Hongyu settled down at Wufu’s home, and although she was young, she had first-rate hands-on abilities, all attributed to her previous independent way of life.
In those days, despite having a father and grandfather, they were often away hunting for treasures in the mountains, leaving her and her mother to manage the household on their own, naturally supporting each other. After her father died and her mother remarried, she, a young girl, became the only one capable of doing household chores. With her grandfather also going up the mountain, she was no different than an orphan. For survival, what skills couldn’t she develop?
Madam Zhou listened to her casually recounting her experiences and felt a mix of admiration and heartache. How seasoned this child had to be, she thought, a result of the hardships she faced.
Madam Zhou’s maternal instincts overflowed, and she soon accepted Hongyu from the bottom of her heart, even taking the time to teach her needlework. This meant a lot to Hongyu, who had lacked motherly love. Her once sharp and cautious nature softened considerably, replaced with a hint of a child’s petulance.
As for her biological daughter Wufu’s needlework skills, Madam Zhou had given up—not because she didn’t like Wufu, but because Wufu just wasn’t cut out for it. If she couldn’t even sew a handkerchief properly, how could Madam Zhou teach her?
Life went on . With Hongyu’s assistance, all household matters were arranged with great order, allowing Wufu to fully engage in her own affairs, such as polishing small beads from the leftover jade scraps, going up to the mountains to practice martial arts and hunting for food to supplement their nutrition, carving tofu or radishes every single day without fail as a way to practice her skills.
One day, Wufu came down from the mountain with two wild pheasants, sweating profusely. At the door of her home, she saw Xiao Hong Yu sitting on a rock in front of the house, doing needlework.
"Xiao Yu, why are you sitting here embroidering? Isn’t the sun too fierce?" Wufu glanced at the sun and frowned, "Be careful not to tan your face."
Hongyu stood up and took her bamboo basket, saying, "We have visitors at home."
"It seems like it’s your Younger Brother Li. I heard Madam calling him Xueli," Hongyu replied.
Wufu immediately went into the courtyard.
Madam Zhou was seeing Zhou Xueli out, and when she saw Wufu, she hurriedly greeted her, "Wufu, your uncle is here."
Zhou Xueli looked over, and Wufu scrutinized him with a respectful nod, noting the smiles on Madam Zhou’s face. This visit likely wasn’t troublesome.
"Wufu has grown up too," Zhou Xueli said with a bit of awkwardness and embarrassment. "Come over to our place in a few days for a meal."
Wufu made no sound but nodded in response.
Zhou Xueli left shortly after without saying anything unpleasant.
"Mother, what did he come for?" As soon as he was gone, Wufu quickly asked.
Unable to hide the smile on her face, Madam Zhou replied, "What else could it be? Your uncle is getting married, he came to share the good news and invite us to the celebration!"
"Wufu, shall we go to town tomorrow?" Madam Zhou asked excitedly, "Mother will make you a new outfit to wear when we go to your grandmother’s house for the wedding feast."
"Alright, but Mother, make one for yourself. You just made me a new outfit the other day," Wufu said with a smile. "You’ll be receiving tea from the newlyweds, so wearing a nice and dignified outfit will make uncle proud."
Madam Zhou was delighted by her words, smiling and nodding in agreement. After a moment’s hesitation, she pulled Wufu closer and asked, "Then what do you think we should give uncle as a wedding gift?"
This was a tough question for Wufu, who in her previous life would generally give red envelopes when attending someone else’s wedding.
"We’ll look for something suitable in town tomorrow."
Watching the mother and daughter discuss from not far away, a hint of envy flashed in Hongyu’s eyes. This was what it was like to have a mother and daughter bond.