Yu Xiaolian had no other choice but to reassure Madam Sun and Yu Changhe repeatedly that she would absolutely never get on Su Jingchen’s kang again.
She later had to expend a lot of effort to persuade Yu Changhe to abandon the idea of building a wall.
The so-called rule that boys and girls shouldn’t sit together after seven is just feudal dross to Yu Xiaolian.
But there was nothing she could do, as she was living in ancient times where the separation of men and women was more important than anything else, so she had to adhere to it.
When Yu Xiaolian returned to the west room, she heard Madam Sun still trying to calm an angry Yu Changhe, "Lian’er is still young, only ten years old. What mistake did she make? You need to teach her slowly.
Don’t let the child think that now I am pregnant, you don’t love her, who was adopted."
Yu Changhe said gruffly, "I’m mad at that Su Jingchen boy. Our little Lian doesn’t understand, but he’s a Scholar, shouldn’t he understand? I don’t think much of him!"
Hearing everything clearly, Yu Xiaolian felt she had to silently defend Su Jingchen.
Remembering Su Jingchen’s surprised eyes and slightly parted lips when she took off her shoes to get on the kang, she thought Su Jingchen seemed to want to say something, but when she looked at him questioningly, Su Jingchen then returned to his calm and serene demeanor.
To think she wondered if Su Jingchen disliked the smell of her feet and even explained that her feet didn’t smell. Thɪs chapter is updated by novel·fiɾe·net
Yu Xiaolian scratched her head, feeling she had utterly embarrassed herself.
The next morning, after the junior sent by the shopkeeper Hai took away the pastries and preserved fruits, Yu Xiaolian and her family of three began to have breakfast.
Breakfast was made by Yu Changhe, consisting of white porridge and eggs, plus oily salted duck eggs from the supermarket and refreshing pickled mustard strips.
After breakfast, while Yu Xiaolian was washing dishes, Aunt Li arrived with a thick stack of written labels and brought them to Yu Xiaolian.
Yu Xiaolian quickly dried her hands, thanked Aunt Li, and accepted the labels.
After delivering the items, Aunt Li returned through the archway.
Yu Xiaolian flipped through the labels, marveling at how each design was as impressive as printed, pleasing to the eye.
But why did Su Jingchen draw a lotus for her?
Yu Xiaolian was perplexed when she noticed a note from Su Jingchen among them.
Su Jingchen believed that every product should have its unique emblem, making it less likely to be imitated by others.
So was Su Jingyue specially designing a logo for her products?
Su Jingchen designed a lotus pattern, probably thinking that her name Lian was like the lotus "lian."
Su Jingchen inquired about Yu Xiaolian’s opinion on the note. If she agreed, he would have the design made into a stamp to simply stamp onto the labels.
This great opportunity landed right at her doorstep. How could Yu Xiaolian have any reason to refuse?
A logo personally designed by the Earl, who could possibly refuse that?
It’s just... Yu Xiaolian glanced at the thickness of the labels, realizing the amount she took yesterday seemed much, and he managed to finish them all in one night. Truly a man of action.
Could this guy have stayed up all night?
Yu Xiaolian thought that since the person helped such a big favor, she couldn’t be ungrateful, or else she would seem like someone who doesn’t understand the concept of reciprocity.
She needed to give something in return to show her gratitude.
What should she give?
This time, she needed to think carefully; she couldn’t afford to be careless and let Su Jingchen make fun of her for not understanding etiquette.
Advertisers usually give products to spokespeople, so there’s no issue with her giving daily necessities to the designer.
Saves effort and money.
Yes, that’s decided, she’ll give Su Jingchen a set of toiletries.
As soon as Yu Xiaolian packed a set of men’s toiletries for Su Jingchen, Madam Sun found her.
"Everyone says the harvest this autumn isn’t good. Probably half of the rice is shriveled. I don’t know how your uncle’s harvest is. While the weather isn’t too cold yet, why don’t you and your father go to Upper River Bay and check?" Madam Sun’s face was full of concern.
"Weren’t we going back in the twelfth lunar month?"
"It’s better not to wait until the twelfth month. If the snow at the end of the year is too heavy to travel, what will we do? Besides, now that I’m pregnant, I want to let your grandmother know early. She has been longing for me to have children."
With that, Madam Sun paused in slight difficulty and whispered, "Actually... I want to bring your grandmother here to live with us, but I fear your father might not agree. Traditionally, the elderly are cared for by their sons, not typically by their daughters."
Yu Xiaolian said, "Mom, you haven’t told my dad yet, how do you know he won’t agree? My dad isn’t an unreasonable person."
Madam Sun sighed, "You still don’t understand your father. Although he doesn’t mention your paternal grandparents, he still thinks about them.
If I suggest bringing your grandmother here, your father will feel uncomfortable, thinking he, as a son, isn’t caring for his parents, but rather his wife’s. Where’s the logic in that?"
Alas, feudal and old-fashioned thinking is truly harmful, and blind filial piety is even scarier.
Yu Xiaolian thought with everything that had happened, Yu Changhe had completely cut ties with Yu Lao and the others, but unexpectedly, he still missed them.
After all, they are Yu Changhe’s biological parents, and Yu Changhe is a soft-hearted person.
Fortunately, they’re in Yangcheng, far from River Bay Village; otherwise, once Yu Lao and the others started crying and making a fuss, Yu Changhe might have already forgiven them.
If Yu Changhe were to go back with her to Upper River Bay to visit Grandma Sun, it would be hard to prevent him from wanting to see his parents in River Bay Village, and then she wouldn’t be able to stop him.
Furthermore, Jiang Lin mentioned Yu Zishu was looking for them. How could this be good?
They absolutely couldn’t walk into trouble on their own.
The best solution was for her to go back alone and leave Yu Changhe at home.
After much consideration, Yu Xiaolian leaned close to Madam Sun and whispered in her ear.
Madam Sun nodded, "Mom will listen to you; we can only do this."
Yu Xiaolian selected some sandwich biscuits and fluffy little cakes in the supermarket for Grandma Sun.
Bags of white and brown sugar were repackaged into two large parcels with oil paper, and rice and white flour were packed into two cloth bags.
Madam Sun also had Yu Xiaolian buy two pieces of cloth and two large packages of cotton from the street.
She planned to make a new set of cotton-padded clothes for Grandma Sun and her little nephew.
Yu Changhe, feeling sorry for Madam Sun’s labor, kept complaining, saying they should just send the materials over and let Aunt Xu make them.
Madam Sun shook her head and refused. Aunt Xu could make for others, but her mother wouldn’t get to wear new cotton clothes.
She had to make a thick set for her mother and also one for her little nephew, whom she had always cherished dearly.
Madam Sun started working on the cotton clothes early and late, ignoring Yu Changhe’s advice.
At night, as the oil lamp flickered dimly, Madam Sun pricked her hand with the needle and winced a little.
Yu Changhe quickly leaned in, "Are you okay?"
Madam Sun put her finger in her mouth for a bit, "I’m fine. You’re leaving for Upper River Bay tomorrow, and I must finish tonight. You go to bed, don’t worry about me."
With that, she picked up the needle and thread again.
Yu Changhe watched the up-and-down motion of Madam Sun’s needlework and fell into deep thought.
In his heart, he was torn, wondering whether he ought to go back and see his parents.
Thinking about his parents’ heartlessness towards his family made Yu Changhe feel resentful, but the thought of them never truly left his mind, occasionally resurfacing and causing him pain.