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

Miao Yulan's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her cheeks. She choked back sobs as she confessed to Tang Susu, "Big sister, I was really scared today... I was thinking of going to the fields to pull some weeds so that Brother Lifu could have an easier time when he came back, but there was water on the ridge, and I slipped and fell. Luckily, Liu Yumi was passing by and quickly helped me up."

She sniffed, her voice becoming increasingly aggrieved: "When I got home, I found that I was bleeding from my lower body. I was so scared that my legs went weak, and I stood on the bed for a long time before I dared to get up. Later, I thought that I still had a lot of things to do at home, such as finding chickens and ducks, looking for wild vegetables, and making new clothes for everyone, so I forced myself to get up and busy myself. I was so busy all day that I forgot about the bleeding."

As she spoke, she instinctively clutched her lower abdomen, her face paling instantly. "After you asked me that, my lower abdomen started to feel heavy and cramping again. I'm so scared... scared that I won't be able to keep this baby."

His words were filled with intense fear, and his hands trembled slightly.

Hearing this, Tang Susu felt a pang of anxiety and quickly pressed her hand to comfort her, "Don't be afraid, I've already asked Xiaobao to fetch Doctor Zhang. Everything will be alright once the doctor arrives."

Dr. Zhang from Yangqu Village is a barefoot doctor. In recent years, there have been years of famine, and the villagers are reluctant to spend money to see a doctor when they are sick, and they just endure the pain. Dr. Zhang has not made a house call for a long time.

Yang Xiaobao jogged all the way and soon returned with Doctor Zhang.

Unexpectedly, upon learning that Miao Yulan had fallen and bled, more than a dozen idle women from the village came over under the pretext of watching the excitement. They crowded around Doctor Zhang in Tang Susu's courtyard, forming a dense, impenetrable barrier.

In rural areas, there aren't as many rules about men and women not touching each other. Doctor Zhang went straight into the house and took Miao Yulan's pulse.

He stroked his beard, remained silent for a long time, and then slowly spoke: "Your pulse is a little unstable, but fortunately it's nothing serious. I'll prescribe some medicine to help with the pregnancy. Xiao Bao, come home with me to get the medicine."

Tang Susu immediately stepped forward: "Dr. Zhang, please prescribe the best medicine. Just tell me the price."

Dr. Zhang calculated: "A home visit costs 3 copper coins, and a dose of the pregnancy-stabilizing medicine costs 4 copper coins. In her condition, she needs to take it for at least 5 days, 2 doses a day, for a total of 10 doses. That's a total of 43 copper coins."

Upon hearing the number, Miao Yulan's face turned deathly pale. She struggled to get up, saying, "Big sister, I feel much better. I don't need to take medicine anymore; it's too expensive."

"Lie down and don't move." Tang Susu pressed her back onto the bed, her tone firm. "You must take your medicine. Don't worry about the money. Just do as the doctor says."

As she spoke, she turned around and took out the copper coins she had earned that day from the chest, handing them to Doctor Zhang in full.

The women watching the commotion outside the courtyard gate immediately erupted into a flurry of chatter upon hearing the crisp sound of the coins clinking together.

"Some people said that Gou Sheng's mother abused her sister-in-law, but how can this be abuse? She spent 43 copper coins just like that. Others might not be willing to do that."

"Can you smell that? The kitchen smells delicious with meat! Gou Sheng's mom must have made a fortune!"

"But she's spent 43 of them. What if she doesn't have enough money to pay us back for the lantern fruit? And she hasn't given us the eggs she promised the kids yet."

After seeing Dr. Zhang off, Tang Susu saw that Miao Yulan was in better spirits, and her worries were relieved.

She walked to the courtyard gate and called out to the women who were watching with a smile: "Aunties, please wait a moment. Since everyone is here, I will settle the debt for the lantern fruit and the promised eggs now."

Upon hearing this, the women who had been discussing the matter immediately fell silent.

Before long, villagers who came to collect debts on behalf of their children arrived one after another.

Tang Susu had Yang Gousheng set up a temporary table in the courtyard, place dozens of copper coins and eight or nine eggs on it, and have everyone line up to pay.

She had an excellent memory; without needing ledgers, she could accurately recite the debts owed to each household.

"Little Fish Mother, your child delivered two and a half catties of lantern fruit, which should yield five copper coins, plus two eggs."

"Zhimao's mother, your family's is one and a half catties, three copper coins, and one egg."

Each account was clear and accounted for, and the accounts were all settled in no time.

The villagers who received the coins and eggs all had smiles on their faces.

The village women, who had initially worried that Tang Susu would renege on her debt, were now completely relieved. Their concern shifted, and they began to ask, "Gou Sheng's mother, will you still be buying lantern fruit from now on?"

"Sure," Tang Susu nodded with a smile. "Still the same price as before, 2 copper coins per pound."

Just then, Shen's voice suddenly rang out from the crowd, deliberately raised: "Third sister-in-law, isn't two copper coins a pound a bit too cheap?"

She stepped forward, her gaze sweeping over the crowd, and said bluntly, "I've already calculated it. You sell jelly every day, and you can easily earn at least 200 copper coins, more than others earn in a month. Look at Peach Blossom, so young, she spends the whole day picking lantern fruit in the mountains, her face flushed from exhaustion, and she only earns 4 copper coins. Do you think we could raise the price?"

The women present were already quite satisfied with the price of two copper coins per pound, but upon hearing the words "price increase," they exchanged glances, their eyes filled with anticipation.

Upon hearing this, Tang Susu chuckled and stood up briskly, replying, "Sister-in-law Shen's words reminded me. Peach Blossom and Corn are still young and should be playing at home. It's really not worth it or safe for them to run into the mountains for a few copper coins. I didn't think it through before."

She changed the subject abruptly, her tone firm: "From now on, the task of picking lantern fruits will be left to Gousheng, Liqiang, and the older kids like Dafu and Erfu. There's no need to trouble everyone anymore. Starting today, I will no longer accept lantern fruits from you."

Upon hearing this, the women panicked and rushed to plead, "Gousheng's mother, please! Two copper coins a pound is a good price; we're willing to let our child go pick them!"

"Yes, yes, Gousheng and Liqiang have to go with you to sell jelly on the street, how can they have time to pick it? We can't let them go to the mountains at night to do that, it's even more dangerous."

Some even turned directly to Mrs. Shen and said, "Second Sister-in-law Shen, if you think the price is too low, then don't let your child go picking them. We're perfectly happy with this price; don't delay our profits!"

Ms. Shen's face flushed red and then turned pale as she was rebuked. She hurriedly explained, "I'm not complaining about the price; I'm just standing up for the children..."

"Alright." Tang Susu interrupted her with a slight smile. "Taohua is too young, and the mountain roads are slippery. If something goes wrong, I can't bear the responsibility. From now on, I won't accept any more lantern fruits from Taohua."

Seeing this, Madam Shen could only brazenly press further, "Then... will you still accept what Fangjuan sent?"

"Fangjuan is a bit older. If she's willing to pick them, I'll accept them," Tang Susu nodded lightly.

Seeing that things had come to this point, the women knew there was no point in trying to persuade them further, so they could only mutter a few words and then go home.

At this moment, Old Lady Yang was tying dry grass in front of her courtyard gate to start a fire, chatting with passing villagers as she worked.

Among the village women who had just been watching, several of them had passed by her house and told her everything that had happened at Tang Susu's house, including how Shen was chased away after trying to learn Tang Susu's skills, and what the person who led the price gouging had done. She had heard it all.

As soon as Shen returned home, Old Lady Yang immediately put down her work and started berating Shen like a faucet being turned on.