When the snow stops and the sky clears up, Daan and Muzichuan are ready to leave for the capital.
Before leaving, Mu Zichuan specially came to Luo's house to say goodbye to Blacksmith Luo and Tuoba Xian.
"... I'm really ashamed. Qing'er trusted me and entrusted me with the management of the school. We agreed for three years, but now it's only been a year and a half, and I'm leaving. I don't even have the face to see her in the capital!"
When his mother passed away, he was worried about keeping his filial piety as a householder. He was lonely and boring every day, living a life of confusion between black and white.
It was Qing'er who persuaded him to teach in the village school to pass the time.
Over the past year and a half, spending time with his children day and night has enriched his life, and he has gradually come out of the grief of his deceased mother.
Originally, I wanted to expand the school size so that more children from ten miles and eight villages could attend school. Unexpectedly, a secret edict from the Holy Emperor disrupted this plan.
"During the twelfth lunar month holiday last year, I was still thinking about enrolling an extra class of students this year. Now it seems that this plan will not come true. I am really ashamed..."
Blacksmith Luo raised his hand and patted Mu Zichuan on the shoulder: "Zichuan, don't be ashamed of this. You have been teaching in the school for the past year and a half, and everyone has praised you."
"I'm working outside. People in eight villages across ten miles have heard that the gentleman who teaches in our village's school is Tanhualang. Everyone says that this wave of children are lucky to get guidance from famous teachers."
"It's originally a good thing that you want to recruit more students, but this plan can't keep up with the changes, right? The emperor asked you to go back to the capital, and your worries have to be ended early, not to mention the school thing? Naturally, you have to put it aside. Yes, the emperor’s will cannot be violated, we all can understand you, and Qing’er can definitely do the same!”
Seeing Blacksmith Luo comforting himself like this, Mu Zichuan smiled bitterly.
"The emperor's orders cannot be violated, Uncle Luo, Mrs. Xian, I will take my leave then. Please take care of yourself, both of you."
"Okay, okay, be careful on the road, safety first." Blacksmith Luo warned.
Tuoba Xian also smiled and nodded, watching Mu Zichuan leave the courtyard.
There were four carriages parked on the road outside, two of which were occupied by Mu Zichuan and D'an, and two more were loaded with their luggage.
Both of them are scholars, and most of this luggage contains whole boxes of books, notebooks, and files.
Other than that is a simple change of clothes.
Of course, Yang Huazhong and Sun ignored Da'an's dissuasion and brought them two large bags of bacon, fish, sausages and other things that had been cured for the New Year at home and stuffed them into the carriage.
He told his followers to take good care of him and not to drop anything.
Mu Zichuan came over to say goodbye to Yang Huazhong and Sun and his wife, while Da'an picked up Feng'er, kissed him, and told him to listen to Xiao Hua at home and not to be naughty.
Xiaohua took Feng'er over and handed over a bundle.
"This is the dry food my mother and I made early this morning. You can take it with you and help you with Brother Zichuan on the way."
"Okay, you should take care of yourself at home." Da'an warned in a deep voice.
His eyes fell on Xiaohua's slightly swollen belly: "When I give birth, I may not be able to come back in time..."
"Brother Da'an, please concentrate on doing your own thing and don't be distracted by these things." Xiaohua said.
"I have parents at home, and so many people are taking care of me. I'm fine. But you are alone in the capital, and there is no one around you who knows how to feel. You..."
On impulse, the words that told him to take in a maid as a common roommate were on his lips, but he didn't have the courage to say them out.
"I'm an adult and can take care of myself."
Da'an interrupted Xiaohua's words, and he held her slightly cold fingers: "My mind is not on those messy things, so don't think about those messy things at home. When you give birth to the child smoothly, next year Let’s go to the capital together, and during this period I will look out for a good academy for Feng’er in the capital, and then let him go to the capital to study!”
After watching Daan and Muzichuan go away, everyone also returned to the house.
Although the eldest son went to the capital and there was one less person in the family, compared to the feeling of being hollowed out last year, Sun was much better this year.
Why?
Because Xiaohua and Feng'er are both at home, and Xiaoan hasn't left yet.
Although Duo'er is married, Xiangjiazhuang is not far from Changping Village Road, so it is very convenient to walk on both sides.
"Feng'er, you haven't eaten yet this morning. Are you hungry? Grandma will prepare you something to eat. What do you want to eat?"
Mrs. Sun took Feng'er from Xiaohua's hand, held it in her arms and asked on the way to the backyard.
Feng'er wore a tiger-head hat and poked her fleshy cheeks with her chubby little fingers. She thought for a while and said, "I want to drink minced meat porridge, but also sweet egg drop soup."
Mrs. Sun smiled happily: "I guessed that you are craving for minced meat porridge. It is simmering for you in the earthen pot. Grandma will take you to eat it now!"
…
The meat used in Sun's minced meat porridge was the tenderloin of the deer that had been frozen with ice a few days ago.
Deer are good at running in the mountains and fields. Most of the meat on their bodies is strong and elastic, and they are chewy in the mouth.
Only the spine meat here is smooth and tender. It can be used to make soup and porridge. It is soft and delicious, and is most suitable for children's teeth.
Mrs. Sun put red dates inside again, and as soon as the lid of the earthen pot was opened, the smell of meat mixed with the smell of dates, making Feng'er's saliva flow out.
"Would you like to give your sister a bowl as well?" Mrs. Sun asked Feng'er.
Feng'er nodded, "Let's eat together with my sister."
When Cao Cao arrived, Luo Baobao jumped into the kitchen.
"It smells so good. What is your brother eating?" Luo Baobao asked with a smile.
Feng'er pointed to the minced meat porridge in front of him: "Look, it's delicious!"
"Wow, it looks good. Can you give me a bite for my sister?" Luo Baobao touched Feng'er's head and asked him teasingly.
Feng'er scooped up a spoonful with his own spoon and brought it to Luo Baobao's mouth: "Sister, eat it."
Luo Baobao smiled and turned away, "Sister came here after she was full, you can eat by yourself."
Mrs. Sun had already brought another bowl over, "Baby, this is yours. It has red dates in it, not candied dates."
Luo Baobao glanced at the porridge in front of him and smiled knowingly.
She has a habit of eating minced meat porridge. Candied dates cannot be added to it, as it would be too sweet and conflict with the salty taste of the minced meat.
It is better to use red dates with a slight sweetness, and red dates are more fragrant than candied dates. I told her once, and Ga Po remembered it.
When she came here in the morning, the aunt made steamed meat buns. She ate two of them in one go and she couldn't eat any more.
"Granny, I really can't eat right now."
"Is that so? It's okay. Ga Po will simmer it in the stove for you. You can eat it later when you can."
…
After eating and drinking, Luo Baobao took Feng'er out to play together.
The two siblings are almost eleven years old and have grown into slim little girls.
The other one was almost six years old, and he was also a pretty and fair boy. The elder sister took her younger brother's hand and came to the yard of Yang Yongjin's house across the road to play with Xiuxiu and the others, and by the way, they took a look at the little brother born to her second aunt.
Yang Yongjin was shoveling snow in the yard, while Xiu Xiu was helping out. Cao Bamei was sitting under the eaves basking in the sun with the three boys in her arms, while Xiu Xiu's sister was standing by the side teasing the infant.
As soon as Luo Baobao and Feng'er came in, Feng'er broke away from Luo Baobao's hand and ran to play in the snow, while Luo Baobao came to Cao Bamei to tease his little cousin.
After a while, Lao Yangtou also came.
The old man had his hands behind his back, humming a little tune in his mouth, and walked with a brisk pace. It looked like he had encountered something happy.
.
