Chapter 182： parting

"Of course."

Chunniang pursed her lips and smiled, and pulled the little girl into the room to ask questions.

Yingbao told Aniang the whole story and reassured her that Mr. Wu was very kind and would definitely teach Xiaojie well.

Chunniang has nothing to worry about. For a peasant with no roots in her family to be favored by Mr. Wu and take him as a disciple, it is a blessing that her son has cultivated over many lifetimes.

“Bao’er, do you want to make two pairs of shoes for Master Wu and Master Wu?” Chun Niang asked.

Yingbao thought for a while: "But we don't know the size of the shoes. How about I give them some health pills, so you don't have to worry about it, mother."

"That's okay." The pills prepared by the little girl are famous in the village and are very precious, so it is not out of place to give them as gifts.

Chun Niang calmed down and went to the kitchen to make egg noodles for the father and son to eat.

Old man Jiang soon learned about Xiaojie's apprenticeship and immediately came to ask Jiang Sanlang.

“Sanlang, Xiaojie has really become a disciple in the county? Can Yuanbao go too?”

Jiang Sanlang was a little embarrassed, "Dad, I don't know about this. Mr. Wu is not a private tutor, so it seems inappropriate to rashly ask Yuan Bao to go."

Seeing that his father was depressed, Jiang Sanlang said again: "Why don't I ask Xiaojie when he takes a bath."

Old man Jiang nodded and sighed: "If that doesn't work, go to the county to find out which school is good, and then send Yuan Bao to study there."

Jiang Sanlang also had this plan, and he quickly agreed: "Okay! I'll go and ask next time."

The little girl’s shop is opposite the county school, and students or their servants often come to buy fruits.

Since you have asked about the school, no one knows it better than the scholars at the county school.

Early the next morning, Jiang Quan got up to pick grapes. This time he planned to pick six baskets and take them to the county town, and he would make trips back to the province to transport them.

Yingbao and Dani Erni also each took a pair of scissors to help cut the grapes. Each carried a small bamboo basket to select the ripe ones and eat them while picking.

Now the grapes are growing big and sweet, with a layer of white frost hanging on the purple skin, which is very attractive.

However, recently, birds often fly over and peck at the grapes, often pecking a bunch of grapes into tatters.

As soon as Jiang Quan saw the ruined grapes, he was so angry that he cursed his mother. He angrily plucked out the spoiled grapes and put the good ones into the basket.

These are all money and cannot be wasted at all.

These birds not only peck at grapes, but also especially like to peck at ripe red peppers.

Fortunately, Chu Chu has been helping to take care of it. When she saw a large group of birds flying towards them, she ran over and chased them away with a long bamboo stick.

This morning Chu Chu also came to chase the birds, holding up a bamboo pole and waving it around.

There were a few strips of cloth hanging on the top of the bamboo, and the birds would be scared away as soon as they were swung at them.

“Sister Chu Chu, come in and eat grapes.” Ying Bao waved to her.

Chu Chu was a little embarrassed, but she still ran in and helped pick grapes and put them into the basket.

Ying Bao picked a bunch of big, purple ones and stuffed them into her hands, urging: "Sister Chu Chu, please try to see if they are delicious."

Chu Chu took it, took one and put it in her mouth, nodding repeatedly: "It's delicious."

Yingbao smiled and said, "Bring some to Chu Yan and the others to try later."

“Yeah.” Chu Chu nodded, finished eating the grapes in her hands, and quickly helped pick them.

“Yingbao, those peppers are all red, and birds come to eat them every day, what should I do?” Dani asked.

This was her first time seeing pepper, and she didn’t know how it could turn into black peppercorns.

Yingbao: "Go back and pick all the red pepper fruits, put them all in sacks and send them to the river for soaking. After soaking for a few days, pour them into a basin and step on them to remove the pulp. Then wash them with water and leave the rest. Just let the seeds dry for a few days.”

These are what Mrs. Wen told her.

"Well, I'll call a few people to help later." Dani said, "Just give them some grapes then."

The grapes grown by the third aunt’s family are coveted by the whole village, but few dare to come in and pick them. Unmarried girls are even embarrassed to go near the garden, for fear of being called a cat-mouthed girl.

Dani has made friends with several girls in the village and knows that they all want to taste the grapes from the Western Regions, but she cannot give them to them privately.

The peppers in the pepper garden are gradually ripening, so why not invite them to do the work, and pick some grapes for them to try.

“Okay.” Of course Yingbao had no objection.

In such a large pepper garden, the vine branches are very dense and the pepper is hidden under the leaves. It is very laborious to pick it, and it is not possible for my mother to do it alone.

And I am short and small, let alone picking peppers, I can't even reach the slightly higher vines.

Dani smiled, cut two baskets of grapes and ran home. She is going to ask some of her friends to come over and pick pepper.

Jiang Quan was a little unhappy when he heard this. He glared at his little cousin and muttered in a low voice: "Prodigal!"

These grapes are money, why is she so generous?

Ying Bao stared back: "A lot of it is already ripe and fell on the ground. Instead of wasting it, let others have a taste of what's going on."

Jiang Quan snorted, quickly cut off the good ones one by one, and put them gently into the basket.

The six baskets of grapes were finally picked. Jiang Quan brought the carriage and carried all the baskets up.

“I’m leaving. You can keep an eye on me at home.”

Jiang Quan told his little cousin: "There are still a lot of peaches and apricots on the tree. If you want to give them away, just give them to others."

The price of apricots and peaches is not high, only a few cents per pound, so I don’t feel bad even if I give them away.

Grapes are different. This thing is a rare thing. Many people come here to look for it, which makes Jiang Quan feel that he has a lot of face.

If he hadn't been afraid of picking too much at one time and not being able to sell it, he would have wanted to pack a few more baskets and take them away.

“Got it!” Yingbao waved to him and suddenly asked, “Are you going to the county seat alone?”

Jiang Quan thought for a while and said, "How about I call Li Dao." He was indeed a little scared to be alone.

It's a hundred miles away, so if we meet a bad person, we'll be in trouble.

With one more person and more protection, Jiang Quan decided to add Wang Dashan.

With Li Dao and Wang Dashan accompanying me, I am very courageous.

Watching her second cousin driving the carriage away, Yingbao picked two more baskets of grapes.

One basket was given to Mrs. Wen and Sister Wen, and one basket was given to Chu Chu for Chu Yan and Master Zhang Meng to taste.

When Ying Bao walked into the school carrying a basket, she saw two carriages parked in the school yard.

Wen Fu just bought this when he went to the county town, and planned to give it to Mrs. Wen and others when they return to Yuzhou.

Yingbao handed the basket to Nanny and ran to the inner room to find Mrs. Wen.

“Master, are you leaving now? But I still have a lot to learn.” She looked at Mrs. Wen who was packing things with an accusing look on her face.

Mrs. Wen touched her head and said softly: "I have taught you everything I have learned, and you can only rely on yourself for the rest."

She took out a letter from the makeup box and handed it to Yingbao, "This is a letter of recommendation from Shu'er's grandfather. If you want to continue your studies, take this letter to Luzhou Medical Office."

 Ying Bao held the yellow-covered letter and tried his best not to cry.

The capital city is so far away, how could I leave my parents and younger brother to study alone.

Wen Shu came over and saw that Ying Bao was unhappy and said softly: "Didn't you already know that we were going back to Yuzhou? Why are you unhappy?"

Ying Bao pursed her lips, but couldn't help but shed tears.

Although she knew it, she just didn't want them to leave.