The words “own younger brother” made Father Huo feel somewhat conflicted.
Old Lady Huo had given birth to three sons and two daughters.
The two daughters had long been married off. The ones who remained by Old Lady Huo’s side were only the three brothers.
But his relationship with his elder brother was poor. Not to mention brotherly affection, they were not even as good as ordinary neighbors.
After Huo Mingqian passed the county level examination, Father Huo did not even dare to approach him.
Now that this younger brother, a scholar, had taken the initiative to speak of brotherly ties, he was naturally pleased.
For a moment, his chest felt warm.
“Mingqian is right. Yuchan, since your Third Uncle has agreed, you can go with him later to get it.”
Huo Mingqian said with satisfaction, “That’s more like it. We are family. It’s just paper and brushes, not anything valuable.”
Ning Yuchan truly needed paper and brushes. When Huo Mingqian called her as he was leaving, she followed him to the eldest branch.
Mother Huo was worried she might be bullied by the eldest branch, so she urged Taohua to go along with her.
Taohua did not want to see the eldest branch’s faces, but she was also worried that her sister-in-law would be bullied, so she reluctantly followed.
When Huo Mingqian saw Taohua, he took out a few copper coins from his sleeve. “Go buy some sweets.”
Taohua did not have as much pride as Mother Huo.
Taking money from outsiders was not acceptable, but this was her own uncle, so it should be fine.
“Thank you, Third Uncle.” She smiled sweetly, took the coins, and carefully placed them into her small pouch.
Huo Mingqian rarely had the interest to chat with his little niece.
“Have you memorized the Three Character Classic I taught you before?”
Taohua suspected he was looking down on her. “What’s so difficult about that? I memorized it long ago.”
Huo Mingqian flicked the small braid on her head. “Then I’ll test you.”
Taohua said proudly, “Test me however you like.”
Huo Mingqian was worried that the little girl was boasting and might cry if she was stumped, so he started with the simplest parts.
Taohua answered fluently.
He gradually increased the difficulty, yet nothing could stump her.
Huo Mingqian became interested and tested her on other texts he had taught as well.
Taohua still answered with ease.
Huo Mingqian could not help but look at his little niece with admiration.
“It’s a pity your elder brother and younger brother do not like studying. You, on the other hand, are quite clever. In our Great Zhou Dynasty, women could not take the imperial examinations. Otherwise, Taohua would surely pass as a xiucai.”
Taohua was so praised that she felt lightheaded, and for the first time, she felt that this Third Uncle was not bad.
The three of them soon entered the courtyard.
This was Ning Yuchan’s second time coming to the eldest branch.
The last time, when the rooster was stolen, she had followed Mother Huo to look for it. All her attention had been on the rooster, and she had not had the chance to observe the eldest branch.
Today, she had both the time and energy.
Back then, Father Huo had built two thatched huts at the entrance of the village. After their life improved, he bought the place next to Old Lady Huo’s house.
That was the house they were living in now.
There were three rooms in the main house, three rooms in the east wing, and three rooms in the west wing.
The courtyard was not large, about a little over one mu of land. A portion was left open for daily activities.
The rest of the land would be planted with vegetables once the weather warmed, enough to eat from summer through autumn.
Old Lady Huo’s courtyard, however, was much larger, at least three times the size of Father Huo’s.
There were five rooms in the main house, five rooms in the east wing, and at least five rooms in the west wing.
It was decorated richly and magnificently, comparable to houses in the city.
Third Brother Huo lived in the main house with Old Lady Huo.
Old Lady Huo liked this son the most and had specially cleared out a room for him as a study.
Ning Yuchan had grown up living together with Ning Yuqiao. This was her first time entering such a large courtyard.
As she looked around, she sighed inwardly. When she earned money someday, she would also get a residence this large.
Huo Mingqian’s study was kept very clean. Near the window stood a large redwood desk, with several books placed on it. The evening sunlight shone in, making it both warm and elegant.
Ning Yuchan felt even more envious.
She had studied and learned to read since childhood.
When her mother was still alive, there had been a desk at home. After her mother passed away, the desk was gnawed apart by rats, and Old Man Ning simply burned it as firewood.
Up until now, there was not even a usable writing brush left in the house.
If only she could have a study of her own.
In her spare time, she could sit inside, read books, and practice writing.
If she also kept two pots of flowers and plants, she did not know how pleasant life would be.
Huo Mingqian let her look around freely. He took out a stack of paper, a brush, and a box of ink from the drawer, wrapped them up, and placed them in front of her.
“Take these and use them.”
On the north side of the study, there was a row of bookshelves filled with books.
Ning Yuchan was captivated and unconsciously walked over to take a closer look.
“Third Uncle, you’ve collected so many books.”
In the Great Zhou Dynasty, paper was expensive and books were expensive. If the Huo family had not once been wealthy, they could not have afforded so many books.
Huo Mingqian noticed her eyes shining brightly. It was clear she liked them.
“If there’s anything you want to read, take it and bring it back to read. Just don’t damage it. Return it after you finish.”
Ning Yuchan was overjoyed. “I can read all of these?”
Huo Mingqian said generously, “Read whatever you like.”
Ning Yuchan had a sense of propriety. Even with the owner’s permission, she would not be greedy.
What she most wanted to do now was to restore the Huo family’s dog-skin medicinal plaster formula, so she naturally chose related books.
She carefully looked around and indeed found two medical books.
One was placed lower, and she easily reached it.
The other was placed higher. She turned back and asked Huo Mingqian, “Third Uncle, may I borrow that one?”
Huo Mingqian, tall with long arms, easily reached over her and took it down.
“Here.”
He had thought the young girl would like storybooks about scholars and beauties.
Seeing that both books she chose were related to medicine, he felt a bit more admiration for her. “I didn’t expect you to like this kind of book.”
Ning Yuchan felt a little embarrassed. “My father is injured. I want to see if I can help him.”
She was truly a filial girl.
Even after holding the wedding ceremony with a big rooster, she had not shown the slightest complaint and treated her father-in-law and mother-in-law as if they were her own parents.
Huo Mingqian had already regarded her differently, and now he respected her even more.
While the two were talking, they suddenly heard noise outside.
It was Taohua and Eldest Aunt Huo.
Ning Yuchan quickly picked up the two books and the paper and ink that Huo Mingqian had wrapped, and went out to find Taohua.
When Eldest Aunt Huo saw Taohua, her expression turned unpleasant, and she immediately began to scold.
“What’s this? Can’t you get enough to eat at home, so you come to squat at other people’s houses at mealtime?”
Taohua was not someone who would swallow her anger and directly retorted, “Even if I had to beg for food, I wouldn’t come to your house. Third Uncle told me to come get something. Otherwise, do you think I’d want to come?”
The two went back and forth, neither willing to back down.
“Taohua, let’s go,” Ning Yuchan said, holding the items in one hand and pulling Taohua with the other. “Mother is still waiting for us to eat.”
She did not greet Eldest Aunt Huo.
She quickly stepped out of the room.
Eldest Aunt Huo was already angry, and when she saw that Ning Yuchan was carrying quite a few things in her arms, she hurriedly chased after them.
“You little slut, what are you carrying? Broad daylight and you’ve already become a thief?”
Eldest Aunt Huo had a foul mouth, and her insults were harsh.
Ning Yuchan said unhappily, “These are books I borrowed from Third Uncle. I’ll return them after reading. How is that stealing?”
Eldest Aunt Huo put her hands on her hips, pointing at Ning Yuchan as if she was so angry she had to take a couple of deep breaths.
“Oh my, using your Third Uncle’s kindness to block my mouth? The money for your father’s treatment was all borrowed. Your whole family is lazy, greedy, and useless, and you can’t even afford food, yet you borrow books to read?
Why don’t you say you’re going to take the county level exam and become the top scholar too!”