring some Qingjiu and leave early. As soon as the two of them opened the door, they saw Qiao Jiaxing waiting at the door with a smile.
"Good morning, Lord Lu. My mother said you must be embarrassed, so she asked me to come and wait for you." With that, Qiao Jiaxing gestured for Lu Zhao to come in. "Thanks to you, my fifth sister made fried rice this morning. I just heard her say that she's also going to make egg drop rice soup!"
At this moment, Madam Lin came out of the Qiao family's house. "I heard Jiaxing talking to someone and guessed that you were going out, so I came out to call you. Jiaxing, please invite the master in quickly!"
"Mother, I'm inviting you!" Qiao Jiaxing chuckled. "Lord Lu, my mother has already come forward, please come in quickly, otherwise the fried rice will get cold and won't taste good."
Qingjiu's stomach rumbled twice in agreement, as if he could smell the aroma of fried rice.
Lu Zhao was pulled into the Qiao family's gate by Qiao Jiaxing.
Qiao Mianmian had just brought out the fried rice. The rice, fried with lard, had a meaty aroma, and each grain was distinct, glistening, and plump.
The vibrant green of the scallions and the deep brown of the soy sauce complemented each other perfectly, and the rising steam awakened the taste buds that had been dormant all night. Even Qiao Mianmian herself was salivating.
"Lord Lu is here! Dinner is ready, please have a seat." As Qiao Mianmian spoke, Lin Xiahe brought over a bowl of rice porridge with egg drop soup. The thick rice porridge made the egg drop soup look like a net, with white and golden colors intertwined, and the aroma of rice mixed with the aroma of egg drop soup.
The Qiao sisters served everyone fried rice and egg drop rice soup. Only after Zhang and Qiao Youfu started eating did Qiao Mianmian begin to eat heartily.
The aroma of lard permeated the rice grains, and the egg drop soup with a touch of sugar was delicious. She ate a bite of fried rice, then a sip of egg drop soup, finishing the whole bowl in one go. Afterward, she drank the soup. Only when she was full did she regain her energy.
Everyone in the Qiao family ate heartily, and Qingjiu also looked satisfied.
Lu Zhao ate his meal in silence, only slightly frowning when Qingjiu said she wanted more rice.
After breakfast, Lu Zhao returned home, picked up the rice bag, and went to the Qiao family's house.
Secretly, he also wanted to eat the Qiao family's breakfast. Since he couldn't refuse, he would hand over his and Qingjiu's food rations; otherwise, the two of them, grown men, would consume a significant portion of the Qiao family's food every month.
"Oh dear, that won't do," Madam Lin hurriedly said, frowning as she looked at her daughter. "It's all because you called me a miser; even Lord Lu is embarrassed."
“No, Auntie, it’s just a small favor for me to teach Brother Qiao and the others to read. I don’t need to pay anything. But you’re so kind as to invite us to breakfast. Qingjiu and I both have big appetites. One of us can eat as much as your two daughters. I really can’t let you keep feeding and drinking us for free.”
Lu Zhao was truly grateful. "I must thank you for letting us enjoy such a delicious meal. With Miss Qiao's intelligence, she should be able to finish her studies in two or three months. In the meantime, I'll be troubling you all."
“How can it be that you’re troubling us, but that we’re troubling you?” Lin said.
Lu Zhao raised his hand in a salute, insisting on leaving the rice. Only after he left did Qingjiu say regretfully, "Sir, we're only going to eat this for two or three months, right? Can't we keep giving him rice and keep coming here to freeload?"
"You're really shameless. They're not related to us at all. It's already quite good that they've been with us for two or three months," Lu Zhao said.
"Fine, we'll take it one day at a time. It's better than eating my cooking all the time." Qingjiu pouted. His cooking skills were truly terrible!
After Lu Zhao and his servant left, the Qiao family was also going to set up their stall, but Qiao Mianmian wasn't going to set up her stall today; she was going to the Wang family to order the dishes for their banquet.
The second brother went to the dock again, while she took the fourth sister and the eldest brother to the Wang family.
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