Returning from the fields, Xiangbei discovered that the brothers weren't working but standing in a group near the bamboo trough by the water source. Irritated, she took a few steps and was about to complain when she pushed through the crowd and saw the person in the middle. She gasped, nearly letting out a surprised exclamation.
The tall guy sat on the ground, surrounded by several large baskets of peeled and diced arrowroot and sweet potatoes. At that moment, he was slicing the remaining cassava with a small, delicate curved knife that gleamed dazzlingly in the morning sunlight. His hands moved swiftly, creating thin, elegant arcs as he peeled, each strip falling neatly onto the stone floor beside him, stacking up in perfect order on the pile of skins. When dicing, he didn't even use a cutting board, holding the vegetable in his palm, swiftly cutting and tossing it into the finished basket without the need for a board. The diced pieces landed indistinguishable from the uniform ones that came before.
Unable to contain herself, Xiangbei spontaneously applauded, preparing to take the next sweet potato.
The tall guy, immersed in his work, looked up as the applause echoed. Spotting Xiangbei, he revealed eight shiny white teeth, wiped the curved knife on his clothes before sheathing it, stood up, and grinned like a fool. "Sister, let's eat something sweet. Shall we go and have something sweet?" Well, he was indeed a bit of a fool.
"Come on, Brother Xi, let me take you to have some very sweet honey porridge, okay?" Tong Xi walked over, leading him outside, and casually instructed Xiangbei, "It's time for his acupuncture and medication. You all go ahead with your work. I'll take him away so as not to interrupt everyone". When she turned around, she gave everyone a sly smile with a meaningful look.
"Honey porridge? Is it the sweet one we had yesterday?" The guy, whose attention was swiftly diverted, followed Tong Xi.
The group of people stood still, and no one felt interrupted. They were left with the cassava still to be cut. Who interrupted whom? That mischievous kid Tong Xi!
The brothers finally realized they had been duped by this seemingly delicate but sly guy. Facing Xiangbei's glare, they reluctantly started working. They had planned to let the tall guy finish cutting and then go to grind the mill. Well played, Tong Xi. They exchanged glances, nodded firmly, and waited!
Seeing Qiao Er arranging the baskets in front of the horse from a distance, Xiangbei quickly lifted her backpack and walked over.
"Brother Ziqiu, are you heading back to town today?"
"Good morning, Xiao Bei. We have new goods ordered from the town today. The lads haven't seen things like carbon paper and pencils, so I'll keep an eye on them. Also, the overseas merchants from Southern Seas should be here. I'm thinking of handing them a batch of bath products, coal stoves, and hot pots. I need to personally negotiate the price."
"Yes, yes, exactly. Last night, I drafted some ideas, and the main one is to establish a new school in the southern street of Dongbin, arranging those people we bought to learn and practice simultaneously." Xiangbei took out a stack of white paper from her backpack.
Seeing the detailed planning written with a pencil, Qiao Er looked at the young girl in front of him in surprise. "Did you stay up all night? Xiao Bei, don't be too anxious. You're still young; you can slow down a bit. Don't push yourself too hard."
"I'm fine. I do feel that I'm still young. But didn't you see my mother is eager to marry me off? She doesn't think I'm young. When the time comes, she might just sell me. Shouldn't I help others count their money?"
"Uh, about that, Xiao Bei, I'm sorry. I'll do my best to explain things to Mrs Tong. Don't worry; Brother Ziqiu will always respect your wishes. Please believe that he won't sell you."
"Oh, I spoke out of turn. I didn't mean you. It's okay. Grandpa is still the head of the Tong family. He will personally intervene. Don't worry. Let's go to the stone table first, and I'll explain these plans to you in detail. You can then go down the mountain to make specific arrangements."
"Mmm, alright." Although Qiao Er already knew the answer, Xiangbei's words shattered the faint hope lingering in his heart, bringing forth a profound sense of loss. It was just a fleeting moment, and Qiao Er naturally took the manuscript, walked to the stone table under the peach tree, and sat down.
He read it attentively, asking questions along the way, and listened to Xiangbei's detailed explanations. The initial disappointment and subtle reluctance in Qiao Er's heart were gradually suppressed, restrained, and released, ultimately returning to calm.
This woman of great wisdom should stand at the highest point; she would undoubtedly shape the future of the entire Yunmeng Dynasty. Yet, could that young prince elevate her and accompany her forever? If not, with her pride and kindness, could she adapt to the scheming battlefield of petty women?
At this moment, Qiao Ziqiu left only the conviction to protect and follow her. Little did he anticipate that this conviction would become his sole dedication and commitment in the future, crafting a magnificent myth for the Qiao family and Yunmeng.