The Lin family, already struggling financially, became even more strained after spending five taels of silver to buy back Lin Yuhe's Gengtie. Seeing this, Lin Yuhe wanted to contribute to the family, at the very least to earn back the five taels needed for her uncle's wedding.
While her uncle Lin Fan went to town to buy supplies, Lin Yuhe prepared everything available at home in advance.
"Haitang, Haitang," someone called from outside, but the whole family was busy in the kitchen and didn't hear.
"Mother, I think someone is calling you outside," Lin Yuhe said to Mother Lin, who was holding a pot spatula.
"Really? Are you sure? You take out the sesame seeds, I'll go check," Mother Lin said, handing the spatula to Lin Yuhe.
The person outside had already entered the yard. "Father, Mother, Elder Brother, why are you here?" It turned out to be Maternal Grandfather, Maternal Grandmother, and eldest maternal uncle Bai Zikui.
"You ask why we're here? If we hadn't come, how much longer were you planning to keep this from us?" Maternal Grandmother saw some unorganized dry firewood in the yard, picked up a piece, and swung it at her daughter, not giving her a chance to explain.
Only when she saw Lin Yuhe come out of the kitchen did she drop the firewood, rush over, and hug Lin Yuhe tightly. Tears as big as beans rolled down her cheeks. "Yuhe, my dear, are you alright? You scared your grandmother half to death!"
She turned Lin Yuhe around, checking her over. "Grandmother, I'm fine, perfectly fine," Lin Yuhe said, using her sleeve to wipe away her grandmother's tears.
"So the in-laws are here. Haitang, why don't you go get stools for your parents and brother to sit on?" Grandma Lin came out carrying the sesame seeds.
"In-laws, it was my eldest brother-in-law who was working in town and met Changping and Changan selling firewood. That's how he found out about Yuhe's accident. The two children couldn't explain clearly what happened."
Maternal Grandmother wiped her tears and took the stool her daughter handed her, listening as Grandma Lin explained the situation.
After hearing that the Zhang family not only came to break off the engagement but also withheld Lin Yuhe's Gengtie and demanded five taels of silver, she cursed the Zhang family for being heartless and despicable. Her hot-tempered eldest son, Bai Zikui, stood up to leave, but Maternal Grandfather stopped him.
"Come back here! Don't cause trouble for your sister's family. There's plenty of time; no need to rush."
The maternal grandparents' family lived on the outskirts of town. They had four sons and only one daughter, Bai Haitang, along with several grandsons. The whole family made a living in town and was better off than the Lin family.
Back then, the Bai family agreed to marry Bai Haitang to Lin Hai, firstly because Lin Hai was honest and hardworking, and secondly because Bai Haitang insisted on marrying him after falling in love.
Maternal Grandmother held Lin Yuhe's hand and said, "Good child, the Zhang family isn't worth risking your life for. Our Yuhe is beautiful and capable—with a little effort, we can find someone much better than the Zhangs."
Maternal Grandfather, who had been quietly smoking his pipe since arriving, pulled over Bai Zikui's back basket and started taking things out.
"Haitang, your mother brought five catties of white flour for Yuhe. Make her some rolled noodles. There's also a slab of meat and a piece of leaf fat. It's too hot today, so cook the meat and render out the fat, or it'll spoil."
Just yesterday, Mother Lin had been heartbroken that her daughter hadn't eaten well while sick. Now, her parents had brought supplies, and she felt so moved that her eyes turned red.
She rarely visited her parents' home. Although her mother always packed things for her whenever she went, she was afraid that if she went too often, her sisters-in-law would look down on her, her husband, and their children.
"What's with you, you useless thing, shedding golden beans over such a small matter? You don't learn the good from your father, only pick up his bad habits."
With a sharp tongue but a soft heart, Maternal Grandmother scolded her daughter Bai Haitang while also taking a jab at her own husband. Seeing Maternal Grandfather's aggrieved expression, she could only glare without saying anything more.
"You've gone to trouble again, in-laws. Your own family has many mouths to feed and not enough to go around, yet you still think of Yuhe. Thank you so much."
Grandma Lin thanked them repeatedly, already thinking about discussing with her son when he returned from work to find a job outside. They couldn't keep relying on the in-laws' provisions—over time, even the best relationships would sour, and their family would seem like freeloaders.
"Haitang, you chat with your mother for a while. I'll go to the vegetable garden to pick some vegetables," Grandma Lin said, thinking that since the in-laws had brought both meat and white flour, she must at least invite them to stay for a meal.
Though she said she was going to pick vegetables from the garden, she actually planned to take a few copper coins and visit the village chief's house to see if they could share some vegetables. The second crop in their own garden hadn't grown yet.
Just as Grandma Lin stood up, she was pulled back. "In-laws, we really can't stay. There's still much to do at home!"
One tried to leave while the other insisted on staying—both in-laws were sincere in their intentions. It was Lin Yuhe who spoke up from the side.
"Grandma, since Maternal Grandmother has matters to attend to at home, let's invite Maternal Grandfather and Maternal Grandmother over for a meal another day when we have time!"
With her granddaughter having spoken, the two elders stopped being polite. Lin Yuhe knew there wasn't much to eat at home. By saying "another day when we have time," she meant they would invite them once they had earned some silver.
Maternal Grandfather's family didn't stay long at the Lin household. Lin Yuhe noticed her mother's eyes were slightly red, and she secretly saw Maternal Grandmother slip her a string of copper coins in her mother's room.
After seeing off Maternal Grandfather's family, it wasn't until past lunchtime that Uncle Lin hurried into the courtyard. Lin Yuhe had already roasted the sesame seeds and peanuts they needed.
Uncle Lin set down the back basket he had carried all the way, wiping sweat from his face. It seemed he had walked the entire journey on foot, just to save those few coins.
"Yuhe, sugar is thirty-five copper coins per catty—quite expensive—so I only bought one catty. I bought two catties of white flour, thinking we could buy more once we earn some money."
Opening the sugar Uncle Lin had called expensive, Lin Yuhe saw it was likely unrefined, with an orange-yellow color. The candy made from it probably wouldn't look very appealing.
"Uncle, if the candy ends up costing too much, will you be able to sell it?"
Lin Yuhe knew cheaper things had a broader audience and were easier to sell.
She wasn't very familiar with the prices of this era, and she didn't even have a single copper coin to her name.
"Don't worry, little Yuhe. Over the years, your uncle hasn't gained much else, but he's learned a lot and met many people. As long as what we make is good, we won't lack ways to sell it."
There was a hint of melancholy in Uncle Lin's words, which Lin Yuhe noticed. This uncle, who spent his days running around outside, had broadened his horizons, was eloquent, and knew how to read people—he had the makings of a businessman. It was just that this family held him back.
"Uncle, you brag as if you don't need to prepare a draft. You're really something," Lin Yuhe teased him deliberately.
"You little rascal, asking for a spanking, daring to tease your elder!" he said, giving her a light tap on the head.
Just then, Grandma Lin came out of the house. With childlike mischief, Lin Yuhe immediately tattled, "Grandma, Uncle hit me!"
Grandma Lin moved swiftly, reaching out to grab Uncle Lin's ear.
“How old are you as an uncle, still bullying a niece in her teens? You really are something—when it comes to meeting potential brides, you keep making excuses, but you’re quite capable of bullying people at home.”
Uncle Lin winced in pain, which made Lin Yuhe burst into laughter. In the end, it was only after she pleaded for him that Grandma Lin finally let go.