Chapter 10

She was a bit reluctant to use it recklessly, so she could only try to use it where it mattered most.

In the morning, she would drop two drops into her face wash. She and the children would use the same water, and she would also use a bit of it to comb her hair. Her hair had become thicker and much softer.

The wound on her forehead had already healed, and under the effect of the spiritual spring, the scar was fading. It wouldn’t take long—probably in a few days, the wound might be completely gone. She really loved the spiritual spring as her golden finger!

She went to check the family’s vegetable plot and found cucumbers. An idea popped into her head. She could make some pickled cucumbers to sell and make some money. Otherwise, life would be hard with no money, and she didn’t want to ask her mother-in-law for any. The original owner hadn’t saved a single penny for herself; it had all been sent to her family.

While watering the garden, she added a bit of spiritual spring water, wanting to see its effect on the vegetables and fruits. She also added some to the chicken and pig feed.

Three days later…

“Hey, why are the chickens laying so many eggs lately?” Zhu Tianfang was puzzled. They had two chickens, usually only laying two eggs a day, maybe three if they were lucky. Now, they were laying four or five eggs a day. “Will this overwork the chickens?”

Wu Yuexiang chuckled, “Mom, we can’t stop them from laying eggs, can we? Should we cover their backsides?”

“This is so strange. The vegetables in the garden are also growing very well. They’re all so green!” Zhu Tianfang felt it was odd.

Su Qianqian chuckled to herself. Sure enough, the spiritual spring worked!

Spiritual spring, please produce more. Otherwise, just this little bit won’t be enough.

“Mom, I’m going to make some pickled cucumbers. Is that okay?”

“Mm, go ahead.” Over the past few days, everyone had gotten used to Su Qianqian’s cooking, and their tastes had become a bit spoiled. Now, no matter what she made, they fully supported her. Moreover, the Cheng family had started to see her in a better light, although they were still a little worried that she might be planning something big.

Su Qianqian picked some cucumbers to pickle.

In this era, white sugar was a luxury, but she still secretly added a little to enhance the flavor. After preparing it, she sealed the pickles. These pickled cucumbers could be eaten the next day—crisp and delicious.

“Qianqian, Qianqian,” Su Yinhua came looking for her.

“What’s the matter?” She wiped her hands on her apron and walked over.

Su Yinhua froze when she saw her. “You… you look… whiter and more beautiful?”

“Huh? What?”

“Never mind. Come outside. I need to talk to you.” Su Yinhua’s expression had become somewhat colder.

Once they were outside, Su Yinhua led her a short distance. “Look, that’s the person I introduced to you.”

Before Su Qianqian could refuse, she called out, “Zhao Tiezhu, this is Su Qianqian.”

“Yinhua, I appreciate your kindness, but I’m not remarrying. So, I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to turn him down.” Su Qianqian felt awkward and tried to make her exit quickly.

“Qianqian, you’re being silly. You’re still young. Do you plan to stay a widow for the rest of your life? Brother Zhao may be a bit older, but his family is well-off. If you marry him, you won’t suffer. It’ll definitely be better than staying at the Cheng family.”

Zhao Tiezhu seemed like an honest man, but he was already over forty—about twenty years older than Su Qianqian. He could be her father.

“No, I’m fine right now.” She knew exactly what Su Yinhua was up to. Since childhood, Su Yinhua had always tried to compare herself to her, never wanting to see her do well. If they both had to suffer, Su Yinhua didn’t mind, but if her friend suddenly started driving a Land Rover, that was when the jealousy would kick in. Su Yinhua had that mentality.

Seeing Su Qianqian trying to leave, Su Yinhua grabbed her arm. “You’re embarrassing him. At least talk to him, get to know him a bit. Do you really not understand your situation? Your reputation is so bad, how many men would want you? Brother Zhao is kind-hearted and doesn’t mind your past, yet you’re still turning him down?”

“??” Seriously, big sister, are you kidding me?

“Su Yinhua, since Brother Zhao is so great, why don’t you keep him for yourself? He has a son, right? You won’t have to worry about having children, and no one will say you can’t lay eggs. You two are the perfect match.” Su Qianqian threw out a barrage of words that made Su Yinhua’s face turn pale.

“Su Qianqian, how dare you say that about me? I won’t let this go!”

Seeing that Su Yinhua was about to charge at her, Su Qianqian quickly ran off, and Su Yinhua couldn’t catch up.

Originally, as a new generation woman, Su Qianqian didn’t think much about not being able to have children, but since Su Yinhua had been constantly making life difficult for her, she decided to fight back and make things mutual.

Zhu Tianfang was a bit surprised when she saw Su Qianqian rushing back. “What happened?”

“Su Yinhua introduced someone to me and asked me to remarry. I refused, and she got upset.” Su Qianqian told the truth, thinking that hiding things might cause more trouble.

“Who is it?” Zhu Tianfang pondered. She had been wondering what Su Qianqian had been up to lately, especially since she had been acting so well. After thinking about it, she figured it must either be about money or remarriage.

“He’s a man in his forties, his wife passed away, and he has a son.”

“That’s not good, too old.”

Seeing her reaction, Su Qianqian couldn’t help but say, “Mom, I really don’t want to remarry, I’m serious, I swear!” So, Cheng Yue, maybe you shouldn’t come back after all.

She felt that things were just fine as they were.

Zhu Tianfang set down the half-finished shoe sole she had been stitching, took a deep breath, and asked, “Erbao’s mom, just tell me, how much do you want?”

“Ah?” Su Qianqian was stunned.

“You’ve been doing well lately, we can see it, and you know our situation. We really can’t spare too much. Just tell me how much you want.” Otherwise, it would be too painful. She had been having nightmares every night, who could bear it?

Su Qianqian couldn’t help but laugh.

“Mom, I don’t want any money.”

Zhu Tianfang’s face changed. “You don’t want money? Are you asking for our lives instead?” Not remarried and not wanting money? That was too terrifying.

“No, no, Mom, you’re thinking too much. I’ve decided to turn over a new leaf and live a good life. My family treated me so poorly, I don’t need to work myself to the bone for them anymore. This time, they even helped Zhou Cuiqin to extort money from me. That’s just too much!”

“Turn over a new leaf? What does that mean? Is it an idiom? Erbao’s mom can use idioms now? Wow!”

But she understood. It seemed that Su Qianqian’s family had made her feel disillusioned, and now she had woken up.

If that’s the case, life could still go on. As long as Su Qianqian didn’t cause trouble, things would surely get better.

At dinner, Su Qianqian prepared the meal and brought out the pickled cucumbers. “Here, everyone, try this.”

Although they usually ate pickled foods, this pickled cucumber was especially crunchy and refreshing, with a little sourness and spiciness. It was very appetizing, and they kept praising it. The whole plate of pickled cucumbers was quickly finished.

This gave Su Qianqian confidence.

The next day, she asked Zhu Tianfang to take her to the black market in town. The black market wasn’t being strictly monitored anymore, so people would bring things to sell there.

Zhu Tianfang was bringing vegetables from their own garden, as the locals liked fresh vegetables grown in the countryside.

“Erbao’s mom, you’re selling this pickled cucumber?”

“Yes.”

“Do you think it will sell?” Zhu Tianfang was skeptical. After all, everyone could make pickled cucumbers themselves, there was no need to buy them.

Su Qianqian smiled but didn’t say anything. She would wait and see if it sold. She wasn’t sure either, but it was worth trying.

The black market was quite lively, with many sellers and buyers.

They found a spot and set up. Su Qianqian placed the pickled cucumbers on small plates and called out, “Try some pickled cucumbers, free samples! If you don’t like it, don’t buy it. If you like it, then buy it.”

Her call piqued the interest of several people, as who wouldn’t like a free taste?

One older woman tried a bite and was quite surprised. It tasted unexpectedly good, so she asked, “Little sister, how much is one jar?”

“Two yuan per jar.”

Everyone was stunned by the price. Zhu Tianfang, standing by, was in disbelief: “?? Is Erbao’s mom crazy? Pickled cucumbers for two yuan a jar? Is she out of her mind? What should I do if things turn ugly?”

“Two yuan? Are you crazy for money?” the older woman said bluntly.