Chapter 88:
She touched her belly, Zhou Shi looked at the cornbread on the table, and Old Li Tou glanced lightly at her…
She was so scared that she quickly shrank back into the quilt, hearing movement outside.
She tumbled out of the quilt, cautiously probing…
“His father, they’re back!”
“I heard it! Do you need to tell me?”
Old Li Tou scolded!
Zhou Shi trembled in fright, pouted, looking aggrieved. She hadn’t dared to make a sound just now!
“Hmph! Still have the nerve to feel aggrieved? See what Third Wife says later. If compensation in silver is needed, just wait for me!”
Zhou Shi swallowed her saliva! Anyway, whatever she did was wrong!
This old man was treating her less and less seriously!
“Useless woman who only makes trouble! This family has been unable to rise all these years because of you!”
Zhou Shi covered her ears and shrank like a turtle, hiding in the quilt without making a sound.
She felt extremely aggrieved inside and didn’t dare to go out with Old Li Tou.
Only after Old Li Tou first put on his jacket and went out did she sneakily follow and stand behind the door to listen…
As soon as Li Sanmao put down the bamboo basket, he ran into Old Li Tou stepping out from the main hall.
“Dad! You haven’t slept yet?”
“Heh, Sanmao, how could Dad sleep without you back?”
“We made Dad worry!”
“Why be polite with Dad? How did that matter turn out?”
Old Li Tou asked with a face full of worry.
He was anxious. He’d finally found a livelihood, all the silver spent, and it might still end up with them owing compensation…
“Dad, I’m a bit thirsty. Let me go in first and drink some water. Let Miaomiao’s mother tell you the details!”
“Oh, go ahead, heh!”
Old Li Tou saw the couple arrive dusty and weary in the night, not even getting a drink of water, and said guiltily.
“Third Wife, look, it’s all because your mother-in-law caused trouble. How did Shopkeeper Zhu handle this?”
Luo Zhi’er had a face full of worry. “Dad, this matter is settled! I said a lot of soft words, and Shopkeeper Zhu asked me to do all the deliveries from now on!”
Old Li Tou’s expression relaxed.
“Heh, that’s good. Thanks to Third Wife’s mediation. From now on, you do the deliveries, and you’re fine with that. Rest assured, your mother-in-law won’t touch this anymore!”
Old Li Tou’s tone was quite firm, also giving her reassurance!
Zhou Shi wanted to curse, but she didn’t want to go back to that scary Yumian Tower anyway!
Why did this Luo Zhi’er cooperate with such a terrifying restaurant?
“Also, Dad, they took a liking to the acorns and said they could be made into some ingredient. They want us to deliver them!”
“Ah?”
Old Li Tou was stunned, joy flashing in his eyes.
“There’s such a good thing?”
How could acorns be eaten? They were bitter and astringent!
“Can that acorn bean really be eaten?”
“They seem to want to grind it into powder to make something to eat!”
Luo Zhi’er dodged the question!
“Oh, like that…”
This Third Wife was really a lucky star. Even fools have fool’s luck; she went out and secured another livelihood!
They’d racked their brains, and besides farming and hunting, they couldn’t find anything to make a living. This good opportunity fell right into their laps…
“So what did you say?”
“I agreed, but I also have to collect mushrooms and pick acorn beans. I’m afraid there won’t be enough time for deliveries. At home, you all have to plow, and Sanmao has to hunt!”
“So how to handle this?”
The light in Old Li Tou’s eyes dimmed.
Luo Zhi’er had anticipated this. Wanting silver but unwilling to put in effort—where did such a good deal come from? She, Luo Zhi’er, wasn’t a tool that could fix everything.
Even if she could fix it, she wouldn’t encourage such an atmosphere. Then they’d rely on her forever and still think she didn’t give enough!
“How to handle what? Let Zhou Hanjuan go too. What’s she doing squatting at home all day? Eating free rice?”
Zhou Shi suddenly spoke up, startling awake Li Daqiang and Zhou Hanjuan from the eldest son’s family next door!
“Keep your voice down. In the middle of the night, you’ll wake the little children!”
Old Li Tou blamed her, but she was right—what was Eldest Sister-in-law doing idling at home?
Her body should be comfortable now, so she should get up and do what needs doing. The home needs work; she can’t rest anymore!
“Dad, I reckon the quantity Yumian Tower needs won’t be small. Even if Eldest Sister-in-law goes to pick, it won’t be enough. I suggest our Old Li Family acquire acorns at low price in the village, then deliver them to Yumian Tower. How about that?”
“What?”
Zhou Shi jumped up.
“You fat hoof, got so much silver you’re burning it? With so many hands at home, you still want to spend silver to acquire?”
“If you want to spend, you spend. I have no silver!”
Old Li Tou found her voice grating… He thought deeply…
“Fine! This business with Yumian Tower isn’t depending on our deliveries; I begged for it on my face! If you can’t meet their supply demand, why would they want you to deliver?”
“Taoyuan Town is surrounded by mountains and waters everywhere. Where aren’t there acorns? Why specifically our Old Li Family?”
“This…”
Old Li Tou was very hesitant!
“Dad, give me a definite answer. Next delivery, I’ll give them a reply!”
With that! She went to the backyard, scooped water to clean herself up, and prepared to rest!
Next door, Li Daqiang and his wife were also listening with ears perked!
Old Li Tou thought for a moment, followed her to the backyard, and sighed twice!
“Third Wife, how do they plan to acquire these acorn fruits?”
“The specific amount hasn’t been discussed yet. They said to settle it next time delivering termite mushroom oil. I negotiated some time considering our family situation!”
This was naturally profitable, but in their mindset, the silver should all belong to the Old Li Family. Now sharing with villagers felt wrong no matter what!
But there was no better way!
“Third Wife, can we really not keep up with their demand by picking ourselves? Dad thinks…”
“Dad! Yumian Tower’s business is very good. Grinding acorn fruits into powder takes a lot of raw materials. If it sells well, supply will definitely fall short of demand! If they can’t get enough from us, they’ll acquire from others!”
“Think it over carefully. There are two days left. This is a once-and-for-all, steady livelihood that requires some initial capital to acquire, but not much…”
Zhou Shi had already come in and was listening behind the door!
Hearing about capital, she wanted to jump again! “Capital? What capital?”
“No way!”
Old Li Tou looked up, frowning slightly. Zhou Shi immediately shut up, turned, and went back to her bedroom, planning to hide all her belongings somewhere!
Luo Zhi’er ignored her. Old Li Tou would consider this; he wasn’t stupid and knew it was a money-making livelihood.
If he wanted to give it up, she didn’t care; she’d already gotten the recipe money!
If he forced her and Xiao Zhou Shi to pick enough, she’d quit. Things would be as they are; even a Zhou Bapi wouldn’t work people to death with no one left to do the work!
After washing up, Luo Zhi’er hurried back to her room. She was worried about Miaomiao!
With them away, could she sleep alone, was she scared!
She gently opened the door. The room was pitch black, and Miaomiao’s faint breathing sounded in the room!
Li Sanmao came from behind. “Wife! Miao…”
Luo Zhi’er turned back. “Shh! Miaomiao fell asleep!”
Li Sanmao understood her tacitly. They tiptoed in. She got into bed and gently lay beside Miaomiao!
She tucked in the corner of the quilt for her and kissed her forehead.
Li Sanmao did the same as usual.
He slept on his floor mat!
He looked at his wife’s profile facing him as she covered Miaomiao with the quilt.
He sighed. When would his wife let him hold her to sleep and tuck in the corner of the quilt for him?
Unknowingly, he fell asleep…
