When Lin Shi heard her youngest daughter calling out about sour plum soup, she hurried into the main hall, scolding as she spoke, though a smile tugged at her lips. “You girl, the moment I’m not home, you start wasting my things.”
The dried bayberries had been picked and sun-dried by the family. Wild bayberries were very sour, so a lot of sugar had to be added to balance the taste and make it more appetizing.
Qiao Mancang chuckled. “Just in time—I’m tired from walking. Mianmian, get your father a bowl of sour plum soup. Oh, there’s even ice.”
Hearing about ice, Lin Shi felt genuinely pained. “Don’t go buying things carelessly anymore. Give all the money to me. You—who do you take after, spending money every day? Where’s today’s earnings?”
“Here.”
Qiao Mianmian knew her mother just liked to nag and wouldn’t really do anything, so she wasn’t afraid anymore. “Count it—today we made over eight hundred copper coins. I’m amazing, right? Mother, Father treats you so well. The moment he heard there were bandits in the city, he ran off immediately.”
At that, Lin Shi blushed slightly and pushed her daughter. “Go, go, what does a little girl like you understand? Hurry and cook—I’m starving.”
“Alright, alright, I don’t understand. I just know Father cares about you,” Qiao Mianmian said as she ran off, shouting, “Second Brother, put the watermelon in the well water to cool. We can eat it after dinner!”
“You’re not eating it today!” Lin Shi immediately pressed down on the watermelon when her second son came over. “Are we some kind of rich landlords? Save it for tomorrow. The rind can even be made into a dish.”
Qiao Jiaxing swallowed his saliva, staring at the watermelon. “Mother…”
Qiao Mancang whispered, “Let the children eat it. Today or tomorrow—it’s all the same.”
“You just like being the good guy. Do we still want to live or not?” Lin Shi retorted, but when she saw the old madam also siding with them, she finally relented. “Mother, you spoil them too much!”
After Lin Shi went inside, Zhang Shi approached her son and asked quietly, “What’s wrong with your wife? Did something happen at her parents’ home?”
“Wangchun is far along in her pregnancy, and since her in-laws live in the same village as her maternal family, my parents-in-law often go visit her. But her elder brother’s family isn’t happy about it—they made some sarcastic remarks to Lin Shi.”
If Qiao Mancang hadn’t been there, Lin Shi might have argued with them. “Also, she’s worried about Wangchun. There’s no mother-in-law at her home. Her husband is decent, but like her, he’s a bit slow and takes on all the household work.”
Back when Lin Wangchun lived with the Qiao family, she also did everything herself. Having grown up with hardship, she was afraid of being disliked and worked tirelessly from a young age.
Qiao Mancang and Zhang Shi both knew she was sensible—but overly sensible children often suffered more, especially since her husband’s family had more than one son.
“Next time we visit should be close to when she gives birth. Tell Lin Shi to remind her of a few things. We won’t harm others, but we also can’t be too meek,” Zhang Shi said, feeling distressed.
Qiao Mancang nodded. After a long day, he was covered in sweat, so he grabbed a bucket of cold water and went to wash up.
In the kitchen, Qiao Mianmian was wrapping dumplings. The filling included fried pork cracklings, making it richer and more flavorful.
Lin Xiahe, standing nearby, asked eagerly about her older sister when Lin Shi came in.
Lin Shi only said things were fine. “Her husband is decent. Now that he’s about to become a father, he’s reclaimed land near their home and often goes hunting. As long as a person works hard, life will get better.”
“Is Third Sister happy?” Lin Xiahe missed her dearly. “I haven’t seen her in so long. When she gives birth, maybe I can go take care of her during her confinement?”
Lin Shi was worried about that too. Letting her second daughter go might work, but since there were other brothers in that household, she feared it might affect her daughter’s reputation. “No rush—we’ll see when the time comes. If needed, I’ll go myself. A mother taking care of her daughter during confinement won’t invite gossip.”
She could stay at her parents’ house and visit her daughter during the day, even bringing rice to silence any complaints from her brother and sister-in-law.
Lin Xiahe thought the same but didn’t voice it. She wanted to help, knowing her mother couldn’t stay long. If reputation was a concern, she could stay with her grandparents and help them out.
Qiao Mianmian didn’t know how to care for a postpartum woman, but she could cook. “When Third Sister gives birth, I’ll go visit too. I can make nourishing soups for her.”
As they spoke, the dumplings were finished. Qiao Mianmian scooped out the watermelon flesh and sliced the rind into thin strips, stir-frying it with a bit of chili. The green rind, coated in oil, looked just as appetizing.
Qiao Jiaxing eagerly waited for the meal. As soon as the dishes were ready, he helped carry them out. “Fifth Sister, the steamed buns with braised meat you gave me made the dock workers drool with envy.”
The Qiao family still ate two main meals a day, but around midday, Qiao Mianmian would get hungry. She often made a small extra meal and shared it with her siblings.
“Second Brother, all you think about is food,” Lin Xiahe teased.
“Food is the most important thing. Nothing matters more than eating,” Qiao Jiaxing said proudly as he carried out the stir-fried watermelon rind.
Once the dumplings were cooked and served, they began eating. The dumpling skins were thin and packed with meat. With one bite, the broth burst in the mouth. Paired with the spicy stir-fried watermelon rind, it was both appetizing and refreshing. Qiao Mianmian ate until she was almost full.
“Grandmother, I’m full. Please eat more yourself,” she said quickly when her grandmother tried to give her more dumplings.
“How can that be enough? Your second brother already ate three bowls, and you’ve eaten so little. Be good—eat more, you’re still growing,” Zhang Shi insisted.
Qiao Mianmian had no choice but to eat more, but once she finished, she quickly left the table, afraid someone would give her more food.
Lin Shi laughed. “Mother, she’s saving room for watermelon. You can eat more yourself.”
“I… I want watermelon too!” Qiao Jiaxing said with his mouth full of dumplings. “We haven’t bought any this year.”
Lin Shi was frugal and rarely bought watermelon. This one had been grown by her father, who insisted she take the biggest one.
Thinking of her aging parents, Lin Shi felt a pang of guilt. Even now, they still worried about her. Before she left, her mother had secretly tried to give her money, afraid she was struggling in the Qiao family. Lin Shi had refused repeatedly before her mother finally took it back.
“Everyone will get some later,” Lin Shi said as she began clearing the table.
Qiao Mianmian washed her hands and sat at the doorway with her second brother, eating watermelon with a bowl and spoon, their feet dipped into the cool water channel.
The clear, cool water felt refreshing.
At that moment, a matchmaker came out of the Wu household. Madam Wu walked her out with a smile. “My son Ermao’s matter is in your hands. Please find him a good match. Take these red dates as a snack.”
“Oh, you’re too kind,” the matchmaker said, accepting the packet. “Your son is a centurion—so capable. Many families want to marry into your household. Don’t worry, I’ll pick the best one.”
“My son really is outstanding,” Madam Wu said proudly.
After leaving the Wu house, the matchmaker went to the Wang house. Soon, loud shouting came from inside.
“My eldest son is perfectly fine—why would you make him a live-in son-in-law? Are you dreaming? How much did they pay you to suggest something so shameless?” Widow Wang shouted angrily.
The matchmaker’s face darkened. “Look at your situation—if a girl really married into your family, where would she live?”
“I’ve worked hard for your sons, going all over to find a match. If your eldest son marries into that family, they’ll give you money. Even if you can’t buy a new house, it’s enough to rent one for your other sons to marry.”
“To be blunt, how can you, a widow with no support, marry off all five sons?”
Hearing this, Widow Wang fell silent.
The matchmaker sighed. “You have five sons—you don’t need the eldest to support you. That family is wealthy, with plenty of land, but only one daughter. If he marries in, he’ll have a good life.”
Widow Wang had struggled all her life raising her children alone. She wanted good matches for them—especially compared to the Wu family, whose son had become a centurion. If her son married into another family, wouldn’t the Wu family laugh at her?
After the matchmaker left, Widow Wang finally broke down in tears. But thinking of her other sons, her resolve wavered.
As the sun set and the sky turned red, Qiao Mianmian looked up and could faintly see the moon.
Finishing her watermelon, she heard her mother call from the yard, “Mianmian, Jiaxing, come back and wash up. It’s getting late.”
“Coming!” Qiao Mianmian said, dusting off her pants and putting on her shoes. Seeing the wild rabbit in the yard, she grinned and went to her mother. “Mother, how should we cook this rabbit?”
Seeing her daughter’s bright eyes, Lin Shi knew exactly what she was thinking. “I know you’re craving it. Your eldest sister insisted I keep it for us to eat, not sell it—as if I usually starve you all.”
“You’re the best mother. You’d never mistreat us,” Qiao Mianmian said, hugging her and praising her endlessly. “In this whole alley—no, in all of Lin’an—no, in the whole world—there’s no better mother than you!”
“Off with you, I know you too well,” Lin Shi said, pretending to scold her, though she was clearly pleased. “Tomorrow, add more ingredients when you stew it, understand?”
“Yes, Mother! I’ll do exactly as you say!”