Chapter Thirty-Eight

The visitor was clearly hostile, so Mu Jin was unlikely to listen to Zhou Wu's words and call Zhou Si back.

“Mother, Si’er may have gone out on something. I don’t know where he went. It’s getting late. You should go back first and wait for him to come back. I’ll have him come to find you.”

There were several bamboo stools in the courtyard. Upon hearing this, Zhou Wu sat down on one of them and remained as still as a mountain, showing no intention of leaving.

"I'll wait for him right here!"

"How can I leave you all waiting? I'll go out and look for him."

As Mu Jin spoke, she left the courtyard and decided to find Zhou Si first to tell him about the matter so that she could have a plan in mind.

There was no one at the foot of the mountain. I was just about to go back to my parents' house when I saw Zhou Si walking back from the direction of the Mu family.

"Why are you alone? Where is Zhaoran? Mother is here, looking like she's here to interrogate you. It must be about the embroidery shop in town."

Mu Jin pulled Zhou Si aside and explained the situation to him.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Si's smile froze, and a myriad of thoughts raced through her mind.

After calming himself down, he said, "Big brother, I understand. We'll do it as we agreed before. Zhaoran was asked to stay for lunch by Uncle Mu and the others, and I felt bad about staying there any longer, so I made up an excuse to come back first."

Mu Jin stopped Zhou Si, who was about to head home, and sighed.

"Don't rush. We don't know how much Mother knows or what the embroidery shop manager said. Let's go back and subtly inquire about it first, so that we don't say anything that might give Mother something to use against us."

Zhou Si lowered his eyes, and after a while, nodded and said, "Big brother, I know what to do."

As soon as Zhou Si and Mu Jin entered the house, Zhou Wushi pointed at their heads and gave them a severe scolding.

"Your father and I spent two taels of silver to let you learn embroidery from the eldest daughter-in-law of the Mu family. Two taels of silver! Back then, that was almost enough to buy half a calf. What did your father and I want? We just wanted you to earn money and be filial to your father and us before you got married. But look at you! You've only been gone a short time and you've already started to be lazy. You're really going to drive me crazy! You heartless wretch!"

As Zhou Wu cursed, her blood rushed to her head. She patted her chest and sat back down on the stool.

There have been many things going on at home lately, and Zhou Qiang has been busy preparing for his exams, so I haven't had time to go to town.

Today she had some free time and happened to be going to town to pick up Zhou Qiang. She stopped by the embroidery shop on the way, thinking that it had been two or three months since the New Year, and she should have earned at least three taels of silver.

Zhou Wushi had a good plan; she had already figured out how to spend the three taels of silver. She would cut off Zhou Qiang's favorite pork belly and give him a good boost.

As expected, the embroidery shop manager said that Zhou Si hadn't sent any embroidery pieces in the past few months.

The three taels of silver vanished like clouds, and one can imagine how angry she was. She didn't even go home after returning by oxcart; instead, she brought Zhou Qiang to Mu Jin's place.

Zhou Sixin understood immediately; there was no need for further questioning, Zhou Wushi herself explained the matter.

“Mother, I’ve been busy with things at home these days and haven’t had time to do anything. But Mother, how did you know that even though we’ve separated the family, you still went to the embroidery shop to ask the manager for money?”

Zhou Si pretended not to know anything.

"What could be more important than making money?! I did go, and right after the New Year I made arrangements with the embroidery shop manager. From now on, the money from your embroidery sales will be given to me directly every month. You're young and don't know how to spend money. If I don't help you save it, you'll spend it all. I was thinking of using this money for your dowry. Do you think your mother is trying to embezzle this money?!"

It's not that I thought it was true, it's that I was certain I would keep it to myself.

Zhou Si didn't dare say these words out loud. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Mother, I know what kind of person you are. You really don't have time to embroider."

Mu Jin chuckled inwardly. Zhou Si's words were a veiled insult, leaving one speechless even if they wanted to get angry. He and Zhou Lin, that blockhead, were truly not born of the same mother.

"Mother, you two chat, I have some things to discuss with A-Lin."

As Mu Jin spoke, she stepped out the door and went to Mu Heng's house.

Zhou Wu opened her mouth, but ultimately couldn't stop him.

These days, she has tried to ask Zhou Lin for money in private quite a bit, but he has given all his money to that scoundrel Mu Jin, and his hands are completely clean. She really hasn't gotten a single penny.

Zhou Lin had been thinking of going back to check on his parents one noon to see why they were so short of money. If that was the case, he would discuss with Mu Jin about giving his parents his wages for the month to tide them over.

As soon as he arrived at the Zhou family's door, he smelled the aroma of stewed chicken, and he didn't want to say anything more.

Because of all this time, Zhou Wushi not only didn't get any money from the embroidery shop, but she also didn't get a single penny from Zhou Lin.

I was incredibly angry.

Mu Jin didn't care what she thought and hurriedly walked to Mu Heng's house.

"Making furniture for people in town? This...this won't do! I can't do it."

After hearing what Mu Jin said, Zhou Lin quickly waved his hand and shook his head like a rattle drum.

Mu Jin smiled at Mu Heng and said, "Uncle Heng, look at him. He's been learning from you for so long, but he still doesn't have much confidence in his skills. With a master like you teaching him, making a few cabinets will be a piece of cake for him."

Mu Heng smiled and patted Zhou Lin on the shoulder.

"Young Lin, go ahead without worry. Your master will back you up. It's time for your master to see how well you've been learning these past few days."

Zhou Lin was a little nervous and at a loss. "Why don't you come with me, Master? I'll even help you out. I'm really a little hesitant."

Mu Heng pretended to have a stern face, "You've been learning from me for so long, and you still don't dare to go out and do any work. It's embarrassing for me to hear about it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Lin was afraid that Mu Heng would really be angry with him, so he quickly nodded, "Master, I understand. I will go and I will definitely not let you down."

Mu Heng then laughed and patted him on the shoulder, "Work hard, your master might need you to introduce business to me in the future."

Zhou Lin was extremely embarrassed, and a faint blush appeared on her wheat-colored face.

Mu Jin smiled and said, "It's all thanks to Uncle Heng that your words carry weight. Today, I was chatting with Steward Zhao and we got this job. If it really works out, Uncle Heng, you'll still have to take A-Lin with you for all the jobs in town. That's what I'm thinking. A-Lin is good at making wooden cabinets, so it would be a waste of your talents if you went to do it, Uncle Heng. However, if we want the master to be completely satisfied, it's still up to you, Uncle Heng. A-Lin definitely can't do delicate work like carving patterns."

Mu Heng laughed and said, "You're quite the talker. Lin, you're a fool with good luck. Listen to your husband, you go first, and when you've finished carving the patterns, call me over. I'll also check on how your furniture-making is going."

Zhou Lin felt a bit of pressure and nodded, "I understand, Master."

Mu Heng smiled and sighed inwardly. This Mu Jin may be a boy, but he is a capable man. If he were born as a man, he would surely achieve great things.

Who knows, we might really have to rely on him to find jobs in the future. They say that marrying a virtuous wife brings prosperity to three generations, and Zhou Lin has truly married a good husband.

After Mu Jin finished speaking, she chatted with Uncle Mu for a while longer. Seeing that it was getting late, she got up to say goodbye and went home to make lunch.

When he returned home, Zhou Wushi and Zhou Qiang had already left, and Zhou Si was feeding the chickens and ducks in the backyard.

"How is it?"

Zhou Si washed her hands and smiled, "If I didn't embroider, I didn't embroider. There's nothing Mother can do. She told me to embroider more this month, otherwise I won't get a dowry. I was thinking of giving her some money this month so she won't cause any more trouble before I get married."

Mu Jin smiled and nodded. Zhou Si and Mu Lingyun's wedding date was set for summer, before the winter wheat harvest, which would be soon.

"Since you're planning to give it away, you should think about getting the red cloth for the wedding dress back. It's time to start making it."

Zhou Si blushed and nodded, planning to ask for it next month.

The spring vegetables in the garden are ready to eat; they're fresh and delicious. I picked some hibiscus and stir-fried a large plate of them.

After thinking for a moment, Mu Jin cut off a piece of the pork she had cut off. She would wait until Wen Zhaoran returned in the evening to eat the rest together.

I picked some garlic scapes and made a plate of stir-fried garlic scapes with pork. The aroma of garlic and pork was wonderful and made it a perfect dish to eat with rice.

“These garlic scapes are ready to be harvested. If they grow any longer, they’ll get too old and not tender. I have to go to town with your older brother first thing tomorrow morning. Si’er, you harvest them and let Zhaoran stay at my parents’ house. Go to the Zhao family’s residence in town and find me. Sell some if you can.”

Zhou Si loves garlic sprouts, whether it's cold or stir-fried. Because she kept picking at the garlic sprouts with her chopsticks, she didn't eat much meat.

Hearing this, he nodded. "Okay, big brother, I'll keep it safe and go to town to find you."

The three of them ate to their hearts' content. After Zhou Lin left, Mu Jin put the dirty clothes in a basket and went to the river to wash them.

Zhou Si swept the yard, filled a bucket with water, and watered the vegetable garden.

Early the next morning, Mu Jin took out the spring clothes she had made for Zhou Lin out of cotton cloth. The couple put on their most presentable clothes, dressed neatly and properly.

Hibiscus went to the vegetable garden again and picked some fresh spring vegetables, covering them with burlap to prevent them from wilting in the sun.

Zhou Lin carried the bag, and the couple went out the door when the sun was just peeking out.

"Steward Zhao, this is my husband, Zhou Lin."

Zhou Lin's body stiffened slightly. Following Mu Jin's instructions, he forced a smile at Steward Zhao and said, "Hello, Steward Zhao."

Steward Zhao looked Zhou Lin up and down, nodded, and said he was an honest and upright person.

"Come in. I've spoken to the master, and they've provided the timber. This morning, make a set of chairs for the master to see."

Zhou Lin nodded honestly. Mu Jin patted him and laughed, "Why are you so nervous? Butler Zhao is such a kind person, he won't eat you. Just do your best."

Butler Zhao chuckled, "Young man, your husband is right. Whether it works out or not depends on your skills."

Mu Jin smiled and said, "Steward Zhao, these are vegetables I grew myself. I picked some of them. Please take them back and try them."

As he spoke, he nudged Zhou Lin, urging him to hand the basket to Steward Zhao. He knew that the man certainly didn't lack food, but it was a token of his goodwill.

Butler Zhao thought for a moment, then accepted it, saying, "You're too kind. I'll keep it."

Mu Jin, with her eyes crinkled into a smile, entered the Zhao residence with Steward Zhao.

Zhou Lin swallowed hard; the ornate carvings and painted rafters of the Zhao residence dazzled his eyes.

The wealthy families in town were indeed magnificent.