Chapter 84 (15,000 words) Bonus Chapter: Layered Cake with Nutrient Solution

The Qiao family could sell about two chickens and one duck a day, which would amount to thirty chickens and twenty ducks in half a month. The brothers Lin Baoshan and Lin Jinshan were responsible for going door to door to buy them. They could earn three to five coins per chicken or duck, and about two hundred coins per trip. The brothers would split it up. Although it wasn't much, it was enough to buy some candy for their children. It was better than having nothing to do at home.

They brought the chickens and ducks back a day in advance, and this morning they took turns pulling a handcart into the city, putting the chickens and ducks in the chicken coop in the backyard of the food shop.

Lin calculated the money for the two brothers, asked about their parents' well-being, and inquired about Wangchun's family. She asked everyone's questions, then took out the things she had prepared in advance. "Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon. Here is smoked duck. Keep one for your family and send one to Wangchun and your second uncle's family. The same goes for the braised meat. I also bought five catties of cotton for your grandparents. Winter is coming soon, and they are getting old and can't stand the cold. Tell your wives to change the cotton lining in their cotton-padded clothes."

Making new winter clothes requires buying fabric. People in the countryside are frugal. As long as the fabric of the clothes is not worn out, they will mend and patch them up for another year.

But cotton clothes that have been worn for a long time are not warm enough. Once you change to new cotton, you'll stay warm all winter long.

Lin Jinshan put everything onto the handcart, and he also brought out a piece of light red fabric. "When my grandmother went to the market, she saw this fabric and liked it. She said that my cousin Mianmian has fair skin and would definitely look good in this fabric. She asked you, Aunt, to make her a new dress in advance so she can wear it on her coming-of-age ceremony."

Lin touched it; the fabric was smooth, even better than cotton. "Your grandmother is really something. She's so old, yet she's reluctant to spend money on herself. Why buy such expensive things for Mianmian?"

As she spoke, Mrs. Lin called out her youngest daughter from the kitchen.

“Grandmother, that’s how it is.” Lin Jinshan chuckled, then pulled out a cloth bag from his pocket. After opening it layer by layer, he found a silver hairpin, a pair of earrings, and a silver ring inside. “The hairpin was given to me by my cousin Wangchun, the earrings by my mother, and the silver ring was specially brought by my second aunt. They said that if I brought it at the last minute, my cousin Mianmian wouldn’t have time to dress up, so they specifically asked me to bring it in advance. This is the first time I’ve carried so much silver on me. I’ve been very careful along the way, afraid of being targeted by thieves.”

The artisans at the market don't have overly complicated craftsmanship; their earrings and rings have only simple patterns, while their hairpins do have tassels, making them quite minimalist.

Lin Wangchun, being the elder sister, received a larger gift. The eldest and second branches of the Lin family had earned some money from the Qiao family, so they also received silver ornaments this time.

These were all their heartfelt gifts. Mrs. Lin pushed them in front of her daughter, saying, "Take a look, do you like them?"

Judging by the style of the silver ornaments alone, they were far less exquisite than those of later generations, but in Qiao Mianmian's eyes, these things were beautiful. "Yes, I like them. Brother Jinshan, please thank them for me!"

"I'm glad you like it." Lin Jinshan looked at his cousin, who had grown into a beautiful young woman, and thought to himself that his aunt's family was getting better and better. After having lunch at the food stall, they had to hurry back.

Lin saw the Lin brothers to the door, saying, "Don't dawdle on the way; it gets dark early now."

"I know, Auntie. My brother and I aren't children anymore." Lin Jinshan turned around and waved. "You should go back now. We'll come again when Cousin Mianmian turns 18!"

"Alright!" Lin watched the Jinshan brothers walk away before heading to the food shop. She put away the hairpins and other items. "I'll give them to you when we get home. Your maternal grandmother just sent some fabric over. Take the fabric to your fourth sister and ask her to make something for you."

Qiao Mianmian looked at the very bright color. She knew she was good-looking, but no matter how good-looking she was, she wasn't a pampered young lady who never lifted a finger. How could she possibly pull off this color?

"What, you don't like it?" Lin asked, noticing her daughter's hesitation.

"Don't you think this color is too flashy?" Qiao Mianmian said tactfully. "The new clothes are made so that we can wear them not only on our coming-of-age ceremony, but also on ordinary days. Don't you think so?"

Madam Lin saw through her daughter's little scheme at a glance. "If you don't like it, just say so. Go to the fabric shop and exchange it for a different color. Coming of age is a very important day for a young lady. I want you to look beautiful and I hope you can be happy."

"Won't Grandma be sad if I change the color?" This was what Qiao Mianmian was worried about.

"You're overthinking it. Your grandmother isn't that petty. She bought the fabric so you'd look good and be happy. Since you don't like it, just change to something you like. After all, it's still fabric she bought for you. When she comes, I'll talk to her. Don't worry, take it and exchange it." Seeing her daughter still standing, Lin smiled and stuffed the fabric into her hands. "Go quickly, take your fourth sister with you. She's worked in the embroidery workshop for so many years; she knows these things best."

Qiao Mancang reminded him, "It's the same at the cloth shop where your second uncle works. With him there, he definitely won't make money off you."

"Yes, I had forgotten about it," Lin said. "By the way, take this with your fourth sister. It's good for her health. Have her stew it for your brother-in-law."

Her daughter had been married for almost half a year, but there was still no news. So, Mrs. Lin specially went to buy some tonics.

"Then I'm going!" Qiao Mianmian happily hugged the cloth and went to her fourth sister's house.

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Qiao Mianmian saw her fourth sister picking white beans on a stool.

"Mianmian, you're here." Lin Xiahe jumped off the stool and put all the white beans from the ladle on the stone table. "Please sit down first. I steamed some layered cake today. I'll let you have a taste."

Layered cake is made with glutinous rice flour and can be made sweet or savory. Lin Xiahe added dried plum vegetables and minced pork belly to make a savory version, which she then steamed layer by layer in a steamer. She often cooks at home since she doesn't have much to do.

Qiao Mianmian took a bite. The layered cake was soft and chewy with the oily aroma of pork belly and the unique flavor of dried plum vegetables after being sun-dried and steamed. Although it wasn't spicy, it was still very delicious.

She finished her meal in a few bites, and when she went to get a drink, she realized that her fourth sister had made her honey water. "Fourth sister, it's so sweet! How much honey did you add?"

"Not much, just a little bit. This is only the second time I've made layered cake today. I was thinking that once I'm more skilled, I'll make a little more and send it to you all."

Lin Xiahe was especially happy to see her younger sister. "The color of this fabric is a bit too bright. Grandma is an old woman, and she probably likes to see the children in the family wearing brighter colors. I'll take you to your second uncle's to change it. After you come back, I'll take your measurements."

With that, Lin Xiahe pulled Qiao Mianmian out the door.

"Second sister, are you in no hurry?" Qiao Mianmian wanted to sit a little longer.

"Let's chat after we finish our work." Lin Xiahe prefers to do things first, then play.

They went to the fabric shop where Qiao Manyu worked. When Qiao Manyu learned that Qiao Mianmian's maternal grandmother had given her some fabric, she sighed, "I was also planning to send you some fabric, but I didn't expect your maternal grandmother's family to beat me to it."

"It's alright, Second Uncle, I can make a couple more new clothes." Qiao Mianmian didn't mind having more clothes; she had already made some for autumn, and she could make some for winter.

"That's fine too. Since you're here, take what I prepared with you." Qiao Manyu prepared a light green fabric for Qiao Mianmian. He felt that Qiao Mianmian was very energetic, like a vigorous grass in spring, and this color was especially suitable for her.

Qiao Mianmian really liked it. "Second Uncle, you really are in this line of work. The color you picked is so beautiful."

“That’s right, your second uncle has been recognizing fabrics since elementary school.” Qiao Manyu helped Qiao Mianmian change to a light yellow fabric. “Xia He, do you want to buy yourself a bolt of it? Now that you have money, you should dress yourself up nicely.”

Qiao Mianmian also encouraged, "Yes, Fourth Sister, take this opportunity to buy a bolt of cloth. Your husband will be back in a few days, so you can wear it for him."

"I...I..." Lin Xiahe couldn't argue with Qiao Mianmian and her second uncle, so she still bought a piece of sapphire blue fabric and went back.

When the two sisters returned home, Lin Xiahe took her measurements. "I'll make this light green one for you first, so you can wear it on your coming-of-age ceremony. We'll make the other one later."

Qiao Mianmian rested her chin on her hands and looked at her fourth sister with a smile, "Fourth sister, you are so kind."

"What are you saying? I'm your own sister, I'm just making you a couple of clothes." Lin Xiahe felt embarrassed by what she was being said. She asked about the situation at home. "I wanted to go and help, but my mother wouldn't let me. I know she's afraid my in-laws will gossip. But my in-laws have already separated their households, and my eldest brother and sister-in-law, who live closest to me, aren't gossipy people. Thinking about how you're all so busy every day, while I don't have anything to do, I often feel restless."

She was a restless person, often helping to take care of the children next door, growing vegetables in her own yard, and even making new clothes for Wang Chuang. But the days were still long, so long that she often felt bored.

“It’s good to have something to do, you should be content,” Qiao Mianmian said. “If you really want to find something to do, wait for your shop lease to expire, take it back and start your own small business, then you’ll be busy.”

Lin Xiahe said it was still early, "When I rented it out, I signed a three-year contract. It hasn't even been a year yet, so it's not right to do something so unethical. By the way, my sister-in-law is about to give birth, right? I'll make some baby clothes for her."

"It'll be another month or so. Lately, my older brother has been bringing dinner back to my sister-in-law every day. He even stands guard outside the outhouse when she goes there. He's very worried about her."

Qiao Mianmian was looking forward to a new life in the family. Speaking of this, she winked at her fourth sister and said, "Don't forget the tonic I brought. Stew it well for your husband. Once you have a child, you won't be bored."

"Oh dear, how can you, a virgin who hasn't even become a nun, say something like that?" Lin Xiahe glared at her younger sister. When she talked about children, she touched her lower abdomen. "Your fourth brother-in-law rarely comes back. Getting pregnant isn't so easy."

She spoke softer and softer. She also wanted to have a child soon; although her mother-in-law didn't pressure her, she knew her mother-in-law was hoping for one. She just didn't understand why, even though they had tried so hard when Wang Chuang returned, she hadn't conceived.

Qiao Mianmian wasn't embarrassed at all. She moved closer to her fourth sister and said, "That's why I said you should give him some nourishment. I heard from Uncle Xu that studying at the academy is very hard, and Scholar Xu has lost a lot of weight. Your brother-in-law must be very tired too. He's weak, so you should help him get back on his feet first."

"Oh dear, don't talk about that." Lin's cheeks flushed red as she led her younger sister into the house. She found a jar in the cupboard and took out a Ganoderma lucidum. "This was given to me by Brother Wang Chuang. I'm keeping one for him. Take this back and make soup for Father, Mother, Grandfather, and Grandmother. You can all eat it too. I see you've lost weight; you're the ones who need to nourish yourselves."

Qiao Mianmian leaned closer and pointed to her face, "Where am I thin? Pinch it, it's so chubby!"

Lin Xiahe pinched her sister playfully, then smiled and pushed her away, "Okay, okay, you haven't lost weight."

She carefully wrapped the Ganoderma lucidum and handed it to her younger sister, saying, "Tell our parents that I will bring Wang Chuang back with me on your coming-of-age ceremony."

"Mmm." Qiao Mianmian rarely came over, and she didn't go back until almost dinner time.

If she hadn't had to cook, she definitely would have stayed to have dinner with her fourth sister.

She jogged back home, and by then, the food stalls were starting to get busy.

There are many dishes that her second brother can't control the heat well enough for, so she has to cook them.

Qiao Mianmian was running in a hurry and didn't notice the person coming from the opposite direction when she turned the corner. She accidentally bumped into him and a burst of ink fragrance wafted over. But thinking about the Ganoderma lucidum in her hand, which she was holding high, she fell backward and landed on the ground with a thud, wincing in pain.

"Miss Qiao... Fifth Miss Qiao, is that you?" Xu Mingxuan said apologetically, "How are you? Are you in a lot of pain? Should I take you to see a doctor?"

Qiao Mianmian rubbed her bottom and got up. "No need, no need, I'm not that delicate. What a coincidence, Scholar Xu, to run into you. But I don't have time to catch up with you right now, I have to go to work at the food shop. See you later."

She ran off as soon as she finished speaking, without even glancing at Xu Mingxuan.

Xu Mingxuan watched Qiao Mianmian run off in a flurry and couldn't help but laugh. He said to the page beside him, "Miss Qiao has grown a lot taller, but her personality hasn't changed." She's still as cute as before.