Chapter 36

Chapter 36

On the way, Lin Taohong excitedly recounted today's events to Mrs. Zhang.

"That Wang Yingniang, I think her nose was about to twist with anger!"

Thinking back on it, Lin Taohong couldn’t help but laugh.

Although Mrs. Zhang had never met Wang Yingniang, she had heard about her several times and couldn't stand her either. She urged Lin Taohong to tell her more details.

After Lin Chunyan set up their stall, they started calling out to customers.

The old lady selling sugar water was no longer surprised by their frequent introduction of new items. The one who reacted strongly was Wang Yingniang.

Her small crispy fish in clay pots had been available for a few days, but the taste wasn’t great. Even those who initially bought them due to curiosity didn’t return because of the poor flavor.

Not only could she not sell them, but she also had to watch Lin Chunyan’s sales soar right next to her, which left a bitter taste in her mouth.

After returning home, Wang Yingniang faced constant criticism from Wang Chuizi. Sometimes, after drinking at night, he would complain that she was useless.

Even her mother thought she was good for nothing and reduced her dowry further.

Seeing Lin Chunyan’s success these days made Wang Yingniang feel particularly conflicted.

Today, when she saw them bring out another brown item, she felt even more complex emotions. People kept coming to buy it, and during the tasting, the crowd was packed.

Wang Chuizi muttered under his breath, wishing Lin Chunyan were his own daughter.

Wang Yingniang, feeling uneasy, feared Wang Chuizi might ask her to replicate it. Not knowing its taste, she boldly squeezed into the crowd and grabbed a sample.

She tasted the spicy tofu, first feeling the numbing sensation, followed by a burst of fragrance. The more she chewed, the more flavorful it became, leaving a lingering taste of spiciness and aroma.

Wang Yingniang felt a pang of bitterness as most people found it delicious and eagerly paid with copper coins, buying whatever amount they could afford.

Lin Taohong noticed Wang Yingniang later and, without giving her any face, pointed her out in front of everyone.

Feeling the stares of the crowd, Wang Yingniang was mortified and slunk back to her stall.

Wang Chuizi asked her, “Can you make it? If you can, we should sell it tomorrow; it looks like it could earn us a lot of silver.”

The old man selling sugar water nearby couldn’t help but spit, “I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you.”

Wang Chuizi ignored the comment and kept staring at Wang Yingniang.

Wang Yingniang blushed deeply, feeling watched, and quickly shook her head, hunching over in her seat, looking timid.

She had never seen this item before and had no idea how to make it.

She wondered how Yan Niang came up with such an idea.

Wang Chuizi got angry and, disregarding where they were, scolded Wang Yingniang, making her cry and cover her face.

Lin Taohong watched them triumphantly and whispered to Lin Chunyan, “I knew they couldn’t make it; tasting it won’t help either.”

Lin Chunyan glanced at Wang Yingniang, finding her both pitiful and hateful.

Mrs. Zhang, hearing this, clapped her hands in excitement, just like Lin Taohong.

"Those two are truly shameless..."

The three of them walked back slowly, their steps lighter than in the morning, and their shadows stretched long in the sunlight.

The next day, before dawn, Mrs. Zhang went to the fields. The green beans were getting a bit old, so she picked a large bunch to cook for breakfast.

She also watered the soybeans and mung beans and picked two melons.

As the weather grew colder, watermelons wouldn’t be available for much longer.

At the dock, Mrs. Zhang saw someone selling watermelons. She considered buying some to sell but decided against it, remembering how much Lin Chunyan loved them and ate one every day upon returning from town.

Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong had slept on the roof again last night, but this time they burned mugwort to keep the mosquitoes away.

Little Hei, seeing them come out, wagged his tail and jumped onto Lin Chunyan. Lin Chunyan picked him up, while Lin Taohong pouted, "Why does Little Hei always come to you? I feed him too."

Little Hei barked at Lin Taohong and circled around Lin Chunyan.

After finishing their morning chores, Lin Cuixiang arrived, followed by an excited Sanlang.

Silang didn’t come; it was said that Li didn’t let him out, and he was sulking.

Sanlang eagerly showed Lin Chunyan the crabs, saying, "Big Sister, look! Don’t I have more crabs now?"

Lin Chunyan looked and indeed saw more crabs crawling in the basin.

Lin Taohong, unable to look, weighed them, took the money from a jar, and recorded it in a ledger.

Lin Cuixiang, envious, asked Lin Taohong, "Hongniang, have you learned to write?"

"No," Lin Taohong explained, "My sister taught us this method for keeping accounts."

Lin Chunyan had drawn the ledger into a table, where they wrote down the amount received and signed their names.

The numbers were also taught by Lin Chunyan.

Lin Cuixiang couldn’t read it, but her eyes were filled with longing as she gazed at the ledger.

If only she could learn.

Mrs. Zhang had just returned from the fields. She hadn’t slept well last night and had prominent dark circles under her eyes.

"Mrs. Zhang, what's wrong?" Sanlang had a sweet mouth, and Mrs. Zhang had always liked him. Hearing his words, she felt comforted.

"Nothing, just a lot of mosquitoes."

In reality, Mrs. Zhang couldn't sleep because she was counting copper coins.

She had never earned a single copper coin herself, but when she counted the coins yesterday, her mouth didn't stop smiling.

How could there be so many?

She counted the coins three times, then picked out the money Lin Chunyan needed.

Seeing her like this, Lin Chunyan was somewhat dazed and worried that Mrs. Zhang would talk about it outside. She had to explain things several times before Mrs. Zhang stopped.

Mrs. Zhang repeatedly assured her, saying she wasn't foolish. Even when she used to brag, she never talked about how much money they had.

She feared that if people knew, they might target their family.

Now that there were no men in the household, she had to be even more careful.

Looking at the pit Lin Chunyan had asked her to dig, Mrs. Zhang saw that sharp bamboo stakes had been placed inside and covered with soil. Even Little Hei, the dog, wouldn't go near the corner anymore.

Mrs. Zhang carefully put away the money she was due, hiding it all.

Lin Cuixiang withdrew her gaze and followed Sanlang with a sense of joy.

No children in the village were like them, earning something every day.

Sanlang wanted a tangerine peel drink and handed Lin Chunyan a copper coin, asking her to bring one for him.

"Aren't there peddlers in the village too?" Lin Taohong wondered.

"The peddler hasn't come for several days. I've saved up a few coins to buy sugar figurines."

If not for the fact that the sugar figurines would melt on the way back from town, he would have asked Lin Chunyan to bring some for him too.

Lin Chunyan had seen others using bamboo cups and went to the general store to ask. A plain bamboo cup without any engravings cost two copper coins.

She decided to make some herself by cutting bamboo and crafting a few cups.

Yesterday, when Mrs. Zhang went to the dock, she didn't bring water and later regretted it deeply as she was very thirsty.

After the two left, Lin Chunyan started preparing breakfast and also cooked lunch.

Without a lunch box, she couldn't bring stir-fried dishes. She made some rice crackers with cucumber and pickles mixed in, which tasted especially delicious.

Mrs. Zhang took two large pieces with her. She was more enthusiastic than Lin Chunyan today, and her steps were lighter.

When she arrived at the dock, she saw people on tiptoes looking around. At first, she didn't understand why, but as she got closer, she realized they were waiting for her.

Counting, there were nearly three or four people.

Mrs. Zhang was both surprised and delighted.

One of the best-dressed maids spoke first. She had come twice yesterday, and during her second visit, she couldn't buy any tofu but only brought back snails and crabs. Despite being ordinary, her young mistress had eaten quite a bit.

She came early in the morning to ask Mrs. Zhang if she could sell them more tofu.

"My mistress ate quite a bit yesterday; her appetite seems to have improved."

A servant boy stepped forward, "Young mistress, our family also wants more. If you take it all, what will we do?"

As he spoke, the others chimed in, making the scene lively.

Mrs. Zhang had never seen such a scene and was momentarily stunned. She wanted to sell to everyone but feared offending someone. Looking at the flowers on the heads of the maids and servants, she guessed they were favorites of their masters.

The nearby seller of wontons, Jin Niangzi, spoke with a hint of envy, "Mrs. Zhang, your luck is really good. Look at us; it's hard to sell even a bowl."

Mrs. Zhang ignored her and came up with an idea: selling a little to each person so as not to offend anyone.

By the time everyone dispersed, she had sold most of her tofu, along with many of the small crabs and snails.

At this rate, she would sell everything within half a day.

She was glad she had bought more tofu yesterday; otherwise, she might run out tomorrow.

Mrs. Zhang was quick-witted and, after counting the money, noticed the standing servant boy.

She put the money away and asked, "Young sir, is there anything else?"

"My master wants to meet you," the servant boy said matter-of-factly, without any mockery.

Mrs. Zhang was startled and looked around. There were many boats at the dock, but only a few were well-decorated.

She dared not go, fearing she might be taken somewhere to be sold. She claimed she still had things to sell and didn't move, even going to the toilet with Jin Niangzi.

Jin Niangzi teased her, "If the master wants to see you, you should go. At our age, brothels won't even take us. Who would sell you?"

Thinking about it, Mrs. Zhang agreed. The local customs were good, and she hadn't heard of any middle-aged women being sold.

But she still didn't go, staying at the dock to sell tofu.

Lin Chunyan's tofu sold well yesterday, and today, as soon as she arrived, the sugar water vendor said, "After you left yesterday, many people came looking for you."