When they were leaving, Ji Ying kept reminding them to come home whenever they had the time, to study hard, and not to worry about things at home.
Ji Ying watched her two children with reluctance, unable to let go even though she knew they were going off to school.
"Mom, just focus on picking the peppers, it doesn’t matter how many." Xu Nianhua changed the subject and spoke to Ji Ying, then added, "It was good how you responded to Auntie Cai yesterday. Just tell them that Pei Yicheng is setting up a factory, so those gossipy people can see that Pei Yicheng is amazing even if he can’t walk."
"You girl, don’t mention his legs next time. It’s been hard enough for him not being able to walk, don’t poke at someone’s sore spot," Ji Ying earnestly reminded her.
Xu Nianhua smiled in response. Leaving the village, she ran into the siblings Xu Zhiyuan and Xu Jiaojiao, and her smile instantly faded.
Xu Jiaojiao had been kept at home these past days, and whenever she did go out, it felt like she was being pointed at and talked about, which made her furious, especially since it was all because of Xu Nianhua!
It was all her fault, if she hadn’t shared it, how would her friends have had the chance to mock her in such a strange manner?
And Xu Zhiyuan, who had thought he was sure to be admitted, was shocked to find out he hadn’t passed the entrance exam. He had been diligently reviewing his studies at home, hardly going out to meet anyone.
"Little sister, let’s walk a bit faster," Xu Nian’an said, carrying the siblings’ clothes but still moving briskly.
On the other hand, Xu Nianhua, who was only carrying a newly-made jar of dried pepper sauce, was actually walking slower than Xu Nian’an.
"Big brother, are you showing off your long legs!"
Xu Nianhua couldn’t help commenting, grateful that their eldest brother had taken a lot of stuff to the county earlier that morning, or else the two of them wouldn’t have been able to carry everything.
"Then you should grow taller," Xu Nian’an said, teasing her as they talked and walked toward the county.
Exhausted, Xu Jiaojiao tried to give her things to Xu Zhiyuan to carry, but he couldn’t be bothered with her. He was already carrying her bedding, and now she wanted him to carry her clothes too? He was tired as well!
"Brother," Xu Jiaojiao called out, watching as Xu Zhiyuan walked farther ahead. Resigned to her fate, she slowly followed behind him, carrying her stuff.
After registering, they got busy cleaning and weeding at the school. By the time they finished their tasks, it was already four in the afternoon.
The siblings hurried to the factory to fetch a large vat of water, intending to clean the bottles thoroughly.
Xu Nianji had finished selling the bean sprouts and had already cleaned quite a few bottles.
"Are you really here?"
Ling Dong had been waiting for them after class, but when they didn’t show up, Pei Yicheng had suggested they might be at the factory, so he had come to the factory with Pei Yicheng.
Seeing the siblings already at work, Ling Dong couldn’t help saying, "You work too hard."
Xu Nianji replied with a smile, "How can we not work diligently? We’re paying rent for the house. If we can make and sell the pepper sauce earlier, we can earn money sooner."
"Ling Dong," Pei Yicheng turned to Ling Dong.
Ling Dong instantly understood and settled Pei Yicheng in a comfortable spot before joining the others to help.
Pei Yicheng sat to the side, his legs unable to help with washing the bottles. He said, "Today, when grandpa went to apply for the factory license, we overlooked a problem. What is our factory called? Also, what should we name our pepper sauce?"
"We should indeed pick a name," Xu Nianji nodded, washing bottles as she spoke. "I’m not educated enough to come up with anything. You all come up with something."