Chapter 16: The Idea of Separating Households Arose Spontaneously

“Big Brother is the eldest son of the family, so you have inside information, right? Come on, share it,” Su Tang stopped drinking her soup, staring expectantly at Mu Jingyuan.

Mu Jingyuan suspected she was feigning ignorance, but he had no proof.

Su Tang’s laughter was utterly guileless.

“Big Brother, tell us,” Mu Jingzhou, unusually participating in the gossip, mentally calculated the family’s financial status.

He had over thirty yuan. Adding the thirty yuan his father-in-law gave Su Tang, he still needed at least one hundred yuan to build a house.

Borrowing money was difficult; everyone was struggling these days. He had to rely on himself!

He would have to thicken his skin and ask his master for woodworking jobs!

Woodworking paid two yuan a day, one yuan went to the team, leaving him one yuan. If business was good, working for three or four months would get him the money for the house.

Before Mu Jingzhou finished his thoughts, Mu Jingyun addressed him: “Third Brother, let’s go back to woodworking!”

Mu Jingyun had already made up his mind; staying home wouldn’t work; he had to go out and earn money!

Li Lan saw it: the second and third sons wanted to separate households!

This wouldn’t do.

She was pregnant and couldn’t work; after giving birth, she would need confinement and childcare… two or three years without working. How would they manage with only Mu Jingyuan?

They should all work and eat together for a while! When her child was born, they would raise it together!

Li Lan quickly nudged her husband. Mu Jingyuan awkwardly said, “No, I was joking!”

“Big Brother, you also want to separate households, don’t you?” Su Tang immediately turned serious. “Big Brother, if you have thoughts, you should bravely express them. Don’t worry, we all support you!”

Mu Jingyuan: …

He felt like a scapegoat being roasted over a fire!

Just as he was about to explain, his father’s gloomy voice sounded behind him: “Want to separate households?”

Mu Jingyuan flinched, quickly turning around: “Father, it’s not…”

“I heard everything!” Old Man Mu slapped down his hand. Mu Jingyuan quickly dodged, but still received a painful blow to his shoulder.

“Father, it’s nothing, I was joking with Third Sister-in-law!” Mu Jingyuan said.

“Humph!” Old Man Mu’s stern gaze swept over his sons. “Which family in the village doesn’t stick together? Only those who lack propriety would separate households.”

No one spoke.

It has to be said that Old Man Mu’s intimidation tactic was effective.

Su Tang felt discontent.

She didn’t want to live with a large family. She wanted to fly!

If Mu Jingzhou wouldn’t let her fly, she would fly with Miaomiao. With their abilities, they could definitely live well.

Su Tang became more and more excited, her brows dancing.

Mu Jingzhou and Mu Jingyun exchanged a look: This doesn’t feel good!

After the whole family went out to work, Su Tang eagerly went to Yu Miaomiao’s room.

“Sister, I have money! Thirty yuan!”

“Did you steal from Mu Jingzhou?”

Yu Miaomiao lay lazily on the bed, asking.

“No. My parents gave it to me; the drama didn’t detail this. The Su family really spoils their daughter; they saved all my betrothal gifts for me! Yesterday, they gave me thirty yuan to buy meat.”

“That’s great, a change of environment to make up for your lack of parental love.” Yu Miaomiao was happy for Su Tang.

As for her Yu family, it was negligible.

She had lived under her parents’ love since childhood and never took Old Man Yu seriously.

“Didn’t we agree to start making money? Let’s invest this thirty yuan!” Su Tang said.

Yu Miaomiao frowned: “The market isn’t fully open yet; reselling goods is risky. Besides, if we keep running to the free market, those two brothers will find out.”

“Don’t worry, I’ve thought about your concerns. We’ll conserve our energy and wait for the right time to strike!” Su Tang patted her ample bosom. “I have another plan.”

Half an hour later, Su Tang and Lame Miaomiao entered the mountains. Only Li Lan was left at home.

She lazily sunbathed and sewed shoe soles, figuring out how to hide her private savings.

The second and third sons were always obedient, sharing anything delicious or useful. They were also very respectful to her, the eldest sister-in-law.

Her family said she was lucky to have married into a family with many laborers. The whole family worked to support her and her children.

But now, the second and third sons wanted to separate households right after getting married!

It must be Su Tang and Yu Miaomiao who instigated it.

Two vixens! They were going to use pillow talk to break up this family!

Although they were suppressed by Old Lady Mu today, they would bring it up again sooner or later.

She had to prepare in advance.

Thinking of this, Li Lan couldn’t sit still. She went back to the room, wrapped a piece of brown sugar, and waited by the door.

Soon, a carriage passed by the house, carrying several women from Chahe Village, chatting and laughing.

“Wait!”

Li Lan quickly called for a stop, handing the brown sugar to a woman on the carriage. “Aunt Liu, when you pass by, please give this to my eldest sister-in-law.”

“Oh, Li Lan, you’re so kind, still thinking of your eldest sister-in-law.”

“I’m not feeling well, otherwise I would go see her myself. Please tell my eldest sister-in-law to come visit when she has time.”

“Alright!”

————It rained last night; the mountain air was incredibly fresh.

Su Tang carried a small bamboo basket on her waist and searched for rosin and flowers with Yu Miaomiao.

Su Tang’s plan was: make and sell soap.

Soap was so easy to make; they had practiced it in school during handicrafts class.

Common soap on the market sold for 18 cents. If they refined floral water to make soap, selling it for two or three cents wouldn’t be excessive, right?

Therefore, the first step in starting a business was to get the scent.

Rosin increased foaming, and flowers were used to extract floral water.

At the end of April, the mountains were in full bloom. Yu Miaomiao’s foot wasn’t healed yet; she walked with a cane, struggling, yet she insisted on going into the mountains with Su Tang.

Su Tang laughed at her: “You’re a drag; I’d be faster without you.”

“I’m here to give you courage,” Yu Miaomiao said.

Su Tang couldn’t go into the mountains alone.

That girl was weak; if she encountered bad people, she would only cry.

“If only there were wild roses, their scent is strong, and the color is beautiful,” Su Tang looked around, somewhat desperate.

They collected a lot of rosin but didn’t find suitable flowers.

“There should be some; let’s keep looking,” Yu Miaomiao hobbled forward.

Su Tang looked at her struggling back, “pfft,” laughing, instantly feeling energized.

Countless times, when poverty made her want to give up her studies, Yu Miaomiao was like a shield behind her.

Material support, spiritual encouragement.

Their bond was stronger than that of biological sisters.

In this strange world, they had to unite and encourage each other. If she felt down, she would be betraying their sisterhood!

They supported each other, walking in the mountains for an unknown amount of time, finally smelling a familiar, strong floral fragrance.

“Rose fragrance? There really are roses!” Su Tang jumped excitedly. “You sit here and wait for me; I’ll go pick them. I’ll also pick a few branches to take back for cuttings.”

Yu Miaomiao couldn’t walk anymore, so she rested.

Anyway, the roses should be nearby.

“Ah——”

Su Tang screamed.