Chapter 115: Superb carving!

Zhang Lao San leaned on a small stick, walked over to a stool at the side, sat down, then took a few rough breaths before answering.

"Yes, I carve these; they're just worthless little trinkets. If you like them, miss, take two for the kids to play with." Zhang Lao San laughed heartily.

"This wood is all given to me by the neighbors; as a useless person I have nothing else to do, so I carve at home and give them to the children."

"The children of poor families have nothing to play with; these little wood carvings can keep them happy for a long time."

Zhang Lao San seemed not to have spoken to anyone for a long time; his voice was a little hoarse, but looking at those rows of wood carvings, his eyes glowed with fervor.

Jiang Yunchu stepped closer, then turned and asked, "May I pick one up to have a look?"

The room was a bit dim, so she couldn't see clearly; she only saw the objects in a hazy blur, yet they were vividly lifelike.

"If you don't mind, miss, feel free to pick a few; they're just worthless little trinkets." Zhang Lao San burst out laughing.

Jiang Yunchu thanked him, saying, "Thank you; I have a few children at home, I'll buy some later and bring them back for the kids to play with."

She first picked up a wooden rabbit carving; as soon as it was in her hand, she immediately felt the difference—it was smoothed round and supple, with no sharp edges, so it wouldn't prick the hand.

Afterwards, she took the rabbit outside and examined it carefully under the scorching sunlight.

Needless to say, this little rabbit is adorable and cute-looking, even its squinting, smiling eyes are lifelike.

This…

Superb carving!

"Look at this carving—it's not ordinary." Returning to the room, Jiang Yunchu gave a gentle smile; that little rabbit was placed in his hand and rubbed twice.

Zhang Lao San, who had just been lowering his head, suddenly lifted it and looked at Jiang Yunchu's face.

On her face he saw no familiar trace, and this time he put his mind at ease.

"Hey, I'm just a useless person carving for fun; what's so extraordinary about it? If you like it, miss, take them all." Zhang Lao San's smile was a bit stiff, but he put on an indifferent tone.

Had it not been for Jiang Yunchu's keen observation, her occupational habit from her previous life might have caused her to overlook Zhang Lao San's tremor.

"I'm also heading home to give these to the kids to play with; can I take all of these?" She crouched down and looked at Zhang Lao San.

Because his leg is disabled, the stool he sits on is very low.

She had to crouch down to be able to meet his gaze.

Zhang Lao San smiled somewhat reluctantly, "If you like it, miss, take them all."

"Please don't worry, I'm not a meddlesome person; I'm just curious."

She took thirty copper coins from her money pouch and handed them over directly.

Zhang Lao San hastily waved his hands, "This wood is all picked up by the neighbors and those children; it's worthless, you can just take it—I won't take any money."

Jiang Yunchu squatted on the ground, not minding the dirt on her clothes, watching Zhang Lao San refuse money, she directly placed the copper coins on a nearby table and said, "The wood may be worthless, but the carving skill is valuable; besides, I'm buying these for my own children, so as their mother I ought to pay for them."

After placing the money, she had the shadow collect all the wood carvings.

"Oh dear, miss, have you been waiting anxiously?" That auntie came running in from outside.

Behind her followed four or five women, as well as the noodle stall's old man from just now.

"Come on, Zhang Lao San, you assign the work, we'll do it." The auntie, straightforward and outspoken, entered the house and directly told Zhang Lao San.

Zhang Lao San looked at everyone and said, "Why go to all this trouble again?"

He earns only as much copper as his ability allows; for the sake of copper coins, he needlessly implicates the neighbors.

"Old Three, look at what you're saying; back when your father distributed grain to us, he never said anything like this."

"Exactly, exactly; which of us neighbors hasn't received some favor from the Zhang family?"

"Everyone has times of hardship; we have each other."

That old man walked over, didn't say anything, just patted Zhang Lao San on the shoulder to let him relax.

Over the years, whenever the neighbors buy snacks for their children, they come to buy candied haws, just to be able to send some food to Zhang Lao San—each household contributes a little, so this person can get by, right?

"Thank you all." At this critical juncture, Zhang Lao San couldn't bring himself to refuse.

For a moment, the house bustled with activity.

Jiang Yunchu watched as some washed, some removed seeds, some dried, and some threaded the hawthorn berries.

Zhang Lao San washed his hands clean, then cleaned the pot and tools, and began boiling syrup on the side.

With many hands, the work went quickly; soon the fifty candied haws were coated in syrup, emerging one by one from the pot.

"Miss, have a taste." The auntie looked at Jiang Yunchu with eager anticipation.

Jiang Yunchu smiled and nodded; seeing their production process, she felt reassured about giving it to the children.

It entered the mouth clean and sweet; the syrup was crisp, the hawthorn tart, instantly appetizing and refreshing, with a rich sweet-and-sour flavor.

Needless to say, this is the most delicious candied haw she has ever eaten.

"How about it? Do you want more of those fifty?" The auntie asked a bit embarrassed, mainly because Zhang Lao San's life is hard, their help is limited, and this miss buying so much could improve his future days a bit.

Jiang Yunchu nodded, "Make all these hawthorns into candied haws for me; however many there are, I'll take them all."

There are many children at home, there are also not a few young masters from Ningguang Yuan, and the Kang Fu manor also sends some.

With such delicious candied haws, she thought Qing Feng Da Ru would probably like them too; she didn't know whether he had decided about the previous matter.

"Good, good, good, we'll do it right away." Everyone listening nearby became excited and delighted, nobody dissatisfied, nobody unhappy.

Everyone got busy, each doing what they needed to do, already practiced and adept.

"Old Three, what are you standing around for? Hurry up and work." The old man at the side patted him.

Zhang Lao San looked at Jiang Yunchu and said, "These could make over a hundred strings; madam probably couldn't eat that much."

Upon hearing that, the auntie grew anxious.

The people of the old Zhang household all have this flaw—they can't bear to see others living poorly.

However, before the auntie could speak, Jiang Yunchu spoke first.

"It's fine; my household has many people, and if we need candied haws again next time, I'll have my household come directly to place an order with you."

"Good, good, good, you can also order at my noodle stall; as long as there's no heavy rain or snow, my stall is set up year-round, and in this Bei Cheng nobody doesn't know it."

Before Zhang Lao San could speak, the old lady readily agreed.

During the hardest days, her father-in-law fell ill; they had no money, and finally Zhang Lao San's father hired a doctor for his father-in-law, which allowed the father-in-law to live again.

These are all kindnesses, and she remembers them.

Although Zhang Lao Yezi is gone, Zhang Lao San is still around, so she naturally keeps him in mind more.