CH 28

The next day, Aunt Wu took charge of preparing food to be delivered to Qiao Wangshi. Early in the morning, she went to Zhang’s house to buy meat and also bought a large pork bone.

The people around saw it and couldn’t help but ask sourly, “Oh! Aunt Wu, did your family get rich? You are buying meat so early in the morning.”

Aunt Wu just wanted others to see her buying meat. She said, “Where can our family afford such luxury? This is Yuan Ge’er being filial to his grandmother. He asked me to cook meat for her every three days, make bone soup for her to drink, and even gave me a salary!”

Hearing it was the Yu family, the others didn’t feel sour anymore, because the gap was too big – their family could eat meat every three to five days.

Suddenly someone asked, “Why doesn’t he do it himself?”

Before Aunt Wu could say anything, someone next to her said first: “Yuan Ge’er is doing business in the county town! How does he have time? His mother-in-law is at home, but it’s not reasonable to let his mother-in-law cook for his grandmother, right?”

The people around heard that too, and then they became sour about Aunt Wu’s good job. Isn’t it just making a meal every three days? They could do it every day. How come such a good job didn’t fall on their own heads? It seems that they have to get along with Yu’s family more often in the future.

Everyone had their own thoughts, but Aunt Wu didn’t care about that. Humming a tune, she went home. The first meal she made for Aunt Qiao had to be delicious!

Xu Xiuhua smelled the aroma in the yard and spat: “It’s like putting on makeup in a coffin, still eating meat1擦粉进棺材 (cā fěn jìn guān cái) – putting on makeup for a funeral, meaning to do something unnecessary or useless; 还吃肉 (hái chī ròu) – still eating meat, meaning to indulge in pleasure despite a serious situation.!”

Her youngest son Qiao Lifan cried and made a fuss, “Mom, I want to eat meat too!”

Xu Xiuhua angrily slapped his butt twice and said, “What are you eating for? All the grain at home has been soaked in water, and your father still hasn’t brought any money home. We’ll have to wait and go hungry!”

Since Qiao Yuan got married and left home, she had to do all the household chores and her temper became worse. Feeling frustrated, she turned her head and saw Qiao Yingying still combing her hair, which made her even angrier. She shouted loudly, “What are you combing for? Who are you combing it for? Hurry up and come do some work!”

Now that Qiao Yuan was gone from home, Xu Xiuhua always liked to vent her anger on Qiao Yingying when she was angry.

Qiao Yingying mumbled, “Didn’t I just finish washing the pots?”

“You still dare talk back?” Xu Xiuhua put down what was in her hands, about to go pinch her, cursing all the while, “You think you’re some young miss in the county town? You only cost me money! How did you turn out like this? Can’t even compare to that little slut! I bet that Zhang Wensheng won’t come looking for you anymore either!”

Qiao Yingying was about to explain that Brother Wensheng was just too busy with studying, when Aunt Wu came with her daughter-in-law, carrying the meat.

At first when Xu Xiuhua saw the Wu family bringing things to her door, she thought they were coming to ask her for help. She was just about to mock them when she noticed the two women were headed for the east wing.

She hurriedly said: “Wu’s family! What are you doing?”

Aunt Wu wasn’t afraid of her at all. Steadily holding the bowls and dishes, she loudly declared, “This is Yuan Ge’er’s filial piety to his grandmother. He asked me to send it over.”

Xu Xiuhua was immediately furious. Was that old thing lacking food or drink in her home that Qiao Yuan had to send things over? This was clearly slapping her face!

She was about to go crazy and argue, but suddenly smelled the scent of meat. Her eyes turned and she shouted loudly towards the east room, “Mother, Yuan Ge’er brought you something to eat.”

She then added: “Wu’s family, I can do it. You can go back.”

Aunt Wu sneered, “That won’t do. I have to watch Yuan Ge’er’s grandmother finish eating. Otherwise, what if it goes into someone else’s stomach? How can I explain that?”

“What are you implying?” Xu Xiuhua wanted to go forward and hit her, but she was stopped by Wu Erping’s wife.

Qiao Wangshi came out at this time, “Wu’s family, what brings you here?”

Aunt Wu smiled, “Auntie, you are blessed! It’s meat from Yuan Ge’er. He’s too busy so he had me cook and bring it for you to eat!”

She signaled Wu Erping’s wife, who quickly helped Qiao Wangshi back to her room. As she walked, Aunt Wu loudly declared, “A filial grandson sending food for his grandmother. Anyone who obstructs would have no conscience!”

Xu Xiuhua still wanted to say something, but she was stopped by Qiao Yingying.

As soon as Aunt Wu and Wu Erping’s wife entered Qiao Wangshi’s bedroom, Xu Xiuhua turned around and slapped Qiao Yingying, saying, “Why are you stopping me? You’re just mooching off others!”

“I’m just…just afraid that it would affect our family’s reputation if it spreads out!” Qiao Yingying looked incredulously at her mother who used to love her too. She covered her face and ran out aggrievedly.

She wanted to go find her Brother Wensheng and ask him to hurry up and marry her!

In the house, Qiao Wangshi took a bite of meat and started to cry. How long had it been since she had tasted the flavor of meat? A few years ago, when the family was doing well, they could still have meat occasionally. Although every time it was served, Xu Xiuhua would always make sarcastic remarks, at least she would still have a taste of meat with her vegetables. But since Qiao Liye failed the exam for the third time, Qiao Guangzhi refused to come home, and the family’s situation deteriorated day by day.

Seeing this, Aunt Wu’s heart also ached. She quickly comforted, “I was afraid your teeth wouldn’t be good, so I stewed the meat until it’s very tender. Please eat more.”

Qiao Wangshi wiped away her tears and still felt a bit uneasy as she asked, “Will the Yu family say anything?”

“Where would they say anything? This is Yuan Ge’er’s own money to buy!” Wu Auntie reassured her.

Qiao Wangshi was puzzled, “Yuan Ge’er’s money?”

Seeing she didn’t know, Aunt Wu told Qiao Wangshi about how Qiao Yuan had been doing business and earning money recently. She admired Qiao Yuan too. What a capable ger who had such great ideas.

After listening, Qiao Wangshi finally smiled and said, “Yuan Ge’er is just as promising as his father.”

In the afternoon when Qiao Yuan came back from the shop, Aunt Wu brought the woven baskets over to show him and also told him about this matter.

This was completely within Qiao Yuan’s expectations. No matter how angry Xu Xiuhua was, she couldn’t stop him from sending Qiao Wangshi food. He smiled and said, “Aunt went through a lot of trouble.”

Aunt Wu waved her hands, saying this was all part of the job she was paid for. The two then talked about the baskets. Qiao Yuan had ordered three kinds from the Wu family. One was a tray-like type to hold pastries for selecting. One kind was baskets to place on shelves. The third was small woven bamboo boxes to hold 7-8 inch flower buns. Aunt Wu’s basket weaving skills were really good and they were all to Qiao Yuan’s liking.

He then said: “Aunt, I want twenty trays, at five wen each. The other two types, I want ten each, at ten wen each. Is that fine?”

“Is that all right?” Aunt Wu was surprised. She didn’t expect things to go so smoothly. She asked instinctively, “How much does it cost in total?”

“Three hundred wen,” Qiao Yuan immediately gave her the answer.

Aunt Wu was overjoyed. She didn’t feel tired while weaving baskets, and she didn’t even need any capital. Isn’t this pure profit? Moreover, everyone in her family knows how to weave these baskets, so they can definitely make them in three days at most. It’s not easy to earn this money during the agricultural off-season!

Qiao Yuan first gave her two hundred wen as deposit, and urged her to be sure there were absolutely no splinters on the outside of the baskets. Aunt Wu guaranteed repeatedly she would handle this well. Clutching the two hundred wen worth of copper coins, she happily ran home.

Today Qiao Yuan came back early on purpose to test making crispy rice crackers and mixed-flavored peanuts, while Yu Dameng was still at the shop.

“Which one of you two will go and call Mom and Liu Ge’er?”

Qiao Yuan ordered the twins. Yu Shanwu was only interested in the delicious food and didn’t want to move. Yu Shanwen kicked him, then went to call them himself.

Eager to be useful, Yu Shanwu said, “Brother Yuan, what can I help with?”

Qiao Yuan arranged for him to grind the seasoning powder, and then washed the grains and soaked it.

To make crispy rice crackers, the grains had to be soaked for an hour beforehand. Qiao Yuan started preparing to make mixed-flavored peanuts first.

When Lin Cuifen came with Liu Ge’er, the peanuts were quickly peeled.

Since there was no baking oven built at home yet, they could only pan fry. As Qiao Yuan fried the peanuts, he said, “After the shop renovations are done, I’ll have the bricklayers come build a baking oven at home too. I’ll will make roast duck for you all to eat.”

When Liu Ge’er heard it, he became so greedy that his mouth started watering.

Lin Cuifen laughed, “Alright, once the oven can be used, I’ll go buy two ducks and clean them up in advance.”

The family had no debts now, and earned quite a bit recently, so she was willing to spend more on food now.

After Qiao Yuan fried the peanuts, he boiled the sugar into syrup, then added the seasoning that he asked Yu Shanwu to grind, stirred it evenly and put in the peanuts until they were dry. The mixed-flavor peanuts were ready.

Yu Shanwen tasted one and said: “No wonder it’s called mixed-flavor peanuts. It has sweet, salty and spicy flavors.”

Yu Shanwu and Liu Ge’er just praised how delicious it was.

Lin Cuifen also thought it was delicious. She added, “This goes great with alcohol.”

Seeing the small trial batch was almost snatched up by them, Qiao Yuan said, “Let’s make another batch. We can eat it with wine when Father comes home.”

Lin Cuifen, Liu Ge’er and Yu Shanwen peeled peanuts while Yu Shanwu continued grinding the seasoning for the rice crackers. Qiao Yuan mashed the soaked grains, and combined it with flour, eggs, salt and pepper, kneading it into a dough. After resting, he rolled it into thin slices, cut them and fried them slowly over low heat. When they were golden, he sprinkled the seasoning and the rice crackers were ready. They were crunchy when bitten, and everyone liked them too.

Qiao Yuan mixed two things together and divided them into four bowls, asking Yu Shanwen and Yu Shanwu to deliver one bowl each to the village chief’s house, butcher Zhang’s house, Wu’s house, and Qian’s house. All of them had helped him pave the road with pebbles before.

Zhao Laifu was very happy when he received it. Uncle Yuan from the Yu family made delicious things. His grandmother poured it into his own bowl, and he couldn’t stop eating.

The village chief was puzzled. Did his family run out of delicious food for his grandson? So, he took a handful of mixed-flavor peanuts and tasted them. Then, the bowl was passed to him. He lovingly touched his grandson’s head and said, “Save some for grandpa to eat with wine later. Tomorrow, I’ll buy you some sweet cakes.”

Lin Cuifen and Qiao Yuan finished cooking and waited for quite a while before Old Man Yu and Yu Dameng came home.

“Why did you come back so late today?” Lin Cuifen was a bit anxious, afraid that something had happened.

Old Man Yu said, “We got more orders for shredders and peelers these past few days. Dameng and I wanted to work more so the money doesn’t go to the Ma family instead.”

Qiao Yuan snatched the basket from Yu Shanwu’s hands and squeezed two peanuts into Yu Dameng’s mouth, saying, “Money can never be earned enough. Father, you and Dameng do as you see fit, but make sure to do what you can and don’t exhaust yourselves.”

Yu Dameng felt sweetness in his heart, staring at Qiao Yuan with shining eyes and a silly smile.

At this time, the sky was completely dark.

But today was the sixteenth, and the moon was especially bright2I’ll try to explain this passage as best I could: In the Chinese lunar calendar, the sixteenth day of each month is considered an auspicious day associated with the full moon. “亮堂” (bright hall) refers to days that end in vowels like -ang or -eng, which are considered lucky days. The sixteenth often coincides with these vowel days. So the sixteenth and a bright hall day together made it an especially fortunate date. In Chinese culture, auspicious or lucky days are good occasions for positive events like family meals, celebrations, or business openings. Eating outside under the moonlight on such an auspicious full moon day is seen as an activity that will bring good fortune and prosperity., so they set up the table to eat in the yard.

As expected, Old Man Yu loved the mixed-flavor peanuts. He specifically had Yu Shanwen go back to the old house to fetch him wine.

The family inevitably talked about the shop again. Qiao Yuan shared his plans, “The shop isn’t ready yet. I’ll need to keep testing snacks these days. Opening right before the Laike House order would be too rushed. I plan to wait until the Laike House matter is settled and I have the final payment silver. Then I’ll buy two helpers, and prepare well before opening for business.”

Old Man Yu and Lin Cuifen nodded. Their son-in-law was far smarter and more capable than them. What they didn’t understand, they tried their best not to interfere with.

Yu Dameng didn’t understand either, but he felt everything his husband said was right. He thought, his husband was working so hard to earn money, he had to strive even harder too.

I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. If you want to show your support, you can buy me a coffee. It would make my day! For every five coffees I get, I will release a bonus chapter.