When Shen Qi took the initiative to respond, Second Aunt was somewhat surprised and quickly followed up.
“That’s wonderful! Today, these old bones of mine can finally rest!”
Old Madam glanced at her.
“As the old saying goes, newlyweds are exempt from duties for three days. Today is only the second day since Duo’er’s wife entered our household, and she hasn’t even returned to her maiden home yet. How can you be in such a hurry to put her to work?”
Lady Feng felt she was in the wrong and dared not reply.
Xie Yuming, however, expressed hesitation.
“How old is Second Sister-in-law? Can she really handle these tasks?”
Second Aunt glared at him.
“You’re one to talk! If it weren’t for your wife always being sickly, I wouldn’t be without a helper, exhausted to death every day. My back aches, my legs hurt, and no one even knows!”
Xie Yuming recalled how his wife had cried for half the night for some unknown reason, refusing to explain no matter how he asked.
Most likely, his own mother had something to do with it.
This time, he surprisingly spoke up for his wife.
“Weren’t you handling these tasks before she entered the household? What, now that she’s married into our family, your back and legs suddenly ache?”
Upon hearing this, Second Aunt was so furious she tried to pinch him across the table, but thankfully, Second Uncle stopped her.
Sun Shi glanced up at her husband standing beside her. Though she still didn’t speak, a faint glimmer of light appeared in her eyes.
Old Madam slowly took a sip of tea.
“Since Duo’er’s wife is sensible, let the First Branch and Second Branch take turns each month. This month, you’ll still oversee things, and next month, the First Branch will take over.”
Second Aunt, who had been struggling with Second Uncle and trying to pinch her son’s face, immediately stopped upon hearing this and hurriedly said:
“Good! Good! But… as an elder, I can’t be inconsiderate of the younger generation. These newlyweds are still in their honeymoon phase, inseparable like glue and lacquer. How could they possibly get up early in the morning? I’ll still handle the morning purchases for her. Duo’er’s wife, you just enjoy your breakfast in peace and then take care of the rest.”
Old Lady Wu couldn’t help but snort coldly upon hearing this.
Ever since the Xie family opened their first shop, she had been responsible for arranging meals for the front shop.
Watching the Herbal Medicine Shop on Yinshi Street grow from the old man working alone to hiring the first shop assistant, then the second, the third…
At its peak, she had to arrange meals for twenty-eight people. How could she not understand the intricacies of this task?
Arranging meals wasn’t particularly strenuous, but it was indeed somewhat tedious. The reason Second Aunt had managed to handle it alone for so many years was precisely because of the little profits skimmed from the morning purchases.
The Xie family had over a dozen members, and including the front shop, the daily food purchase allowance was set at one tael of silver.
The prices of meat and vegetables on Siji Street varied with the seasons, and the daily menu differed as well. Once the groceries were brought home, no one could verify each item one by one.
Whatever the purchaser said was spent, that was what was spent.
Pingshan County was merely a small northern town with low prices. Thirty copper coins could buy a duck, fifty could buy a chicken, and one tael of silver could purchase half a side of fatty pork.
With careful budgeting, six or seven mace of silver per day was more than enough.
The remaining three or four mace always ended up in Lady Feng’s pocket.
Now, she was willing to let Duo’er’s wife take turns handling the work but couldn’t bear to part with those little profits.
Before Old Madam could speak, Shen Qi smiled and spoke up.
"Second Aunt, since it's about sharing the burden for our elders, how could I dare say I'm tired? If I can't even manage to get up early, wouldn't people say this daughter-in-law is unfilial? Second Aunt, rest assured, just leave it all to me."
Second Aunt gave an awkward smile. "You're so young and have just arrived, you don't even know everyone in the household yet. I'm just afraid it'll wear you out."
Shen Qi: "I'll get to know them gradually. Besides, Third Younger Sister is also at home, she can go with me too."
As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Yujing immediately voiced her support.
"I'm willing! I'm willing to go with Second Sister-in-law."
Shen Qi smiled and patted her head.
Second Aunt grew anxious. "She's just a little girl, what does she know! How could she handle such matters?"
Shen Qi replied calmly, "Second Aunt, you also said yesterday that young ladies need more experience. Third Younger Sister coming with me to see the world will be beneficial for her too."
Xiao Yujing nodded vigorously.
Second Aunt took a deep breath, as if making a painful decision.
"In that case, let Yujin also gain some experience. It was said yesterday too—if we're teaching, we should teach together!"
At least having one of her own people along would prevent Shen Qi from blatantly skimming as much profit as she herself had.
Yujin immediately objected.
"How can a young lady like me do such things? Going in and out all day, showing my face in public—it's improper!"
Old Madam said coolly, "What's proper or improper? Our family isn't like those rigid, pedantic official households in the capital. When I was eight, I went out to earn a livelihood. After marrying, I traveled everywhere with your grandfather to purchase goods. What kind of people haven't I met? What kind of words haven't I spoken?
The girls around me weren't raised to be so narrow-minded. Is being shut indoors what makes a refined young lady? You're just narrowing your own path."
Old Madam rarely scolded Yujin, and this speech left her silent.
Shen Qi said cheerfully, "Second Aunt, in that case, this month Yujin can follow you, and next month Yujing can follow me."
Second Aunt was dumbfounded. How had she ended up saddling her own daughter with a task without even preserving her "profit rights"?
"Mother! I can't get up that early!"
Yujin immediately started pounding the table.
Old Madam set down her teacup and rose slowly as she spoke.
"If Yujing can get up, so can you."
With that, Old Madam waved her hand, indicating the matter was settled.
Xie Yuduo observed his wife's reactions throughout, admiring how she fearlessly and methodically handled each challenge.
Before heading to the shop, when no one was looking, he proudly gave Shen Qi a thumbs-up.
Shen Qi naturally saw it and secretly smiled with satisfaction.
But in front of others, she immediately resumed her gentle and modest demeanor.
On the way back, Xiao Yujing was extremely excited, chattering nonstop to Shen Qi. One moment she talked about learning to read and write from her brother, the next about knowing everyone in the household.
After a while, she grew worried again. "But I don't know how to read account books. What should I do?"
Shen Qi smiled. "It's fine, I can read them."
Xiao Yujing's eyes lit up again.
"Then can Sister-in-law teach me?"
"Of course, I can teach you everything I know."
"Sister-in-law, what all do you know?"
Well, Shen Qi thought seriously.
She knew most of the characters in the world and had read a few books passed down by sages.
As for cooking, it should be considered not too bad.
She could help Mother mend clothes and embroider patterns, and also assist Father in reviewing account books and checking the accounts.
Most importantly, no matter who she dealt with, she refused to bully others and would not allow herself to be bullied.
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yujing was so happy she nearly jumped for joy.
"Sister-in-law, you're truly amazing! Auntie always says I should learn these things, but then she says she has no time to teach me. She only lets me learn chores like sweeping the floor and lighting the fire. However, she does want to teach Second Sister, but Second Sister doesn't want to learn."
Shen Qi couldn't help but feel a pang in her heart upon hearing this. She knew that her little sister had suffered from their mother's early passing, with Father and older brother busy with the shop's affairs, and Second Aunt treating her like a servant, never willing to teach her any real skills.
Shen Qi took Xiao Yujing's small hand, imitating Xie Yuduo's manner, and held it gently in her own palm, speaking softly.
"Don't worry, from now on, I will teach you everything, one by one."