Yang Haiyan didn’t know how to respond because Yang Dahua’s thoughts reflected the typical views of women in this era.

Han Zhen said, “The most important thing is for you to take care of yourself. I have silver saved up.”

Over the past two years, he had managed to save twenty taels.

Unlike Qin Fang, he didn’t spend much on himself and didn’t send money home, so he had a bit saved. “When I get some time off, I’ll go hunt for game in the mountains to sell and earn some silver. Don’t worry about our living expenses.”

Before, it was just the two of them, and his monthly allowance, combined with what his wife sold in town, was enough for a comfortable life.

But now that they were expecting a child, he wanted to provide better for the baby.

Yang Dahua immediately objected, “Hunting in the mountains is too dangerous. I’m worried.”

Han Zhen reassured her, patting her shoulder, “I was just suggesting it. If you don’t agree, I won’t go. You two keep talking; I’ll go fetch some water.”

In reality, he was still considering the idea but didn’t want to worry his wife.

For safety, even though he was confident in his skills, he would take a colleague along.

After he left, Yang Haiyan asked Granny(Wet Nurse) Lian to bring out a basket and package.

Yang Dahua quickly said, “Put that back! With how hard it is to buy meat these days, you should save it for yourself to regain your strength. I have some meat stored from before.” She hadn’t expected to be pregnant.

Although Yang Dahua was happy about the pregnancy, she felt it had come too soon.

She wished it could have waited a year so she could earn more silver.

Yang Haiyan insisted, “We have enough food at home. If we didn’t, I wouldn’t have brought this. Don’t worry about me; you’re a pregnant woman now and should focus on yourself and the baby.”

Friends and neighbors often brought food for pregnant women, so Yang Dahua accepted it without hesitation.

However, when she saw another piece of clothing, she hesitated. “I’ll take the food, but you should take back the clothing.”

Yang Haiyan took out the clothing, helped her put it on, and buttoned it up. “It’s cold in winter. You might be fine, but the baby can’t bear the cold. Once I have a child, you can make me another piece, but it has to be made by your hands; I won’t accept anything else. Or do you think my work isn’t good enough?”

Yang Dahua knew she was teasing, trying to make her feel at ease.

She felt warmth in her heart and body.

Back at the Yang family home, she had a couple of close maid friends, but after the family fell on hard times, they were all assigned to different military camps.

Here, only she and Haiyan remained.

Initially, she wanted to keep her distance from Yang Haiyan but later found her easy to get along with.

She thought maybe she hadn’t understood Yang Haiyan before because they hadn’t interacted much.

Yang Dahua grasped Yang Haiyan’s hand, saying, “Thank you, Haiyan.”

She remembered this kindness.

Yang Haiyan smiled, feeling grateful as well.

In this place, she had few friends, just Yang Dahua and Sister Lu, and she cherished their friendship.

After leaving Yang Dahua’s house, a chilly wind swept over her, and even bundled up, she felt cold to her bones.

The short walk back home made her want to run.

Yang Dahua felt joyful after Yang Haiyan left.

She hesitated to take off the clothes given by Haiyan, but they were warm with cotton lining, and she didn’t want to remove them.

As Yang Haiyan said, she could endure discomfort, but not her child.

Han Zhen returned and saw her in the blue coat, thinking it looked nice.

It enhanced her ordinary features.

He stepped closer, saying, “This color suits you.”

Yang Dahua thought for a moment; she hadn’t seen Yang Haiyan wear this color before.

Usually, Haiyan wore pinks, whites, yellows, and reds, which complemented her fair skin, but this blue suited Yang Dahua’s more neutral complexion.

Did she make it specifically for her?

While thinking this, the compliment from her husband made her happy, and she smiled, “Haiyan gave it to me. Do you think it looks good?”

Han Zhen replied, “It looks nice. She treats you well.”

Feeling a bit proud, Yang Dahua said, “We come from the same place and have no family, so we’re like sisters. When Haiyan has a child, I’ll make her a few outfits myself.”

Han Zhen teased, “You won’t make one for her?”

Yang Dahua shot him a playful glare. “Haiyan doesn’t lack for clothes. She might not even like what I make, but for the baby, I’ll use good fabric, and style doesn’t matter.”

Han Zhen quickly agreed, “Yes, yes, whatever my wife says is right.”

…..

When Yang Haiyan returned home, Uncle Hong had already come back from the countryside with some eggs and chickens. Since eggs keep well in winter, he had brought back quite a lot.

Yang Haiyan stood in the courtyard and called out to Sister Lu, “Sister Lu… can you hear me? If you can, come over.”

Sister Lu responded from inside the house, “I can hear you, I’m coming.”

She ran over; it was only a few steps from her house.

Her nose was already red, and her breath formed fog in the cold air.

This weather was truly torturous.

Sister Lu entered the kitchen, huddling her body for warmth, then blew on her hands a few times and rubbed them together. “Haiyan, what’s going on?”

Yang Haiyan hurriedly handed her the hand warmer and pointed to the basket on the ground. “I asked Uncle Hong to collect eggs from the countryside. Do you want some?”

Seeing the eggs, Sister Lu had been thinking of asking for some, but now that Yang Haiyan offered, how could she refuse? “I was just worrying that we had run out of eggs at home. There aren’t enough nourishing vegetables for the children, and just relying on those cured meats won’t work. These eggs you brought are just in time.”

Actually, she had stockpiled quite a bit before winter, but since eggs can spoil if overstocked, she only kept a month’s worth, and now they were all gone. “Eggs are more expensive in winter, right?”

Normally, they cost one copper coin each, and you could pick the size.

Now, it seemed no one cared about the size; just having eggs was good enough.

Yang Haiyan replied, “Uncle Hong collected them from people he knows, two copper coins each regardless of size. I told him to take as many as he could. Even if we can’t eat them all, we can share some with the neighbors.”

Sister Lu said, “Exactly, you’re so thoughtful, Haiyan. I’ll take sixty.”

Yang Haiyan said, “You can pick them out.”

Sister Lu replied, “I’ll go get a basket.”

When Sister Lu returned with a basket, she didn’t even bother picking; she just took sixty from the visible top layer.

She wasn’t clueless; since Yang Haiyan didn’t have the option to pick when collecting them, she naturally wouldn’t be picky either.

After Sister Lu left with her eggs, Yang Haiyan said to Wet Nurse Lian, “Granny Lian, could you check with the other families of the hundred-men about whether they need eggs? If they do, let them come buy from us. Also, mention that we got them for two copper coins each. And take thirty eggs to the Han family. If Sister Dahua wants them, let her pay.”

Wet Nurse Lian replied, “Yes, I understand.”

Not long after Wet Nurse Lian left, several women came over, all from the families of the hundred-men under Qin Fang.

The hundred-men only received one or two silver coins a month, so they certainly couldn’t afford to buy a donkey cart like Yang Haiyan to send someone to the countryside.

Like Sister Lu, they had run out of eggs, so they were thrilled to come when they heard Yang Haiyan had eggs.

Besides, living here for a while, they were all clear about the prices of these goods.

Leading the group was Madam Yang Baufu. As soon as she entered, she bowed to Yang Haiyan and said, “Congratulations to Madam Qin! Our family was just worried about not having eggs to eat, and your eggs are like timely rain.”

Yang Haiyan recognized her.

Yang Baifu was the third in rank among their group, after Qin Fang and Han Zhen.

Moreover, she seemed cheerful and more courteous than most of the other wives.

Since Qin Fang became a thousand-man leader, this Madam Yang was the first to bow to her.

Yang Haiyan stepped forward to help her up. “Why are you being so polite? Our men are colleagues and brothers, so we are like sisters. We’re all from the same place. I thought of getting some extra eggs for myself, and I was worried you might think I was being meddlesome.”

Madam Yang Baifu and Yang Haiyan hadn’t had much interaction.

The day after Qin Fang became a thousand-man leader, she had come to congratulate her.

But at that time, the official documents from the Ministry of War had not yet been issued, so Qin Fang’s position wasn’t formal yet.

Yang Haiyan had said once the documents were issued, she would invite everyone over, but so far, she hadn’t.

It wasn’t that Yang Haiyan was neglectful; mainly, the courtyard was too small.

She planned to wait until the New Year, when they moved to the larger courtyard of the thousand-man leader, to invite everyone.

Madam Yang Baifu thought that this young Madam Qin had a way with words.

Privately, many believed Madam Qin had good fortune.

She had once been a maid, and then she was betrothed to a hundred-man leader and became a proper lady.

Within just a few months, her husband became a thousand-man leader(Captain); wasn’t that good fortune?

However, it was hard to say who had better fortune or who thrived because of whom.

After all, everyone could see that since Madam Qin entered the household, the life of Lord Qin had improved.

He used to eat all his meals in the barracks; now he had someone bringing him meals, and there were meat dishes every meal.

More importantly, the money spent on these meals wasn’t Lord Qin’s.

Madam Qin earned money from running her own shop, and her needlework and embroidery also brought in income.

So, who truly had better fortune, and who prospered because of whom?

Then other hundred-man wives spoke up, “Madam Qin, when do you plan to move to the courtyard of the thousand-man leader?”

Yang Haiyan replied, “We plan to move around the sixth or seventh of the twelfth month. I’ll invite you all over for a meal then.”

Several of the hundred-man wives responded, “Definitely, we will come.”

Yang Haiyan prepared chicken soup noodles for lunch, but since Qin Fang was busy in the barracks at night, he missed out on the meal.

After enjoying two bowls herself, she heard Aunt Yu announce, “The master is back.”

Curious, she rushed outside to find Qin Fang unloading fish from his haul. “What did you bring back?”

she asked, noticing the strong smell. “Is it river fish?”

Qin Fang, wrapped in a dark red cloak, found her adorable and wanted to pinch her cheeks but restrained himself. “I went ice fishing with the others after breakfast,” he explained.

Her eyes sparkling, Yang Haiyan exclaimed, “You’re amazing!”