Apprenticeship Gift (3)

Even though the Jiang family had a rough and sturdy style, they were a good family who knew to repay the kindness.

They could raise good children like Jiang Yue and Jiang Xiaoman.

“Sit down first, I have something to give Xiaoman.”

Jiang Xing stood there motionless. Ever since he was a child, he was someone who feared neither Heaven nor Earth. Even if he was beaten, once the wounds healed he would forget the pain. Teacher Tang was the only thing that he feared the most.

Teacher Tang had taught all the children in the village, and of course, that included Jiang Xing. Whenever he lectured him it would be very long and could even make him cry.

After a while, Teacher Tang came out being a brand new notebook and gave it to Jiang Xiaoman. He smiled and said, “Take it back to play, it’s a small gift from the teacher.”

Jiang Xiaoman blinked and glanced at Jiang Xing, not daring to accept it.

Grandma said that she couldn’t carelessly accept Teacher Tang’s things.

“This is called giving something in return, it is a kind of etiquette.” Said Teacher Tang. “I have accepted your gift, so you also have to accept my gift. Only that way would the relationship last.”

Jiang Xing said, “Xiaoman, hurry up and thank Teacher Tang.”

Jiang Xiaoman took it with both hands and thanked him.

Jiang Xing was no longer a child, but the feeling of being lectured by Teacher Tang had returned and he felt very awkward. After thanking him again, he pulled Jiang Xiaoman up and ran back home.

After running back halfway, he put her back down and clutched his stomach, and had Jiang Xiaoman support him home. “Slow down, slow down, I think I pulled my stomach.”

Jiang Xiaoman was so scared that she did not dare to breathe and obediently acted as his walking stick as they walked back step by step.

Seeing the uncle-nephew pair come back, Jiang Xiumei breathed a sigh of relief and entered the house.

Fortunately, they have already come home. Otherwise, she would start to think that that stick Jiang Xing was going to sneak away and eat the old hen they just sent himself.

Dinner was simple, but Jiang Xiumei felt particularly at ease as if she already finished an important business.

The next morning, Jiang Xiaoman couldn’t laze around in bed until she woke up naturally anymore. She had to get up early and go with Grandma to school.

As she got up in a daze, Jiang Xiaoman sat in a small chair, took a comb, and waited for Grandma to tie her hair up. But her hand touched the prickly hair and her tears started to fall.

She stood up angrily and rushed to Jiang Xing’s bedroom and woke him up. “Stop sleeping! Grandma said you’re lazier than the pigs we raise, and they’re more diligent than you. You have to wake up, feed the pigs, chop the wood, sweep the floor, and wash the clothes!”

Jiang Xing was stunned as soon as he opened his eyes and heard those personal attacks. He was very angry and pursed his lips but couldn’t get angry back.

“Okay okay, don’t cry, isn’t it just your hair? Don’t think that I don’t understand. Why are you already so coquettish at such a young age?” Jiang Xing got up with much difficulty and rummaged through the cabinet looking for something. Soon, he took out a tiger hat. “This is what I’ve been treasuring since I was a kid. Once you wear it no one will know that you’re bald, and you will look very beautiful. Everyone will praise your good looks.”

The tiger hat was made by Jiang Xiumei, it was very cute.

Jiang Xiaoman closed her mouth and hesitated for a while, then put the hat on. “Does it look good?” “It’s very pretty.”

Jiang Xiaoman snorted and reluctantly believed him. Then, she went to school wearing this hat.

Ah no, it’s not officially going to school. But Grandma said that she had to take it seriously starting from today.

So it felt like a ritual, Jiang Xiumei also took a handful of green onions² from her vegetable garden and let Xiaoman hold them. There needs to be some water chestnuts(2) too, but since she couldn’t find some, they’ll have to make do with what they have.

Jiang Xiaoman sniffed because she did not like the smell of green onions and asked her, “Grandma, are you planning to use the green onions to make bak pau?”

“I told you to carry them so just carry them, don’t eat them!”

“Oh, ok.”

2. There’s some homophone between the green onion and water chestnuts and smart/clever

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