Chapter 7: No One Visits the Three Treasures Hall Without a Reason – Supply and Marketing Cooperative Procurement

The two sons turned pale with shock and hurried out to stop him. “No, Father, we’re not dividing the family. Absolutely not.”

“That’s right. Whatever it is, let’s talk it over properly. We can’t divide the family.”

Normally, families only split after the parents passed away, and only then could the younger brothers go their separate ways. Now that Lu Zhongming and Zhao Menglan were still alive, if they really divided the household, the villagers would surely point fingers at the two brothers and say they were unfilial.

What’s more, their third brother was still away in the army and had not returned. If they split the family now, there would be no way to explain it to him. The eldest branch and second branch contributed labor, the third branch provided money—everyone was content with the arrangement.

If they truly split up, there was no guarantee life would get better.

Hearing her father-in-law mention dividing the family, Zhuang Meifeng did not dare make a scene anymore. She wiped her tears and suddenly fell silent.

A split was out of the question. She simply disliked the third branch’s idle, lazy ways, but she also despised how the second branch relied on the child in her belly to act high and mighty.

In the past, everyone took turns working—why should she be doing it all now? Ye Qiu might have a good husband, and Zhuang Meifeng couldn’t match that, but Wu Laidi had better not think she could step on her to live a comfortable life.

Everyone had their own little calculations. Lu Hailiang and Lu Huaiguo firmly opposed the idea, absolutely unwilling to split the family. When the situation suddenly calmed down, Zhuang Meifeng thought to just let it go, but Ye Qiu was not about to relent.

She had just arrived in the Lu family, and Zhuang Meifeng had seized the chance to scold her, even calling her a lazy woman. Lazy? So what? Was she eating their coarse cornbread for free?

“Since Eldest Sister-in-law isn’t talking anymore, it’s my turn,” Ye Qiu said with a bright smile, and repeated word for word, in front of the whole family, the things Zhuang Meifeng had said about her earlier.

Lu Hailiang felt so ashamed he didn’t dare raise his head. His face flushed red as he muttered, “Sister-in-law, this was Eldest Sister-in-law’s fault. She’s a woman—long hair, short wit—you shouldn’t take it to heart.”

“Eldest Brother, that’s not right. So what if she’s a woman? Women’s knowledge is no less than men’s. Women hold up half the sky,” Ye Qiu replied, easily catching his attempt to gloss things over. “Since Eldest Sister-in-law thinks Zhinan and Zhibei come to the Lu family just to freeload, I’ll take care of them from now on and won’t let them come over.”

“That way Eldest Sister-in-law won’t have to worry about how many cornbreads the two children eat. As for the cornbreads they’ve eaten over the years, I’ll send them to you tonight, Eldest Sister-in-law.”

With just a few sentences, Ye Qiu had embarrassed both Lu Hailiang and Zhuang Meifeng into silence. If others heard that Zhuang Meifeng had stirred up trouble just because her nephews ate at their house—almost causing a family split—some elders might just jab their fingers into her spine in disapproval.

As the saying went, “No one visits the Three Treasures Hall for nothing.” Zhao Menglan asked casually, “Third daughter-in-law, what did you come to me for?”

“Mother, I’d like to go to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative later. Could you watch the two children for me? We’ll eat lunch at my place—there’s rice, flour, and meat.”

This way, certain people wouldn’t think the two children were eating the Lu family into poverty. Ye Qiu muttered this last thought inwardly but didn’t say it aloud.

Upon learning that the third daughter-in-law was going to the county seat again, Zhao Menglan wanted to dissuade her but didn’t dare. After a moment’s hesitation, she simply let her go.

Zhao Menglan’s expectations for Ye Qiu were especially low—so long as she took good care of the two children, that was enough. After all, the third son wasn’t home, and it was understandable that Ye Qiu might have grievances.

From the village to the county seat, there was only the ox cart. Ye Qiu had been delayed at the Lu family, so she jogged to the village entrance to wait. The old man driving the cart wasn’t surprised to see her and greeted her familiarly, “Going to the county again?”

“Yes, buying some things.”

While they spoke, more and more people boarded the ox cart, crowding together in groups. When they saw Ye Qiu, they only nodded politely.

Ye Qiu had no intention of forcing friendliness on those who didn’t want it. Since no one talked to her, she simply closed her eyes to rest.

A girl on the cart stared at Ye Qiu’s dress with shining eyes. Thinking Ye Qiu was asleep, she whispered, “Mother, I want a dress like that too.”

The woman glanced at Ye Qiu’s plaid dress, then glared sharply at her daughter. “Want, want, want. Should I pluck the moon from the sky for you too?”

Learning the bad instead of the good—Ye Qiu’s reputation in the village was already in tatters. Everyone knew Lu Huaichuan had married a lazy woman who only knew how to eat and drink all day, and even her parents-in-law couldn’t keep her in check. Instead of comparing herself in work, she compared in food and clothing.

The girl, unwilling after being scolded, pouted and retorted, “In a few days I’ll be engaged. If you make me one, I’ll be able to marry with pride.” If she could wear such a beautiful plaid dress, she could bring honor to herself in her new household.

The ox cart wasn’t large, so others more or less heard the mother and daughter’s conversation and laughed, teasing, “Widow Zhao, who’s your Xiaohuan marrying? How come we don’t know?”

Widow Zhao first pinched her daughter—this dead girl talked too fast! The matter hadn’t even been settled yet, and she was already speaking about it in public. People might think she was desperate to marry her off.

“It’s not settled yet. We’ve just compared the birth dates, haven’t agreed on the day. Once the marriage is set, I’ll be sure to tell you all. You must come and share in the joy.”

The ox cart bumped along the muddy road for several hours before finally arriving. Ye Qiu’s back was aching by the time they reached the county. Taking the money and ration tickets her cheap husband had given her, she headed straight for the Supply and Marketing Cooperative. Lu Xiaohuan hopped down from the cart and looked enviously at Ye Qiu’s figure.

Widow Zhao patted her daughter’s back and urged, “Hurry up—if you’re late there won’t be anything good left.” After all, she was her own daughter, and seeing her about to marry, Widow Zhao also wanted to buy her some nice new clothes. The two of them hurried to the Supply and Marketing Cooperative.

Ye Qiu had arrived early, and being slender, she slipped through the gaps in the crowd with ease, holding up her ration tickets until she reached the front row. “Comrade, give me a jin of jiangmi sticks, and half a jin of popcorn.”

The staff at the Supply and Marketing Cooperative judged customers by their appearance. At first they were indifferent, but hearing Ye Qiu order so much, they quickly got her items ready. When they saw that her ration tickets were the nationally valid kind, they knew her family must have a soldier.

Their attitude immediately warmed. A short-haired woman smiled and asked, “Comrade, do you need anything else?”

“Could I take a look at that cloth?” Ye Qiu wanted to make more clothes for the two children at home. The clothes from her personal space were nice, but they had brand labels sewn in, and she had to secretly unpick them, which was troublesome.

If it had been someone else, the woman might not have agreed. The Cooperative was always packed with people, but few actually bought much. Salesclerks earned commissions, so the more they sold, the more they made each month.

With such a big customer here, the woman had no intention of letting Ye Qiu go. She readily agreed and let Ye Qiu choose freely.

“Comrade, with your fair skin, this color would look great on you. Perfect for workwear—hides dirt well.”

When she learned Ye Qiu was buying for children, the woman was even more surprised. She had thought Ye Qiu must be a county girl, working in a factory all day without facing the wind or sun, which was why she had such good skin.

But it turned out Ye Qiu was from a village. The short-haired woman became even more curious. Women all loved beauty. When there were few people around, she secretly pulled Ye Qiu aside. “Sister, how do you maintain yourself? What do you use? Your face is so white and tender.”