Chapter 50: Sending Caramel
Qianhuan knew that Chen was sick and could not come, so she left a large bowl of rice and food with a lot of meat on it for Chen before dinner.
"Wenjie, this is the food that my sister left for your mother. You and grandpa can take it back and give it to your mother."
Qianhuan handed the food directly to Old Man Liang. Originally, these trivial matters should be left to women, but she really didn't trust Old Lady Liang and Mrs. Zhu.
"Sister Qianhuan, thank you for thinking about my mother." Although Wenjie is young, he knows who is truly kind to him and his mother.
"Wenjie, come here with your sister. Your sister has something to tell you."
Wenjie let go of the hand that Old Man Liang was holding, and obediently followed Qianhuan into the west bedroom.
Qianhuan took out a small bag of maltose that she had prepared long ago, stuffed it into his arms, and whispered, "Here is a bag of maltose, take it home and eat it."
"Sister Qianhuan, I can't accept your malt candy anymore." Wenjie quickly took a step back to stop Qianhuan from stuffing candy into his arms.
In fact, he really wanted it. After all, there is no child who doesn't like to eat sweets. He had already finished the maltose given to him last time, but he had always kept in mind what his mother Chen told him.
"Why not? I remember you loved maltose. Don't you like it now?" Qianhuan looked puzzled. The last time she saw Wenjie was very happy when he got the maltose, why didn't he want it today?
"No, it's my mother who told me that my second uncle's leg was injured, and it's not easy for you to go to the county town every day to set up stalls and do business to earn some money, so she asked me not to take your maltose." Wenjie explained in a low voice.
Qianhuan found out the reason and couldn't help but feel deeply moved. They were both sisters-in-law, but why were they so different? If it was Zhu, she would have been eager to get the bride. After all, the young aunt was kind and beautiful.
This little cousin from my third uncle's family is really sensible. He is not as selfish as Wenzhi. If it were Wenzhi, I'm afraid he would want more even if he got it.
"Wenjie, don't worry. I can earn money now and can buy you some candy. Just take it. If your mother scolds you again, just say that I forced it on you. If you don't want it, I'll throw it away."
"Okay, thank you Sister Qianhuan." After hearing Qianhuan's words, Wenjie finally showed a big smile on his face. He also liked his second cousin more and more from the bottom of his heart.
"Be careful on your way back. Don't let grandma and aunt see the candy in your arms." Qianhuan stuffed the oil paper bag back into his arms and reminded him.
"Well, I must be very careful on the way back and never let grandma and aunt see me."
Wenjie stuffed another small bag of maltose inside, and only felt relieved when he was sure it was hidden tightly.
Qianhuan then quietly asked, "The money your father sent back from the army should have arrived by now. Has grandma given it to your mother?"
"Yes, grandma didn't want to give it originally, but grandpa asked her to take it all out. But after my mother got 5 taels of silver, she immediately gave grandma 2 taels of silver as pension." Although Wenjie is young, he actually knows everything about the family affairs.
"Well, I'll be relieved if you give it to me. I'll take you out. If they ask you why I brought you to the room, just say that I made an appointment with you to go to the mountain to pick bamboo shoots when you are free. Got it?"
"Okay, I understand." Wenjie nodded obediently.
After Qianhuan escorted them out of the yard, Zhu ran up to Wenjie and asked impatiently, "Wenjie, what did your sister Qianhuan ask you to say in the room?"
"Aunt, we didn't say anything in private. Sister Qianhuan just made an agreement with me that when we have time, we will go to the mountain together to pick bamboo shoots."
Wenjie answered as he walked forward, making sure to keep a safe distance from Zhu.
"Just one thing?" Zhu was a little unconvinced. It was just a small matter that could be said in front of everyone. Why go to the room and talk about it secretly?
"Oh, there's more." Wenjie paused.
"What else is there? Tell me so that I can hear it."
Zhu said in a coaxing tone. She just said, how could it be just that? Qianhuan must have said something that they couldn't let them know.
"Sister Qianhuan told me to bring the food to mom right away when grandpa brings it home, otherwise my aunt will secretly give the meat reserved for mom to my cousin Wenzhi." Wenjie said to Zhu with an innocent look on his face.
"How could I steal your mother's food?" Zhu immediately argued guiltily. Although she did have this idea, she would definitely not admit it at this moment.
"Well, I also believe that my aunt is not the kind of person who would steal. Sister Qianhuan must be worrying too much." Wenjie added.
Zhu had no way of saying anything. She originally wanted to trick Wenjie into talking, but what the child said made her extremely embarrassed.
At Qianhuan's house, most people had left. Qianhuan and Zhang Cui from the next door house helped Liu to clean up the dishes.
"Sister Cui, thank you so much today. If you hadn't come to help, Qianhuan and I would be too busy to handle it." Liu was grateful to Zhang Cui from the bottom of her heart. After all, preparing three tables of meals really took a lot of time and energy.
"Sister Liu, I'm glad you don't mind my clumsiness. I have nothing to do at home anyway. When the construction of your tile house starts some other day, I'll come over to help with cooking."
"It would be great if Sister Cui could come to help. Thank you in advance."
Liu was very happy to hear that. When the construction of the house started, she would have to cook for the bricklayers, and they would definitely be very busy. It would be easier if there were more people to help.
"Aunt Cui, mother, we don't need to cook for the workers who are repairing the tile house. I plan to directly give the meals to the tile foreman."
It takes at least more than a month to build a courtyard of a green brick and tile house. It is really too tiring to cook for so many people every day. It is better to just spend money to pay the bricklayer.
"Qianhuan, if we don't cook for the craftsmen and directly contract it to the bricklayer, it will cost a lot more money. It doesn't matter if you are a little tired. The more we can save, the better." Liu would rather be tired than waste money.
"Mom, I don't want you to be so tired. Just follow my arrangements and don't worry about anything else."
"Sister Liu, Qianhuan is a very filial girl, so just listen to her arrangements. Otherwise, it would be tiring enough to cook for so many people every day. Your daughter is so thoughtful and caring." Zhang Cui said to Liu with envy.
"Haha, our Qianhuan is indeed very filial to me and the second brother. But Sister Cui, there is no need to envy me. I heard that your Fangfang was also very caring to you and your wife at home before she got married." Liu responded to her with a smile.
"Yes, my Fangfang is also a filial girl. It's a pity that she married far away and has never come back since she moved to her husband's home. I haven't seen her for almost half a year, and I don't know how she is living in her husband's home." Cui couldn't help but sigh when talking about her eldest daughter.
Cui's eldest daughter is named Zhang Fang. She is 15 years old this year and got married at the beginning of this first half of the year. She got married in the next county, about or kilometers away from Yunfeng Village. In ancient times when transportation was underdeveloped, it was really far.
"Sister Cui, don't worry too much. Your Fangfang might be at her husband's house, loving and caring for her husband, and living a happy life."
"Yeah. I hope so." Cui nodded in response while helping to wash the dishes. She also hoped that her daughter and son-in-law would live a happy life.
At the Liang family's old house, Chen's illness was quite serious. She had been lying sick in the house these days. She was afraid that the illness would be passed on to her son, so she asked Old Man Liang to help take care of Wenjie for the next two days.
"Mom, I'm back from having dinner at my second uncle's house. Sister Qianhuan also packed some food for me and grandpa to bring back to you." Wenjie walked into the house with the food.
"Cough cough cough..." Before Chen could respond to her son, she started coughing.
"Mom, why are you still coughing? I'll ask grandpa and grandma to find a doctor to come and see you."
"No need... ahem... no need to find a doctor. Just pour me a glass of water first."
Wenjie hurriedly picked up the kettle on the table and poured water. He helped Chen sit up and drink the water.
After drinking a glass of cold boiled water, Chen felt much more comfortable in his throat.
"Mom just caught a cold. She will be fine in a few days. There's no need to waste money on seeing a doctor." Chen comforted her son.
"Mom, you must get better soon. There is still a lot of meat in the meal that Sister Qianhuan left for you. Please eat quickly."
Chen's appetite was not very good, so she didn't eat much.
Knowing that Qianhuan had sent maltose to her son again, she did not educate Wenjie this time. Firstly, she was sick and had no energy, and secondly, her son really had no snacks. She still had three taels of silver sent back by her husband, and she originally wanted to buy some delicious food for the child, but who knew that she fell ill again.
Forget it, if the child likes to eat it, let him eat it.
In this family, apart from Old Man Liang, only the second brother, his wife and the girl Qianhuan truly care about them.