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As soon as Scholar ng announced the end of school, Wei Zijian rushed to the front and stopped Zhao Zhitong. "Tongtong, can you let take your silver needles ho to play with? I’ll bring you sothing delicious tomorrow to exchange for it."
Zhao Zhitong treasured her silver needles and refused directly, "No, my grandfather said that silver needles are the lifeblood of a physician, so I can’t give them to you. If you want them, ask your dad to buy them for you."
At this mont, Qiao Muchen, Zhao Yue, and Wei Shulan were standing at the entrance, calling out to Zhao Zhitong, "Tongtong, let’s go, let’s go."
"Ah, coming," Zhao Zhitong responded and picked up her luggage box, following Qiao Muchen and the others out of the school.
When they got outside the school, she realized that her eldest cousin and second cousin were there to pick her up from school today.
As soon as Sun Daji and Sun Daqing saw Zhao Zhitong, they excitedly ran over, grabbed their little cousin, and said excitedly, "Little cousin, let’s go, let’s go ho quickly! Younger Uncle is having his ’big et-up’!"
In their matchmaking custom here, both the man’s and woman’s families would first visit each other’s hos to get to know each other and understand the situation on both sides; this was called the ’small et-up’. If they liked each other, there would be a ’big et-up’, where the man’s family would invite the woman’s family to confirm the relationship and discuss the engagent details. The man’s side would also give a small red envelope to the woman’s side. After that, the engagent would be set.
"Wow!" Zhao Zhitong’s eyes brightened instantly. "Let’s go, let’s go, we have to go back quickly." After saying that, she took the lead and dashed out.
Sun Daji and the others quickly ran after her, shouting, "Little cousin, slow down, wait for us!"
Sun Youcai was already sixteen years old this year and had reached marriageable age last year. His father was a physician, and the Sun Family also had two capable older brothers and sisters-in-law. He had no worries about not being able to find a match. Sure enough, a matchmaker had co to their door during the New Year last year.
However, Sun Youcai had refused two previous matches, his reason being simple: they weren’t good-looking enough. This had infuriated Zhao Guifen. At that ti, she had scolded him, saying that good looks couldn’t be eaten and that he needed to find a virtuous and capable wife. But Sun Youcai had dug his heels in, insisting on finding soone he found attractive. So, this dragged on until this year.
This year, the matchmaker ntioned another girl from Zhou Village. It was said that the girl was very pretty, with fair skin, and was considered the village beauty. After Sun Youcai secretly caught a glimpse of her during the previous ’small et-up’, he was quite satisfied.
She must be very pretty, Zhao Zhitong thought. She had long wanted to et this future Little Aunt-in-law and now rushed forward as if she had wings on her feet. Instead of going ho, she ran straight to her grandfather’s house.
As they reached the entrance, they could hear laughter and chatter from inside; the house was very lively. Several children were crouched at the door, peeking inside. Zhao Zhitong was anxious, but she couldn’t see her Little Aunt-in-law as soone was blocking her view.
"Hey, what are you kids doing?"
At that mont, Aunt’s voice suddenly rang out from behind them, startling the children.
Zhao Zhitong turned around to see Aunt and patted her little chest, saying in a childlike voice, "Aunt, you scared !"
Aunt was carrying a plate of food, and its tempting aroma instantly filled the air.
Sun Daqing couldn’t help but swallow his saliva, his eyes fixed on the food. "Mom, what is this? It slls so good!"
Aunt glared at Sun Daqing. "Good, my foot! Every single day, you’re like a little greedy cat, always making worry. Stop fooling around and don’t lead your little cousin astray." Then she looked at Zhao Zhitong and said, "Tongtong, stop crouching here. Go to the kitchen and find your Eldest Aunt. There are lots of delicious things for you in the kitchen, go on."
"Okay," Zhao Zhitong nodded.
Only then did Aunt carry the food into the Main Hall.
Zhao Zhitong watched for a while but still couldn’t see anyone, so she pulled Sun Daqing and the others to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Eldest Aunt was washing vegetables, and Younger Aunt was tending the fire. Seeing Zhao Zhitong and the others run in, Eldest Aunt stood up, wiped her hands on her apron, and picked up a bowl from the cutting board. Inside was a small portion of cold mixed pork head at.
She pinched a piece of at from the bowl and stuffed it directly into Zhao Zhitong’s mouth. "Is it good?"
As Zhao Zhitong chewed on the crispy cartilage, making a crunchy sound, she smiled sweetly in response, "Yes, it’s delicious!"
Eldest Aunt laughed, handed the bowl to Zhao Zhitong, then grabbed a handful of tofu balls and put them in the bowl. "Here, take it and eat."
Zhao Zhitong asked, "Have you eaten, Eldest Aunt?"
Eldest Aunt said with a smile, "Yes, I’ve eaten."
Zhao Zhitong shook her head. "I don’t believe you. If I didn’t see you eat, it ans you haven’t." She knew that Eldest Aunt definitely hadn’t eaten. Although their family’s living conditions had improved, Eldest Aunt and Aunt still couldn’t break their frugal habits, usually using as little at and oil as possible. Now that so at was saved, they surely intended it for the children, reluctant to eat it themselves.
After saying that, Zhao Zhitong also pinched a piece of pork head at, brought it to Eldest Aunt’s mouth, and said with feigned panic, "Eldest Aunt, quick, eat it! It’s going to fall!"
Eldest Aunt was genuinely afraid it would fall, so she hurriedly reached out her hand to catch it, but Zhao Zhitong stuffed it directly into her mouth. Then, Zhao Zhitong also asked with a grin, "Isn’t it delicious?"
Eldest Aunt’s eyes crinkled as she nodded. "Yes, very delicious. Now hurry and take it to eat."
Zhao Zhitong also fed her Younger Aunt a piece before she took the bowl and joined her cousins, squatting to eat at a small table outside. This dish was what Eldest Aunt and Aunt had set aside for the children from their own plates, so there wasn’t much to begin with. However, the children were very sensible, and there wasn’t any fighting over the food.
Instead, Zhao Zhitong distributed the food to them, and everyone got to eat one piece of pork head at. After sharing it, there was still one piece left. All her cousins insisted that Zhao Zhitong should eat it. Zhao Zhitong shook her head, saying she wanted to save it for Aunt. Eldest Aunt and Aunt were cooking and had not sat down at the table, so they definitely wouldn’t get to eat any. The other children all nodded in agreent.
Then, their eyes focused on the sauce in the bowl, and the children ran to the kitchen to get so stead buns to dip in it.
After a while, Aunt ca out from the Main Hall. Zhao Zhitong imdiately pinched the last piece of pork head at and ran to give it to Aunt.
Aunt Liu Clan’s eyes crinkled with laughter. "Oh my, Aunt really didn’t dote on you for nothing! You’re the only one who thinks of Aunt." After saying that, she took a piece of candy from her pocket, slipped it into Zhao Zhitong’s hand, and whispered, "I got this in the room; it’s the only one. You eat it yourself and don’t let those rascals see it." With that, she went to the kitchen.
And this scene was witnessed by Zhou iniang, who was standing at the door. Zhao Zhitong also noticed her and stared.
Indeed, she was very pretty—willow-leaf eyebrows, a pair of eyes that seed full of emotion, a cherry-sized mouth, and an overall soft and delicate appearance.
So, this was the type Younger Uncle liked!
Zhao Zhitong looked at Zhou iniang as if she had discovered a new continent and smiled. "Hello, sister."
However, Zhou iniang imdiately looked away, as if she hadn’t seen Zhao Zhitong at all, and walked directly towards the outhouse.
Zhao Zhitong blinked, touched her nose, and said, "...Grandpa Bai, I feel like Little Aunt-in-law doesn’t like ?"
Grandpa Bai was reading a book. Hearing this, he casually replied, "Young girl, you’re not mistaken. She indeed doesn’t like you."
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