Chapter 56

She soon found out why.

The children at their table had devoured their food like a whirlwind and scampered off to play in the courtyard the moment they finished. The men were still at the beginning of their meal, lingering over the wine, but the women had already eaten their fill and were diligently pitching in to clear the tables.

Once the tables were tidied, they sat back down in an orderly row, their eyes brimming with eager anticipation.

"Sister-in-law Ah-lie, would you mind telling us a bit more about what you just mentioned?"

Old Mrs. Lu spoke up first.

By now, the children were making a ruckus out in the courtyard, making the inner yard relatively quiet, so the men at the other table overheard. Second-born Shi turned his head to look, seeing that the women’s table was unusually animated and that his own wife’s eyes were actually shining. He asked with curiosity, "What are you all talking about?"

No one had time to answer him, as all eyes were fixed on Sang Luo. His wife, however, was considerate toward him and lowered her voice to say, "Did you manage to get a taste of that tofu on the table? The white and green kinds? They were made using Ah-lie’s wife’s own recipe, and she’s asking if we want to sell them."

Second-born Shi’s spirits instantly perked up.

They had long since known that Sang Luo was not building her new house on the earnings of wild vegetables alone.

So it was what? Tofu?

The men’s table immediately pricked up their ears as well.

Sang Luo did not drag out the suspense. She gave a general account of how she and Qin Fangniang had previously sold fairy tofu and wild vegetables in the county town. "The county has an east and a west market, which require paying a market tax to enter. You can carry baskets and hawk goods through the county alleys, or you can go to the Three-Li Village market and the surrounding villages. Tofu priced at two cash a block might not be something people can afford to eat every day, but occasional buyers can always be found."

She continued, "As for me, I used to make fairy tofu, and now I’ve added regular tofu. To be honest, fleeing from the famine and struggling through the past few months have severely drained my health. Making these foods takes up too much time, and I don't want to make the twenty-li round trip to the county town to set up a stall every single day anymore. I want to leave myself some breathing room. Everyone has helped me immensely with the building of this house, and I have no other way to repay you all. Therefore, the first thing that came to my mind was to ask if you would be willing, just like Aunt You-tian, to take some tofu from me and hawk it outside. It could be considered a livelihood of sorts."

"We're willing! How could we not be willing!"

This time, before the women could respond, the men chimed in first, scrambling to answer.

Only a fool would be unwilling when a path to making money was being handed right to them.

In the countryside, apart from farming, there really were no ways to earn cash. Doing odd jobs in the county town was an option, but it was not easy, and work could not always be found. If you went into the city and failed to find work, you still had to pay a cash just to enter the gates.

Once both the Shi and Lu families had expressed their stances, Sang Luo went on to explain, "Since that’s the case, let me lay out my terms. Tofu and fairy tofu taken from my place will cost three cash for two blocks, and when you sell them, they are priced at two cash a block. For every two blocks of tofu sold, you earn one cash—a twenty-five percent profit. It may not sound like much, but during the time I sold them myself, they moved fairly well. Previously, just selling fairy tofu in the county town, it was easy to sell fifty or sixty blocks a day. Of course, my situation can only serve as a reference; business ultimately depends on the individual, and there is also the matter of talent and luck. I cannot guarantee that everyone will sell as well."

Everyone nodded, and Old Mrs. Lu smiled, saying, "We understand that logic."

Sang Luo added that fairy tofu could probably be sold for another month or so, whereas regular tofu could be sold year-round. "Making these is quite labor-intensive, and the amount I can supply is limited. Therefore, for now, I can only provide each of the three families with one share of goods. Of course, if you feel you cannot sell that much, you can take fewer to lower the risk of unsold food spoiling in your hands. Just let me know your numbers on the morning of each day, and I will prepare according to the count."

Second-born Shi, who had felt a bit doubtful moments before, nodded repeatedly. "That's right, it's best to be steady at the beginning, try selling them, and gradually increase the amount if they sell well."

Lady Gan asked, "Are there any other requirements?"

Sang Luo nodded. "Yes. Aunt You-tian sells in the East Market, and our own people cannot crowd out each other's business. So if you take goods from me, you shouldn't go to the county's East Market. You can discuss and decide among yourselves who goes to the West Market and who carries baskets to hawk in the alleys. I won't interfere with this, but it's best not to operate in the exact same place, as that would only lead to mutual competition where no one benefits."

"As for the selling price, stick to my pricing—no raising or inflating it. If we don't undercut each other's prices, this livelihood can last a long time. Those are pretty much all my requirements."

All three families nodded. Since they were already well-acquainted, they certainly wouldn't ruin their friendships by fighting over territory for business.

Old Man Lu said, "We'll go home tonight and discuss who will take on this livelihood, and we can get things started after the busy farming season is over."

Because of this matter, the men were also eager to return home to confer, and the speed at which they ate noticeably picked up.

Once everyone had finished eating, the group of women helped clear the tables and wash the bowls and plates. Sang Luo looked at the remaining dishes. Because there had been quite a number of guests, aside from the chicken, duck, and braised pork belly, truly nothing else was left of the three tables of food—and even of those few dishes, very little remained.

Sang Luo picked out a few pieces to save so her two little ones could satisfy their cravings later, and divided the rest among the other three families. "It's too hot today, and the dishes won't keep. I just split them up—a few pieces per family, not much, just something to coax the children's palates."

It wasn't that Sang Luo was trying to build personal favors; rather, due to habits from her past life, aside from things like pork lard dregs that naturally kept well, she never touched leftovers—especially overnight ones.

Thus, even if she had only a single coin left to her name, she still had two eggs at home, along with soybeans and a small basket of various vegetables sent by the neighbors that she hadn't yet used.

Therefore, she wasn't worried about food, and distributing the leftovers felt a relief.

...

The liveliness of the small courtyard dissipated by late dusk. By then, the courtyard and the kitchen area had been completely tidied up by the group of helpers. Because Sang Luo had distributed the remaining food to each family, even the tables, stools, bowls, and plates had been carried back, and the courtyard had been swept clean for her, leaving no need for her and the two little ones to clean up anything further.

Even the pack of youngsters had gone outside to help securely mend all the fences around the vegetable plot.

With everyone busy with farming and Sang Luo herself exhausted from the hectic day with its large and mixed crowd, she didn't bother gathering fairy tree leaves. Only the two liters of soybeans bought during the day were usable, so she decided not to make a fuss tonight either. She would bathe and rest early, soak the soybeans before bed, and wake up at the first crow of the rooster the next morning to grind the beans and make tofu. As it happened, they would even have fresh, hot tofu pudding for breakfast.

Here, the sisters-in-law went to the backyard to feed the chickens and ducks, took a refreshing bath, and went to bed early.

On the other other hand, while the Chen family was fine, the Lu and Shi families were destined for a sleepless night.

The Shi family was thrilled, while the Lu family was distressed.

...

Wang Chunniang was wiping her tears in her room.

"Mother is far too partial. It was you and the boys who went to help Sang Luo build her house, and this business opportunity was given because Sang Luo wanted to thank us. It should rightfully be me going, shouldn't it? But no, she insists on giving it to the younger sister-in-law."

Eldest-born Lu felt his head ache. He had been quite happy initially, and his wife hadn't said anything when his mother mentioned the matter outside, but the moment they got back into their room, she wouldn't stop crying.

"Whether you go or the younger sister-in-law goes, isn't it all the same? It's a household livelihood either way, and wouldn't the money end up being handed over to Mother in the end?"

Wang Chunniang said angrily, "How is it the same? That's money you can actually touch! Even just pulling some wild vegetables on the road to sell would bring in an extra coin or two—aren't those all money? What can I touch staying here at home?"

Lukas knew that his wife always wanted to save a little private money, though it was rarely accumulated, so he usually turned a blind eye and didn't care to comment.

But now, a job that could daily bring in cash had suddenly appeared in the family, yet his mother had designated it for his younger sister-in-law. Watching the opportunity to touch money slip right before her eyes, his wife hadn't dared to say anything outside, but the moment she returned to the room, she wept and made a fuss exclusively at him.

Eldest-born Lu did not support her stance, but he had no idea how to make her quiet either.

Wang Chunniang wiped her tears for a moment, and seeing that her husband remained silent, she urged, "Go talk to Mother and let me go instead. The second sister-in-law doesn't even like to talk; how is she suited for doing business? Besides, I don't think the second sister-in-law even wants to go that much."

Eldest-born Lu shook his head. "I didn't get the impression that the second sister-in-law doesn't want to go. She's just worried she won't do a good job. Doesn't Aunt You-tian also dislike talking, yet isn't she doing quite well? Father went over to ask—she can earn over thirty cash a day. The second sister-in-law just sits in the weaving room all day; I think Mother's arrangement is great. It'll let the second sister-in-law get out and move around, and perhaps her spirits will slowly improve."

At this point, Eldest-born Lu wore a look of shame, and his voice trailed off. "We owe the second sister-in-law far too much. You are the eldest daughter-in-law; don't compete with her, and don't fight over anything."

Wang Chunniang was choked into silence and could only wipe her tears in sullen resentment.

Having cried for a long time, when she woke up early the next morning, her eyes were swollen.

Old Mrs. Lu stepped into the kitchen and, by the dim light of the oil lamp, spotted it at a single glance.

She didn't say anything at first. Waiting until her second daughter-in-law stepped outside to fetch firewood, she finally spoke. "Well now, are you quite unhappy with my decision to let your sister-in-law sell tofu while you stay home to weave cloth?"

Wang Chunniang kept her mouth shut in sullen silence.

Old Mrs. Lu continued, "If you're dissatisfied, you must speak up. Tell me your reasoning, whether it holds water or not, and let me hear it. If it makes sense, I'll naturally defer to you; if it doesn't, you can settle down and stop holding that grievance inside."

Whether those words struck a nerve in Wang Chunniang, or perhaps because she truly felt wronged, she actually opened her mouth.

"Since you're asking me to speak reason, then I'll speak. Mother, this livelihood originally came about because Sang Luo wanted to thank eldest and Shanzhu for their help. It was my husband and my children who lent a hand, so how could it not be me who goes? Furthermore, the second sister-in-law's personality isn't as suited for this as mine. So I simply cannot figure it out."

Old Mrs. Lu glanced at her. "It's not that you can't figure it out; it's that you're unresigned. Because it was your husband and your children who helped, you feel you're the only one qualified to pluck this fruit, right? Was that what you were telling Liu-niang before we went to the feast yesterday?"

Wang Chunniang hadn't expected the old lady to know about that. Her expression shifted slightly, and she averted her gaze evasively.

Old Mrs. Lu let out a light scoff. "Wang Chunniang, a person must sometimes have a conscience. Your husband? Your children? Where is Liu-niang's husband? Where is Second-born?"

Wang Chunniang's body gave an imperceptible shudder.

Old Mrs. Lu, however, had no intention of sparing her. "Where is Second-born? Back when they were drafting soldiers, it should have been Eldest's turn according to the rotation. Because you cried, because you made a scene, because you hugged the child and threatened to kill yourself, it was Second-born who went in his elder brother's place. Did Liu-niang willingly let her husband go back then? Didn't she have a child? Ah-xu was even a year younger than Shitou!"

"Mother," Wang Chunniang's lips trembled slightly. "The child's father nearly lost his life fixing the canal that first winter, and his health was ruined. Mother, I was just afraid his body would give out before he even reached the battlefield."

Mentioning her second son made Old Mrs. Lu's eyes sting with soreness. She blinked away the stinging sensation, glanced outside the kitchen, nodded, and pressed her voice low. "Yes, you pitied your husband, and you had your reasons—so Second-born went in his elder brother's place. Even though Liu-niang shed tears too, she didn't make a fuss."

"Now Second-born is gone, leaving Liu-niang and Ah-xu—one without a husband, one without a father—as a lone widow and orphan."

"Wang Chunniang, how dare you? How dare you bring up your husband and your son like that? If Second-born hadn't taken that trip in Eldest's place, would Liu-niang have lost her husband? Would Ah-xu have lost his father? Would he be five years old without even a younger brother or sister? How dare you?!"

Frightened by her mother-in-law's final suppressed yet intimidatingly sharp interrogation, Wang Chunniang shuddered and took half a step back, steadying herself only when she bumped against the stove. Her tears fell from fright. "Mother, I didn't mean it. Those words weren't even said to the second sister-in-law; I was just complaining to Da-niu a bit. I didn't know the second sister-in-law would overhear. Over the years, the second sister-in-law has blamed me, hardly speaking a single word to me or giving me a pleasant look, and I've never dared to say anything either, Mother."

Old Mrs. Lu laughed in sheer anger. "So what if she doesn't give you a pleasant look? It hasn't even been a year yet, Second-born's bones are not yet cold, and you expect her to smile at you?"

"You didn't say anything? What else were you hoping to say? Pushing someone to the psychological brink with your words—that's all you're capable of."

"Since you asked today, I might as well make it plain to you. If you hadn't said those things yesterday to pierce your sister-in-law's heart, considering your personality is indeed better suited for moving about outside, I might have actually let you take on this tofu-selling business. But since you were capable of uttering such words, don't harbor even a scrap of hope for this matter ever again."

"You say I'm partial? Well, I am partial! You have a husband and four sons; you don't lack this bit of pampering from me. But your sister-in-law—I must help her stand on her own two feet, seeing as she now has only Ah-xu. If you still don't understand after hearing this, and still feel unconvinced, you can just weave more cloth in the future. Weaving cloth calms the mind; take your time to reflect on it. If you can't figure it out in a day, take a month. If you can't figure it out in a month, take a year."

Around the corner, not far outside the kitchen, Feng Liu-niang hadn't actually gone to fetch firewood. She had been standing there for quite a while. Listening to her mother-in-law bring up her husband, and listening to her mother-in-law's staunch defense, tears fell in strings.

She pressed the heels of her palms against her eyes to wipe away the tears, paused for a moment to steady herself, and then quietly carried the firewood toward the woodshed.

Her mother-in-law was right. She still had Ah-xu; she could not endlessly indulge in sorrow. She had to stand on her own two feet—for the sake of her child, she had to stand tall.