Chapter 101

Madam Zhang became anxious about her children. She had only made a bit of fermented tofu, and now it was affecting her children’s marriage prospects?

With this thought in mind, she blurted, “Mother, I just made some fermented tofu. How is it so serious that it affects Min’er and the others? You’re too biased. They can make it, but I’m not allowed? Isn’t this like letting officials set fires while the common people can’t light lamps?”

“You still don’t realize your mistake,” Wang Er angrily replied.

“Second son,” Grandma Wang interjected, giving him a stern look, before turning to Madam Zhang, “Second son is right. You still don’t realize your mistake. Of course, anyone can make fermented tofu. If you want to research it on your own, no one will mock you. But what have you been doing? You’ve been constantly hanging around Yuan’er and her sisters. You know exactly what your intentions are.”

Blushing, Madam Zhang argued, “We’re separate households now. Can’t I visit them? Are we drawing boundaries under the same roof?”

Grandma Wang coldly retorted, “Visiting or stealing techniques? Listen to how people are talking outside. Selfish and cruel, competing with orphaned nieces for business. Aren’t you ashamed? Has the family ever deprived you of food or drink? You’re their blood-related aunt, plotting against your nieces. How can you still call yourself human? What kind of marriage prospects will Min’er have when people hear about your behavior? And you didn’t think this through? Taking advice from your sister-in-law to plot against your family. Now you’ve got a reputation for being cruel, and even Wang Er is implicated. Min’er will also carry this reputation. Remember, you married into the Wang family. You are a Wang daughter-in-law!”

Humiliated, Madam Zhang felt bitter, seeing Wang Yuan’er and her sisters about to get rich while she had no say over money; it was all managed by Grandma Wang. As a daughter-in-law, she had less power than her nieces.

Filled with resentment, she muttered, “If I had control over money, would I need to study these things? I’m being forced to.”

Her words were like daggers to Grandma Wang. “So, you’re blaming me and your father for not splitting the family? Annoyed by us old folks taking up space?”

That accusation was sharp, almost branding Madam Zhang as unfilial.

Panicking, Madam Zhang knelt immediately, and even Wang Er dared not sit on the kang, stepping forward to appease, “Mother, what are you saying? That’s not what she meant!” He shot a furious glare at Madam Zhang, cursing her incompetence.

“Yes, Mother, I didn’t mean that,” Madam Zhang pleaded submissively.

Grandma Wang sneered, “No need to put on that act. I know you’re resentful and want to take charge. Fine, we’ll separate, and your father and I will move to the mountains to give you space.”

“Mother, please don’t!” Wang Er was terrified, holding her arm while scolding Madam Zhang, “Are you trying to get us killed? Apologize to Mother immediately.”

Sweating and terrified, Madam Zhang begged, “Mother, please forgive me this time. I was wrong!”

Gossip is one thing, but if Grandma Wang called her unfilial, Madam Zhang would be shamed, drowned in public scorn. In the Northern Dynasty, filial piety was paramount. Madam Zhang couldn’t bear a charge of unfilial conduct, even with all her courage.

Chapter 102

Madam Zhang felt like she had bad luck this year. She was constantly scolded by her mother-in-law and had to kneel to apologize every few days. What upset her the most was that both Grandma Wang and Wang Er firmly insisted she stay out of the fermented tofu business, or else she should go back to her family.

Why? It was clearly a profitable venture, so why couldn’t she do it if others could?

“Of course, it’s doable,” Wang Yuan’er said while working on a net, talking to her two sisters.

There were no rules against people doing the same business, but Wang Yuan’er’s situation was special.

First, they were orphans who had separated from the main family. Everyone knew how hard it was for children without parents, even though they still had grandparents and an uncle and aunt. It wasn’t the same as having their own parents. So, the fermented tofu business was their main source of income. If someone else joined in, it would reduce their profits, essentially taking food from the orphans’ bowls.

Secondly, it’s one thing for others to compete, but it was their own uncle and aunt. How could they compete for business with their orphaned nieces and nephews? Could they live with themselves?

These reasons aside, being part of the same family and supporting each other in business could be beneficial for the family’s growth. The problem was the current sensitive timing. Additionally, willingly teaching someone and having them secretly steal your techniques were entirely different matters.

Madam Zhang could do the fermented tofu business, but only if she didn’t mind her reputation. But did Wang Er and Grandma Wang not care? Of course, they did. That’s why they wouldn’t let Madam Zhang do the business.

“Second Aunt got beaten so badly and didn’t even make a fuss,” Wang Chun’er said, surprised.

“She wouldn’t dare. Second Uncle might divorce her,” Wang Qing’er scoffed, looking at Wang Yuan’er. “But, Eldest Sister, will Second Uncle really not get the job?”

Wang Yuan’er paused briefly and said, “It’s up to fate. We’ll see.”

She didn’t oppose Wang Er trying to get a job. After all, the main family consisted of orphans, and even though they had a boy, he was still nursing. Wang Er was someone they could rely on. If he had a good job, it would benefit them too, but not at their expense. That was something she wouldn’t allow, even if it seemed selfish.

“Eldest Sister, how did you know Madam Li’s maid would be there?” Wang Qing’er asked, setting aside the shoe she was working on and grinning.

“Slacking off again?” Wang Yuan’er playfully tapped her forehead.

In her previous life, she learned that Madam Li was an exceptionally kind person. To commemorate her deceased father, she had her maid place floating lanterns by the river for a month. She discovered this while selling tea eggs.

When Second Aunt wanted to interfere with the fermented tofu business, Wang Yuan’er thought of using Madam Li to create some gossip, spreading it to damage Second Aunt’s reputation and make her back off.

So she had Wang Qing’er deliberately fight with Second Aunt and go to the river to meet the maid. Gossip often started with small people.

She hadn’t expected Second Uncle’s job prospects to be affected by this, leading to him hitting Madam Zhang.