Chapter 48: Chapter 048: Some Truths
Translator: 549690339
Moreover, as the children gradually grow up, the eldest is already twelve this year and will soon be strong enough to help with the work. If the two of them could sell tofu separately, they might be able to sell even more.
If they could earn a little more silver, their future lives would also be a bit better.
Zhuang Yonghe couldn’t help but let his smile grow a little bigger at the thought.
Mrs. He was aware of what he was thinking, and her smile on her face didn’t decrease: “If we really can earn more silver in the future, it will indeed be thanks to JVliss Ning.”
“Isn’t it?” Zhuang Yonghe nodded in complete agreement: “Tomorrow, when we go to get tofu, let’s bring something from our house over. You pick a few good ones to give to Miss Ning and Miss Sui.”
If one profits from others’ efforts without any capital investment, one must understand gratitude. The due courtesies must not be neglected.
“Don’t worry, I’ve thought it all through.” Mrs. He said with a smile: “Tomorrow we’ll take a few pounds of flour and ten pounds of cornmeal with us, and the eggs laid by our old hens at home, maybe a dozen or so, along with some green onions and spinach, all useful stuff, so they won’t have to spend money buying them.”
“I was originally thinking of bringing more as well, but seeing Miss Ning’s manner, I feared she might not accept too much, so let’s just give a little less for now. After all, we have a long future ahead. We can help them as much as we can, bit by bit.”
For example, helping the two children make clothes, tidying up their home, and things like quilts and mattresses. She always had these matters on her mind and would absolutely not let Zhuang Qingning suffer any losses.
“That’s right.”
Mrs. He had been married to him for many years and had always managed family affairs and social interactions very properly. Nobody could find any fault with her. If she had a plan in mind, there was no need for him to worry.
Just as Mrs. He said, they have a long way to go in the future. There will be plenty of time for them to interact with each other. Showing gratitude is not something that can be achieved in a moment.
“Also, you boys must remember to protect Big Sister Ning whenever you are in the village.” Zhuang Yonghe instructed the small boys who were eating heartily at the dining table.
After all, Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui, having established a female household, might not conform to conventional norms and many people might look down on them. The adults, out of saving face, wouldn’t bring it up explicitly. However, the older children, being the most rambunctious and not thinking before they speak, might utter some unpleasant words.
At such times, if you choose to argue with them, you seem overly serious, and if you ignore them, it’s uncomfortable. This is really difficult to handle. It would be better to let Zhuang Mingliang and the other children stand up to them. It would seem like children playing around, and others couldn’t find fault with it. Moreover, Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui wouldn’t be bullied by the other children.
“Dad, you really overthink this.” The second son, Zhuang Minghao, took a big mouthful of the cornmeal porridge in his bowl, then smacked his lips and said: “You have no idea, Big Sister Ning has scored quite a reputation among us children. Everyone says that Big Sister Ning is a tough character who doesn’t hesitate to use a knife. Who dares to mess with her?”
His words were not false. Zhuang Qingning had said some harsh words to Zhuang Jingye when she was establishing her female household. After hearing these words, Zhuang Jingye became more and more fearful and couldn’t help but spread them around.
The goal was to prevent people in the village from despising and bullying her just because she is a woman with a self-established household, which might infuriate her and result in her resorting to extreme measures such as using a knife or poison that are irreversible.
However, as these words passed from mouth to mouth, the narrative began to change.
Some people said Zhuang Qingning threatened Zhuang Jingye with a knife to her throat, which was why he consented to her establishing a female household.
Others said Zhuang Qingning drew blood with her knife at Zhuang Ruman’s house. They wondered how else could Zhuang Ruman and Mrs. Song have agreed to let Zhuang Qingning, a valuable laborer, establish her own female household. And to stay quiet for so long without causing trouble? They were scared!
Adding to this, not long after Zhuang Qingning set up her female household, she rented Mrs. Wen’s tofu factory, and the two have been close ever since. Others thus confirmed that they are of the same character type, hence their affinity for each other.
In short, Zhuang Qingning is someone to be avoided.
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about?” Hearing what Zhuang Minghao said, Mrs. He’s brows knitted together: “I watched Miss Ning grow up, don’t I know her temperament? This time, she established a female household purely and simply because Mrs. Song forced her into a corner. There was nothing else she could do.”
“What tough-talking knife-brandisher, what kind of language is that! They’ve virtually slandered Miss Ning. As Miss Ning gets older, she’s going to have to get married. How is she supposed to find a husband if such things are said about her?”
Mrs. He got angrier the more she spoke: “If you hear anymore nonsense, go and talk to them.”
“In my opinion, this is not a bad thing.” Zhuang Yonghe said in a low voice. “How is it?” Mrs. He was confused: “This is clearly ruining her reputation…” “A good reputation has its advantages and disadvantages, but having a tough reputation also has its good and bad aspects. Miss Ning and Miss Sui established a female household without any adults to depend on. It is inevitable that some people may look down on them. Now, though, everyone says that Miss Ning is of a harsh temperament, so others wouldn’t dare treat her carelessly or bully her randomly. Isn’t this a good thing for her?”
Zhuang Yonghe explained further: “Look at Mrs. Wen, although she has a bad temper and a bad reputation, who dared to bully her and her mother in all these years?”
“In my opinion, this is pretty good, it can prevent some people who are not polite and just want to bully people from thinking she is easy to exploit.”
“When you put it that way, it seems to make sense…”, Mrs. He nodded in agreement.
In general, for Zhuang Qingning right now, it is most important that she earns money in peace. As for finding a family to marry into in the future, it is a matter of several years in the future. Since she established a female household, she can marry in by taking a husband as well, so this is not something to worry about too much.
Thinking of this, Mrs. He felt somewhat reassured, holding her bowl and continuing to eat her cornmeal porridge, while discussing with Zhuang Yonghe how to sell tofu.
Fushun Tower, at this moment, the lantern hanging outside the entrance was glowing red, and the business was as prosperous as that lantern.
It was bustling in the kitchen. At this hour, there were still people adding dishes to their orders, and most of those were stir-fried tofu in soy sauce.
After Ma Tong finished taking the orders, Zhang Yongchang forcefully knocked the large iron spoon against the edge of the pot a few times: “Tell them out there, we’re out of tofu for today. If they want to eat stir-fried tofu, they’ll have to come back tomorrow.”
At this time, most of the people still eating were those who invited their relatives or friends to drink. They would have been drinking for quite some time by now. Telling them that the dish they wanted to order was out would obviously provoke trouble..
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