Ziheng knew there were good things hidden in the house, and he obediently hid them too. “Mother, you told Father we weren’t pawning them anymore. Son asked if the money Father got from pawning them last time was enough”

Yang Xi replied, “You’re such a worrywart. Don’t worry, your uncle went to discuss a business deal today. We’re not short of income.”

She then pointed to her head. “Son, Mother has many ways to make money.”

Ziheng thought of the tables and chairs his mother had designed and gripped her hand tightly. “Mother, when I grow up, I want to be like you.”

Yang Xi smiled. “Good, but you must persevere. Mother won’t allow you to give up halfway.”

Ziheng had no idea just how much he would have to learn in the future. He had just unknowingly signed himself up for it. “I will study hard, Mother.”

Yang Xi continued, “You must remember that what you learn is truly yours. In this chaotic world, everything can be taken away, but the skills you retain in your mind are the only things no one can steal.”

Ziheng nodded heavily. “I understand.”

The mother and son came out through the small gate. It had rained last night, and the road was a bit muddy. Yang Xi stood at the door, not wanting to go any further. “Son, are you sure you want to go out?”

Ziheng looked down at his clean shoes, then at the muddy road where he had left footprints. “Mother, look, the sky is getting a bit overcast. I’m afraid it will rain. Let’s not go out today.”

Yang Xi nodded. “Indeed, we shouldn’t go out. Let’s go back.”

The mother and son turned around and went back. Lizheng’s wife, who was about to greet them, was stunned. They had just gone out and were already back? Looking at the muddy road, she understood.

At noon, not many people ate. Third Yang and Zhou Xiaodi hadn’t returned, nor had Zhou Yu and Uncle Zhong. They had a simple bowl of hot soup noodles for lunch.

In the afternoon, Third Yang and Zhou Xiaodi returned home first. The two went straight to the east courtyard, where Yang Xi had already woken up and was compiling a list of 100,000 Whys, explaining some natural phenomena to her son as she wrote.

Third Yang came in and took out the contract. “Jiejie, we signed a contract with the carpenter. It’s stamped by the county government. We’ll take 20% of the profits based on our skills.”

Yang Xi picked up the contract. It was written by Third Yang; the boy was meticulous, writing each clause very carefully. Yang Xi noticed the clause about arranging an accountant. “An accountant?”

Third Yang was used to having everything under his control. “I was worried the carpenter would falsify the accounts, so I gave him some pointers. I suggested he team up with other carpenters nearby to open a shop. We won’t need to hire anyone then. Each carpenter has their own network, and if we utilize these connections, the finished tables and chairs won’t be hard to sell; they’ll sell even better. I’ll arrange an accountant in the shop, and the carpenter thought about it and agreed.”

Yang Xi put down the contract, her tone certain. “You’ve already chosen the accountant.”

Third Yang rubbed his nose. “Hmm, the Wu brothers aren’t good at accounting. I’m thinking of having Ye Shun be the accountant. Jiejie, what do you think?”

Yang Xi was speechless.

He’d already decided; why was he asking her?

Yang Xi wanted to roll her eyes at Third Yang but held back. “Ye Shun isn’t going to be a peddler anymore?”

Zhou Xiaodi chimed in, “Sǎozi, after Ye Shun was exempted from corvée labor, he came to see Third Yang. Ye Shun said he doesn’t want to be a peddler anymore.”

In short, he wanted to stay with the Zhou family and try a different way of life.

Yang Xi pushed the contract towards Third Yang, saying, “You keep it. Since it’s entrusted to you, you can handle it.”

Third Yang was very touched that his sister trusted him. “Jiejie, don’t worry, our family won’t lack money.”

Yang Xi was also happy about this, but her gaze fell on the bookshelf. There were calculations on it; the water-flow loom couldn’t be given to Third Yang yet. That kid was too restless; she needed to keep him in check and temper his temper.

Yang Xi thought of lemons. “Could you find out if any shops are selling Limu fruit? If so, buy a lot.”

Third Yang looked at Zhou Xiaodi with a puzzled expression, then turned to his sister. “Jiejie, what kind of fruit is Limu fruit?”

Yang Xi described it, “It’s a very sour fruit. It was cultivated in the previous dynasty and was even specially supplied to the royal family. Later, when the Wang dynasty was established, it stopped being offered as tribute because it was too sour. I don’t know if it’s still being cultivated.”

Limu fruit wasn’t called lemon, so she figured it should still be cultivated. Some people like sourness.

Yang Xi drew a lemon-shaped fruit. “Something like this, but probably smaller than this one.”   

The fruit nowadays hadn’t been improved; it was almost like wild fruit.

Third Yang noted it down, assuming his sister wanted something sour and wanted to try something new in the south, so he didn’t think much of it. “I’ll inquire about it tomorrow.”

Yang Xi was happy because of the extra income. “We’ll have hot pot tonight.”

There were plenty of green vegetables in the south; in the north, hot pot in winter didn’t have enough. In the south, green vegetables were plentiful!

Third Yang was also tempted. “What kind of soup base are we having?”

Yang Xi thought of mushrooms, then shook her head. Even in modern times, it was hard to eat the wrong thing; she’d be even more worried about it in ancient times. “Fish soup.”

Zhou Xiaodi calculated the time. “Why haven’t Big Brother and Uncle Zhong returned yet?”

Yang Xi was also puzzled. “Maybe something’s holding them up?”

Third Yang and Zhou Xiaodi were tired after a long day, so they went back to rest.

Seeing the overcast sky, Yang Xi lit the oil lamp in the house, signaled her son to stop writing large characters, took his chubby hand, and taught him eye exercises.

The little guy loved it; his mother taught him once, and then he did it himself.

Yang Xi’s eyes crinkled with a smile, but the sound of rain dampened it. With the rain falling at this hour, Zhou Yu wouldn’t be back tonight.

The little boy was also worried, “Mother, will Father still be able to come back?”

Yang Xi watched the rain gradually grow heavier. “They won’t be able to make it back tonight.”

The rain came down in torrents. Li Shi arrived at the door, braving the downpour, completely soaked through. Yang Xi hurried to fetch a change of clothes for her. Shivering from the cold, Li Shi said, “Niangzi, I wanted to ask about the condition of the dike. It’s been raining these past few days, and I just can’t put my mind at ease.”

Yang Xi was also concerned about the dike. “My husband went to the county today to discuss the dike, and he can’t come back now because of the heavy rain. I’ll tell you as soon as he gets back, saozi. Don’t worry.”

Li Shi knew that Zhou Xiānsheng had been keeping the dike on his mind, and much of her anxiety eased. “Sorry to trouble Xiānsheng.”

Yang Xi smiled. “It’s no trouble at all.”

Li Shi didn’t change her clothes, only drank a bowl of ginger soup, put on the Zhou family’s raincoat, and went home.

The heavy rain caused widespread anxiety in the village. Even when the rain was light, Liu Lizheng had come to the Zhou family to inquire. Knowing that Zhou Yu had gone to the county, he said he would go to the county to ask as well the next day. Those performing corvée labor were the able-bodied men of their families, the pillars of their households; every family sending one person was a cause for concern.

The next day, Third Yang went to the county with Liu Lizheng. At noon, Liu Lizheng and Third Yang returned, their faces relaxed.

Third Yang said, “The dike is fine. We can speed up the work; it will be finished in a few days.”

Yang Xi asked, “What about the situation upstream?”

Third Yang replied, “Brother Zhong sent someone to check upstream yesterday; there wasn’t much rain upstream.”

Yang Xi was relieved. If there was no problem upstream, even if there was more rain on their side, it wouldn’t matter. Once the dike was completed, they wouldn’t be afraid of heavy rain in the future.

Third Yang added, “Jiejie, Jiefu will be back the day after tomorrow.”

“Is there something going on at the county office?”

(End of Chapter)

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