Rural Woman's True Colors 016: The Silent and Upright Daughter-in-law

  Yang Tao had asked Grandma where their land was and wanted to find time to take a look, but was stopped by Grandma.

  It's also true that Pei Yifan, although a bit weak, is still a boy after all. Grandma wouldn't even let him do farm work, let alone herself, who was only about 7 or 8 years old and somewhat frail. So Yang Tao decided not to mention this matter to Grandma for the time being.

  Yang Tao also has self-awareness, although she used to go back to her grandmother's house in the countryside with her mother during winter and summer vacations when she was a kid, but she never did any farm work, just went to take a look, probably couldn't help much anyway.

  Fortunately, it only took two days for Mrs. Wang from Old Xia's family to come to Road Daigne Liu's house to collect the embroidery, and several aunts and mothers expressed that they could embroider more. Seeing everyone so enthusiastic about doing needlework, Mrs. Wang was overjoyed and couldn't close her mouth, how would she have other thoughts? Yang Tao's embroidery work was thus obtained.

  Yangtao's days gradually became more fulfilling. As long as it wasn't windy or rainy, Lu Dama and the others would come to Yangtao's courtyard after finishing their household chores of washing chickens, ducks, geese, and dogs, bringing their needlework and children with them. Since they usually came in the afternoon, Yangtao had plenty of time in the morning to do her embroidery.

  In the afternoon, Yang Tao first embroidered flowers with Da Niang and her sisters. When she didn't understand something, she would ask them immediately. Er Ya Tou and the others were very well-behaved playing on the side because they had expectations in their hearts. Occasionally, they would come over to interrupt, and Yang Tao would tease Er Ya Tou to teach her how to embroider flowers. Er Ya Tou would stare at her with one eye, and then she would sneak away to a distant place, focusing on playing with her younger brother and sister.

  Dalu Dahei and Pei Yifan returned from outside, Yang Tao began to teach the children to recite poems, and then tell them a story.

  Pei Yifan seems to have become bolder than before. One time he came back and surprisingly said that he also climbed trees with Lu Dahei, it appears that Pei Yifan being with Lu Dahei often is beneficial, at least he will become more like a boy. However, washing dishes, an unmanly task, has already become his specialty under Yang Tao's modesty, there's no way to shirk the responsibility now.

  Lu Dahei's "teaching" of Yang Tao was not as enthusiastic as Er Ya Tou's, and he couldn't even be bothered to listen to those so-called stories. Occasionally, under the pressure of Lu Danniang, he would recite two poems by rote, or reluctantly follow along with Pei Yifan, who was very serious and studious.

  Yang Tao didn't say anything, nor did she stare at Lu Dahei. She actually figured it out, this Lu Dahei wasn't unwilling to learn, so why was he being so stubborn? He must think she's just a little girl, and letting a little girl teach him this and that is a very embarrassing thing for him.

  Da Ya Tou appeared in Yang Tao's courtyard several days later, and Yang Tao estimated that she must have been dragged here by Liu Shu and Er Ya Tou.

  Da Ya Tou is only one year older than Er Ya Tou, and looks a bit taller than Yang Tao. She's really shy by nature, doesn't greet people when she sees them, just smiles slightly with pursed lips. When you talk to her, most of the time she responds with nods or headshakes, then smiles shyly. At most, she'll say "en" (uh-huh), "xing" (alright), or "zhī dào" (got it).

  It's really true that every word counts! Yang Tao couldn't help but deeply admire Da Ya Tou, as for people like her and Er Ya Tou who feel uncomfortable with just a few more words, they really don't know how Da Ya Tou does it.

  But what's admirable is that Yang Tao didn't forget Aunt Liu's words, whether she learns or not isn't important, the key is to make her more cheerful.

  After finishing the story, it's still early in the day. Yang Tao sometimes goes with Er Ya Tou and a few others to wash clothes or simply play for a while, and on the way, they review the poem they just learned again.

  Lu Dahei and Pei Yifan didn't follow at first, but instead continued to climb trees in the mountains to catch birds. Occasionally, they could bring back a few bird eggs. But on this day, Yang Tao suddenly made an excuse that since several young maids were going out of the village, their safety couldn't be guaranteed, so Lu Dahei and Pei Yifan went together.

  "Don't go, don't go. You little girls play together, what are we two old men doing following along?" Lu Dahei opposed first.

  "But, Big Black Brother..." Just the other day, Yang Tao was secretly disgusted when she called that handsome guy in white clothes, but now she's calling someone "brother" with ease. Yang Tao couldn't help but feel a deep sense of admiration for herself again, it seemed her adaptability was still quite strong. "Big Black Brother, look, we're all just little girls, what if some bad people bully us?"

  After all these days, Yang Tao finally changed the first person pronoun to "I", it's still a bit awkward, but when in Rome, do as the Romans do, Yang Tao didn't want to make himself look too special.

  "Right, right, Big Black Brother, besides, we can't even swim. What if someone falls into the small river or ditch?" Er Ya Tou has now become Yang Tao's little follower, and no matter what Yang Tao says, whether it's right or wrong, she'll agree with him and even exaggerate a bit.

  No sooner had Yang Tao said that there would be bad people bullying her, she immediately thought that they might actually fall into the water. The creek was shallow, with a depth of less than calf-deep water, what would happen if they fell in? As for the so-called ditch with ducks and geese, Er Ya Tou didn't mention it, Yang Tao wouldn't take the initiative to go see the geese.

  She didn't like to mess with scumbags, so it was best to avoid the "young master of the Xia family" that her grandmothers talked about.

  Da Hei was clearly provoked by Yang Tao and Er Ya Tou's words, stirring up his heroic spirit as a pure man to protect the weak. Moreover, since his own sister was involved, he couldn't just let her be bullied, so he stopped objecting and instead pretended to despise the cowardice of the girls, following them with a helpless expression.

  "Sister, why don't you come with us too!" Although she didn't know who was older between Da Ya Tou and herself, Yang Tao decided to let Da Ya Tou have the upper hand since Da Ya Tou was a bit taller.

  The big girl looked at the excited people and smiled, shaking her head.

  "Go, Da Yutou." Lu Danni encouraged Da Yutou first. "Let Xiao Saner go too, and let your elder sister take care of you."

  "Really?" Little San's eyes sparkled as he looked at his mother, full of expectation. "Mom, can I go too?"

  These days, Xiaosan has been shunned and excluded by Er Yaotou because she is afraid of trouble. Moreover, Liu Ayi also doesn't trust the few young maids to take care of an even younger child, so she doesn't let Xiaosan follow them either.

  "As long as your elder sister goes, you can go too." Liu Aunt didn't persuade Da Yatou to follow along, but instead smiled and said to Xiao San'er.

  "Big sister Ji, you go too, okay or not?" Little San started pulling at Da Ya Tou's sleeve, swinging it back and forth, not letting her embroider flowers.

  Dahutou quietly looked at Liu Aunt, Liu Aunt ignored her, pretending to be very serious about embroidering flowers. Dahutou was helpless and looked at the expectant Xiao Saner and the excited sisters, finally nodding her head.