Chapter 39: Shallow-minded

For dinner, they had cornmeal porridge, braised pork, marinated cucumbers, eggplant, and thick cornmeal porridge.

They had expected Grandma Chen’s to visit, but she didn’t. Chen Ming sent half of the braised pork to Chen Ye’s family and invited them over for dinner the next evening to discuss the house construction the day after.

Chen Feng glanced at the table of food on the kang, and Chen Lu ran quickly.

Mrs Wang called from the doorway, “Don’t rush, we’ll wait for you.”

When Chen Lu returned, the family finally sat on the kang to eat.

Seeing the two boys enjoying the braised pork, Chen Ming also looked extremely satisfied. Was the braised pork really that delicious?

Chen Feng took a bite and found it fragrant but not quite like the braised pork from her previous life, it was more akin to the flavor of red-cooked pork.

Chen Dabao, feeling extremely satisfied, said, “It’s so great to have money, to eat until full, and to eat braised pork.”

Chen Lu asked Chen Ming, “Father, are we now living the life of small landowners?”

Chen Ming laughed, “Not quite. If we converted all our silver into land, we should be considered a well-off household.”

Chen Feng laughed, “Then let’s strive to become small landowners first and then large landowners.”

Thinking about the bag of gold dust and jewels, even if only a few were sold, the family could still become small landowners. However, the turmoil caused by the golden swallow in the capital’s jewelry shops had spread to the nearby towns, so it wasn’t a good time to sell those things.

That little rascal really caused trouble.

Mrs Wang smiled, “I don’t dare to think of landowners and such. I’m already very content with our current life.”

Dabao always had confidence in Chen Feng. He said, “Grandma believes in my mother. My mother says she can become a landowner, so she can.”

Everyone laughed at his words.

The next morning, Chen Feng woke up to find her mother already busy in the kitchen.

Chen Feng saw that her mother had only boiled one egg and then went to fetch four more from a small basket.

Chen Feng said, “Our family has its illnesses and its small members. Mother and I are also working hard, so we need to eat well. Mother, don’t worry about running out of money, we’ll earn more soon.”

After that she started working in the kitchen, preparing foods that is nutritious and making sure that they will all be satisfied and have a full stomach to start the day.

She also decided to add some side dishes to the table. She washed a pickles and add some sugar, but she also had Dabao pick two cucumbers from the field to slice and season.

Although Mrs Wang believed in being frugal and saving for the long term, she didn’t oppose her daughter’s actions after what she had said.

After the meal, Mrs Wang was going to the county to pick up some embroidery work, and Chen Feng advised her to take less and not work in the evening to avoid straining her eyes. Chen Ming also asked her to buy three catties of Xiaoyuanchun or heritage harmony liquor, which Chen Ye loved, intending to give one catty to him and keep two for the evening.

If it wasn’t for fear that Mrs Hu would be too greedy, Chen Ming still wanted to give more to his mother and elder brother, but he had to endure for now.

Furthermore, Chen Feng asked her mother to buy a set of writing materials and some rice paper, saying that A’Lu and Dabao should start learning to write, and she also wanted to learn.

Although Mrs Wang was frugal, she was willing to buy the writing materials, hoping that the two children would study more and have a brighter future.

In the afternoon, Mrs Wang and Chen Feng began to be busy in the kitchen. They were making pork and chive dumplings— Mrs Wang prepared the dough, and Chen Feng made the dumplings.

This was the first time they made dumplings at home, and not only was Dabao excited, but even Chen Lu was also thrilled.

As they chatted and laughed, Grandma Chen arrived.

As soon as she entered, she said, “That Hu is so shallow-minded. Yesterday, upon hearing that your family made a lot of money selling the Needlework baskets, she wanted to bring her family to your place for dinner the next evening, but was scolded by your elder brother. This caused me not to come either.” Speaking in a lower voice, she added, “People in the village are saying that your Needlework baskets earned four taels, and some say they earned six taels. Is it true that you earned that much?”

Chen Ming smiled, “Yes, more or less. Once the house is finished, I’ll take A’Lu to the capital for treatment.”

Grandma Chen, with a face full of wrinkles, exclaimed, “That basket is indeed smart. I never thought it could sell for so much.” She then asked Chen Ming, “Do you have enough money? I heard Qianjin Clinic charges a lot, at least five taels. I’ve saved a little over a tael, and I’ll use it for Alu’s treatment. As long as Alu’s legs are healed, I can close my eyes in peace.”

Chen Ming hurriedly replied, “That’s your own money, Mother. Keep it. Our money is enough…”

Grandma Chen carefully examined Chen Ming and pulled him to the door, saying, “Why do I feel like your complexion has improved?”

Chen Ming laughed, “Yes, I’ve been feeling much better lately. I’m not as breathless, and I cough less.”

Just as they were talking, Chen Ye and his son, Mrs Hu, Chen Dahua, and Chen Daya all arrived.

As soon as Mrs Hu entered, she complained to Mrs Wang, “Even though we’re relatives, why didn’t you teach me how to make those Needlework baskets? You could have helped my family earn some money too.”

Chen Feng quickly explained, “My mother has always been busy with embroidery work, so she didn’t have the time to make Needlework baskets. Those Needlework baskets were made by my father and me. We never thought they would sell so well, so we didn’t tell anyone. If you want to learn, I can teach you today.”

Mrs Hu fumed, “What’s the point of telling me now? The whole village knows how to make them. Why didn’t you do it earlier?”

Under normal circumstances, Grandma Chen still had to save face for Mrs Hu. She said, “Eldest daughter-in-law, I didn’t let the second daughter-in-law tell you. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but I don’t trust your family. Once you know a good idea, your family, who are too proud to work, will spread the word and get others to do it. If everyone knows, what can the second family earn? A’Lu’s leg can’t be delayed any longer.”

Chen Ye also frowned at Mrs Hu, “I keep telling you, you never learn your lesson. It’s rare for the second family to earn some money, and yet you want to interfere.”

Chen Feng found it somewhat amusing, thankful that there were these two mountains pressing down, preventing a big storm.

Mrs Hu then began to express how Chen Ye had supported Chen Ming like a father, enabling him to study, and how she had taken care of her younger brother-in-law like a mother. “We work so hard, yet we’ve never even worn silk clothes.”

Chen Ye was initially pleased to hear this but blushed at the last statement. He furrowed his brow and said, “You silly woman, we’re all laborers. We do hard work every day. Where would we have the chance to wear silk clothes?”

Chen Ming quickly handed over a gourd of Xiaoyuanchun liquor to Chen Ye, saying, “Although we earned a little money this time, we still have to take A’Lu to the capital for his leg treatment. I know you’ve helped us a lot over the years, so I bought two catties of Xiaoyuanchun liquor. When we earn more money in the future, we’ll buy silk clothes for Mother and you… and your wife.”

He really didn’t want to mention Mrs Hu, but to avoid embarrassing Chen Ye too much, he mentioned her.

Chen Ye blushed and declined, but grandma Chen said, “Eldest son, accept it. It’s the second son’s goodwill, and you’ve indeed helped him a lot.”

Chen Ye then accepted.

During the meal, they also discussed the construction of the house the next day.

In the evening, after Chen Feng and Dabao had gone to bed, Chen Feng sketched the rough shapes of the Bird’s Nest and the Sydney Opera House. She wasn’t used to using a brush, so she used charcoal. The Bird’s Nest was simpler and turned out quite well. As for the Sydney Opera House, she could only draw it from memory, as the golden swallow had never seen the original. She worked on the drawing late into the night and then stored the picture in her dimensional space, but the golden swallow still hadn’t returned.

That little thing, who didn’t even come home yesterday, was off somewhere again.

The next day, the second household of the Chen family began to be busy. Because they needed to build the mud brick walls, they hired an additional person, making a total of six workers.

Mrs Wang had embroidery work to do, so Chen Feng volunteered to take on the task of making lunch.