stingy landlady

Chapter 19 Business Continues

After selling boxed lunches at the academy gate, Guizhi's family business got back on track. They sold bean sprouts, boxed lunches, and dumplings every day. The oxcart carried a small stove and some firewood, which was perfect for heating things up when it was cold.

Of course, Wang Yiyun, the fifth brother, was also happy to have free lunches every day. It saved him a lot of living expenses, and he would occasionally visit his third brother and sister-in-law during his holidays, but he never mentioned his eldest brother's business. Once, when he was out shopping with a classmate, he ran into his third sister-in-law and her family selling boxed lunches. Guizhi had also mentioned that after her business was taken away, she had no choice but to come to the academy to deliver meals to him. Unexpectedly, her business started to improve.

To improve the quality and taste of the boxed lunches, Guizhi and the others bought dried garlic and shallots at the market, along with several large basins. Back at their house in the east of the village, they placed them on the kang (heated brick bed) to grow garlic sprouts and shallots. After about a week, the garlic sprouts grew tall, making dumplings and other dishes exceptionally flavorful, which made Dazhu's meals even more popular.

In winter, there are garlic sprouts, bean sprouts, meat, sauerkraut, Chinese cabbage, potatoes, and tofu. Dried tofu can be prepared in various ways, and with these dishes, someone is bound to find a delicious meal they like.

Guizhi's family business was booming, but Zhao's family was in an uproar. Zhao had already found out where Dazhu and his family used to sell boxed lunches. At first, selling boxed lunches in town was doing well.

As time went on, Zhao's family members became less discreet, and some followed suit. With more people selling boxed lunches, customers became more discerning, demanding both quality and low prices. Gradually, Zhao's family encountered the same problem as Guizhi and her family: they couldn't sell the food they made. Even selling cheaply, they still had leftovers every day. A day or two was acceptable, but they ate it themselves. Over time, they couldn't recoup their costs, and buying meat and vegetables every day became problematic. The quality of the meat and vegetables deteriorated, and they couldn't bear to eat the leftovers, continuing to sell them the next day. Meat became scarce, and they couldn't afford to buy fresh vegetables. The business naturally entered a vicious cycle and was on the verge of collapse.

Moreover, they hadn't encountered Guizhi's family for a long time, and they didn't know if they had stopped doing business or moved. Zhao's family wanted to find Zhao Xiaofang again. They were unwilling to accept losing money! Zhao Xiaofang had returned to her parents' home on the second day of the Lunar New Year and hadn't returned since; her husband's family wouldn't allow it. She had elderly parents and young children to support, and couldn't always return to her parents' home unless there was a specific reason.

Early that morning, Zhao Xiaofang's mother found an excuse to come see her daughter. It was well past the beginning of spring, and some of the snow outside had already thawed. The weather was gradually warming up, and the roads were a bit muddy.

When Zhao Zifang's mother arrived at Erzhu's house, her shoes were wet and her trouser legs were covered in mud. Because she had left early, she hadn't eaten breakfast and was exhausted and hungry when she arrived. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she called out, "Xiaofang! Xiaofang!"

Zhao had just finished clearing the table and washing the dishes when she heard someone calling her. The voice sounded familiar. She went out to look and exclaimed, "Oh! Mother! What brings you here? Is something wrong?"

"What's wrong! Can't you wish for something better?" Zhao's mother was both tired and angry. "Hurry up and help me up! This road is so muddy, it's really hard to walk on. My shoes are all wet! Look!" After saying that, she lifted up her muddy shoes to show Zhao Xiaofang.

"Mom, come into my room first and put on my shoes. I'll go get them for you to change into." Zhao Xiaofang led her mother to her room.

The courtyard was noisy, and Da Zhu's mother had already looked out the window. She heard it was Zhao's mother, but seeing that she didn't seem to be coming to her side first, she pretended not to know.

Inside Guizhi's house, some were stir-frying vegetables, others were making and boiling dumplings—they were all very busy! Guizhi, who was making dumplings in the inner room, could hear the sounds coming from the courtyard, but she didn't hear them because Li Shi and the others in the outer room were too noisy.

"Mother! Eldest sister, second sister! It seems like Second Aunt's mother has arrived!" Guizhi said as she opened the door to the inner room.

"Let her come! Your second aunt's mother is here to see her daughter, it's none of our business." Li Shi didn't care when she heard this: "We're too busy with our own affairs to care about anything else. As long as she doesn't come looking for us, we don't have time to entertain her!"

"Mom! What if she comes to our house to watch us cook..." Er Ya said casually.

Everyone immediately realized there was a problem. "Big sister, quick! Lock the door!" Guizhi called to Daya from the inner room.

"Mother, from now on, we'll lock the door whether anyone comes or not. No one except my father will be allowed in!" Guizhi felt she had learned her lesson. Especially since they were competitors.

"Fang! Your mother hasn't had breakfast yet! Hurry up and get your mother something to eat. Your family is better off now, so don't be stingy and try to fool your mother!" Zhao's mother, sitting warmly on the kang (heated brick bed), waved her hand at Zhao Xiaofang: "Go quickly! I'm starving!"

Zhao Xiaofang hurriedly walked outside, somewhat embarrassed. They had just finished eating; the family's meals were always rationed, so there were no leftovers. Erzhu wasn't home; he and the old man had gone to the fields to check on the melting snow.

Zhao mustered her courage and went to the old lady: "Mother, my mother is here, but she hasn't had breakfast yet! There are no leftovers at home, could you make her something to eat?"

The old woman sat on the kang (a heated brick bed), not even lifting her eyelids. She held a needle and thread in one hand and an old garment in the other, wiping her hair with the hand holding the needle and thread. "Your mother didn't even eat breakfast before going to visit other people's houses. What was she thinking? These days, it's a lean season; everyone needs two meals a day. Even if she's going to freeload, she should at least time it right! That meal won't be until the afternoon!"

Zhao was so embarrassed she was almost in tears: "Mother, my mother has come all this way, we should at least let her have a meal, right?"

"How can your mother be your own mother? A married daughter is like water spilled from a cup, don't you understand? When you come to a girl's house, you don't even greet this old woman, and you want to eat and drink like crazy as soon as you walk in. Who spoiled you like this? We don't have such rules in our family!" The old lady turned her face away. "Go back and serve your mother. I dare not delay you. If you want to eat, wait until dinner time and we'll eat together!"

Zhao Xiaofang reluctantly returned to her room. "My mother-in-law won't let me cook. She says there are only two meals a day, and we should eat together in the afternoon! Mom, you shouldn't be like this either; no matter how much of a rush you are, you should eat first before coming!"

Zhao's mother's eyes darted around: "Fang! You said your older brother's business was good during the New Year! Are they still selling boxed lunches?"

“Sell! They’re out every day!” Zhao thought it was perfectly normal.

"Is their business doing well?" Zhao's mother asked again.

"I don't know. Whether it's good or bad, everyone's wary of me now! That Li woman won't say a word no matter what you ask her!" Zhao Xiaofang said, a little puzzled.

"Mom, didn't my brother and his friends say they were selling boxed lunches? How's it going? Making money, huh?"

"Oh! Don't even mention it, your brother's boxed lunches aren't selling! There are leftovers every day. Have your older brother and the others left yet? Go check and see if they have any food, bring some over so I can try some too." Zhao's mother said, then thought for a moment, "No! I'll go with you! I have to see it with my own eyes."

Zhao didn't care; if her mother wanted to go see, then so be it.

When they reached her sister-in-law's room, Zhao tried to open the door, but couldn't at first. She continued trying. "The door is bolted, Mother."

"Sister-in-law! It's me, Xiaofang! Why are you locking the door in broad daylight?" Zhao Xiaofang called out from the doorway.

"Oh! Second sister-in-law! What's up? We're busy!" Li looked at her daughters and they exchanged knowing glances.

"Sister-in-law, my mother is here, and she hasn't had breakfast yet! Sister-in-law, could you please serve her some food?" Zhao said matter-of-factly. After all, they're relatives!

Guizhi shook her head at Li Shi. "Xiaofang! Our meals are all pre-arranged and ordered from someone! Why don't you cook something nice for your mother? It's not easy for her to come all this way."

Guizhi gave her mother a thumbs up!

Outside, Zhao Xiaofang and her mother looked at each other in dismay. Li Shi, a person who valued her reputation the most, actually refused to listen.

Zhao Xiaofang had no choice; she also cared about her reputation, and sisters-in-law shouldn't go too far. She pulled her mother away.

Zhao's mother came to check out Dazhu's business; she wasn't going to leave just to save face.

"Sister-in-law! You're selling boxed lunches, it doesn't matter who you sell to, sell one to me! Let me come in and take a look, I'll choose one too. Your second sister-in-law will pay for it." Zhao's mother was probing again.

"Everything else is already sold out! Only sauerkraut dumplings are left, ten coins a serving," Guizhi called from inside the door. The little girl's clear voice was very pleasant to hear.

"Fine! Let me in!" Zhao's mother said through gritted teeth.

"Second Aunt, it's not that I don't trust you, but we always pay for our food first," Er Ya said deliberately.

"Mother! Let's go! Now that they have money, they look down on me and Erzhu. They're obsessed with money now." Zhao said, pulling her mother again.

Zhao's mother reached out and slapped Zhao Shangfang's hand. "Go back and get some copper coins! You've already separated the family, it's normal to pay for meals! Go now!"

Zhao felt awkward, but there was nothing she could do. She went back into the house, found ten copper coins from Erzhu's private savings, and came out with a heavy heart.

"Sister-in-law, this is for food. Open the door, I'm starving!" Zhao's mother snatched the coins and banged on the door again.

"I'll collect the money first!" Guizhi opened the door and slammed it shut. "Big sister, lock the door!"

“Yes!” Daya replied.

"Grandma Zhao! Second Aunt, all the food has been ordered. There's only one serving of sauerkraut dumplings left. Look..."

Guizhi asked in a very serious tone.

"Sanya! All guests are guests. Especially elders. How can you not invite your elders into the house and talk outside? It's impolite!" Zhao was bullying the younger one because she was older.

"I'll get you dumplings once I receive the copper coins; otherwise, this door won't open." Guizhi reached out without a second thought.

Zhao's mother was furious; this family was completely unreasonable.

He reached out and slapped the copper coin into Guizhi's hand, saying, "Money talks!"

Guizhi smiled and imitated the voice of a waiter in a restaurant, saying, "One order of sauerkraut dumplings!"

Er Ya opened the door and brought out a bowl of dumplings, while Da Ya immediately bolted the door behind her. The whole family looked like they were guarding against a thief.

Guizhi handed the copper coin to Erya, and Zhao took the dumplings.

"Second Aunt, I'll come get the bowl when I have time," Er Ya said dryly. She reached out and pulled Gui Zhi behind her.

"Good! Well done! Big brother and sister-in-law really know how to raise children!" Zhao Xiaofang was furious.