Chapter 32 – The Public Account Has No Money Left

Main Room, Inner Quarters.

Li Sumei explained, “Mother, our family currently doesn’t have any grain for the winter. We need to set aside money to buy food, save some for emergencies, and reserve some for the children’s school expenses. Jia-ge’er and He-ge’er need to begin their education soon too. If we delay any longer, they’ll be too old. If we use all our family’s funds to buy land, we’ll have to cut one of these three expenses.”

Old Madam Su said, “Calculate how much we’ve spent on buying the house and land, and add in land rent, population tax, and household tax—how much is the total?”

Li Sumei took out a ledger she carried with her, turned to the most recent entry, and said, “Let’s see. We spent 200 taels on the house. The population tax and household tax for registration totaled 20 taels. The farmland, including land rent, cost 500 taels. Previously, we spent 100 taels on food, cloth, cotton, and other miscellaneous items. Altogether, that’s 820 taels.

The money we earned working on the boat wasn’t added to the public account—it was kept by everyone individually—but even that only totals about one tael. You initially placed 1,000 taels in the public account. Subtracting the 820 leaves 180 taels.

Out of that, 50 taels need to be reserved for winter grain, 50 taels should be kept in the public account, and 100 taels are needed for the four boys’ school fees, books, and writing supplies.

If we reduce our purchase by ten mu of good farmland, buying only thirty mu instead, we can save 100 taels. That amount would be enough.”

After hearing that, Old Madam Su pondered for a moment before saying, “Those 60 mu of barren land were exchanged for a hillside. We can buy it for just six taels. We can’t pass that up. First, our family is large. With a mountain, we won’t have to worry about firewood. Second, when we raise more sheep in the future, it will be convenient for grazing. The good farmland’s price has dropped; it’s only ten taels per mu now, which is a great deal. If we wait until spring and the prices rise again, we’ll lose out. We also have to keep the pond for irrigation in the spring.

Besides, the land deeds and field contracts that Sister-in-law Wang delivered already have the official stamps. If we reject them, not only will they go to waste, but we’ll also have to pay a penalty to the authorities for breaking the agreement. Here’s what I think—we won’t save any more money in the public account for now. Let’s buy the land first. When spring comes and the value of the good farmland rises, we can sell a few mu to replenish the public account. What do you think, Fifth Daughter-in-law?”

Old Madam Su managed the household, while Li Sumei handled the finances. Due to the current weather, no one in the Su family had any income, only expenses. Li Sumei, focused on the ledger, naturally felt anxious and hoped the public account would retain some savings. But since Old Madam Su already had a plan, she had to suppress her worry and nodded in agreement, “Let’s go with what Mother said.”

After Li Sumei and Old Madam Su went inside, Wu Chunhe invited Wang Baorui’s wife to sit down, called in the four boys—Yan Jia, Yan He, Yan Qi, and Yan Xing—to watch their little sister, and took the opportunity to sweep snow off the roof along the corridor.

The four boys came to the cradle and couldn’t stop holding Su Huan lovingly.

“Big Brother, let me hold our sister!” Yan Qi said excitedly.

Their little sister was still small, her body tender and fragile. Their grandmother and fifth uncle and aunt were worried they’d be too rough, so they were rarely allowed to hold her alone.

Only when the adults weren’t around, like now, could they sneak in a few cuddles with her.

Their sister smelled like milk, was soft and warm to hold—like a plump little ball.

After holding her for a while, Yan Jia, hearing Yan Qi’s voice, smiled indulgently and passed her to Yan He.

Yan He held her for a bit and then handed her to Yan Qi, who after a while passed her to Yan Xing. The four brothers took turns experiencing the joy of holding their little sister. Their love for her was almost overflowing.

Wang Baorui’s wife watched and couldn’t help teasing, “Your little sister is truly blessed! You all treasure her so much now—won’t she be spoiled silly by the four of you when she grows up?”

The four brothers exchanged glances. Yan Jia, holding little Su Huan, smiled and said, “Aunt, you’re joking. Actually, we’re the ones who are truly blessed to be her older brothers.”

“Yaya?”

Little Su Huan raised her head at the sound, her shiny eyes filled with curiosity.

Yan He nodded in agreement. “It’s true. It’s not that our sister is lucky to have us, it’s that we’re lucky to be her brothers.”

Not wanting to be left behind, Yan Xing chimed in, “That’s right, Aunt. Grandma said our sister is our family’s little fortune treasure! Back when we were fleeing the famine, we couldn’t even get enough to eat, but once she was born—uh…”

Yan Qi quickly covered his mouth with a smile, “Big Brother, isn’t it time we changed Sister’s diaper?”

Every parent sees their child as a treasure. But the Su family was quite interesting—they actually considered this little girl, with her dark circles and adorably odd looks, a blessing.

Wang Baorui’s wife giggled into her handkerchief but didn’t mind that Yan Xing was cut off. She curiously asked, “Jia-ge’er, has your sister not been sleeping well? Her dark circles are so heavy. With her pale skin and those two little pigtails, she almost looks like a baby panda.”

Yan Jia carried little Su Huan behind the screen to change her diaper. Su Huan shyly covered her face and obediently lifted her little bottom. When she heard that, she subconsciously touched the dark circles under her eyes and thought to herself: Should I find time to digest the accumulated merit from slaying evil cultivators and subduing demons? Maybe raising my spiritual power would make the dark circles disappear?

After finishing, Yan Jia came out holding his sister and smiled, “Aunt, you guessed right. My sister didn’t sleep well—probably because she’s still adjusting to the new house.”

Her dark circles had appeared the second morning after they moved in. Grandma said they shouldn’t tell others, or villagers might think she was unlucky. So the whole family agreed to say she just wasn’t sleeping well.

Anyway, children often sleep poorly, so no one would question it.

Wang Baorui’s wife immediately understood and said warmly, “Ah, kids are picky about where they sleep—that’s normal. My son was the same. But I know a home remedy. Once the snow stops, I’ll bring it over. Have your family make a medicine mix with some yellow soil and give it to her for a few doses. I guarantee those dark circles will be gone within a month.”

A folk remedy… Is that edible?

Su Huan didn’t know why, but her eyelid twitched when she heard those words. Instinctively, she felt reluctant to risk her delicate little body.

“Thank you, Aunt. Second Brother, Aunt’s tea has gone cold. Pour her another bowl.”

Yan Jia smiled and thanked Wang Baorui’s wife, instructing Yan He to refill her tea.

Wang Baorui’s wife noticed Yan He’s hands were long and clean, his nails tidy, and his clothes faintly smelled of soap. The other three boys were just the same. She could tell the Su family cherished and properly raised their children, which made her feel fond of them.

At that moment, Li Sumei lifted the curtain and came out with the scale, laughing along with Old Madam Su. “Sorry to keep you waiting, Sister-in-law. We just moved in, and our things aren’t all sorted yet. We don’t use the scale much and forgot where we put it. My mother and I searched for a good while. The children didn’t bother you, did they?