Chapter 108

They forgot to buy pork shanks, so there was no need to make soup. After kneading the dough and extinguishing the fires in the two stoves, Sui Yu and his group locked the door and headed home.

As they entered the military village, snowflakes began to fall from the sky. Sui Yu took a deep breath of the cold air and turned to Tong Huaer and said, "I guess not many people will go out for breakfast tomorrow. We'll go there later, and you can sleep a little longer."

Tong Hua responded well.

But the next morning, as soon as the night fell, she came walking in the snow and knocked on the door.

Zhao Xiping opened the door for her and whispered, "They're still in bed. Go to the kitchen and warm yourself by the fire."

Tong Huaer nodded slightly. She walked into the kitchen, sat in front of the stove, and lowered her head to make fire. She didn't talk much with Zhao Xiping.

Zhao Xiping stood in the kitchen for a while, then turned around and went out to bring grass to feed the camels and sheep. He thought it would be unbearable to go into the kitchen without saying anything, so after feeding the livestock, he took a basket and a shovel and went into the pen to clean up the manure.

"You're out late today." Dongzi's father came in carrying a jar and said loudly, "I came out to get some firewood and saw smoke coming out of your chimney. I thought someone was home, so I brought you some ash and flour. Do you need any radishes? I'll bring two baskets to the shop today."

"Wait a minute, there are still a few shovels of pig manure left to be shoveled." said Zhao Xiping.

Dongzi's father was just about to go into the kitchen to warm up. When he walked to the door and saw that the person lighting the fire was not Sui Yu, he was stunned for a moment, then turned around and walked outside the livestock pen to look at the pigs.

"Hey, your pig is quite fat. It weighs about 200 jin (approximately 200 kilograms)." Dongzi's father called out twice. Seeing it was a sow, he wondered, "You've raised it for two years, right? And it hasn't conceived yet?"

Zhao Xiping looked at the pig with disdain, seeing it was fat and not doing its job.

"I haven't had any cubs, and I've never seen it in heat. At home, it just eats and sleeps. Even if I drive it out, it still sleeps." Zhao Xiping came out with a dung basket and said, "I wonder if it will be in heat next spring."

"Have you never seen a boar before?" Dongzi's father asked. He looked into the pen again and said, "When it gives birth, I'll pick one to raise."

Zhao Xiping waved his hand, "It's not my pig, I can't make the decision, you should ask Boss Sui."

Dongzi's father laughed out loud. It was really funny. He looked inside and said, "Is Boss Sui home? I thought she'd gone to the shop." Then he whispered, "Who's sitting in front of the stove? Don't mess around."

Zhao Xiping elbowed him in disgust.

Sui Yu opened the door and came out. She greeted Dongzi's father and quickly ran into the warm kitchen.

Zhao Xiping washed her hands with the water she used to wash her face, and he shouted to the wing room: "Hurry up, both of you, get up, the meal is ready."

"I'm up," Zhao Xiaomi replied in a high voice. She'd heard noises from next door and started getting dressed, but she was still a step too late. She'd figured it out long ago: if her sister-in-law didn't get up, she'd stay in bed. But if she did, the other heartless person would start urging her to get up.

Dongzi's father collected the money and left, and Sui Yu and his group started to eat.

After dinner, they walked through the snow to the shop to prepare for the midday business.

Just when business was booming, Dongzi's father came with a group of people. Zhao Xiping was not there, so he called out to Sui Yu, "Your brother-in-law is here."

"Second brother?" Sui Yu was shocked. She put down the bowl in her hand and came out. Seeing that Second Brother Zhao was covered in snow and his face was blue and purple from the cold, she hurriedly led him into the house to warm himself by the fire.

"Brother, why are you here at this hour?" Zhao Xiaomi was shocked and frightened. She scooped a bowl of noodle soup for him to drink from, and asked nervously, "Did something happen at home?"

Brother Zhao was so cold that he couldn't speak. He shook his head slightly, held the bowl and sat by the stove in silence.

"Let second brother warm up first." Sui Yu said.

The customer was waiting, so Zhao Xiaomi didn't bother to ask any more questions and focused on business first.

Zhao Xiping came back from the delivery. He took out a handful of copper coins from his pocket and handed them to Sui Yu. He said, "Two families have placed orders for soup noodles tonight. One order for three bowls, and one order for one bowl. Please write four wooden signs for me and I'll drop them off on my way."

Sui Yu pointed in front of the stove and said, "Second brother is here."

The food had been roasted and warmed up. He continued to drink from the bowl of noodle soup and saw that Zhao Xiping didn't give him a good look.

When Zhao Xiping learned that there was no accident at home, he guessed that the man probably came here for him and Xiaomi. It was not a big deal, so he picked up the lunch box and hurried to deliver the meal.

After working hard for an hour, Qin Dashun finished delivering all the takeaway orders, counted the dishes and chopsticks he had collected, paid his wages, and left quickly.

There were still people sitting around in the shop after dinner. Tong Hua went to clear the dishes from the table. Passing by Sui Yu, she asked softly, "How about I stay here to watch over the shop? If you have anything to say, go back and tell me."

Sui Yu looked at Zhao Xiping, who waved his hand, "You guys go about your business, I'm going to talk to my second brother."

After finishing the last of his soup noodles, Zhao Erge glared at the third brother with a stern face and asked angrily, "Didn't you send a message home when you came back?"

Zhao Xiping remained silent. He had overlooked this matter.

"And you." Brother Zhao grabbed a piece of firewood and hit Zhao Xiaomi. "You left home and haven't heard from me since. Did you go out and play? Forgot you have a father and a mother?"

Zhao Xiaomi didn't move and was hit twice. She was in the wrong, so she bent her back and let him beat and scold her.

Sui Yu and Sui Liang looked at each other, and neither of them dared to say a word.

"No news is good news. Why are you so worried? We planned to go back for the New Year," Zhao Xiping said. "I figured you guys should know that since we go back every year for the New Year, I didn't send you a message. But what are you doing here on this cold, snowy day? You should have sent me a message."

Zhao Erge looked at Zhao Xiaomi and said, "Mom asked me to take her back."

"I'm not going back." Zhao Xiaomi raised her neck and said stiffly, "I'm not going back."

Brother Zhao ignored her and looked at Zhao Xiping.

Zhao Xiping frowned, "So urgent? The Chinese New Year is only a month away. I'll take her back with me when the weather gets better."

Brother Zhao nodded. "It snowed again last night, and it looks like it's going to snow again. I can't leave. I'll go back when the weather clears up. I told my family before I came here that there's no need to send any more messages back."

The matter was settled. Seeing that there was nothing for her to do, Sui Yu filled her pocket with copper coins and walked out, saying, "I'm going to buy tofu and bones. You guys can continue with what you need to do."

Sui Liang saw her waving and followed her out.

"Recently you have been sleeping with your brother-in-law's second brother. There are only two rooms in the house, and you are a boy, so you have to squeeze in." Sui Yu said.

Sui Liang had no objection. He said considerately, "It's warmer if there are more people sleeping together."

Sui Yu touched his hair and led people to the street to Hu Shang's shop to buy him some malt candy to sweeten his mouth.

When guests came in the evening, Brother Zhao Er saw that everyone had something to do, and he would be in the way if he stood there with his hands empty, so he simply joined in to help wipe the table, collect the dishes, and wash the dishes.

They worked until dark. After the customers left, Sui Yu prepared some bones for soup. Sui Liang continued to keep the fire going. Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping were busy kneading dough with the lees. Zhao Xiaomi and Tong Huaer washed the dishes, tables, and chairs. Zhao Erge couldn't help, so he sat quietly by the oil lamp. After being there for a while, he'd figured it out. The business was probably Sui Yu's idea. The shop was doing well, business was booming, and Xiaomi was so motivated. No wonder she didn't want to leave.

After finishing their chores, they closed the shop and headed back. It was snowing again, and the night road was slippery. The six of them walked cautiously in the cold wind.

As usual, they sent Tong Huaer back first. After she came in, Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping went back.

Zhao Xiaomi and Sui Liang had already gone back to open the door. Second Brother Zhao went in carrying firewood ash and slop. After putting the things down, he went to the Qin family next door to lead the camel.

Qin Dashun leaned against the door to block the wind. When Sui Yu and Zhao Xiping came over, he asked in a low voice, "Will you need me to come over tomorrow?"

"Of course I'll go. What's the matter?" Sui Yu asked.

"No, no, no, I'm fine." Qin Dashun smiled, "It's not your in-laws who are coming. I'm worried that you don't have enough people there."

Sui Yu had no intention of letting all her in-laws interfere in her business. At most, she would bring Zhao Xiaomi with her.

"You're overthinking it. I didn't fire you, so just go there on time." Sui Yu walked towards his house and said, "It's cold, come inside."

Hearing the door next door being bolted, Qin Dashun also closed the wooden door and went into the house.

There was a fire in the kitchen. Brother Zhao Er was talking to Zhao Xiaomi inside. Sui Yu passed by and overheard what they said. She asked Zhao Xiping to cook for the pigs. She did not go into the kitchen, but went straight into the main room with the cash box to count the money.

Business was good on snowy days, with a particularly high number of delivery orders. Sui Yu quickly stringed up the copper coins, each string representing one string of cash. When she had enough for a thousand coins, she tied a knot and threw it into the wooden box. The box was almost full again, but she didn't plan to exchange it for silver. She would wait until the end of the year and use the money to pay taxes.

"The water for washing feet is ready." Zhao Xiping pushed the door open with a basin of hot water. Seeing copper coins scattered on the table, he asked, "Hasn't the counting been completed yet?"

Sui Yu said "hmm" and counted out another twenty copper coins to make it an even number. She put down the money chain and went to wash her hands and face.

"Brother, are you here mainly to bring Xiaomi back? What's the matter? Or do my parents not want her to stay with me?" she asked in a low voice.

"A matchmaker came to our house. My parents wanted to find her a husband, so they asked my second brother to come and take her back." Zhao Xiping also spoke in a low voice. He pointed to the next door and said, "Xiaomi is crying and refusing to go back."

Sui Yu wanted to say that Zhao Xiaomi was young and didn't need to rush into marriage, but considering that she was her sister-in-law and not her biological sister, and Xiaomi had a father and a mother, it was not her turn to speak, so she swallowed her words.

"I'm seven years older than Xiaomi. When I left home, she was only eight, about the same age as Sui Liang. It's gone by so fast now that she's getting married." Zhao Xiping sighed, "Time flies."

"Now that the marriage is settled, you can keep her for two more years. She will be happy as a girl, but once she becomes someone's wife, you will have to worry and suffer." Sui Yu couldn't help but encourage her.

The water was no longer hot, so she lifted her foot and stretched it over, motioning him to take the foot cloth and wipe her feet.

Zhao Xiping snorted coldly, and his hands moved hard and fast, causing Sui Yu to kick him. She complained, "The cloth is too rough, it hurts me."

"You call this worrying and suffering?" The man slapped the bottom of her foot and said sarcastically, "What kind of complaint is that? I wipe your feet under the bed, warm them in bed, and scratch them when your legs and feet itch at night. Isn't that enough?"

Sui Yu chuckled with joy, but still said stubbornly: "You are still tired and worried. I have to cook, right? I have to run a business and make money, right? I go out early and come back late, how can I not be tired?"

"I'm not idle either. I get up in the morning to cook, and bring you water to wash your feet in the evening." Zhao Xiping picked her up with one hand and carried her upright to the bed, chattering non-stop: "You only suffered when you first married me. I remember the first day you came home and told me you would wash my clothes, cook for me, and clean the house for me. What about now? When I was at home, I didn't ask you to worry about the livestock. I was the one who cleaned the sheep pen, pig pen, and camel pen. All the dirt and stinky things were mine..."

Sui Yu put her hand over his mouth and surrendered, "You have such a big grudge."

"It's not resentment, it's injustice." Zhao Xiping snorted coldly, and he imitated her words in a strange voice: "Being a wife for someone else means worrying and suffering? Am I wronged?"

"Unjust, unjust, unjust!" Sui Yu laughed so hard that she couldn't stop. She corrected her, "Being your wife is a blessing. I said the wrong thing."

Zhao Xiping felt guilty again. Sui Yu wasn't enjoying life with him. Farming and making money were both tiring and stressful. But this was a special case. He made excuses for himself. If she didn't follow him, she would still have to farm and endure the hardship of choosing another man.

"Xiaomi's situation is different from mine. She has parents, a brother and a sister-in-law. She's so happy as a girl. Why rush to get married? If she were like me, marrying a caring man like you, she could sleep in a little longer in the morning. But if she marries a man who doesn't care, she'll have to get up before dawn to cook for the whole family." Sui Yu took off her clothes and got into bed. The bed was icy cold, and she curled up in a ball with the cold. She said in a trembling voice, "Xiaomi is precocious and a girl with her own ideas. You and second brother should talk to her more and stop beating or scolding her all the time."

Zhao Xiping was not interested in talking to Xiaomi, and didn't know what to talk about. He just washed his feet and went to sleep.

But the next morning, seeing Xiaomi's swollen eyes and dejected face, he felt bad again and promised, "I'll tell my parents when I get home. If you don't want to get married, just wait another year or two. Don't cry, it's so ugly."

Zhao Xiaomi was immediately delighted when she heard this. She diligently patted her third brother's shoulders and said flatteringly, "Third brother, you are the best. No wonder my third sister-in-law, such a beautiful woman, is willing to live with you. This is the blessing you deserve."

Zhao Xiping was quite satisfied with her words. He instructed her, "When you go back, don't mention your third sister-in-law's business to your parents, let alone how much money she has made."

It's not that he was worried that his parents would take advantage of him, but he knew them well. Both of them loved face, loved to show off, and loved to take on responsibilities. He was worried that the relatives in the clan would ask his parents to mediate and let the younger generation in the family come over to work as waiters or run errands to earn money.

"Don't worry, Third Brother, I definitely won't tell anyone." Zhao Xiaomi assured him repeatedly. She asked quietly, "What about Second Brother?"

Zhao Xiping asked his second brother to help feed the family's livestock and go out to collect firewood when it was not snowing. He was also paid, but was not allowed to interfere in the affairs of the shop.