Chapter 46: Just Call Me Big Brother Yuan

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Qiao Mai’s stall was no longer lively. The people had dispersed and the mayor came to the stall.

“You owe me another favor. The Full Moon Festival is coming, why don’t you give me some gifts?” said the mayor.

Lu Sanniang raised her eyebrows. “What do you want?”

“Fresh food. What did you think?” Then, he turned around and left with a smile.

Qiao Mai laughed. “Sis, is this another glutton?”

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“He’s already so old, but he’s still greedy. Since he wants to eat, why don’t you get him something fresh?”

“When is the Full Moon Festival?”

“August 15th, ten days to go.”

“Alright, let me think. Do we have mooncakes here?”

“There are no mooncakes, but pastries. They are round and look like the moon. Actually, it doesn’t matter if you don’t celebrate it. No one from the farmer families celebrates it. Only rich families celebrate it when they have to worship the moon, set up tables, and offer tributes.” “The mayor is from a rich family, right?” “Yes, he came from a really rich family.”

“Is there something between you and the mayor?”

Lu Sanniang rolled her eyes guiltily. “What could happen? He’s an old man, and I don’t like him, hmph!

Qiao Mai smiled and took a deep breath. She sat down and took out the embroidery from the basket.

Shopkeeper Lu sat beside her. “How are those two children at your house?”

“They’re pretty good and very hardworking. Help me keep an eye on the stall at noon. I’ll go buy some things to go home.”

“You’re so good to them.”

“I’m good to you too. Come to my house on August 15th. I’ve learned a few dishes recently and I’ll cook them for you.”

“That’s more like it.”

Shopkeeper Lu returned to the shop, and the small stall regained its peace.

At noon, Qiao Mai bought ten filled buns and ten steamed buns from the bun shop and carried a basket home.

The two little ones were sitting obediently in the courtyard. When they heard the knock on the door, they quickly opened it.

“Mother, you’re back?”

“Yes, Mother is busy during the day, but I bought you some buns. Boiled half a pot of water and let’s eat together.”

“Okay, Mother.”

One of them went to boil water while the other brought a stool over. Qiao Mai placed the buns on the table and the steamed buns in the kitchen.

The eldest son placed three bowls on the table. “Mother, there’s nothing to do at home. Why don’t we help you look after the stall? This way, Mother can free up her hands to do something else.”

“How can there be nothing to do? There are many little quails in the east and west rooms that need you to take care of.”

“Quails?”

“Yes.”

Qiao Mai saw his second son adding firewood to the stove and waved at him.

“Let’s go. Mother will bring you to take a look.”

When they opened a room in the east wing, the two children opened their mouths and said after seeing so many quails.

“‘l’ney’re so small, so many.”

“Yes, take care of them at home, clean up their feces, and pick up their eggs. If they don’t have enough food or water, give them more. The day will soon go by.”

“That work is really too little. Mother, arrange something else for us.”

“Have you studied before?”

The two of them shook their heads. Qiao Mai continued, “Do you want to study?”

Their eyes lit up, but they soon became dull again.

“Mother saved us, but we have nothing to repay you. You even raised us, and we don’t know what to do to be at ease. If we continue to study, we will really feel guilty.”

“Take care of your body first. After the New Year, Mother will send you to school, okay? It’s the school in our town, and it’s very close.”

“Is it really possible?”

“Why not? You guys should work hard at home and study hard outside. When you grow up and have a bright future, it’s the best gift to repay Mother.”

“Mother!” The two little ones cried again.

“Alright, I’m truly raising you as my sons. It’s good that you know that. Mother can understand your feelings. Let’s not talk about it anymore. Eat. The water is boiling.”

The two little ones swallowed their saliva when they heard the word meat buns.

At this moment, the door rang. Qiao Mai asked them to eat buns, so she went to open the door.

“Uh, Young Master Yuan?”

“What Young Master? Just call me Big Brother Yuan. I’m a few years older than you. I’ve made the sign and was about to send it to you.”

Qiao Mai looked at the rectangular sign in her arms. The words on it were neat and could be seen at a glance from afar.

“Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

He handed the sign over and Qiao Mai took it. He then cupped his hands and turned to leave.

Qiao Mai raised her eyebrows and looked at the signboard in her arms. It was quite cost-effective to exchange a bowl of dumplings for a signboard.

She put the signboard aside and came back to eat with the children.

The buns were delicious, the two of them ate happily. They actually ate three of them to be full and even drank a bowl of water.

“Mother, leave the cooking to us in the future. When you come back, you can just eat ready-made food, right?” “Do you know how to cook?”

“Yes, I know how to steam steamed buns, let alone stir-fry. I’m just afraid that Mother will not find it not delicious.’

“How can that be? You’re still young. Practice more and it’ll taste better. Just don’t let the oil splash on your body when you cook.”

“We will be careful.”

“Alright, we’ll start tomorrow. I’ll buy the ingredients. We have rice, flour, oil, and seasoning at home. You can use them. I want to see if my sons can cook!” “Alright, I promise to let Mother come back and eat delicious food.”

At seven years old, children from poor families were already sensible. The poverty of their lives made them learn to do housework early.

She remembered seeing a child on the internet. At the age of five, he could already steam steamed buns and cook some home-cooked dishes. That was in the 21st century.

Not to mention the children here. Since the children were willing to do it, she would give them a chance.

She could not let them stay idle and let them develop the habit of always relying on adults for everything.

When she came back from the stall at night, the two children had already heated up the steamed buns. They did not stir-fry anything since there were no ingredients. Instead, they boiled a pot of hot water.

“Mother, why don’t you wash up?”

“I’ll cook first. Mother bought a piece of meat for you to eat tonight.”

“Hehe.”

Qiao Mai was cutting meat in the kitchen. Actually, the meat and vegetables were all in the space, so she could just take them out.

In the evening, she made a big plate of stir-fried meat with beans. The children were still growing, so eggs and meat could not be left out. She decided to eat eggs in the morning, and meat in the afternoon and evening.

The beans were soft, and the meat slices were fat but not greasy. The two little fellows ate with oily mouths.

To be able to follow Qiao Mai was something they could never have dreamed of.

At night, she accompanied them for a walk to digest their food.

“When the weather is hot, you have to wash up every morning and evening. When the weather is cold, you have to wash up every five days. Can you do that?” “Yes.”

“Sleep!”

The days passed just like that. Qiao Mai was afraid that the two little fellows would be bored, so he bought an introductory book from the bookstore for them to read.

When they came back at night, she would teach them how to read. Although the ancient and modern characters were different, the content was the same. For example, she knew the Three Character Classic. She would be able to recognize all the characters by comparing them with the ones she had

memorized. That way, there would be no problem teaching the children.

First, they had to have some foundation. Only when they reached the academy would the teacher like them.

Everyone in town knew that she had bought books for her children, so they went crazy.

Not only did he have to adopt two children, but he also had to provide for their education. Was Madam Qiao crazy? She was still young, but she had to support her own child’s education? That money was not earned easily.

After she opened the stall, many people came to ask her about this matter.

Qiao Mai rolled his eyes. “In this world, biological children were not necessarily filial. When they get old, children will despise the elderly. There were many who did not care about the elderly. Who dared to say that their own children were good?”

Her words shut them up.

She could not bring herself to say something like no matter how unfilial her children were, they were still her own flesh and blood..