Translator: Henyee Translations | Editor: Henyee Translations
Firstly, she was showing respect to the teacher, and also, she wanted Master Yun to see that they were very sincere so Master Yun could accept Shao Yunduan as the disciple formally.
Master Yun spoke highly of her cooking skills. He had been to many places, and Qiao Xuan served different cuisines, some of which he had tasted before and some not.
Hearing that Qiao Xuan was the daughter of the County Magistrate and learned the cooking skills from books, he could not help but feel emotional.
How blind was the County Magistrate to have ignored such a wonderful daughter!
When Master Yun was well fed, he spent more effort in imparting knowledge to Shao Yunduan. He was having a very leisure time living with the first section of the family.
Soon, the news that guests were visiting the first section of the family spread in the village, but it was not discussed for too long.
The first section of the family was different from the other families. It was quite normal these days that they had guests.
Seeing that it was an elderly man who was the visitor, the second and third section of the family lost interest. But they kept mumbling to themselves, blaming them for being turned away whilst strangers were accepted.
The New Year's Eve arrived soon after Minor New Year.
It was very lively in the whole village on New Year's Eve.
Every household started to post Spring Festival couplets and window papercuts in the morning. Those who were more particular would hang two pairs of red lanterns under the eaves to watch the festival.
The first section of the family was going to spend the New Year in the new house, and everyone was glad about it. They had got everything – the couplets, the character of happiness, window papercuts as well as red lanterns under the eaves. The whole house looked really lively.
Taotao and Qi put on new clothes and shoes, with pockets full of melon seeds, peanuts, pine nuts, almonds and so on, playing with children in the village. They cheered happily and set firecrackers, making the whole village look even more flourishing.
Shao Xiaozhi and Shao Meiling also had new clothes made. When they went out to hang out with friends, they ran into Taotao and Qi, who had their brother with them too.
Taotao was wearing a rose-red dress, embroidered with begonia flowers on the side, a circle of fluffy snow-white rabbit fur around the neckline and cuffs, a light pink skirt, and thick buckskin boots, which made the girl look very beautiful.
The material of the dress was not satin, but it was better than ordinary muslin, and the workmanship of the clothes was more delicate and meticulous. It made her stand out in the crowd of friends without being too obtrusive.
Still Taotao caused much envy from her peers, since she was already a good-looking girl from birth.
She had many snacks and shared them with friends generously, and many children loved hanging out with her.
Shao Xiaozhi and Shao Meiling had been quite happy in their new clothes, but their faces turned dark when they saw Taotao.
Taotao was never as good as them, and she only got what they had left. But things are different now. The two sisters felt sour in heart.
They could have ripped Taotao of the silk flowers and hairpin flowers as well as snacks in the past, and they would have pestered Eldest Uncle to share the clothes with them too.
But they did not dare to do anything like that now.
Shao Xiaozhi and Shao Meiling kept mocking Taotao and tried to turn others against her.
But Taotao had many snacks and was very generous, so she attracted many fellows to her side, which made Shao Xiaozhi and Shao Meiling really displeased.
They found the whole thing going against them, and hence decided to go home with their faces sunk..