Farms rarely had a few days of leisure, so the wheat was piled in the yard to dry. It only needed to be turned every half hour, while Xu Dahua stayed indoors cutting new clothes.
The children couldn't stay put at home and went to play on the path in the fields. They found some wheat ears that had been accidentally dropped and didn't return home until afternoon after picking them up.
These wheat ears were uneven and very small. They piled up a few bundles of firewood to start a fire. They put the wheat ears in to roast, and when the time was almost up, they extinguished the fire.
The roasted wheat tasted indescribably delicious, and every child's face was filled with a satisfied smile. They sat together chatting and laughing, which was a part of their happy childhood.
After dinner, the family enjoyed the cool evening air in the yard, and Zhao Jiaojiao was learning to walk beside them.
After each walk, she would ask everyone if she looked good. The little ones didn't understand anything and could only nod repeatedly and praise her.
Zhao Xing: "Little Aunt walks so beautifully, I've never seen anyone walk like this before."
"That's right, Mrs. Xu also said I have talent. Xing'er, come here, Little Aunt will teach you."
"Okay, okay."
The other two young girls gathered around, but Xiao Chun and Xiao Hong made no move.
Jun Jiuli: "Don't you want to learn?"
Xiao Chun: "What's the point of learning this? It doesn't earn money, and it's a waste of time."
Xiao Hong: "Big Sister is right. I was tired from running all day. It's time to rest at night, I don't want to suffer."
"That's true. Then, is there anything you want to learn? I have money."
"I want to learn to sew clothes so I can help Mother. When I grow up and my skills improve, I can also make clothes to sell."
"Then Big Sister should let Mother teach you."
Jun Jiuli thought for a moment and said, "How about I send you to learn embroidery? Having a skill will only be beneficial."
Xiao Chun: "Okay, okay, but will Grandpa and Grandma agree?"
"The farm doesn't need so many people, and we won't ask Grandpa and Grandma to spend money, so they will agree."
"Okay, then when I learn, I can sell embroidered items. I heard Aunt Wang say that that kind of embroidery is very valuable."
"What about Xiao Hong, do you want to learn?"
"I'll go with Big Sister."
Jun Jiuli informed Old Madam Zhao and the others. Regardless of whether they agreed or not, she sent the two children to a local embroidery workshop to study the next day.
She managed the chickens in the mountains, and others did the housework. When it was time, she picked them up. They worked hard, from dawn till dusk, but the sisters persevered.
The second and third branches were also unwilling. They were all family, so why should their own daughters have no opportunities?
Old Madam Zhao sharply rebuked them. Finally, Li shi and Zhang shi made too much trouble. Old Madam Zhao promised that the money earned by Zhao Dawei and Zhao Dayou in the future would not have to be handed over.
However, after the family's grain was consumed, each branch had to buy a month's worth of grain. Apart from eating together, this was no different from separating the family.
Li shi and Zhang shi were naturally overjoyed and stopped bothering Xiao Chun and the others. However, they did not send their own children to study.
After only two months of study, Xiao Chun was already embroidering with remarkable skill. Xu Dahua cut two small pieces of cloth for her, and she embroidered two rabbits on them.
Although not exceptionally delicate, it was already impressive. She also asked Xu Dahua to cut two more pieces, saying she wanted to arrange handkerchiefs embroidered by her own hands for her mother and brother.
Old Master Zhao and Old Madam Zhao also indirectly asked Jun Jiuli where the money came from. Jun Jiuli brushed them off casually.
Xiao Hong had little talent for embroidery, but she was very interested in the nearby bookstore.
Jun Jiuli bought her many books and taught her to read. She studied very diligently but seemed unhappy lately.
"Xiao Hong, what's wrong? Do you have something on your mind?"
"It's nothing. Second Aunt says reading is useless. And I can't help the family earn money, and I'm also wasting my brother's money."
As she spoke, her voice trembled involuntarily, her small shoulders shaking, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Second Aunt never read, how does she know it's useless? Don't think too much, your brother is happy to spend money on you to study. Studying isn't necessarily about earning money; it can broaden your horizons and let you know about different worlds."
"But it still doesn't earn money. Brother, why don't you let me and Big Sister learn embroidery?"
"What nonsense are you talking about? Talent is very important. Doing what you are good at makes people happy. Forcing yourself to do something you're not good at or don't like will make you feel terrible."
"There are many benefits to studying. After learning to read, you can read more books and even write your own. Look at those popular storybooks that are making so much money recently; the books your brother buys you are written by people. When your handwriting improves, you can also take on some work copying books. As long as you don't give up, there will always be a way out."
"Yes, I will definitely study hard and not let down my brother's expectations."
...
Zhao Jiaojiao discovered that the things the two little girls in the family were learning were more outstanding than what she was learning. Mrs. Xu taught various things, so her teaching was naturally not as detailed.
She stumbled through reciting a poem and mispronounced a few characters. Zhao Xiao Hong, however, could recite it perfectly and write without errors.
She recognized fewer characters than Xiao Chun, and Xiao Chun could even embroider flowers and rabbits on clothes.
She herself would occasionally prick her hand when holding a needle, and what she embroidered looked like a four-unlike.
She could only find a sense of presence among Mrs. Xu's other students and returned home feeling very dejected.
She was the apple of the family's eye, so why should two girls be more dazzling than her? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. However, no matter how she tried to cause trouble with her little tricks, she only ended up hurting herself. She was truly unlucky.
"Mother, why are you so useless? There's so much housework, yet you let the two little girls be idle."
"Jiaojiao, you just focus on your own studies. Xiao Chun and Xiao Hong don't need us to worry about them, and they don't cost the family a cent. Having a skill will be good for matchmaking in the future, and perhaps they can marry well."
"Hmph, they're so ugly and have big feet, how can they marry well in the future?"
"What are you saying? Although those two little girls aren't as good-looking as you, they're not bad either."
"Mother, don't you want Xiao Wei to give you all his money? Don't you want to know where he got so much money to send Xiao Chun to learn embroidery? I heard that it's not taught to outsiders, how much money must that cost?"
"I asked. They took Xiao Chun as a disciple because they saw she had talent. Xiao Chun's embroidery is not bad, and sometimes she can sell some, so it doesn't cost much."
"Then where did Xiao Wei get the money? You are the head of this household. Their actions are simply disregarding you. You can't let them stand over you."
"Alas, I've come to terms with it. I'm already half in the grave. Xiao Wei is the only male descendant of our grandchildren, and I still have to rely on him in the future. Let him spend his money however he wants. I don't need that much money; it's good enough that we don't lack food and clothing now."
Zhao Jiaojiao said discontentedly, "Mother, you're so short-sighted. Xu Dahua just fooled you with a set of clothes."
"Yes, I'm short-sighted. Then why don't you, your own daughter, make a new set of clothes for this old woman?"
"I'm still young, Mother. When I grow up and get married, I'll definitely let Mother wear gold and silver and enjoy wealth and honor."
Old Madam Zhao waved her hand. "We'll talk about it if that day ever comes. It's getting late, go to rest."
Old Madam Zhao no longer had the authority she used to, and she couldn't help Zhao Jiaojiao. She stamped her foot in anger, turned around, and went back to her room.
The family's life continued on, stumbling along.