Chapter 37: What Do You Think, Am I Good Enough?
In the days that followed, Wen Xiuyi and Wen Jun left early and returned late every day. In the morning, they’d head out with a cart full of ingredients, and at night, they’d haul back the next day’s pig heads and intestines.
Now the braised meat business was even better than before. Even quite a few people from the city were coming just to buy their braised meat. Because of this, Wen Xiuyi had made a special trip to the market to talk to Butcher Zheng and negotiated a new deal—besides the usual pig heads and intestines, Zheng would deliver a bit more meat every day.
At this time, eating beef was illegal. Otherwise, Professor Wen would’ve definitely had Wen Yao braise some.
The rare thing was, even knowing how much money they were making with the braised goods, Butcher Zheng still didn’t raise the price of the pig intestines—fifteen wen a bucket, just like before.
Every time he came to deliver goods, Butcher Zheng would chat with Wen Xiuyi for a bit. Wen Xiuyi had asked him about it.
Butcher Zheng’s response was: in life, in work, and in business, the most important thing is honesty. Since he’d promised Wen Yao fifteen wen a bucket, that’s what it would be—no matter how much they made from it, it had nothing to do with him. He was selling it at that price, period.
Wen Xiuyi admired Butcher Zheng’s integrity so much he practically wanted to become sworn brothers on the spot.
Lao Tai (Old Madam) wasn’t idle either. Besides helping Wen Yao with chores every day, she also went around the village collecting eggs.
Now, Wen Xiuyi needed to take fifty eggs every day. Although he occasionally brought a few back, most of the time they were all sold.
Because of his kind and fair business style, many villagers with their own hens—who normally wouldn’t want to give up even a few eggs—started bringing their own eggs to him, asking him to add them in when frying rice.
Wen Xiuyi never turned them down. Even if people brought their own vegetables, if he wasn’t too busy, he’d fry them a portion too.
So, in just under a month, the fame of Wen Family Fried Rice spread from the dock all the way into the city. Some people even came specifically to try it.
Wen Yao joked that Wen Xiuyi had accidentally become a foodie influencer hotspot.
Wen Xiuyi didn’t care about being some influencer. All he wanted now was to earn more money—lots of it—so the three kids could live a good life.
As for their pitiful thatched kitchen, after surviving a month, it finally got an upgrade thanks to Grandpa Wen. With a wave of his hand, he ordered the two uncles and some cousins to tear it down and rebuild it.
Wen Yao finally didn’t have to cook in a thatched shack anymore.
After deducting all costs and expenses, Wen Yao had saved nearly ten taels of silver. Every time she looked at those silver ingots, her eyes lit up like she was seeing hundred-yuan bills in her past life.
Lao Tai continued to visit daily to help out. Every time she saw Dazhu reading, writing with a stick on the ground, she’d sigh heavily.
Wen Yao also noticed that even Grandpa Wen, who’d sometimes come by hoping for a bite of something good, would occasionally stare off at Dazhu, deep in thought.
Grandpa Wen wasn’t good at expressing himself directly. He’d often look like he was about to say something, only to stop and give up. But Lao Tai wasn’t like that. She’d already asked Wen Yao more than once when they could take Dazhu into town to get his throat checked.
Now that they had savings, the three of them—Wen Yao, Wen Xiuyi, and Wen Jun—were all very aware of Dazhu’s future. They knew he would eventually be able to speak. But since they couldn’t explain that to the elders, they discussed it and decided to take him to the city to see a doctor. Even if it was just to put the old folks’ hearts at ease, the trip was worth it.
That day, Wen Xiuyi and Wen Jun went out to sell, and Wen Yao was told to go to the old house to ask if there were any well-known doctors skilled in this area—best to get info first before bringing Dazhu in.
Involving the elders was also a way of giving them peace of mind.
Wen Yao took Dazhu to the old house, only to find that guests were visiting.
This was the first time since they’d come here that Wen Yao had seen visitors at the old house.
The guest was an older woman who resembled Lao Tai a little. When she saw Wen Yao and Dazhu appear, a flicker of surprise crossed her face, and she looked questioningly at Lao Tai.
Lao Tai had long grown used to the eldest son’s family dropping by every other day. So when she saw the guest’s puzzled look, it took her a moment to realize what was going on—until the woman leaned in and whispered, “Sister, isn’t that the eldest’s family…?”
Only then did Lao Tai remember. All their relatives and friends knew they’d split households. Her relationship with the eldest’s family was basically cut off—almost dead to each other.
Now she wasn’t sure how to explain things. She simply waved Wen Yao and Dazhu over and said, “Yao Yao, Dazhu, come here. This is your great-aunt.”
Wen Yao led Dazhu over, gave a polite bow, and greeted, “Great-aunt.”
Dazhu also gave a formal salute.
All these manners had been taught by Liu-shi—engraved into their memory.
“Oh dear, no need for that, no need,” Great-aunt Luo was startled and quickly got up to help them. That gesture—so much more refined than the village customs.
Looking again at Wen Yao and Dazhu, poised and proper, she couldn’t help but sigh with admiration. The children of a scholarly wife really were different from country bumpkins.
It was just a pity… that wife ran off.
Thinking of this, Great-aunt Luo gave her sister a sympathetic glance.
Lao Tai caught that glance and felt a little baffled, squinting as she glared back. Great-aunt Luo instantly dropped the thought.
Now that greetings were done and everyone settled, Lao Tai waved the kids off to go play. After they were gone, Great-aunt Luo leaned in, curiously asking, “Sister… Wen Xiuyi and his family? I thought you weren’t seeing them anymore?”
Lao Tai replied blandly, “After Liu-shi left, he changed. Now he’s quietly raising his three kids and living properly. He came from my belly after all. What’s that saying? ‘A prodigal son who turns back is worth more than gold.’ That’s the one. We’re still a family.”
With Lao Tai putting it that way, Great-aunt Luo didn’t push further. After all, back then, all the relatives had pinned their hopes on Wen Xiuyi.
With that little episode over, the two sisters returned to chatting about previous matters. Great-aunt Luo’s brows furrowed again, her face tinged with worry and frustration.
“Sis, what am I gonna do? That chef we hired for my second son’s wedding—he suddenly backed out, saying there’s family trouble. The wedding’s just days away! You’ve got to help me. If there’s someone in your village who can do banquet food, ask around for me, will you? We can’t just let our guests eat air.”
Lao Tai looked troubled too. A nephew’s wedding was a big deal, but where was she going to find a proper cook?
“The ones around here… their cooking’s not much. We might as well cook it ourselves. Won’t do, won’t do.” Lao Tai shook her head firmly.
Just then, Wen Yao, who had overheard the whole thing from nearby, suddenly lit up. She leaned in and said, “Grandma, what do you think—could I do it?”
