Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 73: Kneeling to Beg for the First Order (1)
"Hmph, you still remember me? I thought you had forgotten about me," Jiaojiao pouted, stomped her foot, and turned away, ignoring Feng Xuxu.
"Sister Jiaojiao, how could I? Come and see my new home." Feng Xuxu grabbed Zhang Jiaojiao’s little hand and headed straight for Lotus Garden.
Zhang Jiaojiao admired the lotus flowers filling the pond, the small bridges over flowing water, and the garden in the yard, full of spring colors: "Xuxu, this yard is so beautiful."
"Sister Jiaojiao, why don’t you move in and stay with me for a few days?"
Upon hearing this, Jiaojiao chuckled at Feng Xuxu: "I can’t stay with you. There’s a lot going on at home, Dad and Brother went to town to look for work, and they don’t get back until after dark. I have to stay at home and help Mom with chores."
Feng Xuxu looked at Zhang Jiaojiao with guilt: "If it wasn’t for that time..." Before she could finish, Jiaojiao stepped forward and covered Feng Xuxu’s mouth.
"Xuxu, I won’t let you talk like that. Ever since last time, my parents haven’t had the face to see you." She removed her hand that was covering Feng Xuxu’s mouth. Although her own father and mother didn’t cause trouble for Feng Xuxu last time, she still couldn’t persuade the villagers and felt sorry for Feng Xuxu.
Feng Xuxu smiled gently: "Sister Jiaojiao, how could I blame you? Nobody expected things to turn out this way."
"Sister Jiaojiao, let’s walk and talk, and you can take a look around as well," said the two as they walked across the small bridge, passed the Lotus Pond, and arrived at the garden where cobblestones spread far and wide.
They arrived at a long corridor and looked at the trees draped with clusters of pale blue flowers, hanging down in bunches. It was very pleasing to the eye. "Xuxu, what kind of flower is this? It’s so beautiful."
"These are wisteria flowers, Sister Jiaojiao. I have some seeds here; you can take them and plant them at home." Feng Xuxu looked up at the wisteria, its blue and white blending together, filling the summer with its fragrance.
"Alright, I won’t be shy when I leave then."
"Haha, that’s the spirit."
Feng Xuxu and Jiaojiao sat on the wooden seats of the pavilion where Baihe came up and poured two cups of tea. Afterwards, she retreated.
"Feng Xuxu, look, this is the embroidery I did following the method you taught me," Jiaojiao said, taking out an embroidered handkerchief from her sleeve and handing it to Feng Xuxu. Feng Xuxu took it, looked at it carefully, and nodded now and then, impressed that Jiaojiao had become so skilled in just two months.
"Sister Jiaojiao, you did great. It’s impressive that you managed such difficult Xiang Embroidery so quickly."
Zhang Jiaojiao blushed at the compliment: "It’s not as good as you’re saying." She took the handkerchief from Feng Xuxu’s hands and gently caressed the embroidered patterns.
"Sister Jiaojiao, I have some snacks here, especially suitable for summer. Why don’t you stay a little late tonight and learn how to make them? Then you could sell them in town and make some income," suggested Feng Xuxu. After much thought, she decided to find someone reliable to sell them. These snacks were time-consuming and labor-intensive, not as valuable as the wine she brewed.
"How could I do that! How could I make money off of your effort? I don’t agree," Jiaojiao looked at Feng Xuxu with a shocked face, angrily turned around, and ignored her.
Feng Xuxu stepped forward and tugged at Jiaojiao’s sleeve. "Sister Jiaojiao, hear me out, it’s just a snack. I don’t have the energy to focus on these right now. We grew up together, when have we ever kept score with each other?"
"But..."
"No buts. When we first split from Grandpa’s home and had no food, Uncle Hui would rather go hungry than not bring over your family’s rations to help us. I have never forgotten that kindness," spoke Feng Xuxu emotionally.
"That’s all in the past, no need to bring it up," Sister Jiaojiao turned around and started to comfort Feng Xuxu.
