The Family Had Split, Why Should I Care if They Go Broke? - Chapter 27

Zeng Xiaoyan was blunt by nature—how could she stand this? While checking if a batch of lantern fruit seeds was clean, she looked up and sneered, “It’s none of your business. These lantern fruits are ours once we buy them; you don’t need to worry.”

The villagers glanced at each other, lips pursed in silent agreement. Isn’t that the point? As long as they handled the selling, it didn’t matter. The Xu family was happy to buy, and everyone else was happy to sell—money in exchange for goods, done.

It was really that simple.

As for what the Xu family intended to do with the lantern fruits, that was their business. Why should anyone else care? If they didn’t want to say, they don’t have to. Who would share money-making methods to the world anyway?

True to form, Aunt Hua never liked anything and never had a good word to say.

Aunt Hua was furious at being publicly called out by Zeng Xiaoyan. With a forced smile, she exclaimed, “Oh! Lady Zeng, you’re from a well-off family, how can you be so inconsiderate? I’m just trying to give you a friendly reminder! If you won’t appreciate it, fine, but you even talk back to an elder? Do you know what respect for elders is? And just because you have some money, who hasn’t seen money before?”

Zeng Xiaoyan’s temper flared. Angry, she shot back, “So what if I have a little money? I’m obviously more capable than someone without any. Tell me—isn’t that infuriating?”

Aunt Hua leaned back in shock, fuming, “You—”

Xu Zhichun stepped in, unwilling to let Zeng Xiaoyan fight alone. “Everyone should mind their own business. Why should anyone else meddle? And even when someone says they’re helping, who actually wants that kind of ‘help’? Nobody does. Right, Aunt Hua? As for the lantern fruits, if you want to sell them, we’ll buy; if not, we won’t force you. Simple as that.”

Zeng Xiaoyan snorted lightly, “Exactly.”

Aunt Zhu’er also nodded, “Zhichun is right.”

The villagers smiled, smoothing things over. See? It’s really that simple.

Aunt Hua, embarrassed and furious, muttered a few last words in annoyance and stomped off.

“She really is something,” said someone.

“Yeah, she’s always like that.”

Xu Zhichun thought that, oddly enough, Aunt Hua’s curious tantrum wasn’t all bad. At least the villagers could now see that the three women weren’t pushovers.

Whether it was just an illusion or not, the villagers selling lantern fruits gradually became more polite. They no longer spoke recklessly or tried sneaky ways to pry into matters.

At the end of the day, they had collected a total of 126 jin of stone flower’s seeds.

Aunt Zhu’er initially fronted the money for the purchases, which would be reimbursed after tomorrow’s sales.

She beamed, “Great! No worries now.”

Zeng Xiaoyan covered her mouth, laughing, “We’ll get more in the next couple of days, but once everyone’s picked their share, there won’t be much left.”

After all, the village had over seventy households, more than three hundred people. Even if only a portion went up the mountain to pick, the lantern fruits were wild and limited in quantity.

It might look abundant normally, but once a crowd starts picking, it’s a different story.

Aunt Zhu’er slapped her head, realizing, “Makes sense. Well, we’ll take as much as we can. Let’s just hope it doesn’t rain.”

Xu Zhichun and Zeng Xiaoyan smiled, “Exactly.”

Because of the lantern fruit collection, making konjac tofu and konjac knots was delayed. With so many villagers around, some without boundaries, it was risky if someone wandered in and saw things they shouldn’t. So they paused the tofu and knot production while the villagers sold lantern fruits.

Fortunately, the konjac slurry was already prepared.

“It’s getting late, you can all go home. I’ll handle the rest myself.”

Zeng Xiaoyan asked, “Really, we don’t need to come help tonight?”

Aunt Zhu’er added, “My house’s close. Maybe I’ll come by tonight.”

For the past two days, Aunt Zhu’er had been fretting that her husband would come home tonight. Newly reunited couples deserved a little privacy; Xu Zhichun had no intention of spoiling that.

“No need! I can handle it. There’s not much left anyway. If I need help later, I’ll ask.”

Seeing them about to insist, Xu Zhichun smiled, “What’s the big deal? At most, I’ll slack a bit tomorrow; you’ll still be busy anyway.”

The two of them laughed and finally left at ease.

Liang Mingxuan had returned, and the two began preparing dinner.

There was still a slab of pork belly bought yesterday—perfectly marbled. Xu Zhichun planned to make braised pork belly tonight.

She cut it into thick cubes, blanched with ginger and scallions, stir-fried over high heat with salt and soy sauce, then covered and braised. Just before finishing, she added a thickened brown sugar syrup.

Without starch to thicken, she used a little flour instead. The sauce clung to the meat, thick and glossy, looking incredibly appetizing.

From the vegetable garden, she picked a handful of tender rapeseed sprouts, quickly stir-fried with oil and salt. Fresh and crisp.

Tonight’s dinner would be simple—just these two dishes.

While the meat simmered under the lid, unexpectedly, Eldest Uncle Liang, Lady Zhang, Second Uncle Liang, and Lady Bai all arrived together.

Xu Zhichun sighed inwardly. She knew they wouldn’t leave her alone.

She glanced at the kitchen. The lid must not be lifted—otherwise, they’d get free food. She hoped they would leave soon.

Liang Mingxuan immediately understood his big sister-in-law. After greeting their uncles and aunts, he quietly fetched a small stool, sat by the stove, and reduced two logs in the fire.

Let it simmer slowly.

Lady Zhang plopped down and began scolding Xu Zhichun. “Look at you, running around all day, even taking those poisonous ghost taros into town to sell. If anything goes wrong, don’t blame us. And those lantern fruit seeds—chickens won’t even eat them! What exactly are you doing with them?”

Lady Bai snorted, half-smiling, “Nephew’s wife, it’s one thing to hide these things from outsiders, but even from your elders?”

Xu Zhichun didn’t consider them true elders; she just wanted a peaceful coexistence.

“There’s a reason. Zeng Xiaoyan, Aunt Zhu’er, and I signed a contract for our small business. We agreed that no one can tell others—not even family—or we won’t be able to keep the secret and earn money. Anyone who leaks must compensate the other two one hundred taels each. Uncle Chief knows about the contract, too. So please don’t make this hard for me.”

Lady Zhang sneered, “Making such a big fuss over something so small—look at you!”

Eldest Uncle Liang asked, “After all your fuss, how many coins have you earned?”

Lady Zhang’s eyes brightened. “Yeah, how much? You seem so busy every day—ten coins? Eight?”