Since she had decided to visit her maternal family the next day, Qin Rong started thinking about what would be appropriate to bring as a gift.

After considering for a while, she noticed the mung beans and glutinous rice flour sitting in the corner and decided to make mung bean and glutinous rice cakes.

First, Qin Rong soaked the mung beans in clean water.

While Madam Yu was talking with Qin Yi and Qin Yue, she quickly went to her hidden space in the guesthouse and fetched a large bowl of milk.

Once all the preparations were done, Qin Rong began cooking the mung beans.

Timing was crucial when boiling mung beans, but by now, Qin Rong was already skilled at using the clay stove and oven.

After the mung beans were cooked, she immediately cooled them in cold water, drained them, then added glutinous rice flour and milk, stirring while gradually adding sugar.

Next, Qin Rong took a square mold she had specially made at the blacksmith’s shop.

She brushed oil on both the bottom and the sides of the mold, poured in the mung bean and milk mixture, pressed it flat with a wooden mold, then covered it with a lid and began steaming the mung bean glutinous rice cakes.

By this time, night had fallen.

Because Qin Rong had been waking up early every day to prepare food for her stall, she now fell asleep easily and quickly.

At this point, she was already so sleepy that she could barely keep her eyes open.

Madam Yu noticed how drowsy she was and said, “Ah Rong, is there anything important left to do? If not, I’ll keep an eye on the pot.”

Qin Rong yawned and said, “That sounds good, Mother. It only needs about a quarter of an hour more. After it’s steamed, just let it cool and then cut it into pieces and plate it.”

“All right.”

…

The next day, Qin Rong woke up naturally without an alarm.

After a whole month of constant work, suddenly stopping made her feel even more exhausted. But she had nearly forty taels of silver saved now.

If she could save that much each month, she could open her own shop within half a year.

If she only rented a shop instead of buying one, her silver would go even further.

That morning, breakfast was made by Madam Yu—just simple congee and pickled vegetables.

The side dish was Qin Rong’s homemade soy-pickled cucumbers, and they were especially tasty.

After breakfast, Madam Yu carried the mung bean glutinous rice cakes and brought her three daughters to visit her family.

The Yu family lived on the west side of Lihua Town.

The neighbors there had lived around them for over ten years.

With homes so close together, news spread fast—if one family knew something, soon everyone did.

It was well known that Madam Yu had divorced her husband and taken her three daughters with her.

Some people pitied her, some watched for gossip, some made snide remarks, and some genuinely worried for her.

As soon as she reached the entrance of Wuma Alley, she ran into Aunt Wang from next door.

“Zhenniang, you’re here! You’re looking quite well!”

Just as Aunt Wang finished speaking, Yang Niang, who had grown up with Madam Yu and married someone at the end of the alley, spoke sourly, “Aunt Wang, are your eyes bad? Zhenniang just got divorced and brought three girls with her, with barely any dowry. That’s barely different from being cast out. How can she possibly look well?”

Madam Yu acted as though she hadn’t heard and didn’t even look at Yang Niang.

But Qin Yue couldn’t bear it. She raised her voice, “What nonsense are you talking?”

Yang Niang, seeing Qin Yue upset, grew even more delighted. Saying unpleasant things was only fun if someone reacted.

If everyone acted like Madam Yu—saying nothing no matter how long you insulted her—what was the point?

“Oh my, angry now? Am I wrong? Was the divorce wrong, or is bringing three girls back with her wrong?” she said sarcastically.

Qin Yue was about to speak again, but Madam Yu quickly pulled her back.

She shook her head, signaling Qin Yue to stop, and then said, “Aunt Wang, I’m on my way to see my mother. I’ll take my leave.”

“All right, all right,” Aunt Wang replied with a smile.

After they had walked a bit farther, Qin Yue pouted and asked, “Mother, why didn’t you let me speak?”

Madam Yu sighed. “I’m worried it will affect your reputation. If we’re settling in Lihua Town, we’ll need to find a family for you to marry into one day. If word spreads that you’re sharp-tongued or hot-tempered, who would dare to marry you?”

It was a helpless truth.

“In that case, then Mother should stand up for herself,” Qin Rong suddenly said.

Madam Yu was slightly stunned. “What did you say?”

Qin Rong turned toward her and replied, “I mean, Ah Yue has already held herself back. If others bully you and Ah Yue can’t speak up, then you, Mother, need to speak up yourself. Our whole family is made up of women—if people think we’re weak and easy to bully… more trouble will surely follow.”

Madam Yu was taken aback.

She had always been strong-willed, but she didn’t like to argue.

However, now… things were different.

If she acted like before, people would just see her as an easy target.

“Ah Rong, you’re right. I understand now,” Madam Yu said, her expression growing more determined.

…

Knock knock knock.

Yu Dage’s wife opened the courtyard gate and was delighted to see Madam Yu and her daughters.

In recent days, Yu Xiaoshan had been helping Qin Rong with the stall, and in just two months he had brought home more than a tael of silver—more than what Yu Dashan earned.

In the beginning, Yu Dage’s wife had been kind to Madam Yu mostly out of sister-in-law duty and sympathy.

But now, there was genuine warmth and goodwill in her heart.

“Zhenniang, I heard from Xiaoshan that you were taking a break today. I was just wondering if you’d come over!” She ushered them into the courtyard.

Madam Yu handed over the mung bean cakes. “Sister-in-law, Ah Rong made these mung bean glutinous rice cakes. Let Father, Mother, and you all have a taste.”

Her sister-in-law replied with a hint of reproach, “You’re being too polite. You don’t need to bring something every time you visit.”

“Zhenniang, you’re here! Let me take a look at you!” Just then, Old Madam Yu came out upon hearing the voices.

“Grandma!” Qin Rong, Qin Yue, and Qin Yi called out in unison.

Old Madam Yu beamed. “Aye, come on in and sit down. Yuehong, go to the butcher and get a piece of meat.”

“Yes, Mother.” Her daughter-in-law untied her apron and went out.

That day, Old Master Yu, the eldest son, Yu Xiaoshan, and Yu Dashan had all gone out.

Only Old Madam Yu and her daughter-in-law were home. After sitting a while, Qin Rong and Qin Yue decided to go out and walk around.

They told Old Madam Yu and Madam Yu, then the two girls set out.

Qin Rong, having earned some money, wanted to buy something for Madam Yu and her younger sisters.

“Big sister, can we stop by the accessories shop? Sister Yuzhen said the Li family’s shop just got new pieces in—they’re really pretty!” Qin Yue asked excitedly.

Qin Rong, of course, agreed.

Today she’d planned to treat herself a little anyway. And really, what girl doesn’t love pretty things? She was quite interested herself.