Yang Ruqing smiled and said, “There’s no need, you go talk to them. I’ll be done washing soon.” Please note: I can't actually process HTML tags. My role is to translate the text content within them. If you have any other text you'd like me to translate, just let me know!

"No, let me do it. I ate a lot at night and want to do something to burn off some calories."

Yang Ruqing was not coy either, and said: "Then it's settled, let's go."

Tui'er was very happy, holding her bowl and chopsticks in front, her steps light and quick.

Yang Ruqing watched Cuier's back and smiled slightly.

This young woman is currently living off of others' generosity, though they are all kind and polite to her, not intending to let her do any strenuous work.

But, from Cui'er's perspective, perhaps helping with some things would make her feel a little more at ease in this house. Otherwise, she would feel like she was living off of others and become even more restless.

So, sometimes accepting help from others is also a kind of fulfillment.

In the backyard kitchen, Yang Ruqing and Cuier were busy washing dishes. Cuier wasn't very talkative and wasn't good at starting conversations.

Working in silence, hunched over their tasks, was a bit awkward and stale. So Yang Ruoqing took the initiative to start a conversation.

It's basically a question-and-answer format. Cui'er is cautious and careful with her words. Also, when she talks about people related to Yang Ruqing, Cui'er's language is full of flattery and favoritism, which makes Yang Ruqing feel...

"Cuier, your aunt wants to see you. She has something to ask. Leave this work to me."

Little Flower also came to the kitchen. She was here specially to deliver a message.

Upon hearing that Tai Sun was looking for her in the front yard, Cui'er instinctively felt a little nervous.

Xiaohua didn't seem to notice anything, she rolled up her sleeves directly after entering and prepared to take over Cuier's work. Yang Ruqing on the side saw Cuier's nervousness and anxiety, so she asked Xiaohua: "What does your aunt want to ask Cuier?"

Let me know if you have other text you'd like me to translate!

Xiaohua said: "My aunt was talking with our mother about the old stories of Sunjiaogou. She mentioned a village woman and got confused about the name of her descendants. She asked Cuier to ask."

原来是这个...

Yang Ruqing's eyes glanced at Cuier, and she saw that Cuier had visibly let out a sigh of relief.

This girl, she's really a nervous one.

“Cuier, you go to the front courtyard then. There aren't many pots and bowls left, just leave them to me and Xiaohua.” Yang Ruqing smiled.

After Cui'er left, Xiaohua and Yang Ruqing's conversation flowed naturally.

“Earlier, I heard my Aunt and Mother chatting, they mentioned Cousin Da Jie.” Xia Hua said.

"Auntie said to have our father go back to the town and ask the village head about whether Big Brother Jie, cousin from the autumn exam, passed. It's almost a month since the exams ended, and there's still no news. We're all anxious."

Upon hearing Xiaohua's words, Yang Ruqing also calculated the days in her heart.

Da Jie went to Chang Huizhou to prepare for the exam before the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, and it's estimated he would be done by mid to late August.

When the results come out and are posted, it is estimated to be in mid-September.

"I reckon we'll have news in another ten days or so." Yang Ruohong said.

Little Flower nodded.

"I wonder if Big Jie's cousin will win this year. I see that every day when my aunt cooks, she always whispers to the Stove God for a while." She said.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

Yang Ruqing smiled, "Last time Da'an was at home, he read an article written by Da Jie. He said that Da Jie's writing style and insights had improved a lot compared to three years ago,"

“If he performs as expected this time, he should be around the top candidates.”

When Xiaohua's name was mentioned, her face turned red.

"The same rice and soil nurture different people. Big An brother is really good at studying. He was always the top scorer, whether it was for the Juren or the imperial examinations!"

Yang Ruqing glanced at Xiaohua and smiled: "Well, our big An is indeed not bad. This is what our aunt and sister-in-law said privately. If we say it outside, people will say that we are bragging."

“I think our Big An at home might really be Wenquxing who descended from the heavens,” Yang Ruqing continued.

“Otherwise, with so many scholars in Da Qi, all chosen from talented individuals through layers of selection, the champion's laurel wreath ended up on Da An's head. This is a combination of talent and luck, showing that Heaven favors him.”

Xiaohua nodded repeatedly, her eyes clear and bright.

"Sis, I was thinking the same thing. Comparing us this way, I feel even more unworthy of Big An Gege..."

Xiaohua cried with a sullen face.

Yang Ruqing said, “If Dayan likes you, then you deserve it! As women, after all is said and done, the most important thing is for a man to support us. With his support, we can speak with confidence wherever we go!”

Little Flower: "Sister, I'm the luckiest one. Sometimes I even wake up laughing from my dreams."

Speaking of this, Yang Ruoheng suddenly remembered something and asked Xiaohua: “By the way, Xiaohua, there’s something I’ve always wanted to ask you and Xiaoduo. I’m mainly afraid of bringing up sad memories for both of you.”

“However, after a year and a half of waiting for Da'an to return, the two of you are about to get married. I’ve thought about it carefully and still want to ask you, if you can remember, answer truthfully, don’t hide anything. We don’t have anything to hide between us now.” Yang Ruoqing said.

Xiao Hua was a little nervous, "Sister, just ask whatever you want."

Yang Ruqing said: "Don't be nervous, I just want to ask, when I saved you and Xiaoduo, you were both over seven years old, almost eight,"

"A child this big should, logically speaking, have some impression of their parents and grandparents."

Although you recognize my parents as your own, a woman's marriage is a lifelong commitment, a very special occasion.

"If you can remember your birth parents or siblings, and if you'd like them to come to your wedding to drink to your happiness, just tell me, I'll arrange it. I won't let you have any regrets."

After hearing Yang Ruohong's words, Xiaohua fell silent.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate!

She lowered her head, her eyes fixed on the tableware in her hands that she was slowly washing. In a low voice, she said, "Sister, do you know why after seven years of living in this family with Xiaoduo, we've never talked about our biological parents?"

"I remember at the beginning, you also asked, and both Xiaodu and I said we didn't remember,"

"You guessed we were young and scared, forgetting everything. Actually, that's not the case. Both Xiao Duo and I remember everything, just choose not to say it."

Let me know if you'd like to translate something else!

"Ah?"

Now, Yang Ruqing was surprised.

"After seven years of keeping it a secret, you two little girls are quite skilled!" Yang Ruoqing said with a smile.

Xiaohua raised her head, a little flustered and anxious, and said, “Sister, we were hiding this because we didn’t want to remember it.”

“Because as soon as we think about it, we become sad, and at night we wake up from our dreams crying,”

“Xiaoduo and I actually come from the same village. When she was still in her mother's womb, her father passed away.”

“Her mother lived a hard life with her, and that year, her mother also died of illness. Because her mother was my aunt's sister, she entrusted me to my mother before she passed away.”

"My father is an alcoholic and a gambler. My mother is like a steamed bun, she can't control my father."

“My father owed money to others outside. We sold everything we could in the house, even our fields. In the end, my father lost everything and wanted to sell Little Blossom. Fortunately, my mother stopped him.”

“When my father got angry, he sold my mother and I don't know where he took her. I heard from villagers that my mother was sold to those places you wouldn't want to go.”