Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

When the women present heard Tang Susu say that this dish required expensive brown sugar, their faces instantly showed complex expressions.

They looked at each other, secretly calculating: brown sugar costs more than fifty copper coins per pound, and they have to buy a big bag every day, the cost is too high.

This business is no different from gambling. If it doesn't sell, all the money you invested will be wasted, and you'll lose everything. Nobody dares to do such a risky business.

Seeing this, Tang Susu added, "To be honest, I bought the candy on credit from the candy shop owner today. I'll continue making candy tomorrow, sell it, and then pay back the money. I'm still feeling a bit anxious."

She then changed the subject and revealed her purpose: "I still need to buy more lantern fruits from the mountains. I'll pay two copper coins per pound. Aunts and sisters-in-law, please go back and encourage your children to pick them, the more the better."

"What? Two copper coins per pound?" Aunt Liu's eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this, and she excitedly slapped her thigh. "This is great news! I'll go back and call the kids right now, and we'll go pick them before it gets dark!"

The older woman next to them hurriedly asked, "Dog's mother, if we pick a lot, please don't think it's too much. Can you take it all?"

"Of course I can take them!" Tang Susu replied with a smile. "The more the merrier. I'll take as many as you pick, no questions asked."

Upon hearing this, the women could no longer stay still. They scattered in a flash, each running home, afraid that if they were too late, the lantern fruits in the mountains would be picked by others, and they would miss the opportunity to earn money.

Tang Susu watched their hurried figures disappear into the distance and then slowly walked home.

She had it all figured out: it wouldn't be enough for just her family to earn money. She needed to make sure all the gossipy, talkative women in the village had work to do and could earn some money.

That way, they won't have time to be envious of others, nor will they have the leisure to gossip, and the family can live a peaceful life.

As soon as I stepped into the courtyard, a rich aroma of meat wafted towards me.

Tang Susu looked up and saw Miao Yulan deftly processing the pork: first carefully scraping off the stray hairs from the pig skin, then cutting the meat into even small pieces and putting it into a pot to stew.

Judging by this, they're going to make Dongpo pork.

Tang Lifu sat in the courtyard, engrossed in kneading the seeds of the lantern fruit. Tang Susu walked over and patted him on the shoulder: "Lifu, take this to the main room to work on. Otherwise, outsiders might learn the method, creating more competitors and making our business harder."

"Okay, Mother." Tang Lifu nodded, picked up the basin, and walked towards the main room.

The others in the yard were not idle either: Yang Gousheng spent the whole day turning over the soil and planting vegetables. He turned over all the open space in front of and behind the yard, carefully divided it into rows, planted different vegetables, watered it thoroughly, and applied farmyard manure.

Tang Liqiang was chopping firewood in the corner of the yard; this was his exclusive job, and he did it very hard.

Yang Xiaobao dug up some goose vegetables, chopped them up, and fed them to Zhuangzhuang, Dahua, and Erhua chickens. Then he took the feeding bowl to feed the twenty-five newly bought ducklings.

The ducklings chirped and chattered as they scrambled for food around the bowl, creating a lively scene.

Yang Xiaobao squatted down beside them, watching with bright eyes, and suddenly suggested, "Mom, the ducklings like to play in the water, shall I dig a little pond for them?"

"No, that won't do." Tang Susu patted his head. "The ducklings are too small and have weak immune systems. They'll easily get sick if they play in the water now. Let them stay in the front yard for a while, and then we'll get them a big pond once they're stronger."

Yang Xiaobao nodded as if he understood, and continued to squat there watching the ducklings.

Tang Susu, however, had other plans: she wanted to buy that piece of abandoned wasteland in the village and turn it into a large pond.

Raising ducks was just a pretext; her real purpose was to grow lotus roots in the pond.

She had already purchased modern, high-quality lotus root varieties from the trading platform.

With the trading platform backing her up, she wasn't worried at all about not being able to grow good lotus roots.

She knew that lotus root was a tribute item in ancient times, and ordinary people could not afford it except for the imperial palace and royal relatives.

If it can be successfully grown and supplied to wealthy households in the town, or to rich and powerful people in more distant places, it would definitely be a very profitable business.

Tang Susu has even begun to dream of owning her own lotus pond, where lotus leaves stretch across the water and lotus flowers sway gently in the summer. She would sit by the pond, admiring the flowers, sipping tea, and listening to the rain, living a poetic and idyllic life.

However, the forty acres of wasteland have not yet been purchased, and there is still a lot to be done. The road ahead is long, and we must take it one step at a time.

Before the last rays of sunlight had faded, Miao Yulan came out of the kitchen carrying a bowl of Dongpo pork.

Although the portion is less than a pound, it fills the bowl to the brim, and the rich, sweet aroma is irresistible, making one's mouth water.

The whole family devoured the pot of Dongpo pork in no time.

Even the rich broth at the bottom of the bowl was divided into everyone's bowls and eaten with white rice, the taste was absolutely wonderful.

After the meal, Tang Susu took a small box out of her basket and handed it to Yang Xiaobao: "Xiaobao, this is some food I brought especially for you. Try it."

Yang Xiaobao was overjoyed. He carefully took the box, and as soon as he peeled off the wrapping paper and smelled the sweet aroma inside, he heard a "gulp" sound of someone swallowing saliva next to him.

He was so frightened that he quickly hid the food in his sleeve pocket and covered it tightly, afraid that someone would snatch it away.

Tang Susu chuckled at his nervous expression, then took things out of the basket: "Don't fight, don't fight, everyone gets some, even Yulan. Everyone eats their own, no one's going to take it from you."

Tang Lifu scratched his head sheepishly and said, "Mom, I'm a grown-up now, I don't need to eat these snacks."

"Just eat what I tell you to eat." Tang Susu shoved a bag of snacks into Miao Yulan's hand. "Yulan, you eat too, don't leave any."

Miao Yulan has never eaten snacks bought on the street in her entire life.

Her hands trembled as she accepted the gift, tears welling in her eyes. She choked out, "Thank you, sister..."

She secretly resolved that she would treat her eldest sister well for the rest of her life, and that when she was able to do so, she would take good care of her and support her in her old age.

Tang Susu didn't notice her emotions and continued to slowly take things out of the basket.

She knew that her family had little experience with copper coins and were unaware of their purchasing power.

Therefore, she mixed the items she bought from the trading platform with the supplies she purchased from the town. Even if the quantity was larger, it wouldn't arouse suspicion, and she didn't feel guilty.

"Put all this rice and grain in chests and lock them up. No outsiders are allowed to see it," Tang Susu instructed. "These homespun cloths can be used to make a set of clothes for each person. If they can't be finished, use them as undergarments."

She glanced at the children and Tang Lifu, and added, "Except for Yulan, none of the four of you even have a decent undergarment. It would be quite unseemly if your pants got torn while you were wearing only them."

After saying that, she placed several pieces of homespun cloth of different colors on the ground: "Lifu, Liqiang, Gousheng, Bao'er, you can choose your favorite colors."

Several children immediately gathered around, excitedly making their selections.

Tang Susu looked at the light pink homespun cloth and liked it a little, but she felt that wearing pink at her age was too eye-catching and she wasn't thick-skinned enough, so she chose the most plain earthy yellow.

She handed the light pink homespun cloth to Miao Yulan: "Yulan, this pink one is for you. You're young, pink looks good on you."

Miao Yulan stared wide-eyed at the pink homespun cloth handed to her, unable to believe it.