Chapter 18: The Urge to Earn Money Grows Stronger

Outside the fence, He Zhong couldn’t explain why he had come to the Eldest Branch of the He Family rather than visiting other relatives. Perhaps he saw Wan Xu as his own aunt, or perhaps he thought this would anger his partial mother. Whatever the reason, he didn’t regret coming.

Inside the house, Wan Xu set down her chopsticks and glanced outside. Who could be visiting at this hour?

“Mother,” He Ningwen whispered, clutching Mother He’s sleeve and hiding behind her. The debt collectors always came after dark—could it be them again?

“Did I just hear someone call for ‘Aunt’?” Su Yi’an stood, ready to go into the courtyard. He Xingchen followed close behind—wherever his aunt went, he went.

The bamboo gate creaked open. Su Yi’an was surprised to see who stood outside. It had been nearly half a month since their encounter on the mountain, and the pair looked far more disheveled now.

“Come in,” Su Yi’an said softly, noticing the woman in He Zhong’s arms trembling. She had heard of Second Aunt He’s situation, and she remembered every word the woman had said. Though she had no desire to interfere, she couldn’t bring herself to turn them away.

He Xingchen recognized the visitor and ran into the house. “Grandma, Uncle Erzhong from Second Aunt’s family is here!”

“Erzhong?” Mother He frowned in confusion but followed him outside.

He Zhong stood awkwardly in the doorway, Sister Xing in his arms, her skirt soaked. He hadn’t thought much about the visit earlier, but now, seeing the family eating, he hesitated. In the village, it was frowned upon to visit during mealtime—every bite of rice cost money.

“Why is her dress still wet?” Mother He noticed immediately. “Did she fall into the water?”

Sister Xing remained silent. Her once-radiant presence on her wedding day was now dull and lifeless.

He Zhong only wanted to dry her clothes. The autumn chill had grown sharper, and staying wet would surely make her ill.

“Aunt, I just need to use the kitchen stove,” he said. Knowing that meant burning firewood, he quickly added, “I’ll bring you more tomorrow.”

“What little firewood would that take?” Mother He frowned, disliking the offer.

Still, she led them to the kitchen, lit the fire, and brought over two bowls of hot soup. Since they hadn’t explained themselves, she didn’t ask. After all, their families hadn’t been close in years. If not for He Zhong’s good nature—so unlike his parents—she wouldn’t have helped at all.

“Mother, what’s wrong with Brother Erzhong?” He Ningwen asked softly.

Mother He finished her rice soup. “I don’t know. If they don’t want to say, we shouldn’t pry.”

“But Sister Su and I saw Sister Xing crying on the mountain last time,” He Ningwen said.

Mother He frowned. “When?”

“Almost half a month ago,” He Ningwen recalled. “She was crying as she climbed, and Brother Erzhong was chasing after her.”

At the time, they hadn’t thought much of it. Now, the signs were clear in hindsight.

As night deepened, the moon hung among the branches. Outside, the wind rattled the door. Su Yi’an tucked in He Ningwen’s blankets, then quietly picked up another quilt and slipped out.

The kitchen roof was straw, and the patched bamboo window let in drafts. She knocked on the door, only to see they already had blankets—Mother He had brought one over before bed.

Even though she said she didn’t care, she still couldn’t bear to leave them cold, Su Yi’an thought. Her heart had softened. She couldn’t be harsh to a child whose family once cursed her to be childless.

Now lying on the kang, Su Yi’an drifted off peacefully.

The next morning, they found the clothes rack—previously dismantled—had been reassembled. The quilt Mother He had brought was now drying on it.

They hadn’t heard a sound in the night. He Zhong and his wife had quietly done the work.

Su Yi’an shook the rack. It was sturdy, the bamboo poles driven deep into the ground.

“Aunt, look! There’s firewood here!” He Xingchen pointed to a bundle beside the door.

Clearly, He Zhong had delivered it early that morning.

Mother He sighed. How could Second Aunt He’s family have such a good child?

“Mom, there are three eggs today!” He Ningwen called happily from the chicken coop.

These were the hens Su Yi’an had bought during her last trip to town. At first, they hadn’t laid a single egg, and she regretted buying them. But after building a stone coop and letting them roam, they began to lay sporadically.

Three eggs was a surprise.

“With these three, we have ten now,” He Ningwen said, placing them gently into a bamboo basket.

Eggs now sold for three wen each—one more than in the summer. Ten eggs meant thirty wen.

“We’ll eat two today and sell the rest,” Su Yi’an said, removing two as she walked toward the kitchen.

“Are you going to town to sell them?” He Ningwen asked, eyes shining.

Su Yi’an set the basket down. “After breakfast. We’re out of embroidery thread.”

“Then I’ll carry Sister Su’s basket!”

Mother He, overhearing, smiled and poked her forehead. “When did she say she was taking you along?”

In the past, she wouldn’t have allowed them to go alone. But now, with Yun Niang and her husband joining, it felt safer.

“Sister Su, I can even carry the back basket!”

“Alright, alright, I’ll take you,” Su Yi’an said, whisking eggs into a bowl.

She scooped lard into the wok, let it heat, then poured in the eggs. The sizzling filled the kitchen with fragrance. He Ningwen swallowed hard, forgetting her excitement about town.

Two dishes, dry steamed buns, and thin porridge made up breakfast.

The two eggs made a small plate. Mother He split it: half for the family, half for the two resting on the kang.

Even the scraps were too precious for her to eat. Not to mention Wan Xu was pregnant.

In the inner room, the scrambled eggs were set before He Yunhuai and his son. Neither picked up their chopsticks. When they were full, He Xingchen returned the untouched plate.

“Father and Uncle said they’re full,” he reported. It was clear they had saved the dish deliberately.

“I’m full too,” He Ningwen said, though still a little hungry. If she kept eating, her mother would give her the eggs.

“Me too,” He Xingchen echoed, turning his head from the plate.

Su Yi’an shook her head. “What are you two up to? We’re not short on eggs. Once the hens lay more, we’ll have plenty.”

Still, the eggs went uneaten. Mother He said to save them for lunch.

Yun Niang and her husband arrived shortly after.

Last time, the courtyard hadn’t been fenced. Now, the bamboo enclosure impressed them.

“No wonder you cut so much bamboo,” Yun Niang said, running her hand along the fence.

Su Yi’an tucked the embroidered sachets into her clothes. “I’m worried about thieves. No neighbors nearby. I’m bringing my little sister today.”

Yun Niang didn’t mind. He Ningwen had helped them on the mountain, after all.

They rode the oxcart to town. Inside, the cart went silent. The women eyed Su Yi’an and He Ningwen.

He Ningwen lowered her head, suddenly shy.

“You ladies look familiar,” Su Yi’an said casually, holding He Ningwen’s hand. “Did we pass you outside our courtyard?”

The women were caught off guard, then smiled. “We passed you twice on the mountain. Didn’t expect you to remember.”

“The villagers don’t come by often. A few more visits and I’ll recognize everyone.” She glanced at a basket. “Auntie, selling eggs?”

The mention of eggs sparked conversation.

“They’re four wen in town now! Someone bought them here for three and resold them.”

“Same every year,” another said. “They’ll go up more in winter.”

“Aunt Zhuang, why are you selling yours now?” someone asked.

“My daughter-in-law’s pregnant. Selling some to buy brown sugar.”

Everyone congratulated her, and the mood warmed.

After disembarking, He Ningwen hesitated. “Maybe we shouldn’t sell the eggs yet… what if the price rises?”

“Eggs spoil,” Su Yi’an said. “If they go bad, we lose money.”

“Then we should sell them,” she muttered, defeated.

They sold over twenty eggs together to a steamed bun vendor—five wen each. Su Yi’an earned forty wen.

He Ningwen regretted eating the two earlier. That could have been ten wen.

“Why are you so obsessed with money?” Su Yi’an teased.

“To pay off our debts,” He Ningwen said honestly. “I’m scared the collectors will come again.”

Su Yi’an hadn’t expected that. “Then we’ll save slowly. We’ll pay it off eventually.”

She pressed one wen into the girl’s hand. He Ningwen shook her head.

“Didn’t you feed the chickens? Collect the eggs?”

She nodded.

“Then this is your wage.”

He Ningwen clutched the coin, then tucked it into her pouch.

At the embroidery shop, Wan Xu’s sachets were well received. The shopkeeper bought all their work.

He Ningwen hesitated, then pulled out her own handkerchief. “Shopkeeper, will you take this?”

The stitching was simple—just a few peach blossoms—but neat. He paid her four wen.

Su Yi’an’s handkerchiefs sold for 140 wen, earning her a profit of 80 wen. Not bad for half a month’s work.

“Did you come just to sell that handkerchief?” Su Yi’an asked, realizing the truth.

He Ningwen flushed and didn’t answer. But her silence said enough.

With her earnings, Su Yi’an bought two pounds of pork to make more sausages—70 wen gone in a blink. She also bought a square of brown sugar for 30 wen.

Watching her purse deflate, Su Yi’an sighed. Her desire to earn money burned stronger than ever.

Back home, He Xingchen wiped his tears, scribbling large characters in the dirt.

His aunt always left the moment he turned around—whether for the mountain or for town.

“Done crying?” He Songyuan watched from the kang. “Come play bamboo tiles.”

But He Xingchen refused. “No! I have to practice. Auntie wants to see it.”

“Fine, your youngest uncle and I will play,” He Songyuan huffed, shutting the window.

But when he turned, he saw He Yunhuai sitting on the kang. Slowly, he shifted his weight onto his legs. One step, then another.

“You…” He Songyuan gasped, frozen in place.

With each step, He Yunhuai’s confidence grew. He took two more, reaching the doorway.

Just one more step over the threshold, and he would finally escape the room that had confined him for over a month.

“Mother! Come quick!” Seeing He Yunhuai about to step out, He Songyuan excitedly threw open the window and shouted into the courtyard.

But the moment the words left his mouth, the sudden noise startled He Yunhuai, who was about to lift his foot. He lost his balance and fell stiffly forward.

He Yunhuai: …

He Songyuan: …

Mother He, who had rushed in at the sound: …!!!