AWB Chapter 199 Thoughts
Chapter 199 Thoughts
Without a word, the two men got on the mule cart and started unloading. Except for one mule cart to give away and half a piece of leftover food, they unloaded the rest.
"We trust you, of course we trust you! You can take your time selling them, we're not in a rush. By the way, what about the half-eaten one? Can you still sell it?"
If they could, they wouldn't want to eat another bite!
When Yang Yu nodded and said yes, the two almost burst into tears on the spot.
Finally, I don't have to see this rotten meat anymore! Good apprentice, good apprentice!
They will definitely teach him more diligently and earnestly in the future!
"Around when will the two masters return from the county town? Could you come over again before heading up the mountain?"
"At the latest, it'll be after lunch the day after tomorrow." Lin Chunyi thought for a moment, then casually asked, "What's wrong? Is something the matter?"
He smiled and bowed, answering truthfully: "During festivals, it should be the time for disciples to show respect to their master. Last Mid-Autumn Festival, I failed to do so. As a disciple, this is already a breach of etiquette."
With the Lunar New Year approaching, could you two masters please find some time to have an early New Year's dinner with us? After all, by the time the New Year arrives, the heavy snow will likely have blocked the roads, and we probably won't be able to meet until the snow melts in the spring.
Throughout the year, there are many festivals, most of which are times for family reunions and celebrations.
Not only should children be filial and spend time with their parents, but apprentices should also be treated the same way, for a teacher for a day is a father for life.
Although we are not the right age to be considered "filial," it is still necessary to treat our masters to a meal, pay our respects, and offer them tea.
Lin Chunyi and Lin Lanshan were stunned. When they were students, it seemed that apart from the whole class chipping in to buy bouquets for the teacher on Teacher's Day, they had never done anything else.
Are there these rules and customs between master and apprentice?
So, they won't have to come down the mountain to receive these "tributes" every holiday, right?
Honestly, I don't want it. It's too complicated and troublesome...
Ah Shu finally realized what was happening and said excitedly, "My sister and I feel the same way. We hope that Sister Chunyi and Sister Lanshan can give us a chance to repay you."
Apart from the bi-weekly teaching sessions, they almost never come here, and even if they pass by on their way down the mountain, they don't stop.
We agreed that they would come whenever there was anything that needed to be done.
But after all this time, they've barely received any proper instructions from the two of them. Let alone asking them to do any work, they've rarely even had the chance to meet and serve tea.
They were probably just trying to protect their little bit of pride; in reality, they didn't need them at all.
Such thoughts would occasionally surface in the minds of the brother and sister, making them feel fearful and uneasy.
"Ah, actually you don't need to be so particular about these things, making all this troublesome."
Before Lin Lanshan could finish speaking, she saw Yang Yu looking troubled and conflicted, and A Shu's eyes were red-rimmed; both of them looked disappointed.
She glanced at her sister, then said helplessly, "Alright, you guys figure out what to do. We'll have lunch together the day after tomorrow. Since the time is so short, don't make things too difficult for yourselves. Just cook a few dishes that are enough for the few of us."
Hey, please don't make it too big of a scene, she and her sister will be in big trouble, absolutely!
Yang Yu and Ashu immediately switched to beaming smiles, just like they were performing a face-changing act.
Just then, a voice came from the courtyard: "Sister Lanshan, Sister Chunyi, basket, basket, I've brought them all!" It was Ahua calling out as she walked over.
The two sisters glanced instinctively into the courtyard, and what they saw there shocked them deeply.
"..."
"..."
Ahua was carrying countless bamboo woven items in her arms, hanging around her neck, and wrapped around her arms. Her face was also covered by the baskets, making her look like a bamboo spirit walking around.
She had everything: bamboo baskets, winnowing trays, fish traps, straw hats, shoulder baskets, and so on. She even took out two fruit plates and three fans, which were tied to her waist.
Ashu was also shocked. Had his sister brought out everything in the house that had the character "bamboo" in its name?
The bamboo items weren't heavy, but Ahua was carrying a lot. Plus, the things hanging around her neck were obstructing her vision, making it difficult for her to walk outside.
"Brother, Brother Yang Yu, please help me, I can't see the road..."
Several people quickly stepped forward to take the things from her hands and rescued the little girl, who was less than 1.5 meters tall, from the bamboo, revealing her true form.
"Sister Chunyi, Sister Lanshan, these are all things my brother and I made and haven't used yet, so I'm giving them to you." She grinned at the two of them, her eyes crinkling.
Both of them suddenly felt a tremor in their hearts.
These things might not be worth much money.
But they truly felt Ahua's pure and straightforward sentiment of "If you want it, and if I have it, I'll give it all to you!" when she was nine years old.
The heat in my heart, the tingling in my nose, and the tingling sensation all over my body... I never knew what it felt like to be cared for so deeply by someone.
Lin Lanshan blinked, then rubbed her head and said softly, "We don't need so many. Do you want us to take them all to the county town and set up a stall to sell bamboo baskets?"
Ahua pounded her palm in frustration, then exclaimed with sudden realization, "Oh right, my brain! So many, it's too much trouble to bring them into the city..."
The two nodded, feeling that the little girl was finally willing to understand what they were saying.
Then she continued, "Then I'll repack it and take it when Sister Lanshan and Sister Chunyi come back!" Her eyes were full of sincerity; she wasn't joking.
……
"Ahua, you can't do business like this by giving things away! You and your brother will lose a fortune!" Lin Chunyi said, both amused and exasperated, before bending down to pick out a few items.
“We need three baskets, and these two fans. Hmm, this fruit platter is also nice; it'll be perfect for holding some fruit and candied fruit in the carriage. Alright, take the rest back; we should be going.”
Their method for dealing with the siblings' selective obedience and understanding was quite simple.
I grabbed my things, got on the bus, and said goodbye to everyone.
"Let's go, let's go back~"
Yang Yu and his brother and sister stood at the door, watching their mule cart pass by and quickly disappear.
"Brother, you said I could choose any basket I wanted, right? Do you have a couple more larger fish baskets? Let's catch some fresh fish while it's still early. May you have fish every year, and may you have abundance every year. How can we have a New Year's Eve dinner without fish!"
Ah Shu nodded and said, "Yes! It's in the kitchen. Let's hurry up and get ready, Brother Yang Yu, we need to get ready quickly." The two of them picked up a large pile of things and walked into the yard.
"What are we preparing? It's still a long way from the New Year, isn't it?" Ahua followed behind, carrying a few items, completely bewildered.
"..."
"Really? Then I'll go too! I'll catch a couple more, and when I come back I'll take them to the village chief's house. I want to ask Aunt Zhang if I can learn how to make braised fish."
Oh, right, let's go to town tomorrow and buy some fruit, candied fruit, and pastries. They love sweets. Also, buy some good tea to go with them. Oh dear! We're missing so many things, we need to hurry..."