The Xiao family house was being built with great enthusiasm.
Chun Ning managed the important matters of the new house every day, with Uncle Luo’s assistance.
"Chun Ning, it’s almost ti to put on the roof beam, what do you plan to do?"
Roof beam installation for a new house is also a significant event.
Chun Ning heard Uncle Luo ntion that regardless of wealth, certain rituals need to be perford.
Of course, the scale of it depends on the owner’s decision.
"I discussed it with my family, and we plan to do it just like an ordinary household."
They needed to treat the workers to a al, and scatter cakes and candies, which Chun Ning only partially understood.
"Uncle Luo, how many tables should we prepare for the roof beam ritual at our house?"
"Normally, all the workers who helped should be invited to eat. It’s partly for the lively atmosphere, and partly to express gratitude. However, so of the river boatn might not be able to co due to their work. Currently, there are more than ten people helping with the construction, so you should prepare... including your family, three tables should be enough."
"Grandmother is not well, and Great-Aunt won’t co either."
The won of the Xiao family always adhered to the rule of not stepping foot outside, so they wouldn’t join the event.
Only a few siblings would co.
The eldest sister-in-law should co as well.
"Oh, Uncle Luo, could I ask Aunt Luo to help prepare the als?" Chun Ning said, "I’ll buy whatever ingredients we need then."
"Sure, let Aunt Luo do it. While her cooking isn’t the best, she can at least make it edible," Uncle Luo laughed. "She can definitely manage als for two or three tables. When buying ingredients, have Xiao Gang accompany you."
"What else needs to be bought, I’ll get it all at once."
Chun Ning admitted she really didn’t know.
"You need to buy a big rooster, so red cakes, and candies." Uncle Luo explained that during the roof beam installation, small coins would be included to scatter for people to pick up: "These are customs; you can follow them if you believe in them, or ignore if you don’t."
"I believe, of course," Chun Ning had heard from her sister that every custom has its purpose and should be respected and followed.
Aunt Luo wasn’t surprised to hear that Chun Ning wanted her to handle the cooking for the roof beam ceremony.
"Your sister will co, won’t she? Maybe have her handle the cooking; Xiao Gang and San Ya both say Chun Nuan’s cooking is delicious."
"Aunt Luo, my sister said she can handle cooking for a few people, but she struggles with larger numbers. It’s better if you do it. She’ll bring Chun Yan and Chun Shu to help."
Sister’s exact words were: "The food in Shu City is different from ours, they might not like my cooking."
When it ca to pastries, sister said she could handle them.
Chun Nuan excelled at making pastries at ho.
Besides, her pastries had a unique taste, sothing you couldn’t buy in the town.
Madam Wu helped in the kitchen, astonished at the row of ingredients.
"Missy, you only need to make so rice cakes."
"Adding so dates and walnuts to the rice cakes is good too," Chun Nuan said, "Everyone worked hard, these pastries will be eaten when served on the table."
As for those thrown from the roof beam, let’s steam rice cakes for that.
Madam Wu was good at this.
"After steaming the pastries, take so back to your daughter." It had been a few days since she last visited the Cao family; even though Madam Wu tried to suppress her anxiety, Chun Nuan noticed it: "Tomorrow, co with to the village to help with cooking. You’re more familiar with the many rules in Shu City that we don’t understand."
There’s no denying that Madam Wu was truly a great person. Though her status was that of a wet nurse, she fulfilled all duties from laundry to cooking and cleaning, effectively doing the work of two to three people. One or two ounces of silver for a month’s salary was a considerable gain.
Whereas, Madam Wu felt that everyone in the household treated her well, never considering her just a servant. Being allowed to frequently visit her daughter filled her with gratitude she couldn’t repay.
"Thank you, missy."
The family truly treated her well, understanding her longing for her daughter. They even let her take pastries ho to see her daughter, considering everything thoughtfully.
"No need to thank , it’s a joyous occasion, let your daughter also share in the happiness."
Chun Nuan was just like that; all the good you did for her, she’d notice and rember, willing to do her utmost in return for your kindness.
Madam Wu missed her daughter back ho, so Chun Nuan gave her more opportunities to return and see her.
However, Chun Nuan never expected that this visit would lead to a significant change in Madam Wu’s plans.
Madam Wu returned in the evening, holding a child by the hand.
The child’s face was full of scars, so still bleeding.
"What happened, how did the child end up like this?"
Being a mother herself, Zhu Lingling imdiately recognized the little girl as Madam Wu’s daughter upon seeing her, but was distressed and shocked by the scars on her face: Girls care a lot about their appearance, and such obvious scars might leave her self-conscious, becoming an obstacle when looking for a match.
"Young mistress, I brought my Daya here." Madam Wu’s eyes were red and swollen, her voice choking with emotion: "If Daya stayed in their house any longer, she’d be abused to death!"
"This..." Zhu Lingling dared not ask who caused such injuries: "This wound... I’ll ask my second sister to help treat it, she has ointnt, and we must ensure no scars remain."
Upon learning that Madam Wu brought her daughter back, and seeing the injuries on the girl’s face, Chun Nuan let out a sigh.
See, there’s nothing that can’t be done, it’s just a matter of whether you want to do it, or maybe, fate gives you a chance to decide.
Chun Nuan asked Madam Wu to bring the child to the pharmacy.
The child’s face was a mix of old and new wounds, all frightening.
"Were you beaten with switches?"
Daya nodded.
"Who hit you?"
"My grandma, aunt, and brother, my dad even said they should beat harder to teach a lesson."
"Why did they hit you?"
"They wouldn’t give food; I was hungry and took so at from the kitchen." Daya swallowed hard, "They said the at was for ancestral offerings, and I was greedy. If I knew it was for offerings, I wouldn’t have eaten it. But I was really hungry."
"How much did you eat?"
"This much," Daya gestured, "It was very tasty, and I ate it all."
Chun Nuan guessed it was about a pound of at or so. Considering what this little girl did was sowhat... astounding.
"I’ll apply so ointnt first, you must apply it daily. In a few days, your face will itch, and you mustn’t scratch it, or it will leave scars," Chun Nuan said while applying ointnt, then told Madam Wu: "The child hasn’t had at for a long ti, suddenly having so much might upset her stomach. I’ll prescribe sothing for her to drink shortly."
"Thank you, missy. Rest assured, I’ll keep an eye on Daya and make sure she doesn’t sneak food again."
"The child was just hungry; there’s no sneaking involved," Chun Nuan said, "In our ho, we won’t let a child starve like this."
Daya looked up at Chun Nuan upon hearing this.
"Sister, you’re so kind, like a goddess!"
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