"Huh?" Hua Xiaomai took a big sip of the mung bean soup and felt a chill from head to toe, quite discomforting. She barely paid attention and responded absently.
"It’s about Chun Xi..." Hua Erniang scrutinized her expression and said carefully, "She has a younger sister-in-law nad Yuejiao, who’s fourteen this year..."
"What, are you trying to set up a marriage for ?" Hua Xiaomai burst into laughter, "Sis, I’m a girl!"
"Don’t give that nonsense!" Hua Erniang slapped her again, right on the back of Hua Xiaomai’s head, "Just now when we were packing up, you were squatting on the ground washing dishes, perhaps you didn’t hear. Sister-in-law Chun Xi was nagging at for a long ti, ntioning that Yuejiao, by the age of thirteen, was already betrothed, just waiting to get married next autumn. The groom’s family is quite well-off, so she won’t have to worry about food or clothes after getting married. There’s just one thing that the whole Luo Family is anxious about."
Hua Xiaomai got even more curious, put down the bowl in her hand and turned her head, asking, "Sis, why are you beating around the bush today? Can’t you just say it all at once, why this hesitancy?"
"Oh dear!" Hua Erniang stomped her foot, showing impatience, "Yuejiao indeed looks pretty and has a gentle temperant, but she’s clumsy with needlework and cooking—can’t show off anything. Initially, her groom’s family was happy with her looks and joyfully settled the marriage, but if they find out she can’t do anything well after moving in, I’m afraid they’ll start nitpicking! Sister-in-law Chun Xi is now constantly dragging her to practice needlework, and regarding cooking, she was hoping you could lend a hand..."
Hua Xiaomai burst out laughing, about to ask Hua Erniang if "Yuejiao’s cooking skills are even worse than yours," but seeing her sister glaring with eyes wide as if she was about to eat soone, hastily covered her mouth, saying, "You an you want to teach Miss Yuejiao how to cook? Ah, why go through all that trouble? Even if she cooks for her in-laws, it’ll mostly be ho cooking, just let her mom teach her a few simple dishes to get by. I’m super busy every day, I might not have the ti to teach her."
"The thing is, they want her to learn a few fancy dishes to earn so respect from her in-laws," Hua Erniang rolled her eyes, "After getting married, whether life is good or bad, it all depends on one’s luck, but if she starts getting nitpicked the mont she enters the door, life will surely be tough!"
"Hmm." Hua Xiaomai nodded.
"So...will you do it?" Hua Erniang stepped forward and asked tentatively, "Sister-in-law Chun Xi really helped a lot today. Not to ntion that I usually get along well with her, just this favor alone, we ought to repay. Chun Xi said, if you agree, Yuejiao will accompany you to the riverside stall every day, handling dishes and wiping tables, you can just leave those tasks to her. When you find the ti, just casually teach her a couple of dishes, it won’t take much effort! She’s not asking for a wage, it’s a good deal to have soone help out at our stall for free."
She spoke with flying spit, making Hua Xiaomai hesitate, giving her a sideways glance.
Hua Erniang wouldn’t harm her own, that was without doubt. But...why this urgency on her face?
"Sis..." Hua Xiaomai chuckled, "You wouldn’t be getting sothing out of this, would you?"
"Not at all!" Hua Erniang fervently denied, but the next mont, she looked at Jing Taihe with an unusual shyness and stamred, "I was just thinking if Miss Yuejiao could accompany you to the stall every day, I’d also have more free ti to...to spend with your brother-in-law. He works hard all day at the forge and cos back to an empty house, nothing but cold pots and pans, it’s so dismal..."
Oh...
Hua Xiaomai almost burst out laughing, and hurriedly bit her teeth tightly.
After talking for half a day about how difficult it is for wives to deal with picky in-laws and dragging the conversation on, it turned out to be all about seeking benefits for you two regarding your marital bedroom activities! Indeed, standing at that riverside stall every day, exhausted to death, you must hardly have the energy to entertain any thoughts after returning ho, just flop down and sleep in a ss—no wonder the nights have been so quiet in the east house lately!
Jing Taihe felt that Hua Erniang’s words were sowhat explicit. He blushed, turned his head away, and coughed.
Hua Xiaomai glanced at one, then looked at the other, and quickly nodded her head, "Okay, if that’s the case, Ernie, find a day and have Sister-in-law Chun Xi bring that girl Yuejiao to our house."
Happiness spread across Hua Erniang’s face: "Really?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Hua Xiaomai nodded seriously, "However, you must make it clear to that girl Yuejiao beforehand. Selling stuff at night is not an easy job. Our business is getting better by the day. As soon as one group of custors leaves, another batch arrives. She needs to be quick with washing dishes and wiping tables, can’t delay things, just let her be ntally prepared."
"Okay, okay!" With her goal achieved, Hua Erniang was overjoyed, there was no reason not to agree, and she nodded her head vigorously like pounding garlic.
...
Whether it was Hua Erniang’s impatience or the Luo Family being too anxious, the next morning, while Hua Xiaomai was still sitting on the bed getting dressed, she heard a noisy commotion in the courtyard.
She hurried down to open the door, and upon looking up, she saw Chun Xi chatting happily with Hua Erniang, and behind her was a petite girl with a round face and big eyes, looking quite adorable, and carrying a food container in her elbow.
"Ah, little sister Xiaomai!" Chun Xi was originally talking animatedly with Hua Erniang, but the mont she saw Hua Xiaomai coming out of the house, she quickly stepped forward to greet her, and at the sa ti pulled the round-faced girl forward, smiling broadly, "This ti we really need to trouble you! My sister-in-law is a bit clumsy, so please do teach her well. Your cooking skills are so amazing, if she can just learn a bit from you, that will be more than enough!"
Then she nudged the round-faced girl: "Say hello!"
The round-faced girl was previously turning her big eyes around everywhere, and when Chun Xi poked her in the waist, she felt both pain and tickle, hurriedly rubbed her side while smiling sweetly at Hua Xiaomai, "Sister Xiaomai!" Before Hua Xiaomai could respond, she handed over the food container, "These are two dishes I made early this morning. My mom said it’s better to let you have a taste first, so you know what I’m capable of."(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welco to Qidian (qidian) to cast your recomndation ticket and monthly ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please read on m.qidian.)
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