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As soon as these words were spoken, both Du Shi and Wei Shi couldn’t hide the gleam in their eyes.
“L-little sister… are you serious?” Wei Shi was so excited her voice trembled.
Du Shi felt it was too good to be true, her heart pounding wildly.
Heaven knows how much she envied her mother-in-law, who received 30 wen every day.
Although she knew that money would ultimately be spent on their family, having it directly in her hands felt entirely different.
And now, her husband was going to get paid too!
Ye Daquan hurriedly interjected, “Little sister… 30 wen is too much. Just 10 wen a day is enough.”
Ye Daquan was absolutely unwilling to accept money from his younger sister. He was helping her, so why should he take her money?
His little sister had already done so much for the family during this time.
From processing cassava to giving their mother wages, the fact that the family could eat their fill now was all thanks to her.
Ye Daquan’s heart had long been aching.
He didn’t like seeing his little sister giving so much; he only liked being the one to give to her.
But he had come to understand Ye Caiping’s temperament recently. If they didn’t accept it, she would surely feel unhappy.
So, he suggested ten wen.
Ye Erquan added, “Back when we used to carry heavy sacks, we only made twenty wen a day. Running a stall for just half a day doesn’t justify earning thirty. Ten wen seem just right. Mother gets thirty because most of it is little sister’s way of honoring her.”
Even the Yan Fang and her husband were worried that Ye Caiping might overburden herself, so they fully supported their sons’ suggestion.
Du Shi and Wei Shi, however, looked nervously at Ye Caiping.
The two women were torn. Of course, they wanted higher wages, but the brothers’ reasoning wasn’t entirely wrong. Earning thirty wen for half a day’s work did feel a bit excessive.
After thinking for a moment, Ye Caiping said, “Alright, since you both don’t have to prepare the soup, I’ll reduce it a bit. Let’s make it twenty wen a day.”
Du Shi and Wei Shi both let out a sigh of relief.
Du Shi quickly said, “Little sister is right. Let’s make it twenty wen.”
She was already very content with twenty wen.
Ye Daquan initially wanted to object, but after a moment’s thought, he figured twenty wen would do. After all, he could just spend more on his little sister when needed.
“And about this wage…” Du Shi looked at Old Lady Ye with hopeful eyes.
Wei Shi also glanced over, her gaze filled with anticipation.
“Alright, since both branches of the family are getting wages, just hand over ten wen each day,” Yan Fang said.
Du Shi and Wei Shi were thrilled and replied in unison, “Thank you, Mother.”
In the past, no matter how much they earned, they had to hand over everything. Now, being allowed to keep half was already a great improvement.
“If we’re working outside, then what about the farm work at home…” Ye Erquan brought up hesitantly.
Old Master Ye said, “The wheat and cassava have already been planted. What’s left is just watering and weeding—not much work.”
Ye Xuan added, “Father, Second Uncle, you can focus on helping Aunt. Leave the farmland at home to me and Big Brother.”
He glanced at Ye Caiping briefly.
Ye Xuan had always wanted to study and pursue the imperial examination, but he felt his aunt had ruined his future.
In the past, he resented her for it. However, he couldn’t deny the changes he had seen in her over the past few months—she had genuinely turned over a new leaf.
It wasn’t about forgiveness or holding grudges; it was simply reality. Some things had to be let go.
During a recent heart-to-heart talk their mother had with him and his siblings, he told his older brother that he just wanted to farm and live a stable life. He even said he had no talent or hope for success.
At the time, it was meant to comfort his brother.
But in the quiet of the night, as he reflected on what he had said, he unexpectedly felt a sense of relief.
So be it. Clinging to the past had been exhausting.
Letting go, instead, brought him peace.
Now, all he wanted was to farm earnestly and live a down-to-earth, content life.
Seeing Ye Xuan take the initiative to say such things, the Yan Fang and patriarch both breathed a sigh of relief, their faces lighting up with smiles.
Finally, Xuan’er had come to terms with everything and let it go.
Ye Caiping noticed her nephew’s gesture of reconciliation and smiled, nodding slightly at him.
After all her efforts, she had finally earned his trust.
Xuan’er, just wait. Next month, Aunt will find you a tutor!
The family continued their lively discussion, finalizing the plans for everyone’s roles.
That evening, Ye Bajin came to deliver some meat, and Ye Caiping took the opportunity to discuss setting up a stall in the county.
Without hesitation, Ye Bajin agreed immediately.
Considering that Ye Bajin would have to make an extra trip to the county and wouldn’t be able to carry passengers in the afternoon, Ye Caiping offered to increase the pay by ten wen. However, Ye Bajin waved her off:
“Just making two trips a day for twenty wen is already plenty. There’s no need to add more.”
“Besides, Sister Caiping, you know my son Fubao’s stomach hasn’t been well, but after drinking the spicy soup today, he said he felt much better.”
“I asked Doctor Zhao, and he said this soup is good for Fubao’s health. Before, we used to give him just a bowl of plain porridge every day, but now we’ll switch to a bowl of spicy soup.”
“What I mean is… there’s no need to increase the fare. If you can save a bowl of spicy soup for Fubao every day, we can consider it as the fare increase.”
Ye Caiping thought about it and said, “Alright, but I’ll raise it by three more wen. Let’s settle on this—23 wen a day, plus a bowl of spicy soup.”
Ye Bajin couldn’t decline further, so he scratched his head and smiled awkwardly. “Sister Caiping, when do you plan to set up in the county?”
“In three days. I’ll head to the county tomorrow to buy some supplies.”
“She had used up most of her spices and needed to buy more, along with some wood ear mushrooms.
At noon on the 7th day, after packing up her stall, Ye Caiping took her two daughters and went to the county town with Ye Bajin.
Yue’an County was very large, with over ten pharmacies alone.
Ye Caiping, Jin’er, and Huan’er split into three groups, each going to a different pharmacy to buy a type of ingredient.
She also paid an extra two wen to have the shopkeeper grind the large spices into powder.
Just for these large spices, she spent a full five taels.
Next, she bought wood ear mushrooms and other dried vegetables, as well as wooden tubs, tables, and stools.
Since she had experience, the shopping went quickly.
Fortunately, she had earned a bit of money from the stall that day, or she wouldn’t have had enough to spend.
Everything was ready, just waiting for tomorrow to set up the stall again.
…
Since the last time she came back from town, Jiaojiao had been feeling a bit disoriented.”
“These past few days, she couldn’t sleep no matter how much she turned over. As soon as she closed her eyes, all she could see was the jade pendant that Ye Caiping was wearing.
When Zimo entered the house, he saw Li Jiaojiao sitting in the courtyard, lost in thought, and couldn’t help but feel concerned.
“Jiaojiao, why do you look so down these past few days?”
Li Jiaojiao’s expression was tense: “Do you remember when we went to have spicy soup in town?”
“That time? Ha, don’t even mention it.”
Li Zimo’s face was full of distaste.
That time, after they had dragged Li Jiaojiao along, they went to another place to have spicy soup.
But the result was a huge disappointment; the taste was bland and unremarkable, and he couldn’t understand why it was hyped up so much.
“No… remember we bumped into Ye Shi? I told you, she was wearing a jade pendant. I really like that jade.”
Li Zimo finally remembered: “You’ve been thinking about it so much, could it be something valuable?”
He immediately became interested.”
“You’re not talking about that jade pendant engraved with ‘Endless,’ are you?” A cultured voice sounded, and a dashing man approached—it was Li Zhiyuan.
“That’s the one a street fortune teller gave her, a cheap trinket. The jade quality is almost like stone, no one would even pick it up if it were thrown on the street.”
He said this with a look of disdain, thinking Ye Shi was only worthy of such street-market goods.
“No, Father, I like that jade!” Li Jiaojiao said urgently.
It was a very strange feeling.
She always felt that her entire future depended on that jade.
Without it, her entire life would be trapped in mud and swamps.
“The feeling was strange, indescribable, and it was driving her mad.
She had to have it!
Li Jiaojiao made up her mind and stood up: “I’m going to buy that jade.”
Li Zimo immediately supported her without a second thought: “If you want to buy it, then go ahead. I support you.”
A year ago, after Jiaojiao woke up from falling into the water, her personality had changed drastically. She started doing strange and inexplicable things.
At first, they didn’t understand, but later they realized that every decision Jiaojiao made was the right one. Not only did it help them avoid one crisis after another, but it also pulled the scum of the Ye family into hell.
Thus, Li Zimo and his mother completely trusted Jiaojiao. No matter how absurd or inexplicable it seemed, they would support her unconditionally.
Li Jiaojiao smiled sweetly: “Thank you, Brother.”
Li Zhiyuan, however, chuckled: “No need to buy it. Just say the word, and she’ll bring it over herself.”
He then called out towards the outside: “Gouwa! Gouwa!'”
“Gouwa lived next door, and upon hearing the call, he quickly ran over, grinning: “Uncle, you looking for me?”
“Go to Qinghe Village and find Ye Shi. Tell her to bring the jade she always wears.”
“Jade? Why does Uncle Zhiyuan want jade from her?”
“Too many questions. Jiaojiao wants it, alright?”
“Ah, Sister Jiaojiao wants it? Why didn’t you say so earlier? I’ll go right now!”
With that, the small figure dashed out and quickly disappeared.
Li Zhiyuan chuckled and scolded, “Little brat, always calling me Uncle Xiucai before, now Jiaojiao’s around and suddenly it’s Sister Jiaojiao, not even recognizing me anymore.’
Li Jiaojiao and her brother both burst into laughter.
…
Gouwa was whistling, skipping and hopping along the mountain road.”
Before long, he arrived at Qinghe Village.
Gouwa ran into the village, asking everyone he met, “Where does Ye Shi live?”
The auntie he asked for directions replied, “There are many Ye Shis here, which one are you looking for?”
Gouwa, looking proud, said, “I’m looking for the one that Li Xiucai divorced.”
The auntie, upon hearing this, felt a strong dislike for Gouwa but didn’t want to offend the Scholar’s family, so she pointed the way:
“Go forward, and when you see a large peony tree, turn right. The third house is hers.”