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Chapter 17: If You Still Consider Me Your Mother, Accept the Silver
As they entered the village, Wen Yunwei plucked a few leaves to cover the items in her brother’s basket, fearing someone might see what they had brought back.
Sure enough, they encountered several people along the way who approached to greet them. Some even carelessly peered into the basket, only to be shooed away by Wen Yunwei.
“What are you three siblings up to?”
“Yunhe, I heard your in-laws let you return home?”
“I heard the He family returned your dowry, which amounted to fifteen taels of silver?”
“Yunhe, now that you’re single again, have you thought about remarrying? My maternal family has a nephew whose wife just died in childbirth. If you agree, you can step right in and manage the household, avoiding the trials of pregnancy.”
“Yunhe, you have to hold up; you’re still young, and life is long!”
“Yunhe…”
For those who expressed genuine concern, Wen Yunhe replied one by one, assuring them that she would take care of herself.
As for those with ill intentions, she ignored them, allowing Wen Yunwei to fend them off.
“Big sister don’t listen to what those people are saying! Now that we’re home, it’s just you, me, and brother. We can live comfortably together. There’s more than one way forward!” Wen Yunwei stomped her foot in frustration.
She knew her sister was sensitive, much like their mother, and easily hurt by others’ words.
“I know that don’t worry. I’ve already died once; I’m not afraid of anything. From now on, I just want to live well.” If the original Wen Yunhe had been half as open-minded as her sister, she wouldn’t have fallen into such dire straits.
At Wen Yunhe’s reassurance, Wen Yunque noticeably relaxed.
It was a relief that his sister could see things clearly, as he feared she might be harboring hidden pain.
The three siblings chatted and laughed as they made their way home.
Upon learning they had bought a lot of meat, Mama Wen kept chattering, but with just a few words, Wen Yunhe managed to shut her up.
Once home, they divided the chores: Mama Wen was in charge of building the fire, while Wen Yunwei and Wen Yunque assisted, leaving Wen Yunhe as the chef.
They prepared dishes like:
Three meat dishes and two vegetable dishes, with both meat and soup to accompany the meal.
Wen Yunhe even indulged in steaming brown rice. She had wanted to stir-fry some pig liver, but the others collectively stopped her.
Having three meat dishes for a single meal was already a luxury, even surpassing what they would have on New Year’s.
The stir-fried shredded pork only used a small amount—around three liang of tenderloin—with plenty still left for later.
The pig trotters and big bones were finished cooking, while the spareribs remained untouched, as did the pig liver.
The leftover meat could be salted and hung in the well for gradual consumption.
While Wen Yunhe cooked, Wen Yunwei held closely onto her oil jar, lamenting, “Big sister, your cooking smells amazing, but the oil is running out fast! At this rate, there won’t be any left to use in a few days.”
The fragrant aroma wafting from the dishes made everyone feel content and thankful; when the food reached their plates, they couldn’t stop praising it.
“Big sister, you cook so well! It’s just as good as the dishes in the county restaurant!” Wen Yunwei said, her mouth full.
Mama Wen gently admonished her, “Wei’er, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
Wen Yunhe didn’t bother with such formalities; she didn’t see it as a big issue. However, she did recognize that it was easy to choke while talking about food.
“You’ve eaten at the county restaurant before, little sister?”
Wen Yunwei hurriedly swallowed her food. “When we were younger, and while Father was still around, he took us there once. Did you forget, big sister?”
Wen Yunhe recalled a memory from the original’s past. Indeed, she remembered a time when their father had sold pottery to a traveling merchant and, feeling joyful with the profits, took the whole family to the county restaurant for a treat.
She had been only eight years old at the time, with her younger brother and sister still quite small.
It was from that moment that Wen Yunhe had actively requested to learn pottery from her father.
The original Wen Yunhe remembered well how much money they could make from selling pottery. She was determined to master the craft so she could earn plenty of silver later on.
In contrast, Wen Yunwei mainly remembered the delicious meals from the restaurant.
“Big sister’s cooking is indeed delightful; I personally think it’s even better than what the restaurant serves. It has a homely flavor,” Wen Yunque commented honestly.
“It’s not as great as you all say, it’s just a rare occasion to enjoy a good meal,” Wen Yunhe replied with a modest smile.
Wen Yunhe’s culinary skills were commendable; if they had all the right seasonings, it would be even better. The mouthwatering aroma had a part to play thanks to the enhancement from the spring’s water.
Recently, they often had extra servings, but it wasn’t just about craving meat. The family enjoyed their meal while chatting happily.
Aside from a half pot of soup left from the big bones, the rest of the dishes were polished off completely.
After their meal, they cleaned up together, and Mama Wen called her three children to the main room.
Previously, Mama Wen had always been in charge of the family’s finances. If there were any necessary expenses, she would be the one to go to.
“Today is the day that He’er returns home; we can’t have her spending money to provide for the meal. This expense should come from me, as her mother.”
Saying this, Mama Wen took out a pouch from beside her and placed it on the table.
The coins inside were all neatly threaded by Wen Yunwei—a hundred wen to a string, so she wouldn’t miscount them.
From Wen Yunhe’s angle, she could see not just the coins but also a few scattered silver pieces, likely representing the family’s entire savings.
It looked like it was even less than her fifteen taels, and she felt embarrassed to accept it.
Though Mama Wen was traditional and emotional, she was indeed a loving mother.
Having bought so much meat, she pretended to complain, but deep inside, she was worried about her daughter.
However, the world was indeed unfair towards daughters.
“Mother, I just received fifteen taels of silver. I was feeling the urge to spend some; you don’t need to worry about this,” Wen Yunhe politely declined the money.
“If you still consider me your mother, then accept this silver.” Mama Wen rare in her sternness in front of her children, her tone heavy.
“Big sister, just listen to Mother!” Both Wen Yunque and Wen Yunwei quickly signaled her to accept.
“Alright, I’ll comply with your wishes,” Wen Yunhe reluctantly agreed.
At last, Mama Wen revealed a smile.
“Yunque, Wei’er, when your father passed, our family had a total savings of fifty taels of silver.
Your elder sister’s dowry was set at ten taels when your father was still around.
He said he wanted to take care of He’er since she had been looking after you two since childhood, managing the kiln for the family. It hasn’t been easy.
Now that she has returned home, the silver she has is her own personal money. No one should touch it.
Even if we can’t pay the tuition, even if we must eat simple meals, we shouldn’t touch it. Do you both agree?”
Mama Wen wished to clarify this once and for all, to avoid any future disputes.
She felt for her daughter, now a divorcee and newly widowed. If she didn’t have any money to rely on, they didn’t know how difficult life could become.
While her son’s future was important, that didn’t mean they could continue to drain their daughter’s resources. She was already pitiful enough.
“Mother, we understand,” Wen Yunwei said, nodding vigorously.
“Mother, you can rest assured. I will never touch big sister’s personal money. As for the tuition, we can forgo it. The teacher has already agreed to let me study at home. I will surely pass the exam next year, and our family’s circumstances will only get better from here!”
Wen Yunque had discussed his situation with the teacher half a month ago and received permission to study at home.
On one hand, the family couldn’t afford the tuition. On the other hand, he was already well-versed in what the teacher had taught, and he could rely on himself to further his studies.
“My son has ambition; this gives me peace of mind,” Mama Wen nodded approvingly at his words.
Wen Yunhe felt a rush of emotions—surprised, touched, and somewhat overwhelmed.
For the first time in her life, she truly felt the selfless love of her parents.
Despite Mama Wen’s many flaws, this single act was enough to outweigh them all.
The original Wen Yunhe had been so fortunate to have family members who thought of her wellbeing. It was foolish for her to give it all up because of one man.
At this moment, she decided: since she had experienced this love, she must take on the responsibility of the original’s life, protect her family, and ensure they would live without worries about food and clothing.