"I've never had so many people eat with me. My father always comes home very late, so I eat alone at noon every day. I don't have a mother. My dad said that my mother died of illness when I was too young to remember. I miss my mother!" Wu Xinyi said in a crying voice.
"Good child, you can come more often in the future. Granny Xu will keep you company during meals." Mrs. Wang said tenderly.
"Really? Then I'll visit often, but please don't find it bothersome." Wu Xinyi sniffled.
"How come! Xinyi looks so gorgeous, we can't help but love you!" Mrs. Wang exclaimed.
Wu Xinyi raised her head and glanced at the people sitting around. Seeing that they were all looking at her kindly with smiles on their faces, she no longer felt sad. She picked up the bowl and started eating again.
After dinner, Qibao prepared to take Wu Xinyi for a walk around the village. Yaya also wanted to go with them and followed behind Qibao. When Zhier saw that his playmate was about to leave, he put down the toys in his hands and wanted to follow.
Mrs. Qian couldn't stop him and felt helpless.
Mrs. Wang saw this and said: "Chunlan and Furu, you two follow Qibao and help keep an eye on these two little ones, don't let them get near any place with water."
"Yes, Madam." They both answered in unison.
Qibao led Wu Xinyi to her family's greenhouse field and said: "This is our family's vegetable greenhouse, where we grow many types of vegetables."
Wu Xinyi replied: "I heard from my father that the vegetables in Zuixianlou are provided by your family. I have eaten them a few times and they are very delicious. Can I go in and see what these vegetables look like?"
"Of course!"
Since everyone was busy building their houses, only morning chores needed to be done at the greenhouse, so there weren't many people around.
Qibao led Wu Xinyi inside the greenhouse, and the two young children followed along as well.
Wu Xinyi examined the vegetables curiously and asked: "What kind of vegetable is this purple one?"
Qibao answered: "That's eggplant, which is used to make the stuffed eggplant dish we eat at noon."
Wu Xinyi said: "So this is what it looks like when it grows in the ground. It's quite different from the dish that is cooked."
Qibao took Wu Xinyi to check out every vegetable greenhouse.
Yaya was holding a big red tomato and smiling happily. Qibao picked the tomato and said: "You can eat this raw, it's sour and a little sweet."
Wu Xinyi said: "I know this, this red fruit scrambled eggs is especially delicious!"
Qibao said: "It's called a tomato. Wash it when you get home, it's quite good even raw."
Nodding, Wu Xinyi happily picked out the ripest tomato for herself as well.
Qibao picked a few more and gave one to everyone.
Then, Qibao led them to her family's orchard, surprising Wu Xinyi greatly. She picked a strawberry and said: "How pretty! It must taste very good too!"
Qibao explained: "The filling inside those pastries you ate earlier was made from these strawberries. They're best when freshly picked."
Wu Xinyi didn't even bother washing the fruit, instead opting to wipe it clean with her handkerchief before popping it straight into her mouth, the sweet juice spreading across her tongue.
"Delicious! Sweet, I love it!" Wu Xinyi hopped about happily while eating.
Qibao said: "If you like it, bring some with you when you go back."
Wu Xinyi replied: "Okay, next time I'll bring some of my favorite things to share with you too."
As they passed by where the villagers were working, everyone was curious about this strange girl accompanying Qibao.
Xu Dabo explained: "This is the governor's daughter. She came today to play with our Qibao."
Everyone was astonished at this revelation and turned respectfully toward Wu Xinyi.
However, Wu Xinyi didn't act snobbishly but instead greeted the villagers courteously.
Everyone returned their greetings.
"Who lives in that house over there? It's so pretty! I've never seen this style before!" Wu Xinyi asked as she pointed.
Qibao answered: "That's the village chief's house. It's newly built, and soon every family in our village will live in one just like it."
"No wonder so many people here are building new houses!"
The sun was setting, and Qibao realized it was getting late and they had played all afternoon, so she decided to take Wu Xinyi home.
Just as they arrived at the front gate, they saw a horse-drawn carriage parked nearby.
Wu Xinyi seemed disappointed: "This is our family's carriage. My father must have sent someone to pick me up."
As expected, a man dressed as a yamen guard stepped down from the carriage and approached them: "Miss Wu, the county magistrate sent me to fetch you."
At this time, Mrs. Wang and Mrs. Zhang came out of the house, holding two baskets in their hands, and said: "Xinyi, these are some snacks and fruits we prepared for you. Take your time enjoying them at home, then come get more from Granny Xu's house whenever you like."
Wu Xinyi said: "Thank you, Grandma Xu, I have to go back now, Xinyi will come to see you next time."
Mrs. Wang nodded and put the basket into the carriage.
Wu Xinyi hugged Qibao reluctantly and said: "Thank you for showing me around your village today. You also let me see a lot of interesting things. This is the first time I've seen them all! I had a lot of fun today. Can I invite you to my house next time?"
Qibao nodded and said: "Of course!"
Wu Xinyi let go of Qibao and said: "Then it's settled, but my house isn't as fun as yours."
After seeing Wu Xinyi safely inside the carriage, the yamen guard drove it back toward town.
Wu Xinyi poked her head out the window to wave goodbye to the Xu family.
Watching the carriage go away, Mrs. Wang said: "Xinyi has no mother, and it's rare that the county magistrate has taught her so well. It's not easy!"
Mrs. Zhang also added: "Xinyi is over eight years old now, and her mother passed many years ago. The county magistrate still hasn't remarried either, he really is a devoted man!"
Qibao nodded slightly in agreement, as someone of his position, it wouldn't be difficult for the county magistrate to remarry, but perhaps he feared that any woman he brought into their lives would treat Wu Xinyi poorly.
Not long after the crowd returned inside, Xu Wenwu and the others returned.
"Sister, has anyone come to the village today? When I came back just now, I saw a carriage leaving our village." Xiaowu asked.
"The county magistrate's daughter was visiting me, she just left." Qibao replied.
"What is the magistrate's daughter doing in our house? It's not like we know each other."
Mrs. Wang continued: "She came here to play with Qibao. She will probably come to our house often in the future. If you run into her, don't bully her."
"I understand, grandma. Since she is my sister's friend, we will definitely not bully her." Xiaowu said.
Mrs. Wang remarked: "Alright, wash your hands and eat!"
The guards brought the carriage up to the governor's residence, where Wu Xinyi dejectedly stepped out.
The governor had been waiting at the gate for his daughter to return, and immediately asked with concern when he saw her expression: "Xinyi, what's wrong with you? Are the Xu family members not treating you well?"
Wu Xinyi shook her head and said: "Father, they were very nice to me, they gave me a lot of delicious treats and even fed me foods. They were concerned about me, and Sister Yue'er even took me on a tour of her village, and I had a lot of fun."
Magistrate Wu was surprised and said: "If you were having so much fun, why are you like this now?"
"Father, I finally made a good friend, but we didn't play together for long before we separated, and there was no one at home to accompany me." Wu Xinyi said aggrievedly.