CHAPTER 49: CHAPTER 49: TAKING A BATH

At this moment, her two older paternal cousins, Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yu, had slipped away to help with chores while the other cousins were pestering Zhao Zhitong to teach them words.

Sharp-eyed Zhao Cheng noticed that one of the water vats was empty, so he immediately picked up a shoulder pole to fetch water.

Zhao Yu saw Zhao Dong and Sun Youli chopping firewood, so he diligently began moving the chopped wood into the woodshed.

They had been making a lot of tofu recently, which consumed a lot of firewood. Thankfully, their maternal uncles had been helping gather firewood from the mountain, so the family wasn’t lacking. However, wood needed to be chopped daily.

Seeing the two diligent little figures, Zhao Dong immediately asked, "Zhao Cheng, Zhao Yu, all your cousins are learning words from Tongtong. Why aren’t you two joining them? Stop working and go study with your brothers and sister."

Zhao Cheng hurriedly waved his hand. "No need, no need. I... I’m quite slow; I can’t learn those things. I’ll fetch water."

After saying this, he dashed out the door with his shoulder pole, as if afraid Zhao Dong would stop him.

Zhao Yu also nodded repeatedly. Looking up at Zhao Dong, he grinned. "Uncle, I like to do chores."

An eight-year-old child’s eyes should be clear and innocent, yet his held a hint of cautious eagerness to please. Looking at him, Zhao Dong’s heart suddenly ached with a touch of sorrow.

At this moment, the more he told them not to work, the more uncomfortable the children would feel. Therefore, Zhao Dong smiled and said, "Alright, just take it slow and don’t get hurt."

Sure enough, Zhao Yu’s smile widened. He agreed readily and diligently got back to work.

To celebrate Zhao Zhitong’s first day of school, Eldest Aunt and Aunt had come over, bringing a large rooster from home, which was now stewing in the pot. Its delicious aroma filled the entire courtyard.

Sun Mei poked her head out of the kitchen and called to Sun Youcai in the courtyard, "Third Brother, quickly go get Father, Mother, and Eldest Brother. Dinner’s almost ready!"

"Alright!" Sun Youcai responded, putting down his work and heading towards the gate.

It wasn’t long before their maternal grandfather, grandmother, and Eldest Uncle arrived.

By then, Sun Mei and the others had already started arranging the tables and benches. Because there were many people, Sun Mei had even borrowed a table and some chairs from Shi Tou’s house.

The little ones were practically drooling with anticipation. As soon as Sun Mei announced dinner was ready, they swarmed the tables, excitedly showing off to their mothers the three new words they had learned from Zhao Zhitong that day.

Eldest Aunt and Aunt, both smiling, found themselves liking their little niece, Zhao Zhitong, even more.

Aunt Liu was laughing heartily. "It’s just like that saying... what was it? Something about ’near vermilion...’ and ’near ink...’"

Aunt Liu struggled for a moment but still couldn’t recall the exact phrase.

Sun Youcai, standing nearby, chuckled. "Second Sister-in-law, are you trying to say, ’He who stays near vermilion gets stained red; he who stays near ink gets stained black’?"

Aunt Liu nodded repeatedly. "Yes, yes, that’s the one! Oh, your Second Sister-in-law here never went to school; I just can’t talk as well as you educated people."

Eldest Aunt also chimed in with a smile.

Previously, their children had been reluctant to learn words from their grandfather, no matter how much they were coaxed. Even when forced, they wouldn’t remember a single one for long.

But now, things were different. With their little niece as a role model, even those mischievous children were making progress.

They weren’t expecting the children to achieve any scholarly honors; they just hoped they would learn to read and write, perhaps enough to manage accounts in the future. That would be good enough.

Meanwhile, Zhao Zhitong, the very role model they were discussing, was being called over by Sun Kang to review her lessons.

Zhao Zhitong had already memorized half of the first section of the "Essence of Medicinal Properties", which dealt with herbs of a cold nature. She was now reciting it for Sun Kang.

Listening to the little girl’s sweet, childish recitation, Sun Kang’s face was filled with satisfaction. This young girl truly has talent, he thought.

After reciting up to "Ophiopogon root clears the heart, relieves restlessness and thirst, and dispels lung heat," Zhao Zhitong stopped. "Grandfather, I don’t know the part after this."

Sun Kang took out the pipe from his waist and chuckled. "Hmm, not bad at all. Tongtong, you’ve done very well."

Zhao Zhitong, however, wasn’t entirely pleased. She had thought she could memorize the first Chapter quickly. But there were many characters in it she didn’t recognize. She had to circle them, ask her Teacher about them later, and then memorize them, which slowed her progress.

Pouting slightly, she asked, "But Grandfather, what do these sentences mean? Tongtong doesn’t quite understand."

Sun Kang took a puff from his pipe and said unhurriedly, "Don’t worry. Grandfather will explain them to you, bit by bit."

Hearing this, Zhao Zhitong quickly handed the book to her grandfather, her eyes shining brightly as she looked at him, eagerly waiting for his explanation.

Seeing his granddaughter so eager to learn, Sun Kang couldn’t help but explain a little more.

While the two of them were engrossed in their lesson, supper had been laid out on the tables, and Grandmother had begun calling everyone to eat.

Only then did the grandfather and granddaughter reluctantly pause their lesson.

Identical dishes were set on two tables. Children love to flock together, so the little ones quickly squeezed around one table, while the adults sat at the other.

As the saying goes, "A single pig eating doesn’t make the food seem appetizing, but when two pigs fight over it, it suddenly smells delicious!" With these little ones all squeezed together, eating felt like a joyful scramble.

Zhao Zhitong sat between her two older paternal cousins. Seeing her younger cousins frantically snatching meat while her two older cousins ate only vegetables and steamed buns, she stood up and put two pieces of meat into each of their bowls.

Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yu were stunned to suddenly find meat in their bowls. Turning, they saw Zhao Zhitong’s innocent, beaming face and heard her sweet voice say, "Brothers, eat the meat quickly, or Sun Daqing will snatch it all!"

Zhao Yu, after a moment’s surprise, grinned and put the meat back into Zhao Zhitong’s bowl. "You eat it, Little Sister. I like vegetables."

Zhao Cheng also returned the meat to Zhao Zhitong.

Zhao Zhitong was not happy. Pouting, she urged them, "I don’t like this meat; I like chicken wings! This is for you. I’ll go get some chicken wings."

She firmly placed the meat back into their bowls and then dove back into the fray for chicken wings.

The two brothers stared at the meat in their bowls, their eyes turning red. It had been a long time since they’d had a full meal, let alone meat.

Their hands trembled slightly as they picked up the meat. They chewed it slowly, savoring each bite, reluctant to swallow.

Since Zhao Dong was going to the county town the next day to sell tofu, they planned to make it overnight. After dinner, Eldest Uncle and Second Uncle helped take Grandfather, Grandmother, and all the little ones home.

Eldest Aunt and Aunt stayed behind. Since they weren’t going to the county town the next day, they remained to help Sun Mei make tofu.

Sun Mei cleared out the bed in the west wing and made it up for Zhao Cheng and Zhao Yue to sleep in.

After dinner preparations were done, Sun Mei boiled a large pot of water so the two brothers could have a proper bath after eating.

She bathed Zhao Cheng first. His small face was tanned dark, and his neck and the area behind his ears were caked with grime.

The tea seed powder Zhao Dong had bought now came in handy. Sun Mei poured some into the washbasin, worked it into a lather, and then gently scrubbed Zhao Cheng’s hair and scalp.

Zhao Cheng, ten years old this year, already considered himself a big boy. He felt shy as Sun Mei bathed him, his face turning red, but a warmth spread through his heart.

Second Aunt is so gentle, always smiling, speaks so pleasantly, and she even praises me for working hard. My mother was never like Second Aunt, never spoke to me with such patience and gentleness. As these thoughts surfaced, his eyes began to sting with tears.

I don’t have a mother anymore...