After learning that the government did not pursue the case further, Wenfang began to miss her sick mother again.
Taking advantage of the rest day, after saying hello to Miss Bai, she took the carriage that Zhuangzi had gone out to buy and came to Wuchang Mansion. After going into the city to buy some things, she took the carriage to Tian'en Temple.
It is very convenient to go to Tianen Temple from Wuchang Prefecture. There are several carriages going there every morning. You can get on the carriage for ten copper coins.
More than an hour later, the carriage stopped at the gate of Tianen Temple.
Wenfang's father had no other skills. When he was a child, he learned some papier-mâché skills from his family. The things he made looked pretty good, so he rented a small shop near Tian'en Temple to make a living.
It was open for business during the day and closed at night, and the family lived in the store.
After getting off the car, Wenfang walked home on a familiar road. After turning into her alley, familiar neighbors greeted her one after another.
"Wenfang is back to see your mother again?"
"Look at these big and small bags. Every time I come back, I buy a lot of things."
"Ms. Liu's daughter really didn't live in vain, now she can count on her!"
Wenfang smiled and talked to the neighbors as she walked home, completely unaware that her every move had fallen into the eyes of the people watching her.
Near Tianen Temple, new faces often appear, and some families rent out empty rooms to people who come to worship Buddha.
Therefore, the few people sent by Mr. Han hid in the alley for so many days without arousing any suspicion.
Although they have never met Wenfang, they can roughly guess her identity from her conversations with neighbors.
So when she stopped in front of her house, everyone got excited.
Several people have been guarding here for several days, working day and night without any slack. It is really tiring.
When Wenfang walked in, someone happened to be buying something, so she walked straight to the back room without talking to her father.
The back room was both the place where Wenfang's father made papier-mâché and the family's bedroom.
The room is not small, but most of the place is full of things, so you have to be extra careful when walking.
There is a bed against the wall at the far end of the room, and a small table for eating next to it, which is the only trace of life in this room.
"Mom, I'm back to see you." Wenfang put the things he was carrying on the table, sat sideways on the bed, and asked with concern, "How are you taking the medicine you took last time? Are you feeling better?"
"
A muffled cough came from the bed, and then Wen Fangniang's feeble voice sounded.
"This is all an old problem for me. Taking medicine is just to maintain it. Is there anything good about it?"
"Mom, I heard someone said that Mrs. Tong came to Wuchang Prefecture and her medical skills are very good. Later I will try to find a way to take you into the city to see a doctor."
"My mother has been suffering from this problem for so many years. She has spent so much money and seen so many doctors, but nothing has improved. Please stop spending money!
"You also have to think more about yourself and save yourself some money for self-defense!"
"Mom, don't worry. I'm following the girl now. I have no worries about food and clothing. It doesn't cost much." Wenfang said, taking out the handkerchief and wiping her mother's tears. "Look, what's going on on my body?"
The clothes are all made for us by the girls, and we can get several new clothes a year!"
After hearing this, Wen Fangniang raised her hand and pinched her daughter's sleeve. Seeing that it was really good material, she felt relieved and said, "That's good. The one I worry about the most is you. Fortunately, you have a good life and meet a good girl."
master."
Seeing that her mother was about to shed tears again, Wenfang quickly opened the cake she just bought from the city and said, "Mom, I bought your favorite water chestnut cake. It was newly made this morning. Please try it."
When a customer who was shopping outside saw Wenfang, he pretended to be unintentional and asked Wenfang's father: "Who is the young lady who came into the house just now? I don't think I have seen her in your store before!"
He often came here to buy things during this period, and he spent a lot of money. He was considered a big customer in the store, so when Wenfang's father heard his question, he smiled and said: "She is my daughter, and now she is working as a maid in someone else's house."
, I only come back when I’m not on duty, so you haven’t seen it yet!”
"I see, the boss's son and daughter are so capable. What a blessing!" The guest became more and more sure of Wenfang's identity after hearing this. After Wenfang's father wrapped everything, he gave the money and left with the things.
.
Knowing that Wenfang was back, at noon, the eldest brother also came over with his wife and son.
As soon as the child entered the door, he shouted: "I want to eat meat, I want to eat meat!"
The eldest brother didn't think anything was wrong at all, but the sister-in-law pulled her son back a little embarrassedly and said, "Didn't you see that aunt is back? Did you call me aunt?"
The child shouted at Wen Fang: "Auntie, I want to eat meat, have you bought the meat?"
The sister-in-law's face became more and more worried. Just when she was about to say a few more words about the child, Wen Fang's father stopped her and said: "It's not an outsider, that's his aunt. Why do you care so much!"
After he finished speaking, he put on a smiling face, bent down and picked up his grandson and said, "My dear grandson, are you hungry for meat? Tell your mother to go stew the meat quickly. You can have it at noon soon."
"Oh, great, we have meat to eat!" the child cheered, and then said to the sister-in-law, "Mom, hurry up and stew the meat!"
The sister-in-law could only go to the half of the kitchen she had built at the back, and whispered to Wenfang, who was already busy inside, sheepishly: "Sister-in-law, the child is not sensible. Don't be as knowledgeable as him."
Wenfang had long been accustomed to her father's preference for boys over girls, so she asked with concern: "Why, is eldest brother's business sluggish recently?"
"That's what business is all about!" said the sister-in-law and started to pack up a piece of meat that Wenfang bought, "You also know that the location of the store your brother rented is not good, and there are few customers, so he can only barely make ends meet!
"
"If you ask me, it's better for my eldest brother to learn the art of papier-mâché from my father. Now that my father is getting older, there will come a day when he can't do it anymore. This store and its regular customers are all ready-made, so why not start a new one by himself?
OK!"
"Who says it's not the case!" My sister-in-law sighed after hearing this, "But your brother won't listen to anything I say. Why don't you take the time to persuade him?"
Wenfang was very aware of her eldest brother's stubborn temper, and did not want to get involved in these matters, so she smiled noncommittally and did not answer the question.
The sister-in-law also seemed to feel that what she said was inappropriate, so she shut her mouth and concentrated on the work in hand.
Soon, the dishes were put on the table, and the family crowded on the small table beside the bed to eat.
Wenfang first took care of her mother after finishing the meal and then returned to the table. She found that the full bowl of stew had been eaten clean, and even the broth at the bottom of the bowl had been mixed with rice by her nephew.
Father Wen Fang said directly: "You are well fed and well dressed at the master's house, but do you still need this piece of meat?"