"This kind of person is really not worth helping. Look, after just a few words, she's already treating us like enemies." Aunt Zhang was infuriated by her look. Asking for help is a favor, not an obligation, but this woman is holding a grudge just because Xichun didn't help.

"Don't worry about her. We haven't done anything wrong to her. Just live your own lives." Xichun didn't care. She had only met this so-called cousin a few times. If she hadn't come over today, she would have forgotten that she had this relative.

The two arrived home and were preparing the groceries they would take the next day when they heard a knock at the door.

Aunt Zhang thought someone had come to ask about buying eggs, so she opened the door.

"Xichun, your mother is here! Sister, you've come over?" She called out as she saw that the person who came was Xichun's biological mother.

"Mother, why are you here?" Xichun hadn't seen her for a long time. Aunt Liu told her that the Ma family wouldn't let her come to see them, fearing that she would secretly take things from home to help Xichun.

"Xichun, your mother has come to see you. Are you all busy? Let me help you out." Wang Shi hadn't seen Xichun for a long time, and she was a little uneasy. She had heard that Xichun had argued with several people in the village. Although she was worried, the Ma family forbade her to come, so she didn't dare to come.

"Yes, we're busy. Just tell me what's on your mind." Xi Chun looked at her ingratiating expression and thought of the unpleasantness she had experienced at the Ma family's house.

"I... I came today because I heard you were collecting eggs in the village?" Wang had also heard that Xichun wasn't collecting them today, but since her mother-in-law didn't dare to come again, she could only call her over.

Old Mrs. Ma said the following: "That's your daughter. Does she not listen to you? She accepted eggs from other people's farms, so she should accept ours too. Besides, you are both mother and daughter, so we should still charge her one penny each. Even if we sell them for two pennies each, she should still obediently pay. My family has raised her for three years."

"Yes, but I've already told people in the village today that we won't be accepting any more eggs for now, and we'll talk about it again in a couple of days." Hearing her say this, Xichun guessed that it must have been Old Lady Ma who sent her to sell eggs.

"Well, there are about twenty eggs at home. Why don't you take them for me?" Wang couldn't bring herself to say what Old Lady Ma had said, so she tentatively suggested it.

“Mother, the eggs you’re talking about belong to the Ma family. I had a grudge against Old Lady Ma before, and it hasn’t been resolved yet. Besides, I already have quite a few eggs here, so I won’t accept any more for now. Take this message back to her and tell her that unless she comes to apologize in person, I won’t accept any more eggs from her family.”

Xichun refused without hesitation. This old lady Ma really knew how to give orders. Did she really think that Xichun would compromise just because her own mother came? She was dreaming.

“But if I don’t sell them, your grandma might scold me.” Wang started to tear up again.

“If she dares to bully you, you can fight back. I told you, if you want to leave the Ma family, you can come back. I will support you. You just need to do some housework at home. Besides, these eggs are not unsellable. At most, we will lose a little money. Why are you so timid? It's not like you have no way out.”

When Wang heard what she said, she stopped crying, but then she seemed to remember something and started crying again.

"If I really come back to your grandmother's place, she might try some tricks to torment me again. Although I was also scolded at the Ma family's place, I really felt that life was much better there. If I could give you another brother, then my life would be worthwhile."

"Hey, we can't see eye to eye. You should go home now. I don't have time to chat with you here. If you stay any longer, that old lady Ma might cause you trouble again."

"Xichun, then Mother will be going now." Seeing her daughter's stubborn look, she didn't dare to stay any longer.

"Wait, let me get you something." Xi Chun sighed. After all, she was the original owner's biological mother, and her original intentions were good. It was just that this era limited her vision.

Xi Chun asked her to wait a while, then went to the kitchen to cook the vegetables and the remaining meat. When she brought it out, she saw Aunt Zhang talking to Wang Shi.

"Take this back with you, lest that old woman scolds you again. There's meat in it, so don't give it all to others."

"Xichun, I knew you weren't as heartless as others said. I'll go back now and bring the bowl back another day." Seeing her like this, Wang Shi was much happier, but Xichun was speechless.

“Xichun, I just told your mother that it’s not easy for you to do business. The stall fees are high now, and you don’t earn much money. I told her not to listen to what others say, as it’s not good for you. I think she listened to me.” Aunt Zhang took the initiative to tell Xichun what she had just said to Wang Shi.

"That's just how she is, she's easily influenced and always likes to listen to others. I don't know if she'll change in the future. Never mind, let's start making golden dumplings."

At this time, Xichun hadn't seen anyone eating golden dumplings, so it was a novel experience for her. She took an iron spoon and started making golden dumplings.

The next morning, I put everything into the pot to cook the tea eggs, cracked them open, and then just waited for them to absorb the flavor.

The variety of dishes was much greater today, and diners immediately noticed the tea eggs and the unusual golden dumplings.

"Miss Chen, what is this? It looks a bit like an egg." Someone asked out of curiosity, pointing at the golden dumplings.

"Auntie, you have a good eye! You recognized what this is right away. That's right, these are golden egg dumplings. I've filled them with both meat and vegetables. The vegetable dumplings cost two coins each, and the meat dumplings cost three coins each. Would you like to try some?"

"That's perfect, let's try this flavor." Knowing her culinary skills, the diners all started to try it, and once they started, they couldn't stop.

"This is an egg, right? Why does it look this color?" Everyone's attention then shifted to the tea egg.

"These are tea eggs made with tea leaves and several kinds of seasonings. They have a unique flavor. Here, let me peel one and let everyone try it and see how it tastes." After wiping his hands clean with a damp towel, Xichun scooped out a tea egg, peeled it, and cut it into many small pieces, which he then distributed to everyone.

"Hmm, this is the first time I've ever seen eggs like this. They're really delicious. How much are these tea eggs?"

"These tea eggs cost two coins each. Don't be fooled by their higher price compared to regular eggs; the taste is different. These seasonings aren't cheap either. Take this tea, for example. Tea isn't cheap these days; a tael can cost tens or even hundreds of coins."

Xi Chun had already picked out the cooked seasonings beforehand, so that no one would discover her recipe in advance.

"That's true. Then give me two first, and one of those golden dumplings too. The rest is the usual."

"Okay, I'll get it done for you right away," Xichun said happily.