“Mother, this person looks so familiar!” Wang Hongyu said to Tao Wan’s mother when she had a spare moment.
"I don't remember. You're so young and already have such a bad memory. What will you do in the future?" Tao Wanniang said in a teasing tone. "The guests have left. Hurry up and clear the table."
Tao Wanniang knew perfectly well what Wang Hongyu was thinking. She kept glancing at Xiao Qiao'er with a frown on her face, clearly embarrassed.
Wang Hongyu turned around and saw that Ling Dapeng was already tidying up. She suppressed her discomfort and forced herself to speak:
"Mom, um... I also want to learn how to make wontons, and scallion pancakes, can I... learn how?"
As soon as she said this, she became so nervous that she didn't dare to look at Tao Wanniang. She lowered her head and looked at her toes with unease.
Tao Wanniang was surprised that she dared to say it out loud.
"Sure, if you have some free time, just watch from the sidelines, and if you want to try it out, then you can."
Tao Wanniang didn't mind at all; she didn't treat this small business like a treasure to be hidden away.
Wan Hongyu suddenly looked up, her face filled with disbelief.
"What, you think I won't agree? It's such a small matter, why are you keeping it to yourself?" Tao Wanniang took the opportunity to reprimand Wang Hongyu.
"At my age, why am I still working so hard? Is it for myself?" Of course it's for myself! Who wants to live a hard life? Tao Wanniang added to herself in her heart, but said it with a stern face, sounding very righteous.
"Other people your age have already gone out on their own. If you were really allowed to live alone, could you support yourselves or your children?"
“I do things discreetly. This small business can only grow by everyone working together. If you don’t say what you’re thinking, do you expect me to guess?”
"Mother, I... I was just afraid you wouldn't agree, wasn't I?" Wang Hongyu said with a forced smile.
"Hmph!" Tao Wanniang snorted coldly. Just then, a guest arrived, so she ignored Wang Hongyu.
Wang Hongyu was quite sensible and immediately helped to entertain the guests.
When Wang Hongyu packed up her stall and went home at noon, she was beaming with joy, while Ling Dahu at home looked rather worried.
"Mother, Hongyu, you're finally back!"
Ling Dahu immediately complained, "Hongyu, Huani peed and pooped, and her pants are all dirty. You should wash them quickly. My sister-in-law was cooking and asked me to help watch Er Gou. He peed all over me, and I feel uncomfortable all over because of the smell."
"Mother, Xiaoqiao, you two wash up and wait for dinner. I'll dry the baby first," Wang Hongyu said with a smile, pulling Ling Dahu into the house.
"What's wrong with you? You're a father, and you can't even handle this simple thing."
Tao Wanniang had a faint smile on her lips, almost imperceptible unless you looked closely.
That's life, isn't it?
"Little Qiao'er, go wash your hands and get ready for dinner. I'm going to check on Sister Yu Mei in the backyard."
Even Wang Hongyu couldn't stand it, but Bai Yumei could really stay by herself without any fun and didn't come to the front to walk around. She even suspected that Bai Yumei was becoming withdrawn!
Bai Yumei in the backyard wasn't as miserable as Tao Wanniang described. She had lived in a stone cave before, but now that she had a house and a courtyard, things were much better.
"Sister Tao, you're back from your stall."
Upon seeing Tao Wanniang, Bai Yumei greeted her cheerfully.
"Yes, you're back. Are you hungry? Lunch will be ready soon."
Tao Wanniang couldn't see Bai Yumei's face, but from her voice, she knew that Bai Yumei was in a good mood.
"I suddenly feel like going to check out the cave under that Taihu rock today. Sister Yumei, it's a waste to leave this well in the backyard lying idle. If it could produce water, it would be so much more convenient for you to wash and groom yourself!"
Tao Wanniang had this idea on a whim; it would be a shame not to plant some vegetables in the backyard, so it would be good to keep the well running.
"After lunch, I'll take you to see it. If the well is to be used, the entrance will probably have to be sealed off," Bai Yumei replied casually without thinking.
Since arriving in Shanhai Prefecture, she hadn't encountered a rainy day. Tao Wanniang didn't quite understand how the well was connected to the Taihu stone. After making arrangements with Bai Yumei, she went to have lunch.
After lunch, Tao Wanniang and Bai Yumei entered the cave under the Taihu stone. The narrow and low entrance could only accommodate one person at a time, and it was only at the bottom that it became a little more spacious.
“Look, I used to sleep here,” Bai Yumei said, pointing to a pile of thick straw.
Tao Wanniang frowned; the pile of straw already smelled damp and rotten.
“There’s a stone here that you can move back and forth. Over there is a passageway that leads to the bottom of the well,” Bai Yumei said, pointing to a flat stone and demonstrating it to Tao Wanniang.
“That’s really strange!” Tao Wanniang said. “However, I think even if the well water is poured in, it won’t matter. The tunnel is long and narrow, so the water won’t reach the top.”
"Sister Tao, these are my jewelry pieces!" Bai Yumei took out bracelets and jade pendants from a hole in the side and showed them to Tao Wanniang like treasures.
"Put these away," Tao Wanniang said kindly.
"I'm useless now. I look like this, it's not appropriate for me to wear these anymore. Sister Tao, here you go!"
"Give it to me? I'm too old for that. I don't want to dress up in something flashy," Tao Wan declined.
"Then you can have it too. You can pawn it all if you need it someday!" Bai Yumei said generously. "You need money for your business, plus you have this family to support."
Tao Wanniang couldn't refuse any longer and had no choice but to reluctantly accept it. "Then I'll really sell it!"
"Then let's sell it!" Bai Yumei said straightforwardly.
Tao Wanniang looked around again, and finally, while talking to Bai Yumei, she went out.
The next few days were the same routine of setting up her stall. As for the braised food, after several attempts, Tao Wanniang finally got the flavor she wanted. She planned to sell wontons, scallion pancakes, and some braised snacks when the weather got cooler.
That evening, as Tao Wanniang was preparing to close her stall, a familiar figure suddenly ran up to her.
"Dow, I need your help."
Xiao Yi's enlarged face startled Tao Wanniang.
"Cheng Feng and Lin Da have drawn away the pursuers. I need a hiding place. I will reward you handsomely afterwards!" Xiao Yi said, spitting out blood. Judging from his appearance, he was either suffering from internal injuries or poisoning.
Tao Wanniang hesitated for a long time before finally putting her things down and saying to Xiao Yi, "Can you walk? If you can, come with me!"
Xiao Yi nodded, forcing himself not to collapse.
"Pack your things and come back with Xiao Qiao'er," Tao Wanniang said to her two dumbfounded sons.
"Come with me!" She walked ahead, leading Xiao Yi quickly towards her home.
Isn't that cave under the Taihu stone the perfect hiding place? Tao Wanniang led Xiao Yi into the house without disturbing anyone.
“This hole is very narrow. You should be able to squeeze in if you turn sideways!” Tao Wanniang walked ahead and took out a tinderbox.
"My son and daughter-in-law don't know anything about this place. You'll have to make do down here for now. Either wait until things calm down or your men come looking for you. I see you're injured. Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I just need to adjust my breathing, thank you!" Xiao Yi found a flat spot and sat down cross-legged.
"Here's the tinder. I'm going back now. If you need anything, I'll get it for you."
"Thank you!" Xiao Yi looked at Tao Wanniang and forced a smile.
Goodness, the injured handsome man is quite charming. Tao Wanniang stiffened. She is a beautiful older woman with an interesting soul!
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