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A voice came from outside the door. “Sister, it’s me! I bought pickled vegetables from you before.”
Hearing this, Wan Chunmei quickly got up and went to open the door. Sure enough, it was the aunt from the neighboring village who had previously purchased pickles from her.
The woman hurried into the house and shut the door behind her with a grin. “Sister, it was quite a task finding your place!”
Wan Chunmei fetched a cup and poured her some tea. “Auntie, what brings you here to find me?”
The woman took a sip of the hot tea, exhaled a puff of steam, and laughed heartily. “Sister, the pickled vegetables I bought from you last time are all gone! The whole family, young and old, has been clamoring for more. I wanted to ask if you have any left.”
Wan Chunmei glanced toward the stove. “We’ve finished ours too. But if you’d like, I can make another batch. Would that work?”
The woman nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, that would be perfect. Thank you so much, Sister!”
Wan Chunmei smiled. “What’s there to thank? I should be the one thanking you for liking our pickles.”
The woman cast a curious look around the modest house and sighed. “Sister, how many people live in your household?”
“Besides my husband and me, we have seven children,” Wan Chunmei replied.
The woman gasped. “So many people! Can you all fit in this little house?”
Wan Chunmei gestured toward a recently constructed small room. “We built an additional room not long ago, so it’s just enough now. Our family doesn’t have much to fall back on, and with so many kids to feed, we make do with what we have.”
The woman grabbed Wan Chunmei’s hand and grinned. “Sister, it’s your good fortune to have run into me!”
Wan Chunmei blinked in surprise. “Auntie, what do you mean?”
The woman beamed and said, “My husband happens to be a bricklayer, and my eldest son is a carpenter. Just about every house built within ten miles has had our family’s handiwork. If you’re planning to build a new house, you can come to us.”
She extended five fingers and added with a smile, “We’re fated to meet. If you hire us, I’ll give you a discount to help ease your family’s burden.”
Wan Chunmei was overjoyed but also a little embarrassed. “Auntie, how could I possibly accept that?”
“It’s fine, of course, it’s fine. If you feel bad, just give me a few jars of your pickles when they’re done. My husband is crazy about them,” the woman said with a hearty laugh, covering her mouth as her wide face beamed with cheer.
The woman’s family name was Yu, from the neighboring village of Yonghe. Her family, skilled in masonry and carpentry, was one of the wealthier households in their village. Despite their success, they remained humble and honest, often helping struggling families in need. The Yu family was well-regarded as kind-hearted and generous.
Wan Chunmei was deeply moved and held onto Aunt Yu’s hand. “Auntie, just a few jars of pickles wouldn’t be enough. We also have a lot of chickens in the yard out back. I’ll have my sons bring some to your house as well.”
Aunt Yu’s eyes lit up as she peered toward the backyard. “Sister, you’ve got chickens at home too?”
Wan Chunmei nodded. “Yes, we have a hen that’s very good at laying eggs, so the number of chickens in the yard just keeps growing.”
Aunt Yu grabbed her hand with excitement. “Take me to see them! I’d love to have a look.”
In Pingyang County, many households raised chickens, but it wasn’t easy to keep them alive and thriving. Most families had only a few hens, which were cherished for their eggs. Aunt Yu’s family only kept two or three hens, so hearing that Wan Chunmei had a yard full of chickens piqued her interest.
Wan Chunmei had heard about the Yu family from the village gossip and had confirmed through their conversation that Aunt Yu was indeed from that kind and generous household. With no hesitation, she took Aunt Yu’s hand and said with a laugh, “Auntie, come on, I’ll show you.”
She turned to Old Tan and instructed, “Watch over Little Qiyue. I’ll be back soon.”
Old Tan nodded with a smile. “Alright, go ahead.”
The wind outside was brisk. Wan Chunmei led Aunt Yu out the door, shielding her from the wind as they walked. “Auntie, the chicken yard is just behind our house.”
“Alright, lead the way, Sister. The wind is strong today,” Aunt Yu said, lifting her head and following closely.