The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 118 Celebration with Roast Chicken (2)_1

Chapter 118: Chapter 118 Celebration with Roast Chicken (2)_1

"It’s right to be cautious and steady, can’t rush these things!" Lady Fang nodded approvingly and asked what they had eaten, going to heat up food for them.

"Big Sister and I have eaten already! We had... beef noodles," San Ya whispered.

Lady Fang nodded, "That’s good that you’ve eaten! With the snow falling and such cold weather, a bowl of noodles is surely warming! If you get sick from the cold, you’ll suffer!" She then scooped up some hot water to bring over.

Si Ya muttered softly in dissatisfaction a couple of times.

Pei Wendong was eating pastries with Pei Qin, "The pea cakes are so tasty!"

Pei Qin, sipping hot water and eating pastries, discussed setting up the stall with Lady Fang, "We now have ten taels of silver, which is enough to get things started. It’s just that we don’t have a flat cart at home, so we can only carry the flour and condiments on our backs to the town temporarily. We can borrow tables and stools from Sun Tiezhu’s house, and leave the pots and pans there too! That way it’s easier for us to move back and forth!"

They discussed until dusk, and then Lady Fang made dinner, reheating the roasted chicken, cooking rice porridge, steaming corn dough bread, and frying leftover cabbage.

Roasted chicken, a luxury they couldn’t even afford during the New Year, prompted everyone to offer it to each other until Pei Qin decisively tore the meat off and piled it together for whoever wanted to help themselves.

After dinner, lying on the warm kang, Lady Fang still talked with Pei Qin about trying out making he lao noodles the next day and deciding what kind of soup to pour over the noodles.

The next day dawned with a sweeping whiteness all over the ground, branches laden with snow, and the biting wind causing the frozen branches to crackle incessantly, dislodging unstable snow from the trees.

They had talked about catching a bamboo rat or a wild rabbit to bring to Sun Tiezhu’s house, but now the mountain was difficult to access due to the snow.

Lady Fang gave one hundred wen coins to Pei Qin, telling her to buy some things before going to Sun Tiezhu’s house.

Pei Qin, with the silver in her pocket and Si Ya, who insisted on coming along, trudged through the snow towards the town.

Grandma Sun was feeling fortunate along with her daughter-in-law, Lady Zou, "Thank goodness we delivered the things yesterday. With today’s heavy snowfall, we would have missed our appointment!"

"Xiao Pei may seem careless, but she’s a kind-hearted person! She’s nothing like what the rumors say!" Lady Zou and her family had already inquired from Sun Tiezhu about Pei Qin’s household.

"Her mother agreed to Jian Xiao thinking it would be a misdirection, but she never speaks up even when bullied to her face; she seems to be one who won’t stand up for herself. And to think she has several younger siblings like that... Xiao Pei is truly unfortunate!" Grandma Sun said this with a long sigh.

Lady Zou also sighed, "Her mother’s fate is also tough, a fine Scholar’s daughter ... must have been confused too!"

Grandma Sun’s expression suddenly grew solemn, "No matter what outsiders say, we’ve had dealings with Xiao Pei, and we know what kind of person she is. We shouldn’t forget her kindness in the future just because of what we hear!"

"Of course! Don’t worry, Mother!" Lady Zou nodded.

On the other side, Sun Tiezhu also made a promise, "For the handcart, let’s give it to them for four-tenths. They got nothing from the division, just squeezing into two rooms, and even those are borrowed!"

"Fine!" Grandma Sun replied with a smile, "They want to set up a noodle stall, so get the noodle press finished quickly, don’t hold up their work!"

"Okay!" Sun Tiezhu agreed.

Zou Xing, who had been silent the whole time, worked quietly. His mind was filled with the bright and straightforward smile of Pei Qin, and as he contemplated her circumstances, an inexplicable heaviness weighed on his chest, making it hard for him to breathe. Her uncle’s family treated her so poorly, and they even wanted to sell her as a bride to a widower, which would make anyone want to lash out in her place! With her being such a fine girl, how could there be no one willing to marry her, and for her to be unwed!? At least, he...