They've all separated, so what does it matter to me if they get poorer and poorer?

Chapter 19: Excitedly Counting on His Fingers

That evening, Aunt Liang quietly told Liang the village head how much money her third son and his wife had earned that day. Even the usually composed and steady Liang the village head couldn't help but lose his composure: "How much?"

Startled, Aunt Liang quickly covered his mouth and winked at him, saying, "Keep your voice down."

Liang, the village head, couldn't believe it: "This—did they hit the jackpot and find money today?"

Aunt Liang chuckled, "Old man, how come you think the same way I do?" Then she glared at him, indignantly defending her son and daughter-in-law: "Old man, do you really underestimate my third son and his wife?"

Liang Lizheng: "No, you're not kidding? They really made this money? There's nothing else?"

Aunt Liang got angry: "How can you be such a father? Do you think our third son and his wife are so cunning? What bad things could they possibly do? This money was earned honestly."

"That's not what I meant. It's just that I think this is too much—150 coins a day! 150 coins a day, how much would that be in a month!"

Liang Lizheng couldn't help but excitedly count on his fingers. Aunt Liang was also excited, her eyes shining as she stared at him expectantly. After a while, when she didn't hear him say anything, she couldn't wait any longer and nudged him: "How much? How much is it in a month?"

“I’m calculating,” Liang Lizheng said after a while, taking a deep breath as he calculated, “It’s at least four or five ounces.”

"What?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!"

"Oh dear!" Aunt Liang patted her chest, her heart pounding wildly.

The elderly couple looked at each other, wondering if they were dreaming.

As expected of someone who has weathered many storms, Liang Lizheng tried to calm his turbulent emotions: "Ahem, I don't know if business is just this good today or if it will always be this good. Let's not think too much about it. Ah, let's not think too much about it. The child is successful, no matter how much he earns, it's fine."

Aunt Liang gave him a complicated look: "I understand. But you're wrong. I haven't told you yet, have I? The third son and his wife said they'll probably earn even more in the future."

Liang Lizheng: "."

Aunt Liang beamed with joy: "I knew Zhichun was a good child! She's so capable. Now you don't have to worry anymore, and Mingxuan's studies are guaranteed."

Liang Lizheng also smiled and sighed, "Who says it isn't true?"

The couple talked back and forth until late into the night before finally going to sleep, still feeling excited. They both decided that this matter had to be kept a secret for as long as possible.

Also, Aunt Liang should keep an eye on Xu Zhichun's family whenever she has free time. If Uncle Liang and Uncle Liang's families cause trouble, she should try to support Zhichun.

The couple felt that the fact that Xu Zhichun approached their third daughter-in-law and Zhu'er's younger sister-in-law for cooperation instead of her uncles' families proved that Zhichun was a sensible person.

What good are Zhang and Bai? They're even cooperating! If they find out about this money-making scheme, Zhichun won't get a single penny.

Xu Zhichun got up early in the morning and started working. First, she changed the water for the konjac tofu, and then she made ice jelly.

When she was changing the water for the konjac tofu, Liang Mingxuan heard the noise and got up, calling out "Sister-in-law!" and came over to help.

There's quite a lot of konjac tofu today, about fifty or sixty pounds, and about thirty pounds of konjac knots. Changing the water is also a physical task.

Fortunately, Liang Mingliang helped carry two loads of water yesterday, so we still have some to use now.

That's how it was in ancient times. Using water and fire was a hassle. Fire was unavoidable, but chopping firewood was still necessary. Once she made money, she was determined to dig a well in front of her house.

Otherwise, just carrying water would have exhausted her.

We can't keep relying on Liang Mingliang for help.

Although she and Zeng Xiaoyan were close, Liang Mingliang couldn't possibly come to her house alone to help fetch water. Over time, it was inevitable that some gossipy women would talk behind her back, which wouldn't sound good.

The Lotus Restaurant ordered ten catties of jelly, but she made about twenty catties. The agar seeds she processed yesterday were naturally not enough, but that's alright; the harbor warehouse has powder for making jelly, which can be prepared by simply mixing it with water.

The prepared ice jelly was divided into two portions and stored in a clean, lidded earthenware jar.

After finishing all that, it was already broad daylight. Xu Zhichun hurriedly made breakfast, asked Liang Mingxuan to watch the stove, and went to fetch water, as the family's water tank was empty.

Liang Mingxuan figured the stove fire was still working, so he picked out two handfuls of tender pig feed from yesterday, chopped them up, mixed them with two handfuls of rice bran, opened the chicken coop, let the chickens out, and fed them.

The chickens swarmed to the feeding trough, clucking and squawking. After a few bites, they seemed a little distracted, craning their necks and looking around, seemingly searching for something.

Liang Mingxuan was a little confused. Why wasn't he eating much? There didn't seem to be anything wrong with him.

He carried the pig feed back to the pigpen, and the two pigs grunted and ate happily. Liang Mingxuan felt somewhat comforted. He glanced at the two pigs again and noticed that their coats looked much shinier, probably because the pig feed was fresh in spring.

Xu Zhichun carried water twice, his shoulders were burning with pain, his back was aching, and he was panting heavily. This job was really not for humans.

Thinking about how I should water the vegetable garden this evening, otherwise the vegetables won't grow well, and what will my brother-in-law and sister-in-law eat? Watering the garden also requires carrying water, and although there's a ditch not far from the garden, I still have to walk uphill to get the water. This gives me even more motivation to earn money.

For breakfast, I fried some eggs, perfectly runny yolks; the yolk was so tender that it flowed out with the gentle touch of chopsticks. I also stir-fried some cabbage, shredded it, and used plenty of oil and salt, making it quite flavorful.

However, with such heavy labor, not being able to eat meat really makes me crave it and feel so miserable.

"Sister-in-law, we used the money from selling meat today to buy some meat and bones. We'll have bone broth and meat tonight."

Xu Zhichun never dreamed that one day she would suffer because she couldn't afford to eat meat.

Just thinking about the fragrant stir-fried pork slices with chili and garlic sprouts and the simmering bone broth makes my mouth water.

The warehouse in the harbor only has vacuum-packed products, and they don't taste as good as freshly cooked ones.

Liang Mingxuan naturally had no objection and nodded: "I bought meat, so please eat more, sister-in-law. You've worked hard and need to replenish your energy."

Xu Zhichun smiled and said, "Sister-in-law, buy more so we can all eat more."

After having breakfast and seeing my brother-in-law off, I fed the chickens and pigs a big meal as usual before washing the dishes and cleaning the kitchen.

Before things were even finished, Aunt Zhu'er, Zeng Xiaoyan, and Liang Mingliang arrived one after the other.

"Sister-in-law Zhichun, you rest, we'll take care of it!"

The three of them quickly loaded all the things onto the oxcart. Xu Zhichun had just finished tidying up everything at home, so he locked the door, got on the cart, and Liang Mingliang drove it towards the city.

"There's quite a lot of konjac tofu and konjac noodles here today. They should all sell out, right, Sister Zhichun?"

"Yes, that should be fine. Let's sell for a while longer."

"Yes, it sold out in less than half a day yesterday."

"Hehe, that means we'll make a lot of money!"

"Yes, haha!"

Today, everyone was clearly more comfortable with each other since it was their first time in town, and they were chatting and laughing even more happily than yesterday.

After entering the city, we went to the Lotus Restaurant first.

(End of this chapter)