Zhenniang entered carrying scallion pancakes, roasted peanuts, sugar balls, and a box of pear candy.
The scallion pancakes were natural for Xi’er, and she had bought extra peanuts to keep some at home and send some to Uncle Shui. The pear candy was for grandfather and grandmother, and the sugar balls were for Xiaoguan’er.
Xi’er, with his dog-like nose, had long caught the scent of the scallion pancakes. He darted to the door and snatched them from Zhenniang’s hands, stuffing them into his mouth.
“How dare you eat without sharing?” Zhenniang gave him a light smack as she stood at the door.
“I learned it from Second Sister. Second Sister used to eat without sharing all the time,” Xi’er replied with a look that suggested it was all her fault.
“Have you seen your Second Sister eating without sharing these days?” Zhenniang asked with a sidelong glance.
“No,” Xi’er hung his head.
“Then why not learn from that instead?” Zhenniang countered.
“Oh.” Xi’er finally nodded, taking the pancake from his mouth. He tore off only the part that had touched his mouth and wrapped the rest back in the oiled paper to share with everyone later.
As the siblings talked, they entered the courtyard and closed the gate.
As soon as the gate was shut, Xi’er tugged at Zhenniang’s sleeve. “Second Sister, be careful when you go inside. Mother is angry and calling you and grandfather fools.”
“What’s this about? Why is Mother scolding Grandfather and me?” Zhenniang glanced toward the house. To save money, Mother hadn’t even lit the oil lamp, using only pine bark with resin instead. The room was full of smoke, and through the raised curtain, she couldn’t make out the figures inside.
“I’m not entirely sure, but when you weren’t back earlier, Cousin Zhengyan from Ninth Uncle’s family came to bring money. He said it was yours to claim, but you refused it, so Ninth Uncle sent him to deliver it. However, grandfather chased him away and threw the money out. When Mother found out, she became furious and called you both fools.”
Xi’er explained unclearly.
Zhenniang understood then – it must have been the money she had returned, and Ninth Uncle had sent Zhengyan to deliver it again.
The reason Zhenniang refused the money was simple. No matter how good the quality of the smoke ink, it was made from Li Family Ink Workshop’s tung oil. When she received the tung oil, there had been an agreement: return one jin of high-quality smoke ink and any excess would be bought back at market price.
This was the agreement, so she couldn’t accept that fifty thousand coins. She only took the processing fee and payment for the extra six liang of smoke ink, which amounted to just over ten thousand coins.
Zhenniang believed this was what she rightfully deserved.
Ninth Uncle was also a man of his word. Having set the price, he intended to honor it, which was why he sent Zhengyan again. Unexpectedly, grandfather had driven him away.
And grandfather shared her thoughts on this matter.
[Continued in next section due to length…]
Zhenniang thought about this as she led Xi’er inside, but the clever boy, knowing their mother’s mood was poor, slipped away to the kitchen before they even entered.
Sure enough, as soon as Zhenniang stepped inside before she could speak, her mother Madam Zhao pointed her finger right at her face: “How did I give birth to such a foolish girl? After how Zheng treated you, why would you still give him face? Even refusing money that was delivered to our doorstep! And your grandfather is just as foolish as you. Before, it was your grandmother and your father ganging up to anger me, now it’s you and your grandfather!”
Madam Zhao’s eyes were red as she spoke.
“Mother, I’m not trying to give Manager Zheng a face. I received materials from the Li Family Ink Workshop, and the smoke ink rightfully belongs to them. The processing fee and the price for excess smoke ink were agreed upon beforehand. Though Manager Zheng was wrong, he doesn’t represent the Li Family Ink Workshop. This is a matter of integrity,” Zhenniang explained, then smiled. “Don’t worry, Mother. I’ve made quite a stir today. Not just Seventh Grandmother, but even Ninth Uncle will give Manager Zheng a hard time. I won’t be taken advantage of.”
“Do as you please. You’re always right. Go call everyone for dinner,” Madam Zhao sighed after a while, sitting there listlessly.
“Mm.” Zhenniang nodded and went to the kitchen to help set out bowls and chopsticks.
Throughout the meal, Madam Zhao ate in silence, only speaking to curse Manager Zheng’s lack of principles and wondering what consequences he would face. After eating, she tossed her bowl aside and went back to her room.
While washing dishes, Zhenniang saw her eldest brother carrying water in and pulled him aside to ask, “Brother, does Mother have something on her mind?”
Li Dalang nodded and said quietly, “Today, Huaide from the Fang family by the city gate returned from Suzhou. Father had entrusted him to bring back a string of coins. According to Huaide, Father is working at the docks by the Suzhou River, carrying cargo for people. Mother is upset after hearing this.”
So that was it. Zhenniang understood now. Mother was worried about Father. Although Father had been unreliable these years, they had been together for nearly twenty years, and their feelings had grown even through their conflicts. Usually, when Father was home causing trouble, Mother would be so angry she’d grit her teeth, but now that he was out there suffering alone, Mother’s heart surely ached for him.
No wonder Mother was angry today. Thinking about Father carrying cargo at the docks, earning just a string of coins with such difficulty, while she and grandfather were pushing money away – how could Mother not be upset?
“What are you two siblings whispering about in the kitchen?” Just then, Madam Zhao came over and saw Zhenniang talking with Li Dalang. She snapped, then told Zhenniang, “Go check if there’s still hot water in the water room. Draw some for your grandparents to soak their feet.”
“Yes.” Zhenniang nodded and picked up the large copper kettle to head out. She saw Madam Zhao standing in the courtyard, sweeping back and forth with a broom.
“Mother, I heard the storytellers in the street say that from the moment we’re born, our fortunes and hardships are predetermined. Father just had too good a life in the first half, so now he needs to suffer some hardship. Once he’s endured his share of suffering, good fortune will return,” Zhenniang said.
“You girl, always full of strange theories. Fine, go get the water. Your father deserves this hardship – without suffering, he won’t know how hard it is to earn money.” As Madam Zhao spoke, she thought of how hard Zhenniang had worked making smoke ink, only to be bullied afterward. Life’s hardships were too numerous to tell outsiders.
With this thought, she spoke firmly to Madam Du, who was holding Xiaoguan and trying to put him to sleep: “Zhengliang’s wife, these next few days, clear out as much space in the house as possible and set up more racks. We’ll raise more silkworms this year. If we don’t have enough mulberry leaves, we’ll search the mountains – there are plenty of wild mulberry trees up there.” After speaking, she stormed back to her room.
Madam Du didn’t respond, just stood there stunned for a moment before carrying Xiaoguan back to their room.
Zhenniang took the copper kettle to the water room.
“Zhenniang, I knew you’d come for water, so I saved some hot water for you.” The night was pitch black, and Uncle Shui sat by the stove in the water room, yawning. Seeing Zhenniang arrive, he quickly took the copper kettle from her hands.
“Thank you, Uncle Shui.” Zhenniang spoke while taking out a paper package of spiced peanuts from her pocket and placing it on the stove: “Uncle Shui, these spiced peanuts are for you to enjoy with your wine.”
“You girl, why are you being so polite?” Uncle Shui glared, his whiskers bristling.
“This is for good fortune, for luck. Uncle Shui, you can’t refuse,” Zhenniang smiled.
Uncle Shui finally squinted his eyes: “Good, good. I heard about today’s events. Having a good skill is better than anything.”
Zhenniang smiled and waved it off, then carried the kettle back. In their small town, even the slightest matter could spread like wildfire.