Wang Dazhuang and Mrs. Wang stayed at the Dong's house for two days and were going to take Xiao Gang back with them. Li Mingwei sent them to the town entrance.
When saying goodbye, Xiao Gang repeatedly confirmed with her the next time to go to Xinghua Village. She hadn't even opened the books yet, how could she make any promise. After returning home, she didn't dare to slack off again and could only work overtime to copy books.
Seeing that she was really tired but still refused to rest, Wang Chunhua sighed and went to the room to take out some money to invite her to go out.
"Sister, I still have to copy books. Let's do it another day, okay?"
"Why another day? You can see the weather is going to get warmer. We have to make spring clothes in advance."
Li Mingwei looked up at the sun in the sky. It was about time to start preparing. In a few days, she would have to go to Xinghua Village again and didn't know how long that would delay her.
She put away her pen. "Fine, let's go shopping for new clothes."
Only then was Wang Chunhua satisfied. She also brought her daughter along. "Our Xiao Yan has grown up too. She needs a new one too."
"What about Lei?"
"He doesn't need it. He just enrolled last year and we were afraid he would be embarrassed at school. So we got two new sets made for him."
Those who can go to school are not considered too poor at home. If you wear tattered clothes, you are bound to be ostracized. Adults can let it go but children should not suffer the slightest grievance. So last year Wang Chunhua made two good sets for him.
Children grow fast. When making clothes, female embroiderer Yu always leaves room at the cuffs and pant legs for the following year. Then they will fit just right when let out.
female embroiderer Yu took them into the small room with a lit stove and told them to take off the children's thick coats so that she could take measurements. She measured Xiao Yan first, then looked at Li Mingwei.
"Do you want last year's winter clothes size or shall I measure again?"
Li Mingwei wanted to save trouble and refuse but Wang Chunhua didn't agree. "It's been half a year. You may have gained or lost weight. Let's just measure again."
Fine. Li Mingwei had no choice but to take off her outer clothes leaving only her undergarment.
female embroiderer Yu recorded her measurements in her notebook and compared them with last year's data. She nodded, "You did lose some weight."
"Lost weight?" Wang Chunhua's eyes widened in surprise. Where did all that food she ate go? She was originally worried that she had gained weight and the clothes would be too small to fit.
female embroiderer Yu nodded affirmatively, "Yes, lost weight. I'll make them a little bigger for you. Go home and eat more. Being too thin is not good either."
Embarrassed, Li Mingwei nodded slightly and touched her belly. She felt like she was already eating quite a lot.
After selecting the fabrics, Wang Chunhua wanted to take her to buy meat but Li Mingwei declined, "Let it go. Buying clothes has already cost a lot of money."
Two sets for her, one for Xiao Yan, totaling almost one or two silver coins.
She sighed. "You didn't really have to buy me such good fabric."
"You're still young. You should wear brighter colors." Wang Chunhua gently patted her shoulder. "I want you to dress up more brightly. Maybe it will make you more attractive."
"What? Sister, do you dislike me already and want me married off so eagerly?"
"No, not really."
It was mainly because at Sister Yun's wedding, the matchmaker who came to finalize the engagement set sight on Li Mingwei at first glance. She asked Aunt Meng to convey that she had several good families and asked if Li Mingwei was interested.
If so, she could pass her a letter and the matchmaker would arrange for them to come see her. If it worked out, she and Sister Yun could keep each other company in the future.
Wang Chunhua didn't mean to marry her off so far away but from the matchmaker's tone, girls in her situation were still easy to find a husband. So she felt they should prepare just in case she did meet the right one.
Li Mingwei rejected Wang Chunhua's request to matchmake her. Right now she just wanted to hurry up and finish copying the books then go to Xinghua Village and fulfill Xiao Gang's wish. Getting married? No, no, absolutely not!
Seeing how strongly she refused, Wang Chunhua had to drop the idea. Let her go back and have her parents find someone. It would probably be better than whoever she recommended anyway.
After half a year of practice, Li Mingwei's book copying speed had improved tremendously. The paper she bought last time from Mr. Jin was almost used up. She sorted out the copies and planned to ask Mr. Jin to help bind them into booklets first.
There were so many children in Xinghua Village. It was impossible for everyone to have a personal copy. She would need to ask Mr. Jin's advice on how many copies to make. She had never taught before and could also ask him for some tips and tricks.
Carrying her bag, she strode through the gates of the school. She happened to run right into Liu Yizhu who was just coming out from inside. Her eyes fell on his somewhat pale complexion and she quickly frowned before walking past him expressionlessly.
"Mingwei." Liu Yizhu's helpless voice sounded behind her.
Li Mingwei paused then turned back with a smile, politely asking "Did Scholar Liu need something?"
"I'm returning to the academy tomorrow."
Li Mingwei was delighted. "Is the road to the county reopened?"
"Yes."
Then they could wait and see if there was any news from Lord Tang. If not, it meant everything was fine at home.
Li Mingwei looked up at him and sincerely wished, "Then I hope Scholar Liu has a smooth journey."
Liu Yizhu gazed at her for a while before suddenly bowing solemnly and bidding her farewell.
Caught off guard, Li Mingwei was puzzled. Was this his final goodbye?
So he had figured it out? After briefly contemplating, Li Mingwei also returned the bow and formally bid, "Farewell."
Having said this last word, she picked up her bag and forced herself to ignore his lingering gaze on her back as she turned and went upstairs without looking back.
Liu Yizhu watched as she disappeared around the corner before giving a self-deprecating laugh. Then without any more hesitation he strode out of the building.
As soon as she turned the corner, Li Mingwei stopped in her tracks. She leaned back against the wall to catch her breath before continuing upstairs.
Mr. Jin was not there, only Aunt Cui sitting in his spot.
"Aunt Cui."
Aunt Cui laughed heartily. "You youngsters making such a big fuss over saying goodbye. It's not like he's never coming back."
So she had been watching the drama unfold upstairs?
Flustered, Li Mingwei explained, "It's not..."
"It's not what? This auntie isn't blind. I saw everything clearly."
Aunt Cui beckoned her over to sit next to her but Li Mingwei didn't want to squeeze in so she pulled over Mr. Jin's chair instead.
Seeing Aunt Cui's teasing expression, Li Mingwei helplessly clarified again, "Auntie, we aren't in that kind of relationship..."
"Oh please." At her age she had seen everything. If she couldn't even see this clearly her eyes were useless.
Further arguing was pointless. She wouldn't believe otherwise. Li Mingwei gave up and changed the subject. "What are you doing here, Auntie? Where is Mr. Jin?"
"I don't know. My son ran out of paper so I came to buy more. When I got here, I only saw Scholar Liu sitting there. He said Mr. Jin seemed to have gone out to buy stuff and told me to wait a bit."
"Sitting there?"
"That's right. When I came he got up to let me sit but said he was leaving soon. Scholars are so polite indeed." Aunt Cui praised.
With only two chairs here, she wouldn't feel right sitting in someone else's spot when the owner wasn't around either.
"What's that little table there for?"
Embarrassed, Li Mingwei answered. "It's for me."
