Chapter 61:
Li Daqiang called Li Sanmao, then went to the main hall and called out to Dad twice but didn’t see him.
He walked to the backyard doorway, planning to scoop some water to wash his hands, and heard his parents’ conversation: “You old woman, you’re really not acting decently!”
Mom’s voice made him stop in his tracks: “Giving fried eggs to those two bowls is fine enough, but not this one, listen to me.”
“Tomorrow Gui’er still has to leave, I need to boil some Mao Ji Dan for him to take, there aren’t many left in that drawer…”
Old Man Li sat in the stove cavity smoking, his suppressed voice afraid of being overheard:
“You old woman, Daqiang worked hard in the field all day too, he only ate some leftover corn mush at night, what’s wrong with giving him an egg?”
“You old woman, how can your conscience allow it?”
“Hmph! You old man are just pretending to be fair, all show, he labored all day, how much money did he earn? Where’s the silver?”
“Just you wait, Muqing Yunliang’s studies will still need the big bucks!”
“Sigh, they’re all sons, I just called him earlier to eat noodles too, if you do this, how am I as a dad supposed to face those several brothers in the future?”
“Noodles, noodles, noodles, this bit of noodles was still the ones I hid, this time you’ve really cleaned me out!”
It hurt her badly, but luckily Gui’er was leaving tomorrow, so she could only save up again…
She thought the oldest brother had a sullen temperament, he wouldn’t say anything if he didn’t eat an egg, it was just this old man making trouble.
Li Daqiang felt sour inside, quite uncomfortable, not knowing why his steps felt so heavy.
After turning around and coming out, he stumbled and accidentally kicked something in the main hall. Old Man Li heard the noise and hurried to the doorway to look out—oh no!
That figure leaving through the main hall door wasn’t it Daqiang!
He complained repeatedly: “Hey! It’s all your fault, you woman!”
Li Daqiang came out and bumped right into Li Sanmao and the other person in the yard.
They bumped so hard it made their heads spin and eyes blur…
“Oldest Brother… you okay?”
“Oh, I’m fine, I’m going to the latrine, didn’t see anyone, Mom’s making food for you guys…”
After saying that, he walked away…
“Strange, what’s wrong with oldest brother?”
Li Sanmao touched his own forehead, it hurt from the bump, oldest brother had no reaction, his face looked gloomy, and he wasn’t enthusiastic about talking.
Entering the main hall, Luo Zhi’er saw Zhou Shi with a dark face placing egg noodles on the table. After placing them, there were three bowls, each with an egg on top!
She and Li Sanmao exchanged glances of dismay, she pinched his hand, Li Sanmao gave her a helpless look—this was something she absolutely hadn’t expected.
The sun was coming out from the west. In this family, could there be a day when she was served an egg?
Old Man Li saw the couple come in and immediately greeted them, “San Mao ah, sit down with your wife, you must be starved after bustling around all day, Dad had your mom make you a bowl of noodles to eat, eat then sleep!”
“Thanks Dad!”
Li Sanmao said.
“Where’s Daqiang?”
“Oh, oldest brother went to the latrine, I’ll go call him.”
“Then go!”
Old Man Li was worried Daqiang had heard the earlier conversation, thought about it and still had the third child go call him.
Zhou Shi glanced at Luo Zhi’er and grumbled, “What are you stupidly standing there for, come get your own bowls and chopsticks!”
Luo Zhi’er gave her a blank look, stood up and went to get them.
Not long after, Li Daqiang came in rubbing his hands, and Li Sanmao too.
He looked at the noodles on the table, his bowl had a fried egg floating on it, just smaller than the other two bowls. He thought about it and then buried his head and ate it up big mouthfuls…
Seeing Li Sanmao almost finished eating, Luo Zhi’er gave him her noodles and egg: “San Mao, I’m losing weight, not eating anything at night, all this is for you to eat!”
Li Sanmao frowned, “You still need to eat something…”
“I know, I’ll eat if I’m hungry!”
“Alright!”
Zhou Shi was incredulous, this fat hoof usually ate like a reincarnated hungry ghost, yet she wouldn’t take a single bite of such good noodles and egg, giving it all to San Mao?
“If you’re not eating, why didn’t you say so earlier, made me make an extra portion for you!”
Seeing it eaten into Li Sanmao’s belly, she felt so distressed, wishing she could snatch it back and bring it to Gui’er’s room…
In her heart she still thought, what a waste of an egg and a bowl of noodles.
“Alright, his mom, if you’re done, go sleep, we still have things to talk about!”
Zhou Shi’s eyes darted, “Sleep what sleep? I still need to clean the bowls and chopsticks!”
She sat down, perking up her ears to listen. She knew the old man was going to talk about the silver matter, how could she miss it?
Old Man Li was helpless with her, sighed two breaths, sat to the side and smoked his old pipe.
Seeing that Li Sanmao had almost finished eating, she tentatively said: “San Mao, can this termite mushroom oil really sell for that much silver today? Who did you sell it to?”
Li Daqiang finished eating and also put down his bowl, listening.
“Dad, this was handled by Miaomiao’s mother. For the specific selling method, you still need to ask her!”
Old Li Tou looked at Luo Zhi’er, understanding in his heart that it was indeed her, and his tone carried a bit of politeness as he said: “Third Wife, who did you sell it to?”
“Dad, I was just wanting to talk to you all about this matter!”
“Our termite mushroom oil was sold to Yumian Tower in town, and these fifteen taels include the deposit for the next three months.”
“Yumian Tower? Deposit?”
“That’s right. This termite mushroom oil is six hundred cash per jar, with delivery twice a week. I signed a contract with the steward of the restaurant.”
Old Li Tou nodded. “So that’s how it is. I was wondering how one jar could fetch fifteen taels—it turns out it includes the deposit for the next three months…”
“But this isn’t bad either. It solves our family’s urgent need. It’s just, are we going to have to go to the mountains to collect termite mushrooms every week from now on?”
“That’s right. Because they will use it to make dishes to sell, we have to make deliveries to town twice every seven days.”
“Because we signed the contract, we must abide by it, otherwise we will have to pay three times the compensation in silver.”
“Three times? That much?”
Old Li Tou felt a bit pressured, but earning silver was never that easy?
Luo Zhi’er deliberately said it very seriously, to prevent anyone at home from acting recklessly.
“Also, the techniques I use when making it—you all must keep them confidential after seeing them, not spread them outside! For safety’s sake, it’s best if you don’t watch when I make it…”
“No problem with that. Whoever spills it can get out of this house!”
Old Li Tou said sternly. He knew that old woman in his family had a mouth with no gate on it…
“Hmph! After all this, we still have to go to the mountains to pick them. If you want to go, you go. Heh… this fat hoof of yours must be thinking of going to town to play!”
“Twice a week? No way, I’ll go then!”
Zhou Shi’s eyes darted around as she muttered.
“Shut your mouth! If you can do it, go earn fifteen taels for me in three months.”
“What? I bustle about at home, isn’t earning silver the big men’s job?”
Old Li Tou was at a loss with her. He just hated that she understood nothing and talked too much, afraid she would ruin Third Wife’s livelihood.
“Third Wife, don’t listen to your mother’s nonsense. This time you’ve solved our family’s urgent need. What’s so hard about going to the mountains to collect mushrooms!”
This Third Wife could make termite mushroom oil; maybe she could come up with some other livelihood too?
“Your mother, Daqiang’s wife, Liuliu, Miaomiao, and the few little kids—when the field isn’t busy, we’ll all go.”
Old Li Tou gave his word. This silver was earned by Third Wife without taking any herself— if you still won’t go, what kind of talk is that?
