Chapter 14: Let An-ge Come Help

“Can’t I stop by for no reason?” Zhu Erhong pretended to be annoyed and turned as if to leave.  

Qin Jin smiled. “Auntie rarely visits. Stay a while.”  

At that moment, Zhao Feng also chimed in to persuade her, and Ye Miao brought out a small stool and placed it at the gate. Zhu Erhong took the opportunity to sit down on it.  

When rural folks chat idly, they either talk about the fields or gossip about neighbors. But since Qin Jin had just gotten married, Zhu Erhong’s topic naturally turned to Ye Miao. She praised Ye Miao for his good looks and industrious nature.  

Ye Miao sat to the side, looking well-behaved and shy.  

Suddenly, Zhu Erhong changed the topic and sighed. “If An-ge were even half as outstanding as Miao-ge, I wouldn’t be worrying myself into grey hair.”  

At those words, Qin Jin couldn’t help but sneer inwardly.  

Qin An wasn’t ugly. If you really analyzed his features, he could be considered above average—only that he was always dressed in dull gray clothes. If he tidied up properly, he could definitely be called outstanding.  

But Qin An’s shoulders were too broad.  

Nowadays, people valued sloping shoulders—what’s commonly called “beauty shoulders”. Qin An had right-angled shoulders, and they were broader than most girls or gers. That made his entire frame larger, and from afar, he looked like a man.  

But if Zhu Erhong truly wanted to marry Qin An off, it wouldn’t be too hard.  

After all, Qin An was diligent and capable—definitely a strength in the countryside.  

But Zhu Erhong didn’t want Qin An to marry an ordinary village man.  

Qin Shuli was currently working as a manager at the brick shop in the county, greeting customers daily and gaining insight. People who came to buy bricks to build houses weren’t from poor families.  

Zhu Erhong wanted Qin Shuli to pick someone good from among these people for Qin An to marry—someone who could offer a handsome dowry and even support the family in the future.  

Because of this, matchmakers had visited four or five times over the past few years, but she had refused them all.  

Before, Qin An was young and could afford to be picky. But this year, he was already eighteen. Of course, even if he were a little older, he wasn’t too old—four or five years didn’t matter much. If Zhu Erhong truly cared, she wouldn’t have trouble arranging a match for him.  

So what was she up to, putting on this act now?  

Though suspicious, he spoke comfortingly: “Auntie, An-ge is diligent and capable. Surely more matchmakers will come knocking.”  

“Sigh, what’s the use of them coming on their own? They’re either widowers or so poor they don’t know where their next meal is coming from. An-ge is someone I’ve raised with care—how could I bear to send him into such hardship?”  

Zhu Erhong’s face wrinkled like an old tree bark, as if she was genuinely tormented by worry.  

“…That’s a bit exaggerated, isn’t it?”  

Ye Miao couldn’t help but speak up.  

“How is it not? If it weren’t for the fact that the suitors were too poor, I wouldn’t be losing sleep every night!”  

As she spoke, she turned to Qin Jin. “Little Jin, I, your aunt, have spent my whole life toiling in the fields. I’m uneducated and have no skills, so I can’t arrange a good marriage for An-ge.”  

“He’s growing older day by day. After the new year, he’ll be nineteen. By then it’ll be even harder to find a match. I really don’t know what to do anymore, so I’ve shamelessly come to you for help. You’re capable and your business is doing well—how about letting An-ge come help out?”  

“If he could be like his brother Shuli and earn stable wages every month, then when I speak to the matchmaker, I could confidently ask for a decent family. Don’t you think that makes sense?”  

“You’re his cousin. You’ve got to help him. Marriage is a major life event—he can’t end up marrying some widower or pauper, right?”  

Qin Jin suddenly realized—after all that rambling, this was what she had her eyes on: his small business.  

Ye Miao’s expression didn’t change, but he clenched his teeth—how was she even more shameless than Zhang Xiaohua?  

Even Zhang Xiaohua hadn’t dared pull this yet.  

Qin Jin frowned, looking troubled. “Auntie, of course I care about An-ge’s future. But right now, I don’t need any helpers. Our family business already has me, Miao-ge, and Dad. That’s enough.”  

Seeing that Zhu Erhong was about to speak, he quickly added, “Besides, I still owe Big Brother, Second Brother, and Third Brother several taels of silver. If not for those debts, I might have been able to scrape up some work for An-ge. But at the moment, I can barely manage myself.”  

“The three brothers don’t rush me, but I can’t ignore it either. My nephews and nieces are all growing, and there are more and more expenses. I’ve got to pay off those debts first. Wouldn’t you agree?”  

“I understand, I understand. Auntie knows it’s not easy for you. How about this—let An-ge work for now, and once you’ve paid off your debts, then you can start paying him wages. How’s that sound?”  

Zhu Erhong seemed to have anticipated this answer and responded immediately.  

“Hmm… that could work.”  

Qin Jin thought for a moment and didn’t refuse outright.  

“But there’s really not much to do with the business. Even Dad goes down to the fields with me every day. If An-ge comes, he’ll just be going to the fields with us.”  

“If you’re okay with that, then let him come over later. It hasn’t rained these past few days, and the crops are getting dry. We’ve got a lot of fields, and it’s hard for just Dad and me to manage.”  

At these words, Zhu Erhong’s face stiffened ever so slightly. She cursed inwardly—when did Qin Jin get so slippery?!  

He used to act like it cost him his life just to greet her—shyer than a maiden—but now he had left her speechless!  

Ye Miao saw the expression on Zhu Erhong’s face and nearly burst out laughing. His eyes twinkled, and he added, “Auntie, you’ve set aside your pride to ask us juniors today. You must truly have An-ge’s best interests at heart.”

“I also hope An-ge finds a good match. For him, nothing would give him more confidence than a generous dowry. If An-ge comes to work at our house, why not record his wages in the account first, and give them to him all at once when he gets married? That way, we can avoid any accidents in between, don’t you think?”

Zhu Erhong: “…”

Her mouth twitched a few times in an ugly manner, as if she couldn’t hold in her anger anymore.

Qin Jin looked at Ye Miao in surprise.

His little husband was quite sharp-minded, huh.

On the surface, it was for Qin An’s benefit, but in reality, it was a veiled jab at Zhu Erhong, his own mother.

What kind of “accident” could happen with the wages directly given to An-ge? Obviously, it meant Zhu Erhong might snatch them.

Bold.

Seeing Zhu Erhong speechless, Qin Jin lightly cleared his throat. Being mocked by the younger generation yet not blowing up on the spot—no wonder she could do something as rare as giving only five copper coins when her eldest brother-in-law begged for help.

Still, he definitely had to stand by his little husband: “Auntie, I think Miao-ge’s idea is quite good. Don’t worry, as his cousin, I won’t let An-ge suffer. When he gets married, Miao-ge and I will definitely give him a big red envelope.”

“Let’s settle it like this. Let him come over later, and you go home and tell him.”

Zhu Erhong quietly took a deep breath and forced a rather stiff smile: “That’s a bit inconvenient. We’ve also started watering the crops at home. Let him come over after we’re less busy.”

One way or another, she had to let An-ge come take a look.

According to Qin Jin, there wasn’t much work, but the business seemed to be thriving. Just how were these pea cakes and tofu sheets made?

“Alright, we’ll go with whatever Auntie says.” Qin Jin nodded without hesitation, acting like Zhu Erhong was calling the shots.

Zhu Erhong couldn’t help but curse again in her heart. Today really was a rushed move. Not only did she get nothing, but she also got laughed at by them!

She stormed off in a huff.

Watching Zhu Erhong’s retreating figure, Ye Miao nearly rolled his eyes—if not for Qin Jin being there, he definitely would have.

Resisting the urge, he looked at Qin Jin and said, “Brother Jin, it’s getting late. You and Dad better head to Wang family village now.”

Qin Jin gave an “Mm” sound, took in his little husband’s obedient and clever expression, raised an eyebrow, and turned to push the cart.

Zhao Feng followed after.

Ye Miao locked the courtyard gate and headed to Zhang Qi’s place to buy tofu curd for the next day.

The tofu sheets were selling well, so they needed a bit more tofu curd for tomorrow.

Wuligou Village was in the southwest part of the county town, and the Wang family village was in the southeast. Walking there would take almost half an hour. When they arrived, Qin Jin quickly found Wang Yongshu’s house after asking around.

Since the Wang family were landlords, theirs was the grandest house in the village.

Now Qin Jin understood—no wonder Gu Nan was so generous. The family was clearly well-off.

At the Wang household, Gu Nan happened to be there as well. Seeing Qin Jin arrive, he warmly welcomed both him and Zhao Feng, even praising how delicious the tofu sheet dumplings were.

Wang Yongshu was Gu Nan’s partner, a rather honest-looking man. He weighed the peas and helped load them onto the cart while Qin Jin handed over the prepared copper coins.

Three hundred jin of peas, at three wen and three li per jin, totaled nine hundred ninety wen.

Such a large cash payment not only used more of Ye Miao’s dowry but also required borrowing a bit more from Wang Xiuqin.

After all these days of hard work, their family debts were only increasing.

But with so many peas stocked and great reviews for the tofu sheets, Qin Jin felt not only reassured but full of motivation.

Still, for some reason, those few words Ye Miao had said to rebuke Zhu Erhong kept popping into Qin Jin’s mind—whether walking home or working in the fields, that little face of Ye Miao’s would flash before his eyes from time to time.

He always knew his little husband was good-looking—every part of him was—but until today, he hadn’t realized that beyond looks, the boy was quick-witted too.

It intrigued him.

He had always treated Ye Miao like one would pamper a much younger child—spoiling and coddling him—but never really curious.

His little husband’s past and thoughts were too simple, easy to see through at a glance.

But today…

That night, after washing up and getting into bed, he didn’t blow out the oil lamp and fall asleep like usual.

Instead, he lay on his side, propped up on one arm, eyes fixed on the little husband lying inside the bed.

Ye Miao had gotten into bed before him, intending to snuggle into his arms once he came in. But seeing him like this, he looked confused: “Brother Jin?”

His pretty eyes widened slightly, confusion written all over his pale face.

For some reason, it made Qin Jin feel like a feather was brushing against his heart.

He reached out and pulled him into his arms. That warm, slender body was already familiar to him, but this time, his large hand gently stroked his little husband’s back—as if to soothe the tickle that feather had stirred in his heart.

Ye Miao held his breath, his heartbeat quickening slightly. Was this…?

“Sleep, we have to get up early,” Qin Jin’s voice came from above his head.

…

Ye Miao puffed his cheeks a little, a bit discouraged. He raised his right hand, about to reach downward, but after hesitating for two seconds, he relaxed his body and obediently nestled into Qin Jin’s arms.

Forget it.

Today’s work really had been tiring—no need to make his Brother Jin work more after going to bed.

What’s one or two days anyway?