Gu Jinxiu also made seat cushions out of coarse hemp cloth and laid them on the stools. Ms. Jiang saw an embroidery of a rural kitchen smoke scene on the cushion and was pleasantly surprised: "This embroidery is really well done, even more beautiful than flowers."
She had seen plenty of plum blossoms, begonia, and lotus embroideries, but never one with a rural kitchen smoke scene embroidered on coarse cloth.
This plate-sized embroidery depicted a small rural courtyard with wispy smoke rising from the chimney; a rooster crowing on the fence; a hen with a bunch of chicks scratching the ground for food beneath the fence; fields in the distance, and beyond them, woods and high mountains.
Looking at this embroidery, Ms. Jiang felt as if she was imrsed in the scene depicted, her whole being becoming relaxed and uplifted.
When Gu Jinxiu heard the praise, her face flushed slightly as she lowered her head, turned, and went to the kitchen to get prepared dishes to serve the Scholar Shang’s family.
Gu Jinli said, "This was embroidered by my eldest sister. There’s an even more beautiful one that we’ll give you to take ho when Aunt Shang leaves."
Gu Jinxiu loved embroidering and originally planned to sell her works. However, with the current family hustle, she had no ti for embroidery and managed only to make five small pieces. Three were used as seat cushions on stools, one was hung as a decoration in the main room, and one was kept in their room.
Ms. Jiang was delighted and happily accepted: "Then Aunt will gladly accept it."
Ms. Jiang did not reject the offer, knowing that to do so would distance their families, and besides, she genuinely liked the embroidery.
Soon, Gu Jinxiu ca in with a tray, bringing a plate of Fried Five-Spice Tofu, a plate of bean dregs cake, three bowls of sweet tofu pudding, and a pot of hot soy milk.
"Scholar Shang, Mrs. Shang, co taste our homade snacks," Third Grandma invited, slightly embarrassed, "We country folks don’t have much to offer, please don’t mind."
Scholar Shang said, "Aunt Shang jokes. Your family’s tofu sells very well in town. Many people can’t even buy it; we are fortunate to be able to taste it today."
He added, "Aunt Shang can call Wenyuan, and my wife as Wenyuan’s wife." Wenyuan is Scholar Shang’s courtesy na.
Third Grandma, being straightforward, instantly responded: "Alright, then this old woman will take the liberty of calling you Wenyuan and Wenyuan’s wife from now on."
Ms. Jiang, smiling, took a bowl of sweet tofu pudding and asked, "What is this? It looks like semi-frozen snow, quite pretty." Gu Family’s tofu stall seed not to sell this.
Gu Jinli explained, "This is tofu pudding, which is what tofu is before it sets. It’s sweet, soft, and refreshing. Quite suitable for won and children."
"Is that so? Then Yuanyuan and I must try it." Ms. Jiang scooped a spoonful and tasted it; the tofu pudding lted in her mouth, sweet and delicious: "Indeed very tasty. I’ve lived half a lifeti and haven’t eaten such delicate food."
"Mom, mom, I want to eat, I want to eat," Yuanyuan had been watching intently, eager to eat. Hearing Ms. Jiang’s words, she couldn’t help but speak up.
"You little glutton," Ms. Jiang laughed and fed her a spoonful of tofu pudding.
Yuanyuan fell in love with it after one taste, finishing an entire bowl of sweet tofu pudding and still clamoring for more: "Mom, I want more."
The wooden bowl was not small; Ms. Jiang, fearing overeating, dared not let her have more.
Gu Jinli said, "Yuanyuan, there will be even tastier food later. If you eat too much now, you won’t be able to enjoy it later."
"Really? There’s sothing even tastier than sweet tofu pudding?" Yuanyuan asked, eyes wide and inadvertently swallowing her saliva.
Gu Jinli held back a laugh, this little child was indeed a foodie.
She said, "Yes, there will be even tastier things to eat later, much better than the sweet tofu pudding."
"Wow~" Yuanyuan’s eyes sparkled as she imdiately said, "Then Yuanyuan will not eat anymore, I’ll save my tummy for the tastier food."
During the conversation, Old Luo, Ah Jiu, and Taozi moved the gifts they brought into the courtyard.
The Shang Family had brought many things, including six bolts of cotton cloth, a bag of white rice, a bag of white flour, a slab of pork, four live chickens, two baskets of eggs, a jar of wine, a jar of at oil, two catties of sugar, two catties of salt, two jars of Hai Xian Sauce, two large iron pots with half a ter in diater, a full set of farming tools, and a cartwheel.
Third Grandpa and the others were truly amazed to see so many items laid out in the courtyard. The cloth, rice, flour, at, and vegetables were one thing, but those two large iron pots, a full set of farming tools, and that cartwheel were indeed grand gifts.
Gu Dashan uneasily said, "Scholar Shang, these gifts are too valuable, we can’t accept them."
Those two large iron pots alone would cost at least sixteen taels of silver, and the full set of farming tools, which included iron shovels, hoes, firewood knives, and sickles, even had an iron plow—worth at least fifteen taels of silver, not to ntion the cartwheel.
A cartwheel, besides the mules and horses pulling the cart, was the most expensive part, and this one would cost ten taels of silver in the market.
Scholar Shang said, "Brother Gu, your Xiao Yu saved my Yuanyuan’s life, and that’s invaluable. No matter how much we give, it cannot match a life. Please accept it peacefully. If you do not, my wife and I won’t have the face to visit your ho in the future."
"This..." Gu Dashan was really troubled.
Third Grandpa said, "Accept it. This represents Wenyuan’s sincerity. Besides, we need these items."
They were currently clearing wasteland, and those farming tools and the iron plow were needed. With that cartwheel, they could make a cart, and instead of carrying tofu to the town, they could directly transport it by cart.
After hearing this, Gu Dashan no longer insisted. After thanking Scholar Shang, he accepted the generous gifts.
"Hey, Third Uncle, Third Aunt, why are there so many items in this yard?" Mrs. Chen’s loud voice ca through as she carried a basket containing two cabbages and a few eggs, accompanied by Gu Dexing, Gu Yui, Gu Dewang, and Gu Defa.
Mrs. Chen, being very outgoing, after speaking, looked at Scholar Shang and his wife and imdiately said, "This must be Scholar Shang and Mrs. Shang, right? Look at them, they are clearly from the official class, not like us farrs."
And she praised Shang Yuanyuan, "This little girl must be the scholar’s daughter, I saw her during the Lantern Festival too, truly a darling."
After finishing, she pushed Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang forward and said, "These are my elder nephew and son. Back ho, they both studied and can read. Today I boldly brought them here, hoping Scholar Shang could give them so advice, see if he can open their wooden heads, maybe even let them try for an official position."
If it were just after they had fled the famine, Mrs. Chen wouldn’t have dared to conceive of such a thing. But now, with the tofu business earning so money, she dreamt of becoming a Madam Imperial Decree and thought about having Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang study with Scholar Shang for free. After a few years, they too could try for a scholar’s position, bringing her so prestige.
Third Grandma, hearing Mrs. Chen’s words, was not pleased and said to Scholar Shang with a smile, "Wenyuan, don’t mind her. She’s here to help cook."
Saying so, she sternly glanced at Mrs. Chen and pulled her into the kitchen. Mrs. Chen didn’t make a fuss but kept gesturing to Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang, urging them to seek Scholar Shang’s advice on their studies.
As for Gu Yui, she ca to win over the scholar’s wife. In short, everyone should give their best effort and not waste this great opportunity.
Gu Dashan felt embarrassed and worriedly watched Scholar Shang, fearing he might resent them.
Scholar Shang, however, didn’t mind and said, "So you’ve studied before, that’s rare. Co inside, let test you."
Gu Dexing was pleased and pulled Gu Dewang along to follow Scholar Shang inside.
Gu Jin’an also went in, tucking in his sleeve the Thousand Character Classic he had written overnight.
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