A ragged cub at the beginning

The two adults and one child present were frightened by her palm. Qi Qing didn't understand. Is it necessary to care about this?

The woman hugged Nini and whispered, "No need for that."

Tang Xu looked at her, then glanced at Nini, and waved his hand, "Whatever you want, she's your own daughter."

Seeing her face turn cold, the woman rubbed her hands on her clothes, then nervously grabbed her daughter's shoulders, seemed to be hesitant, and finally took Nini's hand and walked away.

"Miss Xu, do you care about things like this?" Qi Qing asked puzzledly.

Tang Xu took a sip of the tea, but it was still bitter, and there was no sweet aftertaste. She stuck out her tongue, it was too hard to drink. "We have nothing to do, let's make some flower tea, this is too hard to drink."

"What kind of scented tea would you like to drink, young lady? I'll go buy it." Qi Qing said hurriedly.

Tang Xu touched his chin, "Jasmine? Fragrant."

"Okay, I'll go ask if they have it." Qi Qing took the money from the counter and just walked out the door when she ran into the mother and daughter who came back. She asked in confusion, "Did you forget something?"

"No, no..." The woman walked in and looked at Tang Xu firmly, "My name is Wang Chun, please teach me, young lady!"

"No problem." Tang Xu asked her to sit down, propping up his chin and said, "It's actually easy to punish her. After all, you have already separated. When you separated, I guess you already agreed on how much money to give her every month, right?"

Wang Chun nodded, "At the beginning, we agreed to give you 50 cents a month."

"How much does she take every month?" Tang Xu asked.

She counted on her fingers and said, "My husband gets one and a half taels of salary every month, and my mother-in-law takes one tael. I could have gotten by with half a tael. I grow rice and vegetables, and pick wild vegetables and mushrooms in my spare time. I don't spend much on food and drink. But Nini is young and prone to illness. Once she gets sick, I can't stop spending this money."

"Does your father-in-law want face? What about your uncle?" Tang Xu asked.

"My uncle is a respectable man and he's usually nice to us. My father-in-law also wants to save face. But my mother-in-law is... She said she was afraid that I would hide the money and run away, so..." Wang Chun didn't continue.

Just think about it, her mother-in-law must not be a shameless person, otherwise how could she come up with such an idea?

"It's easy to deal with if your father-in-law cares about his reputation. Don't worry about your mother-in-law. What about you? Do you want to have a face or to be full?" Tang Xu asked.

"I..." She looked down at her daughter, her eyes changed from hesitant to firm in just a few seconds, "I want my daughter to be healthy! She doesn't have to drool over her cousin's bowl!"

"Then listen to me." Tang Xu said his bad idea with a beaming face.

Wang Chun was stunned after hearing this. "This... Is this possible?"

"It won't hurt to try." Tang Xu encouraged: "Since they want to save face, you can tear it off their face."

"Wouldn't it be too... bad?" Wang Chun hesitated.

"Look at Nini, you don't have a son, but her uncle does. You've already lost. If you want to save your daughter, you might as well lose face completely and let them know that you are not a soft persimmon and they shouldn't always try to control you." Tang Xu said.

Wang Chun gritted his teeth and said, "Okay! I'll try it when I get back!"

After the two of them left, Qi Qing said with a strange look on his face: "Girl... this..."

"Miss Tang." A familiar-looking woman came in from outside the door. She took off the bamboo basket on her back and said, "I brought you some mushrooms. Please don't be disgusted."

"Xingzi?" Tang Xu stood up. She looked even thinner, as if she could be blown away by the wind. Her face was exhausted and haggard after recovering from a serious illness.

"Hey, it's me." She smiled awkwardly. "I'm sorry for bothering you last time. I don't have any money to pay you back, so I picked some mushrooms for you. I picked them this morning, so they're fresh." She held the basket and handed it forward with a flattering look on her face.

Tang Xu was a little touched. She had helped others out of helplessness and had never thought of any reward. She took the basket and said happily, "It looks very fresh. I love mushrooms the most. Thank you."

Xingzi's eyebrows relaxed, and she was happier than the person who received the gift. She smiled with relief, "I'm glad you like it! I'll give it to you next time!"

"Mushrooms are hard to find in this cold weather. We have to get up very early to pick so many. The roads are slippery in winter, so we'd better not go." She looked at the sky. "It's almost lunch time, so let's stay here and have a meal before going back."

"No, no, no, I'm going back now." Xingzi waved her hands and backed away.

"Why are you in such a hurry? It's freezing cold. Your hands..." Tang Xu grabbed her wrists. What kind of hands were those? They were covered with chilblains, and black scabs formed on the red, swollen and broken skin. They were swollen like steamed buns, and blood was oozing from the cracked scabs. Tang Xu felt sad and wanted to ask if she had applied medicine, but how could she afford to buy medicine? She washed clothes and cooked all day, and her hands were soaked in ice water. What's the point of applying them?

"It's okay, it's like this every year." She hid her hands behind her back, but worried that Tang Xu would dislike her, she explained, "Mushrooms are clean, they are not stained with these."

Tang Xu let go of her. Why are there so many miserable people in this world? "Let's eat first, then leave. How is your daughter?"

Speaking of her daughter, Xingzi relaxed a little, "Our daughter Qingqing, she and I picked these mushrooms together this morning, and she is probably cooking at home now."

"How old are you?" Tang Xu asked.

"At the age of six, he can probably do any job and is obedient." Xingzi seemed proud of it.

Tang Xu was just upset after hearing this. A six-year-old child can do all kinds of work, including washing vegetables and cooking in the middle of winter. Is this something to be proud of? Yes, in this era, it is important for girls to be hardworking and able to work. It is like an additional entry for a commodity, making her more valuable, so that she can find a better in-law family and receive more betrothal gifts.

Girls today can study hard, get into good schools, and find good jobs to support themselves. There are also people like Principal Zhang Guimei to help them. What about women in ancient times? Women could neither take the imperial examinations nor teach. What could she do for them, but what could she do?

Tang Xu laughed at herself, she was really too proud. She had just reached the stage of having enough food and clothing, yet she dared to dream about such things, it was ridiculous. Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a little disappointed and lost interest.

"Miss Tang? Then I'll go back first." Xingzi grabbed the hem of her clothes. She didn't know why she suddenly became silent and her face didn't look good.

"Don't worry, eat first before you go. Bring something for the child as a thank you for the mushrooms." Tang Xu picked up the basket and said, "Let's go to my house."

"No, no, no, this won't work, I can't take your things anymore." Xingzi wanted to leave, but Tang Xu grabbed her arm, "This is for the child, not for you. With your hands like this, and you're so thin, I know what your daughter looks like without even thinking."

"This... I already owe you a lot, I can't..." Xingzi wanted to say that she couldn't take anything anymore because she had already paid it back, but when she thought of her daughter who was as thin as a bamboo pole, her heart ached and she couldn't say no anymore.

"Maybe I'm raising a child too, and when I see other people's children suffering, I always want to do something." Tang Xu murmured, not knowing who he was talking to.

Yu Xiaotao was also very happy to see Xingzi and Mushroom, not because she wanted anything, but because she knew that the person she helped was grateful, which made her feel even warmer.

At noon, she fried a plate of mushrooms with meat slices and made a mushroom meatball soup. Du Jiarui drooled at the delicious smell. Old Madam Du pulled him, but he did not resist. He just looked back at the kitchen, tears almost falling.

"Grandma Du, let Jiarui eat. He is about to cry." Fang Zijun said.

July nodded, "How pitiful."

Zhao Yunniang rolled her eyes and was poked on the forehead by her mother.

"Aunt, let's eat here. It will be fun for the children to eat together." Tang Xu advised. Since the two families got engaged, Tang Xu changed his mind at Mrs. Du's request.

"Okay, I won't be polite to you anymore." Madam Du smiled and poked Du Jiarui lightly with a finger, "You little greedy cat, then you better be obedient."

Du Jiarui burst into laughter and said loudly: "I know, grandma!"

"Aunt, please eat here too. The mushrooms are fresh and smell delicious." Tang Xu said.

"I won't eat it. It's already been prepared at home." Mrs. Du refused.

"Then take some back to try." Tang Xu looked at Yu Xiaotao, who understood and took two bowls, scooped out some and put them in the basket. The Tang family had a lot of baskets, more than ten, and I didn't know what they bought so many for.

"Okay, I'll go back first." Madam Du didn't refuse anymore, and said with a malicious look, "Let Xiaoyun have a taste too."

Tang Xu blushed and said angrily, "If you don't give it to him, give it to my aunt."

Mrs. Du laughed.

Only then did Xingzi realize that this old lady was the one who helped her son prepare the coffin. She suddenly felt extremely guilty, thinking that she had not taken enough mushrooms and should have sent some to her family as well. It was so inconsiderate.

After dinner, Tang Xu went to the dormitory to pick up a few pieces of braised meat, wrapped them up and asked Xingzi to take them back. Xingzi thought they were too expensive and didn't dare to take them. How much would so much meat cost?

"Take it back and give it to Qingqing. Don't be stupid and take it out. Your mother-in-law and husband will eat it and won't leave any for you." Tang Xu ignored her refusal and threw it directly into her backpack. "Go back quickly."

Xingzi left wiping away tears.

Tang Xu went to the shop to exchange Qi Qing for dinner, and saw someone waiting on the way. She walked over with her hands behind her back and deliberately said, "Hey, who is this? Why aren't you going to the academy yet?"

Du Yun said nothing, just looked at her and smiled quietly.

"I'm going to go and change Qi Qing for dinner." Tang Xu really wanted him to hold his hand, but the ancients were very reserved. She clenched her fingers a few times and suddenly felt a little lost.

"Why are you unhappy?" Du Yun asked with a frown.

"Nothing," Tang Xu smiled, "If I said I wanted to get married soon and hold hands openly, would you think..."

"No!" Du Yun interrupted her, hesitated for a moment, and reached out to hold her hand in his palm. "It's me, I want to hold your hand, hold your hand, and grow old with you."

Tang Xu's face flushed, and she wanted to say something teasing, but he looked at her with a firm and serious look, and she was a little flustered. Suddenly, she let go, pulled his hand and shook it, and said with a smile: "Then you have to hold it tight."

"Okay, I dare not let go." Seeing her smile, Du Yun also raised the corners of his lips.

When passersby saw a man and a woman holding hands, they smiled kindly and said: It’s better to be young.

When Qi Qing saw them, his face turned red, he said something and left.

"When are you leaving?" Tang Xu pulled him to sit down and curiously studied his fingers. There were indeed quite a few calluses, especially on the palms. But they were not ugly. His fingers were slender, and his nails were round and clean. He had a very beautiful pair of hands.

"Wait a little longer, there's no rush." ​​Du Yun let her do as she pleased, but as she watched, she started picking at the calluses with her fingers, which made him feel a little amused.

"Today I suddenly felt that being a woman is so difficult. I wanted to do something, but found that I could do nothing. Am I being a little ridiculous and overestimating my own abilities?" She said a little embarrassedly.

After his hand was released, Du Yun felt a little empty. He curled up his fingers and then said seriously, "This is your kindness, not ridiculous. It is rare that you can understand their suffering. Many people who live a carefree life cannot understand the worries of poor people. Isn't it referring to them when they say "Why don't you eat meat porridge"? If there were more people like you in this world, wouldn't it be more peaceful?"

His serious look made Tang Xu even more embarrassed.

"Just do whatever you want to do. Although I don't have much, I can still help you a little." Du Yun grabbed her fingers that were scratching on the table, "Don't worry."

"Yeah." Tang Xu pursed his lips and smiled. Is this what it feels like to be supported unconditionally?

"I have to go. You can tell me anything that bothers you." Du Yun pinched her soft fingers, and his heart softened even more.

"Okay." Tang Xu saw him out, then turned around and happily walked around the store a few times.

"Boss Tang is so happy, did he make a lot of money?" A voice came from behind. Tang Xu turned around and saw Yu Zhao, whom he hadn't seen for a long time. She smiled and said, "How can I make a lot of money?"

"That's not necessarily true." Yu Zhao lifted his skirt and stepped over the threshold, looking around curiously. "To be able to earn all this with my own ability in less than half a year is already better than many people."

"Just to support my family." Tang Xu poured him some tea. "Mr. Yu, why did you suddenly come here?"

"There are indeed some things," Yu Zhao took a sip of tea and put it down again, "This tea is not good, I will send you some good tea next time. I came here today, first, to thank you for helping my sister many times, and second, I will be going on a long journey soon. My sister has a soft personality, if there is anything, please help her, I will reward you handsomely when I come back."

"Sister Xiaotao is helping me at home now, and Yunniang and Qiyue are friends, so I will take care of her." Tang Xu paused and said, "You don't need to give me a big reward. I wonder where Master Yu is going?"

Yu Zhao was grateful and explained, "I'll send a batch of goods southward, and then bring some goods back from the south to resell. This is what all merchants do. If you come across anything rare, bring it back for the girl to see."

"The south is close to the sea? Are there a lot of seafood?" Tang Xu became interested. "What about pearls, shells, etc.? And fish, shrimp, crabs, and kelp?"

"Indeed, do you like these, girl? I'll bring some back for you later." Yu Zhao said.

"Okay, if it's not too much trouble, bring some. We're acquaintances, but you have to pay me at cost price." Tang Xu joked.

Yu Zhao smiled and said generously: "If the girl wants it, it's ok for free."

"That won't do. You can't just accept things from men. Otherwise, my future husband will be jealous." Tang Xu said with a smile.

Yu Zhao was stunned for a moment, and said, "Let's talk about it later."

"Okay, I wish you a safe journey." Tang Xu picked up the tea.

Yu Zhao knew what she meant, so he had no choice but to drink a sip of tea and leave.