" I told mother that I was going take a walk with fifth brother, so no one knows that we came here " she answered shyly fidgeting with the hem of the hanfu she wore.
" eldest sister-law please let us help you " they both pleaded which Xiao Ling didn't know whether to laugh or cry and he couldn't refuse their help with the anticipation showing on their faces
" okay, Yue was sweeping when she stopped so little sister can continue where she left.... and fifth brother can help me take the chairs and table to the well " they both became happy when they got Xiao Ling's permission to help.
YanZhi walked into the house to see Xiangzhi and Chuntao working while holding a bunch of wood boards which he intend to fix the rooftop with using the trees he cut down,
" Xiang Gong you're back " Xiao Ling happily welcomed as he and Xiangzhi were carrying a table to the back...
" Hm " was his short reply to him and he laid the boards down
" eldest brother " both Xiangzhi and Chuntao called embarrassedly and he nodded to them.
" where is Yue? " he asked
" I sent her to grandma Shen " YanZhi nodded in understanding when Xiao Ling replied.
Xiangzhi was happy when YanZhi called him to assist him with the roof... Xiao Ling scooped water from the well and washed the chairs and tables before leaving them to dry at the back. When he walked back to the front yard YanZhi and Xiangzhi had finished fixing the ceiling as Chuntao almost finished with the rest of the cleaning... Xiao Ling raised his head up using the sun to tell the time which was around 9am-11am which midmorning.....
" thanks to you two we managed to finished earlier than expected " Xiao Ling said happily " I'd have offered you something to eat, but as you can see there's nothing at home now " he added dejectedly which made Xiangzhi and Chuntao shook their hands..
" ah Sister-in-law don't say that we came to help out of our own free will, we better get back now before mother starts to get worried " Xiangzhi said sad they patted the dust off their clothes getting ready to leave
" sure... I'd like to invite you both to have dinner here tonight, Xiong Gong and will be heading to town now... I'll cook a feast when we're back so make sure to eat dinner here today " said Xiao Ling
" sister-law you don't need to bother with us, you just moved out of the house so you need to take care of things here first " Xiangzhi refute thinking it'd be a waste of money if Xiao Ling added them into their budget... Xiao Ling turned to YanZhi signalling him for help
" just come and eat dinner here today " YanZhi blankly said
" okay eldest brother " they both happily responded before walking to the door, coincidentally when they opened the door Yue was right at the door about to open it too...
" gongzi and little miss are both leaving? " she stepped back and made a way before politely asking
" we'll come back later in the evening " she nodded as Xiangzhi said and left before she walked into the yard and closed the door behind
" what kept you long? " YanZhi asked her as soon as she walked in
" master when I went grandma Shen hadn't finished yet so she asked me to wait for a few minutes, and when I was heading back the villagers stopped me and kept asking where I was from " she cupped her hands and said apologetically
" so what was your answer to them? " he asked
" I told them I was your disciple and my name was Yue... master did I do well? " she asked in hopes of being praised
" Hm " YanZhi nodded making her flustered..... they all cleaned themselves up and changed into the new clothes, YanZhi wore black hanfu with embroidery and black shoes as Xiao Ling wore all white and Yue changed into a green dress with white shoes. She did their hair and decorated them with Silver jewelries making them look like nobles and officials.....
Xiao Ling put the lock back on the door when they walked out, they started to make their way on the path they used to the county the previous not going through the village.... but luck wasn't on their side as they met two women from the village who looked like they just came down the mountain carrying a basket full of wild vegetables each, the women stopped in their tracks stunned and stared dumbfounded at them
" Jun family eldest... you look different today, look at your expensive clothes and where are you going dressed like this? " one of them asked in curiosity
" aunties we're heading to the county now, do excuse us we can't entertain you today " Xiao Ling cupped his hands and answered apologetically since YanZhi wasn't planning on minding them... they left the women standing still dumbfounded as they walked farther from them before getting on their swords and continuing the rest of the journey with flight.
**********
The women ran hurriedly to the villagers wanting to share the big news they had in hurry... they saw a group seating by the riverside washing and they went to join them. They informed them of what they saw but know wanted to believe them as they knew that the Jun family weren't that well off to give so much money to YanZhi to be able to wear silk clothes and when they heard there was a young lady with them it made the villager not believe them more... the women swear to them wanting to prove to them of what they saw, coincidentally Zhao Shi was washing next to them and when the women finally swore she stopped washing and packed the things in hurry and ran back home breathing heavily.
" second daughter-inlaw why are you breathing so heavily? who's running after you making you run like this? " Du Shi asked worriedly as she saw Zhao Shi ran into the house panting..
" mother no one is running after me..... it's just that two aunties saw eldest brother and his wife dressed in expensive clothes going to the county and they came to inform the rest of the villagers.... everyone is talking about it now " She said but Du Shi didn't take her words seriously
" where would they get money to buy expensive clothes when the place rented is dilapidated... don't talk nonsense " grandma shut her up and warned
" but grandma the two aunties swore about it... they said how would they know that YanZhi and his wife are going to town if they weren't the ones who informed them. Grandma just think about it this way, eldest brother left home when he was six years... he's been working in county for almost nineteen years so is it possible to only make twenty taels for the past nineteen years, grandma I say he's hiding the money and only gave twenty taels to father " Zhao Shi argued
" ah, all knowing of my Jun family get back to washing the clothes and stop talking nonsense.... eldest always give the money and preys he hunt to us so when did he start hiding money " grandma scolded Zhao Shi which made her shut her mouth making Qian Shi snickered at her being shouted at. Tho grandma and Du Shi were tempted by her words but they didn't think it was possible for YanZhi to have that much money in hand.... Chuntao who was in her room and earsdropping on them thought in her heart that it could be true since the clothes Yue wore when they saw her looked very expensive but she chose to keep that information to herself and not get her eldest brother in trouble because her mouth with the family.
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