Chapter 273: Going to Play in the City

As they were talking, they arrived at their doorstep. Mrs. Chen suddenly added, "If Lan Zhi really marries your second brother, we can’t let her work at the shop anymore."

Gu Fei asked, puzzled, "Why not?"

Mrs. Chen tapped Gu Fei on the forehead. "Why else? Think about it. She’s only been at your shop for a short while, and someone’s already proposed marriage to her. If this keeps up, the matchmakers will wear down the threshold of your shop."

"I’m just afraid it’ll attract some scoundrels and cause trouble."

Gu Fei nodded. "Alright, then. She doesn’t really like being out in public anyway. It’s just that the shop gets too busy sometimes, and she’s the only one who’s literate and can help collect the silver and keep the records."

’Oh well, I’ll just have Lan Zhi come back to do her embroidery,’ she thought. ’I’ll just have to bite the bullet and hire another cook, then I won’t have to run to the kitchen all day myself.’

Entering the house, she saw Li Chunhua doing needlework by the lamp while Little Cao played beside her.

Seeing her come in, Li Chunhua quickly stood up. "You’re back, Sister. Have you eaten?"

Gu Fei smiled at her sister-in-law. "I ate a while ago. And I haven’t congratulated you yet, Sister-in-law."

Li Chunhua smiled shyly. Gu Fei saw that she was sewing baby clothes from fine cotton in her sewing basket.

Little Cao came running over and hugged Gu Fei’s leg. "Auntie, Auntie! Little Cao hasn’t seen you in so long! I missed you so much I almost cried!"

Gu Fei scooped her up. "Oh, really? Or do you just want your auntie’s candy?" she said, popping a marshmallow into Little Cao’s mouth.

"Weally, weally! As weal as a pearl!" Little Cao mumbled indistinctly, her mouth full as she hugged Gu Fei’s neck tightly.

Gu Fei gave her a kiss. "Tomorrow, you’re coming into the city with Auntie. There’s a little girl there named Yu. She’s about your age and very smart. Auntie will take you to her house to play."

Little Cao was overjoyed. "I want to go to the city! I want to go play in the city!"

Gu Fei smiled at Li Chunhua. "I’ll take her tomorrow morning and have her come back with Er Lang in the evening. Is that alright with you, Sister-in-law?"

Li Chunhua smiled, her lips pursed. "What’s there to worry about if she’s with you? Go ahead and take her. I can even get a day of peace and quiet."

Gu Fei nodded. ’Even though Li Chunhua is illiterate,’ she thought, ’from what I’ve seen throughout this journey, she’s truly sensible, knows how to talk to people and handle situations, and is kind-hearted. And then there’s my younger aunt, who is also from the Li family and is a good person too. It shows that the Li family’s upbringing is excellent. I just don’t know where their family has ended up now... or if they’re even...’

Gu Fei played with Little Cao for a while, then went to find her father to talk about the household registration issue.

Hearing that they needed to find the village head and the village chief, Gu Zhang nodded. "I’ll go with Liu Zhuangtou. They should show him some deference."

Gu Fei nodded. "Let’s see if it works. If not, we’ll figure something else out."

After spending the night at home, Gu Fei took Little Cao into the city early the next morning on Gu Erlang’s mule cart.

After getting things settled at the shop, Gu Fei, carrying Little Cao and a bag of cherries she had bought on the street yesterday, headed for Young Master Zhou’s home.

Instead of going to the main shopfront, she went to the side door in the alley and knocked. A servant from the Zhou Family came and opened it.

Gu Fei entered carrying Little Cao, and Sister Dan came out to greet them. "Oh, and who is this pretty little girl?"

She turned and called into the house, "Yu, come quickly! A little friend is here to play with you."

Yu came running out on her short little legs. Gu Fei put Little Cao down. The two little girls tilted their heads, looking at each other. Suddenly, Yu clapped her hands. "I know! You’re Little Cao! Auntie Little Fei told me about you."