Zeng Xiaoyan, being straightforward by nature, couldn’t stand this. While checking whether a batch of Lantern fruit seeds was clean, she raised her head and sneered: "Even if we wanted to harm, we couldn’t. These Lantern fruits are ours once we’ve bought them, nothing to do with anyone else, so you don’t need to meddle."
The villagers glanced at each other, silently curling their lips—wasn’t that exactly the truth? They only needed to sell the lantern fruits; the Xu family was happy to buy, everyone was happy to sell, money in one hand and goods in the other, and that was the end of it.
It’s just that simple a truth.
As for what the Xu family does with the lantern fruits they’ve bought, that’s their business—why meddle? If they don’t want to say, then they won’t. Who’s eager to talk openly about how they make money anyway?
Truly worthy of being Granny Hua—spending the whole day finding fault with this and that, never a kind word from her mouth.
Granny Hua was furious at being rebuked by Zeng Xiaoyan in public. With a false smile she cried “Oh my!” and snapped: “Zeng, you claim to come from a wealthy family, yet you have no manners? I was kindly reminding you! If you don’t appreciate it, fine—but to talk back to an elder? Do you even respect the old? You think a bit of money makes you capable? Who hasn’t seen money before?”
Zeng Xiaoyan’s anger shot up, and she snapped: "Yes, I’ve got a bit of money and it makes me capable—certainly more capable than having none, tell me isn’t that infuriating!"
Granny Hua was so furious she nearly toppled back: “You—”
Xu Zhichun couldn’t let Zeng Xiaoyan fight alone. She spoke up: “Everyone should mind their own business. Who allows outsiders to meddle in another family’s affairs? And meddling while claiming it’s kindness—who would welcome such kindness? No household would. Granny Hua, don’t you agree? As for these lantern fruits, if you want to sell, we’ll buy; if not, we won’t force you. It’s that simple.”
Zeng Xiaoyan gave a light snort: “Exactly.”
Aunt Zhu’er also nodded: “Zhichun is right.”
The villagers all laughed and smoothed things over: “Exactly, it’s such a simple matter.”
Granny Hua, feeling humiliated and furious, threw out a few sharp words and stormed off angrily.
"That Granny Hua really is something."
"Ah, she’s always been like this."
In Xu Zhichun’s view, Granny Hua’s outburst of curiosity and unreasonable fuss wasn’t entirely without benefit—at least it showed the villagers that the three of them weren’t soft, pliable types who could be easily pushed around.
Perhaps it was just an illusion, but in any case, the villagers selling lantern fruit became a bit more polite afterward. Their words were no longer so brazen, nor did they circle around trying to pry into things as much.
In the final tally, they collected a total of 126 pounds of Lantern fruit seeds today.
The money for the purchase was fronted by Aunt Zhu’er, to be reimbursed after tomorrow’s sales.
Aunt Shu’er beamed with delight: “Now it’s fine, no need to worry anymore.”
Zeng Xiaoyan covered her mouth with a laugh: “These two days we can collect more; once everyone has picked most of theirs, in a couple of days it’ll surely be less.”
After all, with about seventy households and over three hundred people in the village, even if only some go up the mountain to pick, the lantern fruits are wild and limited in number.
Don’t be fooled by how it looks plentiful on ordinary days—once so many people start picking, it’s a different story.
Aunt Zhu’er slapped her forehead in sudden realization: “That’s the truth. Well then, let’s gather as much as we can—may Heaven not be in a hurry to send rain.”
Xu Zhichun and Zeng Xiaoyan smiled faintly: “Exactly.”
Because of the buying, they delayed making konjac tofu and konjac knots. After all, the village has many people, and quite a few lack boundaries—if someone barged in and saw, it would be awkward. So when crowds came to sell lantern fruits, they simply stopped making the konjac tofu and knots.
Fortunately, the konjac pulp had already been ground.
"It’s getting late, you all head back—whatever’s left I can finish myself."
Zeng Xiaoyan asked: “Do you really not need us to come help again tonight?”
Aunt Zhu’er added: “My house is closer—why don’t I come over again tonight?”
For the past two days Aunt Zhu’er had been talking about how her husband Qi Tian would return tonight. The couple, reunited after a short separation, were like newlyweds again—of course they should enjoy their reunion. Xu Zhichun would never commit the cruel act of “breaking up the mandarin ducks.”
"No need! I can manage. There isn’t much left to do—if I need help later, I’ll let you know."
Seeing they still wanted to insist, Xu Zhichun laughed: “It’s nothing—at most tomorrow I’ll slack a bit, and you’ll be busy anyway.”
The two of them laughed, finally at ease as they went back.
Liang Mingxuan had already returned, and the brother and sister‑in‑law were getting ready to cook dinner.
At home there was still a piece of pork belly bought yesterday, perfectly marbled with fat and lean—a fine cut. Xu Zhichun planned to make braised pork tonight.
Cut the pork belly into thick cubes, blanch with ginger and scallions, then stir‑fry over high heat in hot oil. Add salt and soy sauce, cover the pot and cook on strong heat, and just before serving, pour in a thick syrup of melted brown sugar.
Without starch to thicken, a little flour was used instead. The braised pork, coated in glossy sauce, had a rich, thick texture—its bright red sheen made it look even more delicious.
In the vegetable garden there were rapeseed sprouts—tenderly pinched off by the handful, quickly stir‑fried with just oil and salt, fresh and crisp.
Tonight we’ll keep it simple—just these two dishes.
While the pot was covered and the meat simmered inside, unexpectedly Uncle Liang with Madam Zhang and Second Uncle Liang with Madam Bai—all four—arrived neatly together.
Xu Zhichun sighed inwardly: she knew they wouldn’t stay quiet—here they were again.
She couldn’t help glancing at the kitchen. As long as they stayed, the lid must not be lifted—otherwise they’d get a free advantage. She only hoped they would leave soon.
Liang Mingxuan instantly understood his sister‑in‑law’s meaning. After greeting the elders, he went into the kitchen, pulled over a small stool, and sat quietly watching the fire, removing two sticks of wood from the stove.
Let it simmer slowly.
Madam Zhang plopped herself down and immediately began scolding Xu Zhichun: “Look at you—always running around outside, even daring to sell poisonous things like ghost taro in town. If trouble comes of it, don’t expect us to save you. And those lantern‑fruit seeds—chickens won’t even eat them, so what on earth are you using them for?”
Madam Bai gave a derisive snort, half‑smiling, half‑mocking: “Niece‑in‑law, it’s one thing to hide these tricks from outsiders—but are you hiding them even from your own elders?”
Xu Zhichun never truly regarded them as elders; she only wished for mutual non‑interference.
"There’s a reason for this. I, Xiaoyan, and Aunt Zhu’er made a small business together and signed a contract. We agreed that no one could tell outsiders—nor even family—otherwise the secret wouldn’t hold and we couldn’t make money. Whoever leaks it must pay the other two one hundred taels of silver each. Uncle Zheng knows about this contract too, so please, dear aunts, don’t make things difficult for me."
Madam Zhang sneered: “Such a trivial matter, and you talk as if it were something grand—showing off!”
Uncle Liang said: “So after all that fuss these past days, how many coppers did you earn?”
Madam Zhang’s eyes lit up: “Yes, how much did you earn? I see you bustling about every day—was it ten coins, or eight?”
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