Ji Wan'er was in a good mood.
On the way back, Ji Wan'er exchanged a few words with Xiao Qingming. She either asked him what he had for lunch or how he was feeling today. As for why Xiao Qingming suddenly came to look for her, he didn't say, and she didn't ask much either. In any case, she could tell that Xiao Qingming genuinely cared about her.
After walking for a while, Ji Wan'er explained to Xiao Qingming the purpose of returning to her parents' home today.
After all, if they managed to sign the lease for the shop tomorrow, they would need to hire people, and the family business would be bigger than before. Although this money could be considered her personal savings, she and Xiao Qingming were still family, so she explained it very clearly to avoid any misunderstandings.
"I wanted to ask my mother for help when I returned today," Ji Wan'er said.
Xiao Qingming turned his head and glanced at her, asking, "What kind of help?"
Ji Wan'er smiled and explained, "I don't want to set up a stall outside every day. It's impossible to sell anything when it's raining. I thought about renting a shop in town. These days, I found a few shops that I liked, so I plan to have my parents come with me to town tomorrow and help me take care of things."
Upon hearing these words, Xiao Qingming pursed his lips, as if he wanted to say something.
"Hmm? Husband, do you think opening a shop is not appropriate?" Ji Wan'er asked.
Xiao Qingming glanced at Ji Wan'er and after a moment, he said, "Actually... I can also do this."
Xiao Qingming wondered if his wife thought he was too foolish and useless, which is why she didn't ask him for help but went back to her parents' home instead.
Ji Wan'er, however, laughed and said, "Of course, I know you can."
Who was Xiao Qingming? In the future, he would become the top scholar and a powerful figure. Although it might not be apparent now, she knew that this person was remarkable.
"I'm just worried that it will distract you from your studies. Besides, when my mother was in the capital, she helped manage a shop, so she has experience," Ji Wan'er explained.
Xiao Qingming didn't pay attention to the rest of the sentence. He only remembered Ji Wan'er's words from earlier, and he remembered her bright and beautiful smile.
She believed that he could do it.
"I... I'm not... not that capable," Xiao Qingming tightened his grip on the basket in his hand, blushing.
Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "Husband, in my heart, you are the most capable. Don't be so modest. You are destined to achieve great things in the future. Renting a shop is beneath you."
Flattery can penetrate even the toughest defenses.
As soon as she said this, a faint smile appeared on Xiao Qingming's face, as if he had applied rouge.
In fact, Ji Wan'er still felt that there was some distance between her and Xiao Qingming, and their relationship was not yet too intimate. She trusted Nanny Dong, whom she had only met once, from the bottom of her heart, which is why she went back to her parents' home to find Nanny Dong.
But she couldn't say these things in front of Xiao Qingming.
The two of them went home, joking and laughing along the way.
As soon as they entered the door, Yun Shuang, who was sitting under the eaves embroidering, stood up nervously and looked at her older brother and sister-in-law.
"Brother, sister-in-law, you're back."
She was really afraid that her sister-in-law wouldn't come back after going to her parents' home this time.
Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "Yes, we're back."
After speaking, she pointed to the basket in Xiao Qingming's hand and said, "Your aunt asked me to bring back some peach pastries for you to try."
Peach pastries?
Thinking back to when they were in the old house, their cousin secretly ate peach pastries before. It didn't smell like much, but judging by their reactions, it must have been delicious.
Zi An didn't think as much as his older sister. He had no idea what had been happening in the family recently, and he had long forgotten about Nanny Dong's visit that day.
All he had in his mind was the peach pastries in front of him. He reached his hand towards the basket on the table.
Before he could touch the basket, his hand was slapped from behind.
"Sister-in-law, you keep it for yourself. My younger brother and I are not hungry," Yun Shuang said.
Ji Wan'er pinched her cheek and said, "Go ahead and eat, don't be polite. Your aunt said it's for you. I can't just take food away from you two kids."
After she said that, Yun Shuang and Zi An finally opened the basket.
The next morning, after selling their food, Ji Wan'er took the two children to visit her parents.
This was the first time Ji Wan'er met her father, Ji Dazhong. Just as described in the book, Ji Dazhong appeared to be a sincere and honest person, not one to speak much. Nanny Dong was mostly in charge of the Ji family, so his presence was relatively low.
"Father, Mother."
"Uncle, Aunt."
Ji Dazhong responded with a smile, looking at his daughter. Although he didn't say much, Ji Wan'er could see the love for her in his eyes.
Nanny Dong knew a lot about shops, and she quickly helped Ji Wan'er secure this shop. The rent was four hundred wen per month, and they paid three months' worth of rent in advance.
After paying this rent, Ji Wan'er has practically exhausted the money she earned recently. Money is spent so quickly.
Seeing her daughter's distressed expression, Nanny Dong comforted her, "This shop is good, in a prime location. You'll quickly earn back the capital."
Ji Wan'er snapped out of her thoughts and said to Nanny Dong, "Yes, I will work hard to earn money, Mother."
Nanny Dong looked at her daughter's confident demeanor and saw glimpses of her own youth in her. She, too, used to be ambitious, wanting to be the first person by the master's side. Unfortunately, luck was not on her side. However, she believed that one day she would return to the capital.
"Well, with such a big shop, you definitely can't manage it alone. Have you thought about who to hire for help?" Nanny Dong asked.
Ji Wan'er shook her head and replied, "Not yet. I was thinking of finding neighbors in the village to help, but then I realized it could lead to conflicts. It might be better to hire people from outside, sign a contract, and work more smoothly."
Nanny Dong looked at her daughter with admiration.
During their conversation that day, her daughter mentioned the help she received from the family next door. Nanny Dong thought her daughter might seek their assistance. If that were the case, it wouldn't be a problem. However, since they were all relatives and neighbors, there were certain things that couldn't be said and certain actions that couldn't be taken. In their daily lives, they were all the same, even considering Nanny Dong as an elder. But once inside the shop, the dynamics would change, with the younger generation giving orders, and that could affect their relationship.
She thought to herself that if her daughter wanted to use them, she could go ahead. With her daughter's personality, she might not even listen to her. If she expressed opposition, her daughter might become unhappy and strain their mother-daughter relationship.
She couldn't tell her daughter everything. She would learn how to conduct business when she faced setbacks herself.
Moreover, with Nanny Dong overseeing things, major mistakes were unlikely to occur.
Her daughter was indeed clever and had already figured this out.
"You're thinking the right way," Nanny Dong smiled and said, "So, how do you plan to find people?"
Ji Wan'er said, "I'm thinking of posting a notice on the door, clearly stating the job requirements and compensation. I'll set a specific time for interested people to come together, and then I'll select the candidates."
If Nanny Dong was pleasantly surprised when her daughter didn't seek help from the neighbors, she was truly shocked by her daughter's strategy. She pondered for a moment, and the more she thought about it, the more she realized how brilliant her daughter's idea was. It wasn't just good, it was excellent. She couldn't fathom how her daughter came up with it.
2
In the capital, when the household needed more staff, they usually bought slaves from slave traders. The slaves would be called out, and the master of the house would make the selection. Alternatively, if there were criminal servants, they would be sold collectively, and the buyers would go to purchase them. If a restaurant or shop needed extra hands, they would typically rely on their own relatives and neighbors or people they were acquainted with through word of mouth.
This was the first time Nanny Dong had heard of people actively coming to the door themselves.
However, while this method was good, it also had its drawbacks.
"You're not familiar with those people, how do you know if they're deceiving you?" Nanny Dong asked.
Ji Wan'er smiled and said, "If there are many applicants, I'll first select a few and then go around their neighborhoods to inquire and investigate."
With a small population here, it was easy to find out about someone.
Then, Ji Wan'er continued, "Once they are selected, I'll have them sign a commitment letter. If any deception is discovered, they will be immediately dismissed. They will be held responsible for any losses incurred by the shop. In serious cases, it will be reported to the authorities."
Her daughter had considered everything so thoroughly. Everything she thought of, her daughter had already thought of it too. And even the things she hadn't thought of, her daughter had thought of.
"Good, since you have thought it through, then proceed as planned," Nanny Dong said.
Selecting the right candidates would take some time. In order to open the shop as soon as possible and minimize the loss of rent, after having a meal with her parents, Ji Wan'er bought a piece of paper and wrote down the job requirements and compensation, then posted it on her door. She stood at the entrance and promoted it for a while. Afterwards, she spent two coins to have the nearby boys help her spread the word after she left.
Then she went to order six tables, matching stools, and bought a good amount of tableware.
We don't need a stone mill because there is one behind the shop.
During lunch, Ji Wan'er told Xiao Qingming about the plan and had him write two commitment letters.
She decided to hire two people this time. Since she had made up her mind to earn more money, she wanted to hire all the staff at once and make a big push.
The next day, they went to the town as usual to sell tofu nao. While selling, they informed the customers about their plan to open a new shop and where it would be located. After finishing the sales, Ji Wan'er and the others went to the rented shop, opened the door, and promoted the job openings by the roadside. Later, Ji Wan'er asked Zi An to sit at the entrance and continue the promotion while she and Yun Shuang cleaned the inside.
Before long, people started coming one by one to inquire about the job openings.
Because Ji Wan'er only needed workers for half a day and was offering a pay of twelve wen per day, attracting women for the job, many people were curious. The short working hours and high wages made it intriguing.
Ji Wan'er explained the job requirements to each of them and told them to come for an interview in two days' time.
Although these two days were busy, Ji Wan'er, Yun Shuang, and Zi An were all quite happy. The reason was simple—they were finally going to open their new shop, and they would no longer have to sell food outside.
On their way back home, they kept talking about the upcoming shop and unconsciously walked all the way home.
Since the new shop was about to open, they also needed to prepare the accompanying food. Ji Wan'er considered making sauce pancakes, but she felt that the best match for tofu nao was youtiao (fried dough sticks)!
Compared to tofu nao, which was not common in the town, youtiao was more readily available, with two or three shops selling it in the town.
Ji Wan'er thought for a moment. It had been a long time since she had eaten youtiao, and suddenly she craved it.
She started by preparing the dough.
Then she went to grind the beans to make some tofu nao.
Once the dough has risen, roll it into long strips and cut them into individual pieces. Stack two pieces together and press a chopstick in the middle. Stretch them out and fry them in a pot of oil. Fry until both sides turn golden brown, then remove them from the oil and let the excess oil drain. Place them on a plate.
Youtiao is a common food item, although it's not made frequently at home. It has no major issues, except that it uses a lot of oil.
After frying the youtiao, Ji Wan'er proceeded to make tofu nao. Before making the pudding, she poured out two bowls of soy milk.
Once everything was prepared, they brought it to the table.
The youtiao was crispy, and taking a bite of it was fragrant and delicious, giving a unique sensation.
"It smells so good and tastes delicious," Zi An said with an oily mouth.
"Why don't you try dipping the youtiao into the tofu nao?" Ji Wan'er suggested.
"Sure," Zi An agreed. She then dipped the youtiao into the tofu nao.
When the youtiao met the soup, it lost some of its crispiness but absorbed the soup. Ji Wan'er loved this particular flavor; she preferred it over the crispy texture.
The youtiao, soaked in the soup, became soft and full, incredibly tasty.
"Mmm, it's delicious," Zi An said with a smile.
Seeing everyone enjoying their meal, Ji Wan'er suggested dipping the youtiao into the soy milk as well, as it also tasted good. However, everyone still found the tofu nao more delicious, especially with the flavorful condiments inside.
During the meal, Ji Wan'er noticed that Xiao Qingming was rubbing his wrist.
When evening came, Ji Wan'er finally remembered about the matter.
After Xiao Qingming returned, Ji Wan'er glanced at his wrist and asked, "Are you tired from grinding soybeans recently?"
Xiao Qingming shook his head and quickly hid his hand behind his back. "No."
"Are you sure it's not from grinding soybeans?" Ji Wan'er asked again.
"No."
Ji Wan'er looked at Xiao Qingming up and down, feeling like he was hiding something.
"Well, that's good. I was thinking that if you were tired, I could give you a massage," she said. She thought about how Xiao Qingming had massaged her shoulders before, and now she wanted to return the favor.
Xiao Qingming's expression froze for a moment as he looked at Ji Wan'er. Then he changed his tune, saying, "Ahem, well, actually, it's a little sore."
Ji Wan'er: ...
One moment he says it hurts, the next moment he says it doesn't.
Is he doing this on purpose?
Ji Wan'er was somewhat puzzled. Nevertheless, she still walked towards Xiao Qingming.
She lifted Xiao Qingming's arm and gave it a squeeze, asking, "Does it hurt here?"
In that instant when Ji Wan'er touched Xiao Qingming's arm, he trembled and had the impulse to pull his arm back. But he held back because there was a voice inside him telling him that he enjoyed this kind of touch, even wanting more.
"Ahem, um," Xiao Qingming blushed deeply.
Ji Wan'er thought that Xiao Qingming was too easily embarrassed. How did someone like him become a powerful figure? Did he rely on his looks? The difference between his personality and the description in the book was quite significant.
"Or... here?" Ji Wan'er changed her grip to a different spot.
Xiao Qingming nodded again and said, "Yes."
She wondered why Xiao Qingming's wrist would hurt from grinding soybeans when he had previously complained about shoulder and neck pain. Could it be that their exertion points were different?
2
If they were to talk about activities that could cause wrist pain, it would be carrying heavy objects, writing, or perhaps something else, but Ji Wan'er couldn't think of anything specific.
She thought that Xiao Qingming's condition seemed more like someone who wrote too much.
"Does the left side hurt?" Ji Wan'er asked.
Xiao Qingming raised his left hand slightly and then put it back down. He shook his head and said, "No pain."
"My husband, have you been writing too much recently?"
Xiao Qingming paused, retracting his right hand, and said, "Ahem, no."
Seeing his reaction, Ji Wan'er became even more convinced that he was hiding something. Could it be true that he had been writing too much? Why would he write so much? It couldn't be that he was constantly copying books...
Thinking back to the several times she had asked Xiao Qingming before, and he hadn't told her, Ji Wan'er hinted subtly, "We have enough money at home. The money you gave me last time hasn't been spent yet. There are still a few taels left from the previous amount, which is enough for our daily expenses. Even if you were to take the imperial examination, it would be enough. We don't lack money at home. Besides, making money is not urgent at the moment. Once you pass the examination and become a scholar, it will be easier."
Xiao Qingming responded, "Hmm, I understand."
After talking for a while longer, the two of them went to rest.
Just as Ji Wan'er had said, Xiao Qingming had indeed been copying books excessively recently, and that was why his wrist was hurting.
But he didn't regret it.
His wife needed money for her shop, and he was earning too little.
He knew how to read books, and he also knew he needed to earn money.
Two days later, after Ji Wan'er finished selling her tofu nao and tidied up her stall, she took a final look and left the place. This was her first earning place, although the time spent there was short, it was filled with memories.
When she arrived at the shop, Nanny Dong was already there.
"Mother, why did you come so early?" Ji Wan'er asked. They had agreed that she would come around the ninth hour.
Nanny Dong replied, "Hmm, your younger brother came to town this morning, so I came along with him."
In the end, Nanny Dong was still worried about her daughter and wanted to come and check on her.
"Your father went to work in the fields, he'll come over later."
"Thank you, Mother."
"Don't mention it."
After about two quarters of an hour, Ji Dazhong arrived.
A little while later, people started coming to the door to inquire about job opportunities. Ji Wan'er briefly explained a few things to them and asked them to wait at the entrance. They had agreed on the ninth hour, so they should start at that time, as it wouldn't be fair to those who arrived punctually.
Ji Wan'er didn't expect that she only wanted to hire two people, but there were more than twenty women waiting outside.
Seeing her daughter's surprised expression, Nanny Dong said, "You're offering good pay for a short duration of work that's not tiring. Naturally, many people want to come. Most of the better jobs are taken by acquaintances, relatives, and neighbors. Most households don't know people like this, so they can't find suitable work. It's a rare opportunity, so of course everyone has come."
After Nanny Dong's explanation, Ji Wan'er understood. This era was different from the one she was accustomed to; relying on relatives was the norm.
Yun Shuang and Zi An went to eat in the back, while Ji Wan'er, Nanny Dong, and Ji Dazhong dealt with the people in the front.
Among the people who came today, there were quite a few good candidates. Ji Wan'er selected five efficient workers for the second round of interviews.
She took these five people to the medical clinic and paid 100 wen to have their health checked. Since they were involved in the food business, their health had to be in good condition. It wouldn't be good if they infected customers with any illness. During the examination, one person was found to be unsuitable.
In the end, there were four remaining. Ji Wan'er asked them to go home and wait for the news, and to come back in three days. If they were chosen, they could start working immediately; if not, they would receive five wen as compensation for their trouble.
The reason for the three-day delay was that Ji Wan'er wanted to investigate the backgrounds of these individuals and verify the information they provided.
"These two women are closer to our house. Mother, you go and inquire about them, and I'll inquire about the other two," Nanny Dong pointed to the names on the paper.
"Alright."
On her way back, Ji Wan'er bought some big bones and meat. Since she had opened the shop, she planned to improve the flavor of the stew and increase sales to earn more money. She decided to use bone broth instead of plain water for the stew.
Upon returning home, Ji Wan'er prepared the bones and placed them in the pot. Then she ground some beans, but this time she ground a smaller amount, just a few bowls for their lunch. Afterward, she made savory pancakes.
During lunchtime, they all enjoyed tofu nao with savory pancakes.
"Sister-in-law, it smells so good, even better than before," Zi An happily remarked.
"Yes, from now on, we'll sell this," Ji Wan'er said.
"It's definitely going to be more successful than before," Yun Shuang added.
Xiao Qingming silently listened to the conversation between Ji Wan'er and his siblings without interrupting. He felt that everything his wife made was delicious. Whether it was the previous tofu nao or the current one, he saw no difference.
When the conversation between the three of them came to an end, Xiao Qingming took the initiative to ask about the day's events. "Did you find suitable people?"
Except for mentioning it casually a few days ago, Ji Wan'er didn't recall explicitly telling Xiao Qingming about today's plan to hire people. She was surprised that he remembered and even asked about it.
Ji Wan'er happily replied to him, "A lot of people came, and I finally selected four. Next, I'll privately inquire about these women with Mother, and we'll finalize the decision in three days."
Will my mother-in-law help?
Actually, he...
Xiao Qingming remained silent, nodded in response, and continued eating quietly.
After the meal, Ji Wan'er planned to go out and gather information. Before leaving, she went to the study to inform Xiao Qingming.
Xiao Qingming glanced at the paper in Ji Wan'er's hand and said, "Madam, I'm quite familiar with this area."
After saying that, he didn't add anything else.
Ji Wan'er was taken aback for a moment before understanding Xiao Qingming's meaning.
Was Xiao Qingming familiar with this place? How could she recall Yun Shuang mentioning that her brother had never been anywhere other than the town to study? In the few months she had been here, she rarely saw Xiao Qingming go out.
However, since he said so, she couldn't directly refuse. So she walked up to Xiao Qingming with the paper in her hand and said with a smile, "Sure, I'm not very familiar yet. I was thinking of having Yun Shuang accompany me to gather information."
"My mother will help me inquire about two people, and I have two people here. We don't need this person for now; her family is in town, and I've met them. I thought of inquiring about them when we go to the shop tomorrow. Today, my main focus is on gathering information about this person." Ji Wan'er pointed to the name on the paper.
The paper not only had the person's name but also other details such as their husband, the number of children, and where they had previously worked.
Xiao Qingming furrowed his brows slightly as he looked at the person's information on the paper.
Seeing Xiao Qingming's reaction, Ji Wan'er thought he wasn't familiar and provided him with an out, "My husband, you've been studying hard. Take a good rest. I'll have Yun Shuang accompany me."
Xiao Qingming glanced at Ji Wan'er and asked, "Is this woman around forty years old, not tall, slightly chubby, and has a mole on her left cheek?"
"Ah?" Ji Wan'er was genuinely surprised. "Yes."
Did Xiao Qingming know this woman?
"Don't use her," Xiao Qingming said directly.
"Why?" Ji Wan'er was already surprised that Xiao Qingming knew this woman, but now she was even more surprised by his words.
She had a good impression of this woman. She was efficient in her work and always had a smile on her face, appearing cheerful.
"She is my cousin-in-law who once stole things from my mother and falsely accused Yun Shuang."
Ji Wan'er didn't expect such a situation. Yun Shuang had been in the courtyard all day and hadn't come to the front, so she naturally hadn't seen this woman. In that case, this person couldn't be used.
"Alright, then I'll go and see the other person tomorrow."
Xiao Qingming glanced at Ji Wan'er. He was delighted that Ji Wan'er trusted him.
Over the next three days, Ji Wan'er came to the shop every day to clean up. She cleaned the kitchen, tried out the stone mill at the back, and made tofu nao and braised dishes over and over again.
She made a larger batch this time and started selling them as well. Although she was selling them after breakfast time, some curious people still came over to taste them.
This time, Ji Wan'er not only made bone broth but also chicken soup. She made tofu nao with bone broth, tofu nao with chicken soup, and added some mushrooms and fungus.
Regardless of the taste, the aroma wafted from the pot while simmering.
These two types of tofu nao were also very popular. Each time she made about twenty portions, and they would sell out before noon.
Having perfected the tofu nao, she also made sesame pancakes and fried dough sticks to sell alongside them, and the results were good. Sometimes, even at lunchtime, people would come to buy them.
Selling them intermittently over these few days, she unexpectedly earned nearly one hundred wen. This was an unexpected gain.
Three days later, Ji Wan'er and Nanny Dong discussed and selected two women.
Nanny Dong explained to her daughter why one of the women wasn't chosen, "Although this woman is efficient in her work, she has a problem. Her brother from her natal family is a gambler. Previously, when she worked as a cook in a wealthy household, her brother would come and cause trouble every day, and in the end, she lost that job. We don't have a strong foundation, and we're running a small business. We can't withstand such disruptions."
Ji Wan'er completely agreed.
She had found it strange that this woman stood out among the others. She was efficient in her work and cooked delicious meals. Why would she come to work at their small shop? With her skills, she could easily earn fifteen wen in a day.
As expected, there's no such thing as a free lunch.
"For the other one, let's choose her," Ji Wan'er pointed to one of them.
Nanny Dong smiled as she looked at the person her daughter selected. She also favored this woman, but she had been afraid that her daughter would choose the other person. After all, the other person was more capable. The reason she liked this one was that her family was in town, very close to their shop. She could come early in the morning, allowing her daughter to sleep a little longer.
"Why?" Nanny Dong asked.
Ji Wan'er said, "Xiao Qingming doesn't want me to use her."
Nanny Dong was surprised. "Your husband's decision?"
Ji Wan'er explained to Nanny Dong.
Nanny Dong nodded. "Then this person cannot be used. However, you need to be more cautious. That woman might not have recognized you because she hasn't seen you much. You haven't been setting up your stall in town for long, so people from the village may not know about it. But now that you've opened a shop selling food, the people in the village will eventually find out. Be careful, as they might come looking for trouble at your old residence."
"I understand," Ji Wan'er said.
"If they really cause trouble, have someone come find me. Since your husband said this shop is for you, we can't let those people from the Xiao family bully you."
"Okay, thank you, Mother." Ji Wan'er sincerely thanked Nanny Dong. However, she hadn't thought about asking for her help. She was already married and couldn't trouble her natal family with everything. She needed to stand on her own.
"Do you know this woman?" Nanny Dong asked. She was afraid that her daughter wouldn't choose her because she knew this woman.
Ji Wan'er nodded. "Yes, your daughter stored the table at this woman's house when she had a stall outside before. She's easy to talk to and very kind. Although she's not very efficient in her work, she has more strength than ordinary people, so she can handle some physically demanding tasks. I've investigated her in the past few days, and she doesn't have any issues."
"That's good," Nanny Dong said. She pointed to the name of this woman and made a suggestion to her daughter, "Since she's nearby, you can have her come early in the morning to grind the beans. That way, you can come a bit later. If the other woman comes late, you can have her do some other tasks. It's best to distribute the workload evenly between the two to avoid any potential conflicts."
"Mother, you always think ahead."
As they were talking, the four women gradually arrived. Those who were selected naturally felt happy and immediately started working. Those who couldn't stay were given five wen as Ji Wan'er politely saw them off.
The other woman was fine. She might have been prepared, knowing that they would find out about her brother. She took the money and left. However, Xiao Qingming's aunt had a bad attitude.
Just yesterday, Ji Wan'er had liked her for her smiling face and efficiency. But today, she showed a completely different side, criticizing their shop and accusing them of wasting their efforts before leaving in a huff.
"Fortunately, we didn't use her," Nanny Dong said. "Remember what I told you, this woman is not a good person."
"Yes," Ji Wan'er replied. They had already separated from the old residence long ago, and no matter how influential they were, they couldn't reach them.
Seeing Nanny Dong's concern, Ji Wan'er smiled and whispered, "If worst comes to worst, our daughter can hide and push all the blame onto Xiao Qingming."
Nanny Dong pondered for a moment and smiled, "That's feasible. After all, it was your husband's suggestion, so let him handle it."
With the matter settled here and seeing that her daughter had organized the work for others in an orderly manner, Nanny Dong no longer got involved and went home.
The next day was the official opening day. That evening, Xiao Qingming gave Ji Wan'er another five hundred wen.
While handing her the money, Xiao Qingming seemed a little embarrassed and didn't dare to look Ji Wan'er in the eyes. "It's not much, you can take it for now. I'll earn more in the future."
Ji Wan'er calculated that Xiao Qingming hadn't given her any money for ten days, which meant he could earn fifty wen a day.
She remembered that their neighbor, Xiao Dajiang, could earn fifteen wen a day, not consistently, but it added up to around three hundred wen a month, which was about three taels of silver a year. In the village, Xiao Dajiang was praised, and everyone considered him capable.
As for Xiao Qingming, he could earn fifty wen a day just by copying books, which amounted to one and a half taels of silver a month, or around a dozen taels of silver a year. If they didn't eat well, it would be two taels of silver a year. If they ate well, it would be three or four taels a year, and they could save a few taels of silver each year.
She decided to take back her previous words. He was not someone who couldn't shoulder burdens or lift heavy things. He could help her grind the beans. Moreover, he could earn fifty wen every day. He was clearly very capable.
At this moment, Ji Wan'er suddenly felt that living like this wouldn't be bad at all.
Xiao Qingming noticed that Ji Wan'er had been silent and cautiously looked up at her. Once he glanced at her, his gaze didn't retract.
His wife's eyes were truly beautiful, with a charming curve when she smiled, bringing joy to people's hearts. Her eyes were bright, as if they carried the stars from the heavens.
"Alright, I'll accept it," Ji Wan'er placed the silver coins in a nearby cabinet and concealed them.
It wasn't until she lay down on the bed that Ji Wan'er remembered she had forgotten to tell Xiao Qingming something due to being too happy.
"Husband, you don't need to get up early to grind the beans tomorrow."
Xiao Qingming remained silent for a moment before asking, "Why?"
Ji Wan'er replied, "Don't you remember? I've hired two women to help us. We don't need to grind the beans ourselves anymore, nor make tofu nao at home. We'll make them directly in town."
Xiao Qingming felt deeply disappointed about this matter. He suddenly felt that he was no longer needed by his wife.
"Oh."
Then Ji Wan'er continued, "Husband, you don't need to copy books anymore either."
The thing he wanted to hide the most had been discovered.
Xiao Qingming fell into silence, his heart sinking to the bottom of the abyss. He realized that he was completely unnecessary. In the darkness, Ji Wan'er couldn't see his expression clearly, and he let his emotions unleash in the pitch-black void.
Ji Wan'er had contemplated these words for a few days. She had mentioned it to Xiao Qingming before, but he hadn't listened. After careful consideration, she realized that both the early morning bean grinding and book copying were recent occurrences, happening only in the past two months. Before she arrived, these tasks were nonexistent, and it seemed that he had never done such things before in his books.
In other words, Xiao Qingming had been doing these tasks because of her. Though she felt a bit shameless, Ji Wan'er couldn't think of any other plausible explanation.
Since it was all for her, she thought that perhaps she could find a way to persuade him.
"Our family's finances are sufficient. We have less than two months left until the exams, and I hope you can put all your energy into studying," she said.
However, Xiao Qingming suddenly uttered, "Men should earn money to support their families."
Ji Wan'er was initially lying flat on the bed, but upon hearing these words, she turned to face Xiao Qingming. This person had been cold and indifferent to her before, let alone earning money. He didn't even acknowledge her. How come he had suddenly become so stubborn, refusing to listen and insisting on being kind to her?
"But I would be even happier if you pass the exam," she added.
Indeed, her words had an effect. Xiao Qingming fell silent.
Ji Wan'er quickly added, "Husband, don't make me worry, okay?"
After a moment, just as Ji Wan'er was contemplating what else to say to persuade him, she heard Xiao Qingming say, "Fine."
Ji Wan'er finally felt relieved and smiled, "Husband, go to sleep earlier. We need to wake up early to study tomorrow."
Xiao Qingming responded with a simple "Hmm."
In fact, what he didn't say was that copying books did not hinder his own studies. On the contrary, in the past few months, his mind had suddenly become much clearer. He could understand problems that he couldn't comprehend before, and his memory had improved compared to the past. He had a sense of clarity.
The reason he didn't mention it was that he hoped his wife would trust him and not worry too much about him.
Although Ji Wan'er no longer had to get up early to grind beans and make tofu nao, she still woke up during the Mao hour. There was no other reason; they didn't have any entertainment at night. Their impoverished condition didn't allow for the luxury of candles, so they slept early. Therefore, she woke up early as well.
Yun Shuang and Zi An also woke up. They weren't needed for business in the town anymore, but they still wanted to accompany Ji Wan'er to the town. After all, their older brother was always immersed in his studies and rarely left the house. Being with their sister-in-law meant they could have fun in town and enjoy delicious food.
Ji Wan'er went to prepare breakfast.
Yesterday, she had steamed buns, so Ji Wan'er reheated them and made a pot of egg soup.
During the meal, Ji Wan'er said, "Husband, we'll only be back around the Shen hour (Monkey - 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. ). If you get hungry, have some buns as a snack. There's also some peach pastry left at home that you can eat."
"Okay."
After finishing their meal, Ji Wan'er took Yun Shuang and Zi An to the town. Now they no longer needed to push the cart; they could simply walk there on two legs. All three of them felt relaxed and very happy.
In no time, they arrived in town, much faster than when they had to push the cart.
They arrived in town just as the Mao hour (Rabbit - 5 a.m. to 7 a.m. ) began. Since they didn't make tofu nao at home, they were half an hour earlier than usual.
When they reached the shop, Sister Yun had already ground a considerable amount of beans. Sister Yun, the lady from the household where Ji Wan'er had stored the table, lived nearby. Her children had gone to school during the Mao hour, and she had come here.
Aunt Zeng arrived just after Ji Wan'er. As they had agreed yesterday, Aunt Zeng would grind the beans next, while Sister Yun would make fried dough sticks.
Ji Wan'er and Yun Shuang went to boil the soy milk.
In making tofu nao, the process of coagulation was crucial. This step was Ji Wan'er's secret to earning money, and she didn't teach it to outsiders; she did it herself.
After setting it aside, they let it settle.
Ji Wan'er then prepared the braised sauce. In the nearby pot, the bone broth and chicken soup that Sister Yun had been simmering were almost ready.
After finishing the braised sauce, Sister Yun had already prepared the dough, and Ji Wan'er began frying the dough sticks.
Although they had a lot of tasks to complete, they were not lazy individuals and worked diligently. So, before the Chen hour (Dragon - 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.) arrived, they had already made some tofu nao and dough sticks.
Ji Wan'er opened the door.
Although it was the first day of business, Ji Wan'er didn't bother with any gimmicks. She simply hung up a sign with five big characters that read "Chicken Soup tofu nao." The reason she didn't mention bone broth was that chicken soup was more expensive than bone broth. Below that were some smaller words: soy milk, dough sticks, and savory pancakes.
As soon as the door opened, three or four people walked in.
Among them were regular customers as well as some new visitors.
The regulars immediately placed their orders, while the newcomers mostly asked questions. Ji Wan'er patiently explained to each of them.
The regular customers were delighted. They discovered that the braised sauce for the tofu nao tasted even better than before. There was tofu nao with bone broth and tofu nao with chicken soup, and the prices hadn't increased—it was still two wen per bowl. This was even more cost-effective, as they felt they were gaining something by eating there.
When Ji Wan'er used to sell food at a street stall before, she couldn't handle heavy carts due to her lack of strength, so she made a limited amount and often sold out within half an hour.
Now that they were making more tofu nao, coupled with their excellent location, they sold it for nearly an hour. The breakfast rush finally subsided, and everyone could take a break.
However, people didn't leave.
Ji Wan'er had already planned ahead. Since they had a shop, she didn't want to waste the opportunity, so they would also sell lunch.
Although the breakfast rush was over, the shop remained open, and gradually, many customers started to arrive. They sold around twenty wen between breakfast and lunch. Just after noon, more people arrived. While not as crowded as the morning, it was still a decent number of customers.
Amidst the busyness, Ji Wan'er caught sight of another relative.
Ji Huaijing. "Huaijing" meant reminiscing about the capital city. Even from his name, one could tell how much Nanny Dong longed to return to the capital and what high expectations she had for her son.
Fortunately, the young and inexperienced Ji Huaijing did not disappoint Nanny Dong's expectations and eventually passed the provincial examination. However, due to the circumstances of the original owner, he couldn't make further progress.
"Sister," Ji Huaijing approached Ji Wan'er.
Ji Wan'er was busy attending to other customers but upon seeing her younger brother, she said, "You're here. Find a place to sit and tell me what you want to eat."
Ji Huaijing looked deeply at his sister and said, "Alright."
His mother had told him that his sister had opened a shop in town, but he was initially skeptical. How could his delicate sister endure such hardships? Moreover, she had never cooked before. Would anyone actually like her food? Perhaps it was another lie to their mother.
Ji Wan'er noticed that her brother didn't know what to order, so she brought him a bowl of chicken soup tofu nao, two soybean pancake, two dough sticks, and a savory pancake.
"Start eating. If it's not enough, let me know," Ji Wan'er said after serving Ji Huaijing his meal, then she went back to attending to her duties.
Ji Wan'er had made an agreement with Nanny Dong that her brother no longer needed to bring his own meals from home. Instead, he could come here for lunch. Yun's sister's son also ate here, but they had to pay two wen per day, deducted from her monthly wages.
Ji Huaijing didn't expect his sister's cooking to be so delicious.
He knew that their mother had worked as a chef in wealthy households in the capital city, serving noble families, so her culinary skills were exceptional. It was something others couldn't compare to. However, he didn't expect his sister's skills to surpass their mother's.
Their mother's cooking was delicate but limited in quantity, requiring a lot of effort.
But his sister, she cooked quickly and efficiently, making a large quantity of food that was still incredibly delicious. That was truly remarkable.
At this moment, he finally understood that his sister wasn't incapable of cooking; she simply didn't want to before.
In the past, with their parents doting on her, everyone had to accommodate her. But now that she is married, her life has become difficult. She had to face the public and sell food outside.
Ji Huaijing used to find his sister extremely annoying. She was so delicate, greedy, lazy, and enjoyed picking on him, always competing with him for everything. But now, as he looked at her face, so similar to their mother's, he felt a twinge of heartache. His sister was also having a hard time.
After finishing their meal, Ji Huaijing was about to return home to continue studying. Before leaving, Ji Wan'er asked if he needed money, but he refused the offer.
They remained busy until it was close to dusk, and the number of people gradually decreased.
Since Sister Yun had arrived half an hour early, she left after they finished selling, and Aunt Zeng stayed behind to clean up the shop with Ji Wan'er. When it was dark, Ji Wan'er locked up the shop and went home.
Once she arrived home, Ji Wan'er went to the study and handed the chicken soup tofu nao to Xiao Qingming.
She was afraid that he would forget to eat while studying, so she specially prepared this for him. She also saved some savory pancakes and dough sticks for him.
Xiao Qingming's eyes lit up when he looked at Ji Wan'er.
"Eat quickly. I'll go rest," Ji Wan'er said.
"Okay."
Although Ji Wan'er said she would go rest, she wasn't actually tired! Despite making tofu nao, savory pancakes, and dough sticks today, which required more time and variety, she had hired two people whose strength surpassed hers. Surprisingly, she felt even more relaxed than usual.
At this moment, she didn't feel like sleeping at all.
She just wanted to count the money quickly.
Ji Wan'er took out her accounting notebook, which she had specifically bought yesterday for keeping records. Now that she had money, she could afford to use a notebook. Then, she poured the copper coins and silver fragments onto the table.
The records in the accounting book were clear and precise, but counting the money oneself felt different—it was more tangible and brought greater joy.
Due to the variety of dishes, good location, and many customers, and the fact that she sold food for a long time, she made nearly a hundred wen from just the breakfast service. She earned around eighty wen less during lunch. Adding up the earnings between breakfast and lunch, she made two hundred wen in a day.
Looking at the money, Ji Wan'er couldn't stop smiling.
Earning two hundred wen in a day meant earning six taels of silver in a month, right? They had just opened, so wouldn't they earn more and more as time went on? Should she research and add more exciting dishes to the menu? Maybe she could earn seven or eight taels a month?
The more Ji Wan'er thought about it, the happier she became. She couldn't help but burst into laughter.
In this small place where seasonings were scarce, recipes were limited, and information was not widely available, her cooking was unexpectedly popular.
Ji Wan'er was overjoyed. As she continued to think about it, she lay down on the bed and unknowingly fell asleep, holding the accounting book and the silver fragments in her arms.
In the following half month, business continued to be good and even better.
Every day, Ji Wan'er counted the silver coins she earned, ecstatic with joy. In just over ten days, she had earned over three taels of silver, which felt like a dream. Looking back at the day she had just passed through, it was like night and day compared to the present.
With so much money, she could eat eggs if she wanted, and she could eat meat if she desired.
On this day after finishing work, Ji Wan'er took Yun Shuang and Zi An to the market. It was close to the hour of Shen (3 p.m. to 5 p.m) , and there were almost no people left in the market. The two meat vendors had already left. Afterwards, Ji Wan'er went to another meat shop in the town. Unlike the market vendors who only sold in the morning, this shop was open all the time.
They bought some pork from there and returned home.
After coming home, as usual, she counted the money. Although she did it every day, each time she did it, she felt happy. Seeing that her money box was almost full, Ji Wan'er decided to exchange the silver fragments for whole silver coins another day.
After waking up from a nap, Ji Wan'er started cooking.
Today, she planned to make meatballs.
First, she steamed the rice and then brought over the meat and chopped it into small pieces. This task was not easy, and it took Ji Wan'er a long time to chop it finely. Slowly, she finally turned the minced meat into a paste.
At that moment, she greatly missed a meat grinder. In an era without machines, they had to rely on manual labor.
Suddenly, an idea popped into her mind. Since there wasn't one here, could she make her own? That way, she wouldn't need to grind beans or chop meat anymore.
Unfortunately, she had never dismantled a meat grinder before and didn't know how it was made inside.
So, the idea quickly came up and was dismissed by herself.
Next, Ji Wan'er brought some scallions and ginger, minced them, and added them to the meat paste. She also added some salt and the seasoning powder she made herself, as well as some sesame oil. She beat two eggs and added some starch, then mixed everything together thoroughly in one direction.
Stir. This step is crucial, you need to keep stirring continuously to make the meatballs more tender.
Yun Shuang asked curiously, "Sister-in-law, what are you making?"
Ji Wan'er's hands kept moving as she replied, "I'm making meatballs."
Meatballs? What's that? Yun Shuang was puzzled. She had never eaten them or seen them before. The only balls she had eaten were the ones made during the New Year, fried by her family. They tasted delicious, but they were vegetarian, not meaty. They were fried in a lot of oil and were very fragrant and tasty, but unfortunately, her family didn't allow her to eat too many.
"Are they fried?" Yun Shuang asked. In her memory, meatballs were always fried. If they were fried, they should be delicious, considering that vegetarian meatballs were also delicious.
"No, they are boiled in water," Ji Wan'er said.
Yun Shuang became even more curious and offered to help.
When the meat was mixed well enough, Ji Wan'er washed some greens, cut them into small pieces, and set them aside.
She heated the pot and boiled water, then added the meatballs and the greens, along with the seasonings.
Once cooked, she scooped them out.
Yun Shuang watched Ji Wan'er cooking the entire time but didn't smell a very fragrant aroma. However, she knew that the pot contained meatballs, handmade by her sister-in-law, so they must be delicious.
Ji Wan'er also made a tomato and egg stew.
After finishing the dishes, it was time for dinner, and the rice on the side had already been steamed.
Ji Wan'er scooped out the rice and brought it to the main hall.
Seeing the steaming hot rice, Zi An was delighted. With the improved conditions at home, there was more delicious food to eat, and Zi An still felt happy and satisfied with good food. Seeing his enthusiasm, the cook also felt gratified.
The steaming hot rice was topped with a spoonful of tomato and egg stew. It had a slightly sweet and sour taste from the tomatoes and a hint of fragrance from the eggs. It was incredibly delicious, and even the rice seemed more flavorful and chewy.
"So delicious!" Zi An closed his eyes with a happy expression after taking a spoonful, savoring the taste.
Seeing his adorable look, Ji Wan'er couldn't help but reach out and touch his hair.
Zi An instantly opened his eyes and smiled happily at Ji Wan'er.
Seeing that everyone was eating rice but not the meatballs, Ji Wan'er said, "Try the meatballs I made, they're really tasty."
"These are meatballs?" Zi An was surprised. They didn't look like meatballs at all from the outside.
Ji Wan'er nodded and said, "Yes, they're made of meat. Everyone, give them a try."
Seeing that his younger siblings hadn't touched their chopsticks, Xiao Qingming responded to Ji Wan'er's invitation first. He picked up a meatball and put it in his mouth. As soon as he tasted it, Xiao Qingming's eyes lit up, and he turned to look at Ji Wan'er sitting beside him.
Coincidentally, Ji Wan'er was staring at him, waiting for his feedback.
"How is it? Does it taste good?" she asked.
Xiao Qingming quickly finished chewing the meatball and said, "It's delicious."
Ji Wan'er smiled and proactively served Xiao Qingming another one. "Then have a few more."
The meatballs were very delicious and received unanimous praise from everyone. They all enjoyed the meal.
Since opening the shop in town, a month had passed in the blink of an eye, and there wasn't much time left before Xiao Qingming's exams. Ji Wan'er could clearly feel that Xiao Qingming seemed to be under some pressure. He was coming back to his room later and later in the evenings.
In order to provide a good studying environment for Xiao Qingming, Ji Wan'er instructed the two children not to make loud noises when they returned home and preferably not to talk outside the study. In the morning when they left, they should also leave quietly.
Every day at noon, Ji Wan'er would bring back a bowl of bone soup or chicken soup from the shop for Xiao Qingming to drink. She made meat for him every day, and eggs were a must.
After half a month, Zi An's face became rounder, Yun Shuang's face became fair and tender, but Xiao Qingming, instead of gaining weight, seemed to have become even thinner.
On this day, when Ji Wan'er returned from the town, she brought chicken soup to Xiao Qingming in the study and also placed savory pancakes and two eggs for him.
Ji Wan'er intended to quietly leave after placing the items down, but Xiao Qingming looked up and smiled at her.
"Thank you, wife."
"Don't mention it. Eat quickly before it gets cold."
"Okay."
Ji Wan'er was about to leave when Xiao Qingming called her back.
"Madam, how was business today?"
Ji Wan'er hadn't talked much to him in the past few days, fearing that she would disturb his studies. She didn't expect that Xiao Qingming still had the leisure to talk to her.
"It's going well. Don't worry, just focus on your studies."
"Oh," Xiao Qingming responded lightly.
It had been quite a while since his wife had talked to him. She always avoided him, and whenever he tried to speak, she would find an excuse to leave. She also didn't discuss shop matters with him as she used to. Was he becoming a bother to her?
Ji Wan'er could tell that Xiao Qingming seemed a bit unhappy, but she didn't know why. A bad mood could also affect his studying. She thought for a moment and added a few more words to her previous response.
"Don't overthink it. It's really fine. Just eat your meal."
"Mm." Xiao Qingming didn't ask further and continued eating with his head down. If passing the provincial exam could make her happy, he would definitely work hard to achieve it.
After Xiao Qingming finished his meal, Ji Wan'er tidied up the table and went to the kitchen.
Just as she finished cleaning, she heard Zi An's excited voice outside.
"Eggs, eggs! Sister!"
Ji Wan'er quickly went outside and saw Yun Shuang and Zi An standing in the chicken coop. Seeing her approaching, Zi An forgot about speaking softly because his brother was studying and continued shouting, "Sister, our chickens laid eggs!"
Ji Wan'er walked over and was also delighted to see the eggs in Zi An's hands. After raising them for several months, the chickens finally laid eggs.
Yun Shuang looked at the eggs, then at Ji Wan'er, unable to contain her excitement. For the past few months, she had been taking care of the chickens.
"We'll have an extra egg tonight, and this one will be for Yun Shuang to eat."
The three of them were happily celebrating the eggs laid by their chickens when the door was pushed open, and several unexpected visitors appeared at the entrance.
"Oh, Qingming's wife, you're doing well."
Ji Wan'er turned around to see the group of people, and she had some impression of each of them, indicating that she should be familiar with them as the original owner. However, at first glance, she couldn't recall who these people were. It was only when she spotted a familiar face among the crowd.
Wu shi. She was the one who came to the shop for an interview but wasn't selected. More precisely, she was Xiao Qingming's cousin-in-law. So, what was the relationship between Wu shi and the Xiao family? Her husband was the nephew of Xiao Qingming's grandmother, the son of Xiao Qingming's father's uncle.
Xiao Qingming's father and Wu shi's husband are cousins.
"Mother, you must take a look. They even raise chickens at home and have eggs. You always feel like you've treated the second branch unfairly. Look, they're living better than us," the woman who spoke earlier chimed in again.
"Uncle, Uncle's wife, Third Aunt, cousin... cousin-in-law," Yun Shuang whispered as she addressed the group of people. While speaking, she became nervous, especially when she saw the last person, Wu shi. Not only was she nervous, but there were also complex emotions in her eyes.
Zi An glared at these people, not uttering a word. His expression showed clear anger. It was obvious that he didn't welcome these people.
Through Yun Shuang's address, Ji Wan'er looked at the people in front of her, and her memories gradually returned. These people were none other than the inhabitants of the old residence. Xiao Qingming's grandmother, Li Shi; Uncle's wife, Zhao Shi; Third Aunt, Zhou Shi; and cousin-in-law, Wu shi.
The woman who spoke twice was Zhou Shi, the Third Aunt.
Upon hearing the words of her third daughter-in-law, Li Shi's expression became even more unpleasant. The reason she came today was that her niece-in-law from her maternal family had come to her and mentioned something. She said that her granddaughter-in-law was selling food in town and earning a good amount of money each day. However, when she went to town that day to find some work, her granddaughter-in-law not only didn't greet her but also deliberately humiliated her and didn't make use of her presence.
Initially, she didn't believe it. Although she hadn't been with her granddaughter-in-law for long, she had some knowledge of her and always felt that someone as spoiled as her wouldn't possibly go to town to sell food. If it were her maternal family, there might be a possibility.
But her niece-in-law described everything in detail and had even observed the situation in town for a few days, confirming that it was indeed her granddaughter-in-law who owned the shop.
She approached with hesitation, and it wasn't until she saw her granddaughter-in-law and her two grandchildren that she became certain.
After leaving the old residence, they were living well.
Zhao Shi took a step forward, looked at Zi An's angry gaze, and sarcastically pinched his cheek, saying, "Mother, just look at this chubby face. He's so fat. You heard that your grandchildren were suffering before and said you wanted to come and support them. Look at them now, they don't need any support. They've all become chubby. It's you who looks thin. These people are eating so well, but they never thought of you."
Li Shi's complexion became even more unpleasant.
She also felt that her worries were quite ridiculous. Her grandchildren were living very well. Looking at them, it seemed as though they had already forgotten about her.
"Oh, the fabric of this garment is so good. It's actually made of fine cloth," Zhao Shi tugged at Zi An's clothes again. These clothes were made by Ji Wan'er a few days ago when she bought some fabric in town, and Yun Shuang made them for her younger brother. At the same time, Yun Shuang also made one for herself.
On the other side, Zhou Shi pulled at Yun Shuang's clothes and tugged at her hair, saying, "You wretched girl, do you really deserve to wear something so nice? You're just a burden."
Ji Wan'er frowned. This uncle's wife and Third Aunt in the old residence truly didn't regard the two children as human beings. She quickly pulled Yun Shuang behind her, swatted Zhao Shi's hand away, and brought Zi An to her side.
"You little brat, how dare you defy your elders and hit me?" Zhao Shi immediately became angry and labeled Ji Wan'er with a derogatory term.
"Oh? Then how should we consider Uncle's wife trespassing on someone else's property and mistreating her nephew and niece?" Ji Wan'er retorted.
Wearing high hats, who doesn't know how?
Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Ji Wan'er, their expressions filled with surprise. They hadn't seen her for a few months, and she seemed different from before.
What trespassing? What mistreatment? Why is she speaking so formally and not using common language?
"What trespassing on someone else's property? This is originally the Xiao family's courtyard. How did it become yours?" Zhao Shi said.
Ji Wan'er coldly replied, "We divided the family, and my husband's name is written on the property deed. Without his consent, you all entered freely, which is trespassing."
Zhao Shi hadn't expected Ji Wan'er, who appeared shrewd but was actually foolish, to suddenly become so clever. She was momentarily left speechless by Ji Wan'er's retort.
Zhou Shi glanced at Li Shi and said, "Mother, just look at her. Our own family won't let us in anymore. No wonder we have to acknowledge relatives. That's why she won't let her sister-in-law work in her shop."
Li Shi, who had remained silent, sighed disapprovingly and looked at Ji Wan'er. She revealed the purpose of their visit today, "Granddaughter-in-law, I heard that you opened a shop in town?"
Ji Wan'er has been selling food in town for several months, and she never intended to hide anything from anyone. The place where she used to set up her stall was somewhat secluded, and these people rarely visited the town, so they never encountered her. Now that she is in a more populated area, she had already prepared herself for the people from the old residence to find out. However, she didn't expect that their attitude would be like this after learning about it.
"Yes," Ji Wan'er replied.
"Did you drive away your sister-in-law from working in your shop?" Li Shi asked again.
Ji Wan'er glanced at Wu Shi, who had a smug expression, and said, "Using the word 'drive away' isn't quite appropriate. My sister-in-law left with five wen."
Li Shi furrowed her brow and looked at Wu Shi.
Wu Shi looked at Li Shi and then turned to Ji Wan'er. "Oh, niece-in-law, why do you phrase it so beautifully, as if I took your five wen for nothing? Just tell me, did you intentionally prevent me from working there?"
Ji Wan'er said, "To say it was intentional would be an exaggeration. As for why I didn't choose you, didn't you have an idea of what your past actions were? Didn't you know it yourself?"
She thought to herself, thankfully she wasn't chosen. If she had been chosen, who knows what kind of trouble it would have caused.
Wu Shi's heart skipped a beat, but she had done so many improper things, so she didn't know which one Ji Wan'er was referring to. Moreover, she didn't remember doing anything that would have offended Ji Wan'er. Gradually, she regained some confidence.
"What did I do? Tell me!" Wu Shi demanded.
Ji Wan'er glanced at her.
Seeing Ji Wan'er remaining silent, Wu Shi turned to Li Shi and said, "Aunt, you saw it, right? Your granddaughter-in-law knows who I am and intentionally drove me away. How could she treat her elders like this? You have to stand up for me."
Wu Shi was the niece-in-law from Li Shi's maternal family, so if Ji Wan'er didn't show respect to Wu Shi, it meant she didn't show respect to Li Shi. Li Shi had always cherished her grandson, Xiao Qingming, who loved reading, and she had been quite worried after the family split. However, at the moment, she was not pleased.
"Granddaughter-in-law, why are you so unreasonable? Apologize to your sister-in-law immediately."
Upon hearing those words, Yun Shuang tightened her grip on Ji Wan'er's hand. Ji Wan'er turned her head and glanced at Yun Shuang, patting her hand before turning back and smiling. "Apologize? Why should I apologize? The shop is mine, and I can hire whoever I want. This is the first time I've heard someone say that the master of the house should apologize to someone who comes to work. So, I suppose I should only hire ancestors and not workers? What audacity!"
Li Shi was getting older, with no elders above her and a bunch of younger generations below. Even though her daughters-in-law might have their own thoughts, none of them would dare to speak to her in such a manner. Ji Wan'er's words made her extremely angry.
"So, you think you can be defiant just because the family has split? You dare not listen to your elders?" Li Shi angrily retorted.
Ji Wan'er was about to refute, but at that moment, a voice came from the study room. "Mother, you've misunderstood Lady. It was I who prevented Aunt from working in Lady's shop."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone turned their gaze towards Xiao Qingming.
Xiao Qingming walked calmly and took a step beside Ji Wan'er, positioning himself on the opposite side of the people from the old residence.
"If we're talking about apologies, perhaps Aunt should apologize to Yun Shuang first. Back then, Aunt stole the embroidery pattern that my mother had stitched and falsely accused Yun Shuang of damaging it. There has been no explanation given to this day."
Ji Wan'er looked at Xiao Qingming standing beside her, feeling quite surprised.
Is this really the same Xiao Qingming who couldn't utter a word for half a day? He's speaking so fluently now. Moreover, he doesn't stumble at all, completely unlike his usual self when talking to her. Just earlier, she had thought that Xiao Qingming had become noticeably thinner, but now, looking at his figure, she suddenly felt that he had grown much taller than before.
This person seemed to have transformed.
Yun Shuang became even more excited. Her brother never concerned himself with these matters. Was he going to stand up for her now? She discreetly raised her sleeve and wiped away her tears.
What kind of person was Xiao Qingming? Ji Wan'er, Yun Shuang, and Zi An may not be clear, but the people from the old residence who had watched him grow up were particularly familiar with him.
To put it nicely, he liked reading books, knew how to read, and was good at studying.
To put it harshly, he was just a fool. He was decent at reading when he was young, but as he grew up, he failed the exams twice and realized that he was just a fool. If he couldn't read well, he couldn't do anything. Since the death of his parents, he became even more foolish and couldn't even speak properly. They scolded him, ridiculed him, and even hit him, but he remained indifferent. Even during the final separation, when nothing was given to him except for a dilapidated house, he didn't utter a word.
Reading books made him foolish.
But today, he actually said such words. Did something go wrong with him?
The people from the old residence felt a sense of unfamiliarity towards Xiao Qingming for the first time. Was this really the same fool who became foolish from reading books? Wasn't he unable to speak, almost turning into a mute? How could he say so many words today?
Did they mishear earlier?
In the midst of shock, Wu Shi, who didn't know Xiao Qingming well, only remembered the words he just spoke and hastily retorted, "What nonsense are you talking about? When did I steal your mother's embroidery pattern? You're spouting nonsense!"
She didn't expect that after so many years, someone would bring up this matter again, and in front of so many people. She certainly couldn't admit it! After all, the other party definitely had no evidence.
Xiao Qingming said, "Seven years ago, on the ninth day of the second month, during the hour of 'si' (snake - 9:00-11:00 am)."
Wu Shi was taken aback, her face full of confusion. "What?"
Xiao Qingming continued, "It was the time when Aunt stole my mother's embroidery pattern."
As he spoke these words, Xiao Qingming's expression remained indifferent. There was no trace of satisfaction in exposing Wu Shi, nor any sign of disgust towards her. It was as if he was talking about something unrelated to himself.
In contrast, Wu Shi was far from composed.
She was so enraged that she felt like she was about to spew blood.
Where did she ask when she stole the embroidery pattern? Is this person stupid?
But Xiao Qingming hadn't finished speaking yet. He added, "A month later, on the fifteenth day of the third month, Aunt took the same embroidery pattern to the needlework shop in town and sold it for two silver coins."
Wu Shi looked at Xiao Qingming in shock. She had always thought that what happened back then was kept well hidden. How could it have been discovered by someone? Moreover, it had been many years, and she couldn't even remember the specific date herself.
As for why she remembered this incident, it was because Xiao Qingming's mother, Wang Shi, was particularly skilled at embroidery and earned money from it. She wanted to learn from Wang Shi, but Wang Shi refused. Because of this, she even went to Li Shi (the grandmother), hoping that Li Shi, as the mother-in-law, could pressure Wang Shi. However, even with that, Wang Shi still didn't agree.
Li Shi scolded Wang Shi.
She still felt resentful. So, she secretly stole Wang Shi's embroidery pattern, but the matter was discovered by Wang Shi's daughter. Later, when Wang Shi noticed the pattern was missing, she was afraid of being exposed. So, she turned around and claimed that she saw Yun Shuang going into the room and accused the three-year-old child of tearing and throwing away the pattern.
Yun Shuang was punished by Li Shi for not being "honest" and for damaging things.
At this moment, everyone in the courtyard turned their attention to Wu Shi.
Wu Shi felt nervous and guilty, looking at the inquisitive gazes of the people. She quickly grabbed Li Shi and said, "Aunt, look at your grandson and granddaughter-in-law. They resent you because of the division of the family. They don't need me anymore, so now they're using these baseless old stories to tarnish my reputation."
Wu Shi was her own maternal family, and even if Li Shi had suspicions, she couldn't admit it now. Moreover, she had drawn the conclusion about the incident back then, so she definitely couldn't tarnish her own reputation.
Thinking this way, she looked at her grandson, who used to listen to her the most.
"Qingming, how dare you talk to your aunt like this! Apologize immediately!" she demanded.
Xiao Qingming glanced at his grandmother, who used to love him dearly, but remained silent, lips pressed together.
Yun Shuang's grip on Ji Wan'er's sleeve tightened, her face filled with desolation.
Li Shi's attitude was already clear.
Ji Wan'er noticed the triumphant expression on Wu Shi's face and smiled, saying, "The needlework shop is still there today. If Aunt doesn't admit it, why don't we go to town and ask? Since my husband still remembers, perhaps the shopkeeper also remembers."
Immediately, the triumphant expression vanished from Wu Shi's face. She glared fiercely at Ji Wan'er.
Finally, she realized what was going on. In the end, it was because Ji Wan'er intentionally didn't include her. She couldn't swallow this anger.
"When the elders are speaking, do you have the right to speak? You really don't understand the rules," Wu Shi reprimanded.
These young couples, both of them, trying to assert dominance over her? Aunt had already made her stance clear, and even Xiao Qingming didn't dare speak anymore, yet this young wife dared to speak against her.
With so many people here today, was she afraid she couldn't handle them?
Wu Shi was already prepared. No matter what Ji Wan'er said, she was ready to retaliate. However, Xiao Qingming stepped forward and stood in front of Ji Wan'er. He coldly spoke first, "Aunt, this is my home, and this is my wife. If you don't want to listen to my wife, please leave."
Was he trying to drive her away? Wu Shi was so furious.
Third Aunt Zhou Shi watched the scene before her and pondered for a moment. After observing from the sidelines for a while, she finally understood. She realized how Xiao Qingming had suddenly changed—it was because he had been enchanted by Ji Wan'er, this vixen.
He could be praised for anything except Ji Wan'er.
Whenever Ji Wan'er was mentioned, he became unhappy.
Indeed, men in this world, whether educated or not, whether eloquent or simple, were all the same. They lost themselves when faced with a beautiful girl and became completely bewitched.
Seeing her purpose for coming today, Zhou Shi contemplated. If she wanted to take over the shop, she had to deal with Ji Wan'er first. But with Xiao Qingming protecting her, it wouldn't be easy. However, based on their conversation just now, this bookish fool should care about his sister.
Thinking about Ji Wan'er's accusation just now, Zhou Shi sneered, "Speaking of mistreating Yun Shuang and Zi An, nobody can compare to our niece-in-law. I heard that since the family split, she beats and scolds the two children every day. Eldest nephew, you sit in the house reading books all day, I'm afraid you don't know, right?"
Yun Shuang peeked out from behind Ji Wan'er and immediately retorted, "You're talking nonsense! My sister-in-law treats me very well. She has never hit me or my brother."
Zhou Shi laughed, "Is that so? Maybe you're just scared of your sister-in-law? Zi An, tell your brother the truth. Has your sister-in-law ever hit you?"
Zi An looked at Third Aunt and then at his older brother and sister-in-law, but remained silent. He despised Third Aunt, but his sister-in-law did indeed frequently hit him. He didn't know how to respond.
Ji Wan'er furrowed her brow slightly and glanced at Xiao Qingming.
Xiao Qingming didn't even look at her and said, "Third Aunt, this is a family matter, so there's no need for your intervention."
What Zhou Shi thought of, naturally, Aunt Zhao Shi also thought of. After all, this nephew used to be very honest and dull. Now that he's so clever, besides Ji Wan'er, what other reason could there be? Not only based on their usual interactions but also from their behavior in this short while, it's clear that Xiao Qingming defends Ji Wan'er at every turn.
She didn't care whether Wu Shi stole something or not. She came today specifically for the shop.
From Xiao Qingming's words, it was easy to tell that he trusts Ji Wan'er now. Since Ji Wan'er is in charge of the shop, there is interference from her maternal family. So, they just need to make Xiao Qingming disgusted with Ji Wan'er. When Ji Wan'er leaves, Xiao Qingming, being a fool, is useless. In the end, the shop will belong to them. To be precise, it will belong to their main branch!
It has to be said that Zhou Shi and Zhao Shi thought of the same plan without discussing it privately. The two of them who usually quarreled with each other seemed to have joined forces today.
"Qingming, seeing you like this, Aunt Zhao feels both sad and distressed. How obedient you were before the family split, but now you not only defy your elders but also speak up for... speak up for a woman like this. Ah, Aunt Zhao feels sorry for you." Zhao Shi's words had an underlying meaning, all for the sake of Xiao Qingming. Her gaze towards Ji Wan'er was very hostile.
A woman like this? Ji Wan'er smiled.
After Zhao Shi finished speaking, she paused, expecting Xiao Qingming to question her or for Ji Wan'er to refute. However, neither of them even glanced at her; one ignored her while the other smiled at her.
Seeing no response, Zhao Shi continued, "You bury yourself in books every day, so you may not know what's happening outside. I've heard that Ji Wan'er is getting very close to other men, eating together and buying things. Although I haven't seen it myself, everyone talks about it with all the details."
Ever since Zhao Shi spoke earlier, Ji Wan'er already knew what she was going to say. Hearing these words, she wasn't surprised at all.
However, she noticed that Xiao Qingming's body stiffened, and the hand behind his back clenched tightly.
Is he... angry?
Indeed, which man could tolerate his own wife doing such things, especially when it's pointed out publicly? He must have lost all face. It's only natural for him to be angry; it's a common human reaction.
How miserable he must feel.
Suddenly, her heart felt suffocated. She felt upset not only for Xiao Qingming's loss of face but also for the possibility of him resenting her because of it, or even turning dark like in the books.
But what Zhao Shi said was all true.
Although she didn't do those things, she had no way to refute them.
News of Ji Wan'er's affairs had long spread throughout the village, and everyone in the old house knew about it. This included Li Shi.
"Qingming, it's also my fault. I let you marry such a girl, and it has truly been hard on you. Having such a daughter-in-law is truly unfortunate for the family," Li Shi said with distress. "Don't let her show her face in public again, just treat her well at home."
This is interesting. Li Shi knew about what Ji Wan'er was doing outside but never intervened. Yet now she suddenly speaks up.
In the end, her affection for Xiao Qingming is quite limited.
Zhao Shi brightened up when her mother-in-law spoke and immediately said, "Yes, nephew, mother is right. Don't let your wife go to the shop anymore. You can rest assured that Aunt Zhao has experience and can take care of it for you. You don't have to worry about a thing. I'll just take a small fee for the trouble, and the rest of the money will be yours."
If the mother-in-law has spoken, when else should she make a move?
Zhou Shi was a step behind, glaring at Zhao Shi first, then hurriedly saying, "Third Aunt cooks better than Aunt Zhao. Third Aunt can handle it too."
The expressions of Zhao Shi and Zhou Shi were quite ugly.
Wu Shi understood their intentions. However, since Ji Wan'er didn't let her do any work, she didn't want her to have an easy time either. In any case, she couldn't let the shop fall into her hands. As long as she could make Ji Wan'er uncomfortable, it would be enough. She quickly added fuel to the fire.
Amidst all the talking, Xiao Qingming remained silent.
Zhou Shi saw that the matter had reached this point, and Xiao Qingming remained indifferent, looking pitiful. She guessed that this nephew had been completely enchanted by the woman and wouldn't easily hand over the shop to them.
Her hopes were dashed, and the more Zhou Shi looked at Xiao Qingming, the more displeased she became. Unable to hold back, she cursed, "You useless piece of trash!"
She had hurled such words at him many times before. Ever since she found out that her in-laws wanted to support this nephew's education and let the three siblings freeload, she started berating him. She didn't have such far-sightedness. Whether Xiao Qingming could pass the exams had nothing to do with her. He wasn't her son. If he passed, she wouldn't gain anything. It would be better to let her own son take the exams.
Ji Wan'er watched as Xiao Qingming lowered his head, feeling somewhat sorry for him. She took a half-step forward, intending to say something.
Just then, Xiao Qingming raised his head and said, "As Auntie said, I'm a useless man. Since I'm so useless, it's my good fortune that my wife is willing to stay with me."
Ji Wan'er didn't expect Xiao Qingming to say that. She turned her head and looked at him, her eyes filled with disbelief.
After speaking, he looked at everyone present one by one, his gaze lingering on Li Shi. "Mother, over the years, what money did I use to study? You know it well, and just because your grandson doesn't talk about it doesn't mean I don't know anything. Out of gratitude for my grandparents' upbringing, I didn't ask for anything when we divided the family assets."
1
Li Shi's face turned pale. Zhao Shi and Li Shi also felt uneasy, their gazes starting to wander.
"If any of you come to trouble my wife again or speak ill of her outside, don't blame me for being impolite."
In Chinese novels, the addition of "shi" (氏) to the last name of characters is a way to indicate their family or clan name. Historically, "shi" was used as a suffix to denote a woman's maiden name after marriage. For example, if a woman named Ji married into the Xiao family, she would be referred to as Ji Shi of the Ji family)
In Chinese novels, the addition of "shi" to a character's last name is often used to emphasize their identity and status within a particular family or clan. It can be a way to show respect or highlight the character's lineage and heritage. This convention is rooted in Chinese naming traditions and adds depth to the characters' backgrounds and relationships within the story.