Chapter Twenty-Six

Since marrying into the Zhou family, Mu Jin has only visited the town once, and everything she sees seems new and exciting.

The large red lanterns from yesterday's Lantern Festival fair had not yet been taken down, and the streets were still ablaze with red, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

"Brother Nianjun, Si'er and I are going to buy some things first, and we'll come find you later."

Mu Jin got off the cart and parted ways with Mu Sheng and his wife at the town gate.

Knowing that Mu Sheng and the others usually sold cloth in one place, it was easy to find them.

With everything lacking at home, and looking at the bustling shops, Mu Jin was quite unsure where to begin.

After thinking about it, I decided to go to the rice shop first and buy the rice that was most needed and most important to my family.

Fearing that Mu Jin wouldn't have enough money, Zhou Si went to the embroidery shop first, intending to sell the handkerchiefs to get some money.

Since we can't afford white rice these days, Mujin quickly bought 100 jin of brown rice and 100 jin of dark flour. If we're careful, it will last us for about half a year.

The brown rice at the shop was more expensive than in the village, but it was just after the New Year and before the harvest, so every household didn't have much left over.

There were practically no families in the village who knew how to sell grain, so Mu Jin couldn't very well take advantage of Mu Sheng's family.

Brown rice cost five coins per pound, and dark wheat flour cost four coins per pound. In total, it cost nine hundred coins, nearly one tael of silver.

Mu Jin was heartbroken and called the rice shop assistant to help deliver the rice to Mu Sheng's oxcart.

Just as I was about to take a look around the shop selling bowls and plates, I saw Zhou Si walking over with a displeased expression.

"What's wrong?"

Mu Jin looked at him with concern; he was perfectly fine when he left.

“Big brother, Mother went to the embroidery shop before us and told the manager that she would give him money every month from now on, and he would come to collect it himself on the first day of each month.”

Zhou Si became angrier as he spoke. The division of the family property had gone so smoothly back then, and he was still wondering if his mother had forgotten or changed her mind and no longer wanted the meager earnings he made from selling handkerchiefs.

I never expected that they would be waiting here.

Mu Jin was speechless for a moment, then thought for a moment, "What did the embroidery shop manager say? If this place doesn't work out, we can just sell to another one later."

Zhou Si shook her head. "The manager didn't know that my mother and I had separated. He neither agreed nor refused, but helped me sort things out. I told him that I wouldn't tell my mother how much I sold in the future. I would just say that I was too busy and had never come to the embroidery shop to sell handkerchiefs."

He has had many dealings with the embroidery workshop over the years, so the workshop manager would naturally be more inclined to favor him.

Mu Jin smiled and said, "It's all resolved now, so why are you still so angry?"

"Sigh, brother, I'm just heartbroken. Mother really doesn't care whether I live or die."

Mu Jin patted him gently and said softly, "I just happened to be going to sell bowls and plates, why don't you come along and take a look?"

Zhou Si nodded. By the time he reached the shop, half of his anger had dissipated. He already knew that his mother didn't care about him, so why bother making himself miserable?

He breathed a sigh of relief and started looking at the dishes with Mu Jin.

They couldn't afford the fine porcelain; they could only look at the coarse pottery.

Nothing fancy, just thick and practical.

Mu Jin bought five large bowls for eating noodles, three plates for serving vegetables, and three small bowls for drinking soup.

I bought two more jars to pickle vegetables when the spring vegetables are harvested.

That cost another sixty-six coins.

Including the vegetable seeds, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and some other miscellaneous seasonings, another 160 coins were given out.

The trip to town cost one tael and one hundred and twenty-six coins.

On the way back, Mu Jin sighed, "This money really goes by very quickly."

This cost so much without even buying an iron pot.

Upon hearing this, Mu Nianjun said, "Did you spend too much? I just sold some cloth and have some money on hand. You can spend it first."

As he was about to take out his money pouch to give to Mu Jin, Mu Sheng, who was driving the carriage, said, "Jin-ge, don't be so polite. I know your family is in a hurry. Just take it if your brother gives it to you."

Mu Jin quickly pushed Mu Nianjun's hand, which was reaching for silver, back.

“Brother Nianjun, we have enough money at home now. These things will last us a long time, and there's nothing else we need to spend money on.”

Knowing Mu Jin's temperament, Mu Nianjun didn't force her to give him any money. He simply said, "If you need money, just tell me. If you insist on having it and act like a stranger to me, I'll get angry."

Mu Jin chuckled, "Don't worry, Nianjun. If my family really can't make ends meet, I'll definitely ask you for help first."

The three brothers chatted idly along the way and soon returned to the village. Mu Sheng got off the oxcart and helped carry the things into the kitchen.

Why are there so many bamboo trees in the yard?

Mu Nianjun also came down to visit Mu Jin's current home. Seeing the mountain of bamboo in the yard, he was filled with doubt.

Mu Jin told him about the dust falling from the house.

Mu Nianjun nodded. "It's time to lay it out. After the bamboo is dried, there's not much work to do at home right now. Call your brother-in-law over; more people will get the job done faster."

Mu Jin smiled and nodded. After seeing the couple off, she went back to the kitchen and, together with Zhou Si, unpacked the things they had bought.

"The kitchen is still missing a cabinet. I'll have your older brother make one for you later."

The black flour and brown rice could only be placed on a wooden board on the ground to avoid getting dusty.

Mu Jin was thinking of Zhou Lin at home, but unexpectedly, Zhou Wu Shi went to Mu Heng's house.

She was taking Zhou Qiang to town today when she ran into Mu Heng's neighbor on the way. Mu Heng said that she had seen her eldest son going to the carpenter's house every day these past few days, probably to learn the craft.

Zhou Wushi did not believe that Zhou Lin could have such good fortune.

When I got home, the neighbor's words kept nagging at me. I couldn't sit still all day until I saw it for myself.

When she arrived, Zhou Lin was helping the wooden frame plank the planks.

Now that she saw it for herself, Zhou Wu's mind was filled with a thousand thoughts.

Uncle Mu was surprised for a moment when he saw her arrive.

I didn't expect to keep it a secret for long, but I didn't expect her to come so quickly.

"Hey, Zhou family, what brings you here at this hour? Are you here to break the wardrobe?"

Uncle Mu smiled and handed her a cup of tea.

Zhou Lin was so focused on planing the wooden board that he didn't notice there was another person in the yard.

Zhou Wushi took the teacup, glanced at Zhou Lin who was busy in the courtyard, and said with an ambiguous expression, "Is my eldest son learning carpentry from the carpenter?"

"Yes, Lin has separated from his family and doesn't have much land. The head of the household took pity on the couple and, seeing that Zhou Lin had some talent for carpentry, took him in as an apprentice."

Zhou Wu's eyes darted around. "Alas, my eldest son is the dumbest of all my children. He's not as skillful as his second brother. If the carpenter hadn't taken a look at my second son, he would definitely have learned better than the eldest."

Uncle Mu looked at Zhou Wushi with a complicated expression. In all his years of life, this was the first time he had ever seen someone belittle their own son in front of outsiders.

“My brother is the only one who can make the decision about taking on apprentices.”

Zhou Wushi laughed and said, "Look at what you're saying. Everyone in the village knows that the only man in the village who loves his wife is that hunter, and it's your husband. If you just tell him, how could he not agree?"

Uncle Mu was almost laughing in anger. "I really can't make that decision, but the master said that he will only take on one apprentice in his lifetime."

Zhou Wu smiled awkwardly, put down the cup, and said, "I remembered I have something to do at home, so I'll head back now."

From beginning to end, he never cared about Zhou Lin at all, and didn't even think of saying a word to him.

Zhou Wushi had her own plans. Now that Zhou Lin had separated from her for the sake of that wretched boy Mu Jin, it would be difficult to rely on him in the future.

Most importantly, she genuinely thought Zhou Lin was stupid and would never amount to anything in his life.

It would be different if his second son had learned carpentry. Zhou Ming was eloquent, quick-witted, and had the makings of a businessman.

If she really learns carpentry, she will definitely be able to expand her carpentry business and become a wealthy old lady.

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. He hurried home to discuss a solution with Zhou Laosan.

Uncle Mu sighed as he watched Zhou Wu's departing figure.

It was almost noon when Zhou Lin wiped the sweat from his brow and moved the planed wood aside.

Uncle Mu brought him a cup of tea and called over both Mu Heng and him.

"Your mother just arrived. She wants you to give your apprenticeship to your second younger brother. What do you think?"

Uncle Mu asked tentatively.

When Zhou Lingang heard that Zhou Wushi had come to see him, he was overjoyed, but then frowned.

Mu Heng sighed, "Young Lin, don't do anything foolish. Think about Jin-ge'er. Your family is counting on you to support them. Besides, I never intended to take your second brother as my apprentice."

Zhou Lin thought of her husband and their dilapidated house, and calmed herself down.

"Uncle Heng, I understand. At worst, I can just give some of the money I earn from the carpentry work to my parents."

Uncle Mu sighed and frowned, then instructed, "If your parents come to your house looking for you, tell them to come find your Uncle Heng directly. Don't say anything else, let Jin Ge'er discuss it with your parents."

Zhou Lin nodded, and when he got home, he told Mu Jin about it.

Mu Jin frowned slightly, feeling utterly annoyed with Zhou Wu Shi and Zhou Lao San, the old couple.

He didn't show it on his face, saying, "You go ahead with your work, I'll talk to your parents."

Zhou Lin breathed a sigh of relief. From childhood to adulthood, he had always been submissive to Zhou Wushi and could never bring himself to refuse her.

"I'll give my parents some money then, and I think my mother won't say anything."

Zhou Lin told Mu Jin about his plans.

Mu Jin glared at him. "Do you know how much money the family spent on these things?"

Zhou Lin shook her head, unsure of what she had done wrong. Standing to the side, being stared at like that by her husband, she felt rather helpless.

“A little over one tael and one mace, and this is still borrowed from Si’er. The pot we’re using at home is still broken, and we don’t have any money to buy a new one. If we don’t renovate the house this year, the roof might collapse after a heavy snowfall in winter. Everywhere you need money, where will we get the money to support our parents? Do you want Si’er and me to starve? Fine, I’ll let it go, but Si’er is your own brother.”

Zhou Lin quickly replied, "I didn't mean that."

Mu Jin softened her tone and said, "Our parents have land, and my second brother can earn money, so it's not much less than what we have. We are in a difficult situation now and really have the will but not the means to support our parents. We can talk about supporting them when we are better off."

Zhou Lin nodded. Seeing his expression, Mu Jin decided that she should tell Uncle Mu that it would be better to give Zhou Lin the money he earned directly.

Otherwise, they would probably all have been taken by Zhou Wushi.

After lunch, before Zhou Lin could even leave the house, Zhou Wushi and Zhou Laosan entered.