Chapter 47: A Visit

The mule cart went straight to Shen Li's door.

Even before the cart entered the courtyard, Zhou Ping and Zhou Huaishan, one large and one small, came running out.

"Big sister, you're back! I've missed you so much."

"Daughter, you're back! I've missed you so much."

They shouted as they stared fixedly at the mule cart, not even glancing at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing...

Heh!

Zhou Qing jumped off the mule cart, while Shen Li pulled the cart into the courtyard.

Zhou Yao, Zhao, and Zhou Huailin also gathered around.

Zhou Ping leaped onto the cart, standing in the spot where Zhou Qing had just been sitting, and began digging through the items.

"Wow, this pot is so fancy, two layers! Wow, so much white flour! Wow, so much meat! Wow, there's fabric! Wow, there are clothes! Wow..."

Zhou Ping was immersed in his discoveries, unable to tear himself away, as if he were treasure hunting.

Zhou Huaishan, eyeing the full basket of meat—pork, lamb, and lamb spine—smacked his lips in satisfaction.

Zhou Qing handed a list to Zhou Huailin. "Third Uncle, the white flour, pork, and lamb are to be split between our two families. It all cost five taels and three qian. Just give me two taels and five qian."

After handing the list to Zhou Huailin, Zhou Qing turned and pulled out a small bundle for Zhao.

"Third Aunt, these clothes are for you. Over the years, you've made clothes for me. Now it's your turn to wear something I bought."

Tears welled up in Zhao's eyes.

"You child, why spend so much? We're just farmers, we don't need store-bought clothes."

Zhou Qing smiled and said, "Why can’t we wear them?"

Then she pulled Zhou Yao over. "There's something for you too."

Zhou Yao's eyes lit up and she eagerly looked at the bundle. "There's something for me too?"

"Open it and see."

Zhou Yao eagerly untied the bundle, revealing two neatly folded dresses. One was autumn yellow, the other lotus pink.

Zhou Yao picked up the lotus pink dress and held it up to herself.

"Does it look good?"

Zhou Qing laughed. "Of course, it looks good. You're so fair-skinned, anything would look good on you."

Zhou Yao shyly looked down and then glanced at Zhou Huailin. "Father, does it look good?"

Zhou Huailin, eyes fixed on Zhao, didn't even look at Zhou Yao. "Mm, it looks good. Try it on for me."

Zhou Yao...

Father, can't you at least symbolically look at me before looking at mother?

Zhou Qing...

Hahaha, it's clear parents are the true love, children are the accident.

Zhao's cheeks reddened as she lowered her head. "Let's unload the cart. Qing and the others have been traveling all day. Let's have dinner early!"

Saying this, she took the clothes and went inside.

Zhou Huailin followed her.

Zhou Yao...

Zhou Qing...

Shen Li, enviously watching Zhou Huailin and Zhao's backs. The couple’s relationship was really good!

He then turned to look at Zhou Qing.

As for Zhou Huaishan and Zhou Ping, they had discovered big buns in the cart.

Pork and scallion filling.

Thin skin, large filling, with eighteen folds.

Each of them was happily munching on a bun.

Zhou Qing had also bought three bolts of cloth and five rolls of cotton.

There was enough for Zhao to make two autumn outfits and one winter coat for each of the men in the family.

...

After unloading the cart, Zhao began preparing dinner.

It was her first time making hotpot, and she wasn't sure how to do it. She just cleaned the various vegetables as Zhou Qing had instructed.

Shen Li mixed the sauces with the bought ingredients.

Once everything was ready, everyone sat down around the hotpot, faces beaming with smiles.

Zhou Ping, too anxious to sit still, simply stood up with his bowl to eat.

The lamb, dipped in sesame sauce mixed with scallions, cilantro, and chili oil, brought a collective "ah!" of satisfaction from the whole family as they took their first bite.

Hotpot was indeed a supreme delicacy!

Upon tasting the hotpot, Zhou Huailin felt an even stronger urge to earn money.

"Father, I'll study hard and aim to become a high official so we can eat hotpot every day!" Zhou Ping vowed, chewing on the meat.

Zhou Huaishan glanced at him lightly.

Once you become a high official and make big money, you'll find there are many supreme delicacies in the world.

Back when I was a marquis...

Well, hotpot still ranks first.

Zhou Qing bought fruit wine, and except for Zhou Ping, everyone had a little.

Drinking, eating meat, and dreaming of the future, the family spent a full hour and a half enjoying the hotpot.

After the meal, Zhao busied herself cooking the lamb spine and pork.

After all, in autumn, meat doesn’t keep well. It spoils easily if not cooked.

Zhou Huailin helped her in the kitchen, while the others sat in the courtyard admiring the moon.

With their bellies full, Zhou Ping burped contentedly. "Big sister, hotpot is so delicious! When can we have it again?"

Zhou Qing patted Zhou Ping's head. "When your second uncle passes the exam, we'll have it again."

Zhou Ping quickly looked at Zhou Huaishan. "Second Uncle, you must work hard!"

Zhou Huaishan, feeling guilty, said, "Actually, grilled fish is also delicious. We can catch fish at the back river."

"By the way, Father, you need to go to town tomorrow." Focused on eating meat, Zhou Qing almost forgot the important matter. Remembering the exam, she slapped her forehead and spoke to Zhou Huaishan.

Hearing about going to town, Zhou Huaishan suddenly had a bad feeling and looked at Zhou Qing warily. "What for?"

Zhou Qing then explained the competition happening tomorrow.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Huaishan jumped up from his seat, pointing at himself incredulously.

"Me? Compete? You want me to compete and win?"

"If you don't compete, how else will you get the qualification? Without it, you can't take the exam!" Zhou Qing glared at Zhou Huaishan.

Looking pitiful, Zhou Huaishan said, "Even if I go, I won't win!"

"Second Uncle, be confident, believe in yourself, you can do it!" Zhou Ping encouraged Zhou Huaishan with a clenched fist.

Zhou Qing stood up, walked to Zhou Huaishan's side, and whispered in his ear, "Just do this, you'll surely win."

Zhou Huaishan's eye twitched as he looked at Zhou Qing in surprise. "Will that really work?"

Zhou Qing crossed her arms and smiled. "Trust me."

Zhou Huaishan...

"I trust you, but I don't trust myself!"

Sighing, Zhou Huaishan pouted. "Fine, I'll go prepare."

Reluctantly, he headed inside.

As he left, Shen Li, unable to hold back his laughter, said to Zhou Qing, "I just looked at Master's work, it's quite good."

As they were talking, the sound of crying and shouting approached from outside.

"Zhou Qing, get out here!"

Wang Qiang's mother, furious, kicked the courtyard door open and stormed in, with the sullen-faced Sun following behind.

Earlier, Sun had been beaten up by Zhao, Wang, and Song’s wives, and now her face was bruised, looking at Zhou Qing with eyes full of hatred, as if she wanted to tear her apart.

The sudden commotion drew Zhou Huailin and Zhao out of the kitchen, while Zhou Huaishan stopped and turned back.

Wang Qiang's mother rushed towards Zhou Qing like a whirlwind.

"You shameless slut, tell me, where is Wang Qiang? Where is he? You slut!"

Shen Li's face darkened, and he stepped in front of Zhou Qing, pushing Wang Qiang's mother away.

Wang Qiang's mother, an ordinary farmer's wife, couldn't withstand his push and staggered back, falling to the ground.