Baozi Xishi's Struggle

Chapter 197 I want to take Roubaozi to college

Having said that, he walked out with Shen Yu. Standing outside the door, Shen Yu insisted that He and the others go first. After watching them get on the carriage, Shen Yu found a mule cart on the street and went home.

When they got home, Li and Yutao were not in the shop, and Zhou Dalang was not there either. Only Jiang was in the shop cleaning the table.

Shen Yu asked curiously, "Where did mother and Yutao go?"

It was just after market closing time, and there were no customers in the shops.

Jiang wiped the table with a rag and replied, "There are no customers in the store right now. Sister Li and Yutao went to Sister Liu's house to deliver Chongyang cakes."

Shen Yu went to the big kitchen in the backyard to put down the food box. When she went to get her apron, she found that none of the six Chongyang cakes on the chopping board were left.

Shen Yu tied on her apron and picked up the broom to sweep the floor: "Auntie Jiang, why are there not a single Chongyang cake left? Did mother take them all away?"

Jiang stopped what she was doing and said with a smile, "Look at my memory. I was so busy that I forgot to tell you."

"Sister Li asked Zhou Dalang to deliver two to Mr. Lu in the county government office, and gave one to Zhou Dalang to take home. The remaining three were given to the lady who counted the rice with her."

"She said to wait for you to come back and make a few more. If you take too little, she's afraid there won't be enough to share."

Shen Yu shook her head helplessly. She thought doing eight at a time was already a lot.

Chongyang cake is a sweet cake, and you can eat a little bit during the festival. But I didn’t expect that after making it, there would be no cake left for my family to eat.

Jiang added, "Actually, there's no need to do so much. Maybe the ladies will give you something in return tomorrow."

Shen Yu agreed, and together with Jiang, cleaned up the floor, tables and chairs in the shop.

After closing the shop, the two men carried a large basin full of bowls and dishes to the backyard and continued to clean the kitchen.

When everything was done, Dun Dun and Yu Cheng came back from school, but Li and Yu Tao had not returned yet.

Although he knew where they were going, Shen Yu still felt a little worried. There was no need to take so long just to deliver a Chongyang cake.

When dinner was ready, Shen Yu took off her apron and said to Jiang: "Aunt Jiang, you and Dun Dun Yu Cheng should eat first. They must be hungry after walking such a long way after school."

"I'm going to go to Sister Liu's house to check on her. Why have Mother and Yutao been gone for so long? I'm a little worried."

Jiang said, "It's getting dark now. I'm worried about you, a girl, going out alone. I'll go with you. Dun Dun and Yu Cheng can eat first."

Dun Dun and Yu Cheng were unwilling to go too. Shen Yu thought it was unnecessary and was about to ask them to eat at home first when he heard the back door of the courtyard creak.

Shen Yu ran out and saw that it was Li and Yutao who came back with food boxes.

Although Shen Yu couldn't see Li's expression clearly in the shadows, he felt that Li looked a little listless. He walked inside with his head slightly lowered and slow steps.

Shen Yu suddenly became nervous. Since coming to the county, Li had always been in high spirits and energetic. This was the first time she looked so listless.

Shen Yu closed the courtyard door, took the food box from Li, and asked with concern: "Mom, what's wrong with you?"

Li then realized that she had frightened Shen Yu. She forced a smile and said, "It's okay, I'm fine. I'm just a little tired."

Li entered the kitchen and sat on a small stool in front of the dining table. She couldn't help but let out another long sigh.

There were oil candles lit in the kitchen. Under the bright candlelight, Shen Yu saw that Li's brows were furrowed, the corners of her mouth drooped, and she looked very unhappy.

Jiang was also anxious and asked, "Sister Li, what's wrong? What happened? How can the children not be anxious when you are like this?"

Yutao put the food box away, washed her hands and came over to sit down.

Her childish face was full of anger. Seeing that Li didn't say anything, she couldn't help but say, "Mother is sad for Zheng Sanniang."

"Zheng Sanniang's husband beat her today. When we went there, we happened to run into her crying at Liu Sao's house. She was beaten terribly."

Everyone was shocked when they heard this, but Shen Yu secretly breathed a sigh of relief: "Fortunately, fortunately, nothing happened to Li and Yutao."

Although it was a bit selfish to think this way, Shen Yu knew very well that in this era, as a woman without any official background, she was really just an ordinary citizen at the bottom of society.

When it comes to other people's affairs, help them within your ability. It's useless to worry about things beyond your ability. It would be even more troublesome if you get into trouble.

Thinking of this, Shen Yu advised Li: "Mom, let's eat first. Yucheng has walked such a long way home from school and must be hungry. If you have anything to say, let's talk after dinner."

Li finally came to her senses and said, "Haven't you had dinner yet? It's so late, Dun Dun and Yu Cheng must be hungry, let's eat quickly."

As he spoke, he took the lead in picking up the bowl and chopsticks and started eating in silence.

Because Li was in a bad mood, everyone ate dinner in a dull and hurried manner.

After dinner, Li and Jiang went back to their room first. It was probably because Jiang wanted to ask about Zheng Sanniang's situation.

Dun Dun and Yu Cheng stood nearby, feeling somewhat uneasy and confused.

After Li and the others left, Shen Yu smiled and patted Yu Cheng on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, everyone in our family is fine."

"After I finish cleaning up, I will go and ask what happened in detail. You guys should write when you need to, and go to sleep after you finish writing."

After hearing what Shen Yu said, the two children's expressions relaxed a little.

Yu Cheng hesitated for a moment and said, "Sister, the master will take us to climb the mountain tomorrow. My brother Dun Dun and I want to bring some meat buns as dry food."

Shen Yu asked: "Which mountain are we going to climb? Is it far away? How long will it take? Does everyone need to bring dry food?"

Yu Cheng touched the back of his head and said, "The teacher said the mountain is not high and not far from the academy, so he just took us out for a walk."

"Climbing high on Double Ninth Festival is said to be the best time for chrysanthemums to bloom, so we can't miss the beautiful autumn scenery. Everyone should bring some food."

Yu Cheng said with some pride: "Our meat buns are the most delicious. I brought a few to school a few days ago."

"I didn't finish two of them in the morning. When Aunt Qiu was making the dumplings at noon, she heated them up as well. The students each had a bite and they all said they were delicious."

"They wanted to buy some from me, and told me to bring it over in the morning and have it for breakfast. It's more delicious than the pancakes they bought. But unfortunately our house is too far away, and I was afraid that my mother would scold me, so I didn't dare to bring it."

Shen Yu was speechless. Yu Cheng wanted to sell the buns from his home to the college.

She patted Yucheng's head and said, "You went to college to study, not to help your elder sister sell buns. Don't spend your time on this in the future."

Yucheng nodded, and then grumbled unwillingly: "But our buns are delicious. My classmates want to eat them, but they can't get them because they live far away. I bring them over for them, isn't that good?"

Yucheng felt that he had done nothing wrong, but he did not dare to speak to Li because the distance was too far. If they were closer, he would have told her long ago.

Shen Yu thought for a moment and said, "You want to bring some meat buns tomorrow. Do you want to eat them yourself or do your classmates want to eat them?"