Chapter 109 - 109: A Hairpin
“Qingzhi.” In the courtyard, Shen Ruyue handed the account book to Chu Qingzhi and reported, “In the past 20 days, we earned 2,400 taels of silver from selling ice cream bars and 5,000 taels of silver from rice dumplings. The cost for making the ice cream bars was 700 taels of silver, and the ingredients for the rice dumplings cost 3,000 taels. Just now, we paid the villagers 500 taels of silver. In the end, we earned a total of 3,200 taels of silver.”
When the Chu family heard this number, they immediately became excited. In just 20 days, their family had earned more than 3,000 taels. It was unimaginable.
Chu Qingzhi was very satisfied. “Ruyue, give everyone twenty taels of pocket money. Buy something you like tomorrow.”
Granny Chu immediately waved her hand and said, “Qingzhi, there’s no need. We can’t spend all that money. Just give us one tael.”
Chu Qingzhi smiled gently and persuaded, “Grandma, you can save it if you don’t want to spend it, but you have to take the money. Otherwise, the others will also hesitate to take the money.”
Everyone had contributed a lot to this family, so it was only right for them to spend it.
Granny Chu thought about it and agreed. “Alright, 1’11 take it.”
Chu Xuyuan’s eyes lit up. He could not help but ask, “Fifth Sister, do we have pocket money as well?”
Chu Qingzhi smiled. “Of course. Everyone has.”
Shen Ruyue handed the money to everyone with a smile.
The entire Chu Village was filled with joy.
In the central room.
Chu Qingyue brought over a stack of clothes from her room and smiled gently. “Grandpa, Grandma, Father, Mother, everyone, come over.”
Hearing her voice, everyone came to the central room.
Granny Chu glanced at the stack of clothes and then looked at Chu Qingyue. “Qingyue, what’s the matter?”
Chu Qingyue handed a dark purple dress to Granny Chu. “Grandma, this is the dress I made for you. Wear it on the Dragon Boat Festival tomorrow.”
Granny Chu held the clothes and gently touched the smooth material with her wrinkled hand. She was pleasantly surprised. “Qingyue, you’re so considerate.”
Chu Qingyue smiled and handed the clothes to everyone one by one. “Wear new clothes tomorrow to celebrate the holidays.”
Chu Xuyuan unfolded his clothes and looked at them. He said sweetly, “Second Sister, thank you. 1 like it very much.”
Chu Qingyue nodded gently. “If you like it, 1’11 make more clothes of the same style for you in the future.”
Chu Xuyuan was overjoyed. “Yay.”
Shen Ruyue looked down at the light yellow dress and smiled brightly.
She was an orphan. Growing up, she never knew what having a family felt like. However, in the short ten days living in the Chu family, she felt how good it was to have a family.
A smile appeared on Chu Qingzhi’s face. Although she was forced to descend to the mortal world, it was undeniable that she had a lot of fun.
Chu Qingyue picked up the last clothes and hesitated for a moment before going to Chu Xuhua’s room.
Ning Yuting leaned against the head of the bed and listened to the laughter in the central room. He was in a daze.
The man on the bed had eyes as black as ink. There was a faint sadness in his eyes. He had a high nose bridge, distinct facial features, and a pale face.
He was only wearing a single shirt. The snow-white single shirt made his already pale face look even paler.
Chu Qingyue handed the clothes in her hand to Ning Yuting. “I made clothes for my family. You’re at our house now, so 1 made one for you as well.”
Ning Yuting looked at the clothes and was slightly stunned. “You specially made it for me?” No one had ever specially made clothes for him.
Chu Qingyue smiled gently and said, “Yes, I hope you don’t mind.”
Ning Yuting took the clothes and smiled. “1 can’t be happier. Why would I mind? Miss Chu, thank you.”
Chu Qingyue shook her head gently. “There’s no need to thank me. You’re sick now. It’s only right for me to take care of you.”
Ning Yuting lowered his head and looked at the clothes. It was a green and white robe. The fabric was soft and the stitches were fine. It was paired with a green belt with cloud patterns embroidered on it. The work was really skillful.
“The clothes are especially well made. 1 like it very much. Miss Chu, thank you.”
Chu Qingyue’s eyes were filled with gentleness. “1’11 go out first. 1 still have something to do outside.”
At night.
Ning Yuting unfolded the letter that Chu Qingzhi had given him and read it word by word under the bright moonlight coming in from the window.
The letter said, “Yuting, I’m grandpa. When I heard that you fell off the cliff, 1 was so scared that I fainted. Now that I’ve received your letter, I’m alive again.
You’re injured. Rest well. There’s no need to rush back.
Right, although I don’t want to tell you, 1 think 1 have to mention it.
Jiao Qinqin has already married someone else. Forget about her.”
Jiao Qinqin was Ning Yuting’s fiancee. They could be considered childhood sweethearts.
Ning Yuting looked at the words “married someone else” and clenched his fists tightly. However, he slowly relaxed.
He didn’t like Jiao Qinqin, but he didn’t have any other woman he liked, so he tacitly agreed to this marriage. However, he didn’t expect Jiao Qinqin to marry someone else before the news of his death was confirmed.
Were all women so heartless?
He suddenly thought of Chu Qingyue and his gaze softened. Not all women were the same.
At the military camp.
The night wind blew through the forest, bringing with it a light rustling sound.
The sparkling stars shone in the endless darkness, surrounding the bright moon in the middle.
Tang Jinghong took out a simple box from under his pillow.
His fingers gently caressed the box. His already deep eyes seemed to have become even deeper at this moment.
His handsome face was cold and expressionless.
He opened the box. There was nothing precious inside. It was just a silver hairpin with a spring flower engraved on the head to symbolize hope.
This was his mother’s dowry. After she died, she left it to him as a relic.
Tang Jinghong’s fingertips gently caressed the hairpin. His greatest regret in life was that he wasn’t with his mother when she passed away.
“Mother, did you leave the hairpin to me so that I could give it to your daughter-in-law?”
As he thought about it, Chu Qingzhi’s beautiful face appeared in his mind. He muttered, “Mother, 1 really like a girl, but I don’t know if she likes me.”
“I want to tell her my feelings, but I’m afraid that she will reject me. Mother, what do you think I should do?”
Tang Jinghong stared at it for a while. He took the silk cloth and gently wiped it. Then, he carefully placed the hairpin back into the box.
He lay down flat, resting his head on one hand and pressing the other on the box. He tapped his index finger lightly, planning tomorrow in his mind..