When mixing in the lye water just now, Xu Zhichun intentionally kept away from Liang Mingliang.
With Xu Zhichun’s reminder, Zeng Xiaoyan and Aunt Zhu’er suddenly recalled the secrecy contract. Both felt a hidden fear—for in their excitement, they had nearly forgotten the need for secrecy.
After all, to them, a husband was someone very close. From childhood, the teachings they absorbed impressed upon them that a husband was their pillar, their reliance. To deliberately conceal something from a husband—such a thought had never even crossed their minds before.
But now it’s different. Today, by relying on her own labor, she truly earned money. And indeed, that feeling of pride and confidence was simply wonderful.
Even a husband cannot take away this feeling.
Zeng Xiaoyan immediately glared at Liang Mingliang: “This is our secret. You’re not allowed to ask. How could we just give away the money‑making recipe for free?”
In which family is the money‑making recipe not tightly hidden, even passed down only to the eldest son?
Xu Zhichun was willing to take Zeng Xiaoyan and Aunt Zhu’er along to earn money. Not only the two of them, but even their whole families were deeply grateful.
Hearing this, Liang Mingliang immediately felt embarrassed and ashamed. He quickly smiled and apologized to Xu Zhichun: “I’m sorry, Sister Zhichun. I didn’t mean it—I was just curious. Don’t tell me, really don’t tell me, I’ll never ask again.”
At those words, all three laughed.
Xu Zhichun laughed and said: “It’s fine, it’s fine. I know what kind of person Brother Liang is.”
Secrecy awareness must be transmitted like this—imperceptibly, little by little.
They worked in full swing until dusk approached. With the preliminary tasks completed, the three returned home.
Xu Zhichun rubbed her aching waist, stretched her arms, pulled a can of “Happy Fat House Water” from the harbor warehouse to perk herself up, then ate two pieces of chocolate. Revitalized, she set about giving the chickens and the two pigs an extra meal.
Just after the evidence was neatly destroyed, Liang Mingxuan returned, as usual carrying an armful of pig grass.
“Sister‑in‑law!”
“Mingxuan has come back, take a rest.”
“Mm.”
Liang Mingxuan immediately noticed the basins and buckets set out in the kitchen and the main hall. “Sister‑in‑law, you’ve worked hard.”
“It wasn’t hard at all—we made money today!” Xu Zhichun was sure to tell him. In this household, the two of them relied on each other alone, and with her status as the eldest sister‑in‑law, like a mother, she had no need to guard against him.
Hearing Xu Zhichun say she had earned so much money, Liang Mingxuan widened his eyes, a little shocked.
On the steady child’s face, once again appeared a childlike look of surprise.
Xu Zhichun chuckled with satisfaction, “Isn’t your sister‑in‑law amazing?”
“Mm‑hm, Sister‑in‑law is amazing!”
“Is Sister‑in‑law the most capable in the whole village?”
The child was amused and nodded vigorously: “Sister‑in‑law is the most capable in the whole village.”
Xu Zhichun laughed heartily too, reaching out to pinch the child’s cheek. The child tilted his head to dodge in silent protest, murmuring, “Sister‑in‑law.”
He’s not a child anymore—don’t pinch his face.
Xu Zhichun laughed, a little regretful that the youngster actually refused to let her pinch him.
Dinner was chive scrambled eggs and garlic‑fried eggplant.
Xu Zhichun thought to herself: tomorrow, after selling the goods, she must buy a few jin of meat, and another twenty or thirty chicks. She would raise them until grown, then slaughter them for meat—after all, she could afford it.
But in this way the chicken coop wouldn’t be enough; another one had to be built, and Uncle Qi Tian should be able to do it.
Not long after the uncle and sister‑in‑law finished dinner, Zhu’er’s little aunt arrived, carrying a bucket and a basin.
There was no need to make the ice jelly tonight—the fresher, the better. Xu Zhichun could rise early tomorrow morning and prepare it.
Tonight they only needed to prepare the konjac tofu and konjac shreds.
The konjac slurry was sufficient, but Xu Zhichun still added about two pounds of konjac powder, enough to make at least ten more pounds of konjac tofu.
Just make it first—if it doesn’t all sell, no problem, they can bring it back home to eat.
Tomorrow, when making ice jelly, she could add powder too, saving more of the mesona seeds to keep for later—usable anytime.
The home of the village head.
Zeng Xiaoyan and her husband went back together, gave Aunt Liang the money, told her how good today’s business had been, and of course reminded her again and again to keep it secret.
Aunt Liang was stunned when the third son and his wife proudly handed her that heavy bag of copper coins. She couldn’t help saying: “This—did you earn it all together today? Why bring it all back? Did Zhichun and Zhu’er’s aunt ask our family to hold it first, and then divide it at the end of the month?”
The couple burst out laughing with a sudden chuckle.
“Mother, what are you saying—this is all ours.”
“Mm, yes—it’s all what we earned today! And there’s more to come tomorrow and the day after, hehe!”
“What!” Aunt Liang’s hand quivered, almost buckling at the knees. “Are you serious—what you said is true?”
Why don’t you believe it?
She couldn’t help blurting out again: “Did you find money today?”
Zeng Xiaoyan covered her mouth, giggling, her brows and eyes curved in laughter.
Liang Mingliang grinned so wide his mouth nearly reached his ears. “Mother, this money is what we earned. What kind of daydream are you having—who could possibly stumble upon so much cash!”
Zeng Xiaoyan, smiling, said: “I think Mother isn’t wrong. This money is just like picking it up.”
After all, both konjac and lantern fruit grow on the mountain.
After the couple talked for quite a while, Aunt Liang finally, trembling with fear, believed them. Then she grew joyful: “This is truly wonderful! You two have really made something of yourselves—keep it up.”
“Don’t worry, Mother, we will. Just don’t tell anyone—except Father. If asked, just say we made twenty or thirty coins.”
“Alright, alright, I know, I know—wealth shouldn’t be flaunted. Of course this can’t be spoken of.”
Aunt Liang, following custom, counted out sixty coins for the couple. “Take it and keep it yourselves.”
Not counting the ten coins spent on renting the ox cart, the couple earned a total of one hundred seventy coins. Sixty were kept as their private stash, while one hundred ten were taken into the communal fund.
Zeng Xiaoyan smiled as she put it away.
Sixty coins a day adds up nicely in a month. From now on she can buy snacks without checking the price—driving Madam Zhao jealous.
Aunt Liang, overjoyed, cracked five eggs that evening, added plenty of chives, and made a big plate of chive‑fried eggs.
Just yesterday they had half a chicken, and today there were eggs again. Even the Village head's household, though well‑off, wouldn’t usually eat like this. Everyone was rather astonished.
Aunt Liang, chuckling, said: “Today the third son and his wife earned a bit, so let’s eat something nice too—as a celebration.”
Madam Zhao laughed hurriedly: “I wonder how much the third brother and his wife actually earned? That ten coins for renting the ox cart—that’s counted separately, isn’t it?”
Zeng Xiaoyan rolled her eyes without the slightest courtesy.
Zhao is really annoying!
Aunt Liang’s gaze darkened slightly, and she said coolly: “No matter how much you earned, not a single coin owed to me was missing. That’s enough—let’s eat.”
Zhao was unhappy in her heart, pursed her mouth, and did not say anything further.
She thought to herself: Probably not much money—otherwise Mother‑in‑law would already be flaunting it proudly. Truth is, Mother‑in‑law is biased, doting on the third couple. Even if those lazy good‑for‑nothings earned a single coin, she’d be overjoyed, adding extra dishes and calling it a celebration. Hmph, infuriating.
🐇♡🐇♡🐇♡🐇
Zhao: “Money? Ha! Probably just enough to buy a handful of peanuts.”
Aunt Liang: “Nonsense! They earned plenty. I even cracked five eggs tonight—five! With extra chives. That’s a celebration if I ever saw one.”
Zhao: “Celebration? For those two? Even if they earned a single copper coin, you’d still throw a feast. Biased, that’s what you are.”
Zeng Xiaoyan: rolls eyes dramatically “Oh please, Zhao. Can’t you just eat without counting our coins?”
Aunt Liang: “Careful, Zhao, your envy’s showing. Next thing we know, you’ll be tallying the eggs too!”
Runa: And so the day ends in our tale: in this village, every coin sparks gossip, every egg becomes a feast, and every eye‑roll is sharper than a knife.
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