“Mother, just tell me what you need!” Jiang Yaojie said.
“That’s settled then. Tomorrow I’m taking Suihe out, and you can come with me. I feel that our family’s spicy grass paste and spicy grass syrup haven’t fully penetrated the market in Pingxi County and Changning Town yet. How about you try to expand the market tomorrow?” Jiang Ling said.
"Great! I've been wanting to try this for a long time!" Jiang Yaojie nodded repeatedly, unable to suppress his laughter.
The next morning, Jiang Suihe opened her eyes with a splitting headache. Before she could figure out what had happened to her the night before, a bowl of warm water appeared at her lips. She looked up and saw her mother looking at her with tender eyes.
"Drink some water, you must be feeling very uncomfortable!" Jiang Ling said softly.
"After breakfast, Mom will take you to the county!" Jiang Ling said, watching Jiang Suihe finish drinking her water.
Jiang Suihe was completely baffled, but she would never go against Jiang Ling's wishes, so she quickly got out of bed and ran to wash up.
Jiang Ling and her two companions sat on Uncle Lu's oxcart. There was also a village woman on the cart. After a while, they couldn't stand the loneliness and began to whisper among themselves.
"Have you heard? Sun's daughter is engaged to Zhang Dazhuang from Guiyue Village!"
Jiang Ling, who had been resting with her eyes closed, suddenly opened them upon hearing this. She glanced silently at Jiang Suihe beside her, whose face was pale and whose expression looked somewhat complicated.
"I heard about it. With Sun's temper, Zhang Dazhuang is going to have a hard time in the future!"
"That's why they say birds of a feather flock together. I heard they're in such a hurry to get engaged because Sun's daughter and Zhang Dazhuang have already slept together!"
These words made Jiang Suihe's already pale face look even more ashen, and tears were almost welling up in her eyes.
Hearing this, Jiang Ling, not wanting her daughter to suffer any more harm, quickly looked up at the village women beside her and said, "Sisters, we are all women. It's not good to talk about a young girl behind her back like this!"
The village women realized they had spoken out of turn, so they quickly nodded and laughed it off to brush the matter off.
However, Jiang Ling's heart skipped a beat when she heard the conversation between the village women. If what these village women said was true, then Zhang Dazhuang really was as cunning as Lightning Mother said, and he was already up to no good at such a young age.
Thinking of this, Jiang Ling could only be thankful that she had discovered it early.
The oxcart slowly stopped at the gate of Changning Town once again. Jiang Yaojie greeted Jiang Ling and jumped off first, while Jiang Ling and her daughter continued to sit in Uncle Lu's cart until they arrived in Pingxi County before getting off.
"Mother, where are you taking me?" Jiang Suihe asked, looking puzzled.
Jiang Ling didn't say anything, but simply took Jiang Suihe's hand and walked into the Imperial Kitchen. The waiter at the Imperial Kitchen immediately recognized Jiang Ling and hurriedly greeted her, "Oh, Sister-in-law Jiang, what brings you here!"
Jiang Ling smiled faintly and said, "No need for such glib talk. I'm just here with the child for a meal. Please find us a seat by the window!"
"Alright! Please come upstairs, you two!" With that, the waiter led Jiang Ling upstairs.
Jiang Ling was seated in a private booth by the window by the waiter. Through the window, Jiang Ling could see the Ningfu Academy.
"Mother... this... this place must be very expensive, right?" Jiang Suihe asked in a low voice, looking around nervously.
"It's alright, Mom has money. Let's see what you want to eat," Jiang Ling said, pointing to the menu hanging on the wall.
"Well... Mother, I'll order whatever you like to eat. I... I wouldn't dare order!" Jiang Suihe shook her head and refused.
"Suihe, although you are a daughter, I hope you can stand on your own and become a great female teacher. Order whatever you want to eat, but don't waste food!" Jiang Ling encouraged her.
Finally, under Jiang Ling's expectant gaze, Jiang Suihe mustered up her courage, stood up, and walked towards the waiter. After a brief conversation, Jiang Suihe returned with a confident smile.
Looking at Jiang Suihe's smiling face, Jiang Ling knew that Jiang Suihe had definitely succeeded.
Sure enough, after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a plate of stir-fried vegetables, a plate of deep-fried meatballs, and two bowls of white rice appeared in front of Jiang Ling.
Jiang Ling nodded in satisfaction. The mother and daughter chatted and ate their meal when suddenly a commotion came from downstairs.
Jiang Ling looked out the window and saw that the students of Ningfu Academy were taking their lunch break. All the students were wearing the academy's uniform light blue uniforms and looked very spirited.
"Suihe, what do you think of these older brothers?" Jiang Ling asked abruptly, pointing out the window.
Jiang Suihe peeked out the window, then quickly pulled her head back in, blushing and remaining silent.
Seeing this, Jiang Ling said softly, "What's there to be ashamed of? These are all children who have passed the preliminary examinations, and some may even pass the county-level examinations or the provincial-level examinations, and might even become the top scholar!"
Jiang Ling's words seemed to pique Jiang Suihe's curiosity about this group of people again. She secretly peeked out the window and asked in a low voice, "Are they like Uncle?"
“Of course, some of them are even more outstanding than my uncle!” Jiang Ling explained.
Jiang Suihe seemed to understand, but Jiang Ling felt that her method had worked.
Soon after, Jiang Suihe and Jiang Ling finished their meal. Jiang Ling then led Jiang Suihe to a rouge shop, where the dazzling array of goods overwhelmed Jiang Suihe.
Jiang Ling silently picked out some things for Jiang Suihe. Jiang Suihe felt that her mother was acting strangely today, inexplicably spending a lot of money with her.
As the two walked out of the rouge shop, Jiang Suihe asked with some confusion, "Mother, why...why did you spend so much money on me?"
Jiang Ling smiled without saying a word and continued to lead Jiang Suihe to the pastry shop. After weighing out two catties of the best pastries, Jiang Suihe couldn't hold back any longer. She tugged at Jiang Ling's sleeve and tried to leave.
"What's wrong with Suihe?" Jiang Ling asked.
"Mother, you spent nearly a hundred copper coins on the meal, and then you spent nearly three taels of silver at the rouge shop. These pastries will cost four or five hundred copper coins. How much money do we have?" Jiang Suihe asked, clenching her fists.
Jiang Ling did not answer Jiang Suihe immediately. She took the pastries handed to her by the shop assistant and led Jiang Suihe out of the shop.
“Suihe, I just want to tell you that I can give you anything that others can give you! Look at those boys who are about your age, their futures are full of hope!” Jiang Ling said.
Jiang Suihe was greatly surprised upon hearing this, and she stared at Jiang Ling with her watery eyes.
Jiang Ling smiled gently and stroked Jiang Suihe's head, continuing, "Suihe, all I want to say is that your world shouldn't be limited to Lujia Village or Guiyue Village. You should go out. Linghui Academy is not your end point, but just your beginning."
Jiang Suihe's eyes widened in surprise, but she finally nodded vigorously and said to Jiang Ling, "Mother, Suihe was confused, I won't do it again! I'm sorry to have worried you these past few days!"
Looking into Jiang Suihe's eyes, Jiang Ling finally felt relieved.
"Jiang Shi, what a coincidence?"
Just as Jiang Ling was about to leave with Jiang Suihe, a male voice called out to her from behind.
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