Chapter 144: Easier to Live Together
Old Madam Luo fell silent. She had originally planned to place the pickle workshop at Little Madam Luo’s place, since their own home… sigh, simply didn’t have the space anymore.
But since Little Madam Luo had said as much, she couldn’t insist. She only asked, “Wouldn’t it be more troublesome for you then?”
At least their family had an ox cart. Her younger sister and niece-in-law only had their own legs to rely on.
Little Madam Luo smiled. “It’s only a few li. We’ll walk. Big Sister, when do we start?”
That settled it—Old Madam Luo dismissed the idea of using the Cui household for the workshop. She began thinking, once her eldest and her old man really bought that patch of wild hill and land in the back, she’d definitely make them build a little workshop for her.
“As soon as possible. Once I’ve cleaned things up over there, I’ll send Second over to pick you up. Oh, and in the next few days, try to walk around the village more and collect more soybeans,” Old Madam Luo said.
Little Madam Luo agreed. The two sat for a while longer, but were also thinking about the outcome of Old Man Wen and the others buying the land, so they took their leave and returned.
Little Madam Luo walked them to the village entrance, watching as the ox cart slowly rolled away, unable to hide the smile at the corner of her lips.
“Sister really has made it,” she murmured. Beside her, Jiang Yueniang also smiled gently.
On the way back, Jiang Yueniang briefly told her about the booming business at Zui Xian Tower lately, leaving Little Madam Luo clicking her tongue in amazement.
“I knew Yao Yao was a capable girl, but I never imagined she was this capable—able to work with Zui Xian Tower’s business.” Little Madam Luo thought back to how Wen Yao used to be so timid when Liu Shi was still alive. Now, she was a completely different person. It seemed that losing her mother had made her grow up overnight.
“Tonight when Yang comes home, let’s tell him about this. You don’t have much to do at home anyway, so you might as well come work with me. I’ll gradually teach you the pickle-making skills. It’s also a kind of family legacy—your grandmother passed it down to us,” Little Madam Luo said gently, patting her daughter-in-law’s hand.
Jiang Yueniang nodded. Since she married Jiao Yang, she naturally wanted to do her part for the family. If her mother-in-law wanted to start her own business, she would stand by her side and help.
Not long after Old Madam Luo and Wen Yao returned home, Wen Xiuyi and Old Man Wen also came back, faces beaming with joy—clearly, the matter had been settled.
“It’s done?” Old Madam Luo asked.
Wen Xiuyi handed over the deed from the yamen. “Mother, it’s all settled. When the village head heard that we wanted to buy the wild hill and the wasteland behind our house, he agreed without hesitation. He even hitched his ox cart and went into town to handle the paperwork. We paid the silver—now that land and the little hill are ours.”
“How much did it cost?”
Wen Xiuyi replied, “One hundred taels for the wild hill. The land behind our fields, stretching all the way to the Ping River tributary, is twenty mu—eighty taels. Altogether, it was a hundred eighty taels. We gave two taels as a tip to the clerk handling the paperwork, and one tael to the village head for tea. Total: one hundred eighty-three taels.”
Not a bad price. Old Madam Luo flipped through the deed. She couldn’t read, but she recognized the official stamps. Raising a brow, she asked, “The village head was that enthusiastic?”
Old Man Wen tapped his tobacco pipe and chimed in, “How could he not be? He was grinning so wide it nearly split his face. Said if our family got rich, we shouldn’t forget to ‘spread the love’ to the village.”
Old Madam Luo sneered. So that was his motive.
“You two didn’t tell him what we’re actually doing, right?” she asked. She didn’t want word getting out before they’d even started.
Old Man Wen gave her a sidelong glance. “Do you think your eldest and I are that stupid?”
Old Madam Luo said nothing—just snorted coldly.
Old Man Wen and Wen Xiuyi: “…”
Old Madam Luo couldn’t be bothered with them anymore. She tossed the deed into Wen Yao’s hands. “Put it away.”
“Got it!” Wen Yao cheerfully tucked the deed away—actually, she threw it into her spatial space.
Once Wen Yao was done, Old Madam Luo turned to the father and son. “The village head’s intentions couldn’t be more obvious. Before our setup is ready, don’t let this spread. As for that ‘spread the love’ talk—well, we’ll see when the time comes.”
With that, she turned and left. Old Madam Luo was someone who remembered kindness, but she couldn’t forget how the villagers had mocked and kicked them when they were down.
When Wen Xiuyi first became a scholar, they all scrambled to curry favor. But when he went astray and ruined the family, those same people turned around and trampled them into the mud.
If not for her and her second daughter-in-law’s toughness, who knew how badly they would’ve been bullied.
Words can kill, after all.
But now, seeing the Wen family on the rise again, those same people were coming forward eagerly.
Of course, Old Madam Luo wasn’t an ungrateful person. She remembered clearly the ones who had always treated their family well.
“Eldest, figure out the size and location of the pond in the next few days. Let’s get it dug as soon as possible. Then we can hire a few people to clear up the wild hill,” Old Madam Luo instructed.
Wen Xiuyi nodded. “Don’t worry, Mother. Father already arranged it. Workers will start tomorrow.”
Old Madam Luo glanced at Old Man Wen, who lifted his chin proudly. Who was he? He was the head of the household—of course he had things arranged.
Surprisingly, Old Madam Luo didn’t mock him this time. Instead, she said, “Eldest, since you’ve moved back, I’m planning to turn the room you used to live in at the old house into my pickle workshop. You don’t mind, do you?”
After the family split, that room had been used by the younger kids. But once Wen Xiuyi and his family finished their new house, the kids moved back in with their parents. Now that Wen Xiuyi had moved out, they had planned to move the kids back again—but without a suitable space for a workshop, Old Madam Luo had to claim it for now.
Old Man Wen asked, “Then where will the kids sleep?”
Old Madam Luo shot him a glare. “They’ve been sleeping there just fine, haven’t they? Let them make do for now. Once we make some money, we’ll add a few more rooms.”
“Oh.” Old Man Wen didn’t press the issue.
Wen Xiuyi thought for a moment. “Mother, how about letting Wenjin and Wenfa stay over here with Dazhu? It’ll make it easier for the three boys to study together.”
Wen Yao added, “Grandma, let Dier and Ying move in with me too. The three of us can keep each other company.”
Old Madam Luo swatted her lightly. “That’s your sister, stop calling her just ‘Dier’ all the time.”
Wen Yao grinned sheepishly.
Old Madam Luo considered it. “Wouldn’t that look bad?” After all, everyone was saying her eldest had struck it rich, and if she turned around and moved all the kids to his house, wouldn’t people talk even more?
But the old house was getting cramped…
She was conflicted.
Wen Xiuyi wasn’t one to care about gossip. “The three boys living together can supervise each other. I’m not worried about Wenjin. As for Wennong, with Dazhu and Xiao Jun keeping an eye on him, he’ll do better. Plus, it’s quiet here—good for studying.”
Old Madam Luo wavered.
“Alright then. Let Wenfa and Wenjin move in. You and Xiao Jun had better keep them in line.”
Wen Xiuyi grinned. “Don’t worry, we’ve got it all under control.”
