SLH | Chapter 29

Tingzhu’s Limited Abilities

After lunch, Tian Le came over with some embroidery work.

“Brother-in-law, you must have written quite a few letters this morning.” He said while flipping through flower strings with Xia Ge’er, then turned his head to Song Tingzhu.

Song Tingzhu smiled and nodded, “Thanks to you for finding Aunt Zhang to help.”

“It was Brother-in-law’s good idea. By the way, I also had the aunts spread the word about you being the ceremony teacher in Shanghe Village. I reckon it’s already spread throughout the village by now.”

Tian Le raised his eyebrows, looking proud, “Tomorrow, Brother-in-law might be counting copper coins until your hands are sore.”

Song Tingzhu smiled, “If that’s true, then you are the biggest contributor. I should give you a big red envelope as thanks.”

“Alright, it’s settled then. I’ll be waiting for Brother-in-law’s big red envelope to get some tools at the blacksmith’s shop.”

“Oh no, I messed up again. Xia Ge’er, spare me. Your Uncle Le really can’t do flower strings.”

The flower string in his hands was tangled into a mess. Xia Ge’er clumsily tried to untangle it but only made it worse. The little guy got frustrated and turned to Song Tingzhu, acting cute.

“Uncle, help Xia Ge’er.”

His cute and adorable demeanor was truly endearing. Song Tingzhu’s eyes softened, and he patted Xia Ge’er’s hair, “Alright, Uncle will help you.”

The little guy happily stood on his tiptoes.

After untangling the flower string and playing with the little guy for a while, Tian Le shared some village gossip with him before remembering the main matter.

“Brother-in-law, the thing you asked me to make will be ready in a few days.”

Hearing this, Song Tingzhu felt a surge of joy, “Then we just need to gather the money and start experimenting with the wine yeast recipe.”

Tian Le was also hopeful, “It will definitely work. This year we’ll make money, and next year we’ll open a shop in town. Within five years, we’ll have our distillery all over Changshan County!”

“All over Changshan County!”

Xia Ge’er clenched his little fists and shouted along. After shouting, the little guy blinked his black eyes and asked in a childish voice, “Uncle, where is Changshan County? Is it bigger than our Lianxi Town?”

Tian Le quickly replied, “Of course, Changshan County is as big as ten of our towns. When we open our distillery there, we’ll buy a big house. When our Xia Ge’er grows up, we’ll find you a handsome young man from the county to”¦”

Song Tingzhu quickly covered Xia Ge’er’s ears, interrupting him, “You’re getting carried away. Xia Ge’er is still so young, and you’re talking about this in front of him.”

Tian Le stuck out his tongue, “I was just joking. Alright, alright, I won’t say anymore.”

“By the way, Brother-in-law, did you know that Liu Yushu and his mother have moved to town?”

Song Tingzhu had been busy these days and hadn’t had time to find out about that.

He picked up a wooden comb, untangling Xia Ge’er’s slightly loose hair, and asked, “Did the old lady go with them?”

“No, I saw her this morning buying tofu, looking all cheerful. She said she’s waiting for her grandson to pass the scholar exam next year, and then they’ll bring the old couple to town to enjoy life.”

Tian Le pouted, “The expenses in town are so high. How can they afford a good place? The livable areas on North Street are mixed with all sorts of people. If Liu Yushu picks up some bad habits, the old lady might go crazy.”

Not that he was cursing them, but Liu Yushu was doing fine at the academy. Why did he have to imitate the rich and rent a place outside? Didn’t he think about what he had to compete with others? In town, everything costs money, even a bowl of water.

“Alright.” Song Tingzhu handed a small mirror to Xia Ge’er, “Whatever they do is their business, as long as they don’t come here to bother us.”

“True, but now that Liu Yushu, her precious grandson, is gone, will the old lady turn her attention back to us?”

“She won’t.”

Apart from cherishing her life, the old lady’s most treasured person was Liu Yushu. For the sake of his future, even if she didn’t like the family, she wouldn’t come looking for trouble.

It’s said that the academy teacher values Liu Yushu highly. Who knows if he can pass the scholar or provincial exam?

Song Tingzhu was a bit worried after hearing Tian Le’s words.

“Uncle, can you do this hairstyle for Xia Ge’er tomorrow?” Xia Ge’er stretched his little hand, gesturing on his head.

Song Tingzhu couldn’t help but laugh, “Xia Ge’er likes the ponytail?”

Come what may, if Liu Yushu really passes, there’s nothing to be afraid of. The two families have already cut ties, even if it goes to the authorities, there’s nothing to fear.

“Yes!”

The little guy nodded, his round eyes curving into crescent moons.

“Walking around with it bouncing is so much fun~”

Upon hearing this, Song Tingzhu and Tian Le burst into laughter.

The next day, Song Tingzhu styled Xia Ge’er’s hair into a ponytail as he wished. The little guy ran around the courtyard with his two little ponytails, and they quickly came undone.

The weather had been getting hotter lately, and Song Tingzhu was worried that the little guy would sweat and catch a cold from the wind, so he didn’t let him play around anymore. He styled his hair nicely and let him play with the little bamboo bird that Tian Le made.

Today was the day to start teaching. Just past noon, Ruan Jinning finally led Wen Ping into the courtyard.

Ruan Xiulian quickly welcomed them in, “You finally arrived. I was about to send someone to look for you, thinking something happened on the way.”

Ruan Jinning felt a bit embarrassed, “We got caught up in something lively and lost track of time.”

He’s already fifteen, and making elders worry because of playfulness is really not right.

“As long as nothing happened. Your brother-in-law just finished his work and is in the main room. Go on in.”

“Alright.”

Ruan Jinning led Wen Ping into the main room, only to find several people, big and small, sitting inside. Hearing the commotion, they all turned their gaze on him.

Ruan Jinning, feeling a bit awkward, clutched his clothes and called out, “Brother-in-law.”

But little Wen Ping cheerfully greeted everyone and went straight to Xia Ge’er and Lin Ge’er.

“Xia Ge’er, I haven’t seen you in so long.”

The last time they met was during last year’s Lantern Festival when the two families bumped into each other on the street. Xia Ge’er, being half a year younger than Wen Ping, didn’t remember much, tilting his head to think for a moment before recognizing his little cousin.

“Cousin.” The little guy politely called out.

Wen Ping nodded and then turned his gaze to Lin Ge’er beside him.

Lin Ge’er blinked, thinking he should also call out, so he softly followed Xia Ge’er, “Cousin.”

Song Tingzhu corrected with a smile, “Lin Ge’er is older than you, you should call him brother.”

Wen Ping earnestly said, “But he looks younger than me, the bigger one is the brother, the smaller one is the little brother.”

Saying that, he turned to his newly recognized little brother and promised like a little adult, “Since you called me brother, I’ll protect you. If anyone bullies you, I’ll help you fight back.”

Lin Ge’er smiled with his little mouth, “Thank you, cousin.”

He didn’t want to be the older brother, being the younger one meant being loved and protected. If only he could be the little brother forever, it would be great.

The three little ones, being close in age, quickly started playing together. Ruan Jinning, although two or three years older than Xu Xiaoman, quickly became acquainted with her, thanks to their little sister’s introduction.

Seeing that Ruan Jinning was no longer as reserved as when he first sat down, Song Tingzhu began teaching the group to recognize characters.

Ruan Xiulian and Tang Chunxing were working in the courtyard, listening to the occasional reading sounds from the main room, both with smiles on their faces.

The Liu family’s courtyard door was left open, and the villagers passing by were shocked to hear what was happening.

“The Liu family is really something, they even have a teacher at home!”

“No need to hire one, there’s already one in the house.”

“Right, how could I forget about Brother Zhu? His handwriting is so good, teaching others to recognize characters must be no problem! I wonder if Brother Zhu accepts students, my boy is about the right age to start learning.”

“Why don’t we bring some rice and grains this afternoon and ask?”

“Alright, but we should keep it quiet. If it works out, Brother Zhu can’t teach too many kids.”

“Right, let’s not tell anyone. We’ll meet under the big banyan tree in the afternoon.”

The women agreed and left happily with their baskets.

In the afternoon, after putting Xia Ge’er to sleep, Song Tingzhu was just about to take a break when two knocks on the door stopped him.

Opening the courtyard door, he saw a few aunts, thinking they were looking for his mother-in-law, he said, “Mother went to the fields. If it’s urgent, I can pass on the message.”

“Brother Zhu, we’re here to see you.” The women smiled warmly.

“Let’s go inside, or someone might see us.”

Song Tingzhu stepped aside, and before he could ask, he heard them speak one after another, explaining their purpose.

“My family doesn’t have much savings, so I brought some rice and flour, don’t mind it.”

“I brought a dozen eggs, they’re really good. They can sell for ten or twenty copper coins in town!”

“My family has a lot of mouths to feed, so I didn’t bring any of those. I picked some greens for you. Not to brag, but anyone who’s tasted my greens has nothing bad to say. There’s more at home, Brother Zhu, when you finish, let my boy pick some more for you.”

Five people couldn’t even gather half a bag of food, the aunt who brought vegetables didn’t even bother with a basket, just picked them from the field and brought them over, mud and water spilling everywhere.

Song Tingzhu felt a cold sneer in his heart, they were treating him like a fool.

“My boy is really smart, he was praised as a prodigy by a teacher in town when he was little. Brother Zhu, you should teach him well, maybe next year he’ll pass the child student exam. It would be amazing if a young man taught a scholar. People would be breaking down the door to learn from you.”

“Exactly, even if you charge ten taels of silver for tuition, it’s worth it!”

“What time do you start classes in the afternoon? I want to bring my boy over.”

“It’s getting late, it would be good for him to get familiar with the other kids.”

The women seemed to assume Song Tingzhu wouldn’t refuse, placing their things aside and preparing to go home and fetch their boys.

Song Tingzhu stopped them, smiling on the surface but with coldness in his eyes.

“I have limited abilities and can’t teach such good seedlings. It’s better to send them to the academy, so as not to waste the prodigy’s reputation.”

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Author’s Note: It’s six o’clock, time to start giving out red envelopes!