Shu City, yet another scorching sumr has arrived.
The Xiao family has already moved into their newly built mansion.
This counts as the largest mansion in Shuikou Village.
Aunt Luo heard the villagers chatter, saying the Xiao family has everything.
"They even have three catties of iron for shipbuilding, let alone the fact that the Xiao family has solid roots in the Capital."
"Wasn’t it said that the Xiao family was raided?"
"A starved cal is still bigger than a horse," Aunt Luo said, "The Xiao family was raided, but their eldest daughter married well. After all, her husband is a court official; how could they be short on money for building a mansion?"
These words effectively silenced the village won, leaving only envy, jealousy, and resentnt.
"What kind of people are they?" Aunt Luo returned ho and vented to her husband, "Each of them is poor and doesn’t work hard, yet they can’t stand seeing others wealthy."
"It’s normal; they despise the poor, fear the rich, resent those who have, and laugh at those who don’t. Even brothers are like this, let alone neighbors."
Uncle Luo said this because his dear brother, Luo the Second, had recently spoken to him with a sour tone.
"Brother, you sure are smart, hugging the Xiao family’s thigh. When they built the house, you were bustling about; how much benefit did you reap?"
These words successfully ignited Uncle Luo’s anger!
Hugging the thigh he admits to; it’s comfortable under the shade of a big tree, and following the Xiao family truly ans a full stomach.
This past year, their family’s financial situation has significantly improved, and he no longer needs to pull ropes, yet his inco far surpasses that of rope pulling.
Moreover, at the pier, not to ntion ordinary people, even Sixth Master Xiao often cos for his massage, not only waiving his fee but also tossing him so copper coins.
Xiao Gang followed Chun Ning up and down, only to find out he had saved two hundred copper coins; if he hadn’t accidentally slipped that day, they wouldn’t have known.
San Ya, following Chunyan and Chun Shu, has undergone great changes, her manner of speaking has beco sowhat refined.
San Ya said Chunyan and her taught her to recognize characters and even offered to teach her embroidery.
Learning embroidery, San Ya is particularly interested in.
Her own mother only knows basic needlework, re nding, but the embroidery skills of the Xiao family’s aunts truly impressed her; she once saw the First Lady’s embroidered butterfly, lifelike.
San Ya clearly knows Lady Lin opened an embroidery workshop at the Xiao Family Pier. It’s said that young ladies and wives skilled in needlework can support their households through embroidery, sothing she aspires to, hoping one day she’ll have this skill.
These visible benefits co from knowing the Xiao family; Uncle Luo would not consider this as coincidental, it’s because the Xiao family chose to offer a helping hand.
The Xiao family moved to Shuikou Village, experiencing many events within the year; the villagers didn’t kick them while they were down, but in reality, only Uncle Luo’s family showed enthusiasm, all because they feared being implicated if the Xiao family encountered trouble again.
When there’s trouble, they keep their distance; when there’s fortune, they want in. How’s that possible?
No contribution, no reward!
Luo the Second amusingly thought he’d gained benefits while helping build the Xiao family’s mansion.
With the mindset of wanting small profits, even if hobnobbing with the Xiao family, it would be seen through.
Those who truly want to fool others are themselves the biggest fool.
Even helping is called bustling around; how impure must this person’s thoughts be?
"There really are many villagers jealous of us," said Aunt Luo. "Especially after the wormwood incident, they found out and accused us and Eldest Sister-in-law of secretly making money, quite hateful."
"Did you or Eldest Sister-in-law spill the secrets?"
Weren’t you supposed to keep it secret, why would it be spoken out?
Uncle Luo thought won’s mouths truly have no gate, unreliable indeed.
"Probably guessed, plus, maybe your second brother’s wife’s doing."
"Second brother’s wife?"
"Yes, last ti she accompanied while I was sun-drying wormwood, chatting non-stop for a long ti. I didn’t even realize since when we beca close," Aunt Luo said, "At the ti, I didn’t mind much, third day, when I sent Xiao Gang to deliver wormwood to Chun Nuan, he said he t her halfway, she asked, and Xiao Gang didn’t respond."
Concealing draws more attention.
"Xiao Gang didn’t notice if she followed, but I bet she did."
"This matter really stirred up..."
"But it’s alright, Chun Nuan said, next year we can plant so wormwood ourselves, then harvest from our own fields, letting them take from the wilds."
"Is Chun Nuan going big on this?"
"Perhaps, anyway, I don’t understand anything, just following her lead."
Aunt Luo is straightforward, illiterate and unskilled; since Chun Nuan is so clever, she follows her lead, leaving others who pretend cleverness aside.
"Indeed, we should follow her," Uncle Luo said, "Also, remind San Ya and Xiao Gang to stay smart; if the Xiao family needs help, let us know. We can’t just take benefits without offering aid."
"Understood."
The Luo family reached a consensus: treat Xiao family matters as their own.
At the Xiao family, Chun Nuan checked the old lady’s pulse, feeling a bit anxious: grandmother’s health is deteriorating.
Seems last year’s disaster drained her physically and emotionally.
"Nuannuan, how is it?"
Mrs. Xu saw Chun Nuan checking the pulse silently for a while, couldn’t help but ask.
"Aunt, grandmother’s health is fine, just needs good care."
Chun Nuan spoke normally, Mrs. Xu felt no concern.
Yet the old lady sighed.
"Nuannuan, after over a year in Shu City, life was only managed thanks to you."
"Grandmother, it’s what granddaughter should do."
"You child, never seeks credit when things are done well," the old lady felt deeply apologetic, "Back then, I nearly invoked family law, thinking now, I truly owe you."
"Grandmother, your teachings were correct; granddaughter was reckless, even trying dicine on Chun Ning, such acts must not occur." Just the fearless calf facing the tiger, thinking oneself strongest without considering failure, undertaking such risky acts.
"Ah..." the old lady held Chun Nuan’s hand: "Such a good granddaughter, don’t know which young man deserves her."
"Grandmother, granddaughter is still young." Chun Nuan’s face slightly reddened, marriage is an unavoidable topic: "This can wait until after mourning."
"Post-mourning you’d be eighteen, in our dynasty anciently being over eight is considered as an older girl, marriage won’t be easy."
The good ones are early picked, approaching twenty, choices narrow, either marrying down or being a second wife, none acceptable for such an exceptional granddaughter.
"Grandmother, marriage is about destiny," Chun Nuan reassured, "You should focus on maintaining your health, let other matters go."
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