Anning brought half a cart of belongings to the Wen Family.
Scholar Wen was quite pleased, but Mrs. Yu’s face was downcast. Upon hearing that Anning would be staying at ho for a few days, her expression beca even uglier.
Anning deliberately said, "Father, look, isn’t mother thrilled? She must have missed a lot. Since that’s the case, I’ll stay at ho for a longer period."
Mrs. Yu could only force a smile and hurried to tidy up the room for Anning.
At first, Anning spoke a few words with Mrs. Yu’s daughter, her own sister Anjing, and then went to see her little brother Ankang, who was only four or five years old.
Although Mrs. Yu’s attitude towards Anning was dismissive, she didn’t interfere much with Anning’s interactions with Anjing and Ankang.
She didn’t teach the children to dislike Anning either.
Just that was enough for Anning to tolerate Mrs. Yu.
After staying at her parental ho for two days, Anning went to Scholar Wen’s study to discuss matters.
Anning had already thought it through; the Xu brothers might engage in business, but the Wen Family couldn’t.
Mainly because Scholar Wen was sowhat lofty. He would absolutely not engage in rchant affairs.
To make the Wen Family earn more money and prosper, one had to start with elegant affairs.
Anning wanted to transform Scholar Wen into a folk scholar of elegance, so that not only the Wen Family would thrive, but in the future, Anning herself could benefit too, and even help elevate her two children.
What Anning intended to teach Scholar Wen was the technique of making glazed glass.
Yes, not ordinary glass, but exquisite glazed glass.
Anning didn’t want to manufacture glass on a large scale.
The profits were too great, and both the Wen Family and Xu Family were of modest ans, unable to sustain such a large venture.
The thod she taught Scholar Wen to make glazed glass was an improved one, sothing with great artistic beauty.
Scholar Wen was highly learned but unlucky. Every ti he took an exam, sothing would go wrong, especially after being awarded the title of Scholar. He nearly lost his life in two rural examinations and eventually stopped participating.
Over the years, besides teaching students in his school, he spent his ti contemplating painting and such.
He had a strong artistic sense; his paintings were particularly good, and his calligraphy was also of an expert level.
Anning started from this aspect, encouraging Scholar Wen to create so particularly elegant glazed art pieces. If viable, she would then teach him to nurture several famous plants and make so bonsai, focusing on refining elegance in everything.
After discussing with Scholar Wen, he was particularly delighted.
The father and daughter went together to a small manor he had bought, and stayed there for over ten days. Scholar Wen mastered the craft of making glazed glass and whether he could create exceptional pieces of glazed glass would depend on his own understanding.
After teaching Scholar Wen, Anning quickly returned to the Xu Family.
Scholar Wen stayed at the manor for a while longer, only returning ho two days before New Year’s Eve.
Upon his return, Mrs. Yu greeted him, "Master has worked hard, you’ve lost quite so weight during this period."
Scholar Wen handed his overcoat to Mrs. Yu, "It wasn’t too hard, just a bit ntally exhausting."
The two talked as they entered the house, where the charcoal fire was burning vigorously, emitting a wave of warmth as they ca in from outside.
Mrs. Yu handed a cup of strong hot tea to Scholar Wen, "What were you doing at the manor, Master? Did Anning want to borrow sothing again?"
Mrs. Yu knew Anning had made quite a bit of money. After Anning sold embroidery in Prefecture City, she even bought so jewelry for Scholar Wen to bring back for Mrs. Yu, who quite liked those pieces. However, her feelings toward Anning were mixed, not very fond of her.
Yet, even if she didn’t like her, Mrs. Yu couldn’t speak ill of Anning anymore.
Knowing Anning wouldn’t co to the Wen Family to borrow money, she asked if Anning wanted to borrow sothing else.
Scholar Wen smiled and shook his head, "What could she possibly borrow? She is now wealthier than us, and in the future, it will be her who worries about us."
Mrs. Yu pouted, "I heard she found business opportunities for the two Xu brothers. Now those brothers have made quite a bit of money. Obviously, once a daughter is married, she’s like water spilled out of a bucket, only thinking about her in-laws and never about her own family. The master has spoiled her for nothing."
Upon hearing this, Scholar Wen imdiately frowned and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? How disheartened Miss would be if she heard this!"
Yet Mrs. Yu’s expression remained sour, not daring to talk back to Scholar Wen.
Scholar Wen sighed softly, his voice softened a bit, "This ti, Miss is truly thinking of us. She ca ho specifically to teach how to craft glazed flower pots that she learned."
"What?"
Mrs. Yu’s voice rose sharply, her face full of astonishnt, "She, she teaches us how to make glazed pots?"
Scholar Wen nodded.
He pointed to a box on the table, "Open it and have a look."
When Mrs. Yu opened the box and saw the dazzling glazed flower pot inside, she almost gasped and passed out.
"This, this..."
She shakily pointed at the glass flower, "Did the master make this?"
The pot was so exquisitely beautiful that it appeared otherworldly, as if it belonged in a heavenly palace.
Scholar Wen took the glazed flower pot and placed it on the table, it looked even more beautiful.
Mrs. Yu circled around it lovingly, unable to stop, "The master is really brilliant, how did he co up with this, how did he create such an ingeniously beautiful thing? This...this is truly wonderful."
After Mrs. Yu had observed it for a long ti, Scholar Wen finally said, "From now on, don’t speak ill of Miss. She is my daughter, and even though she is married, she still rembers , her father. Going forward, our two younger ones still have to rely on their elder sister. If you don’t get along with Miss, think about it, what will happen to the three children?"
Mrs. Yu imdiately fell silent.
After a long while, she gritted her teeth and said, "The master is right. Next ti she cos, I will treat her well."
After Anning returned to the Xu family, she began preparing for the New Year’s goods and also oversaw the preparation of a lot of food, along with several gifts for visits.
Soon, just below New Year’s Eve, the entire Xiao Guan Village beca much livelier.
This winter, every household in Xiao Guan Village had made money. Thus, by the New Year, the supplies were more bountiful than in previous years, and the children also had new clothes, delighted beyond asure. They didn’t care how cold it was outside; they wore their cotton clothes and almost went crazy playing outside.
This year, it could be said that the whole village had a very good ti.
The second and third branches of the Xu Family also gradually improved their situation.
Xu Zhiyong had much more spirit and no longer displayed his previous timid deanor.
Even Gousheng appeared much cleaner.
However, with the New Year approaching, all the children in the households of Xiao Guan Village were wearing new clothes, even their cotton clothes were extrely warm, yet Gousheng was still wearing a not-so-thick cotton jacket patched with repairs.
When he ca over to bring so food to the Old Madam, she noticed it imdiately.
Old Madam pulled Gousheng aside and asked, "Didn’t your mother make you any new clothes?"
Gousheng blinked, "She did, I think. I rember mother sewing every day the past few days, but I haven’t seen any new clothes, maybe she plans to have wear them during New Year."
Old Madam thought for a mont and didn’t ask further.
When New Year’s Day ca, people from the second and third branches ca to give their New Year’s greetings.
Anning had people prepare early; the food this year was especially abundant, just waiting for the second and third branches to co together for a family reunion al.
But the third branch ca early, and the second branch had not shown up by mid-morning.
The Old Madam and the old master already had very unpleasant expressions.
Xu Zhiqin, feeling uneasy, said, "Maybe I should go check on my second brother, see if sothing happened at ho?"
The old master scoffed coldly, "Check what? He has legs. Even if he couldn’t co, he should have sent Gousheng to tell us. Coming without a word, I don’t know what he’s thinking."
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