Chapter 37

Chapter 37

Back home, Lu Yuan immediately went inside to eat her congee.

Having worked all day, she was starving.

This time, the two children didn't follow her in; instead, they stayed outside in the yard with Old Lady He, processing reed flowers.

Hearing the faint sound of her eating congee, Qi Cheng placed the string of cash she had given him earlier on the stool.

Lu Yuan took a moment to glance over and silently counted them, then said in surprise, "You didn't spend any? How did you have the nerve to sit in the eatery all morning then?"

Qi Cheng picked up his own bowl of congee and replied, "Just by having thick skin."

Lu Yuan couldn't help but laugh. "Weren't you hungry at all?"

She had assumed he'd eaten in town, so she hadn't asked when they returned.

Qi Cheng admitted, "I was hungry."

Meals were always just congee, nothing substantial, so hunger came quickly.

Lu Yuan said, "If you were hungry, why didn't you say something? You're a grown man—how can you be so silly?"

Being called silly, Qi Cheng fell silent.

"You work hard for this money," he said.

Lu Yuan laughed. "Actually, it's not as difficult as you think."

She laid it out plainly: "Each time I make soy milk, the beans cost twenty cash, and transportation, stall fee, and spot fee each cost two cash. Although the total cost is twenty-six cash, two buckets of soy milk can sell for at least seventy-five cash. After deducting expenses, I still make about fifty cash."

After listening carefully to her calculations, Qi Cheng said, "You didn't factor in the cost of your labor."

Lu Yuan finished her last mouthful of congee before saying, "For now, I think labor is the least valuable. If I were to wash clothes for someone all day, my hands would be raw, and I probably wouldn't earn more than a few cash."

Qi Cheng agreed with her on that.

"Still, I don't feel right spending this money. You should take it back."

Lu Yuan picked up the small string of cash and said, "Then let's save it for treating your eye condition."

After a moment's thought, she added, "After I sell soy milk in town a couple more times, we'll go to the county seat."

Qi Cheng nodded in agreement.

After finishing her congee, Lu Yuan was about to leave when Qi Cheng called out to her, "What did you talk about with the Xu family's daughter-in-law at the town entrance?"

Lu Yuan paused for a moment before realizing that "the Xu family's daughter-in-law" referred to Xing Niang.

She smiled and suddenly leaned closer to him, watching his expression change. "What, are you nervous? Afraid she told me something?"

Qi Cheng: …

Her tone was clearly teasing, the kind that enjoyed stirring up trouble.

He said helplessly, "It's just that she used to cause me some trouble before. I was worried she might say something nonsense to you."

Though curious, Lu Yuan resisted asking what exactly Xing Niang had done to cause him trouble.

Those things were in the past, and everyone has their immature moments. She'd made mistakes that didn't really hurt anyone, and now that she was married, it was best to let it go.

"She didn't say much, just that I was lucky to have married you."

Hearing this, Qi Cheng was taken aback. After a long pause, he frowned and said, "Nonsense. If you were lucky, you wouldn't have married me."

Aside from his decent looks, what did he have to offer?

His family was a wreck, and he couldn't even do heavy labor. How was that lucky?

If she were truly lucky, she'd be living a life of ease, not hardship.

Lu Yuan nodded in agreement. "That's exactly what I said. I told her it wasn't me who was lucky—it was your Qi family that was lucky to have a wife like me."

On that point, Qi Cheng really couldn't argue.

Lu Yuan picked up her bowl and said, "Rest for a while. I'm going out to give the children their worm medicine."

She went outside, washed the bowl, then filled two bowls halfway with the herbal concoction and called the children over.

Setting down the medicine, Lu Yuan patted their little bellies and said with a grave tone, "There are worms growing in your bellies. If we don't get rid of them, they'll stay in your bellies and gnaw on your intestines…"

Before she could finish, Lu Yuan was lightly bapped on the head with a reed flower.

Old Lady He scolded, "What kind of mother scares her own children like that? Aren't you afraid they'll have nightmares tonight?"

"Right, it's not you who has to sleep with them—you have it easy."

Lu Yuan brushed off the reed down from her hair. She was so used to joking around that she'd forgotten these two children were easily frightened.

She cleared her throat and, looking at the two timid children, rephrased her words: "Anyway, drinking this medicine will clean out your bellies. Then you can grow taller and stronger when you eat."

Standing by the window, Qi Cheng overheard her scaring the children and couldn't help smiling.

Her cheerful personality and teasing nature really was indiscriminate—she treated everyone the same.

Lu Yuan handed the two bowls of medicine to the children in turn. "Even if it's bitter, you have to drink it all, understand?"

Chun Hua, always sensible, nodded while holding the bowl and drank it all in one go.

Lu Yuan then turned to Qiu Hua, who was staring with wide eyes and looking dopey, not drinking her medicine.

Lu Yuan had to get a spoon to feed her. Though Qiu Hua said "bitter" after the first sip, she drank obediently whenever the spoon was held to her mouth.

The medicine was slow-acting and wouldn't take effect immediately. Though they might have some stomach pain today, it would likely only show results by tomorrow.

After washing the bowls and pot, Lu Yuan helped Old Lady He prepare the reed flowers.

Old Lady He said, "Even though it's still hot now, the weather could change anytime. We need to collect these reed flowers quickly to make winter clothing and bedding."

Lu Yuan replied, "We need to save money for Qi Cheng's treatment. Winter clothing and bedding can wait."

Old Lady He sighed. "We at least have quilts. If we can't make winter clothes in time, when it gets cold, the two children can stay indoors with a warming brazier."

"As for you, you can unpick some old clothes for the inner layers—that should be enough for one set of winter clothes."

Lu Yuan said, "Let's collect the reed down for now. We can talk about winter clothes when it gets colder."

There weren't many reed flowers, so they were soon prepared.

The collected reed flowers still need to be sun-dried and stored. When the weather turns cold, they can be directly stuffed into the quilt lining or the clothing lining.

Old Lady He said, "Go get some rest, and when the sun is about to set, come cut some more reed flowers with me by the river."

Lu Yuan: "Okay, okay, I'll go with you to cut them. But on a normal day, you shouldn't go."

"Not only is the sun strong during the day, you could easily get heatstroke, but the reeds grow right by the riverbank, and the riverbed is slippery. If you fall into the river, and at noon, there'd be no one around to see—it's too dangerous."

Old Lady He was also stubborn and retorted, "Even at my worst, I'm still better than you. You're the one who fell into the river while doing laundry."

Lu Yuan defended Su Liniang, saying, "Back then, we never had enough to eat, and the sun was blazing. She just got dizzy and fell into the river."

At this, Lu Yuan immediately had a counterexample: "I'm a prime example, so when the sun is strong, it's better not to go near the river. If you get dizzy and fall in, you might not be able to get yourself out."

Qi Cheng, who was by the window, chimed in at the right moment: "Grandmother, please just listen to Li Niang and don't go to the river alone."

"Alright, alright, enough already. This old lady's ears are getting calloused from all this. I get it, I won't go alone."

Though Old Lady He sounded impatient, Lu Yuan could clearly see that she couldn't keep the smile off her face.

Both grandmother and grandson were somewhat alike, equally saying one thing but meaning another.

Lu Yuan washed her hands and went to make Qi Cheng's calming tea. After letting it boil for a while, she poured it into a bowl.

The old lady sniffed the drifting medicinal scent and asked, "What's brewing this time?"

Lu Yuan brought it out from the kitchen: "Calming tea for my husband."

She carried it into the room and placed it on the stool.

Qi Cheng smelled the medicinal aroma and asked, "Isn't this supposed to be drunk at night?"

Lu Yuan: "This calming tea is made with mild herbs. It's fine to drink it two or three times a day."

"Let it cool off a little before you drink it. I'm going to put the two children down for their nap and see if there are any more bamboo shoots to dig up in the bamboo forest."

Today, she slept the entire way there and dozed a bit on the way back, so she didn’t feel the need to take a nap.

Next market day, she’ll bring the dried bamboo shoots to set up a stall.

The eatery has ordered another five jin of dried bamboo shoots, which means quite a few people are ordering them. This time, selling there, she’s sure to sell more than last time.

But for the next trip to town, she’ll need to get Old Lady He to come along; otherwise, she won’t be able to manage alone.

As for the two children, she wasn’t sure if Qi Cheng, who couldn’t see, would be able to keep them in line.

The day before the market, Lu Yuan brought nine jin of beans to the village head’s house to grind. While grinding the beans, she chatted with the village head’s wife.

The village head’s wife noticed she was grinding more beans than usual and curiously asked about it.

Lu Yuan: "When I ask someone to hold a spot, I can always get a place near the front. The soy milk isn’t enough to sell, so I bought two large buckets to make more and sell in town."

"I also want to try making tofu pudding."

The village head’s wife exclaimed, surprised, "You know how to make tofu pudding too?"

Lu Yuan smiled awkwardly and said, "I’ve never made it before, but I roughly know the method. I’m not sure if I can pull it off—I’ll have to try first."

"Once I successfully make the tofu pudding, I’ll bring some for you to taste, Village Head’s Wife."

The village head’s wife laughed: "That sounds great! I’ll look forward to tasting your tofu pudding."

Lu Yuan hesitated for a moment, then said rather sheepishly: "Village Head’s Wife, with more soy milk, I can’t carry it too far. I wanted to ask if you could tell your third son tonight to see if he can drive the ox-cart to the Qi family’s doorstep tomorrow."

The Qi family home is really too far from the village entrance. Carrying the load, it would take her a quarter of an hour to get there.

Even with two small buckets, it was quite strenuous. Now with larger buckets, carrying them that far would surely bend her back.

The village head’s wife chuckled: "I thought it was going to be a big favor, but it’s just a small thing. Sure, from now on, I’ll have Third Son drive the ox-cart right to your doorstep."

"But remember, once you make the tofu pudding, you can’t be stingy and not let me taste it."

Lu Yuan immediately laughed: "When it’s done, I’ll bring a big basin over—enough for you to eat until you’re sick of it!"

After grinding the beans, Lu Yuan was in a great mood and hummed a tune all the way home.

As soon as she got back, she didn't waste any time but started experimenting with making tofu pudding.

The initial steps for tofu pudding are the same as for soy milk—it’s only after boiling the soy milk that diluted bittern is added.

She vaguely remembered that the boiled soy milk shouldn’t be boiling hot; it needs to cool a bit before adding the bittern.

So after boiling the soy milk, she poured it into four bowls to cool.

After waiting a short while, she added different amounts of bittern to each bowl. Then, holding four chopsticks with both hands, she stirred each of the four bowls.

Recalling that when she used to eat tofu pudding, the shopkeeper would keep it in a jar to keep it warm.

After thinking it over, she boiled some water, placed two of the bowls into the pot, covered it, and let them sit.

The other two bowls were left to cool naturally.

After doing all this, she waited with anticipation in the kitchen.

Lu Yuan didn’t just want to make soy milk and tofu pudding—she also wanted to make tofu skin, tofu, dried tofu, and thin tofu sheets!

She didn’t have many survival skills, and even if she did, she couldn’t think of any off the top of her head. It was better to focus on mastering one skill first and make it strong and successful.