Chapter 161 Three Women Working Together
Early in the morning, there was a quarrel at the entrance of Minxiang. Sui Yu and Sui Liang heard the noise from afar, and both siblings looked around curiously.
"What happened?" Sui Yu asked passers-by.
"It seems to be about some merchants, trying to steal their business." said an old lady.
"Sister, let me go take a look?" Sui Liang asked, "Wait here for me. Don't go over there, or you'll get pushed around."
"OK."
Sui Liang ran away. He went into the crowd and took a closer look. Aunt Erhua's husband was arguing with five people. The five men were so angry that their faces turned red, but Aunt Erhua's husband was very calm. He only responded to one curse after three.
After listening for a while, Sui Liang understood what was going on. He squeezed out of the crowd and ran over to Sui Yu, saying, "It was Aunt Erhua's husband who drove the caravan away yesterday and made the merchants stay in our guesthouse. The others in the alley called him a traitor, a traitor who couldn't tell the difference between inside and outside, and a traitor."
"He introduced the caravan there? Besides a few houses being built and demolished, aren't there still some old houses to live in in this alley?" Sui Yu wondered. "Why is it so bad now? He wanted to kill me before, but now he's trying to get business for me."
She wasn't the only one who had this question. Even the old bald man didn't understand. After the quarrelers left, he went over and asked, "What's wrong with you? Our house was demolished, but your second uncle and my eldest nephew's house was not demolished. It's still habitable. Why are you driving the merchants away?"
"When our house is built, their old house will still be looked down upon, and business will still be bad. I might as well give them a push in advance and play the bad guy. If they want to make money and do business, they can just tear down their house and build a new one like us." Aunt Erhua's husband didn't care about being scolded. He looked around and said with disdain: "Look, our alley is really ugly, with sheds scattered in the yard and collapsed roofs. It's like the patched clothes worn by an eighty-year-old woman, rotten and smelly. We might as well fix it together."
Sui Yu forced them to follow her steps, and Aunt Erhua's husband also figured it out. After their house was completed, other families in the alley would either close down their businesses or spend money to rebuild their houses. Instead of dragging it out year after year, it would be better for them to make major changes together this year.
"You really worry too much." The old bald man shook his head. "Go ahead and offend people. I don't care."
"Someone has to take charge." said Aunt Erhua's husband.
He really did what he said. Whenever a caravan came, he would bite the bullet and persuade them to leave unless they had already paid to stay.
Thanks to him, from late summer to early autumn, there were caravans staying in the guesthouse north of the city every day, and Sui Yu earned at least eighty coins every day.
The hot summer days came to an end with the sound of tinkling camel bells. As August approached, Zhao Xiaomi, accompanied by her eldest brother and his wife and her second brother and his wife, entered Dunhuang City with the dowry prepared by her parents.
Sui Yu also informed her relatives and friends of the good news. She and Sui Liang had few relatives, and Zhao Xiping's relatives were all in his hometown. The people who came to help prepare the banquet were all neighbors in the military settlement.
Three days before the wedding, Qin Dashun and his wife, Aunt Sun, Dongzi's mother, Sister Lamei, and Aunt Du came to help buy and select vegetables. Sui Yu also invited a woman who had both sons and daughters and whose parents were still alive to help sew the wedding quilt and prepare the dowry.
On the first day of August, the Sui family entertained guests. Huang Ancheng and Song Xian came to dinner as relatives of Zhao Xiping. Song Xian gave Zhao Xiaomi two feet of crimson silk.
"We're merchants, so we can't wear silk, but it's okay to wear it inside. No one else will know except our husbands." Song Xian whispered to Zhao Xiaomi, "Silk bellybands are light and cool. You'll like them."
Zhao Xiaomi blushed a little, feeling that there was something else behind her words.
Sui Yu walked into the backyard and shouted, "The feast is about to begin. Come out and eat!"
Song Xian smiled at Xiaomi and pulled her out.
"It's different now that we're a family. You're so affectionate and affectionate, it makes my eyes sore." Sui Yu asked, half curious and half joking, "What are you two whispering about when you're together?"
Song Xian smiled but said nothing. Zhao Xiaomi hesitated and said, "Auntie gave me two feet of silk cloth."
Sui Yu understood. She glanced at Song Xian and scolded her with a smile, "Not serious."
"What have I done? Is it improper to give two feet of silk cloth as a gift?" Song Xian laughed even more heartily. "Could it be that you are wearing silk cloth too?"
Sui Yu ignored her.
After this commotion, Zhao Xiaomi's nervousness disappeared for the most part. She walked into the front yard and accepted everyone's blessings with open arms.
After the banquet, Zhao Xiping and his two brothers carried out the dowry. The toilet bowl, wooden basin, bedding, furs and other items that could be carried by camels were carried by camels, while large items such as wooden beds, water tanks, boxes and cages, tables, chairs and benches were carried by people.
Zhao Dasao and Zhao Ersao stood under the eaves, watching. To say they weren't envious would be a lie. Zhao Xiaomi brought a double dowry, the most in the village. Some girls would just pack up their old clothes and go to their husband's house, but these two sisters-in-law only brought two new clothes and two suitcases. They couldn't compare to Zhao Xiaomi.
"Third sister-in-law, Xiaomi has gone to her husband's house. Doesn't that mean you'll be short of help?" asked Mrs. Zhao. "My daughter, Da Ya, is eight years old. She's very capable at home. I'm sending her to help you."
Sui Yu waved his hand and said, "We have enough manpower."
"Then wait until Daya is older and then come to help you, and let her learn from you." Mrs. Zhao said in a flattering tone.
Sui Yu did not refuse. It was still many years before Daya grew up, and she was not sure what the situation would be like in a few years.
The dowry was delivered a day in advance, and on the day, Huang Lianzheng, led by Huang Ancheng, came to pick up the bride, leading a mule.
Zhao Xiaomi went out wearing a red wedding dress. Her parents were not at home. She said goodbye to her brother and sister-in-law, and then her eldest brother picked her up and sat her sideways on the mule.
"If the girl marries into our family, we will definitely not let her suffer any grievances, don't worry." Huang Ancheng said.
"Brother, sister-in-law, I will treat Xiaomi well in the future." Huang Lianzheng promised.
"You two should live your lives well. Xiaomi has a quick temper, but she's not stubborn and can be reasoned with. Give her a few more words," Zhao Xiping advised. "If she's unreasonable, tell her to come back to me and I'll teach her a lesson."
"Third brother—" Zhao Xiaomi said anxiously, "Can't you praise me a few words?"
She didn't understand the implication of Zhao Xiping's words, but Huang Lianzheng did, and he nodded solemnly in agreement.
The eldest and second brothers Zhao were not good at speaking, and they said, "What your third brother meant is what we mean. Okay, it's getting late, let's go."
After the wedding procession left, the three Zhao brothers followed to see the bride off. They did not return until late at night, and all three brothers reeked of alcohol.
Zhao Xiping washed up and went into the room. He walked straight to the end of the bed and skillfully lifted up Sui Yu's legs and feet and kneaded them. The baby in her belly was older, and she often woke up at night because of cramps in her legs and feet.
Sui Yu woke up, holding her belly and turning over, she mumbled, "Are you back?"
"Yeah, I just got back." Zhao Xiping paused and asked, "Do you want to pee?"
Sui Yu nodded, but lay there without moving. Zhao Xiping understood what she meant, and he continued to massage her legs.
"Big brother said they will go back after Xiaomi comes home."
"The autumn harvest is almost here." Sui Yu thought for a moment and said, "When the time comes, ask the caravan leaving the city to take them with them so they can be looked after on the road."
"Is this strength enough?"
"Okay." Sui Yu wanted to sleep again. She pulled back her right leg and switched to her left leg. When she had rubbed it almost enough, she turned over, got out of bed and went to the toilet.
Zhao Xiping held the oil lamp to light the way for her and supported her with one hand.
The two couples sleeping in the side rooms were already fast asleep, their snoring echoing. Coming out of the toilet, Sui Yu fetched some water to wash her hands. She asked earnestly, "When you're older, will you snore?"
Zhao Xiping was silent.
Sui Yu stepped on him and walked past him into the house.
Zhao Xiping followed and after lying on the bed, he habitually stuck to Sui Yu's belly.
"Sleep." Sui Yu pushed him away, "The little one is asleep, I want to sleep too."
"You sleep, I won't talk." Zhao Xiping pressed closer again, "I didn't talk to him tonight, so he must be upset, right?"
Sui Yu: ...
"Your aunt is getting married today, and I'm here to escort her off," Zhao Xiping explained. "Are you a girl or a boy?"
"Do you like girls or boys?" Sui Yu asked.
"I like them all."
Sui Yu changed the question: "Do you hope the baby in your belly will be a son or a daughter?"
Zhao Xiping was silent.
"Son?" Sui Yu guessed with certainty.
"It's easier for men to survive in this world, but it doesn't matter if the baby is a girl. I can protect her." Zhao Xiping said frankly, "It doesn't matter if it's a girl or a boy. As long as it's yours, I like them all."
Sui Yu snorted and let him go for the time being.
Zhao Xiping lay down, and he hugged her and said, "With a mother like you, our child will definitely have a bright future."
Sui Yu doesn't have this confidence. It's better to rely on herself than on her children to have a bright future.
…
On the day of returning home, Sui Yu did not go to the guest house. She waited at home with Zhao Dasao and Zhao Ersao. The two sisters-in-law were cooking in the kitchen. Sui Yu sat in front of the stove to help light the fire, and the three sisters-in-law chatted casually.
"Third sister-in-law—" Zhao Xiaomi ran in, "Eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, I'm back."
Huang Lian was shouting along, holding two live chickens that were flapping their wings around in his hands, making him look particularly embarrassed.
Mrs. Zhao went over to take the chicken and said, "Come in and sit down. Xiaomi's three brothers have gone to the guest house. I think they'll be back soon."
Huang Lian was busy responding, but he was still standing in the yard. He took a quick look around and found that there was only half of the water left in the water tank. While his three sisters-in-law were not paying attention, he took the shoulder pole and carried the two buckets and walked out quickly.
"Hey! Where are you going? How can you let the new son-in-law fetch water! Come back." Sui Yu shouted.
As soon as she spoke, Huang Lianzheng took a few quick steps and ran out of the door like a thief stealing a bucket of water.
"Is this a thief?" Mrs. Zhao teased her sister-in-law.
Zhao Xiaomi felt embarrassed. She waved her hands and said, "Don't worry about him. He can't stay idle."
Not only Huang Lianzheng was restless, but Zhao Xiaomi was also restless. She rolled up her sleeves, washed her hands, and went into the kitchen to help cook. However, Sui Yu, the host of the house, was idle and was sitting under the eaves with her belly bulging to enjoy the breeze.
When the three Zhao brothers came back, Huang Lianzheng also came back with water. As soon as he entered the door, he saw his three brothers-in-law and spoke with a stuttering voice.
Sui Yu found it funny and she watched for a long time as if she was watching a show.
"New son-in-law always behaves like this when he comes to visit us for the first time. Your elder brother and I got married in the winter month. When he came back, he chopped half of the firewood piled up in our house. Since then, my father has been very satisfied with him. Whenever he mentions this son-in-law, my father praises him as being as good as half a cow." said Mrs. Zhao.
"They're truly brothers. My brother chopped wood and carried water when he came home with me." Mrs. Zhao laughed. "It seems men are only capable of these tricks to impress others, relying on their physical strength to show off. But if your father were still alive, the third brother wouldn't be able to rely on physical strength when facing his father-in-law. Even chopping wood and carrying water wouldn't be enough."
The last sentence was said to Sui Yu.
Sui Yu glanced at Zhao Xiping, smiled and said nothing.
After dinner, the family sat under the eaves to enjoy the cool breeze. While chatting, Zhao Xiaomi mentioned the business of buying and selling grain and fodder. She planned to start harvesting golden grass tomorrow, drying it, and then bundling it.
"Third sister-in-law, once the food and fodder are ready, I will go to the guesthouse to solicit business." Zhao Xiaomi greeted first.
Sui Yu nodded and said, "Okay, you can go into the guesthouse to discuss business with the merchant."
"How much is a bale of hay?" asked Mrs. Zhao.
"Five cents. A bundle of hay must weigh at least seventy pounds." Zhao Xiaomi replied.
Mrs. Zhao regretted that the two places were too far apart. If they were closer, she could bundle the soybean stalks she harvested from the fields and sell them for money.
The more she thought about it, the more she felt unwilling to give up. Mrs. Zhao felt that she couldn't stay at the third brother's house any longer. The more she saw, the more anxious she became. So the next morning, the eldest and second Zhao couples followed the caravan out of the city early.
In the days that followed, the number of small caravans entering the city decreased, with only a few large caravans returning to the city. Some large caravans traveled further afield, often returning only once every two or three years. Considering that these caravans were unaware of the new guesthouse in Dunhuang, Uncle Niu once again headed to Yumen Pass to drum up business for the guesthouse.
Some of the caravans that rented camels in the spring also returned. The camels that Song Xian rented out were much thinner, but in good spirits. Some merchants chose to cancel the lease, but more chose to buy them.
"Keep these eight camels for me. I'll come back next year to rent them," a merchant said to Song Xian. He said in a negotiating tone, "Can you give me two more years? We can keep them for a few more years, and when we have enough money, we can buy these eight camels."
"Have you only been doing business in the last two years?" Song Xian asked. "Your accents are quite strong."
The merchant nodded and said, "This is our second time in Dunhuang."
Song Xian thought for a moment and said, "Okay, I'll keep these eight camels for you."
"Thank you, Mr. Song," the merchant patted the camel and explained, "We encountered a pack of wolves on the road, and they saved our lives. I'll buy them a few bales of hay and a bag of soybeans. Please tell Mr. Song to tell everyone to give them good food when it gets cold."
Of course Song Xian wouldn't refuse, and she added, "I have a niece-in-law who's in the grain business..."
The merchant heard what Zhao Xiaomi meant and found out her name. The next day, he bought thirty coins of food and fodder from her.
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