Carefree Farmwife: Training the Husband, Raising the Bun - Chapter 54

Ying Su heard him keep praising Shi Fei as filial, capable, and hardworking, and she grew quite fond of this Shi Fei. She intended to have all the furniture in her shop made by her own people, reliable, safe, and not easy for word to spread.

Liu Chuncao also clearly liked Shi Fei. Since both of them recommended him strongly, Ying Su smiled and said, “Go and find this Shi Fei, explain the situation of our shop to him. For now, the wages will be set at one tael of silver per month. In the future, once our shop opens and if the income grows, we will gradually raise his pay.”

The task of finding him was handed to Li Dalang, while Ying Su pulled Liu Chuncao along to stroll the streets. After all, she was a woman too, Liu Chuncao really enjoyed shopping.

The newly built house had been aired out for three days already and was now ready to live in. Ying Su planned to move back there with the little bun tomorrow. After all, staying in someone else’s home was never as comfortable.

There were still many household items to buy. By now Liu Chuncao had grown familiar with Ying Su, knowing that although she looked cold on the surface, she was actually easy to talk to and not hard to get along with.

When Ying Su shopped, Liu Chuncao bargained. When it came to haggling, Ying Su was certainly no match for her. She looked in astonishment as Liu Chuncao bargained two straw mats down from twenty copper coins to fifteen.

Seeing her expression, Liu Chuncao laughed even more happily and teased, “I thought you could do everything, but it turns out you can’t haggle. From now on, whenever you go shopping, call me along! I’ll bargain for you, guaranteed you won’t suffer a loss!”

Ying Su withdrew her surprised look and nodded with a smile. “Alright.”

That smile was very sincere. Previously, she had been somewhat distant with Li Dalang and his wife, but after spending the past couple of days together, their relationship had grown closer.

Li Dalang and Liu Chuncao weren’t malicious people. Otherwise, seeing Ying Su making money now, they would have become jealous and schemed to snatch her silver.

Liu Chuncao did love small bargains, but that wasn’t a major flaw. Li Dalang, though sometimes selfish, was an upright and rigid man who would never stir up big trouble.

After finishing their shopping, Ying Su and Liu Chuncao returned to the shop to wait for Li Dalang. When he came back, he looked excited. Judging from his expression, Shi Fei must have agreed.

On the way home, the ox cart was piled full. Ying Su had bought dozens of catties of white rice and gave half of it to Liu Chuncao’s family.

The rest, Li Dalang, drove directly to Ying Su’s house.

The little bun was already back from school. When he learned they were moving into their new home today, he was excited, but as soon as he saw the cartload of goods Ying Su bought, his excitement instantly dimmed.

No one knew her son better than Ying Su. Of course she realized he was distressed about money again. She ignored him. With a miserly son like this, she felt she would need to earn a mountain of gold and silver, to let him know their family was not short of money. Only then could she change his stingy habit.

After all, stingy men weren’t liked by women. If the little bun couldn’t find a wife in the future, what would they do? Thinking of that possibility, Ying Su felt even more motivated, she was determined to earn a mountain of gold and silver before her son married.

Li Dalang and Liu Chuncao helped unload everything and put it in order before heading home. Before they left, Ying Su invited them to come over later for dinner and to help “warm the stove.”

It was the village custom when moving into a new home: the warmer the stove, the livelier, the better. Since Ying Su wasn’t familiar with the villagers, she didn’t invite anyone else, only Li’s family.

Li Dalang went home to call them, while Liu Chuncao stayed behind to lend a hand.

The new house was clean, and all the furnishings and layout had been arranged according to Ying Su’s taste. It couldn’t be more comfortable.

With a new pot, new bowls, and a new stove, Ying Su washed her hands and began to cook. Liu Chuncao tended the fire, while the little bun excitedly wandered all around the house.

Since they were moving in, and knowing about the custom of warming the stove, Ying Su had bought some meat at the market today, along with plenty of ribs. Because ribs were mostly bone, they were especially cheap.

Delicious aromas drifted far out of the kitchen, drawing the attention of villagers who smelled it from afar. Many had already seen Ying Su buy a cartful of things that day. Seeing she had built a brick-tile house and kept purchasing this and that, the villagers naturally began to speculate.

They didn’t believe that the money to build Shen Cuihua’s house all came from the Li family. After all, it was a blue-brick tile house, even Li Dalang’s own family didn’t live in one. How could they be willing to build such a house for a widow?

But… if the silver didn’t come from the Li family, then where had Shen Cuihua, a widow, gotten so much money? Judging from her recent shopping, she seemed rather flush with silver!

Someone with sharp eyes saw the Li family walking toward Ying Su’s new house and called out with a smile, “Auntie Li, where are you all going?”

Madam Li smiled back. “We’re going to help Cuihua warm the stove. She and Huzi have moved back in.”

“Warming the stove, eh? Why not invite more people to make it lively?” Someone thick-skinned cut in.

“We’re all having dinner together as a family, how would that not be lively?” Madam Li replied, her words soft but pointed. She kept smiling, said no more, and led Dazhuang toward Ying Su’s house. Li Jinfeng followed quickly behind, smiling politely at the nosy villager before quickening her pace.

When they arrived, the hall was already set with bowls and chopsticks, and the table was laden with dishes that made one’s mouth water.

Steamed Spare Ribs with Rice Powder, Stir-fried Eggplant with Green Peppers, Steamed Egg with Minced Meat, Braised Fish, Chicken Stewed with Mushrooms, Dry-fried String Beans, Stir-fried Tomato and Egg, Homestyle Tofu, Braised Pig’s Trotters…

The entire table was filled with rare delicacies, enough to make mouths water. As soon as Dazhuang came in, his eyes lit up and he kept slurping drool. Huzi saw this and secretly laughed at him, though he himself kept pursing his lips to swallow his own saliva.

Liu Chuncao had been tending the fire the whole time and knew every dish Ying Su made, but she hadn’t realized Ying Su’s cooking was so good. She couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

“Mother, you’ve come!” Liu Chuncao came out from the kitchen, saw Madam Li and the others arrive, and quickly said with a smile, “Cuihua really hid her skills well. No one can compare to this cooking! I was drooling the whole time while tending the fire.”

Madam Li laughed kindly. “You’re already grown, yet still so shameless!”

Li Jinfeng leaned on the table, sniffing, and couldn’t help saying, “Mother, don’t scold Sister-in-law for being shameless. If anyone’s to blame, it’s Cuihua’s cooking, it’s too good! I can hardly hold myself back!”

Ying Su came out from the kitchen with bowls of white rice. Seeing the lively atmosphere in the courtyard, her heart was filled with joy. “If you can’t wait any longer, then let’s begin!”

Li Jinfeng cheered happily, the two little ones rushed to sit at the table, and Liu Chuncao and Madam Li helped bring out all the bowls of rice. Soon, everyone was seated.