When yang Haiyan woke up, the bedside was empty and cold. She knew Qin Fang was used to getting up early. The occasional lingering was to keep her company. " Mother Lian…."
After getting up everyday, Aunt Lian would stand guard at her door and do something by herself when she had nothing to do, while Aunt Yu would guard the fate of the yard, so Yang Haiyan was used to the two of them being outside.
Aunt Lian heard Yang Haiyan's call and came in: "Madam is awake".
Yang Haiyan said in a hoarse voice, as if she had just woken up: "I'm awake. The more i sleep, the more tired i feel. Where's the master?"
Nanny Lian said," The Master has taken his personal guards out hunting and he said we should wait for meat to eat tonight".
When Yang Haiyan heard this, she smiled and said, " He can't sit still. Then we'll just just wait to eat meat tonight. If we don't get three near, it will be disgrace to him". Then she sat down in front of the bronze mirror and asked Nanny Lian to comb her hair.
After combing her hair, Aunt Yu had already prepared hot water and was sitting nearby. After Yang Haiyan finished washing up, she sat in front of the bronze mirror and began take care of her skin. She also asked Aunt Lian, " Are Siya and Shoucheng up yet?".
Mammy Lian: " Miss Ya and Brother Cheng got up early and had already breakfast. The are playing outside. A few wives of the private guards came over just now, but i told them to come over this afternoon because you haven't gotten up yet".
Yang Haiyan nodded: " You decide well".
After Yang Haiyan's hair was combed, Aunt Yu came in with some rice dumplings made with fermented glutinous rice. The aroma of the fermented glutinous rice made Yang Haiyan's stomach growl.
Mammy Lian sat beside her: " Madam, while you were back home, Mrs Lu and Mrs Han came see you. Mrs Lu said there would be market in the county town in early April. Our town's market will be also started at the end of the month, but it won't be as lively as the county town.
Yang Haiyan was curious: " Market?"
Nanny Lian said: " I've heard about this before. The so-called market is when merchants from all tribes and counties come to Yongzhou to do business. It only happens once a year, in early April. However, because some merchants arrive earlier, the market starts in our town at the end of the March".
Yang Haiyan understood immediately and after realizing it, she remembered something. April is the time when everything awakens and spring plowing isn't the time for it. If many travel merchants arrive at the end of the month, she could take this opportunity to bring out fruits and vegetable seeds not available here and say she bought them from the merchants at the market.
Thinking of this, Yang Haiyan felt sense of taste accomplishment. After all, the variety of vegetables in this world it's quite limited.
Aunt Lian was a person who could read people's expression. Seeing that Yang Haiyan was in a good mood, she jokingly asked, "Madam, are you thinking of something happy?".
Yang Haiyan laughed and said, " I've never been seen market before. Even when there was a marker in the capital, we couldn't leave because we were afraid someone will bump into us. I didn't expect that now that I'm married to the border, i can go and see it. I also wonder what fun and delicious food the traveling merchants will have. I can't wait to see them".
Mammy Lian said, " Today is the 25th. The market will be open in just two days. Just wait a few more days and you'll be able to see it."
Yang Haiyan said, " That's right. By the way,I brought some food back from hometown this time, including dried bamboo shoots, dried wood ear mushrooms and dried vegetables. Ask aunt Fan to prepare two portions and send them to Mrs Lu and Mrs Han. Also ask Uncle Hong to come over this afternoon."
Nanny Lian stood up and said, " Well, I'll go and tell him right away."
After Yang Haiyan finished her rice dumplings, she also got up and went for a walk outside. When she walked into the yard, she saw Siya and Shoucheng sitting and eating snack. Seeing her come out, Qin Siya ran over and said, "Sister in law."
Qin Shoucheng also stood up: "Sister-in law".
Yang Haiyan look at them with clothes and noticed Siya's hair been combed. They had bought these clothes on their way here, in another country or town. "Siya, your hair is combed beautifully today. Who did it for you?"
Qin Siya touch her hair and said happily, " It was Nanny Lian who combed it. Nanny Lian is really amazing. I want to learn how to comb my hair and make it look good in the future".
Yang Haiyan said, "Mammy Lian is really amazing. My sister in law's hair was combed by her. If you want to learn, you can ask her to teach you." Then she looked at Qin Shoucheng and said: " Shoucheng, you just got here, you should rest well. Tomorrow, your elder brother will take you to the private school".
Qin Shoucheng; " Thank you, sister-in-law . It's just…it's just the i feel a little too old?".
Although he had already started elementary school, her only studied for a year. If he went to a private school, he would have start all over again, right? He felt a little embarrassed.
Yang Haiyan knew that children had trier own pride and it was naturally for a twelve year old boy to feel awkward and sitting with six year old or seven years old. So she said: " Shoucheng, do you know that learning never ends?"
Learning never ends. This is a very simple truth and even those who have studied for a few days can understand its meaning. Qin Shoucheng said: " I understand. Learning never ends means that there is no end to academic studies and we should strive to make progress".
Yang Haiyan said: " Yes, since there's no end to learning, doesn't that mean that you have to keep studying no matter what age . Don't you think that studying have ever reach its limit? You start learn at the age of six or seven, you learn at twelve and even twenty, like your elder brother, everyone still have to learn".
Qin Shoucheng said: " Sister in law, i understand now. It is a lifelong learning process. Learning has nothing to do with age".
Yang Haiyan gave him an admiring look: " Shoucheg it's really smart. Think back last year, when your eldest brother and i first got married, her didn't know as many as character as you do now, yet he said he wanted to study with me ands asked me to teach him. As a grown man, didn't feel embarrassed at all. But you Shoucheng,a little man, would be even more embarrassed. You know, being ambitious is a good thing".
Qin Shoucheng blushed when he was praised. He had never been praised since he was a child. After all, most parents rarely praised their children. " Well, I understand, sister-in-law in law".
Yang Haiyan finished sorting out three dried bamboo shoots that Yang Haiyan mentioned and came over: " Madam, according to your instructions, i prepared a portion for Mrs. Lu and Mrs. Han respectively. Please take a look."
Yang Haiyan took a look and saw that the portion was just right, about enough for two meals. " You can take it there. Go buy some spare ribs later. They're delicious with roasted bamboo shoots".
Aunt Fan: " Yes".
After Aunt Fan left, Yang Haiyan told Qin Siya about her name. Because Siya and Siya have the same pinyin, only the tone is different, so Qin Siya always thought that when Yang Haiyan introduced her as Siya. Now, after hearing Yang Haiyan give her a name and explained its meaning, she finally understood.
Having a proper name makes a huge difference. Qin Siya, who is still very young, also knows the importance of a name, so now that she has proper name, she posters Qin Shoucheng to teach her.
Qin Shoucheng had no choice but to used a branch to to write Qin Siya's name on the ground.
For lunch, there was naturally po pork ribs and grilled bamboo shoots. Qin Fang and his o private guards were three and Yang Haiyan took Qin Siya and QinShoucheng to eat together.
House of the commoners
The area two rows of servants quarter, each has five small courtyard, which are the home of the five private guards, Uncle Hong, aunt Fan and there are 20 small courtyard that are empty.
At noon, seeing that the servant has not arrived to deliver meal, Meng Ping's wife kept looking at three r, muttering to herself, " Why hasn't it arrived yet? It was delivered a at this time a few days ago?"
Meng Ping's sister was called Meng An, a very quite and introverted girl. Seeing her sister in law mumbling non stop, she thought for a moment and said: " Sister in law, Aunt Fan, who manages the kitchen, said that food we were given at three mansion was the amount for my eldest brother. My eldest brother it's not her today, having gone hunting with the Lord. So, the kitchen will not deliver lunch.
Meng Ping's wife was stunned. She hasn't expect this at all: " This.. this is possible.," But after thinking about it carefully, she felt that it was possible, " Then.. I'll go and ask?"
Meng An said," Sister in law, you'd better not go. Let's make some food to fill out stomach first."
Meng Ping's wife heard this: " Then let's make some porridge. Meng An, you make the porridge while good check the next door."
Meng An: " Hey". Actually Meng An felt quite embarrassed, feeling like she was causing trouble for her eldest brother and sister in law. She'd always been gossiped back home after what hated to her. He eldest brother and sister in law has been kind enough to bring her here, but they have no land here and their food was their own. By doing this, she'd actually been burdening then. She felt very embarrassed about it.
During this period, Meng An also went out to listen, hoping to find some work to do here. She did think of some jobs, but she had not made up her mind yet. She thought that waiting for Madam to come might also beneficial to them".
Meng Ping's wife went it and went to Huang Huzi's house next door. The arrived early , so two families has become familiar to each other over the past few days. " It's the Huang family's sister here?" Meng Ping's wifes smelled some food as she walked into the yard.
Huang Huzi's wife wanted to get up and go out, but Meng Ping's wife had already come in and saw her eating. " Siater Huang , are you eating?". She saw a plate of pickles and bowl porridge on the dining table.
Huang Huzi's wife said, " I'm eating right now. What's the matter with you sister in law?". She didn't ask Meng Ping 's wife if she had eaten yet. What if she asked and she said no? She had no intention of having anyone to dinner, so naturally she didn't ask.
Meng Ping's wife looked outside and saw no one, so she asked softly, " Sister Huang, has the kitche delivered the meal today?"