Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 39

“Then from now on, you have to listen to me. I’ll have my mother teach you to write nice characters, and that way you won’t grow up ugly like Li Ergou.”

Seeing Dazhuang’s face scrunch up as if he were about to cry, the little bun patted his shoulder with a calm air, but inside, he was thrilled!

Half coaxing, half scaring, he managed to take in his very first loyal “little brother.” From then on, whenever he did something “bad,” there would always be someone to take the blame for him.

Although Dazhuang was actually a year older, the little bun was already extremely cunning at such a young age. Who knew who he inherited that from?

After washing her hands, Ying Su went back into the house and called the two boys for dinner. The little bun was still sulking a bit about her taking out fifteen taels of silver all at once, but he would never stay angry at his mother.

He proudly held up the large characters he had written, his face full of expectation. “Mommy, look! How did I do?”

Ying Su took the paper and studied it. Though the little bun hadn’t been learning for long, his characters were already neat and upright. Unlike most beginners whose writing wobbled crookedly, his strokes were straight and balanced. For a four-year-old, it was already very impressive!

She bent down and gave him a quick “smooch” on the cheek, smiling as she praised, “My son is amazing! These look great!”

The little bun blushed, stealing a proud glance at Dazhuang. Flustered, Dazhuang quickly used his arm to cover up his own writing, afraid Ying Su would see and laugh at him.

Not exposing him, Ying Su walked over casually, glanced down, and then reached out to ruffle his hair with a smile. “Dazhuang, yours isn’t bad either.”

Dazhuang had thought his auntie would only ever praise Huzi. He never expected she’d praise him too. His nervous little face instantly lit up with joy, and he looked at Ying Su with eyes full of delight.

The little bun was a bit displeased, but remembering he had just recruited Dazhuang, he held his tongue.

“Come on, time to eat!” Ying Su took one child by the left hand and the other by the right, leading them both to wash up.

At dinner, Ying Su finally learned what “earth eggs” were, they were potatoes. The name sounded grand, so she had thought they were some rare delicacy. Turns out it was just pork cracklings stewed with potatoes.

Dazhuang and the little bun both ate heartily. Looking at the dish, Ying Su’s thoughts began to stir, and she asked Liu Chuncao, “Where did these potatoes come from?”

“They’re planted in the fields. Potatoes are easy to grow and very filling. They were first brought over from Xialiu, though no one knows who planted them first. Later, everyone around here started growing them. They can be eaten as grain or as vegetables. These I just dug up yesterday, still small. Wait until harvest time and they’ll grow even bigger.”

Seeing Ying Su’s curiosity, Liu Chuncao happily explained, secretly feeling smug, so there were actually things that Shen Cuihua didn’t know.

Ying Su’s phoenix eyes lit up slightly. “If so many people grow them, what happens when families can’t finish eating them? Does anyone sell them?”

Madam Li, holding her bowl, answered, “Potatoes are easy to plant and don’t require much seed. Almost every household grows some. They’re not worth much, since everyone has them, there’s no market. If you can’t finish them, you just keep them in the cellar for winter. Sometimes they spoil before then and go moldy.”

“That’s right. Every year, plenty of spoiled potatoes get thrown away,” Liu Chuncao added with a smile.

Chewing her food, Ying Su thought bitterly, so it was just her and the little bun living in true poverty, hungry and cold, with nothing but bare walls. Yet everyone else here had more potatoes than they could eat. Looking back on everything since she crossed over, this village wasn’t as destitute as she had imagined. At least people’s basic needs were met.

If they had really been dirt poor, Madam Li wouldn’t have secretly supported her and the little bun for so many years just out of kindness. Realizing this, Ying Su felt a pang in her chest. She bit into her cornbread hard and swore inwardly that she must earn money. Maybe not enough to become a landlord, but at the very least, she couldn’t stay a poor peasant. Her first goal should be to live a moderately well-off life!

Looking at the potatoes, a money-making idea flashed in her mind. But she would have to wait until harvest in a few days to test it.

That dinner was lively and warm, without the awkwardness and barriers of before. With Ying Su gradually showing her capabilities, Li Dalang and Liu Chuncao no longer dared to underestimate her. 

Li Dalang was intent on learning carpentry from her, while Liu Chuncao wanted to follow her in making candied fruit to sell. Naturally, their attitudes were now much warmer.

After dinner, Ying Su picked up the Jianyang Butterfly orchid and took the little bun home. Though Liu Chuncao and Madam Li urged her several times to stay the night with them, she still refused.

There was one thing she hadn’t forgotten: after Shen Cuihua got pregnant, gossip had spread in the village claiming the child was Li Dalang’s. Liu Chuncao had even beaten Shen Cuihua over it.

She didn’t want any such rumors arising again. More importantly, she wanted the little bun to have a happy childhood, free from shadows. Even if his life lacked a father’s presence, she would give him the best she could.

So some distance needed to be maintained.

On the way home, the inevitable happened, the little bun muttered all the way, distressed. “Mommy, why did you suddenly give Uncle and Aunt fifteen taels of silver? Fifteen taels could last us years! You promised me you’d be frugal, that every penny would be spent wisely…”

Ying Su looked helpless, wishing she could cover her ears. Normally, her little boy was adorable, but when it came to being stingy, he really gave her a headache.

She had been single in her past life and had no experience as a mother. Who could tell her how to teach her son the right view of money?

Rubbing her hair in frustration, she sighed. Correcting the little bun’s miserly ways was going to be a long, hard task.

“Baby, even though your uncle and aunt didn’t do much work on the wheelchair, they were the ones who connected us with the craftsmen. If I hadn’t given them anything, they wouldn’t say it out loud, but in their hearts they’d feel resentful. Then, if we ever needed help, they wouldn’t be willing. Now that I gave them fifteen taels, they’re happy, and later, if we need something, they’ll help us sincerely.”

Ying Su explained earnestly, though she didn’t know if the little bun truly understood. After all, adults lived in a world tied to interests, while children’s thinking was far simpler.

Still, compared to the people she’d known in her previous life, the folks in this mountain village were indeed much more honest and kind.

Although the little bun still found it hard to accept, he was observant enough to notice his mother’s impatience. So he obediently said, “Mommy, I understand.”