The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family
Chapter 208: The Hero Seizes Wealth and Beauty (8)_1

Chapter 208: Chapter 208: The Hero Seizes Wealth and Beauty (8)_1

She handed ten copper coins to Pei Yuan and, in a low voice, pleaded with her to make a serving for Mo Heng at lunchtime in the future.

Pei Yuan accepted just the ten copper coins, "My family sets up a stall at midday; no one is home to cook or eat. Why don’t you discuss this with Old Father Kong?" The eldest sister said they were a big trouble—it was better not to get involved.

Feng Wei fell silent, then turned back to prepare something for Mo Heng to eat.

Pei Yuan informed Pei Qin, who nodded and continued practicing her writing. Sun Dashun said that if materials were prepared in advance and they skipped carving decorations, they could build a courtyard in just two months, and they would be able to move back home.

The next day, Chang Yonglin brought his little buddies over, along with two large boxes of pastries. "I’ve tasted the sugar-fried peanuts, and my grandfather also likes them. He asked me to bring these pastries for you!"

Pei Qin grimaced as she accepted the pastries, asking them to wait a moment. She sent Pei Qian running back home to fetch a bamboo basket. They moved the noodle press onto the basket and began making noodles.

As the fresh wet noodles were pressed out, they sprinkled a little starch to prevent sticking. She pressed all the he lao noodles into a large full basket, instructing Pei Yuan to grasp a handful for a bowl, cook them, and sell them just like usual when it got busy at midday, and she would be back to help.

Pei Yuan nodded in agreement, telling her to go teach.

Pei Qin went home to get the skateboard, still borrowing the open space from Landlord Zhao’s house to continue teaching the two.

When it was noon, she took them to the noodle stall to eat rice noodles while she attended to the business.

Seeing that they were struggling to keep up, Chang Yonglin pointed to one of his servants, "You go help stoke the fire!"

The servant’s eyes widened; realizing he was serious, he made a sour face and came over to stoke the fire. Seeing that he did a good job, Chang Yonglin would call him to help stoke the fire whenever he came by, almost turning this literate and well-mannered personal servant into a firekeeper at Pei Qin’s noodle stall.

First, she would press the noodles and then boil them directly in the pot. Like rice noodles, they just needed to be served with the sauce. With more preparation, setting up the stall became much easier.

Those who came specifically for the he lao noodles were eager to see the pressing process. Noticing a difference, they suspected the noodles were not the same when there were none. Even after eating, something seemed missing.

Pei Qin had no choice but to carry on like this. She had to run the noodle stall, make sugar-fried peanuts, and continue teaching skateboarding to Wang Ting and Chang Yonglin.

"Oh, to have the Doppelgänger Technique! I really wish I could grow three monkey hairs!" Pei Qin lamented as she lay sprawled out on the kang with her limbs stretched after frying peanuts. Even a single hair from Sun Wukong would do! With a puff of breath, she could stay home and wait for the money to come in!

"Eldest sister! Tomorrow we need to visit Grandma’s house again! Our little uncle is going to take the exams," Pei Yuan reminded her.

Pei Qin howled in dismay. The next day, after slaughtering the meat, she gritted her teeth and bought a calligraphy brush for two taels of silver, delivering it early to Fang Family Village.

Fang Fu was delighted with the brush. His usual brushes were not cheap either, and his father had specifically bought him a good brush for the examination, but it couldn’t compare to the one Pei Qin had given him. "Little uncle will take this brush for his examination now!"

Fang Li guessed it wasn’t one of the cheap brushes from their house, seeing how much his little brother liked it.

"Pass every exam you encounter!" Pei Qin congratulated him, then rushed back home to set up her stall.

In Old Pei’s House, Lady Chen and Lady Kong, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, were also busy with Pei Wenli’s preparations. Having received thirty taels of silver from Pei Zongli, Lady Chen finally let go of her discontent, hoping her eldest son would excel and change the family’s fortunes. When Lady Fang was in Old Pei’s House, she could set the rules and order people around at her whim. Now faced with Qian Wanxiu, a rich young lady, Lady Chen was directly overlooked, and even Lady Kong was being ignored.

The first wife’s household was in dire need of Pei Wenli to excel in the exams and change the current situation.

When Pei Qin was in Yuanyang County teaching Wang Ting and the little radishes to skateboard, she happened to see this year’s candidates attending the county examination. Only those who passed the county examination could take part in the prefectural examination, followed by the college examination. Passing the college examination granted the title of Scholar, also known as a candidate eligible to attend the provincial examination to compete for the title of Graduate.