When Jiang Yuwei arrived at the village head's house, she ran into Aunt Ning picking wild vegetables in the yard and smiled:
"Aunt Ning, you've come back from digging for wild vegetables so early?"
When Aunt Ning saw that it was Jiang Yuwei, she quickly got up to greet her:
"Yes, I'm getting old and can't sleep. So I went out to dig some wild vegetables just as dawn was breaking. They're very tender now. You can take some with you when you go back. We can't possibly eat all of these at home."
Jiang Yuwei smiled and handed the basket containing the preserved eggs to Aunt Ning:
"Then I'm in for a treat! I've been craving these wild vegetables for the past few days, but I've been too busy at home to find the time to dig them up. Today I'm really lucky to have this opportunity thanks to Aunt Ning. These are some preserved eggs that I made myself. Aunt Ning, please have a taste."
When Aunt Ning saw that Jiang Yuwei had brought a basket of eggs, she immediately felt it was too precious and quickly waved her hand, saying:
"No, this won't do. This is too valuable. You can keep it and sell it. It doesn't matter whether we eat it or not."
As the two were shoving each other, the village headman came in from outside carrying a hoe:
"Yuwei, you're here. There's been a lot of rain this year, which has caused the weeds in the fields to grow like crazy. I just went to the fields to weed. Don't stay in the yard now, come in."
Jiang Yuwei waved her hand and said:
"Village head, I won't go in. I came today to ask you to help me buy some more bricks and tiles. I'm thinking of taking advantage of this time to repair the backyard wall. Anyway, the backyard is quite spacious. I would also appreciate it if you could help me find some people to build a house. The treatment will be the same as before."
The village head nodded and said:
"Yuwei, you only finished building your house a few days ago, and you're already adding another one. I'm afraid it will attract too much attention in the village."
Jiang Yuwei knew what Li was worried about. Actually, she herself had some concerns, but once the papermaking project started, it couldn't be interrupted, otherwise all her previous efforts would be wasted. She had calculated the time carefully; once the house in the backyard was built, the papermaking workshop could be put into use. So, she smiled and nodded, saying:
"I know, I really do need to build an extra room right now. I'd appreciate it if the village head could help me with this. I need to take Ning Zhao to school today. Would your Ning Chen like to come along with the oxcart?"
Aunt Ning smiled and said:
"No need, Ning Chen went to town early this morning in his uncle's car."
Jiang Yuwei nodded and said:
"From now on, Ning Chen can ride in my oxcart to and from work. We'll be picking up and dropping off Ning Zhao anyway, so this will be more convenient. Aunt Ning, please tell Ning Chen next time to wait for Ning Zhao so they can come back together. Ning Zhao is still waiting for me at home. I'll be going now."
Seeing this, Aunt Ning quickly took some of the wild vegetables she had picked earlier and handed them to Jiang Yuwei:
"Alright, hurry back, don't make Ning Zhao miss school."
When Jiang Yuwei arrived home, Ning Huaizhi and the two children were all waiting for her eagerly. Jiang Yuwei first helped Ning Huaizhi onto the oxcart, then placed his wheelchair on the cart, before carrying Ning Wan onto the cart and holding Ning Zhao's hand to let him get on the cart by himself.
The whole family headed to town. Jiang Yuwei thought she needed to learn how to drive an oxcart soon, because it was too much of a hassle to have the whole family go out like this every time.
So he sat down next to Ning Huaizhi, watching his driving skills and occasionally asking him questions that made Ning Huaizhi frown.
"Yuwei, are you disgusted with me? Do you think it's shameful for me to go out with you?"
Jiang Yuwei was shocked by his question. When had she ever disliked him? Besides, if she wanted to dislike him, she would have done so long ago. Why would she have waited until now?
So he spoke:
"Huaizhi, why do you ask that? I have never looked down on you."
Ning Huai looked at Jiang Yuwei with a wronged expression and said:
"Then why did you learn to drive an oxcart? Are you never going to take me out with you anymore?"
Jiang Yuwei burst out laughing when she saw his expression:
"Haha, I thought it was something else. I was just thinking that we're going to build an extension for our house soon, and someone needs to look after it. Once I learn how to drive an oxcart, it'll be easier for me to drive it myself."
Ning Huaizhi breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and said:
"I thought you were disgusted with me, but I was worried about you driving the oxcart by yourself. What if something happened on the way..."
Ning Huaizhi thought of the boy who had ridden his horse recklessly through the street that day, and an unconcealable worry welled up in his eyes. If his wife were driving an oxcart on the road and encountered such a situation, she would definitely avoid it like the plague. If…
Jiang Yuwei interrupted Ning Huaizhi's thoughts and looked at him seriously, saying:
"Huaizhi, don't worry about me. I'm not a naive girl. I'll definitely learn how to drive an oxcart. When you're not busy, we can still go out together. I'm learning this so that I can go out whenever you're busy."
Ning Huaizhi nodded in agreement after hearing Jiang Yuwei's words.
"Okay, I'll teach you."
Ning Huaizhi taught diligently, and Jiang Yuwei learned diligently as well. The family soon arrived at the academy gate, and Jiang Yuwei hurriedly got off the oxcart to go to Ge's Paper Shop to buy paper for Ning Zhao.
The price of this handmade paper is fifty copper coins per ream, and a ream contains twenty-eight sheets of paper. The better Xuan paper is even more expensive, with a single sheet selling for one tael of silver. Jiang Yuwei was speechless. It seems she needs to produce paper as soon as possible to regulate the current paper market.
Jiang Yuwei hurriedly bought a few rolls of handmade paper and went out to hand them to Ning Zhao:
"Zhao'er, hurry inside and study hard. Don't worry about the money."
Ning Zhao took the paper and nodded gratefully, saying:
"Thank you, Mother."
After saying that, he turned and went into the academy.
Jiang Yuwei, realizing she lacked many papermaking tools at home, had Ning Huaizhi turn around and head to the carpenter's shop in the west of the city. As soon as she entered, the shopkeeper, Mr. Wang, saw her and happily greeted her.
"Madam Jiang, what brings you here today? Is there something you're here to do again?"
Jiang Yuwei smiled and handed the blueprints to Manager Wang, saying:
"Make this set of tools according to the drawings, and I'll pay you. But these drawings must not be circulated. If they are, I'll cause trouble for Manager Wang."
Manager Wang hurriedly took the drawings and looked them over. He said there were no problems and that he could pick them up in half a month. He added that it was his first time making something like this and he didn't know how well he could do it. He suggested that they check the price and see if it was feasible.
Jiang Yuwei frowned and pondered for a moment before saying:
"Alright, I trust Manager Wang's skills and character. Go ahead and do it."
After saying this, Jiang Yuwei left the carpenter's shop. Just as she was about to get onto the oxcart, she saw an old woman herding a flock of sheep on the street. Jiang Yuwei quickly went up to her and asked:
"Auntie, are you selling your sheep?"
The old woman looked at Jiang Yuwei with suspicion and said:
"These sheep of mine are all plump and healthy, and they're not cheap. Are you really interested in buying them?"
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