Apprenticeship Gift¹ (1)

Jiang Xiaoman was not only smart but also very curious. She liked to ask why whenever something happened, and learned very quickly. She was just like her mother, very smart and clever, a very promising student to nurture.

Teacher Tang had been teaching in the village for many years, and he had always been very tolerant of children who were eager to learn. It was difficult for a poor family to have a promising child, and even more difficult to have a daughter like Jiang Xiaoman.

Many of the parents in the village did not let their daughters go to school. The Jiang family had a precedent, but unfortunately, it did not end well. Teacher Tang was afraid that Jiang Xiumei would not let the child go to school.

“Huniu reached the enrollment age this year but did not come to report to school. When I went to her house, her parents said that she should take care of her younger brother at home, and wouldn’t let her go to school for fear of interfering with things.” Teacher Tang’s face was full of regret. He sincerely said, “Going to school is a must, even if you just ended up learning how to read a few words. Xiaoman is smart just like her mother, she would surely be good at studying.”

Jiang Xiumei went silent for a while when Teacher Tang mentioned her daughter, and her eyes started becoming a little warm.

Her daughter Jiang Yue was the most beautiful girl in the area and was very good at her studies. She was the only one in the village to become a college student. Back then, people would say that she was a very amazing person. The neighbors would say that they had a golden phoenix in their family, and life was going to become better.

But it was a pity that Jiang Yue’s fate was not good. She hadn’t enjoyed any of her good fortunes yet but was already gone at a young age.

Even though life back then was harder than now, Jiang Xiumei could still grit her teeth to send her daughter to school, so now is even less of a question. Other families only sent their son to study, but her family did not have this rule.

Teacher Tang also once taught Jiang Yue, and she could be considered one of the students he’s most proud of. Now he was carrying Jiang Xiaoman in person to persuade her, so Jiang Xiumei naturally did not have any reason to refuse and nodded vigorously. “Teacher Tang, don’t worry. I will have Xiaoman go to school when I have time in the future. I’m just afraid that I would be troubling you.”

She had been raising Xiaoman for three years, and she was the apple of her eyes.

“It’s not troubling at all.” Teacher Tang was finally relieved.

After Teacher Tang returned home, Jiang Xiumei grabbed an old hen that she raised at home, scalded it in hot water, and told Jiang Xing to pluck the feathers.

Jiang Xing was almost drooling and spared no effort cleaning the old hen’s insides while telling Jiang Xiaoman, “Xiaoman, let me tell you. Grandma’s chicken tastes amazing. Tonight, we’re going to drink chicken soup. If it’s not because I was injured and got hospitalized, you might not have the fortune to enjoy it.”

Jiang Xiaoman also swallowed her saliva and nodded.

The old hen they raised was Grandma’s treasure. She said that they would keep it for laying eggs and fed it well, not letting anyone put their hands on it.

Jiang Xiaoman had experienced being chased by this old hen all over the yard and almost had some feelings towards it, but when she thought about having meat to eat soon, she felt that she could temporarily suppress those feelings.

The uncle and niece pair were staring at the hen that was turning whiter and whiter when each of them suddenly received a knuckle on their head.

Jiang Xiumei said, “This is not for you. Jiang Xing, in a minute, takes Jiang Xiaoman and send this to Teacher Tang.”

This was a gift for being taken as an apprentice under Teacher Tang. Jiang Xiumei was afraid that Teacher Tang wouldn’t accept it, so she had no choice but to slaughter and clean the chicken so he could not return it.

“It’s not New Year or other festivals, why are you sending a gift to Teacher Tang?” Jiang Xing was surprised.

1. To be exact, it’s the gift that the apprentice gives to the master when s/he acknowledges one. The literal translation would be something like Master-Accepting-Ceremony Gift.

Note: Here’s an extra chapter released today to make up for the short chapter yesterday. ^^

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