Married to a Villainous Minister - Chapter 136

Upon hearing this, Madam Zhang was fuming. As she angrily sorted the corn seeds, she mocked with a sour face, “Third sister-in-law really has it good. I’m not so lucky, I deserve to toil away. And our Zhizhou, his life must be worthless too. He’s a son of this family just like the others, yet he’s not even worthy of new clothes!”

Madam Zhao saw that Madam Zhang was upset and didn’t push further. She simply said, “Now that you mention it, I almost forgot Zhizhou also has the county exam. It’s a pity we didn’t have enough cloth at home, or I would’ve made Silang a new outfit too.”

Madam Zhang shot her a sidelong glance, resentment boiling inside. They all share the same father, and yet this stepmother of the third household always had the upper hand over the first and second households.

Fearing an argument might break out, Madam Song quickly tugged at Madam Zhao’s sleeve and whispered, “Big sister-in-law, Mengshan and big brother don’t know how long they’ll be out, let’s go plow the fields first.”

Madam Zhang held back her anger and, visibly displeased, picked up the farming tools with Madam Song and headed outside.

Even Yu Fuling didn’t think too highly of Madam Zhao. She rolled her eyes at her and said to Yu Jiao, “You’re not feeling well, so stay home and rest. I’ll go help Mother in the fields. If I don’t make it back by noon, ask little brother to help you cook.”

Yu Jiao nodded. She wasn’t used to the menstrual cloth and had gotten up several times during the night, barely sleeping. Feeling groggy, she lay back down once Fuling left and soon dozed off.

Since being scolded by the old man the other day, Madam Zhao had stopped provoking Yu Jiao. Even though she disapproved of her staying home from fieldwork, she didn’t dare say anything.

Yu Jiao woke around noon. Madam Zhao was no longer in the courtyard sewing, and the rest were still out working in the fields. Yu Jiao got up and headed to the kitchen to cook. As she was just finishing the meal, Madam Zhao came into the kitchen. “Is lunch ready yet? Your third uncle and the others are all waiting to eat!”

Yu Jiao ignored her, dropped the handmade noodles into the pot, and after they were cooked, scooped them out and topped them with a tomato and bean curd sauce. She filled two large bowls, packed them into baskets with chopsticks and a pot of water each, then picked up one basket and headed outside.

Madam Zhao, annoyed at being ignored, didn’t dare argue and simply picked up the other basket. One went to the fields, and the other to deliver lunch to Yu Hanshan and the others setting up the pork stall.

Yu Hanshan was quite the talker. As they built the stall, he chatted with passing villagers, spreading the word that they were opening a pork shop. Once the stall was built, he planned to borrow a bronze gong and go around nearby villages to advertise.

The three worked quickly. Yu Qiaoshan and Yu Mengshan were strong and capable, and since it was their own business, even Yu Hanshan didn’t slack off. By nightfall, the stall was finished.

That evening, Yu Hanshan brought home two taels’ worth of wine and excitedly invited Qiaoshan and Mengshan to drink with him. He told them that starting tomorrow, they’d begin selling pork from the pigs they had raised in their backyard.

Madam Zhang felt bitter. The pigs had been fed by the first household, her household, waking early and working tirelessly to collect pigweed. And now, all the benefits were going to the third household.

The anger she had suppressed at noon after Madam Zhao’s taunts bubbled back up. Her face darkened, and she lost her appetite. “Father,” she said, “I have no objection to third brother opening a shop. But those pigs were supposed to be sold for money during the New Year. Now that he’s selling them early, how are we splitting the earnings?”

Madam Zhao immediately snapped, “We third household folks are the ones running the business. Naturally, the money belongs to us!”

Seeing Yu Ruhuai’s face darken, Madam Zhao quickly corrected herself with a glance at Yu Jiao. “Second household earns money from medical consultations, and they keep the fees for themselves. So we third household shouldn’t be expected to hand everything over either.”

Yu Hanshan, excited about having some private money of his own, softened his tone after noticing his father’s expression. “Since there’s already a precedent in the family, how about we give half of what we earn to the shared household funds? What do you think, Father? Mother?”

Old Madam Yu, knowing her son’s intentions, chimed in supportively. “It’s only natural to have some cash on hand for change. It’s a business, after all. Letting him keep half is reasonable.”

As the family head, Yu Ruhuai certainly preferred to keep control over all the silver. But since Old Madam Yu had already spoken, and since Hanshan was his own son, unlike Yu Jiao, he figured he could always ask for money if needed. So he relented.

“Fine, let’s do it that way,” he said, sipping his wine with concern. “Still, I’m not sure this pork business will work out. If it were that profitable, wouldn’t others already be doing it?”

Yu Hanshan, full of energy, was having none of it. He grinned and said, “It’ll definitely make money. I’m already planning to visit inns and wealthy households in town in a few days. Maybe I’ll find other leads too!”

Madam Zhang simmered with resentment. She had worked so hard raising those pigs, and now they were being used by the third household. And while the second household had Yu Jiao making money from medical work, the first household, her household, had nothing and still had to work for free. Why should they always get the short end of the stick?

She elbowed Yu Qiaoshan forcefully. He looked at her, confused. His blank look only infuriated her more. Knowing she couldn’t rely on her husband, she slammed her chopsticks down and said to Yu Ruhuai, “Father, once the planting’s done, Qiaoshan will just be idle at home. Why not let him help third brother sell pork? He’s strong and can carry and butcher pigs, plus, it’s good to have someone watching each other’s back.”

Yu Hanshan was more than happy to have help carrying heavy pigs. He smiled and agreed, “That makes sense. Having big brother help would definitely make things easier.”

Madam Zhang had been waiting for this moment. Her face lit up with a smile. “Exactly! Of course, we’re all family, but Big Brother can’t work for free either. Since Father said the profits will be split 50-50 with the shared funds, how about we first household just take 20%? This business idea was yours, so we wouldn’t ask for much.”

Madam Zhao was instantly enraged. She didn’t even finish chewing her steamed bun before shouting, “Big sister-in-law, you’re shameless! Since when do family members charge for helping each other? And asking for 20%? Why don’t you just rob us?! We don’t need big brother’s help, we can handle it ourselves!”

Madam Zhang’s smile vanished. Her long-suppressed anger finally exploded. She raised her voice, “Ha! Shameless? Look who’s talking! Why should all the benefits go to your third household? The shop was started with public money, and I raised those pigs! I’ve been up before dawn every day feeding them. They would’ve sold for a good price during the New Year. Now that they’re being butchered for your shop, you think we shouldn’t get a share?”