Chapter 237: Compromise

Chapter 237: Compromise

Someone sat down beside him, and Old Tu frowned before relaxing when he saw it was Sui Yu.

"You're a rare visitor," Sui Yu said.

Old Tu glanced at the stage, signaling her to be quiet.

Sui Yu obliged and listened quietly as the blind man imitated the sound of flowing water.

The rushing water sounds transformed into dripping water, and the blind man raised his hand. Li Wu jogged onto the stage and helped the blind man down.

The audience snapped out of their trance, and after a moment of silence, the sounds of people drinking from bowls and moving stools filled the air.

Old Tu clapped his hands and remarked, "Impressive, Sui Yu. Your business just gets more prosperous."

Sui Yu shook her head. "This year, there haven't been many caravans. My guest house isn't even fully occupied."

"Still better than our side."

"Yes, I've put in a lot of effort. There should be some results," Sui Yu said, comforting him. "Business has its ups and downs."

Old Tu admitted she was right. He wasn't here to cause trouble or throw a tantrum today; he just came to check things out.

"Mom, hehe." A little boy carrying a waist drum sneaked in and pulled Sui Yu's hand. He pointed to the empty stage. "Mom, can I go up and play the drum?"

Sui Yu raised an eyebrow and looked him over. The boy, embarrassed, quietly closed his mouth.

"Sui Yu, will you write storybooks again this year?" A Hu merchant walked over and asked, "Any specific identity required? Do you think I'll do?"

"No specific identity required. If you're willing to tell stories, I'll write them down," Sui Yu said. "But I won't have much free time this winter. When I'm too busy, my brother will take over for me."

"Alright, if you're not picky, then I'm not picky either." The Hu merchant untied the cloth bag from his waist and threw it to the boy. "These are dried grapes from my own vineyard. Sweeter than candy, let the child sweeten his mouth."

The boy glanced at his mother, and when she didn't object, he happily accepted the gift. "Thank you, Uncle, for thinking of me."

The Hu merchant chuckled and gestured toward the waist drum. "Can you play it? Go up on stage and play a bit so I can see your skill."

Upon hearing this, Sui Yu asked, "Can you play the drum too?"

"A little."

The boy looked at Sui Yu with pleading eyes, and unable to withstand his persistence, she relented. "Go call Da Zhuang and Aqiang, and also Huaniu and A'shui. All of you go up together."

The boy wasn’t very good at drumming, but the others were passable. With five on stage, their drumming would drown out his.

Sui Yu waved to Xiao Xi and gave her some instructions. Xiao Xi ran to deliver the message to Li Wu, who, upon receiving it, went to fetch two more waist drums.

Da Zhuang, Aqiang, Huaniu, and A'shui were also urged by the boy to come. Except for the boy, the other four were a bit timid. Sui Yu just watched without saying anything, letting them hesitate and shrink back.

People at the nearby tables were watching, adding to the excitement, and the more they egged them on, the more shy the three girls became.

"Master." Xiao Chunhong stood at the door and called out. She pointed outside. "Guests have arrived."

Sui Yu greeted Old Tu and got up to leave. Before leaving, she instructed Xiao Xi to serve Old Tu a bowl of oil tea (a traditional drink).

"The boy's grandparents have arrived. They're at the livestock pen, securing the camels," Xiao Chunhong said. "It's just the two elderly folks. No one else with them. Master, should I send Qingshan to fetch the adults from the city?"

"Why bother calling him back? They’re not here to cause trouble," Sui Yu said with a smile. She walked over to the livestock pen, where the elderly couple was standing outside the pigpen, watching the pigs.

Without being invited, Zhao Xiping's father looked a bit uncomfortable. Before Sui Yu could approach, he spoke first, saying, "This year's pigs have grown quite fat, and there seem to be quite a lot of them."

"This year we have eighteen more pigs than last year, but they aren't particularly fat," Sui Yu replied, noticing his discomfort. She didn’t ask why the elderly couple had come, but continued, "Xiping was planning to send half a pig to you before the New Year, but now you've saved us the trouble. You two are really considerate of him."

The explanation pleased Zhao's parents. Zhao's mother patted her bundle and said, "It's not that we're being considerate of him. Our grandson is about to turn three, and as his grandparents, we need to give him a few new clothes and shoes. Let's go back to the room and try them on him."

Sui Yu led the elderly couple to the teahouse and called for Xiao Chunhong to come back to the room. The silverware that had been placed in the room had been moved to the bedroom she shared with Zhao Xiping, and the agate box had been taken away as well.

"Clean up the room, wipe the dust, and make the bed. Prepare a couple of extra quilts. Older people are more sensitive to the cold," Sui Yu instructed.

"Yes," Xiao Chunhong replied.

The kitchen had also finished preparing the meal. Cui Sao delivered two bowls of egg, pickled cabbage, and pork noodle soup to the teahouse on a tray and took A’qiang with her.

The kids barely stayed on stage for ten minutes before coming down, looking dejected. The little one stood off to the side, puffing his cheeks, while the other three squatted on the ground, scratching the dirt with their nails in silence.

Sui Yu went over to inquire, listening to their complaints. Except for Da Zhuang, who hadn’t been blamed, the other four all made mistakes. The little one had caused trouble and disrupted the rhythm, A’qiang had played too quickly, Huaniu had played too slowly, and A’shui had played too loudly. All together, it was a chaotic mess.

"Practice hard from now on. Every fifth day of the month, you'll perform on stage to build your courage," Sui Yu said, catching sight of Sui Liang from the corner of her eye. She grabbed him and added, "You'll also learn drumming from Kurban and perform on stage every fifth day of the month to build your courage."

"I don't need to build courage. I won't go on stage, and I won't learn," Sui Liang refused firmly.

Sui Yu brushed off his resistance, made the decision for him, and then quickly changed the subject. "The little one's grandparents are here. You two will come with me to meet them."

The little one was momentarily confused and asked uncertainly, "My grandparents?"

"Yes, your grandparents," Sui Yu confirmed.

"I remember," the little one replied.

"Good, just remember to greet them," Sui Yu instructed.

As they arrived at the table, Sui Liang greeted them first. The little one, mimicking his tone, awkwardly called out to his grandparents.

"He's grown taller and gotten a bit darker, hasn't he? Dear, am I mistaken?" Zhao's mother asked.

"No, you're not mistaken. He helped out in the fields during the harvest and got a bit sunburned," Sui Yu replied, adding, "The bed is all set up. After you've eaten, you should rest. It's been a tiring journey."

Zhao's father and mother agreed, acknowledging that the journey with the caravan had indeed been exhausting for them.

The little one dragged his uncle away, and Sui Yu excused herself to follow them outside.

"Liang Ge, I'm not joking about learning the drum," Sui Yu called out.

This time, it was Sui Liang's turn to grab the little one and run, firmly refusing. "I need to practice martial arts and learn horse riding from my brother-in-law. I don't have time to learn drumming, and I don't like it."

The little one, not believing him, shouted, "Mom, my uncle is lying. He doesn't like practicing martial arts, waaah..."

Covering his nephew's mouth, Sui Liang dragged him along and loudly promised, "Tonight, I'll run with Zhang Shun and the others. From now on, I'll practice martial arts with them every morning."

Seeing this, Sui Yu didn't push further. If Sui Liang didn’t want to join the military, he could always help her with the business. She believed in working hard and achieving her goals on her own. As for the little one, she would provide him with a good life and the courage to explore the world. He could choose any path—whether it’s business, the military, farming, or even wandering. Any path would be fine.

Both the child and Sui Yu were still young. The future would bring many changes and opportunities. It wouldn't hurt to have multiple paths to follow.

Zhao's father and mother came out, and Sui Yu snapped back to attention, asking briefly about this year's harvest and the situation with her brother and sister-in-law before seeing the elderly couple into the room and then attending to her own matters.

"Ah, it’s still more comfortable here at old Lao San’s place," Zhao's mother said contentedly, pulling the thick quilt over herself. "The bed is more comfortable than ours at home. It's spotless. This trip was worth it."

Father Zhao picked at his teeth. Then, he rinsed his mouth with warm water. He straightened his back and strolled around the small courtyard, thinking to himself, *Man, if people knew how good I've got it, they'd be jealous.* Meals were served to him, and after he finished, someone would collect the bowls. When he said he wanted to sleep, the bed was already prepared, and the wash basin was brought over.

When Zhao Xiping returned and learned that his parents had arrived, Zhao Xiping was surprised. "How did they get here? Who brought them?"

"The old couple rode camels all the way here by themselves. No one escorted them," Sui Yu replied, chewing on a small date. "I didn't ask in detail, so you should inquire more later."

Zhao Xiping grabbed two dates and popped them into his mouth. After chewing for a moment, he chuckled. "My parents have tasted the sweet life. When Xiaomi got married, they claimed their health was poor and they couldn't travel far, so they didn't come."

"Their health seems much better this year," Sui Yu teased with a smile.

The couple understood that the main reason the old couple had come such a long way was for the comforts of good food, clothes, and leisure. They might complain behind their backs, but no one would bring it up openly.

However, their own daughter didn't worry about offending them. As soon as they met, she teased, "My dear parents seem to grow younger and healthier every year. Before Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law built the inn, you refused to come no matter what. Now that it's built, you come twice a year without complaining about the trouble."

Father Zhao's old face turned red with embarrassment, and he angrily shooed his cheeky daughter away.

"We came for the sake of the little one. He's three years old this year. Isn't Third Brother going to throw him a big celebration? No one came from our hometown, and we can't let outsiders laugh at us," Mother Zhao said calmly.

Zhao Xiaomi scoffed. "You didn't even come for your own daughter's wedding, but you care so much about this grandson."

Mother Zhao didn't respond directly but asked what Zhao Xiaomi was there for.

"To invite you to a meal at my house. You've arrived at your daughter's doorstep, and you're not coming in for a meal?" Zhao Xiaomi sat up straight and said, "You've come at just the right time. My brother-in-law is in the middle of proposing a marriage. As his wife, it's not appropriate for me to speak. Mother, can I borrow your voice to say a few words..."

Mother Zhao frowned. "Do you want to split the household?"

"You're really something. You've learned all the bad habits instead of the good ones. There are only two brothers in that family, and you want to stir up trouble. Do you think your in-laws will be happy?" Father Zhao snorted angrily. "Consider this conversation forgotten. If I hear you mention it again, I'll give you a beating with my shoe."

Zhao Xiaomi wilted immediately.

"Listen to your father. Look at your elder and second brothers. The two brothers living together make for a lively household," Mother Zhao advised. "If your father and I go and stir up trouble in your in-laws' family, they'll curse us behind our backs. In the future, don't even think about visiting their house. They might even set dogs on us if we pass by their door."

"Why aren't you talking about Third Brother?" Zhao Xiaomi said a little louder. "Hasn't Third Brother also moved out and lived separately?"

Mother Zhao choked. "We haven't officially divided the family. It's just that they live far away."

"Haven't divided the family? Then why can my elder and second brothers point at the pigs in the pen and claim most of them as theirs?" Zhao Xiaomi revealed, "We've made a lot of money from the trading business this year. I started this business and used Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law's help to make it successful. The profits are my achievement. If we don't split the household now while the second brother is getting married, in a few years, when my in-laws are gone, the second brother's family will take a large share of the money. I'll lose out."

"How much did you earn this year?" Father Zhao asked.

Zhao Xiaomi fell silent, hesitating for a moment before saying, "After a year of hard work, we made a little over 3,000 coins and bought a servant to help with the work. There's not much left."

Father Zhao felt a complex mix of emotions. Since we moved to Dunhuang, I don't even recognize the currency anymore. The third and fourth families earn money as if they were picking it up, while the elder and second families work hard in the fields, earning only 300 to 500 coins a year and feeling satisfied with that.

"Mother, will it be alright?" Zhao Xiaomi nudged her mother.

Mother Zhao shook her head. "Your father and I won't interfere in your in-laws' family matters. As long as you're not being beaten or suffering in your husband's family, your father and I are satisfied. If you want to split the household, you go and say it. If you get beaten, go find your Third Brother and see if he'll stand up for you."

Zhao Xiaomi didn't plan to ask her Third Brother. One, she didn't dare to rely on him, fearing he would scold her. Two, she worried that if her in-laws accused him of abusing his power, it would damage his reputation.

"Then we'll have that meal at my house tomorrow," Zhao Xiaomi said, thinking she would go and talk to Sui Yu. She got up, preparing to leave.

"Your mother and I won't go. Save the meal," Father Zhao interrupted. "When you've learned to behave, your father and I will visit your in-laws' home again."

Zhao Xiaomi burst into tears, so upset she couldn't hold it in. She went to complain to Sui Yu, who didn't know what to say. Back in those days, what Father and Mother Zhao thought was pretty much the rule.

"Talk to your husband and have him speak on your behalf. Even if you don't officially split the household, the business matters need to be clarified," Sui Yu comforted her. "Your brother-in-law doesn't seem like someone with many schemes. If you trust him, help him find a good wife. That way, you'll have more allies. Xiaomi, money grows by making more. Keep your eyes on the long term. The bigger your business, the more helpers you'll need. Look at me; I have no capable hands, so I have to pick and choose among the servants, offering incentives."

Zhao Xiaomi calmed down considerably and pondered Sui Yu's words. "Third Sister-in-law, are you suggesting I give him a share of the profits?"

"A 30-70 or 20-80 split would work," Sui Yu sighed. "It's better to have an extra helper than an extra enemy."

"Alright, Third Sister-in-law, I'll do as you say," Zhao Xiaomi decided, abandoning the idea of dividing the family. Forcing a division would give her a bad reputation, which would affect her children in the future. That wouldn't do.

Sui Yu felt a little dazed, and for a moment, she mistakenly thought her sister-in-law was a native of this dynasty.