Chapter 57: That’s Dirty

On the way home, Ye Caiping took out 300 wen from her space and bought 100 pounds of white rice.

Arriving at the door, Ye Caiping took out 50 pounds of rice, packed it into a burlap sack she had prepared earlier, and dragged it inside.

Yan Fang, who was about to make spicy soup, gasped in surprise, “Caiping, why did you buy so much white rice?”

“To eat! 50 pounds, enough for our family to eat for a month,” Ye Caiping dragged the rice into the kitchen, then set it down with a heavy sigh.

“We’ve been eating brown rice and cassava every day, which is already good enough. This white rice… it’s too precious. 50 pounds costs one tael of silver!”

Ye Caiping smiled, “It’s just one tael.”

Yan Fang gave her a reproachful look, stepped forward, and whispered, “You little girl, I know you’re making a lot of money, but you can’t just spend it like this.”

“Mother, I’ll be thirty next year, I’m not a little girl anymore,” Ye Caiping said somewhat helplessly.

“I don’t care how old you are. Even if you’re seventy or eighty, in front of your parents, you’re still a little girl,” Yan Fang said.

For some reason, Ye Caiping suddenly felt a bit touched, and she softly said, “Mother, I can earn over a hundred a month, what’s one tael of silver?”

Yan Fang’s eyes widened. She knew Ye Caiping made a lot of money, but she had only assumed that she earned one tael a day, and that making 30 taels a month would be the most she could possibly earn. Never did she imagine that her daughter was claiming to make 100 taels a month?

Yan Fang was so shocked she almost jumped up. Then, belatedly, she quickly covered Ye Caiping’s mouth:

“Shh, don’t say that! Wealth shouldn’t be flaunted. Don’t ever tell anyone how much you make. Your father and your older brother can’t know either.”

Ye Caiping nodded.

Only then did Yan Fang let go of her: “Even though you earn a lot, you can’t just spend it recklessly. If we want to eat, we’ll buy it ourselves. I already have thirty wen in daily wages.”

“You wouldn’t part with your money, would you?” Yan Fang said with a laugh.

Ye Caiping looked at her mother and retorted, “Mother, this is my way of honoring you and Father.”

Yan Fang smiled and happily poured the rice into the wooden tub.

That evening, the Ye family enjoyed the long-awaited white rice. Ye Peng had also caught two big grass carp from the river and made a delicious braised fish dish.

The family ate so heartily that the corners of their mouths were nearly covered in oil.

…

Li Jiaojiao had been waiting for several days, but Ye Caiping still hadn’t taken the initiative to deliver the jade.

She sat in her room, sulking, when suddenly the sound of Old Lady Li’s laughter came from outside.

Old Lady Li, wearing a purple-red garment, was followed by Gouwu’s mother.

“Aunt, this outfit of yours looks so beautiful, it’s the only one like it in our village. Not only is the color vibrant, but it’s also embroidered with intricate patterns.”

“It’s all thanks to my Jiaojiao, who gave it to me as a gift.”

Gouwu’s mother immediately began to praise her: “No wonder my Gouwu keeps calling Jiaojiao Sister Jiaojiao every day. She’s really a dutiful child.”

Old Lady Li was flattered and felt overjoyed.

After Gouwu’s mother left, Old Lady Li still felt pleased.

After wearing this outfit, Old Lady Li felt as if she was the wife of a wealthy family.

Ever since her son married Zhang Shuiniang, life had only been getting better and better.

Her son not only had an official title, but her granddaughter also dug up ginseng, earning 200 taels for the family.

Her granddaughter was also extremely filial, buying her new clothes made from fine cloth.

Old Lady Li felt that her current life was as though she had ascended to heaven.

It just so happened that she saw that Li Jiaojiao’s window was open, so she walked over: “Jiaojiao, do you think this outfit looks good on me?”

“Yes, it looks beautiful,” Li Jiaojiao sincerely complimented.

“If only I had a hairpin,” Old Lady Li said, full of hints, “Like the one your mother has. I really like that one, with the intricate design on the top.”

Li Jiaojiao laughed and said, “It’s just a silver hairpin. I’ll buy one for you tomorrow.”

Old Lady Li was overjoyed and grabbed Li Jiaojiao’s hand: “See, this is how a granddaughter should behave.”

She then ran out, showing off to everyone, telling them that in a few days, her granddaughter would be buying her a silver hairpin.

At noon, Li Zimo came back from the academy, rushing into Li Jiaojiao’s room: “Jiaojiao, you’re really going to buy Grandma a silver hairpin? The one our mother has cost seven taels.”

Li Jiaojiao didn’t think much of it: “It’s only 7 taels.”

Li Zimo choked for a moment and whispered, “Even if you have 200 taels in hand, you can’t spend like this. Last time, you gave 20 taels as a gift to the family. I still have to pay tuition every month—2 taels each month—and buy stationery… You also often buy meat to eat… How much is left now?”

“That 200 taels hasn’t been touched, don’t worry!”

When leaving the Sun family, she had arranged to sell all of the Sun family’s land and houses, and even sold three cousins and two male cousins to a broker, earning over 70 taels.

She spent 30 taels on Zhang Shuiniang’s dowry, and recently spent another 20 taels. Now, there’s just over 20 taels left, plus the 200 taels, making a total of 220 taels.

“That’s true, but you’re so wasteful, you can’t keep spending like this!” Li Zimo gasped. In just over a month, she had already spent more than 50 taels.

At this rate, how long will that money last?

“Don’t worry, brother, anyway… money will always come.”

Li Zimo was momentarily speechless: “Where will it come from?”

Li Jiaojiao replied, “…Anyway… money will come when the time comes. It’s like when I found the ginseng. Weren’t you all worried about how to make money after spending that 70 taels? And now, look, I found ginseng!”

Li Zimo thought about it. It made sense, but wasn’t that just waiting for good luck to strike?

But looking at Li Jiaojiao’s confident expression, he couldn’t bring himself to argue.

Li Jiaojiao was indeed very confident.

It was a strange kind of confidence, one that filled her chest. She just felt that once this money was spent, more would come! It was as if fate had arranged it this way.

Yes, it was a sense of destiny!

A flash of that jade suddenly appeared in her mind, and she became somewhat irritated. She thought about it, then rushed out of the room and went to Li Zhiyuan’s room.

Li Zhiyuan was reading a book and looked up.

“Father, why hasn’t that jade been delivered yet?”

Li Zhiyuan choked up, not daring to face Li Jiaojiao.

It was really embarrassing!

He had confidently promised that Ye Caiping would take the initiative to bring it, but after all these days of waiting, there was still no word.

Li Zhiyuan quickly tried to calm her down: “Don’t worry, just wait a few more days. She will definitely come.”

Yes, she will definitely come! Why wouldn’t she?

How could she let go of him? She must have just become smarter now.

It must be that the Ye family is advising her, urging her to stay calm and wait for him to take the initiative.

Ha, how dare a scholar like him think he could lower himself to go to her? Dream on!

Just wait a little longer. With what he knows about her, in a few days, she won’t be able to hold back anymore.

“Uncle Xiucai.” Li Gouwa ran in. “The ox cart has arrived.”

Li Zhiyuan stood up, gently saying to Li Jiaojiao: “Jiaojiao, don’t worry, you still don’t trust your father?”

Li Jiaojiao opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end, she nodded:

“I trust you, Father, but you have to give me some time! Three days! If I don’t get the jade in three days, I will go find her! And I will tell Mother!”

Li Zhiyuan was startled: “No! You know how your mother is. If she finds out I’ve been in contact with Ye, she’ll be furious with me!”

Li Jiaojiao pouted: “I know you know! To avoid angering Mother, you have to get the jade in three days, or you’ll regret it.”

Li Zhiyuan thought of his wife’s delicate and stubborn temperament, feeling both helpless and doting.

She was the epitome of nobility and pride, unable to tolerate even a speck of dust in her eyes.

To get her to agree to marry him, he had exhausted every trick in the book, only to earn her reluctant nod.

She would never tolerate him having any contact with Ye.

In her eyes, that would be filthy!

“Uncle Xiucai, hurry up!” Gouwa urged impatiently.

“Jiaojiao, your father is going to the city with some classmates to visit a highly respected and virtuous old scholar. I won’t be back until tomorrow at noon. Please, don’t tell your mother about the jade.”

“Hmph, fine!”