Zhu Juying and Uncle Guai exchanged glances, both nodding in satisfaction. The child resembled Shen ng, and though she was a year younger than Xiangxiang, the difference wasn’t significant. Besides, with Shen ng, her elder cousin around, her daughter couldn’t possibly suffer any grievances. As they spoke, they kept darting glances back and forth at the two children.
Lu Xiangxiang, feeling embarrassed from being looked at, kept glancing at Shen ng, hoping she could rescue her.
Fortunately, just then, Lu Zhenping finished cleaning the fish, and he waved Shen ng over. Seizing the opportunity, Lu Xiangxiang also stood up as Shen ng rose and linked arms with her as they left the main room.
"Sister-in-law ng, I’ll go with you."
Shen ng glanced back, whispering with her head down, "Look at you, even if you’re not here for matchmaking, you’re still Zhenping’s sister. When you’re at my house, just take it easy and rest; there’s no need to do any work."
"I’m not comfortable, sister-in-law. Didn’t you see the way my parents were looking? It scares just thinking about it."
Lv Qinlan and Su Xiaoi called out as they followed them out, also summoning Shen Xiaobin along.
"Xiao Bin, go help your sister-in-law fetch two more buckets of water and wash the vegetables. Your brothers will be back soon, and we’ll be ready to eat."
"Alright, okay," he replied, then turned to Uncle Guai and Zhu Juying, "Uncle, Aunt, I’ll head out first then. Mom, Dad, you two keep chatting!"
"Good, good, good."
Uncle Guai was the first to respond, and the four elders looked at each other, each having an understanding in their minds.
Their satisfaction wasn’t enough; it was necessary for the two youngsters to talk and get to know each other to determine if this marriage could happen. After Shen Xiaobin left, he headed to the kitchen to grab the buckets, but seeing the two buckets full of water, he looked at Lv Qinlan with a face full of question marks.
"Dummy, did you really think your sister-in-law asked you to carry water? Go get so potatoes out; Xiangxiang is washing ginger and onions. You can give a hand. It’s less tiring to work when n and won team up!"
Shen Xiaobin: "....."
There’s no need for a partner, I can handle this little work by myself!
After Lu Zhenping cleaned the fish, he went out. Xiao Hu, along with a few other children, went out to play, and he needed to hurry and bring the children back ho, as it was almost ti for dinner.
Lv Qinlan was tending the stove while watching Shen ng cook. Oil was poured into the pan, and as the hot oil sizzled, she fried the fish coated in egg and flour, not even having added any seasoning yet, and it was already mouthwateringly fragrant.
"I was wondering why Xiao Bin went to catch fish, it’s obviously because he knew Xiao ng was coming back and wanted a treat, hahaha..."
"That’s for sure. Normally, when Xiao ng cos to visit relatives, she shouldn’t have to exert herself; we should be the ones cooking. But just look at this delicious sll; I can’t make this."
Su Xiaoi was kneading three-grain dough for stead buns on the cutting board, joining in on the casual chatter.
Shen ng had finished frying the fish and now needed the ginger, onion, and potatoes, but Shen Xiaobin was nowhere to be seen. Lv Qinlan laughed and said, "Don’t wait; there’s ready-cut stuff in that small basket, you can use it straight away."
"Elder sister-in-law, did you already know that this dummy would go out and not co back?"
"Of course, I like Xiangxiang a lot, so imagine how Xiao Bin feels. This girl is down-to-earth, and she truly belongs to our family at first glance. If this works out, it’ll truly be a load off our parents’ minds."
Shen ng sprinkled green onions and ginger into the pot, followed by the chopped red chili and potato cubes. She added a bit of salt and soy sauce, gave it a few stirs, then put in the fried fish. After adding a couple of ladles of water and the soaked dried mushrooms, she covered the pot with a lid before turning to look at Lv Qinlan.
"Elder sister-in-law, I don’t know whether our parents’ worries will disappear, but I can certainly cure your worry today."
Lv Qinlan was stunned for a mont, looking at Shen ng confusedly.
"Zhenping’s younger brother, Jiasheng, is a carpenter. His master is getting on in years and hasn’t been working much these past two years. If there’s work to be done, he refers it to him, and the village collective also seeks him out for any carpentry jobs. During the agricultural off-season, he even works in the mines and doesn’t earn too little. Before they partitioned the household, he handed all his earnings to my in-laws. But now that they’ve split, he keeps whatever he earns. We think it’s the right ti for Xiao Long to learn a trade, and we’ve already talked to Jiasheng about it. He says the apprenticeship will last three years, during which ti the apprentice stays at his house and all money earned goes to the master, which is the rule in their trade. Once Xiao Long completes his apprenticeship, he can keep his earnings. Jiasheng is skilled, and since we are all relatives, he will definitely teach Xiao Long well."
Lv Qinlan didn’t expect to hear such good news today. The family had discussed sending the kids to school next year, and her biggest concern was the nearly teenage Xiao Long. Her younger sister-in-law had suggested that Xiao Long learn a trade, and she had been looking forward to it. However, with her sister-in-law and her husband being so busy, she never dared to bring it up.
Who would have thought everything was already arranged for her, and she was imdiately overco with excitent.
"This, Xiao ng, I never thought you had already found a ntor for Xiao Long. Really, I don’t know how to thank you."
"No worries. Jiasheng’s place is just a few steps from ours. Xiao Long can often co over for als and go out to play with Mingyang and the other kids."
"That’d be great, with you as his little aunt around, I’m not afraid he’ll be mistreated. But, living there for three years, Xiao Long, a growing boy, eats quite a lot, wouldn’t that be taking advantage of them?"
With a teenager at ho, and not much grain left, if he were to really eat his fill, they’d have run out of food stocks long ago, with a month’s supply barely lasting half a month.
"Jiasheng has two kids at ho. Besides helping with chores, Xiao Long can learn a trade. Plus, as a craftsman, Jiasheng earns quite a bit since they’ve partitioned the household. If Jiasheng suggested this, he’s confident about it. If he wasn’t sure, he wouldn’t agree even for the sake of Zhenping and . Elder sister-in-law, you can relax."
"Ah, now that you’ve explained, I feel relieved."
The stewed chicken soup was ladled out of the pot, Shen ng fried a plate of chives with eggs, stir-fried so cabbage with cured at, stewed the pressed belly pork with glass noodles and old pumpkin, and stead so three-grain dough buns.
Su Xiaoi had just placed the buns in the pot when the potatoes and green onions waited for a al were brought back by Shen Xiaobin and Lu Xiangxiang. The two looked at the three people staring at them inside the house and imdiately blushed.
"Oh my, dinner’s ready and you’ve just delivered the green onions. Xiao Bin, you can’t be this slow when working in the future, you hear?"
Listening to the elder sister-in-law’s obvious teasing, Shen Xiaobin pursed his lips and stealthily glanced at Lu Xiangxiang. Seeing her face also flushed, he couldn’t help but feel a secret joy.
"Elder sister-in-law, you’ve beco less and less rciful with your words. Xiangxiang, let’s go."
"Ah?"
Lu Xiangxiang was slow to react until Shen Xiaobin tugged at her sleeve and they left the kitchen. Hearing the laughter from the kitchen, she finally ca to her senses. With an "Ah," she covered her face and ran into the living room.
Shen Xiaobin scratched his head awkwardly, thinking about what he had just done. How could he have just grabbed a girl’s arm and run out with her like that, so embarrassing.
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