bookrandom Is Chapter 164 about missing the county?
Is Chapter 164 about missing the county?
Xiao Jiu lowered his eyes and remained silent, but in his heart he agreed with what Lin Xiaotang said. He knew nothing and had no special skills. If he went to a wealthy family, he would definitely suffer.
Following Lin Xiaotang's instructions, he first scooped two ladles of water to wash the large wooden basin, then poured all the half-pot of boiling water into the basin, and added the remaining half-bucket of cold water.
After he mixed the water, seeing that the little girl hadn't left yet, he reached up and brushed his nose, whispering, "Where are you going to wash?"
"Just wash it in the kitchen."
Lin Xiaotang walked out of the kitchen, closed the door behind her, and stood in the yard watching the braising pot.
Xiao Jiu stood in the kitchen, glanced at the large wooden basin, then at the doors and windows, his fair and handsome face flushed red.
After struggling for a long time, he convinced himself that it was just taking a shower in the kitchen, not in the yard, so what was there to be shy about?
Not long after, Lin Xiaotang heard the sound of water splashing in the kitchen. She stood on a stool and scooped out the braised pig's trotters one by one, putting them into a clean wooden basin. She then put several more pots of the braised pig's trotters into the basin and braised them together.
She sat on a small stool leaning against the wall watching the fire. Whether she was too sleepy or the fire under the big pot was so warm and cozy, she unknowingly fell asleep.
Liu came out to check the pots, wearing a coat. She saw her daughter sleeping against the wall and felt heartbroken. However, she was pregnant and it was inconvenient for her to carry her daughter back into the house. So she took off the coat she was wearing and covered her daughter with it. She stirred all the pig's trotters in the big pots before going back into the house.
When Lin Xiaotang woke up, she found Xiao Jiu standing in front of the pot, stirring it with a large spoon.
She instantly snapped to attention. What was he doing here, and even volunteering to do chores?
Isn't his diligence a bit suspicious?
What if Xiao Jiu puts ingredients in the braising pot while she's asleep, and then delivers it to the restaurant tomorrow? If the customers have an accident after eating it, her family and the restaurant will be completely ruined.
Lin Xiaotang narrowed her eyes, staring intently at Xiao Jiu's back, then suddenly coughed, startling Xiao Jiu.
"What are you doing here?"
Xiao Jiu turned around and saw that the little girl was already awake. He smiled and said, "I saw you were asleep, so I stirred the pot for you."
Lin Xiaotang looked up and stared into Xiao Jiu's eyes, trying to see if he felt guilty, but his gaze did not waver at all.
But just to be on the safe side, she scooped out a little bit of the braised minced meat from each pot and tasted it herself.
She was relieved to find that nothing was wrong after eating.
It's not fair to blame her for being suspicious. Although the saying goes, "If you employ someone, don't doubt them; if you doubt someone, don't employ them," it's true that Xiao Jiu has just come to the family, and the family's business is in food, so it's natural to be more cautious. Of course, once she has spent more time with Xiao Jiu and his character has been thoroughly tested, she will let down her guard.
Xiao Jiu had been lying in the kitchen for three or four days, and tonight was the first time he came out to help. He didn't know that Lin Xiaotang was tasting the meat to test for poison, and thought it was just a normal taste test for saltiness, so he didn't pay attention.
Seeing that Xiao Jiu was quiet and didn't like to talk, Lin Xiaotang moved a small stool over and made him sit next to her.
"Jiu'er, why don't you tell me how you got to Granny Chen's place?"
Xiao Jiu's eyelids twitched slightly, and she whispered, "She was sold over there."
Of course she knew that Xiao Jiu had been sold, or perhaps kidnapped. If that were the case, then Granny Chen's business was illegal, as slaves generally wouldn't do something that would cut off their own future.
Well, he clearly doesn't want to talk about his past experiences. Since he doesn't want to talk about it, I won't ask any more questions, lest I rub salt into his wounds.
She changed the subject, saying, "Is your leg still hurting badly? Could you come with me to the county tomorrow?"
Xiao Jiu turned to look at Lin Xiaotang and nodded, "It doesn't hurt anymore, you can go."
Lin Xiaotang couldn't help but sigh. He really was a man of few words, sparing with his words. But compared to a chatterbox, she still preferred someone quiet and reserved.
The two sat for a long time until all the braised pig's trotters were ready. Xiao Jiu helped her take the trotters out of the pot and put them into a large wooden basin, covering them with a coarse cotton cloth. It was already the hour of Chou the next day. The two went back to their rooms to catch up on some sleep.
Before dawn, Lin Qingchuan drove his carriage back from Guihua Village. The gate was locked from the inside, so he had to knock softly to avoid waking up the neighbors and disturbing their sleep, which would cause them to complain.
Hearing the door open, Liu guessed that her husband had returned. She immediately got up to open the door, and Lin Xiaotang from the bedroom and Xiao Jiu from the kitchen also got up and went into the yard.
Lin Qingchuan led the carriage through the door and saw that Xiao Jiu was already able to get up and walk. He was overjoyed and immediately took down the single wooden bed that was placed across the front of the carriage and told Xiao Jiu.
"This is a bed I just finished making in my spare time. From today onwards, you won't have to sleep in the kitchen at night anymore. I've cleared out a small room and made the bed for you."
Looking at the brand-new wooden bed, Xiao Jiu felt a surge of emotion. Although the materials were ordinary, the workmanship was exquisite and even. Since his mother and home were gone, this was the first time in so long that someone had cared for and looked after him.
His eyes welled up with tears, but it was still dark and no one noticed.
"Thank you, Uncle Lin."
Lin Qingchuan grinned and said, "Now that you're home, we're family. Don't be so formal with your uncle anymore."
Xiao Jiu, unusually diligent, stepped forward and volunteered to help carry the bed. Lin Qingchuan said he could carry it by himself, but worried that Xiao Jiu's injuries hadn't fully healed, so he insisted on carrying it to the main room by himself.
Seeing that Xiao Jiu seemed obedient, quiet, and honest, Liu truly felt that her husband and daughter had good taste.
After Lin Qingchuan set up the bed, he went back to the yard to move the braised pig's trotters and load them onto the cart. Xiao Jiu immediately helped him lift the cart, her eyes full of approval. She silently praised Xiao Jiu in her heart.
Lin Xiaotang said, "Father, Mother, Jiu'er can go to the county with me to deliver it now. Starting today, the two of us will go together. You two stay home and help him tidy up his room. If possible, Father, you can accompany Mother to buy some cloth and cotton to make two quilts for him."
Lin Qingchuan quickly refused, "No, no, his injuries are only four days old. The doctor said they would heal in four or five days. He needs to rest at home for at least five or six days."
“Yes, Jiu’er is injured but he’s been enduring it without uttering a sound. If he can’t go, Tang’er, you can’t force him.” Madam Liu was also a little worried. She felt that although Xiao Jiu was a servant they had bought, there was no reason to make someone start working before their injury had fully healed.
Xiao Jiu said, "Your injuries have healed, you can go now."
Seeing that Xiao Jiu didn't seem reluctant, the couple agreed. The two children would go to the county to deliver braised pig's trotters, and the couple could clean out the small room where they stored miscellaneous items and make a new quilt for Xiao Jiu so that he could sleep more comfortably at night.
With her parents watching her go, Lin Xiaotang got into the carriage and held the reins. Xiao Jiu sat next to her as she drove the carriage out of the alley and headed to the county.
Throughout the journey, Xiao Jiu remained silent, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought.
Lin Xiaotang asked, "Do you miss the county?"
Xiao Jiu shook her head, "What's so good about the county? Some people are just... bad-hearted. They're not even as kind as my family."
"What's wrong? Why aren't you saying anything?"