Chapter 141

“Has Wenhua found a job in the prefectural city?” Shuiqing asked as she walked towards the courtyard.

Hu Mother opened the courtyard gate to its fullest, allowing Ling Ran, who was driving the donkey cart behind her, to enter easily. She turned to her daughter and replied, “He found one in March. After the Lunar New Year festivities and visiting relatives, the demand for rice wine dropped suddenly. Seeing nothing to do, he decided to find a job in the prefectural city, to learn some skills. I thought I could manage alone, so I agreed to let him go and broaden his horizons.”

Fan Jiang curiously asked, “What kind of job is he doing, Uncle?”

Hu Mother sighed, “It’s not exactly a job. He went to a martial arts academy. Qing’er, you know, despite your father and I hoping he’d learn to read and write, his mind just can’t remember characters. He gets sleepy whenever he reads, but he’s fond of martial arts and such.”

Fan Jiang suddenly felt familiar with the inability to remember characters and getting sleepy while reading.

Isn’t that him?!

He suddenly realized, “So that’s why they say the nephew resembles the uncle, no wonder!”

Shuiqing impatiently patted his back, “Stop making excuses for yourself, it’s nobody else’s fault~”

Fan Jiang protested, “Then whose fault is it? He’s my own uncle!”

And he didn’t blame his uncle, was he excited or what?

Turns out, he wasn’t the first!

Whenever Dad taught, the eldest sister, second sister, and younger brother listened attentively, fearing they’d miss a thing. They learned to read quickly and were diligent, with good attitudes!

Second brother Fan He was sharp-minded and quick to react. He seemed to play all the time and didn’t study much after class, but whenever Dad tested their literacy or knowledge, he responded fluently!

Only he seemed to be in a world of hurt.

Hu Mother looked at her grandson, who had grown more like Wenhua over the past half year, smiled warmly, and suggested to her daughter, “I think Dajiang really takes after his uncle, doesn’t he? If he can’t study, perhaps he should learn martial arts like Wenhua. Maybe Dajiang will enjoy it more? He’s younger and might learn better than your brother.”

Poor in studies but rich in martial skills, previously they could only afford to send Wenhua to a private school for enlightenment, but unfortunately, he wasn’t cut out for studying.

Sitting there was uncomfortable.

But he wanted to learn martial arts, and the family couldn’t afford it. Now, thanks to his daughter’s brewing money to support the family, Wenhua could give it a try.

Before Shuiqing could speak, Fan Jiang shook his head like a rattle drum. “Grandmother, I don’t want to learn martial arts! I just want to farm, grow vegetables, and raise livestock.”

Hu Mother was speechless for a moment, mouth agape.

Scratching a living from the soil was the hardest, and raising livestock was dirty, tiring, and smelly. Things others didn’t want to do, Dajiang actually liked?

Fan Jiang worried his grandmother wouldn’t believe him and continued, “Really! I feel when it’s time to plow and sow, watching them sprout and grow feels great. Before the division of property, digging the ground was exhausting, but this year with the ox and donkey plowing, it’s not tiring at all! Raising livestock is the same. I find it more comfortable and relaxing than dealing with people outside.”

Shuiqing: … Why does Dajiang sound like he has social anxiety?

Is he a happy homebody with social anxiety?

No wonder he was so happy when planting potatoes before, chopping firewood up the mountain was also enjoyable, as well as cutting grass, feeding rabbits, and feeding pigs.

But this is also good, at least someone is tending to the fields and land at home.

“This… Shuiqing, why don’t you persuade Dajiang? We’re doing better now, and it would be better for him to learn a trade to support the family than farming,” Hu Mother persisted with her traditional thinking.

She felt that relying on skills for food meant one would never go hungry, and it was easier.

Much better than farming.

Shuiqing looked understandingly, “It’s alright, Mother, let them follow their own preferences.”

Not everyone can be a businessperson getting rich or an official through studying; someone has to tend to the fields and land.

Just as Hu Mother was about to persuade further, Shuiqing changed the subject and asked, “Mother, since you don’t need to brew wine anymore, why not come with me to stay for a while?”

Torrential rain and floods typically occurred during summer, but summer lasted several months; it was uncertain which month exactly. Among the family, Mother was the smallest and thinnest. She would feel more at ease if she went early to Shuiqing’s home.

Hu Mother understood her daughter’s filial piety, but said, “Silly child, it’s not right for the mother’s family to stay long at the daughter’s house. I know you’re worried about what the former village elder said about the floods. Don’t worry. If it rains heavily, your father and I will pack up and go to your place for a few days until the flood recedes.”

As she finished speaking, there was a knock on the door outside again, “Mother, I’m back, open the door.”

Ling Ran stepped forward and opened the courtyard door.

Hu Wenhua carried a large piece of pork and pig intestines in his hands, greeted Ling Ran casually with a smile, and then hurried towards Shuiqing.

“Sis, why did you come so early? I was just about to clean the pig intestines and bring them to your house,” Hu Wenhua grinned.

Shuiqing explained her intention again.

Hu Wenhua scratched his head sheepishly.

He had intended to inform his sister after finding a job, but ended up staying the same day without taking a break.

When he heard that his mother was worried and wanted to bring her over to stay, he immediately agreed and added, “Mother, you should go stay with Sister. Nowadays, people in the prefectural city are not only concerned about the summer rains but also worried about the court’s actions. I’ve noticed our martial arts school headmaster sighing frequently these days; things seem a bit uneasy.”

Hu Mother hesitated to leave behind the home’s every brick and tile, and more so worried about her husband, “We can’t control those matters of emperors and princes. Your father is still here; if I’m not at home, he won’t even get a hot meal when he returns. Alright, don’t worry, both of you. If the rain is heavy or the weather is not right, we’ll pack up and go to your sister’s place, alright?”

Last time, she helped her daughter’s family build a house. It was fine for the head of the household to take care of himself at home.

How could she leave the head of the household behind now?

Staying at home, if something happened, she could lend a hand to the head of the household. Otherwise, even if she stayed safe, she wouldn’t be at ease.

Seeing that Mother couldn’t be persuaded, Hu Wenhua glanced at Shuiqing and whispered assurance, “Sis, if the weather turns bad, I’ll rush back and urge Mom and Dad to come to your place!”

With his younger brother’s assurance, Shuiqing finally felt relieved.

The older generation’s feelings towards home were particularly different; they wouldn’t part with even a broken pot. Unless absolutely necessary, they couldn’t bear to leave.

If they waited until the torrential rain to set off, by then the riverbanks and lakes would rise too quickly. They might not make it to her home in time!