Li Xinniang pulled Yan Qingqing aside and told her what Yuan Huiniang was thinking, leaving Yan Qingqing feeling both amused and exasperated.
She believed that since becoming a mother-in-law, she had never treated Yuan Huiniang as an outsider, and was even closer to her than to Xinniang and Yueniang. She didn't know why Yuan Huiniang held this view.
Yan Qingqing became impatient when she saw Yuan Huiniang crying incessantly and scolded her, "Why are you crying on such a good day? I'm not dead yet!"
Seeing her mother-in-law's anger, Yuan Huiniang was too frightened to cry anymore. Yan Qingqing sighed and said, "Huiniang, I don't think I've ever mistreated you, and I'm not the kind of mean-spirited mother-in-law. Since I've entrusted the family affairs to you, it means I trust you."
I'm not that petty, so I hope you won't let your imagination run wild, as that could disrupt family harmony.
Yuan Huiniang sobbed twice and said, "Mother, aren't you angry that I didn't make that thing called a mask?"
Then why did you come in without saying a word? You seemed quite annoyed.
Yan Qingqing glanced at her and replied calmly, "Given our current situation, you're right. We can use the extra fabric to make a pair of shoe uppers."
I'm annoyed because we're going to set up a stall tomorrow, and we haven't prepared everything yet.
"Look, aren't these the handcart and wooden bucket we borrowed from your Grandma Wang's house?"
Yuan Huiniang looked in the direction Yan Qingqing was pointing and saw a handcart parked next to the courtyard wall. She immediately felt embarrassed, realizing that she had really misunderstood her mother-in-law.
Seeing that she was relieved, Yan Qingqing said again, "I don't want the same thing to happen again. Suspicion breeds fear. In the future, just tell me what's going on."
Whether it's Hui Niang or any of you, you must remember this.
The children all nodded in agreement.
Yuan Huiniang bit her lip and said, "Mother, I was wrong. I shouldn't have listened to my aunt and started thinking nonsense."
My aunt said that my mother was used to being mistreated by my grandmother when she was a daughter-in-law, so how could she possibly be genuinely good to me? She just wanted to wait for me to make a mistake so she could find something to use against me and punish me severely.
Without Yan Qingqing pressing for answers, Yuan Huiniang told Yan Qingqing what Zhao Yumei had been whispering about to her.
After listening, Yan Qingqing's heart sank, and she looked at her daughter-in-law with a cold gaze, asking, "So what do you think? Do you think what Zhao Yumei said is right?"
Knowing that her mother-in-law was angry, Yuan Huiniang quickly shook her head and replied truthfully, "Mother, I never thought that way. I just couldn't control myself and was afraid that I might do something wrong and upset you."
Yan Qingqing sighed after hearing this. Yuan Huiniang was still young, and it was natural that she was influenced by the words of others.
Fortunately, the child can still distinguish right from wrong, mainly because he's afraid of doing something wrong and incurring her dislike. His motivation is also that he cares about his place in Yan Qingqing's heart.
Yan Qingqing naturally took this opportunity to give Yuan Huiniang a warning, while also establishing her indispensable position in the family.
Once Yuan Huiniang felt at ease, everything was fine.
The next day, as soon as the village rooster crowed twice, Yan Qingqing got out of bed.
Knowing that the family was officially starting their business today, everyone got up except for Jinxiu, who was still sleeping because she was too young.
Yan Qingqing was in charge of braising pig offal, Yuan Huiniang steamed buns, Li Xiang'an was in charge of tending the fire, Li Xiangjian was in charge of odd jobs, and Li Xiangkang was in charge of washing the dishes and chopsticks that Wang Dagang had made yesterday.
The most important thing was the pork offal that Yan Qingqing made. Half an hour later, a meaty aroma filled the entire courtyard. They never knew that pork offal could be made so delicious.
Yan Qingqing felt a little smug; after all, it contained her secret braising spice packet, how could it not be delicious?
After serving the braised meat, Yan Qingqing stewed a winter melon, along with some braised pork offal.
Today is the first day of setting up a stall, and Yan Qingqing didn't prepare too many dishes. She prepared one all-meat dish and one half-meat dish.
Yuan Huiniang had also steamed the buns and made the pork bone soup.
Yan Qingqing left a few steamed buns and braised meat for Yuan Huiniang and the others, and loaded the rest onto the handcart.
Li Xiangjian was strong, so he pulled the cart from the front while Li Xiang'an pushed it from behind. Yan Qingqing had the easiest job, as she only needed to walk.
Even so, Li Xiangjian insisted that Yan Qingqing sit on the ground cart, saying he was afraid she would get tired.
Yan Qingqing was too embarrassed to let two children push her around, and besides, she wasn't that old, so she firmly refused him.
Seeing that Yan Qingqing was determined not to ride in the car, Li Xiangjian could only say, "Mother, if you get tired, you must let me know. I have plenty of energy."
Upon hearing this, Yan Qingqing exclaimed "Eh!" and then got goosebumps all over her body.
This is somewhat like a scene from some movies where a son takes his mother to the city, a story of maternal love and filial piety.
Yan Qingqing quickly shook her head, feeling that she was becoming increasingly abnormal.
Since Yan Qingqing and her group were selling lunch, they only needed to arrive before noon, so the three of them didn't move very fast.
Around eleven o'clock, Yan Qingqing and the others finally arrived at the dock.
Looking at the busy crowd coming and going on the boat, Yan Qingqing instructed her two sons to quickly set up the stall.
It was actually a very simple stall, just a simple table with large black and white steamed buns and bowls and chopsticks on it.
The bone broth and stew were placed on the ground.
There weren't many vendors at the dock; most sold small items. Of course, there were also vendors selling food, like Yan Qingqing and her friends.
However, their food consists mostly of wild vegetable pancakes or dark flour steamed buns; there are almost no places that sell meat or vegetables.
Half an hour later, some of the workers on the dock started to take a break, and a few people even began to wander around.
But most of them go to stalls they are familiar with.
Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian were probably a little restless because they were too young.
Li Xiangjian was especially anxious, but seeing Yan Qingqing's calm demeanor, he swallowed the words he was about to say.
Yan Qingqing saw that it was almost time, and most of the workers had disembarked.
Then he started shouting at the top of his lungs: "Fragrant braised meat, braised vegetables, and steamed buns! Delicious and inexpensive, plus free bone broth! Come and try it, or you don't have to pay!"
Yan Qingqing's shout startled Li Xiang'an and Li Xiangjian, who stared at her blankly.
Sure enough, after Yan Qingqing called out a few times, several people gathered around.
One of the men asked, "Sister-in-law, what kind of meat are you selling? Is it really not expensive?"
Yan Qingqing quickly laughed and said, "No matter what kind of meat it is, I guarantee you'll eat it with your mouth full of oil."
After saying that, he lifted the lid, and a fragrant aroma immediately filled the air.
The man swallowed hard, but hesitated when he saw that Yan Qingqing was selling pig offal.
Yan Qingqing noticed his hesitation and said, "Don't worry. If it's not delicious, you don't have to pay. I guarantee you'll never forget it after you try it this time."
I can serve you a piece to try first.
Just then, a familiar voice asked, "May I try some?"
Yan Qingqing looked up and saw that it was indeed an acquaintance.
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