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Granny Lai was left speechless, her face red with embarrassment, as she looked at Ye Caiping.
“Look at your girl, she doesn’t know any manners,” Granny Lai muttered.
Ye Caiping, however, ignored her comment and replied, “Sorry, Aunt Lai. Our secret recipe can’t be shared.”
Granny Lai was once again left dumbfounded.
The nearby village women awkwardly glanced at one another. Being so close to Granny Lai, they felt as though they were in cahoots with her, forcing others to reveal their secrets.
How shameless could one be to do such a thing?
Several women quickly distanced themselves from Granny Lai, laughing and saying, “Aunt Lai, you’re asking for too much. This is someone’s livelihood; how can she just tell you the recipe?”
Granny Lai, clearly humiliated, flung her wet clothes into the water, muttering, “I wasn’t trying to do anything… It’s just that we only have a few kinds of vegetables at home, and no matter how I cook them, they taste bad. I just wanted to learn a few new dishes. If you’re not going to share, then forget it! You’re acting like I’m trying to steal something.”
Ye Caiping smiled and said, “If you want your dishes to taste better, just add more meat, oil, and spices.”
Granny Lai shouted, “Do you think I don’t know about meat and oil? Don’t you know that fat pork costs fifteen wen a jin? Lean meat costs a lot too, and oil is even more expensive.”
“If you can’t bear to spend money, then no matter what secret recipe you have, you’ll just end up making a bad soup!” The village women burst into laughter.
Granny Lai, embarrassed, put the clothes into her basin and quickly turned to leave.
Ye Jin’er couldn’t hold it in any longer and burst out laughing.
Ye Caiping poked her in the head, but didn’t scold her.
With shameless people like Granny Lai, sometimes you had to be direct and confrontational to shut them down.
…
Yan Fang was feeding the chickens.
In just a few days, the chicks had grown a lot, looking full of energy and chirping happily. It was a sight that brought joy to the heart.
The feed for the chickens had all been collected by Jinhua, Yinhua, and Ye Peng, each of them diligently gathering grasshoppers.
Especially Jinhua, who, whenever she had free time, would go out and catch grasshoppers, taking extra care of the chicks.
“Mother.” Wei Shi entered, holding a broom.
Yan Fang said, “I’m feeding the chickens right now, no need to sweep.”
Wei Shi looked awkward, her intention wasn’t to sweep the chicken coop but to pretend she was doing something. She was clearly uncomfortable.
“What’s up?” Yan Fang sensed that Wei Shi was up to something.
Wei Shi hesitated, then lowered her head and muttered, “Well… we haven’t split the household yet, but even if the younger sister is out, the things from the main house should still be handed over.”
“You’re talking about the thirty taels?”
Wei Shi lowered her head again, silent.
Yan Fang sighed lightly, “Since the household isn’t divided yet, if Ye Yong and Ye Xuan are getting married, the family will have to contribute money, right?”
Wei Shi nodded.
“Today, your sister-in-law took the money, but the dowry, clothes, and wedding expenses for Ye Yong’s marriage have to come from her. You can calculate it; will there be anything left?”
Wei Shi had already calculated in her mind and shook her head. The dowry requested by Xiuxiu was too high. Otherwise, fifteen taels would’ve been enough.
“So, no matter what, that thirty taels will be used up. Does it matter if it comes from her hands or from mine? You know how temperamental she is. When the money’s in her hands, she’ll be so happy. Let her be happy for once!”
In that case, the thirty taels would effectively be forfeited.
Wei Shi understood but still felt uneasy, “If Ye Yong really marries Xiuxiu, the dowry is too high.”
Yan Fang also understood the unfairness but said, “When Peng’er gets married in the future, whether the dowry is five or six taels, if it’s not enough to make ten taels, the rest will come from us, the two of us. How about that?”
Wei Shi’s mood lightened, finally feeling some relief, “Thank you, mother.”
…
Back in her room, Du Shi was feeling happy for a moment but then looked down at the one tael of silver in her hand, troubled.
Since the household hadn’t been split yet, if she took this money, then the costs for Ye Yong’s marriage wouldn’t be covered by the family.
Du Shi had also calculated earlier that if Ye Yong insisted on marrying Hu Xiuxiu, the thirty taels would barely be enough.
However, she also wanted to send Ye Xuan back to school…
“Mother, you called us.”
At this moment, Ye Yong, Ye Xuan, and Jinhua all entered and closed the door behind them.
Du Shi nodded; this was a matter concerning the large sum of thirty taels, so she needed to discuss it.
“Mother was thinking…” Du Shi hesitated, unsure how to begin, then went straight to the point. “Yong’er, do you really have to marry Xiuxiu?”
If he didn’t marry Xiuxiu, fifteen taels would be enough to handle everything!
“No, I won’t marry Xiuxiu.”
“What?” Du Shi couldn’t believe her ears. She had been preparing to complain, but Ye Yong had unexpectedly said he wouldn’t marry her. “I… I didn’t hear that wrong, did I? Weren’t you and Xiuxiu…”
“Mother, me and Xiuxiu… there’s nothing between us. Leave the money for second brother to study!” Ye Yong said firmly.
Ye Yong did like Xiuxiu, but that thirty taels couldn’t all be spent on him. His younger brother and sister both deserved a share.
If he married Xiuxiu, then second brother and sister would have nothing. Especially second brother, he should go to school!
Ye Jinhua rolled her eyes, thinking the same as Ye Yong. She wasn’t happy about the prospect of her older brother marrying Xiuxiu either, not just because of the unreasonable dowry, but because Xiuxiu’s mother was very difficult to deal with.
As long as Ye Yong didn’t marry Xiuxiu, the family in the main house would be more comfortable.
After Ye Yong married, the remaining money could be used to send Ye Xuan to school.
Ye Xuan, however, spoke in a calm tone, “What’s the use? Brother, I’m no longer a child of seven or eight. Even if I go to school now, it would be too late. I would just be embarrassing myself, sitting in class with a bunch of younger kids.”
Du Shi, Ye Jinhua, and Du Shi were all moved by his words.
Du Shi clenched her teeth, saying, “If only you could go to Mingyue Academy, that would be fine. Li Zhiyuan promised me that once he passed the imperial examination, he would recommend you for the academy. Now… hmph!”
“Why not try another academy? No need for recommendations,” Ye Jinhua suggested.
Ye Xuan shook his head. “It’s the same everywhere. Even if I get in, how do we afford the tuition? Mingyue Academy is government-run, and it costs one tael a month. A private academy costs two taels.”
“This thirty taels can only cover a few months of tuition, and then there’s the cost for books, paper, and ink. That’s the real expense. Besides, I can’t even pass the entrance exam.”
“Xuan’er, don’t listen to Li Zhiyuan!” Du Shi urged.
Li Zhiyuan had previously tutored Ye Xuan, but he often shook his head, claiming that Ye Xuan was hopeless and not suited for studying.
“I’m not blaming Li Zhiyuan; I just… I really can’t do it.” Ye Xuan shook his head with a wry smile. “I’ve only studied a few years, and I haven’t been to school in over ten years. What use would it be for me to go to an academy now?”
“But… Jin Shan has been teaching you, hasn’t he?” Du Shi said.
Jin Shan was Ye Xuan’s friend. He had studied at a private academy in the county and often taught Ye Xuan what he had learned.
Ye Xuan replied, “That’s different. Jin Shan isn’t a teacher. I haven’t learned anything useful. With my level of education, even if I went to school, it would be a waste of time.”
“Rather than wasting money on me, it would be better for Brother to marry a woman he truly likes. I already have regrets in my life, I don’t want to let Brother live with regrets too.”
“Second brother…” Ye Yong’s eyes reddened.
Ye Xuan waved his hand. “This isn’t about being humble or pretentious. The money is limited. We need to think carefully about how to use it in the most valuable way.”
“I also want to think about my future. I will work hard on the land. Next year, we can expand our farm and plant more cassava. In a few years, I’ll marry a woman and live a stable life.”
Hearing Ye Xuan’s words, Ye Yong felt a pang of discomfort in his heart but nodded.
He would work hard in the fields, save money for second brother’s wedding, and also for his sister’s dowry.
Although Du Shi was reluctant to accept that her son had completely given up on the imperial examination, he made a valid point.
Working the land and living a stable life was not a bad choice.
“Alright, since it’s been decided, then…” Du Shi said, glancing at Ye Yong. “You should inform Xiuxiu, tell her we will have the dowry money in two months, but she can’t get married before then.”
She disliked Xiuxiu’s mother, but she didn’t want her son to live with regrets forever.