The Ling family members were somewhat reserved when they saw Bai Yumei. Even though Bai Yumei was wearing a veil, the way she walked slowly over, swaying inside her clothes, made the Ling family members feel that she was like a celestial being.
"I am Bai Yumei, and I will be troubling everyone from now on."
Bai Yumei was also a little reserved; it had been too long since she had seen so many people.
"I... can't see anyone. Sister Tao said I'll live in the backyard from now on, and I won't come to the front unless necessary, so I won't scare you!"
Tao Wanniang noticed that her son and daughter-in-law were even more reserved than Bai Yumei, and Xiao Qiao'er looked gloomy. She didn't seem to care much about their appearance. However, Gouwa and Huani were hiding behind Wang Hongyu, secretly peeking at her.
"Don't feel bad about it. To be honest, the money that Sister Yumei gave her is enough for her to rent this house for several years. She's not just eating and drinking for free. Compared to you, she deserves to live here more."
“Mother is right. We’re not uncomfortable, it’s just… it’s just that we country folk are a little hesitant to talk to someone like Miss Bai, we’re afraid…”
Ling Dahu said in a simple and honest way, and while speaking, he was nervous and embarrassed, not knowing where to put his hands and feet.
"Ha!" Tao Wanniang immediately scoffed, "What a pathetic fellow!"
"Everything has been explained clearly. Here's the arrangement: Hongyu, Xiaoyun, you two can take turns bringing meals to Yumei. You don't have any objections, do you?"
"No objection, it's the right thing to do."
Wang Hongyu immediately said, "Big sister, we country folk haven't seen much of the world, but don't worry, we don't have any bad intentions."
"Yes, yes, big sister, you can go wherever you want in the backyard, or even come to the front. We've never seen anyone like you before, even without showing your face you look like a fairy."
Zhou Xiaoyun immediately added, speaking with utmost sincerity.
Bai Yumei was stunned for a moment, then amused by what Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun said.
"You guys are so kind!"
The Ling family members, who were praised for their kindness, were a little embarrassed, but their eyes still showed goodwill and satisfaction when they looked at Bai Yumei. After all, she was the family's lucky charm.
Tao Wanniang noticed that Xiao Qiao'er was in a bad mood and said, "Xiao Qiao'er, let's go for a walk in the street and see what kind of mattresses you like. Let's buy a few sets and keep them at home."
"Oh!" Little Qiao'er responded rather lukewarmly.
Wang Hongyu and Zhou Xiaoyun exchanged a glance, then looked at Tao Wanniang with a hopeful expression.
Back in the countryside, they used to sleep on straw beds, but seeing that everyone else had them, they wanted them too!
Tao Wanniang pretended not to see it. If you want something, you have to say it. If you don't even have the courage to say it, then why should she give it to you?
"Sister Yumei, you can move around freely at home. Xiaoqiao and I are going out for a walk."
Bai Yumei immediately agreed, but tentatively said, "Sister Tao, there's a pastry shop on East Street. Could you bring me some pastries? I can keep them at home and eat them when I'm hungry."
“Of course!” Tao Wanniang immediately replied, her attitude towards her sugar daddy was naturally different.
It was still quite hot outside in the afternoon, but Tao Wanniang and Xiao Qiao'er had both experienced the hardships of fleeing famine, so they didn't care about that at all.
Tao Wanniang bought five sets of bedding and straw mats, as well as corresponding curtains, from the bedding shop. Although she didn't need them, she thought it would be good to have an extra set in case guests came or to replace them.
A straw mat costs only five coins, and the cheapest quilts are filled with willow catkins and reeds, costing ten coins each.
However, it's not autumn yet, so Tao Wan's mother thought she'd just make do for now. Besides, having such superior material conditions wouldn't encourage her son and daughter-in-law to work hard!
Upon hearing that Tao Wanniang wanted to deliver the goods to that house, the shopkeeper looked shocked.
"Sir, that's a haunted house. Have you been scammed?"
“We’ve already stayed here for a night and nothing’s happened. Shopkeeper, just take all these things over there. There’s someone at home.”
Tao Wanniang smiled and said, "That's not a ghost, that's the God of Wealth."
After buying the bedding, it's time to buy pastries.
"Little Qiao'er, would you like some pastries? When you're in a bad mood, eating something sweet will make you feel better."
"Grandma Tao, I can't be happy when I think about how my father doesn't want me."
Xiao Qiao'er frowned and said with a drooping mouth.
"This is not something that can be figured out in a day or two. Xiao Qiao, Grandma will say it again: your father will always be your father. It's not like you can just disown him."
Tao Wanniang patiently said, "However, life goes on as it should. Whether you're happy or not, you still have to live it! Little Qiao'er, you're ten years old now. You should think about how to make yourself happy."
Little Qiao'er looked at Tao Wan's mother with a half-understanding, "Before, as long as there was food, I would be happy. But now, I don't know anymore!"
Tao Wan's mother could probably understand the confusion of a ten-year-old girl.
"Let's have a sweet pastry first, let's go!"
The pastry shop Bai Yumei mentioned was called Chen's Pastry Shop. They said that mung bean cake, red bean cake, steamed sugar cheese, and Ruyi cake were their signature dishes, so Tao Wanniang simply ordered two of each.
After returning home, Tao Wan's mother sent one portion to Bai Yumei, and called her son and daughter-in-law over for the rest.
"You all owe it to Xiao Qiao'er. Here, Xiao Qiao'er, take some first, and the rest can be given to your uncles and aunts!"
Tao Wanniang waved her hand and said to Xiao Qiao'er.
"Don't be shy, little Qiao'er, take whatever you want to eat!"
Xiao Qiao was taken aback. Should she take it first?
“Little Qiao’er, you should know that without you, Grandma Tao wouldn’t have the money to buy these things, and Uncle, Aunt and Gouwa wouldn’t be able to afford pastries.”
"So, how much you give is entirely up to you!"
Tao Wanniang said that sweets can make people happy, and so can control!
Xiao Qiao'er felt a little uneasy. Was she still of any use?
"Then I'll take this one, and this one too!" Little Qiao'er picked out the best-looking steamed sugar cheese and auspicious cake.
"Alright, you can divide the rest among yourselves."
Tao Wan's mother nodded, and then spoke to her son and daughter-in-law.
Faced with pastries they had never seen before, let alone tasted, the Ling family members all swallowed hard.
"Mother, don't you want it?"
Ling Dahu looked at Tao Wanniang and asked.
"I won't eat it. I'm too old, my teeth aren't good, and I can't eat sweets."
Tao Wan's mother asked without much interest, "Where are the mattresses? Have they been delivered?"
"We're here, Mom. You ordered five sets, that's..."
Ling Dapeng spoke first, saying that Zhou Xiaoyun had privately told him that the bed board was very hard and she wanted to get some straw to put on it, but where would the provincial government get straw?
“One set per room, take care of it yourselves. Send it over to Bai Yumei’s place first,” Tao Wanniang said in her usual tone.
"Okay, Mother, I'll go right away!" Wang Hongyu was overjoyed. With pastries and bedding, their lives were becoming more and more prosperous!
“Then I’ll make up the room for Mother!” Zhou Xiaoyun immediately said.
"No need, I'll do it myself!" Tao Wanniang immediately said. The items she exchanged from her spatial storage were worth five sets of these, so... it was best not to let anyone see them!
"Go and make a bed for Xiao Qiao'er's room!" Tao Wan's mother paused for a moment, then quickly said.
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