The Exiled Life of the Noble Girl

Chapter 126

Wang Chunhua had bought some lamb, just not very much since she had gone late. She was thinking of going over to ask Old Lady Wang if she had bought any - if not, she would give her some of theirs. Li Mingwei came back with Dong Lei.

After discussing it, they brought the child and the meat and went straight to Liu's house, since they were all going to eat together anyway - they could just stew it all in one pot.

Li Mingwei told Dong Lei to go do his homework in his room, and to come get her if he needed help or go out front to ask Mr. Jin and Hu Jin. She herself went to the kitchen to help with the cooking.

Old Lady Wang looked over the bones she had bought and praised them - "These bones are pretty good, the meat too. Did you go early?"

"No, when it was my turn they had just brought a newly slaughtered lamb."

"You really got lucky!" When Old Lady Wang had gone, there hadn't been much meat left, she had just picked up some leftovers people didn't want. She had gone too late.

Li Mingwei threw some firewood in the stove; the flames were still going strong. She looked up, "Sis, don't you think Xiao Yan seems listless today?"

Xiao Yan could call people "Auntie" now. If you walked away she would grab your leg and call you Auntie. But today she was sleeping - she was still lying in Dong Shan's arms.

Wang Chunhua was unconcerned. "She has a bit of a cough. I went to the pharmacy this morning and got her some medicine. I simmered it at noon, but she didn't like the smell and wouldn't drink it, threw a fit about it. So I got her settled down and she cried herself to sleep. That's why I was so late going to market."

That was the reason she had been so late going to market today.

Old Lady Wang's hands paused in washing radishes. "With this cough, can she not drink lamb soup? Should we make her something else?"

Wang Chunhua didn't know about that, but Old Lady Wang was quite a bit older than her, so it made sense she would know more. If Xiao Yan couldn't have lamb soup...

"Then should we steam her an egg?"

It was simple and easy, and children loved eggs.

"Sure." Old Lady Wang pointed to the cabinet behind Wang Chunhua. "Take a look, see how many you want to steam. We're only having the one pot of soup tonight. If not, I can stir-fry some cabbage later."

It was already after the first snow, almost winter. There weren't many leafy greens left now, just cabbage with the old outer leaves peeled off, still edible if you washed it. Cabbage beaten by the snow was even sweeter.

Wang Chunhua nodded and took two eggs, then hesitated and looked back at Li Mingwei. "Sis, do you want one? If so I'll steam more."

Li Mingwei waved her off in disgust.

Old Lady Wang laughed. "Don't mind her, she's sick of eggs."

They had so many eggs at home. She had cooked them every possible way for Li Mingwei - boiled, fried, in soup - she was long tired of them.

Since Li Mingwei didn't want one, Wang Chunhua just took the two. The lamb had just gone into the pot, she was in no rush to steam them. She put the eggs in a small bowl and set it on the stove, then went out to the yard and pulled up a cabbage to wash.

Old Lady Wang cut the washed radishes into chunks with a cleaver and set them aside. With nothing else to do, the two women stood in front of the stove to warm themselves.

Wang Chunhua sat down next to Li Mingwei and asked her customary question. "How is little Lei doing in school recently?"

"He's well-behaved in my class, and doing his homework properly. For the rest you can go ask Mr. Jin and Brother Hu. My brother-in-law is out there talking to them too, isn't he?"

The two teachers were right in front of them. Wang Chunhua naturally wouldn't pass up this chance. Making an excuse of adding fuel to Mr. Jin's brazier, she went out and exchanged a few words.

Seeing her come back smiling, Li Mingwei knew the teacher's answer had satisfied her.

Wang Chunhua patted her chest in relief. "Our Xiao Lei is finally learning to behave."

As long as he studied hard, whether he succeeded in the future or not, this money was well spent.

She peeked outside - no one else around. Lowering her voice she said, "I see Brother Hu is getting on in years, but I hear he still isn't married?"

Old Lady Wang waved her hand. "No, he's not."

Besides Mr. Jin, only Old Lady Wang really knew Hu Jin's situation now. His parents weren't around. Who would arrange a marriage for him?

He didn't know if his parents at home had forgiven him yet, and didn't dare go back empty-handed. He spent his days studying in the academy, waiting to try his luck in next year's exams.

Li Mingwei thought for a moment. "22 isn't that old though, is it? It's normal for students."

If you studied for a long time, it was normal not to marry until this age.

"It's plenty old," Wang Chunhua retorted. "When your brother-in-law was 22, Xiao Lei was already two!"

"That's different, you can't compare them," Li Mingwei said with a laugh. "What, are you trying to arrange a marriage for Brother Hu?"

"Forget it," Old Lady Wang immediately shut her down. "Someone's already trying to introduce girls to him, and he's refused them all, saying he wants to get a government position first."

Hu Jin was a bit rough-looking, not seeming like a scholar, but he had passed the county exam. His current job was decent, and he still had ambition to try again. Of course people had noticed him.

Not just matchmakers, but the mothers and grandmothers of students at the academy would find excuses to ask about him, trying to introduce girls to him. He could barely escape them all - as soon as class ended he would run upstairs.

"How long does that mean waiting?" Wang Chunhua gave Li Mingwei a significant look. "What do you think of his academic skills?"

Li Mingwei didn't know. Hu Jin's recent studying had been self-guided, with no ranking at the academy for her to see. She hadn't looked at any of his exam papers either, so she wasn't very familiar with his abilities in various areas.

All she could say was, "He passed the county exam, so he shouldn't be too bad."

"That's not what I'm asking," Wang Chunhua said.

She wanted to know if he could pass the provincial exam next fall. If he could, waiting another year would be fine. But if not, and he still insisted on trying for three more years...

The girl from the Lin family was already 17 this year. They couldn't afford to wait too long. She didn't dare push the girl's family to take the risk.

Old Lady Wang thought for a moment. "The 17-year-old daughter of the Lin family?"

Wang Chunhua nodded.

"You'd better give up that idea," Old Lady Wang said. "Hu Jin has rejected prettier, younger girls. I don't think she has much chance."

Wang Chunhua stared wide-eyed. "Hu Jin's standards are so high?"

"Not exactly. He really doesn't have the intention. All the previous girls he directly refused, without even meeting them. Only that one girl was brought to him, so he reluctantly met her once."

But still refused her.

"Who was it?"

Li Mingwei had seen the Lin family sister - she wasn't outstanding, but decent enough. She was a little curious who Old Lady Wang thought prettier.

"Cui Ying. You know her quite well."

Li Mingwei: ???

Brother Hu, what taste! My sister Cui Ying is so cute!

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