Chapter 78 Performing Arts, Not Selling Oneself
Since Chen Dahua's death, the Chen family has not yet recovered, and the couple did not want to cause any more trouble for their family.
"Your father has been feeling better lately. The clan chief invited him to teach his little grandson, and he might be invited to stay for dinner tonight."
Mrs. Chen recounted the trivial matters that had happened at home during this period, and then pulled out a bag from a corner.
The house suddenly collapsed, catching the couple off guard. Fortunately, they were sleeping in the study while roasting spiced melon seeds, so they escaped injury. This was a stroke of luck amidst misfortune.
However, the spiced melon seeds that were made were pressed into the mud, mixed with wall plaster and weeds, and probably can't be picked out.
According to Chen's calculations, he had lost at least a hundred or so coins.
"This is what your mother made according to your method. Little girl, try it and see how it tastes."
Chen himself didn't do much; he would go to his elder brother Chen Tieniu's place every day to check on the progress of making roasted peanuts.
With a way to make money, the Chen family's pain was somewhat alleviated.
"Mom, your cooking tastes great."
Lin Yuesha grabbed a small handful of melon seeds. They weren't as big as those in the Jiang family's house, but they were plump and delicious. One bite left a lingering fragrance on her lips and teeth.
"Little girl, are you sure you weren't wronged at the Jiang family's place?"
Her stepson returned twice, reporting only good news and not bad. Chen Shi had no idea how her daughter was doing in the Jiang family, and her heart was always in suspense.
"Mother, keep this money; we'll need it to renovate the house after the New Year."
Xiao Qi pawned the butterfly hairpin for twelve taels of silver, which Lin Yuesha didn't expect. She thought that the kind-hearted but foolish man would definitely be ripped off. The pawnshop owner would have been very generous by giving ten taels, so the extra two taels of silver were a pleasant surprise.
"so much?"
Chen took the heavy purse and almost dropped it; she had never seen so much silver in the house before.
It wasn't copper coins, it was real silver.
"Little girl, tell your mother honestly, did you sell yourself?"
Chen heard the rumors circulating in the village. Every time she tried to defend herself, she was too tongue-tied and was always misunderstood as having a guilty conscience.
The villagers said that because she remarried, the young maid left behind by her first husband became a thorn in her side, and was sold by Chen.
Influenced by the rumors, Chen's mind became somewhat unclear.
"Who could afford to buy me?"
Lin Yuesha said shamelessly that she was not just expensive, and even if someone could afford her, she would not sell!
A talented person can easily make some money; Lin Yuesha sells her art, not her body!
"Mom, have some, I made all of these."
Lin Yuesha opened the package and took out several kinds of food that were to be shipped to the barbarian tribe, allowing Chen to taste them one by one.
It would be too shocking to say out loud, and no one would believe it anyway, so seeing is believing, and Lin Yuesha has always been willing to let her strength speak for itself.
"Yes, it's delicious."
Chen tasted everything, and then fell silent.
Neither the Chen family nor the Lin family had ever heard of any of their ancestors being cooks, so where did their daughter's skills come from?
With this skill, Mrs. Chen felt at ease; she wasn't worried at all that her daughter wouldn't be able to get married.
"Mother, we have no costs, so cooperating with Master Jiang is the only option right now."
When it comes to business, Lin Yuesha speaks eloquently. She believes that working independently yields higher profits, but also involves facing numerous琐事 (trivial matters) and risks.
They have no family connections and currently don't even have a place to live, struggling to make ends meet.
"Mom, I want to eat rice and white flour steamed buns."
Lin Yuesha nestled in Chen's arms, shook her mother's arm, and winked at Xiao Qi.
She had to persuade her parents to move to the town, at least temporarily. The village was nice, but there were too many people and too many eyes on her; they all knew her inside and out. If she did any business, she couldn't guarantee she wouldn't be spied on.
Especially in Chenjia Village, almost every household has relatives. Since they make money in their own businesses, there are bound to be a few envious people.
You mean moving to town?
Mrs. Chen shook her head. It wasn't that the town was bad, but that her family had to rent a house there, which cost several hundred coins a month, more than they could spend in several months in the village.
“Mom, if we stay in town, I don’t need to stay at the Jiang family’s house anymore. I can go there in the morning and come home in the evening.”
Lin Yuesha persevered and continued her efforts to persuade Chen Shi. The land in Chenjia Village belonged to the Chen family, and had nothing to do with Chen Shi, a married woman.
The family's rice and grain were all delivered by my maternal grandparents and my eldest uncle's family, both of whom saved it from their own food rations.
If one's own family has a business in town, it will be easier to help out one's relatives.
“But in town, we need to buy firewood. Three coins' worth of firewood will only last for two days.”
Ms. Chen was somewhat tempted by what she heard. Moving to the town would indeed be very convenient, so Tingyun could come home every day and the family of four wouldn't have to be separated anymore.
However, faced with various expenses, Ms. Chen still couldn't make up her mind.
“Mother, if we want to do business in the future, like selling spiced melon seeds and transporting them to town, it would be best to find an oxcart.”
With Xiao Chenggui's physical strength, it would be difficult to transport dozens of kilograms of spiced melon seeds to the town, and Chen was afraid of being robbed if she went by herself.
The people of the North are known for their fierce and unruly nature, and there are many petty and wicked individuals among them.
Lin Yuesha talked for so long that her mouth was dry, but Xiao Qi's few key words were more effective.
"That's true."
Mrs. Chen was clearly somewhat in favor of the idea. She was afraid that if any relatives or friends in the village came to ask for the recipe for spiced melon seeds, she might not be able to resist telling them.
"Little girl, your elder brother is indeed a scholar; every word he says makes sense."
After weighing the pros and cons, Chen quickly made a decision: the family would first go to town to find a house, and move there as soon as they found one.
Lin Yuesha: "..."
She was the one who suggested moving, and she was the one who earned the money. Her stepson stole all the credit.
The three of them agreed to wait for Xiao Chenggui to return and then tell him about their decision.
“Okay, if we move to town, I can teach our daughter to read more.”
Xiao Chenggui patted Lin Yuesha's head and inquired in detail about her daily life at the Jiang family. Upon learning that she was doing well and had not suffered any grievances, Xiao Chenggui smiled even more.
"Master Jiang is an honest businessman."
In business, nobody does charity. Contrary to Chen's opinion, although Jiang Huai intended to help his family, it was based on the fact that food would bring him profit.
"Father, that's what I think too!"
Lin Yuesha was very happy that she shared the same values as her father. Her mother, Chen, lacked this foresight and only kept mentioning the kindness the Jiang family had shown to the family.
Lin Yuesha believes that the Jiang family's kindness to her is like a discerning eye finding a fine horse; it's a mutually beneficial relationship. She wouldn't call them great benefactors, but she will repay the debt of gratitude.
“Tingyun and your father will stay at home tonight. I’ll take Xiaoya to her uncle’s place for the night.”
The family of four couldn't fit in the cramped space, so Ms. Chen made arrangements.
Lin Yuesha originally intended to stay in the village for two days before returning home, but the actual situation did not allow her to delay.
The family discussed that they would go to town the next morning to find a suitable place to stay and bring their belongings with them. If they couldn't find one, they would temporarily stay in Mr. Xiao Qi's courtyard.
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