After hearing Zhang Zixuan’s words, Jian Xiu continued, “It’s different now. It’s forty copper coins, and that’s for the cheapest dish. Think about it—how many dishes can you make from a pound of dried bamboo shoots? Besides, this is fresh food. How could it only cost forty copper coins? If it were an exclusive dish at Yuexiang Restaurant, they could sell it for two hundred coins, and that would be completely normal. A single pound of dried bamboo shoots can make five or six plates of this dish. Don’t you think they’re making a fortune?”

After doing the math, Jian Xiu felt that selling it for forty coins per pound was already quite cheap.

Hearing this, Zhang Zixuan fell into deep thought.

He stared at Jian Xiu intently, as if he couldn’t believe these words had come from her mouth.

She knew that Zhang Zixuan was beginning to doubt her identity, but she wasn’t the least bit anxious.

Not only did she inherit the original body’s memories, but even if she had changed inside, Zhang Zixuan would never be able to figure that out, no matter how hard he tried.

What Jian Xiu didn’t know was that Zhang Zixuan was not as simple as she imagined.

At that moment, Zhang Zixuan was already beginning to have doubts, though he was struggling with whether to ask her directly.

---

At the Old House

When they returned home, the children were staring at them eagerly.

Because they hadn’t had dinner yet.

Although they usually didn’t have much to eat, at least they had something.

But seeing that everyone’s faces were bruised and pale, even if they wanted to ask for food, they held back.

“Old man, we lost more than two taels of silver for no reason. I just can’t swallow this anger… Ah—”

Before Old Madam Liu could finish speaking, Old Zhang slapped her hard across the face.

“Mother—”

“Mother—”

Zhang Zirong and Zhang Zihua rushed to support Liu Shi, looking at Old Zhang with confusion.

If this had been any other time, Old Madam Liu might have been fine.

But right now, that slap made her dizzy, making her already weak body feel even worse.

On top of that, she wasn’t young anymore.

As Zhang Zirong and Zhang Zihua helped her up, she suddenly fainted.

“Hurry, hurry! Go get Doctor Zhang!” Zhang Zirong called out urgently.

Old Zhang was stunned.

He had hit her hard, but Old Madam Liu wasn’t someone who would go down so easily.

“Father, are you crazy? Mother was already beaten badly by that wretched Jian Xiu, and now you—aren’t you just making things worse for the family?”

Zhang Zifu, the third son, couldn’t help but speak up.

Although he hadn’t supported going to the fourth household to cause trouble, that didn’t mean he wanted to see his father hit his mother.

“You have the nerve to talk? If it weren’t for her listening to the gossiping women in the village and stirring things up, none of this would have happened! She deserves it.”

Old Zhang’s face was dark with anger.

At his age, when had he ever been so humiliated in front of the villagers?

If not for Old Mandam Liu, none of this would have happened, and they wouldn’t have lost over two taels of silver.

Now, it was a complete disaster.

“Father, it’s too late to argue about this. I told you not to go, but you wouldn’t listen. Now that things have gone wrong, why is it only Mother’s fault?”

Zhang Zifu couldn’t help but defend Liu Shi.

Hearing this, Old Zhang was momentarily speechless.

But remembering what had happened at the edge of the village that day, he squinted his eyes at the third son and his wife.

Wang Xiuying felt a chill run down her spine under Old Zhang’s gaze.

She knew that while it was usually Old Madam Liu who did all the scolding, the real decision-maker in the family was her father-in-law.

Although he rarely spoke, he was actually very shrewd.

When the fourth household was forced to split from the family, he had understood clearly that it was more beneficial for him.

But if their third household wanted to split, that would be much harder.

If nothing else, just getting past him would be a challenge.

Old Madam Liu was seriously injured this time.

When Doctor Zhang arrived, he not only prescribed several doses of medicine but also repeatedly warned her to avoid heavy labor for the time being.

Otherwise, she would suffer from long-term health issues.

Hearing this, Old Madam Liu was secretly pleased.

Right now, it was spring planting season, and working in the fields was exhausting.

With the doctor’s words, she now had a legitimate reason to stay in bed.

However, the cost of the medicine worried her.

“Doctor Zhang, our family has been frequent customers lately. Can’t you charge us a little less?”

Old Madam Liu asked cautiously.

They had already lost over two taels today, and now the medicine was going to cost over a hundred copper coins.

That was nearly a year’s worth of expenses for them.

How could she not feel distressed?

“Aunt Liu, this is already very cheap,” Doctor Zhang replied, exasperated.

Besides, who ever talks about being a “frequent customer” at a doctor’s clinic?

Did she think visiting him often was a good thing?

Seeing Old Madam Liu looking at him expectantly, Doctor Zhang sighed. He knew her personality well.

So he said, “I’ll waive the five-coin house-call fee today. Does that work for you, Aunt Liu?”

Although Old Madam Liu was still unhappy, she had no choice but to agree.

There was no way around it—her whole body ached, even breathing was painful.

In the end, Old Madam Liu handed over eighty copper coins, managing to shave off another two coins.

Doctor Zhang sighed inwardly, secretly swearing that he never wanted to treat anyone from the Zhang family again.

---

The Next Day

Early in the morning, Jian Xiu called Zhang Zhiyong and Zhang Haifei over.

“Sister-in-law, do you need our help with something? Just say the word.”

“We’re not gathering cart grass today. Instead, we’re going deep into the mountains.”

“Deep into the mountains?” The two were surprised.