Chapter 51

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Yuan’er and her sisters, dressed in new clothes, were led by Madam Liang to the main hall to pay their respects to Grandpa and Grandma Wang. Madam Liang initially intended to kneel, but Grandma Wang excused her. Instead, Madam Liang performed a bow and spoke a few words of good fortune.

Wang Yuan’er and her sisters, however, knelt down and formally kowtowed, offering proper New Year greetings filled with auspicious words.

“Stand up,” Grandma Wang said. It was the New Year, so she managed to show a rare smile and gave each of the four sisters a red envelope.

Wang Qing’er, being the clever one, pinched the envelope and immediately noticed that it was heavier than last year’s. She couldn’t help but wink at Wang Yuan’er, who glared at her in return.

As they were talking, the second uncle’s family arrived with their children. They first paid their respects to Grandpa and Grandma Wang and received red envelopes. Then, Wang Yuan’er and her sisters greeted them, and Madam Zhang reluctantly handed out red envelopes as well, though the amount inside made Wang Qing’er purse her lips several times.

After exchanging greetings, the whole family gathered to eat the morning meal. The younger ones quickly rushed off to visit neighbors and relatives for New Year blessings, as it was customary for sweet-tongued visitors to receive red envelopes from the adults.

Since Wang Yuan’er had already come of age, it wouldn’t be appropriate for her to tag along with the younger children. She thought of staying home to accompany Madam Liang in doing needlework and chatting. However, before she could leave, her second uncle stopped her.

Wang Yuan’er was a bit surprised but obediently sat down. The younger ones had already run outside, leaving only the adults behind.

“Second Uncle, is there something you need?” she asked.

“Oh, it’s nothing major,” Second Uncle said, taking a sip of tea. “I just need you to copy the recipe for your spiced tea eggs and braised tofu for me.”

Wang Yuan’er nearly choked on her tea. Coughing twice, she asked, “Second Uncle, what did you say?”

She couldn’t believe it—did he actually want the recipes for her spiced eggs and braised tofu?

Second Uncle, slightly annoyed, replied, “What’s the matter? Are you deaf at such a young age? I said I want the recipe for your spiced eggs!”

Wang Yuan’er put down her teacup and replied with a calm tone, “Second Uncle, what do you need the recipe for? You should know that this is my only means of making money.” Before he could respond, she glanced at the rest of the family with a look that clearly said she wasn’t giving in without a satisfactory answer.

It was evident that the rest of the family was also caught off guard, as their gazes all turned toward Second Uncle.

Feeling uncomfortable, Second Uncle muttered, “Why all the fuss? I’m just asking for a recipe.”

“Second son, if you want the recipe, you should explain your reasoning,” Grandma Wang said, fixing her gaze on him.

Madam Zhang, feeling anxious, rushed forward to explain her elder brother’s intentions on behalf of Wang Er. She concluded by saying, “Now that we’ve got a connection with the Tang family’s head, there’s no business we can’t succeed in. Yuan’er, don’t worry—once we make money, we’ll surely give you a generous dowry.”

Wang Yuan’er chuckled coldly in her heart. So that was their plan. She responded, “Second Aunt, it’s not like my uncle just married you into the Wang family yesterday. It’s been, what, a decade or so? Your elder brother and sister-in-law have served the Tang family as servants for many years, haven’t they? Especially since your sister-in-law was even a wet nurse for the young master. If they could ‘cling to a big tree,’ wouldn’t they have done it long ago? Why would they need my recipe now?”

Her words were deliberate yet firm, making Madam Zhang flush red with embarrassment, as everything she said was true.

Before Madam Zhang could respond, Wang Yuan’er continued, “This business I’m running came from my own effort and ingenuity. There’s no reason for me to give it away for the sake of a favor. Especially when this favor is for your elder brother, and we don’t even know if there will be any real benefits. If the Tang family’s head wants the recipe, that’s fine—let him pay for it!”

Chapter 52

Wang Yuan’er was truly filled with anger. The formula she used to earn money was taken to forge connections and build relationships, but not a single coin was given to her. How could this be reasonable?

Never mind that the person in question was just her second aunt’s elder brother—even if it were her second uncle, it still wouldn’t be acceptable.

And that so-called elder of the Tang family—what kind of nonsense was this? Not paying a single coin yet expecting to take someone else’s formula. It was utterly ridiculous.

Is this what being noble and powerful means?

The more Wang Yuan’er thought about it, the more she felt as if she had swallowed a dead fly—utterly disgusted and suffocated. Particularly as she recalled her previous life. Her second uncle and second aunt had arranged a marriage for her in the past life, and now they wanted to scheme against her again. Did they think she was easy to bully?

Even a Buddha would get angry!

“You silly girl, it’s just a formula. It’s not like they’re taking your life. The Tang family is such an influential group of people—just the crumbs they drop from their fingers are enough for us to live without worry. Offering them a formula to make a good impression, why are you so short-sighted?” Wang Er was so annoyed by Wang Yuan’er’s reaction that his head was practically smoking. He thought it would be an easy matter, but who knew this girl would guard it so tightly? After all, she was just a woman—long hair but short insight!

Wang Yuan’er burst out laughing. “Second Uncle, you make it sound so simple. If the Tang family is so capable, would they even care for my little formula?” She stopped laughing, and her tone grew sharp: “Let me make it clear. If you want the formula, bring the money.”

“Eldest sister-in-law, what do you think about this?” Wang Er, seeing that she was so unyielding, turned to Madam Liang, hoping to deal with her instead.

Madam Liang was already in a panic. She was widowed, and the child she was carrying might be a boy or a girl. In the future, she would inevitably have to rely on the second household. It wouldn’t be wise to oppose her second uncle and his family.

Just as Madam Liang was about to speak, Wang Yuan’er stepped in front of her and coldly confronted Wang Er. “What’s this, Second Uncle? Are you trying to bully this household of widows and fatherless children because we don’t have a man to support us?”

How hateful! Since he couldn’t get what he wanted from her, now he was trying to take advantage of her vulnerable mother?

With both new grievances and old grudges boiling inside her, even though it was the first day of the Lunar New Year, Wang Yuan’er couldn’t hold back anymore. Without waiting for Wang Er’s reply, she turned her sharp gaze to the silent elder couple, her grandfather and grandmother.

“Grandfather, Grandmother, is this how you feel too?” she asked, her expression cold and unflinching. “My father is gone, and I worked hard to make some pocket money from this recipe. Now Second Uncle wants to take it for free to curry favor with others—is he trying to force this household into despair?”

“Impudent!” Grandma Wang slammed the table heavily, causing the teacup on it to wobble and spill some of its contents. She glared at Wang Yuan’er. “What kind of nonsense are you spouting on a day like this?”

Grandma Wang was deeply superstitious, and being the first day of the Lunar New Year, she absolutely couldn’t tolerate hearing such unlucky words—especially since she had lost her son less than six months ago.

Seeing Grandma Wang lose her temper, Madam Liang turned pale with fear and hurriedly tugged at Wang Yuan’er’s sleeve. “Yuan’er, apologize to your grandmother quickly.”

Wang Yuan’er pressed her lips tightly together, her eyes reddening, yet her face was filled with stubborn defiance. She stood tall and unyielding.

Grandma Wang grew even angrier at the girl’s firm stance and was about to lash out when Grandpa Wang placed his hand on hers, calming her down.

“Yuan’er, we’re family. There’s no need to talk about forcing or not forcing. If you’re unwilling, then let it go,” said Grandpa Wang gently.

“Father!” Madam Zhang exclaimed anxiously.

Grandpa Wang glanced at her before turning to Wang Er. “When doing business, one must be honest. The Tang family is a family of status and position—they wouldn’t take someone’s recipe without paying for it. If he really wants to engage in this business, let him come and buy it. Yuan’er, is that acceptable?”

Wang Yuan’er nodded. After all, she had other ways to make fermented bean curd. This recipe wasn’t entirely off-limits for sale, but if there’s no money involved, there’s no deal!