Eldest Sister, Why Haven't You Married Yet

63

Chapter 63 Han Li

"You Jin, you’re back? Your mother and I just talked about you!" Mrs. Zhao jollily sat on the edge of the kang. In her arms, she was hugging adorable little Eighth and was teasing her: "This big bundle of matters are all handled by you. It’s not easy. Right, little Eighth?”

Little Eighth was over half a year old. She wasn’t afraid of strangers. Seeing Mrs. Zhao teasing her, she yelled ‘ahhh’ in response. It was unknown what she said. Still, it made everyone laugh.

Mrs. Su knew that Mrs. Zhao came to see You Jin for something, so she said with a smile: "You Jin is back. Mrs. Zhao, whatever the matter you have, you two talk first. I'll take Kang-er out and walk around."

She left with Kang-er and considerately gave the room to the two of them.

You Jin stretched out her hand to take little Eighth who was stretching out her hand to her for a hug. She sat down on the edge of the kang where a table separated her from Mrs. Zhao and asked, "Auntie Zhao, you came here for the matter of selling food, right?"

Mrs. Zhao smiled shyly and replied, "I didn't want to bother your family, but you know that our family’s eldest child is studying in the city. My daughter is thirteen years old. After two years, it’s marriage time and the dowry will be an expense. Your Uncle Lizheng feels embarrassed, so I have to stick my face out and beg you for help."

"Our family moved to Wuliqiao few months ago. It’s thanks to Auntie Zhao and Uncle Lizheng’s help. If you need something, I would naturally oblige. It’s like this, our family had built two rooms next to the canal worker's dormitory. It’s not big. One room can only accommodate seven or eight tables, but at least it sheltered one from the wind and rain. This room can be used by you and Uncle Lizheng first. The other room will be used by us to do some other food when the time comes. We won’t clash. What does Auntie Zhao think?” You Jin roughly told Mrs. Zhao what her plan was. “There are at least hundreds of people digging the canal. Even if we only sell one hundred shares every day, it’ll still earn a lot of money."

When Mrs. Zhao heard this, she felt it was doable. Even if she only earns ten or twenty wen a day, she can earn a lot of money in a month, right? After getting You Jin's promise, he happily went home to prepare.

After sending off Mrs. Zhao, You Zhu and the others came around and asked, "Elder Sister, can't we cook and sell it by ourselves? Do we need to share with the villagers? It means we will earn a lot less?"

You Jin smilingly shook her head. She broke down her decision and explained to her sisters: "Our family bought ten mu of wasteland in one go and built a dormitory for canal workers. When our lives go exceptionally well, people holding grudges is inevitable. Even though the breakfast business is given to Lizheng’s family, our family gets one more supporter, no? In the future, if anyone wants to bully our family, would Lizheng’s family stand by and watch?"

From You Jin's point of view, this income was also part of the investment.

"I understand what Elder Sister means. Even if our family doesn't lend that house to Lizheng's family and they want to earn the money, they can carry food to the riverside and still earn money. While using our house is owing us a favor. Isn’t that right, Eldest Sister?” You Bao understood the reasoning and said as she pondered with her head tilted.

"You Bao is right. Debts are easy to repay in this world, but debts of favor are not so easy to repay." You Jin replied with twinkles in her eyes. She seized every opportunity to educate her sisters. She asked for nothing else but for them to be strong enough to protect themselves even if she isn’t by their side.

***

Mrs. Zhao's hands and feet were also fast. Within two days, they bought the things to open a steamed stuffed bun shop. Although there were only a few benches and three or four old tables, they can open a shop after tidying up. On a slightly cool morning in July and the day was dimly lit. On the quiet embankment, the small house where Mrs. Zhao and He Hao were lit up. Mrs. Zhao kneaded the dough vigorously. Two simple stoves had been set up outside the door and seven or eight layers of steamer baskets had been stacked on top of the stoves. The hot and fragrant smoke drifted across the countryside with the July wind and attracted the early-rising canal workers.