“The wild boar meat was hunted yesterday, but what’s with all this?” Yu Banta stared at the pile of items, somewhat dumbfounded.
At a glance, the rice and flour were all refined grains, and the fabrics were of fine cotton at the very least.
Had her family struck it rich?
“Yesterday, I also found a ginseng plant and sold it today for silver. Over the past two years, my foolishness has caused the family much hardship, so this is a small token of my sincerity.”
“Second Sister, from now on, I will make sure everyone lives a good life.”
“Second Brother-in-Law, you have a skill. Have you ever considered gathering a team of your own to specialize in building houses for others?”
Yu Banxia looked at Zhang Quanguai. This brother-in-law was a good man and not blindly filial.
He treated Second Sister very well. Back when Lan Shi constantly tormented Second Sister, he became so angry that he proposed dividing the family.
After the division, they received very little, even ending up with a thatched hut as their house. Now, they’ve upgraded to a tiled courtyard house.
All of this was the result of his own hard work. She greatly admired this brother-in-law.
Zhang Quanguai scratched his head. “Forming a team to become a masonry foreman is indeed a good idea, but I don’t have the silver for it right now, and I only know how to build simple tiled houses.”
“Most men can do that, so no one would specifically hire us.”
Yu Banxia smiled. “Don’t worry about the silver, Second Brother-in-Law. But you must swear to the heavens that you will treat my second sister well for the rest of your life.”
“If you ever become wealthy and look down on my second sister, may you be struck by lightning!” Hearing this, Yu Banta looked at her younger sister in shock.
Third Brother and Yu Banyue, however, waited quietly, knowing that their younger sister must have her reasons for saying this.
Without hesitation, Zhang Quanguai swore to the heavens. Yu Banta’s eyes reddened slightly.
She had always known that her husband treated her well.
But she also understood that her younger sister was doing this for her sake, fearing that her husband might turn bad once he had money in the future.
“How about this, Second Brother-in-Law? Come back with us for a while. Our family will soon buy land and build a new house. When the time comes, I’ll draw up a blueprint for the house.”
“Once the house is built, you can take this blueprint with you. I’m sure people will come to you to build houses for them.”
“Our family is going to build a house?” Now, not only Yu Banta but even Yu Mancang and his sister were surprised.
Since when?
“Right now, our house seems big enough, but have Third Brother and Sister ever thought about what will happen when Huzi and the others grow up? Third Brother will also need to marry.”
Yu Mancang was taken aback, then blushed.
He hadn’t even thought about marriage, yet his younger sister was already worrying about it for him.
“Alright, I’ll come back with you for a few days. Even if we don’t build a house right away, the busy farming season is approaching. I’ll help my father-in-law’s family with the harvest first, then come back for my own.”
Zhang Quanguai said cheerfully. Although his sister-in-law had suggested it, building a house wasn’t something that could be done overnight—it required careful planning.
But the busy farming season was indeed approaching. He would help his father-in-law’s family harvest the wheat first.
After settling the matter, the fabrics were locked away in a chest by Yu Banta, the rice and flour were hidden in the cellar, and the remaining items were taken back.
Yu Banxia left an extra precaution: she placed a Wood Elemental Power at the cellar entrance. If anyone tried to cause trouble, it would trigger the Wood Elemental Power she left behind to retaliate.The luggage chest was intentionally left behind, as that old woman was bound to cause trouble again.
She would wait.
“Uncle Li, we’re heading back to the east side of town.” Old Li Tou leaned against his cart, smoking a hand-rolled cigarette.
Seeing Yu Banxia and the others come out, he quickly extinguished the cigarette, washed his hands at the well, and set off as soon as everyone was seated.
…
By the time they returned to the town, Yu Bingsheng had also just arrived not long before.
Seeing Yu Banxia hesitate to speak, he ultimately said nothing. Yu Banxia was curious but didn’t ask either.
It wasn’t until they got home that she understood why Old Six had seemed so hesitant.
“What nonsense is this?” Yu Banxia thought she had misheard and looked at her sister-in-law, Wu Zhuxiang, for clarification.
Wu Zhuxiang had been in low spirits ever since Xu Xiucai and his mother had visited.
“Xu Xiucai sent a matchmaker to propose marriage,” Wu Zhuxiang said dejectedly. Although her sister-in-law had made her stance clear, who knew if she might change her mind upon hearing about the proposal?
Hearing this, Yu Banxia’s hands itched with irritation.
“Are they out of their minds? After what I said to him yesterday, is this some kind of revenge? Do they think I’d be grateful and rush over just because he sent a proposal?”
“Huh?” Wu Zhuxiang was taken aback. Seeing her sister-in-law’s shocked expression, she had thought she was overjoyed.
Who would have guessed her sister-in-law would say such things?
For a moment, she was at a loss for words.
“Sister-in-law, next time such filth comes to our door, just chase them out, okay?”
“Thank goodness I wasn’t home today, or I’d have personally grabbed a broom and swept them out myself. They’d only dirty our yard.”
Seeing her sister-in-law’s utter disdain, the gloom in Wu Zhuxiang’s heart completely dissipated.
“Xiaxia, why did you buy so many things?” Wu Zhuxiang followed her into the main hall and saw the pile of items, worrying that her sister-in-law had spent all her money.
Yu Banxia reassured her, “Sister-in-law, don’t worry. I promised you, and I’ll keep my word.”
“Look, what’s this?” Yu Banxia took out a complete set of the Four Treasures of the Study, along with beginner books like the Three Character Classic, Hundred Family Surnames, and Standards for Students.
Seeing these, Wu Zhuxiang’s eyes instantly reddened.
These were all things Yu Banxia had bought on the way back from her second sister’s house when she passed by a bookstore.
In addition to these, she had also bought policy essays and the Four Books and Five Classics for her father.
Her promise to support her father and nephew’s education wasn’t just empty words. In the future, she even planned to fund her two nephews’ schooling as well.
Even if they didn’t pursue official titles, being literate and able to do arithmetic was a good thing.
“Xiaxia, thank you,” Wu Zhuxiang said, not knowing what else to say, as she hugged her gratefully.
Yu Banxia grinned. “Sister-in-law, no need to be so polite among family. Today, I have something to ask of you too.”
“What is it? Tell me,” Wu Zhuxiang wiped away tears of joy and smiled at her.
Yu Banxia explained the dishes she wanted to make, and Wu Zhuxiang nodded repeatedly. “Alright, I’ll give it a try later. But you’ll have to stand by and guide me.”
“Sure.”
“Where’s Mother?” Yu Banxia looked around but didn’t see her mother.
“Mother went to the old house,” Wu Zhuxiang replied.
Yu Banxia nodded, took the things meant for the old house, and Yu Banta helped carry some as well. It had been a while since they last visited, so it was a good opportunity to see their grandmother and the others.
“Grandma!” Yu Banxia called out loudly as they reached the entrance of the old house.Soon, Madam Wu’s voice came through: “Ah, my Xiaxia is back, she’s in the yard.”
Yu Banxia entered the yard carrying her things. Seeing this, Madam Wu hurried over to take them: “Why did you bring so much fabric?”
“Grandma, this is your granddaughter’s gift to you,” Yu Banxia chuckled.
Madam Wu was taken aback, then happily said, “Oh, my granddaughter is the best. Let me see what color fabric you bought for me.”