Chapter 124: Returning to the Village Together

“Yes, Aunt, the soup was spilled directly on her, it was quite frightening. The girl’s face was covered with blisters. I’m afraid her face is ruined,” a neighbor commented, who had witnessed the whole incident earlier and was now stopping by Tan Erqian’s shop to buy some pickled vegetables. They took the opportunity to share the story.

Wan Chunmei and Tan Xiaomei couldn’t help but sigh, feeling sympathy for the Cao  family’s sixth miss. “That Cao Liu really is unlucky,” Wan Chunmei said.

Tan Erqian, sitting nearby, was calculating with his abacus while commenting, “That’s karma. Just a moment ago, she was so full of herself in our shop, and now look what happened as soon as she stepped out.”

Wan Chunmei felt something was off. Wasn’t it a bit too coincidental? Cao Liu had just scolded her, and now she was suffering this misfortune? She began to wonder if the rumors about little Qiyue might be true.

Could it be that those who treat her well are blessed, while those who mistreat her face misfortune? But Cao Liu hadn’t really been rude to little Qiyue earlier, had she?

Wan Chunmei pushed the thought aside and smiled, saying, “Erqian, your mother and aunt are heading back now. You take care of yourself.”

Tan Erqian nodded, smiling back, “Yes, Mother, I’ll be heading home in a couple of days.”

With that, he handed over the copper coins he had saved up in recent days to Wan Chunmei.

Wan Chunmei was taken aback, “Oh, no, this is too much! Erqian, you’ve worked hard for your money, keep it for yourself, it’s better to have it for the future.”

Tan Erqian smiled as he pressed the coins into her hand. “Mother, you keep it. There will always be opportunities to make more money in the future, this little bit isn’t going to make a difference.”

Seeing that she couldn’t refuse, Wan Chunmei carefully tucked the coins into her pocket. “Alright, I’ll keep it for you. When you get married, we can use it for the wedding.”

Tan Erqian nodded several times in agreement.

Wan Chunmei stood up with a smile, feeling proud. Her children were all growing up so well. Although Erqian had been a bit slow-witted when he was younger, he had always been considerate. Now that he was no longer naive, he was even more thoughtful.

Despite having several sons, Wan Chunmei’s greatest relief was that all of them had been obedient and understanding, each one like a cozy little quilt.

Of course, no one could compare to the warmth of the little bundle in her arms.

Little Qiyue, who had fallen asleep in her embrace, had long eyelashes that fluttered slightly, making her look exceptionally lovely.

Wan Chunmei gently pulled the blanket over her and said to Tan Xiaomei, “Xiaomei, let’s hurry and buy what we need. We should get back before it gets dark.”

“Yes, Sister-in-law,” Tan Xiaomei replied, smiling as she picked up little Tan Liujin, who was also asleep, and followed behind Wan Chunmei.

The group quickly gathered the items they needed, especially the materials for building the house, and then made their way back to the magistrate’s residence.

By this time, the Cao family estate was in disarray. Miss Cao Liu, the magistrate’s favorite daughter, had been severely scalded by the cat’s chaos and the spilled fish soup, leaving her face horribly burned. She might even be disfigured.

Magistrate Cao was beside himself with worry, summoning all the physicians in the county.

Wan Chunmei couldn’t help but feel a bit of schadenfreude at hearing the news, though she quickly chastised herself for such thoughts.

Afterward, Liu Zhoucheng arrived to escort them to the carriage, preparing to return home.

However, just as they were about to leave, they were suddenly stopped by the new imperial scholar.

“Zhoucheng, wait,” Ning Qingyuan called out, walking toward him.

Behind Ning Qingyuan, the little boy continued to gaze intently at the carriage, his face serious and focused.

Liu Zhoucheng poked his head out from the carriage, puzzled. “Ning, is there something you need?”