jdhmnovel Chapter 245 Family
Chapter 245 Family
Ru Yue successfully took back the shop left by Ning Shuang and successfully collected all the rent for the past four years.
Faced with this considerable rental income, she did not let the money get to her head. Although money was tempting, she understood the principle that "a gentleman loves money but obtains it in a proper way." She carefully recorded the account and kept the money safely for Yu Qi.
The layout of this shop is quite good. There are two two-story shops in the front, and a courtyard with two entrances in the back.
For Ru Yue, this structure is simply perfect.
The first floor of the shop can be used for medical consultations and prescription medicine; the second floor is perfect for selling rare and precious medicinal materials, as well as various carefully crafted elixirs.
As for the two-entry courtyard at the back, it can be used for the family and the servants to live separately. In this way, each area can be used to its full potential without interfering with each other.
It was already June, and there was only about half a year left until Chu Ning'an arrived in Beijing. Not wanting to waste a moment, she immediately hired someone to begin renovations, hoping to open the clinic as soon as possible so she could make some connections and prepare for the future.
After meticulously arranging all matters at the shop, Ru Yue and Feng Ying hurried to a small courtyard west of the city. The courtyard was modest, consisting of only three main rooms and two side rooms on either side, creating a tranquil and rustic atmosphere. Aji, Tieshu, and the other children were now comfortably settled in this cozy little haven.
When Ru Yue appeared before the children dressed as a man, they were truly astonished. No matter how wildly imaginative these children were, they could never have imagined that the beautiful sister who had given them a warm home could be so lifelike in a man's body... she looked like a handsome young man!
"Sister, why are you here suddenly?" The sharp-eyed Aji was the first to recognize Ru Yue. His face was full of ecstasy. He quickly ran to Ru Yue's side like a happy little bird, and asked her all kinds of questions happily.
Ru Yue smiled, her eyes gently scanning each child, and replied softly: "Everything in the store has been taken care of. I was worried about you, so I came here to check on you." As she spoke, she looked at the group of children carefully.
Ru Yue looked at them. After washing off the dirt, the children were still wearing patched clothes, but the clothes were clean and tidy. Looking at the children's current appearance, Ru Yue couldn't help but ask with concern: "Are you used to living here? Is there anything you are not used to?"
The children flocked to Ru Yue, chattering to her, "Sister Ru Yue, these past few days have been the most comfortable and happiest we've ever had! Uncle Wei specially hired an old man to teach us how to read and write, do arithmetic, and keep accounts every day. And Brother An San even took the time to teach us some martial arts! It's just...it's just that during this time, we didn't do anything but spend your hard-earned money. We all feel really bad!"
Looking at the slightly guilty faces of these cute and sensible children, Ru Yue couldn't help but feel a warm current in her heart. She felt extremely comforted and warmed by their innocence and kindness.
She gently patted one of the children's heads and said soothingly with a smile, "Silly child, don't overthink it! As the saying goes, 'sharpening the knife does not delay the chopping of wood.' If you can learn your skills well, you will naturally be able to handle things with greater ease in the future!"
As Ru Yue was comforting the children, she suddenly noticed a little girl standing at the back of the crowd. Her mother looked a little shy, but her big, clear, bright eyes were particularly eye-catching.
Ru Yue quickly remembered this little girl—it was she who had secretly left a steamed bun for Aji back in the dilapidated temple. Her name seemed to be Lianxing, right?
Ru Yue's heart suddenly trembled, and she thought to herself: How could I be so careless! Look at this little girl, she must be about ten years old. It can't be a good thing for her to hang out with a group of boys like this all day, right?
So, Ru Yue waved to Lian Xing and said gently, "Lian Xing, come over here quickly."
The little girl, a bit shy, slowly walked towards Ru Yue. Every step she took was cautious, as if she was afraid to disturb the air around her. When she finally stopped in front of Ru Yue, the corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a timid smile, and she called out softly, "Sister."
Ru Yue looked at the adorable little girl tenderly and said softly, "Lian Xing, you'll be a big girl soon! Why don't you go to the shop outside with your sister to work?"
These words were like a stone dropped into a calm lake, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. The children present were all stunned upon hearing this, and couldn't help but wonder, wondering if Ru Yue disliked Lian Xing because she was a girl and couldn't perform the "Chasing the Wind" mission well, so she planned to assign her to work somewhere else?
These children have grown up together and have long since established a deep bond with one another. Now, upon hearing that one of them might be separated from the group, they feel an indescribable sense of loss and reluctance deep in their hearts.
"Sister, do you think Lianxing can't do the task of 'chasing the wind' well?" The little girl's big, clear eyes looked straight at Ruyue. A thin layer of mist had covered her eye sockets at some point, just like the mist on the lake in the early morning.
She seemed a little anxious and quickly explained, "Sister, Lianxing will definitely work harder! Even Uncle Wang praised me for my talent in bookkeeping!" After that, her pink little mouth pouted slightly, as if she felt quite aggrieved by Ru Yue's suggestion just now.
Seeing this, Ru Yue felt a surge of pity in her heart. She frowned slightly, looking at the group of lovely children in front of her with gentle yet firm eyes.
She was well aware that in this era, there were clear boundaries and strict norms between men and women, especially for women, who could be criticized and blamed if they were not careful.
She quickly reached out and gently took the little girl's hand, holding it in her palm, feeling the warmth and softness. She raised her other hand and gently tucked the few strands of hair that had fallen from the little girl's temples behind her ears, smiling and comforting her, "Sister, of course, you know that our Lianxing is very capable! And sister doesn't mean that Lianxing will never see her friends again!"
"Lianxing, you are growing up now. Running around and playing with those naughty boys like Aji all day long, it is inevitable that others will laugh at you. But don't worry, if you are willing, your sister can arrange for you to study in the shop, and Sister Fengying will also teach you martial arts personally. In this way, you can not only learn new knowledge and skills, but also come back to 'Zhuifeng' to see Aji and others when you are free. Of course, they can also come to see you!" Ru Yue gently held Lianxing's little hand and patiently and carefully explained her ideas.
These children have always been smart and clever, and they naturally understood the deep meaning behind Ru Yue's words and her painstaking efforts.
The boys' faces showed reluctance, their eyes were full of attachment and helplessness; Lian Xing couldn't help but burst into tears, and crystal clear tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Thank you, sister...but, but I really don't want to leave Brother Aji and Brother Tieshu, they are my family!" Lianxing said with a sob, her voice trembling but sincere.
This simple sentence was like a heavy hammer hitting every child's heart, making everyone's eyes turn red in an instant and tears well up in them.