Before Madam Yu got married, she had learned embroidery from the seamstresses at the embroidery workshop.

Her skills were more than sufficient for working there.

Qin Rong listened attentively.

Although she had the original host’s memories, the original owner had never lived in the town, so many things about it were still unfamiliar to her.

Seeing that her daughters didn’t seem to object, Madam Yu continued, “At the embroidery workshop, in the first month, I can earn about six hundred copper coins. If my skills are good enough to take on custom embroidery work, there will be additional pay.

After we pay the rent, we’ll only have a little over two hundred coins left. Together with the silver I brought with me, it should barely be enough for us to get by for a year in town. But I’ll do my best. It’s just that… A-Yi is still only eight years old, so we’ll need you and A-Yue to help look after her.”

Qin Rong quickly nodded. “Mother, I’ll be fourteen after the new year. I can take care of little sister.”

Qin Yue also responded eagerly, “Yes, Mother, don’t worry. We can take care of her.”

Madam Yu nodded.

Even though she still felt worried, if she didn’t go to work, how long could the silver she brought with her last?

Qin Rong also had some plans of her own, though she needed to get a better understanding of the town first.

Her homestay space still had quite a bit of supplies, so they could hold out for a while.

People always started with nothing—if the whole family worked together, they could surely build a good life.

..

In the blink of an eye, it was the day Madam Yu was to start work.

Qin Rong got up at quarter past five in the morning.

Since Madam Yu had to leave at seven, Qin Rong rose early to make breakfast, letting her mother sleep a little longer.

She first lit the stove and set a clay pot on it to cook white porridge.

Then she took a large clay bowl, added yeast from her homestay space, cracked in two eggs, added a small spoonful of salt, stirred it all together, and added warm water to make dough.

While the dough was left to rise, Qin Rong went to fetch water and wash up.

By the time she returned, the dough was ready.

She kneaded it to release the air, cut it into strips, pressed it flat, and brushed it with oil. At that moment, there was some movement in Madam Yu’s room.

Qin Rong set the porridge on the table and started frying the dough sticks.

When Madam Yu saw that Qin Rong was already up, she looked surprised. “A-Rong, why are you up?”

“Mother, I made breakfast for you. It’s your first day at work—you have to eat well,” Qin Rong said with a smile.

Warmth flooded Madam Yu’s heart, and her eyes grew misty.

Her eldest daughter didn’t talk much, but she had always been considerate and sensible.

“Sigh, I’m coming,” Madam Yu replied and quickly went to wash up.

Taking advantage of the time, Qin Rong also scooped out a spoonful of pickled vegetables from a clay jar. With white porridge, fried dough sticks, and pickles, breakfast was ready.

“A-Rong, you even made fried dough sticks!” Madam Yu said in delight.

She loved fried dough sticks.

Before marriage, her father used to buy them for her often.

But after marrying into the Qin family, she had worked like a slave under her mother-in-law’s oppression. Life had been extremely hard, and she hadn’t eaten fried dough sticks ever since.

Qin Rong nodded. “Yes, Mother, try it and see if it’s good. If it turns out well, I could even set up a street stall to sell them.”

Madam Yu couldn’t resist the aroma.

She eagerly picked up a dough stick—wow, it was delicious.

As she chewed and savored it, she felt all her exhaustion melt away in the deliciousness.

“A-Rong, this is too good!” Madam Yu said as she quickly finished one stick.

“Mother, don’t just eat the dough sticks. Have some porridge too,” Qin Rong said with a smile.

“Alright. A-Rong, your cooking is really good.” Madam Yu took a spoonful of porridge.

The sweetness of the porridge balanced the greasiness of the dough stick and made it taste even better.

With a delicious breakfast in her belly and a happy mood, Madam Yu headed out to work under the morning sun.

…

After Madam Yu left, Qin Yue quickly tidied up the kitchen.

Although Qin Yi was only eight, she was already a sensible little girl.

Qin Yue cleaned in front while Qin Yi helped out behind her, doing whatever she could.

Seeing them both busy, Qin Rong said, “A-Yue, A-Yi, I’m heading out for a bit.”

Qin Yue immediately put down the bowl in her hand, looking worried. “Big sis, where are you going? You just recovered from a serious illness. Should I come with you?”

Qin Rong shook her head. “I’m fine now. Don’t worry. Our family situation isn’t great—I want to go out and see if there are any opportunities to earn money.”

Qin Yue, knowing Qin Rong was two years older, didn’t press further. “Alright then.”

Since Madam Yu would be working all day and wouldn’t be home for lunch, she had given Qin Rong thirty copper coins to buy some things.

Qin Rong shared a room with Qin Yue, while Qin Yi shared a room with Madam Yu.

Qin Rong retrieved a small pouch from under her pillow, which contained the thirty coins her mother gave her and a gold ring she had brought from the homestay space.

With that, she headed out.

It was Qin Rong’s first time exploring Lirong Town.

The town was divided into East and West Markets.

The East Market had higher prices but more variety and better-quality goods.

The West Market was cheaper, mostly filled with vendors from nearby villages, and was especially known for its food stalls.

Being near the dock, the West Market saw many traders and laborers, who were the main customers there.

Without much thought, Qin Rong went to the West Market.

Though she left early, the place was already packed with stalls and filled with the sound of hawkers calling out.

As she walked and looked around, she found everything novel and fascinating.

It was a prosperous time, and the people of Lirong Town, benefiting from their proximity to the docks, were living quite well—you could tell just from the faces of the women shopping with baskets on their arms.

The West Market had many stalls: selling wontons, dough sticks, steamed buns, noodles, sugar figurines, and more.

Qin Rong strolled through the entire market from one end to the other.

On her way back, she saw a fisherman selling fresh fish.

The price was cheap, and the catch looked fresh, so she spent a few coins to buy one. Since Lirong Town was near the water, fish were inexpensive.

After buying the fish, Qin Rong stopped by a gold shop.

After asking about the gold price, she sold her gold ring and exchanged it for two taels of silver. Carefully tucking the silver away, she carried her basket home.