Chapter 279: 277: Ruo Ruo’s Decision

After the Winter Solstice, the weather became much colder.

The entire sky was gloomy, making it difficult to open one’s eyes.

The river had long been frozen, and a thick layer of ice formed, making it seem as though even the river water had stopped flowing. The next day, snow fell from the sky once again.

This was the fourth heavy snowfall of the year!

Unlike the previous ones that stopped after two days, this snowfall only grew heavier, swiftly covering the entire land in a thick layer of white.

Almost every household in the village began to hunker down for winter, with cooking smoke filling their homes continuously.

Di Family was no exception. Di Yelei moved the rabbit’s nest directly to the side near the stove and separated a windproof and warm area for the chickens inside the chicken coop. As for his cherished horse, it was wrapped in thick blankets to keep warm, and even its drinking water was changed to hot water. The amount of night grass it was fed increased from once to three times…

On the second day after the Winter Solstice, a villager came to bring an education gift to her home.

The visitor was the well-known beauty of the village, Sister Qiao. Sister Qiao was indeed beautiful and had already found a good match for marriage. She had caught the eye of the only son of a wealthy family in the county during a chance encounter, which led to a marriage proposal. They planned to welcome the bride after the New Year.

Because of this, Sister Qiao’s marriage was clearly a step up. Her doting family decided to spend a bit more silver so that she could learn some characters under Liu Sisi’s tutelage, in order not to be looked down upon once married into her husband’s home.

Liu Sisi thought of the girl, Min’er, from the Land Officer’s home who was also coming to study. Although teaching only two students was a bit less, it didn’t matter.

“You don’t need to give so much for the education gift. You can leave some meat, but take back this tael of silver. Starting tomorrow, let Sister Qiao come here for a lesson every three days. Classes will be held in the evening, starting at 7 p.m and ending at the end of 9 p.m.”

The visitor was overjoyed! “Thank you, teacher. Coming in the evening is convenient for picking up and dropping off, indeed.”

After some small talk, the visitor left happily with the remaining silver.

The next evening, just as it was getting dark, he brought Sister Qiao over. She was indeed beautiful, but she liked to look at people out the corner of her eye, which made her seem quite arrogant!

Liu Sisi sighed inwardly, thinking that such a temperament, once married into a wealthy family, would surely cause her future troubles.

She didn’t avoid the others around, and carefully asked Sister Qiao about her literacy progress, taught some theoretical knowledge, and assigned brushstroke practice. The two-hour lesson ended quickly.

“Is this all for tonight? The price is so high for just teaching this little bit? Teacher, please teach me more! I paid a high education gift, and you shouldn’t hide any tricks!” Sister Qiao’s witty words were quite impressive.

Liu Sisi looked at her indifferently, continuing to tidy up the materials on the table.

“If you think that my lesson today isn’t worth the education gift you paid, you can take it back. I will pretend that nothing has happened.”

Sister Qiao’s face changed colors, and she clenched her lips and remained silent.

“But if you choose to stay and don’t meet my requirements, don’t blame me for punishing you with a heavy stick. Also, remember what I said before: in three days, submit your completed homework.”

After Liu Sisi spoke, she paid no attention to Sister Qiao’s changing expressions and directly picked up her books and left the hall.

There weren’t enough rooms in Di Family’s house, so Liu Sisi thought it through and decided the hall was the most suitable place for teaching. She had cleaned it in advance and had lit several stoves for heating right after dinner.

She didn’t know how or when Sister Qiao left the hall, but when she returned later, she found that the education gift she left in the hall’s corner had not been taken away, making Liu Sisi frown slightly.

Sister Qiao’s personalityas Di Yelei’s first student made it hard for him to enjoy anything!

The next day, she went to Gan Mansion and had a meal after giving Gan Miaoruo her lesson, and then went to the bookstore with her.

“Teacher, Brother Nan doesn’t care about me at all. Ruo Ruo tried her best to please him, but he still finds me annoying. What should I do?”n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Gan Miaoruo was distraught.

Today, Gan Miaoruo was wearing a snow-white, floor-length fox fur shawl that wrapped almost all of her small face. She was holding a colorful oil-paper umbrella with a red base and a beautiful magpie perching on a plum tree picture. Light snow fell on the two of them, quickly accumulating a thick layer.

Several followers trailed at a distance behind them.

Liu Sisi looked back and, as expected, met Di Yelei’s gaze, felt a warmth in her heart and quickly looked away.

“Isn’t it simple? Just do the opposite.”

Liu Sisi smiled lightly: “Since he doesn’t like you trying to please him, you might as well distance yourself from him. Maybe then he’ll realize your worth.”

“Really? Can this method be effective?”

Gan Miaoruo’s face was excited.

Liu Sisi thought for a moment: “It’s hard to say if it’s effective. However, it’s mostly likely not. But Ruo Ruo, don’t you feel tired up to this point? If so, why not learn to let go? Losing him, would you really be so sad?”

While speaking, they had already arrived near the bookstore.

She looked back at Ruo Ruo, who was holding her paper umbrella and looking troubled not far behind her, and then pushed open the door and walked in.

A warm aura rushed towards her, making Liu Sisi involuntarily take a long breath, and covered her hands that had already frozen and lost feeling.

When Liu Sisi sat down to check the accounts, Gan Miaoruo lazily slumped beside her, her eyes wandering aimlessly.

At the moment, there was another waiter at the bookstore. This waiter was none other than Miao Cuihua’s husband, Shou Hou.

Shou Hou started working the day after YingEr’s engagement ceremony, when Miao Cuihua found Liu Sisi and asked her to help find a job for her husband. Liu Sisi initially wanted to refuse because of Miao Cuihua’s past bullying, but the bookstore was understaffed and it was inconvenient for Di Cheng to walk, so she took the initiative to hire him with a monthly salary of 500 copper coins.

A monthly salary of 500 copper coins may not seem like much, but to a waiter in a small town, it is a very high price!

Miao Cuihua was naturally overjoyed and thanked her repeatedly. The next day, Shou Hou started work.

“Teacher, I’ve thought about it. I’ll do as you say!”

Gan Miaoruo suddenly said something beside her.

“What?” Liu Sisi replied casually.

Gan Miaoruo clenched her small fists: “I’m going to give up on him. Although I’m reluctant to, as you said, if I continue to cling to him, he’ll only hate me more.” Her voice was sobbing.