The Ling family was deeply saddened by the unexpected passing of Aunt Liang. Being far away, they were unable to bring her back to her hometown, so they could only find a secluded place to bury her.
"Little Qiao'er, since your grandmother entrusted you to me, I will definitely help you find your father. If I can't, I will take care of you for the rest of my life!"
Tao Wanniang spoke to Xiao Qiao'er in front of Liang Da Niang's grave, also speaking to Liang Da Niang who had gone to the Western Paradise.
The child's father is most likely to be untraceable. They had been intentionally avoiding the topic before, but Tao Wan's mother knew that Aunt Liang was entrusting her child to someone else.
"Mother, it's because we're useless!"
Ling Dahu said with shame, "If something really happens, I would only care about my wife and children and let my own mother go into battle. How can I not feel ashamed!"
“Mother, we will take care of Xiao Qiao’er. Aunt Liang saved you, which means she saved our whole family!” Ling Dapeng also stepped forward and said.
"I don't want you, I want Grandma!" Little Qiao'er had cried until she had no strength left, and the two tear streaks on her little face were truly heartbreaking to see.
Tao Wanniang hugged Xiao Qiao'er and finally spoke with difficulty: "Let's go, we still need to go to the provincial capital."
Xiao Qiao'er sobbed silently as Tao Wan's mother pulled her away, but she kept looking back at Liang Da Niang's grave.
Once they were back on the road, the atmosphere became extremely oppressive. As for the scarred man's corpse, no one cared about it; it was truly left to rot in the wilderness.
Tao Wanniang sat on the cart, with Gouwa and Xiao Qiao'er beside her. She didn't know what to say to Xiao Qiao'er.
"Sister!" Tao Wanniang heard Gou Sheng's childish voice and glanced over.
There she saw her eldest grandson placing his thin, dark hand on Xiao Qiao'er's hand.
"Sister, I'll give Grandma to you, please don't cry!"
Tao Wanniang's lips twitched. Children really do speak without thinking. She wondered if this little girl would blame her, since Aunt Liang died because of her.
After walking for three or four days, the group arrived at a place called Zhujia Town.
"Mother, let's stay in town for the night." Zhu Family Town is much more prosperous and bustling than Ping'an Town. The Ling family members felt a little apprehensive about such a place, but they were also somewhat tempted.
Tao Wanniang nodded. Three or four days passed, and Xiao Qiao'er's spirits improved. Although she still sometimes spaced out and then burst into tears, she was finally willing to eat and talk!
"We can't afford an inn, so let's see if there's any run-down hut we can stay in. We won't be as lucky as last time!"
Tao Wanniang was referring to the Hu family, since there were very few people like the Hu family of Caofeng County who lived in a house all by themselves.
Would you like to eat wontons?
At the foot of the city wall, a simple wonton shop caught Tao Wan's attention.
If she were to start a food business and open a small shop, this kind of wonton shop would be the most suitable!
"Wonton!" The Ling family members were stunned. They had seen it at the market before, but they had never actually eaten it!
"Let's all go and have some food, it's on me!"
Tao Wanniang said generously, "Let's go, let's go take a look."
"Sir, would you like some wontons? Five coins a bowl."
It was a husband-and-wife shop, with the man as the owner. Upon seeing Tao Wanniang and her group, he immediately stepped forward to greet them.
Five coins!
Before Tao Wanniang could speak, the Ling brothers exclaimed in unison, clearly shocked by the price.
"Sir, it's only five coins, not expensive at all!"
The innkeeper did not show any disdain for Tao Wanniang and her entourage because of their simple attire, and still treated them warmly.
"Five coins it is, give me eight bowls to start."
Tao Wan's mother, holding Xiao Qiao'er's hand, stepped into the wonton shop first. The tables and chairs were all very clean.
"Alright, please make yourselves, the hot wontons will be here soon!"
"We came here as refugees. Along the way, we've seen other places suffering from drought or locust plagues, but your Zhu Family Town seems to be unaffected!"
Tao Wanniang looked around and then spoke.
"It's all thanks to our ancestors' blessings. Our Zhujia Town has two Dragon King Temples, so naturally we don't lack water. You gentlemen have come from afar; are you planning to stay in our Zhujia Town?"
"No, we want to go to the provincial government!"
Tao Wanniang's answer was extremely firm.
“Our Zhujia Town is close to the provincial capital, only about three days’ journey away. Do you have relatives there?”
"Hmm!" Tao Wanniang replied perfunctorily.
As she sat down, she glanced around. There were no condiments on the table. If it were her, she would definitely have added chili oil and vinegar...
Tao Wanniang was already imagining what her shop would be like.
The Ling family of four sat down at the square table, looking around timidly yet curiously.
"Mom, have you ever eaten wontons before?"
Ling Dahu asked curiously why his mother was so calm and not curious at all.
"I've eaten. If I'm in a good mood, I'll cook wontons for you too," Tao Wanniang said casually.
"Here you are, sir!"
The shopkeeper brought over two bowls of wontons. "The rest will be here soon, thank you for waiting!"
"You guys eat first, then tell me what it tastes like."
Tao Wan's mother told her two sons to eat first.
"Ouch, it's so hot!" Ling Dahu immediately put his mouth down, but he was so hot that he kept panting, but he immediately continued to put his mouth down.
"Delicious, Mom, so delicious! The noodles are thin, and there's even some meat inside. It's really good." Ling Dapeng, who was standing to the side, had already eaten one and immediately praised it highly.
Soon, two more bowls were served, and Tao Wan's mother told her two daughters-in-law to eat first.
"Little Qiao'er, don't worry, we'll be there soon."
"Mom, didn't you order eight bowls? Who's going to eat the extra one?"
Ling Dahu asked curiously.
"How did you calculate it? An extra bowl?"
Tao Wan's mother looked at her son and asked a question, but then continued speaking to herself:
"These wontons have thin wrappers and small fillings. Xiao Qiao can eat a bowl, Gouwa and Huani can each have a bowl, and there's one more bowl. The wrappers are for Er Gouzi, and you can divide the fillings among yourselves!"
"Thank you, Mother!" Zhou Xiaoyun immediately thanked her mother-in-law for thinking of her son, who was so young.
"Okay!" Tao Wanniang responded, and the wontons were served.
This soup... it's just clear broth, not a drop of oil in it. How could they not even sprinkle some scallions on top? Ugh, these wontons look so ordinary.
Tao Wanniang glanced at her bowl with disdain, but since everyone else was eating with relish, she decided not to leave an awkward silence and started eating as usual.
"Do they look like they can afford it? Eight bowls, forty coins, do they have that kind of money?"
The shopkeeper and his wife were whispering to each other in front of the shop. Tao Wanniang overheard them and realized that the woman was complaining about the shopkeeper!
"Mom, this is so delicious! I've never eaten anything this good before. Mom, things are so much better in town. Don't you think there's even more delicious food in the provincial capital?"
Ling Dahu was excitedly talking while eating, and if he hadn't used his hand to block it, the saliva would have gone straight into the bowl.
"Yes, there must be even more delicious food, but do you have the money?"
Tao Wan's mother relentlessly criticized her son, saying, "How can this son be such a simpleton!"
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