Reborn as a Landlord-Chapter 1173 - 598: A Secret Discovered by Chance

The first watch, seeking support with pink tickets, original subscription, and recommendation votes.

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Because he was accustomed to it, Yuan Tan slightly declined and then went to wash his hands. Afterward, he sat on the edge of the kang. However, he didn’t immediately take a snack to eat but first took out a blue handkerchief from his bosom, selected two pieces of snack to wrap up, and carefully placed them back into his bosom. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

"That’s for him to take back to his master to eat." Lian Yeye whispered to Lian Manman.

"Xiao Tanzhi is a filial child." Lady Zhao sighed as she spoke.

It was said that Xiao Tanzhi was unlike a monk, not only because of his appearance and temperament but also because of a habit he had. Whenever he received alms from a household, he liked to help them with their work. This habit made him different from a typical monk. Who had ever seen a monk exchanging labor for alms?

Moreover, every time Xiao Tanzhi received something outside, he wouldn’t eat it himself but would save the best to take back to the temple for his master.

The tenant families at Thirty Mile Camp all liked Xiao Tanzhi, not only because he had the diligence and simplicity of a farmstead boy but also because of his filial piety. Xiao Tanzhi had no parents and was raised by the Abbot Master at the temple.

After putting away the snacks to be taken back to the Abbot Master, Xiao Tanzhi began to eat the snacks on the plate, accompanied by tea. During this time, Lady Zhao personally refilled his water once.

"...Thanks to this child..." Having turned back to sit on the kang, Lady Zhao spoke to Lian Manman and Xiao Qi.

Though Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye were capable, one was a woman, and the other was a young girl about ten years old. Many chores were tiring for them to handle alone. During the days Lian Shouli was recuperating, fetching water from the temple, chopping firewood, carrying loess, and handling coal, heavy tasks nearly all fell on Xiao Tanzhi’s shoulders.

Now, with Lian Shouli busy every day with building the new house with the helpers, Xiao Tanzhi, being a monk, couldn’t join the labor crew. However, he came to this Pickled Vegetable Workshop’s courtyard daily, helping Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye with those heavy chores. His help greatly alleviated Lady Zhao and Lian Yeye’s workload, allowing Lian Shouli to focus without worries.

Seeing the affectionate look in Lady Zhao’s eyes directed at Xiao Tanzhi, one could understand how much she appreciated and favored this young man.

Though Xiao Qi was studying, he hadn’t forgotten Xu Tanzhi, his playmate. He sat beside Xiao Tanzhi, and the two boys began talking in low voices.

"People, everything is fate." Lady Zhao withdrew her gaze from Xiao Tanzhi and Xiao Qi, continuing to stitch the shoe sole in her hand.

"Third Aunt, who are you making shoes for?" Lian Manman glanced at the shoe sole in Lady Zhao’s hand. The size didn’t seem to fit Lian Shouli, nor Lian Yeye, nor Lady Zhao herself.

"For Xiao Tanzhi." Lian Yeye replied, "With spring coming, my mother plans to make a pair of single shoes for Xiao Tanzhi."

As Lian Yeye spoke, she took out a pair of shoe uppers from the needle and thread basket to show Lian Manman. They were made from dark blue cloth and bore no embroidered patterns. Clearly, these were Xiao Tanzhi’s shoe uppers.

"I cut them." Lian Yeye told Lian Manman.

Lian Manman folded the shoe uppers into the shape of a shoe, examined them carefully from all sides, and compared them with the sole.

"Pretty good." Lian Manman remarked.

In this era, needlework was a mandatory skill for all women. Within needlework, an important aspect was making shoes. During this time, whether it was farmstead families or the lower middle class in the city, or even higher-class noble families, they hardly had the habit of buying ready-made shoes. The women of the house were responsible for making shoes and clothing for the entire family, inside and out.

The daughters of farmstead families typically began helping with household chores as soon as they could walk. Initially, they would assist adults with minor tasks, commonly called ’doing odd jobs.’ When they grew a bit older, they would help stoke the fire, cook meals, dig up wild vegetables to feed the household’s pigs and chickens, and tend to the crops.

While doing these chores, a girl would learn to sew as soon as she could use scissors, guided by the adults in the family. For example, in making shoes, the first step was learning to make the inner lining. Once she could handle a needle, she would start with the simplest task of stitching the edges. Then, as she grew stronger, she would learn to stitch shoe soles and sew shoes.

Only after mastering these skills could she learn to draw sole patterns and cut shoe uppers.

Lian Yeye was now able to cut shoe uppers, which meant that she was capable of making shoes on her own.

After finishing his snack, Xiao Tanzhi bid farewell and went out to continue working.