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Wan Chunmei’s pickling skills were indeed top-notch. Before Little Qiyue was born, she had made pickles several times, and at the time, the children at home were so eager to lick the bottoms of their bowls clean.
Since they rarely had any luxurious delicacies, they had nothing to compare it to. So, she thought the children were simply starving and overeating, not realizing it was her skill that made the pickles so delicious.
Now, someone was paying fifty taels of silver a month to order her pickles, and she couldn’t quite grasp the situation.
Wan Chunmei lowered her gaze and let out a long breath before asking Tan Erqian seriously, “Erqian, tell me the truth. Is this real?”
Tan Erqian nodded vigorously. “Yes, it’s really true!”
He raised his eyebrows and smiled. “Alright, Mother, stop thinking too much about it. Let’s hurry up and get the pickles made!”
Tan Yiliang also quickly chimed in, “Yes, Mother, how could Erqian joke about something like this? Since there’s money to be made, let’s roll up our sleeves and get to work!”
Wan Chunmei snapped out of her daze, her resolve hardening. She nodded and said, “Alright! Roll up our sleeves and get to work! Let’s make the pickles! Make the pickles!”
With that, she handed Little Qiyue over to Tan Yiliang and turned to get busy with the large radishes, looking thoroughly energized.
Little Qiyue, resting in Tan Yiliang’s arms, was very happy to see Tan Erqian return. She raised her little arm and reached out toward him.
Tan Yiliang, unable to hold onto her, handed her back to Tan Erqian.
“Here, second brother, you carry her,” Tan Erqian said with a smile, taking Little Qiyue in his arms and teasing her. “Did you miss your second brother?”
Little Qiyue blinked her round eyes and giggled. “Er…er…”
Tan Erqian, slightly confused, asked, “Er?”
Tan Yiliang quickly interrupted. “Our little Qiyue can talk now. Just now, she was calling for you, second brother!”
“She can talk?” Tan Erqian was ecstatic, and he turned to Wan Chunmei, who was busy with the radishes. “Mother, can Little Qiyue really talk?”
Wan Chunmei, cutting open a radish, smiled and replied, “Not quite talking yet, but she’s getting close. This child is speaking early.”
“That’s great.” Tan Erqian smiled and playfully nuzzled Little Qiyue’s chubby cheek, full of affection. “Come on, call second brother again, let me hear it.”
“Ba-da~ ba-da~” Little Qiyue giggled sweetly but didn’t say anything more.
Tan Erqian was already overjoyed just seeing her smile. He hoisted her onto his shoulder and pulled out a package of pastries from his pocket. This time, instead of osmanthus cake, it was chestnut cake.
Little Qiyue held it in her hands and ate with great delight.
After noon, Old Tan returned home and was stunned when he saw so many copper coins.
However, after being comforted by several of his sons, he gradually accepted the situation.
He began to sort the copper coins, setting aside a portion for emergency use. The rest he divided into three parts: one for the construction of the new house for the Yu family, another to buy vegetables, rice seeds, chicken and duck chicks, as well as some spices for pickling, and the final portion would be kept for household necessities once the house was completed.
Wan Chunmei fully agreed with his allocation and helped him hide the other portion as well.
That night, the Tan family, who had been poor for most of their lives, couldn’t sleep. Most were overwhelmed with joy and excitement.
However, some of the joy came from the money.
Others, though, were delighted because Little Qiyue was growing up fast, and she was about to start speaking.
Tan Sanyuan tossed and turned in bed, his initial joy gradually turning into worry, and no matter what, he just couldn’t fall asleep.
Tan Erqian, lying beside him, asked, “Third Brother, what’s wrong?”
Tan Sanyuan sighed slowly, “Little Qiyue is about to speak.”
Tan Erqian chuckled, “Yes, time flies. By the time spring passes, she’ll be turning one in the summer.”
Tan Sanyuan furrowed his brows, “After one year, then comes two, three, four… Before we know it, she’ll be sixteen. After sixteen, it’s time for her to get married.”
Tan Erqian’s smile faded as he listened. “Yes, eventually, Little Qiyue will have to get married.”
Tan Sanyuan immediately sat up in bed, saying, “No, we can’t let Little Qiyue get married!”
Tan Erqian looked at him in confusion, “Why not?”
Tan Sanyuan spoke seriously, “Have you seen what happened to our little aunt? After she got married, she suffered so much. I don’t want Little Qiyue to go through the same pain.”
Tan Erqian sat up and patted his back, reassuring him, “Don’t worry, with us brothers here, no one will dare treat Little Qiyue like that. If anyone does, I’ll tear them apart and throw them in the river to feed the fish.”
Tan Sanyuan thought for a moment, then said, “In the future, no one will be allowed to marry Little Qiyue. No one!”
Tan Erqian yawned and said with deep meaning, “Alright, alright, in the future, our Little Qiyue won’t marry anyone, unless… unless…”
Tan Sanyuan asked, “Unless what?”