Chapter 40: Her Heart Held Only Thoughts of Making Money

The villagers lived behind closed doors, and no one knew exactly what had happened at Second Aunt He’s house. By the time rumors began to circulate, the family had already completely separated.

“It was time for them to split up,” Wan Xu said to Su Yi’an in private. “Otherwise, Sister Xing would have suffered even more.” She wouldn’t dare say such a thing in front of Mother He, in the village, dividing the family while the elders were still alive was considered a grave act of filial impiety.

Su Yi’an reached out to play with Man Mei, who was swaddled in her arms. Ten days had passed, and the baby had finally opened her eyes. Her face was still tiny, but the redness had faded, leaving her a fair and tender little girl.

“It’s not just Sister Xing,” Su Yi’an said, nudging Wan Xu. “Who knows who else will suffer after her outburst? Take good care of yourself, and we won’t associate with them anymore.”

Wan Xu knew Su Yi’an was worried about her. Her eyes crinkled into a smile as she nodded.

After playing for a while, Manmei stopped grasping Su Yi’an’s hand. Her lips puckered as if she were about to cry.

“She’s sleepy,” Wan Xu said, turning to pull Manmei closer and gently patting her back.

“You soothe her. I’ll check on the yard,” Su Yi’an said, feeling awkward watching Wan Xu nurse Manmei. She quickly found an excuse to leave the room.

In the yard, He Ningwen was helping He Xingchen clear the snow.

Before the New Year, Su Yi’an had brought back some vegetable seeds, but she had forgotten about them in the rush of preparations. She rediscovered them while rummaging through her belongings yesterday. Now, she had the children clear a patch of land in the yard, planning to till the soil and plant the seeds later.

The saying “One child is hard to manage, but two compete for chores” proved true. Su Yi’an surveyed the neatly cleared yard with satisfaction.

She decided to cook a pot of Dongpo pork herself.

She specifically chose fatty cuts, slicing the meat into large, square chunks and tying each piece with twine.

She made an extra-large batch, intending to send a plate to Yunniang. After all, if they hadn’t encountered her that day, Mother He would have struggled to find a midwife, let alone bring one home.

“Why are you adding eggs?” Mother He asked curiously, pausing from washing Manmei’s clothes to watch Su Yi’an peel hard-boiled eggs and drop them into the pot.

“The meat broth smells wonderful, and it’s perfect for flavoring the eggs. Mother, you should try it later. If it’s good, we can sell it in town.”

Mother He, her hands still wet, nodded in agreement. “Everything you make is delicious.”

The meat had been simmering for over an hour, the broth nearly reduced to a thick glaze. Only then did Su Yi’an scoop the tender pieces into a bowl.

Each chunk gleamed with a rich caramel hue, springy and soft when pinched with bamboo chopsticks. The aroma alone was enough to make one’s mouth water.

This dish takes so much effort to prepare, Mother He thought. It wouldn’t be practical to sell in a restaurant.

“Mother, I’ll take these to Yunniang,” Su Yi’an said, packing the bowl into a food box. This would make it easier to carry and keep the dish warm.

“Be careful on the mountain path. The snow makes it treacherous,” Mother He cautioned. This was why they hadn’t ventured up the mountain recently.

“I know, Mother. Don’t worry,” Su Yi’an replied. She was a grown woman; surely she wouldn’t slip and fall on a simple mountain path.

Seeing Su Yi’an about to leave, He Yunhuai set down his hoe. “Want me to go with you?”

“I’ll come too!” He Xingchen, his hands still covered in dirt, hastily rubbed them in the snow.

Su Yi’an glanced at the unfinished vegetable patch and shook her head. “You should stay home and work on the garden with them. Otherwise, this job won’t get done today.”

He Yunhuai wanted to say it was fine, that he could finish it when they returned, but when he looked up, Su Yi’an’s expression showed no intention of letting him join them.

“Right, we can’t leave without Uncle. You keep digging the garden, Uncle, and Aunt and I will go.” He Xingchen scurried to the kitchen to wash his hands, then hurried back to put on his thick hat.

“You’re going too?” He Yunhuai asked tentatively, noticing his younger sister had also set down her hoe.

He Ningwen rolled her eyes at her second brother. “Sister Yun has a big dog. I’m going to check on Manmei instead.”

He Yunhuai had already been uneasy about her going up the mountain alone. Now that she was taking a child with her, his worries deepened.

“How about I escort you up there?” He would drop them off but wouldn’t enter Yunniang’s house.

“Don’t worry, Uncle! I’ll protect Aunt for sure!” He Xingchen, fully bundled up and brandishing a long wooden stick like a weapon, declared, “You just focus on the garden. We’ll be back soon!”

He Yunhuai:…

Su Yi’an genuinely hadn’t intended to bring him along. Firstly, he hadn’t fully recovered from his illness, and secondly, the vegetable garden at home truly needed his attention.

“We’ll be back before you know it,” she said with a smile, waving goodbye.

He Yunhuai sighed, saw them out of the courtyard, and then picked up his hoe to tend the garden again.

The mountain path wasn’t as difficult as they’d imagined.

The adult and child climbed together, enjoying the scenic views along the way.

After a while, He Xingchen stopped.

“Are you tired? Let’s rest for a bit,” Su Yi’an said, handing him the bamboo water container she’d brought.

“I’m not tired,” He Xingchen replied. “Uncle is still working in the garden.”

“How do you know? You’re not even there,” Su Yi’an chuckled, assuming he was just guessing.

He Xingchen pointed down the mountain. “Auntie, look! You can see our courtyard from here.”

Su Yi’an followed his gaze and indeed spotted their courtyard below. Though distant, she could make out familiar shapes.

Surprised that He Yunhuai hadn’t taken a break after all this time, Su Yi’an said, “Then let’s head back early and help your uncle.”

They continued climbing for a while longer until they finally reached Yun Niang’s dwelling.

“How did you manage to get up here?” Yun Niang hurried to open the door when she heard the voices. Seeing the snow caked on their shoes, she exclaimed, “Quick, come in and warm yourselves by the fire! Don’t catch a chill.”

Only then did Su Yi’an realize how cold she was, noticing her soaked feet.

“I brought you some meat today,” Su Yi’an said, placing the food box on the table. “I wanted to come earlier, but the snow’s been falling for days.”

Yun Niang understood. She poured each of them a bowl of hot tea, brought out a plate of chestnut cakes, and finally sat down to chat.

“How’s Wanxu doing?” Yun Niang asked, remembering the agonizing screams she’d heard when they left. She feared Wan Xu’s delivery must have been difficult.

“She’s doing well. She gave birth to a beautiful little girl, but the baby’s a bit weak and needs extra care.” After all, the child was premature and not as robust as a full-term infant.

Moreover, the village saying went, “Seven lives, eight dies.” Since Manmei had been born in the eighth month, the family remained anxious. Mother He even planned to visit the temple for a blessing of safety once the weather improved.

Yun Niang nodded in agreement, approving of Mother He’s actions. “It’s all for the sake of the children. I’ve heard the Three Origins Temple in the Prefectural City is very efficacious. You might want to visit it sometime.”

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of barking dogs outside.

Zhuang Shan had returned with his hunting dogs, carrying two rabbits he had caught that day.

“By the way,” Yun Niang asked, “we’re heading back to town this afternoon. When are you planning to go?”

The Lantern Festival was just two days away. If Su Yi’an set up a food stall in town… She cut off the thought. It was a major holiday; she couldn’t just focus on making money. The Lantern Festival here must be quite lively, and she had never experienced one before.

After a moment’s thought, she replied, “I’ll go to town tomorrow to look for a suitable shop, preferably one with an annual lease. If I find something, I’ll let you know.”

“That sounds good. When we get back, I’ll ask around about rental properties in the area too,” Yun Niang offered. She secretly hoped they could open their shops near each other. Working with someone familiar would be much easier, and they could help each other watch the shops if needed.

Su Yi’an didn’t stay long. After finishing her tea, she prepared to leave with He Xingchen. As she was leaving, Yun Niang packed two heads of napa cabbage for her.

This vegetable was common in winter, tender whether stir-fried or stewed with meat.

“See you tomorrow,” Su Yi’an said.

Once the courtyard gate was closed, Zhuang Shan began butchering the rabbit. He hadn’t done it earlier because the children were present, and he didn’t want them to see the blood.

“Let’s keep the rabbit skin this time,” Yun Niang said softly, standing beside Zhuang Shan. “When the baby reaches its first month, I’ll make a garment to send as a gift.”

Zhuang Shan grunted in agreement and tore the rabbit skin off in one swift motion.

“Is it a boy or a girl?” Zhuang Shan asked without looking up.

“A little girl,” Yun Niang replied. “They say she’s fair-skinned and looks just like Wan Xu.” Yun Niang had only met Wan Xu a few times, but she remembered her as a gentle and refined woman.

“Girls are good,” Zhuang Shan said. “I like girls. Best if she takes after you. Maybe we should have one of our own.”

“You’re being ridiculous in broad daylight,” Yun Niang said, poking Zhuang Shan’s forehead sharply before turning and entering the kitchen.

When Su Yi’an and the others returned home, He Yunhuai had already tilled the small vegetable patch in the courtyard and was carefully sowing seeds, one by one.

It was his first time planting vegetables. He scattered the same number of seeds in each hole, covering each one immediately after sowing.

A small packet of seeds was enough for only fifteen holes, leaving a large patch of tilled soil empty.

After much deliberation, He Yunhuai was about to dig up the earlier holes to retrieve some seeds when he heard a voice behind him.

“Don’t bother digging them up. Let’s just leave it like this for now and see if anything grows.”

He Yunhuai’s face flushed crimson to his ears. He felt utterly embarrassed that his clumsy attempt at gardening had been witnessed.

Fortunately, Su Yi’an led He Xingchen into the house immediately after speaking, sparing him the need to respond.

Su Yi’an had never planted vegetables during this season either, but since they had been eating Chinese cabbage all along, she figured it might work.

If it doesn’t grow, we can always try other crops when the weather warms up, she thought.

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The next day, Su Yi’an woke up early.

She moved the small cabinet aside and retrieved the silver she had saved over the past few days from the mouse hole—a full twelve taels, not counting the loose coins.

“Sister Su?” He Ningwen woke up at the sound, yawning. “Are we going out today?”

“It’s still early. You should sleep. I’m going to town to look for a suitable shop.” Su Yi’an had only told Mother He about her trip to town, as she didn’t need extra hands for shop hunting like she did for market stalls.

He Ningwen’s drowsiness vanished at the mention of town. She sat up abruptly.

Su Yi’an tugged the blanket higher over her. “Not sleeping anymore?”

“No, I’ll go to town with you, Sister Su!” He Ningwen’s voice brimmed with excitement as she eagerly dressed.

The two left without breakfast. Now that they had some money, buying food in town would be much easier.

They still rode the oxcart to town, but this time, the woman who had previously ignored them on the flatbed initiated a conversation.

“He Family, I heard you set up a stall in town the other day, didn’t you?” Aunt Lin asked.

Before the New Year, Yu Family’s Daughter-in-Law had mentioned the He Family’s stall in town, but business seemed lackluster, and no one in the village had given it much thought.

However, the He Family had recently paid the midwife a tael of silver and given eggs to those who helped—surely that meant they were making money.

Su Yi’an understood their unspoken question. She nodded in acknowledgment.

“Did you earn a lot from the stall in town?” Aunt Lin asked bluntly, and everyone on the flatbed perked up their ears.

Su Yi’an raised an eyebrow and smiled. Running a business wasn’t that easy, but since they had asked, she couldn’t refuse to answer. “Even a single copper is money.”

This implied they were making a profit, and the others immediately began considering setting up their own stalls.

As dawn broke, the He family members began to stir.

Mother He had prepared breakfast that morning, but Su Yi’an still hadn’t appeared by the time the meal was ready.

Remembering her trip to the mountain the previous day, He Yunhuai wondered if she had fallen ill.

Growing concerned, he walked to her door, about to knock, when Mother He passed behind him carrying a plate of dried flatbread.

She glanced at him and said, “Yi’an went to town today. Your younger sister probably went with her.”

They went to town? How had he not known?

A wave of disappointment washed over He Yunhuai. He stared blankly at their door until someone called him from inside, snapping him out of his daze.