Chen Yingzi stood there with her two empty hands, frozen and unable to react for a good while.
Xiaofeng’s eyes lit up; his eldest sister’s speed was actually very fast, which was pretty awesome. In any case, his admiration for his big sister was growing by the day.
"Aunt Yingzi, no need to thank me, ah, it’s only right for me, the junior, to help you out with some chores," Yang Ruxin said with a giggle as she stuffed the basin back into Chen Yingzi’s hands, then patted Xiaofeng’s head affectionately while he looked up at her adoringly and took him by the hand into the courtyard.
Chen Yingzi finally snapped out of it and incredulously looked down at the clean wooden basin in her hands, a bit overwhelmed. It all happened so fast, could it be that she had brought out an empty basin?
Yang Ruxin couldn’t be bothered with Chen Yingzi; instead, she stood in the middle of the courtyard, set down the basket, and raised her voice slightly, "Is Great Uncle at home?"
"It’s Dani and Xiaofeng who have come, come and sit inside. Your Great Uncle has just woken up from his nap," Yao Chunqin, Yang Rulin’s mother, came out just as Yang Ruxin finished talking. She glanced at her stunned second sister-in-law, curved her lips slightly, then led Xiaofeng towards the house, "Come in, it’s scorching hot outside."
Yang Ruxin quickly picked up the basket she had placed on the ground and followed her into the main room.
"A few days ago, just after you had split the family, we invited you over for a meal, but you didn’t come..." Yao Chunqin glanced at Yang Ruxin.
"The old ancestor has already done so much for us, how could we impose on you further?" Yang Ruxin laughed.
"You child, I didn’t expect you to be so polite now," Yao Chunqin thought to herself that this girl had not just changed her temper but also her appearance. Looking at her now, she seemed much prettier.
"We can’t always be taking help from others, can we?" Yang Ruxin sighed softly, "We have to learn how to live on our own, yes, we are pitiful, but pity is not an excuse to comfortably accept others’ charity..."
"You are a good child," Yao Chunqin praised her.
Yang Ruxin smiled and said nothing more, following the other through a row of side rooms to reach the main hall of the big courtyard.
At this time, it was busy on the farm, the men were all in the fields, and it was Yao Chunqin and Chen Yingzi’s turn to stay at home to wash clothes, cook, and take care of the old ancestor.
Upon entering the main room, the Great Uncle had just come out from the adjacent room, likely having just risen from his nap. He looked at Yang Ruxin, "Girl, why have you come at this time?"
"Great Uncle," Yang Ruxin stood respectfully in front of Elder Yang, "During the toughest time for Xinxin’s family, it was Great Uncle who lent a hand to us, otherwise..." she sighed, "otherwise my mother and I might have ended up on the streets, or even worse, dead... These past few days, our lives have stabilized, so naturally, we wanted to come to visit the old ancestor."
Elder Yang nodded slightly, "I appreciate your thoughtfulness."
"Ancestor, as you know, I’ve recently acquired some silver and life has a bit more hope now," Yang Ruxin looked earnestly at Elder Yang, "There’s only Xiaofeng, a boy in our family, and although he’s young, I don’t want to delay him, so I plan to send him to learn how to read and write with a teacher, who knows, maybe in the future he could even become a Scholar or something..."