Chapter 243: Planning and the Mid-Autumn Festival
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
After further discussions, the house was finally given to Han Xiang.
Han Qiao had no objections.
She watched them calmly and indifferently as they discussed the matter of splitting up the family. How much food would they give each month and how much filial piety silver would they give each year…
She was there, but it seemed like she was not involved.
After they had finished discussing, she said, “We definitely have to take Han Xiang back to the county to have a look. I won’t let her stay at my house. We’ll rent a courtyard outside for her. 1’11 send an old woman and a manservant to run errands and wait on her. All the food expenses will be on me. As for her two children…”
“Change their surnames to Han. Send the older ones to the Academy for enlightenment. I’ll give them teachers and clothes for them to wear for the four seasons. No matter what their situation is, it has nothing to do with me, especially when they turn sixteen.”
“Just don’t come to my house for no reason. 1’11 take care of these expenses, but I won’t care about them causing trouble outside, and 1 won’t clean up after them.”
Good or bad, that was all she could do.
“That’s why Father and Mother have to spend some effort to teach them.”
They had already taken care of everything. They didn’t even need to pay Han Xiang’s medical fees.
For a moment, Han Yuan had mixed feelings.
An indescribable feeling.
She beckoned the two children over, “Kowtow to your aunt.”
“No need.” Han Qiao refused.
She did not have any feelings for these two children.
The reason why she did this was because she didn’t want Father Han and Han Yuan to be so worried that their hair had turned white. She also didn’t want others to think that she was too heartless.
If the host was back in her own body, she would have no confidence to do so.
Hearing Han Qiao’s words, her uncles and aunts quickly told her that their children would not need Han Qiao to reward them if they passed the examination.
“These are two different things. I wish them well and encourage them to work hard.”
“The girls are the same. No matter who they marry, I’ll give them two acres of land’s worth of silver to make up for it.”
Han Qiao had never thought of doing this.
But thinking about it carefully, this was also an investment.
If the descendants of the Han Family were promising, they would naturally take care of her aunt. If the girls married well, they could complement each other.
Now that she had the money, she wanted to help them.
In the future, it would be a good thing for them to remember kindness when they became promising talents. If they didn’t remember kindness and didn’t care, they treated it as a good deed and used it to repair bridges and pave roads.
Han Qiao didn’t know what her uncles and aunts were thinking.
However, when her nephews and nieces looked at her at the same time.
Han Qiao decided to think about it.
‘Should 1 bring these nephews with me?’
After lunch, Han Qiao and the others prepared to return to Puyi County.
Han Dacheng sent Han Qiao off. Before they reached their destination, Han Dacheng said hesitantly, “Auntie, I… I want to go to the county town to run errands for you. Bring me along. 1 promise I’ll be obedient and sensible. 1 won’t mess around.”
Han Qiao looked at Han Dacheng.
Han Qiao still remembered that he had come to town last year to bring her firewood and support her.
Han Qiao suddenly woke up.
As for the Han family, whenever she asked, they never seemed to reject her.
It didn’t matter if he wanted things or borrowed money.
No matter what plans she made, no one would hold her back and she would be able to do it properly.
She had changed.
Now that she had her own home, she used Han Xiang as an excuse to separate herself.
She had also forgotten that her youngest uncle had left his work to accompany her into the city.
She had even forgotten about her uncles and aunts who had helped her when she had nothing.
She didn’t invite any relatives from the Han family because she was afraid of the Heng family.
She didn’t even invite them to the restaurant when it opened…
She didn’t think that it was a problem, but was there really no problem?
“Dacheng, give me some time. I’ll give you an answer when 1 give birth to my child and it’s one month old, okay?”
Han Dacheng’s eyes lit up when he heard that.
He nodded vigorously.
On the way back, Han Qiao leaned into Heng Yi’s arms, “I may have thought wrongly and done some wrong.”
Heng Yi had grown up in an abnormal environment. He was indifferent to family relationships, so he didn’t have such awareness.
Han Qiao had been alone for a long time. She had to weigh the pros and cons. Living in a big city, it was impossible to visit her relatives all the time.
Even with her friends, there were few people she could talk to.
They would have a meal together, drink coffee, and discuss their work.
“Let me think about it when we get back.”
Heng Yi didn’t want Han Qiao to be too tired, so he massaged her temples, “No matter what decision you make, I’ll support you.”
“It doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong. We’ll face it together. 1 just hope that you’ll be fine.”
Han Qiao’s heart came back to life when she heard this.
She held Heng Yi’s hand and placed it on her stomach, “For the child, I will be fine. Our family will be fine.”
When they arrived at the county town, the sky was completely dark.
Fortunately, the gate was still open, and the guards recognized Heng Yi, calling him Lord Heng fondly.
Han Qiao asked Shulan to pass her the pouch, “Thank you for your hard work, everyone. This is for you to drink.”
“Thank you, Madam Heng,” The guard captain took the purse.
There were two taels of silver in the pouch.
For the guards guarding the city, a few hundred coppers were enough to buy a few catties of braised meat from a fast-food restaurant.
Some rich masters would give rewards, but not many.
If there was, they would take it. If there wasn’t, they wouldn’t force it.
When they returned home, they took a shower, changed into clean clothes, and ate a bowl of wontons. Only then did they feel more refreshed.
He Cheng was already so sleepy that he could not open his eyes. When he was hugged by the nanny, he still struggled to sleep with his brother.
Last night, he slept with Han Chi and Zeng Baobao. It didn’t matter if he was squeezed into the corner. He was sweating profusely because he was happy to do so.
Han Chi said to Nanny, “Carry him to my room so he could sleep with me tonight.”
“Remember to pee first,” Han Chi quickly reminded her.
He did not want to wake up in a wet bed the next morning.
However, He Cheng would pee before he went to bed at night, so he rarely wet the bed.
Han Qiao was also very sleepy, “You all should go to sleep. We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”
“Good night, Father and Mother.”
“Good night, children.”
Han Qiao was very busy these few days because the Mid-Autumn Festival was coming.
She had to prepare the mooncakes.
She didn’t care that she had just returned from other houses. She cooked it and roasted it with fire.
Five seeds, brown sugar bean paste, salted egg yolk, and fresh meat.
Furthermore, they were all bigger and needed to be cut open to eat.
Han Qiao had spent a long time preparing the mooncakes. When the first pot of five seeds was served, the children were all given a piece.
“Delicious!”
“It smells so good!”
The fillings included melon seeds, peanuts, walnuts, sesame seeds, and brown sugar. One bite was very delicious.
However, the mooncakes were not cheap either.
The common people would not buy them. They preferred brown sugar bean paste, salted egg yolk, and fresh meat.
And if they wanted to buy all five filling mooncakes, they needed to make a reservation. Then their mooncakes would be delivered on the 15th of August.
All the wealthy families in the county town came to book a hundred each.
There were hundreds of people peeling melon seeds, both adults and children. Those who were greedy would even grab a handful and take them away.
Han Qiao had even asked the servants to turn a blind eye. It was just a handful of melon seeds after all.
Han Qiao didn’t know about the other establishments, but on the 15th of August, Han Qiao sold mooncakes. After deducting all kinds of labor and materials, she earned nearly two thousand taels of silver by tipping the workers.
“Mother! Mother, the mooncakes are here!”
“This one is filled with pickled vegetables.”
In the beginning, they did make mooncakes, but later on, they made all kinds of scones. The children could make whatever fillings they wanted to eat and bake them themselves.
“Mother…!”
He Cheng ran over crying.
It was a heartbreaking sight..