Recently, the Yan family had some money, and one profitable venture after another kept coming their way.
Yan Ziyi was no longer as hesitant as he had been the first time.
After leaving the Futian Tavern, the two brothers headed to the rice shop.
The family had always eaten coarse rice, rough cornmeal, and black wheat flour.
Lu Qingran usually ate very little, and Yan Zihao could sense that his young wife didn’t like it. Before leaving that morning, he had told Yan Mother that this time, he would use the money earned from selling the chicken mushrooms to buy some fine rice. Yan Mother readily agreed.
Fine rice cost 15 wen per jin. That day, the chicken mushrooms sold for a total of 450 wen, so Yan Zihao bought ten jin of fine rice. Seeing some golden millet next to it, and remembering Lu Qingran’s delighted expression when she had a bowl of sweet potato millet porridge in town, he bought five jin of millet as well.
The price of the fine rice and millet together came to 225 wen. Yan Zihao carried the baskets and, along with Yan Ziyi, left the rice shop.
By May, the sun was scorching. Zhushan Town, located in the northern region, had not seen rain for over half a month since the last heavy downpour. The weather was dry and hot.
Yan Zihao and Yan Ziyi took advantage of the relatively mild sunlight and quickly made their way back to Lu’s village.
In the middle of the village, a group of elderly men and women were chatting under the big tree. Seeing the brothers returning from town again, they immediately started gossiping.
“Has the Yan family suddenly gotten rich? How come they’ve been going to town every day lately? I’ve run into them several times,” said an older woman with a face full of wrinkles, probably in her fifties.
“Yeah, I’ve seen them too. Our fields are at the foot of the mountain, and my second daughter-in-law says she often sees the Yan family going up the mountain. Every time they come down, their baskets are full,” added another elderly woman, who had a large mole on her chin.
“Really? What could be on the mountain besides wild vegetables at this time of year?”
“Who knows, but they must be making money. My little grandson plays with their two kids, and he says they’re going to repair their house.”
The gossip spread, and some envious women began plotting in their minds. One opportunistic woman nudged her neighbor.
“Isn’t your eldest daughter-in-law friends with the Yan second son’s wife? Go ask her. We’re all from the same village. If there’s a way to earn money, we should share and make some together.”
“Yes, yes, go ask!” several envious women chimed in.
At that moment, Yao Shi was about to fetch water. Hearing this, she immediately stopped and went home to speak with Lu’s mother.
“Mother! Mother! Something big has happened!” Yao Shi shouted before even reaching the door.
Lu’s mother, startled, snapped, “What? The sky’s fallen, or did a wolf attack? Weren’t you supposed to fetch water? Where’s the water?”
“Mother, it’s true! I just heard some elderly women in the village say the Yan family got rich, earned lots of money, and are about to build a new house!”
“Why should you care if they get rich? Hurry and fetch the water!” Lu’s mother replied impatiently.
“Big sister-in-law, you mean Qingran’s husband’s family, right?” asked Liu Shi, the wife of Lu’s second son.
“Yes, that’s them,” Lu’s mother confirmed.
Lu Qingqing, just stepping out the door, overheard everything and her face instantly darkened.
“Mother, it’s true? The Yan family really has money now?”
“Yes, really! And people even want to ask how they made it!”
Fuming, Lu Qingqing seethed. Yan Zihao was handsome, one of the best-looking men in the village. When she first saw him, she had been attracted, but her family had been forced out of the old Yan household, living in a broken house nobody wanted, struggling in extreme poverty. She had persuaded her family to make Lu Qingran the substitute bride. Now, barely over half a month later, the Yan family was already rich.
Lu’s mother seemed to realize something and said, “Eldest daughter-in-law, let’s go listen in too.”
Yan Zihao and Yan Ziyi were unaware of the commotion outside. Back at home, they gave the rice and remaining money to Yan Mother, and Yan Zihao went to his room.
Lu Qingran was tidying the bedding. Hearing footsteps, she looked up: “You’re back? How did the shopkeeper respond? Did they buy it?”
“Yes, three wen per jin. The one you made to remove bitterness? They want that too. Qingran, how much do you want for it?”
Lu Qingran thought for a moment. “Three wen it is. Each bamboo shoot weighs at least two jin, roughly. As for the formula, that’s simple—one or two taels of silver is already the maximum.”
“Good! I’ll tell them when Ziyi and I deliver the bamboo shoots tomorrow. Qingran, you and Mother just stay at home. It’s fine if Ziyi and I go by ourselves.”
“Alright, I understand.” Lu Qingran was happy with Yan Zihao’s consideration.
She could also take the chance to enter her space for a quick wash—after two days of being out in the sun and climbing the mountains, sweating so much, she was ready for a bath.
Yan Mother called Yan Zihao for lunch outside. Lu Qingran had just finished tidying, and they left the room together.
“Mother, we’ll handle digging the bamboo shoots. You all stay home and rest,” Yan Zihao said after breakfast.
“Fine! Then we won’t go,” Yan Mother agreed readily.
Yan Father said, “Zihao, I’ll go with you.”
“Good!”
With that reminder, the villagers began paying attention to the Yan family’s actions. The first day was fine, but by the second day, someone was quietly following them. Yan Zihao noticed immediately but didn’t say anything.
For a time, Mount Siwang was lively and bustling.
“Zihao, these bamboo shoots are so bitter! Why are you digging so many?” Uncle Zhong, whom they had met by the well, asked while planting rice in the field.
Hearing the question, other villagers in the fields pricked up their ears. Yan Zihao had no reason to hide and replied openly:
“Uncle Zhong, we’re selling the bamboo shoots. The taverns in town are buying them!”
The Yan family had been making money lately, and life had improved. To prevent villagers from gossiping or misinterpreting, it was best to give a clear source.
“Really? How much do they pay? Can I have my kids come along and dig too?”
The Zhong family wasn’t wealthy. Their parents were sick and unable to help, and they had three young children at home. As the saying goes, “Half-grown sons eat up the poor father.” The whole family relied on Mr. and Mrs. Zhong’s hard work.
Yan Zihao said, “Sure! We go up around chen hour each day. Tell them to come early.”
“Alright, Zihao. You’ve really helped us a lot,” Zhong expressed gratefully.
Yan Mother, hearing this, immediately said, “Uncle Zhong, we’re all from the same village, and this mountain belongs to everyone. There’s no question of helping or not helping. If anything, you’ve helped us more. Without your support, our family wouldn’t have survived that winter.”
“No, no! It’s nothing. It’s what we should do,” Zhong replied humbly.
Zhong was an honest man and had a good relationship with Yan Second Son. When Yan Second Son’s family had been expelled in the bitter winter, they’d been given only a small amount of farmland and no food. Thanks to neighbors like Zhong, and with Yan Second Son and Yan Zihao working in town, they had managed to survive.