Lin Gui sat quietly to the side without speaking, her head lowered. As for what she was thinking, only she herself knew.
“Mother, tonight I want braised pork. Will you make it for me?”
Lu Qianqian glanced at Liu Zhaodi but said nothing to her directly. Instead, she wrapped herself around Old Madam Lu’s arm and acted spoiled.
“Of course I’ll make it! If Qianqian wants to eat it, then we’ll make it. You’re the most capable person in the family now — you can eat whatever you want.”
Even while speaking, Old Madam Lu didn’t forget to jab at Liu Zhaodi a few times.
Did she think the old lady didn’t know what was going on in her head?
Hmph. Dream on if she thought she could leech off her precious daughter.
“Eldest daughter-in-law, take some leaner meat and make braised pork. Use the fattier pieces to render some crispy pork cracklings with salt — Qianqian likes that. Also make soup with the bones. The greens in the backyard are ready too, add some into the soup.”
“Understood, Mother.”
Lin Gui quickly got up with the meat and headed to the kitchen. The little children immediately followed after hearing there would be delicious food.
Soon, only the adults remained in the main hall.
At that moment, Old Man Lu spoke.
“Qianqian, how much did those fruits sell for?”
After seeing all the fresh rice and meat his daughter had brought home, he had already guessed the fruits must have sold for a high price. Though he felt some heartache over the spending, the silver was earned by his daughter herself. How she used it was her own decision, and he had no intention of demanding she hand it over.
After all, his daughter would eventually marry. The more dowry she saved, the more confidence she’d have in her husband’s family later.
Lu Qianqian placed the small basket used earlier for the mangoes and guavas onto the table. A cloth covered the top.
“Father, Third Sister-in-law’s family directly paid me thirty taels for the mangoes and guavas, and they’ll continue purchasing from me first in the future. Also, the monthly Florist stipend is twenty taels, and I already received this month’s payment today.”
“That makes a total of fifty taels. After buying all these things, I spent a little over four taels. There are still forty-six taels and four hundred wen left here.”
Lu Zhengguo and Liu Zhaodi were instantly stunned.
They had never seen so much silver in their lives.
Even Old Man Lu found it hard to believe. Although he had already guessed the fruits sold well, he never imagined it would be this much.
Liu Zhaodi couldn’t resist inching closer and stretching her neck to peek into the basket. She had practically never seen real silver before — usually just a few copper coins at most.
Old Madam Lu was also shocked at the amount, but the moment she noticed Liu Zhaodi’s expression, she immediately snapped back to attention.
“I’m telling all of you right now — no matter how much silver the family has, it all belongs to my Qianqian!”
“In the past, all of you complained that I favored her and wanted me to marry her off quickly. Now that Qianqian can earn silver, suddenly you want to split the money?”
“Bah! Keep dreaming!”
“I’m making this clear today: no matter how much silver Qianqian earns in the future, it has absolutely nothing to do with any of you!”
Old Madam Lu spoke with complete confidence.
Within the Lu family, both Old Man Lu and Old Madam Lu heavily favored their youngest daughter. Whenever there was anything good to eat or use, it always went to her first.
Still, they had always felt a little guilty.
Most of the family’s income came from the eldest and second sons. Even the third son’s schooling expenses had been partially supported by the older brothers.
So the two elders knew deep down they owed something to the eldest and second sons.
That was why, even when Liu Zhaodi occasionally acted petty and greedy, Old Madam Lu usually only scolded her a few times instead of truly driving her back to her maiden family.
At that moment, Lu Zhengjun returned after putting away the ox cart and happened to hear his mother’s words.
He immediately spoke up.
“Mother, how could we think like that? The silver Little Sister earns through her own ability naturally belongs to her. What kind of older brothers would rely on their younger sister to support the household?”
The moment Liu Zhaodi heard her husband say that, she nearly exploded inside.
In the past, Lu Qianqian had always lived off them — what was wrong with them benefiting from her now?
“Mother, Second Brother is right. The family still has me and Second Brother. There’s no need for Little Sister to support the household. If word got out that we relied on our younger sister, wouldn’t people laugh at us?”
Lu Zhengguo also spoke.
He was genuinely happy that his little sister had become a Florist. At least now nobody would dare bully her in the future. As for her silver, he had never once considered taking any.
Old Man Lu nodded and stopped Old Madam Lu before she could continue.
“It’s good that you think this way. Qianqian is your younger sister, and treating her well is only natural. Now that she’s become a Florist, would she really let her older brothers suffer?”
“Mm. Father is right.”
Lu Qianqian could clearly understand the meaning behind Old Man Lu and Old Madam Lu’s words.
They completely indulged her.
But the family also had several married brothers now. Everyone had wives and children.
Her eldest and second brothers truly treated her well. Otherwise, with the way their parents had spoiled her for so many years — letting her live like a pampered young lady who never lifted a finger — conflicts would’ve erupted long ago if they’d been resentful.
Of course, while the brothers themselves might not have complaints, that didn’t mean their wives felt the same way.
Constant suppression would inevitably create backlash eventually.
And Lu Qianqian was not the original owner.
She wasn’t willing to be the only one eating and living well anymore.
Besides improving her life, she also needed to earn goodwill points somehow. Otherwise, where would future new plants come from?
“Father, now that I’m a Florist, there will definitely be many things in the future. Some tasks I can’t handle myself, so I’ll need my brothers to help me.”
“Help with what? You just tell them what to do.”
Before Lu Qianqian could finish speaking, Old Madam Lu interrupted.
Lu Zhengguo and Lu Zhengjun also nodded in agreement.
“Little Sister, if you need anything, just tell Big Brother. I’ll do it for you.”
“Mm. We’re family. If there’s something to do, just order us directly.”
Meanwhile, Liu Zhaodi’s face had practically turned green.
Were they serious?
Did they plan to turn their household into lifelong laborers?
She felt miserable inside, but she didn’t dare speak out for fear her mother-in-law would beat her.
“Mother, there are many heavy jobs I can’t do myself, so naturally I’ll need my brothers’ help. But if they’re working for me, they can’t earn money elsewhere. They’re already married now — we can’t let their wives and children go hungry, right?”
“And if outsiders hear about it, wouldn’t they say I’m an ungrateful white-eyed wolf of a younger sister?”
The moment Old Madam Lu heard this, she immediately exploded again.
“I’d like to see who dares say that about you! I’ll skin them alive! You’re their younger sister — they should treat you well!”
Lu Zhengguo and Lu Zhengjun lowered their heads, pain flickering in their eyes.
Ever since childhood, they had known their parents favored their younger sister. They understood that girls should be doted on more.
But now they also had wives and children.
Just as Lu Qianqian said, they couldn’t let their families starve.
Lu Qianqian felt a headache coming on.
But there was no helping it.
Old Man Lu and Old Madam Lu genuinely loved her, and she didn’t want to hurt their feelings. She could only slowly change their mindset over time.
Holding Old Madam Lu’s arm, Lu Qianqian spoke softly in a spoiled tone:
“Mother… I’m a Florist now. If people find out I treat my family badly, wouldn’t I lose face outside? Besides, I still want you and Father to live good lives.”
“And what if my brothers end up dragged down because of me?”
“If they refuse to accept payment, then I’ll just hire other people instead.”