Qian Chunhua had an idea in mind.

Since the land assigned to her was right next to the official road, she might as well open a small tea shop there to provide tea and food for passing travelers.

Whether she made a lot of money or just a little, only she would know.

At the very least, this would give her supplies from the space a reasonable outlet, so that the villagers in Huanghualing wouldn’t suspect anything.

That really was a good idea.

As she neared the entrance to the village, Qian Chunhua took out twenty steamed buns from her space. The weather was cold now, so buns would keep for a day or two without spoiling.

When she got back to the Qian household, Qian Mother had already prepared lunch.

“Mom.”

“Grandma.”

Qingsong led his younger siblings out to greet her with a smile as soon as they saw Qian Chunhua walk through the gate.

Qingfeng and Xiaoling ran up to her and hugged her tightly around the legs.

Qian Mother, wearing an apron with her sleeves rolled up high, came out of the kitchen. “Just in time, the food is ready. I’ll bring it out.”

Qingsong, very quick on the uptake, said, “Grandma, I’ll help you.”

Xiaoling turned and ran back inside. “I’ll help too!”

Qian Chunhua, holding Qingfeng’s hand and carrying her heavy basket on her back, entered the main room.

She finally sighed with relief after putting it down.

“Mom, is Xingshan not back yet?”

“Don’t worry about him. I’ve left food for him in the pot.”

As she spoke, Qian Mother came out of the kitchen carrying dishes in both hands.

Qingsong followed behind her with a bowl of mixed grain rice.

Qian Chunhua quickly stepped up to take the dishes from her mother, who turned around and took the rice from Qingsong.

Xiaoling trailed behind with a small plate of pickled vegetables.

Even though the Qian family was poor, they still managed to eat three meals a day.

Since her daughter and grandchildren were home for lunch, especially Qingsong whom she felt sorry for, Qian Mother gritted her teeth and made mixed grain rice instead of thin porridge.

There were three dishes: stir-fried Chinese cabbage, braised radish, and pickles.

The three children were overjoyed.

This lunch was a feast!

While their grandmother was cooking earlier, they had already been drooling.

And now, they didn’t have to drink that watery porridge that was so thin you could see your reflection in it.

The children obediently held their bowls and carefully ate the mixed grain rice.

By the end of the meal, everyone was full and content.

Watching the satisfied looks on the children’s faces, Qian Chunhua felt a deep sense of approval toward her birth family.

This is what family should be—helping each other out.

After the meal, Qian Chunhua cleaned up the dishes and washed the pots, with little Xiaoling helping as usual.

Even Qingsong helped by adding hot water.

Qian Mother watched the heartwarming scene of a loving mother and obedient children with a smile. Her daughter had suffered these past few years, but once the children grew up, life would surely improve.

Back in the main room, Qian Chunhua took out all the rice, flour, meat, and steamed buns from her basket and handed them over to her mother.

“Mom, this is our food supply.”

Qian Mother frowned.

This child was too polite.

Coming home for a few days and even bringing her own food?

Qian Chunhua quickly realized her mistake—it had hurt her mother’s feelings.

She rushed to explain sincerely, “Mom, I didn’t mean to distance myself. I just thought, with the house being repaired these days, and you helping me with the kids, especially since Qingsong was malnourished before, everyone could use some nourishment.”

Her words eased Qian Mother’s heart.

As long as her daughter wasn’t trying to keep a distance, it was fine.

Qian Chunhua wrapped her arm around her mother affectionately. “Mom, I’d never treat you like an outsider. You’re my mom—the best mom ever.”

Being affectionate with someone who looked around the same age as herself before she transmigrated didn’t feel awkward at all.

Qian Chunhua truly saw Qian Mother as her mother now.

Qian Mother beamed like a blooming chrysanthemum. “You silly girl, still acting spoiled at your age.”

Qian Chunhua smiled, “No matter how old I am, I’ll always be your daughter.”

Qian Mother laughed, “Yes, yes, my daughter.”

The three children stood off to the side grinning from ear to ear.

Qian Chunhua and the kids helped her mother sort through the basket.

They poured all the salt into the salt jar.

Qian Mother gasped when she saw the amount. “Silly child, why did you buy so much salt? This could last a year!”

“This meat is too lean,” she complained while putting the pork belly into the cupboard.

“This fatty meat is good—just too much of it.”

“Oh my goodness, look at all this polished rice and flour!” Qian Mother’s heart ached at the thought of how much silver it must have cost.

Qian Chunhua said, “Mom, let’s cook white rice for the next few days.”

Qian Mother nodded, “Alright.”

She picked up the buns. “We’ll eat these for dinner then. I’ll make some millet porridge and slice some pickles.”

Qian Chunhua noticed there wasn’t any meat dish. “Mom, let’s cook the braised pork tonight—use that piece of pork belly.”

Qian Mother froze, then reluctantly agreed, “Alright.”

Her daughter was really not good at budgeting—too extravagant.

“Why did you buy so much brown sugar?”

Qian Chunhua quickly replied, “Mom, keep two pounds for yourself. I’m bringing the rest to the village chief and clan elder. The village chief is helping us register our household at the county office today. I need to bring a gift when we pick up the registration papers tonight.”

Qian Mother nodded. “That’s the right thing to do. Then I won’t take any—give it to the kids.”

Qian Chunhua laughed. “Mom, it is for you. We still have more at home.”

Qian Mother finally relented.

After sorting everything, Qian Chunhua packed six pounds of brown sugar, slung her basket over her back, and headed home to deliver pots and utensils, check on the house repairs, and swap out Qian Xingshan, who hadn’t eaten lunch yet.

She brought the three children with her back to the Zhao household.

In just half a day, a two-meter-high wall had already been erected between the east wing and the Zhao family’s main house.

They even made a new opening in the courtyard wall facing the east wing, just waiting for a door to be installed to completely separate the two homes.

Uncle Ding and his workers were cleaning up.

They had finished their morning work and were getting ready to head home for lunch.

“Uncle Ding,” Qian Chunhua greeted him and handed him the brown sugar. “It’s cold—have some brown sugar water to warm up.”

Uncle Ding hesitated, rubbing his hands before accepting the gift.

Uncle Ding, full name Ding Zheng, was Ding Xiu’s father.

He was skilled in house construction and brought along friends and apprentices to work in the nearby villages of Nanzhou County.

For this job, they had agreed to do the labor and materials, but not meals.

Since they were from the same village, they preferred to go home for meals—it meant more money for them.

Qian Chunhua was also happy not to provide food—it made her life easier.

Uncle Ding smiled and said, “Chunhua, you’re too kind. This afternoon, you should ask Carpenter Wang from the village to come and measure the door frame. We need to install a door.”

“I will, Uncle Ding,” she replied.

After he left, Qian Xingshan called his sister into the house.

“Sis, how big do you want the heated bed? We’ll need to move everything out of the room soon.”

He had been working with Uncle Ding all morning.

Seeing her tired younger brother, Qian Chunhua immediately sent him back.

“Go eat lunch first. I’ll take care of the room. Move everything next door. I’ll tell Uncle Ding the dimensions later.”

Qian Xingshan smiled, “Alright.”

After he left, Qian Chunhua told the three children to nap in Qingsong’s old room.

She planned to turn that room into a study later. Once Qingsong and Qingfeng grew up, they could move into that room.

For now, they were small enough to share the heated bed with her.

Maybe by the time they grew up, she’d already saved enough silver to build another house.

Then each of them could have their own room, each with a warm bed.

“Mom, I didn’t collect pigweed today,” Qingsong said worriedly.

Qian Chunhua patted his head, “Qingsong, we don’t need to collect pigweed anymore. We’ve cut ties with the main branch. The pigs, chickens, and ducks all belong to them now. They’ll take care of feeding their own animals.”

Zhao Qingsong was relieved.

He had been worried his mother would scold him for eating without working—especially such good food.