Chapter 20: Fainted

After Run left, Zhou Huailin frowned and looked at Zhou Qing. "What's wrong?"

Zhou Qing suppressed her laughter, "Run is just too cute."

Zhou Huailin... Huh?

Zhou Qing chuckled, "Let's go in quickly, Third Uncle."

As they entered, they overheard the clan leader’s roaring voice.

"You little brat, is this what you call writing? Huaishan could get the bookshop’s approval just by writing with a stick in the fields, and I supply you with brush, ink, paper, and inkstone every day, and what is this garbage you write, trying to fool ghosts?

Look at your writing, so young and not putting in the effort, you'll end up eating dirt when you grow up!

All day long, you’re full of energy when playing, but when it’s time to study, you wilt. Look at how you’ve angered your mother. When the doctor arrives, if your mother is fine, it’s all good, but if anything happens to her, I’ll break your legs!"

Zhou Qing...

Same world, same kind of roar.

The clan leader was scolding when he saw Zhou Qing and Zhou Huailin enter the courtyard. He glared fiercely at his youngest son, "Go write!"

Turning around, he sighed heavily and said to Zhou Huailin, "That little brat, he’s really going to anger me to death. He’s been studying for half a year, but his writing is worse than a ghost’s scribbles."

As he spoke, he led them into the house.

"I heard from my older brother that Chun is the best in his school..." Zhou Huailin’s voice trailed off abruptly as he began to comfort.

The best in school, but his writing looks like a ghost’s crawl.

The teacher at the school was his older brother.

Uh...

Is this comforting the clan leader or insulting his older brother!

Zhou Huailin’s mouth twitched, and he awkwardly shifted the topic, "Just now, we heard you say Auntie is ill? What happened? Is it serious?"

The clan leader sighed heavily in frustration.

"It’s that little brat who made her angry. His mother was urging him to study hard, but he kept finding excuses, making his mother angry and short of breath. We’ve already sent for the doctor, and he should be here soon. Hopefully, it’s nothing serious."

Zhou Qing...

I must have committed a serious crime in my past life, and in this life, my punishment is tutoring homework, but in an ancient times?

The clan leader glanced at Zhou Qing, then looked at Zhou Huailin, "What brings you here?"

Zhou Huailin explained the matter of selling the prosperity characters.

"...My second brother could have this opportunity thanks to you helping Qing yesterday. So, this child is very grateful and went to town to buy these things right after making money."

Zhou Huailin placed the items he was holding on the table.

The clan leader immediately stiffened and said, "What are you doing? Take it back, what do you think I am?"

"It’s nothing valuable, just a token of Qing’s appreciation. Please accept it, she’s truly grateful. If it weren’t for your encouragement yesterday, my second brother wouldn’t have been able to calm down and study properly."

Zhou Qing...

Third Uncle, you really know how to talk.

"Third Grandpa, please accept it." Zhou Qing stood beside Zhou Huailin, looking up at the clan leader sincerely.

With an adult present, she, as a child, just needed to chime in.

The clan leader sighed.

"Your family’s situation... Sigh, fine, I’ll accept it. Qing, tell your father not to compete for petty things but to work hard and strive."

Zhou Qing nodded earnestly.

After some small talk, Zhou Huailin and Zhou Qing said their goodbyes and were about to leave the courtyard when the clan leader suddenly remembered something and called out to them, "Lin."

Zhou Huailin and Zhou Qing stopped and looked back.

"When you sell characters, don’t go to villages with scholars or students," the clan leader warned.

"Understood." Zhou Huailin immediately responded gratefully.

After leaving the clan leader’s house, Zhou Qing was puzzled, "Why is that, Third Uncle?"

Zhou Huailin explained, "Think about it, where did our village’s prosperity characters usually come from?"

Zhou Qing recalled the original owner's memories.

"They were either bought from the town or requested from first uncle..."

At this point, Zhou Qing understood.

If there are scholars or students in the village, every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival and Spring Festival couplets, people would seek out these scholars or students for characters.

These characters are cheaper than those bought in the town, usually exchanged with home-grown grains or eggs.

If they sold characters in villages with scholars or students, it would take away their business.

This would inevitably cause unnecessary trouble.

Realizing this, Zhou Qing felt a bit afraid. Despite having been a sales manager before, she had overlooked such a major issue.

"So today..."

Seeing Zhou Qing's realization, Zhou Huailin smiled, "Don't worry, the village we went to today doesn't have any scholars."

Zhou Qing breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Zhou Huailin, "Did you know this beforehand, Third Uncle?"

Zhou Huailin nodded.

Zhou Qing took the opportunity to flatter him, "Third Uncle, you’re a business genius. Even though you’ve never done business before, today’s first attempt shows you’ve considered everything thoroughly."

Hearing his niece’s praise, Zhou Huailin scratched his head in embarrassment, "It was you who called out during the sale, Qing."

Zhou Qing laughed, "I just have a knack for calling out. It’s you who truly plans and strategizes, Third Uncle. You’re like... like a strategist, ensuring our business runs smoothly."

Zhou Qing’s flattery came naturally.

Although a bit embarrassed, Zhou Huailin couldn’t help but feel a surge of excitement.

Maybe, he really did have a talent for business.

If he could really succeed in business, then in the future, Ping’s education, Yao’s marriage...

Silently envisioning the future, Zhou Huailin felt incredibly motivated.

They chatted as they walked home.

Upon entering the courtyard, they sensed something was off.

It was too quiet.

Zhou Huailin and Zhou Qing exchanged a glance and quickened their pace into the house.

In the quiet courtyard, Zhou Huaishan’s sigh suddenly echoed.

"Ping, I feel like I've written all the characters I’ll ever write in my life today."

Zhou Qing...

Immediately after, Zhou Ping’s serious voice followed.

"Second uncle, what are you saying? Life is long, you’ll write even more tomorrow."

Zhou Huailin...

Zhou Qing...

Imagining Zhou Huaishan’s reaction, Zhou Qing couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Her laughter alerted those inside, and Zhou Ping ran out, "Father, Big Sister, you’re back! How did it go? Did you sell well?"

Zhou Huailin ruffled Zhou Ping's hair, "They all sold out."

"Wow! Really? Will it still be sold tomorrow?" Zhou Ping looked up, his eyes sparkling like a pool of clear light.

Zhou Huailin smiled, "Of course! Ping, learn well from your second uncle. Once you master it, you can write too."

Zhou Ping nodded.

"Are you two the only ones home? Where is everyone?" Zhou Qing asked Zhou Ping.

"Mother and sister went to the vegetable field, grandpa and grandma took first aunt to the field."

Hearing that Old Zhou and Sun went to the field, Zhou Huailin felt a bit uneasy, "They've been there all day?"

Zhou Ping nodded, "Yes, as soon as you and big sister left this morning, Grandma came to ask where you were. Mother told the truth, and grandma scolded her, telling mother to call you back. Later, grandpa said he and grandma would go to the field today."

As they were talking, sounds of a commotion came from outside.

"Lin, Lin, come quickly, your mother has fainted in the field."