allonlinenovel Chapter 158 Helping Shuisheng Find a Way to Change His Predicament
Chapter 158 Helping Shuisheng Find a Way to Change His Predicament
Lin Xiaotang had already heated up the dry rations and filled a bamboo tube with hot water, then took it out and carried it into the carriage.
Inside the house, Liu tucked the blanket around her youngest daughter before stepping into the courtyard. Seeing that her husband had already loaded the carriage, she softly instructed him, "Father, don't worry about me at home. Just drive the carriage carefully on the way."
Seeing his wife's concern for him, Lin Qingchuan felt a warm glow in his heart. He grinned and said, "I know, I'll listen to Fengniang. I'll definitely drive the carriage steadily."
Li Xiaotang was genuinely happy for her parents, whose relationship remained strong even after so many years of marriage.
After seeing her husband and daughter off, Liu glanced into the kitchen and saw that the little girl she had bought was sleeping peacefully on the mattress. She then went back into the room and cuddled her little daughter to continue sleeping. It was still dark, so there was no rush for breakfast.
Taking advantage of the lingering moonlight, Lin Qingchuan drove his carriage out of Qinghe Town and headed towards Dushui County.
On the way, he said to Tang'er, "Tang'er, sleep a little longer. I'll wake you up when we get to the county."
Lin Xiaotang was already sleepy. She went to bed early after dinner yesterday evening. She got up at 9 pm to start braising pig's trotters. While watching the fire, she dozed off for a while, but she was still very sleepy. She kept busy until her father was about to come back before she finally finished cleaning everything up. Her mother even helped her.
If things continue like this, her small body will eventually break down. So, she sincerely hopes that Xiao Jiu's injuries will heal soon so that she and her father won't have to be so busy.
So she didn't refuse at all and immediately agreed, "Father, I'll go to sleep now. Thank you for driving the carriage all by yourself."
Lin Qingchuan's face was full of doting, "We're father and son, why talk about hardship? If anyone's been working hard, it's you. You're only a few years old, yet you're helping your father earn money and do chores. Your father feels guilty."
"What's there to feel guilty about? We're a family working together. Okay, Dad, I'm going to sleep now. We'll talk more when I wake up."
"Well, go to sleep."
Lin Qingchuan drove the carriage at a brisk pace, raising dust wherever it went, but since it was still dark, the dust was not very noticeable.
She was really tired, and despite the bumpy ride in the carriage, Lin Xiaotang slept incredibly soundly.
When her father woke her up and she looked out of the carriage, it was already broad daylight, and they were already at the back door of Wanhe Restaurant.
She quickly jumped off the carriage to make room for her father, who then unloaded the braised pig's trotters and carried them through the back door with the restaurant staff.
After finishing his work, Lin Qingchuan went down into the ice cellar and brought out dozens of raw pig trotters. There weren't many raw pig trotters left in the ice cellar, so he had to find a way to go to Dushui County to buy more and store them for future use.
On the way back, Lin Xiaotang sat with her father outside the carriage door, and her father taught her how to drive the carriage.
"Father, just give me the reins. This carriage doesn't look difficult to drive."
Lin Qingchuan laughed and said, "Don't think that driving a carriage is just about pulling the reins. There's a lot to learn. I didn't know at first. I had to lead a donkey cart for a long time and then drive a horse-drawn carriage for a while before I figured it out."
Lin Xiaotang immediately became interested, her eyes shining as she asked, "Dad, tell me quickly, what's the secret?"
When talking about these things, Lin Qingchuan's face became more confident. He said incessantly, "When you hold the reins, you can't pull them too tight, otherwise the horse will feel too much force and stop suddenly. But you can't pull them too loose either, otherwise the horse will run too fast. To avoid the speed of the carriage being too fast or too slow, you have to control the force of your hand holding the reins."
Also, driving a carriage isn't just about sitting here holding the reins; you have to be observant and attentive to your surroundings at all times to avoid any unexpected events that might startle the horse. But the most important thing is what's ahead. If you see a puddle or a small pothole in the distance, you have to slow down immediately to prevent the wheels from getting stuck.
"Wow, even driving a horse-drawn carriage involves so many intricacies! Father, you're amazing!"
She thought that only modern driver's license tests had so many rules, but she could understand that driving a horse-drawn carriage required controlling the force and observing the environment.
Lin Qingchuan was a little embarrassed by his daughter's praise. He blushed and said, "Actually, it's quite easy. It's just that you're still young, and I was afraid you wouldn't be able to drive the carriage properly if you suddenly changed your mind. Fortunately, we picked a good horse that is gentle and obedient."
"Yes, I understand, Dad. Let me give it a try."
Lin Qingchuan shifted his position, letting his daughter sit in the middle, and handed her the reins.
"Try it as your father says. Don't be afraid, your father is with you."
Lin Xiaotang was deeply moved by her father's heartwarming words. Fortunately, she had met parents who loved her and Xiaoyu dearly. In the village, many baby girls were killed by their families before they even had a chance to open their eyes. It was extremely rare for her and Xiaoyu to be loved so much by their parents even though they had no brothers.
A tear welled up in her eyes, but quickly disappeared. She smiled and nodded, "Okay, Dad, don't worry, I'm very clever."
Holding the reins, he imitated his father and drove the carriage quite skillfully. The carriage ran very fast, but fortunately it was moving at a steady speed.
There were already pedestrians on the way back. At this time of day, most of them were heading to the county from the villages along the way. Some were driving mule carts carrying many villagers, while others were carrying loads on their shoulders and walking to the county. There were not many people going back as early as they were.
Because they carried live pig trotters in their cart and didn't want anyone to know they were doing business, they never gave people a ride for a penny or two.
Lin Xiaotang drove the carriage with great concentration. Lin Qingchuan was relieved to see that his daughter was driving very well, and then he thought of Shuisheng's matter.
"Tang'er, there's something I'm not sure if I should say."
Lin Xiaotang turned her head and glanced at her father. Seeing the struggle on his face, she said, "Father, tell me. It's just the two of us, there are no outsiders."
Lin Qingchuan then revealed his thoughts, "Dad thinks your Uncle Shuisheng is a good person. Before the family divided the land, your grandpa and stepmother never went to the fields to weed. As soon as your Uncle Shuisheng finished his few acres, he would secretly go and help me with the work. When the family divided the land, he risked Dad being exposed and implicated by the whole village to help Dad put on a show. If it weren't for your grandpa, the family wouldn't have divided the land so readily. That time when we sold turmeric, your Uncle Shuisheng was slashed by a gambler while helping us..."
Now, the turmeric in the field is almost ripe. It's all thanks to your Uncle Shuisheng who goes to the field day and night to watch over it that Dad can concentrate on our family business. Your Uncle Shuisheng only has his widowed mother left to depend on him. His mother is in a medicine pot all year round. No matter how hard he works, he can only barely make ends meet. He's only a year or two younger than Dad, but he hasn't even found a wife yet.
He's a kind, loyal, and hardworking man. Dad thinks we should help your Uncle Shuisheng, but Dad can't think of any ways to make money that would suit him. You're quick-witted, so why don't you try to think of something for your Uncle Shuisheng? You're young, so it's okay if you can't come up with anything. Anyway, Dad has only told you this idea; your Uncle Shuisheng doesn't know about it.
Help Uncle Shuisheng out of his predicament and find a way to make money?
Actually, it's not that difficult!