"Even You Bao is capable now!" Today You He returned to her maternal home. She was happily sitting in the main hall, talking to Mrs. Su: "This summer our family relied on You Bao to buy watermelons at a low price. We actually earned a lot of money. Before I came today, Mother-in-law told me that I must thank Second Aunt and You Bao!"
It had been more than three months since You He married into Liu Family. Everyone's character and appearance was good. Although Mother-in-law couldn't compare to her own mother, she still treated pretty nice. Her husband Liu Zhuo Ting loved her dearly. Younger sisters were also very sensible. Coupled with the support of her maternal family, Su Family, You He's life in Liu Family was quite comfortable.
This summer, with the help of Su Family, they bought a lot of watermelons at two coins lower than the market price from Su Family and resold them. After one summer, they earned nearly thirty liang silver. Because of this incident, You He's mother-in-law, Mrs. Qin, treated her even better. Knowing that she was going back to her maternal home today, she had specifically instructed her to properly thank Su Family.
"We are all one family, why are you saying such polite words!" Mrs. Su amusedly scolded her: "You child, you're becoming more and more polite."
The two sisters who were doing accounts in the backyard knew that You He was coming. They both came to the front yard after the accounts were settled. You Jin greeted You He with a smile: "Haven't seen you for half a month and you look much better, Elder Sister You He. Life in Liu's house must be good." Although You He wasn't as resolute as Third Aunt, Mrs. Han, she was also very generous and courteous. Although she was close to Su Family like family now, she never covet anything from Su Family. So You Jin was very willing to associate with this elder cousin sister. This time the idea of selling watermelons was first mentioned by You Jin. Only then, You He implemented it.
"You Jin, your mouth is getting more and more powerful." You He smilingly glanced at her: "My in-laws are great. Besides, don't I have the two people you prepared to protect me. How could I possibly suffer? "You He's temperament had indeed changed a lot since she got married. She used to be a bit childish, but now she had gradually become calm and generous. Quite like Mrs. Han's style from back then.
Although this was what was said, since she got married, You He had returned to her maternal home every ten days to half months. At first, her mother-in-law felt a little uncomfortable. She complained to her old man in private: "Which married woman returns to maternal home every day? Isn't this letting people see a joke?"
"Old woman, your eyesight is too shallow. Is Su Family an ordinary family?" Liu Da He smoked a tube of tobacco. His deep voice responded, "Su Family lives in such a glorious lifestyle. They are willing to marry their niece into a family like ours because they set their eyes on us treating her well. Besides, the more Daughter-in-law interacts with her maternal family, the looser Su Family's finger joints will be. This way, there will be a subsidy, right?"
Although Su Family was not comparable to the wealthy families in Luohe Prefecture, Liu Family didn't have much wealth either. Plus they both do business in the city. Liu Da He didn't know how good the business of Su Family's snack shop was. Just look at the dowry brought by Daughter-in-law when she entered the house. Let's mention other things, just the ten mu of fertile land was enough for the whole family to eat for a year. Where can one find such a good matter?
"I'm afraid that people outside will talk about us. Those who don't know think that we are bullying our daughter-in-law, since she goes back to her maternal home so often..." After listening to Liu Da He's words, Mrs. Qin's mind naturally turned around. But still she feel a little unhappy in her heart. Which daughter-in-law returns to her maternal home every three days!
However, the unhappiness in Qin's heart soon disappeared. Not long after the watermelons first came into the market, You He brought the good news home. Not only did Su Family give the goods to them at a lower price than the market price, but their family could pay for the watermelons after they were sold out. Liu Family was naturally delighted.
Having taste the sweetness,it went without saying that Mrs. Qin won't prevent You He from returning to her maternal family. That's why, when knowing that You He was going back to her maternal family today, she prepared a present for her to bring back long ago and specifically told her to thank her maternal family.
The sisters merrily chatted away. Quite harmonious. Seeing that the children in the family were doing well now, and You He had grown up a lot, Mrs. Su couldn't help sighing: "If your mother knows that you are living so well now, she must be very happy, right?"
Hearing Mrs. Su mention Mrs. Han who was far away in Dingyuan, the smile on You He's face faded. She sighed faintly: "Last time I secretly asked someone to deliver a letter back, Mother replied to me. She didn't bring up matters at home. Just repeatedly told me to not send letters home. Nor was I allowed to go back."
Speaking of Mrs. Han, You He was still very worried: "At the beginning Father must have made things difficult for Mother back when I ran away like that. I'm really anxious, but Mother didn't say anything. I really don't know what to do!"
"Third Aunt doesn't want you to go back. She must be afraid that you will fall into the fire pit after you go back. How about this? I will find a traveling merchant heading to Dingyuan in the next two days and ask them to find out some news. If something happens in Dingyuan, we will come up with something then."
Even now, You Jin was very grateful to Mrs. Han. Mrs. Han did a favor to their family back then. Although now she had repaid a little, You Jin really can't bear to watch such a kind woman fall into the fire pit.
"All in all, us mother and daughter owe your family." You He wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes and sincerely thanked her second aunt's family for their kindness.
Seeing that she was crying, You He's accompanying little maid quickly comforted her in a low voice: "My lady, you can't be like this now. Your health is important."
You He nodded slightly: "I can know."
Seeing the two of them talking like this, Mrs. Su had a flash of surprise in her eyes and asked with some doubts: "You He, are you..."
You He's pretty face was slightly red and an indistinct nod: "I was a little unwell before. Only after inviting a doctor over did I know it's almost two months now."
"This is wonderful news!" Mrs. Su was overjoyed. Taking You He's hand, she spoke, "Child, now you are pregnant, you got to pay attention to these things. Coming here from such a long distance, what to do if you get tired? Really, this child. You don't understand and your mother-in-law actually let you go back and forth?" Mrs. Su was both happy and worried. Happy because You He was pregnant, worried because no one took good care of her.
"Don't worry, Aunt, I'm in good health! Mother-in-law is taking care of me very carefully. My share meals are specially cooked on normal days. Right now, I can't sit still. Telling me to be idle at home until the time of delivery is going to suffocate me!" Seeing her react like this, You He hurriedly comforted her softly.
When they heard that You He was pregnant, You Jin sisters were also overjoyed. Although You Jin privately thought that it wasn't good for You He's body to have a baby when she was under seventeen years old. But this was the case in this era. If one really waits until their twenties to have a baby, there will be problems.
"This won't do. Your mother-in-law is busy with the noodle stall business every day. There is still a shortage of people to take care of you at home. Auntie Song, go to our kitchen and choose someone. From now on, they will follow You Yin and the others into the city every day to take care of You He. Since she ate and lived in our home, we need to take good care of You He." After thinking about it, she still felt that she should take better care of her. So she asked Auntie Song to go to the kitchen to choose someone to take care of You He.
Seeing her like this, You He hurriedly stopped her: "Aunt, don't get yourself worked up. Right now, there are two people at home doing things and my fingers aren't getting dirty. If you get one more person to serve me, I'm afraid people will start mocking me!" Although she rejected Mrs. Su, You He was still very grateful in her heart and understood that Mrs. Su treated her like her own daughter.
You Jin doesn't understand these things, but she thought of another thing: "Once Elder Sister You He have a baby, I'm afraid there will be more areas to spend money in the future. Why don't we give the vacant storefront to Elder Sister You He and she can do whatever business she want first? It'll be more or less a subsidy."
Sujiaxiang's business was getting bigger and bigger now. On the 20th of last month, it had moved to the more prosperous East Street. The newly opened shop was more than double the size of the original one. The business had reached a higher level than before. Nowadays, in Luohe prefecture, when it comes to snack, everyone mentioned Sujiaxiang.
The snack shop had moved away and the original small shop became vacant. You Jin hadn't considered selling it. So it came to use now.
However, You He shook her head and refused: "I already owe you too much. Although you always say you're repaying the favor, but I believe that my mother pity you back then because we are a family. Not to get you to repay the kindness. Besides, from matchmaking to marrying into Liu Family, you have already helped me a lot. I can't be too greedy."
"Why are you acting like an outsider, child?" Mrs. Su felt that her daughter's idea was pretty good: "In the future, when the child is born, there will be a lot of expenses! Besides, Zhuo Ting will also take the imperial examination. Your sister-in-laws will be getting married in a few years. All these areas will spend money!"
You He knew how to advance and retreat. She maintained restraint while being intimate with Su Family and never asked for favors in return. Precisely due to this, You Jin was willing to think for the best for her: "Elder Sister You He, although we are women, we got to have money in hand to toughen up, no? Although it's fine now, but people's hearts are fickle. Money will not change."
Hearing what she said, You He couldn't help thinking of her parents who were far away in Dingyuan. THat's right! When Maternal Grandfather was alive, Father and Mother had a very close relationship. Half a year after Maternal Grandfather passed away, Father had completely changed. He drank and had fun outside every day. He quarreled with Mother a few times and even beat her!
Thinking of her father, whom she hadn't clearly understood after fifteen or sixteen years, You He took a deep breath before nodding slightly: "If it's like this, I won't be able to pay back what I owe You Jin."
She was willing to accept the store and do some small business.
"We're all one family, what owe?" Seeing You He being so sensible and soothing, Mrs. Su's heart warmed up. She felt such a good girl must not be wronged.
Although it was said that she wants to do some small business, You He didn't know what to do. Although her family opened a grocery store before, she had never got involved. After returning from Su's house, she discussed it with her husband for a long time and there was no result.
"Although Husband is two years older than you and our family makes a living from noodle stalls, I have never been good at common affairs. So I really can't think of any good ideas." Sitting on the edge of the kang with his wife's slender waist in his arms, Liu Zhuo Ting was also helpless.
You He snuggled into his arms and sullenly remarked: "It would be great if my mother is here. She will definitely have a good idea."
Liu Zhuo Ting knew that his wife had become sensitive and easy to cry since she became pregnant. Seeing that she missed his mother-in-law who was far away in Dingyuan so much, he feared her crying and said, "I'm afraid you're tired after going back and forth to Su's house today. Get some rest early. You will have time to think about what you want to do tomorrow."
The couple had a hushed conversation. Shortly later, You He fell into a deep sleep.
Seeing that she was asleep, Liu Zhuo Ting carefully covered her with a thin quilt. He sat back by the oil lamp for another night of battle. He hadn't gotten admitted in this year's government examination. He had to race for the examination in spring next year.