Qian Yuemei, however, was unhappy.
“Mother, give a bit more! Four hundred large coins is way too little.”
Old Lady Su shot Qian Yuemei a sharp, sideways glare.
“If you think it’s too little, you don’t have to take it. A catty of coarse grain only costs five large coins—do the math yourself, how much grain can four hundred large coins buy?”
Qian Yuemei: “…”
Could you really calculate it like that?
There were still fifteen taels of silver sitting right on the table!
Su Erhu glared at his wife, who was constantly stirring up trouble, and snapped: “You always have so much to say! In recent years, after working hard all year round, our family couldn’t even save four hundred large coins!”
Not to mention saving anything, they ended up in debt year after year.
Qian Yuemei knew in her heart that her mother-in-law giving four hundred large coins at once as a private allowance was already quite generous.
In any other family, a mother-in-law would never give her daughter-in-law this much money.
However, how could she not make comparisons?
If the fifteen taels of silver weren’t sitting on the table, she certainly wouldn’t have felt it was too little.
Little Tangbao blinked her eyes, thinking this second sister-in-law was truly a thorn in the side of family harmony.
As a member of this family, she felt it necessary to give her another dose of her own medicine.
“WAHH… WAHH…”
Little Tangbao stared straight at Qian Yuemei and began dry-sobbing once more.
No matter how old-fashioned the trick, as long as it worked, it was a good trick.
The moment Little Tangbao started crying, it was an earth-shattering event for the Old Su family.
Everyone panicked on the spot.
Everyone except Qian Yuemei.
“What’s wrong? What happened to Tangbao?”
“What’s wrong with Little Sister…”
“What happened to Little Aunt…”
Having been through this once before, Old Lady Su was still able to keep her composure.
“Second Brother’s wife, get out right now!” Old Lady Su commanded directly.
Qian Yuemei: “…”
Why was she being told to leave again?
What did this have to do with her?
Regardless of whether it was her fault or not, when her mother-in-law told her to get out, she had to get out.
Snatching up the hundreds of coins from the table, Qian Yuemei stomped out in a huff.
The moment she stepped outside, Little Tangbao’s crying stopped abruptly.
Qian Yuemei: “…”
Standing at the doorway, she felt thoroughly unconvinced and stubborn.
She refused to believe in this wicked coincidence!
Could this little slip of a girl really be crying because of her?
Lifting the door curtain, Qian Yuemei stepped back inside.
Little Tangbao: “WAHH… WAHH…”
Qian Yuemei: “…”
Every set of eyes in the room turned simultaneously to glare at Qian Yuemei.
The accusation in their eyes was practically solidifying into substance.
“No, I…” Qian Yuemei was left tongue-tied.
“Tell the truth—did you pinch Little Sister on the sly?” Su Erhu questioned his wife with a face full of suspicion.
“I didn’t!” Qian Yuemei shrieked, feeling utterly aggrieved.
“Second Sister-in-law, you definitely bullied Little Sister in secret, otherwise why would she cry every time she sees you?” Su Liuhu was young, but blunt.
Qian Yuemei nearly fainted from anger.
She felt as though even if she were covered in mouths, she wouldn’t be able to clear her name.
Especially seeing her father-in-law, who rarely meddled in household affairs, looking at her with a scolding expression as well.
Qian Yuemei felt even more stifled and wronged.
“I… I said I didn’t! I didn’t!”
Her voice trembled with rage as she turned on her heels and stormed out.
Old Lady Su knitted her brows and said, “Second Son, go out and check on her. Your wife is carrying a child—don’t let her trip or bump into anything.”
“Alright,” Su Erhu responded, hurriedly chasing after her.
She was his wife after all; despite his dissatisfaction, he still couldn’t feel entirely at ease.
The next day, right after breakfast, the Old Su household bustled with excitement.
The villagers of Daliushu Village were not well-off; usually, they couldn’t bear to spend money on meat and didn’t dare go up the mountain to hunt.
Now that there was meat to eat, how could they not bring their whole families along to join the feast?
At the same time, they secretly admired the Old Su family’s generosity.
In any other household, who would have the heart to keep half a wild boar just for stewing and eating?
Even though it was only half a boar, it was still over two hundred catties of meat.
“Brother Su, congratulations, congratulations!”
“Hahaha… Congratulations to us all!”
“Old Brother Su, this full-month banquet of yours is being held with great splendor!”
“Hahaha… It’s merely the joy of having a daughter (nongwa zhi xi), just a chance for everyone to join in and share the celebration…”
His face glowing red, Old Man Su stood at the main gate greeting the guests.
Cupping his hands in respect with hearty laughter to those offering congratulations, his speech was surprisingly refined and scholarly.
It appeared exceptionally formal and full of ceremonial significance.
If a pair of large stone lions were placed at the entrance, it would look just like a wealthy household stringing up lanterns and decorations for a wedding.
Truth be told, when the Old Su family married off their daughters-in-law, they had never been so lavish.
The yard was filled with laughter and bustling chatter.
Adults laughed, children played, making it even livelier than the New Year.
So much so that it woke up the sleepy Little Tangbao.
Little Tangbao let out a delicate little yawn, opening her eyes with sleep-filled haziness.
And then, she found herself looking straight into a enlarged face.
“Little Sister, I’m Fifth Brother.”
The still somewhat inexperienced youth looked at Little Tangbao, flashing a wide smile that showed off a row of small, white teeth.
Little Tangbao: “…”
Another one introducing himself.
“Yi-yi, ya-ya…”
Hello, Fifth Brother.
Little Tangbao was a polite, well-mannered child; since he had introduced himself, she naturally had to show some response.
“Mother, is Little Sister greeting me?” Su Wuhu asked in wonder.
Old Lady Su looked at her tiny daughter with a beaming smile.
“Yes, your sister is saying ‘Hello, Fifth Brother.'”
Old Lady Su translated Little Tangbao’s intent with spot-on accuracy.
Little Tangbao was amazed in her heart: Her mother was so clever!
She could even understand a gibberish language that Little Tangbao didn’t even understand herself.
“Little Sister is so clever,” Su Wuhu exclaimed in admiration.
“Naturally,” Old Lady Su replied, bursting with pride.
She sounded just like Old Man Su.
In front of her son, she completely forgot to be modest.
Little Tangbao: “…”
Where on earth can you tell I’m clever from?
Though, you guys are absolutely right.
This baby is indeed clever.
“Mother, may I hold Little Sister?” Su Wuhu asked, looking at her with fondness and delight.
“Here, like this.” Old Lady Su picked up Little Tangbao and carefully placed her into Su Wuhu’s arms.
Su Wuhu didn’t dare move an inch, holding her as if she were a piece of fragile porcelain.
It wasn’t as if he had never held a child before.
After all, he had held Su Liuhu as well as Dapan and Erpan when they were little.
Yet holding his baby sister in his arms just felt entirely different.
Seeing Su Wuhu so tense, Little Tangbao wanted to help him relax, so she opened her mouth and cooed, “Yi-yi, ya-ya…”
“Mother, what did Little Sister say this time?” Su Wuhu asked, eager for knowledge.
Old Lady Su: “…”
How on earth would she know?
Still, even if she didn’t know, she couldn’t lose face in front of her son, could she?
“Your sister is telling you not to be so nervous.”
Hitting the mark by sheer coincidence once again, Old Lady Su translated it perfectly.
Little Tangbao was stunned.
Could it be that mother and daughter truly shared a telepathic link, and her mother could hear her inner thoughts?
Little Tangbao’s big, round eyes looked at Old Lady Su in amazement.
Old Lady Su felt a stir in her heart, somehow getting the strange feeling that her little daughter could understand her words.
Oh no! Her daughter was way too clever!
She felt a bit uneasy in her heart.
What should she do?
Unaware that she had startled her mother, Little Tangbao turned her little head to look at the handsome youth in front of her.
This Fifth Brother actually carried the faint fragrance of ink on his clothes.
Could it be… he was studying at an academy?
However, given the Su family’s financial situation, did they really have the means to support a son through his studies?