Lu Qianqian looked over. The piece of gauze in Old Madam Lu’s hand was exactly the kind she needed. It seemed the weaving techniques of this era were actually quite advanced.
“Mm, that’s the one I wanted.”
Hearing that it was for her daughter, Old Madam Lu became even happier.
“Then take it and use it.”
This kind of gauze was usually only used for making tofu or steaming buns and cakes.
“Mother, do we have an extra pot we’re not using?”
Lu Qianqian suddenly realized that making soap would definitely require an iron pot. But the family only had one iron pot for cooking meals, and she obviously couldn’t occupy it all the time.
Old Madam Lu had been watching her daughter handle the flower petals. Hearing the question, she immediately shook her head.
The family only had one iron pot — where would an extra one come from?
Iron goods like pots and kitchen knives were many times more expensive than ordinary items. Only wealthy families could afford multiple iron pots.
Lu Qianqian had already guessed this would be the case.
Forget it.
Tomorrow the mangoes and guavas would mature again anyway. She could go to the prefectural city again and also register the Cold Beauty flowers with the Plant Association.
Since she had already decided to go, she might as well make some soap today and bring it along tomorrow to see whether there was a profitable sales channel.
Right now, her only goal was making money.
She wanted a better life.
She wanted to eat whatever she liked.
And her living conditions needed improvement too.
The bed she currently slept on was so uncomfortable. Even the bedding itself was rough beyond words.
“Qianqian, do you need it right now? Mother can have your eldest brother go into town and buy one.”
Now that Old Madam Lu knew her daughter had money — and that she was using it for legitimate matters — although it pained her heart, if her daughter wanted something, then they would buy it.
“Mother, I’m going to the prefectural city with Second Brother again tomorrow. I can buy one myself then.”
“Alright, alright.”
Old Madam Lu smiled brightly.
“If you don’t have enough silver, tell Mother. Mother will give you some.”
“I know.”
Lu Qianqian humored her.
She had money now and naturally wouldn’t actually ask the old lady for silver anymore. From now on, it was her turn to take care of the old couple.
Meanwhile, Liu Zhaodi sat by the doorway rolling her eyes several times after hearing Old Madam Lu’s words.
Inside, she became even more determined about certain plans.
After laying the flower petals out flat, Lu Qianqian followed Old Madam Lu into the kitchen.
“Mother, how much pork belly is left from yesterday?”
“There’s still some. Do you want to eat it? Mother will cook it for you.”
Old Madam Lu smiled warmly.
Lu Qianqian smiled back.
“I need it for something.”
Old Madam Lu took out the remaining pork belly and placed it on the stove counter.
“Qianqian, what are you trying to make? Mother will do it for you. Don’t touch it yourself. If hot oil splashes onto your hands, that would be terrible.”
When Old Madam Lu and Lu Qianqian entered the kitchen, Liu Zhaodi had followed behind them and stood by the entrance.
Hearing Old Madam Lu’s words, she rolled her eyes again internally.
The old lady was truly biased beyond reason.
Still, thinking she might get to eat some pork later, she wasn’t foolish enough to say anything sarcastic at this moment.
Lu Qianqian also felt helpless.
Old Madam Lu had always been like this. Since childhood, she had never allowed the original owner to cook or even wash clothes.
Now if Lu Qianqian wanted to do anything in the kitchen herself, the old lady naturally wouldn’t agree.
“Mother, then help me render some lard. Afterwards everyone can eat the pork cracklings together.”
“Eat what?”
Old Madam Lu instantly began grumbling again.
“They already ate such good food yesterday. And now they’re eating more today?”
“Qianqian, Mother will make it for you. Once it’s done, keep it for yourself and eat it slowly. Look at you — you injured your head and have been busy nonstop these past few days. Your little face has already gotten thinner.”
Old Madam Lu habitually began scolding everyone else again.
The dinner last night had already included braised pork, which was luxurious enough. Now her daughter wanted to give them even more good food today, and the old lady was reluctant.
In her mind, all good things should belong solely to her daughter.
Those ungrateful people weren’t qualified to eat them.
“Mother, I’m a Florist now. If people find out that I eat meat by myself while Eldest Brother and Second Brother can only sit there watching me eat, how would I face anyone afterward?”
Lu Qianqian knew she couldn’t change the old lady’s mindset overnight and could only slowly guide her.
Hearing her daughter say this, Old Madam Lu still felt unwilling deep down, but if it was for her daughter’s own good, then she wouldn’t object further.
She also knew her daughter’s reputation in the village had always been terrible.
Previously, she felt it didn’t matter. As long as Qianqian lived well, that was enough.
But things were different now.
Qianqian had become a Florist — an important figure in Great Xia. In the future, she would surely leave this tiny village behind.
If outsiders learned her daughter had once been lazy and selfish, that would be bad.
It seemed the village would need to see that her daughter had changed for the better — and become extraordinary.
“Fine. We’ll do as Qianqian says.”
Although she agreed verbally, she still refused to let Lu Qianqian touch anything herself.
Wasn’t it just rendering lard?
“Eldest daughter-in-law, come help render the lard.”
After saying that, Old Madam Lu directly pulled Lu Qianqian out of the kitchen.
“Qianqian, go busy yourself with something else or rest for a while. Once the pork cracklings are ready, Mother will bring them to you.”
The moment Lin Gui heard her mother-in-law calling, she hurried out from her room.
Without a word, she entered the kitchen and skillfully began cutting the pork belly into chunks.
Lu Chen and Lu Pan obediently helped boil water nearby.
Lu Qianqian looked around.
Alright then.
There truly wasn’t anything left for her to do.
So she decided to first process the flower petals into juice.
Looking at the sky, today’s sunlight was very strong. The temperatures of May and June were already quite hot.
Hopefully the finished soap could be completed by tomorrow.
If not, then she’d just have to wait for another opportunity.
Although the Lu family was poor now, Old Man Lu had earned some money outside years ago. Otherwise, they never could have built such a large house with a courtyard and even their own water well.
Because of that well, the Lu family didn’t need to fetch water from the village well anymore.
However, as the family population grew larger while income remained limited, life gradually became harder and harder.
Still, this conveniently saved Lu Qianqian from needing to fetch water elsewhere.
She could work directly at home.
She took a clean wooden basin and spread the gauze inside first. Then she placed half the flower petals onto it and wrapped them tightly within the cloth.
“Mother, help me pour a basin of water.”
Since she had no rope available, Lu Qianqian had to hold the gauze bundle by hand, meaning she could only ask Old Madam Lu, who had been standing nearby watching all along, to fetch water.
“Alright.”
As long as she could help her daughter, Old Madam Lu was happy.
She quickly drew up a bucket of water and poured it into the basin according to Lu Qianqian’s instructions.
Then she watched as her daughter slowly kneaded the flower petals wrapped inside the gauze.
The previously clear water gradually began changing color.
Old Madam Lu asked with heartache:
“Qianqian, why are you crushing such beautiful flower petals like this?”
“Mother, come closer.”
“Hm?”
Hearing her daughter say that, Old Madam Lu leaned in closer.