The news of Su Qingyu’s pregnancy was known to everyone who should know.

Apart from her own family, Madam Ma was the happiest. She sent a bunch of clothes and toys for the children, as well as a complete set of silver jewellery for the children.

Su Qingyu touched the things that were sent to her and sighed deeply. Madam Ma was looking forward to having a child to take care of her.

She lost all her sons. She was devastated. When she saw her husband accompanying her to Fengting Town, thousands of miles away and thought about how she had made his family line die, she gave her maid Cui Yuying to Master Ma as his second wife. However, Master Ma never even looked at Aunt Cui.

These things should have been prepared by her for Aunt Cui’s children.
Su Qingyu put all these things away and took Yaya to see her the next day. After talking to her for a long time, she came back and saw her staring at her belly with envy, which made Su Qingyu feel sad.

When she returned to the store, she thought about the little guy in her belly, how she would have to feed him, pay for his education, prepare a dowry or betrothal money for him, and save up a family fortune. She suddenly felt that she could no longer live in seclusion.

So she started messing around in the backyard.

Two stores now sold braised meat. Then she would sell all kinds of chicken. Crispy baby chicken, white-cut chicken, roasted chicken, soy sauce chicken, beggar’s chicken, salt-baked chicken; she could supply the store with different kinds of chicken dishes every day.

Every day, residents nearby were attracted to the store by the aroma of various chicken dishes.

Residents who lived farther away were also attracted.

The items sold out every day.

Su Qingyu studied and fiddled with various things in the kitchen every day. Whichever one sold well, she wouldn’t sell it the next day. She switched to another one. This kept people’s appetites whetted. After two days, when people’s appetites had been whetted enough, she put it on the meat stall again. The aroma was so fragrant that it attracted people again.

If no one bought boiled chicken, it would be taken off the shelf. Improvise the dish by tearing the meat into shreds, adding various seasonings, such as chilli, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, chilli oil, pepper oil, sugar, salt, fried peanuts, and coriander, mixing them, and putting them on the meat stall, and everyone would rush to buy them.

Granny Zhou used the chicken carcasses to make chicken soup for her, and she could have a bowl of it at every meal. Su Qingyu drank the chicken soup while looking at the account book, and she was very happy to see the increase in the store’s turnover.

She was not afraid that she couldn’t sell the fruits and vegetables. She tried all kinds of research and tossing. She tried dried vegetables, kimchi, pickles, pickled vegetables, dried vegetables, dried fruits, and preserved fruits. She tried all kinds of things.

The successful ones were sealed and moved to the cellar. She didn’t plan to sell them in the town, nor in Pingchuan County or Guangning Prefecture, but to sell them far away.

This would prevent others from imitating her and competing with her for market share.

She did all kinds of things every day and no one could stop her.

She slept a little late that day, and when she got to the store from Lu’s house, the store was open. When she entered the backyard, she saw her mother squatting there, plucking chicken feathers with Grandma Zhou and talking to her.

Seeing her coming, she washed her hands and came over to support her.

“Mom, I am just pregnant, look at you, you’re making it seem like I can’t walk anymore.”

“Pah, what nonsense are you talking about? Can’t you take smaller steps when you walk? You are in such a hurry. If you fall, how can you be worthy of our son-in-law?”

“I’m pregnant, why should I blame him? I’m pregnant and I’m giving birth, what does it have to do with him?”

“You kid, you’re so shameless. How come he has nothing to do with it? If it weren’t for him, the child would have gotten in on his own?”

After Mother Su finished speaking, Su Qingliu and Grandma Zhou both laughed.

Mother Su also smiled and patted her gently: “This is our son-in-law’s root blood, you can’t be careless. If anything happens, your father-in-law will not forgive you.”

After listening to what her mother said, Su Qingyu rolled her eyes.

But she didn’t argue with her.

“Why did grandma ask you to come to town? Daddy is not at home now, so why didn’t she ask you to work?”

“She didn’t agree. But I told your grandfather that you had just gotten pregnant, our son-in-law wasn’t around, and your mother-in-law wasn’t your real mother-in-law. I was afraid that you were too young to understand, so I wanted to come to town to give you some advice. Your grandfather agreed and even had two hens caught.”

“Does my grandfather have a say at home now? Can he even let you bring two chickens under grandma’s nose?” Su Qingyu was very surprised.

“Your father is bringing money home now, so your grandfather has to show some appreciation. Look at your fourth shū, he has been helping your second gū to collect vegetables for a long time, but he hasn’t brought home a penny. Your grandfather is angry.”

“Ah, my second gū didn’t give a penny to her family?” Su Qingliu was shocked.

“Not yet. Every day, money keeps being poured in, but not a single penny has been recouped, and there’s always some excuse for your uncle. When I was coming over, your second shěn even asked me to quietly check her shop to see if there were many customers and if it was making any profit. She said if it’s making money and they don’t give her a share, she’ll come knocking to demand it next time. But if it’s not profitable, she suggested your fourth shū should shut down the business sooner rather than later.”

Su Qingliu nodded repeatedly: “Exactly. My second shěn really has a clear head. This family needs to eat and drink; how can we let my second gū keep drawing big plans without bringing even a bit home?”

“That’s right. Some time ago, grain merchants came to the village to collect grain, and your grandfather sold most of the family’s stored grain. I’m afraid your grandparents don’t have much money to give to your fourth shū as capital. Besides, Wen Shi is pregnant, and your second shěn is thinking about her grandson. Can she watch the family’s money being wasted by your second gū?”

“Ah, my tángsǎo is pregnant too?” Su Qingyu was a little surprised.

“She is pregnant. When she heard the news from your father that you were pregnant, she became very worried and didn’t sleep well for a few days. Your second shěn asked a doctor from the neighbouring village to check on her, and the doctor said that she was pregnant too.”

Mother Su was happy for Liu Caoya. It was not easy for a woman to live alone in her husband’s family.

“Ah, why didn’t she come to the town clinic? The village doctor may not be very reliable.” Su Qingliu was happy for her but also worried that the news was untrue and would disappoint her.

“The doctor is very reliable. He can’t do other things, but he can feel a woman’s pulse accurately. Your second shěn even took her to the midwife in the neighboring village, and she also said she was pregnant. She herself hasn’t changed her clothes ^[1]it means she didn’t have her periods for two months.”

“That’s great. Whether it’s a son or a daughter, it’s always good to have a child by your side. If she becomes a widow in the future, her parents can’t force her to take her back and marry someone else. It’s better for her to stay in our family.”

“That’s right. When I came here, Youwen’s wife asked me to ask you if there is any work in town that she can do at home. Your second shěn doesn’t let her go to the fields now, so she just washes and does some housework at home. She can only do rough needlework, she can’t do fine embroidery.”

“Can she handle all the chores at home?”

“She has Xia He and Qiu Ju at home to help her. She has told your second shěn, and she and grandma have agreed to help her find work if you have it so that she can save a few copper coins for the child.”

Mother Su was also happy. This way, their eldest wife’s private savings would not be taken away. It would be best if everyone saved together. There was a saying that the law did not punish every one. She couldn’t just focus on their eldest room.

Then she said, “The most important thing is that your Third shěn sees that Qiu Ju is getting older, so she can help Qiu Ju take on some work if there is any so that she can save money for her dowry. Your Second shěn thought that Xia He would also be leaving the family, so she persuaded your grandmother together.”

“The embroidery shop only accepts fine embroidery work, which they can’t do, so they probably won’t get any work. They can’t take the mending work to the village, and they won’t send it that far…” Su Qingyu pondered.

“Just take your time to look for it. It’s okay if you can’t find it. Your second shěn and third shěn won’t blame you.”

“Okay. I’ll help keep an eye out.”

(End of this chapter)