The Eldest Daughter of a Rural Family-Chapter 666: Another Year of Spring Exams (2)_1

Pei Qin chuckled, "Like mother, like daughter! Not to mention who Little Radish takes after!"

"Do you want your little aunt or your mom, Jiujiu?" Pei Qian teased with a tiny piece of tofu held between her chopsticks.

Jiujiu stretched out her little head, opened her mouth to receive it, and ate the tofu in one bite, "Mom!"

Pei Qian huffed with feigned annoyance, "From now on, don’t ask your little aunt to make you anything to eat!"

Jiujiu clung to her mother’s skirt, turning her head to look at her, her smile revealing several baby teeth.

She received another letter from Fang Liuming, stating that he couldn’t return home for the New Year’s celebration, as he must stay in Capital Jingcheng to devote his time to studying. He wrote about amusing encounters at the Imperial College and the trivial matters happening around him. He also inquired about how everything was at home, whether Pei Wendong was also immersed in his studies with the New Year approaching, how many teeth Jiujiu had grown, whether she was walking steadily, and their preparations for the New Year—a thick stack of words, rambling on and on.

Pei Qian thought for a moment before replying in her letter: The ungrateful Jiujiu tricked you into eating her tofu but then went to her mom in a second. Pei Wendong, along with Chang Yonglin and Xiao Yong, are studying hard at home every day. With Dalang’s guidance, she believed that at least one of them would surely pass the exam next year. She also mentioned that since he enjoyed eating century eggs, his share had been included in the New Year supplies sent to Jingcheng and that he should ask Shen Songming to collect it.

When Fang Liuming received her letter, Capital Jingcheng was experiencing heavy snow on Laba Festival, and some time had already passed since Yang Boyan and Bai Jinyan were married. Reading her reply, which finally came and included tidbits about home and the ungrateful Jiujiu, he sighed as he gazed at the heavy snowfall outside.

"Dalang! Come out and have your Laba Congee!" Fang Fu called out, hearing his sigh, "Didn’t get a reply from Qianqian again?"

"I did," Fang Liuming smiled.

Fang Fu laughed as well, "If you received it, you should be happy, yet here you are, sighing!" It showed she was slowly recovering.

Fang Liuming did feel a twinge of heartache; through her words, he could see she had matured a great deal, especially after the soy sauce poisoning case and the recent marriage of Yang Boyan. He was proud of her growth, yet it made his heart ache even more.

Fang Fu patted his shoulder, smiling, "Come and have your porridge! We still need to pay a visit to Mr. Shen, and the snow is getting heavier!"

"Alright!" Fang Liuming agreed, and together, the uncle and nephew enjoyed their Laba Congee. After finishing up and getting ready, they put on their thick cotton-padded jackets, took the newly drafted essays, and went out to visit Mr. Shen.

The snow fluttered down incessantly as the two of them trudged through it, arriving at Shen Family Alley already covered in a layer of snow.

Upon seeing that the person who opened the curtain was Mr. Shen’s granddaughter, wearing ear protection accessories, Fang Liuming took a few more glances.

Shen Rou’s face turned red instantly, "Brother Liuming!"

Fang Liuming bowed politely to her, "Ms. Shen!" After exchanging courteous greetings, his eyes drifted back to the ear protection accessory, his mind filled with thoughts of how Pei Qian would look wearing one.

After leaving Shen Family Alley, Fang Liuming insisted on wandering the streets until he found a pair of ear protection accessories for sale. He bought a pair and arranged for a passing merchant to send them back to Yuanyang County to Pei Qian, saying they were both beautiful and warm, and would help protect her ears from frostbite.

After sending off the goods and the letter, he suddenly remembered he had forgotten something.

Fang Fu’s mouth twitched, "Dalang! You forgot about the gifts for your grandparents, your parents, didn’t you?"

"Uncle..." Fang Liuming’s face flushed red.

"Not to mention your cousin in town. Even if you forgot the adults, what about Jiujiu?" Fang Fu continued to ask.

Fang Liuming’s face turned even redder from the direct questioning, filled with regret, until Fang Fu finally burst out laughing, "I’ve prepared everything; you just worry about sending your own gifts!"

"Uncle, really!" Fang Liuming couldn’t help but roll his eyes at him.