Chapter 20 Help Second Aunt Share Some of the Burden
Second Aunt was a little surprised to see Chen Qi responding on her own initiative, and quickly continued the conversation.
"Great! Today I can finally rest my old bones!"
The old lady glanced at her.
"As the old saying goes, there's no distinction between young and old for the first three days of a marriage. Today is only the second day since Duo'er's daughter-in-law came home, and she hasn't even returned to her parents' home yet. Are you so anxious to get her to work?"
Feng felt that she was in the wrong and did not dare to respond.
Xie Yuming was the only one who hesitated.
"How old is my second brother's wife? Can she do such things?"
Second Aunt glared at him.
"You're right! If your wife wasn't always sick, I wouldn't be without a helper and be exhausted all day. My back and legs ache like hell, and no one knows!"
Xie Yuming remembered that his wife cried for half the night for some reason, and no matter how he asked, she would not tell him why.
Nine times out of ten, my mother will get some.
This time, he rarely spoke up for his wife.
"Weren't you doing these things before she came into our family? Why, after she married into our family, your back and legs started to ache?"
When Second Aunt heard this, she was so angry that she wanted to twist him across the table, but fortunately Second Uncle stopped her.
Sun looked up at her husband standing beside her. Although she still didn't say anything, there was a hint of brilliance in her eyes.
The old lady took a sip of tea slowly.
"Since Duo'er's daughter-in-law is sensible, let's take turns with the first and second wives for a month. You'll still be in charge this month, and we'll let the first wife take over next month."
Second Aunt was struggling with Second Uncle and trying to twist her son's face, but when she heard this she stopped and said hurriedly:
"Okay! Okay! But... as an elder, I can't help but be considerate of the younger generation. They're a newlywed couple, so in love, how could they possibly get up so early in the morning? I even did the morning shopping for her. Daughter-in-law Duo, just have a good breakfast and then go take care of things."
After hearing this, Old Mrs. Wu couldn't help but snort coldly.
Ever since the Xie family opened their first shop, she has been responsible for arranging meals for the shop.
I watched the herbal medicine shop on Silver Lion Street grow from the old man working alone to hiring his first assistant, then the second, and the third...
At most times, she had to arrange meals for twenty-eight people. How could she not understand the ins and outs involved?
Arranging meals is not a tiring job, but it is indeed a bit tedious. Isn't it because of the little bit of oil and water that was missed from the morning shopping that the second son's wife has been able to do this alone for so many years?
The Xie family has more than a dozen people, including the shop in front, and the daily food purchase quota is one or two taels of silver.
The prices of meat and vegetables on Four Seasons Street are not fixed, and the variety of dishes varies every day. When you buy meat and vegetables and take them home, others cannot check them one by one.
Whatever the buyer says it spent, that’s what it spent.
Pingshan County is just a small northern city with low prices. You can buy a duck for thirty cents, a chicken for fifty cents, and half a pig's fat for one tael of silver.
If you are careful with your money, spending six or seven cents a day is enough.
The remaining three or four cents of silver would always go into Feng's pocket.
Now, she lets Duo's daughter-in-law take turns doing the work, but she is reluctant to give them all the profit.
Before the old lady could say anything, Shen Qi spoke with a smile.
"Second Aunt, since I'm sharing the burden with the elders, how dare I say I'm tired? If I can't even get up early, won't people say I'm unfilial? Don't worry, leave it to me."
Second Aunt smiled awkwardly, "You're so young, and you've just arrived. You don't even know everyone in the family. I'm afraid I'll tire you out."
Chen Qi: "I'll get to know them all slowly. Besides, I have a third sister at home, and she can go with me."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Yujing immediately expressed his opinion.
"Yes! I'd like to go with my second sister-in-law."
Chen Qi smiled and touched her head.
Second Aunt was anxious: "She is just a little girl, what does she know! How could she accomplish such a thing?"
Chen Qi said calmly, "Second Aunt also said yesterday that girls need more experience. It would be beneficial for Third Sister to follow me and see the world."
Xiao Yujing nodded desperately.
Second Aunt took a deep breath, as if she had made up her mind with great pain.
"In that case, let Yu Jin follow along and gain experience. I said yesterday that we should teach together!"
At least she has someone by her side, so she won't end up losing so much money as blatantly as she did.
Yu Jin immediately became unhappy.
"How could a little girl like me do such a thing? Going in and out all day, showing my face in public, it's not decent."
The old lady said calmly, "What's the point of being polite? We're not like those officials in the capital, who are so rigid and pedantic. I started working when I was eight years old. After I got married, I followed your grandfather around buying goods. Who haven't I seen? What haven't I said to him?"
The girls around me aren't raised in such a stingy way. They lock themselves up in the house and never go out, and they think they're ladies from wealthy families. You've narrowed your own path."
The old lady rarely criticized Yu Jin, but her words left her speechless.
Chen Qi said with a smile: "Second Aunt, in that case, then Sister Yujin will follow you this month, and Sister Yujing will follow me next month."
Second Aunt was dumbfounded. How could she have given her daughter a job for no reason and still not be able to keep the "right to make money"?
"Mom! I can't get up!"
Yu Jin immediately started banging the table.
The old lady put down her tea bowl and slowly stood up while speaking.
"If the Jade Mirror can rise, you can rise too."
After saying that, the old lady waved her hand, indicating that it was settled.
Xie Yuduo watched his wife's reaction the whole time, and was impressed to see that she was not afraid and was organized.
Before going to the shop, when no one was paying attention, he proudly gave Chen Qi a thumbs up.
Chen Qi naturally saw it and smiled secretly with satisfaction.
Once in front of others, he immediately returned to his gentle and low-key self.
On the way back, Xiao Yujing was very excited and talked a lot to Chen Qi. Sometimes she said that she learned to read and write from her brother, and sometimes she said that she knew everyone in the family.
After a while, she began to worry again, "But I can't understand the account book, what should I do?"
Shen Qi smiled and said, "It's okay, I can understand."
Xiao Yujing's eyes lit up again.
"Can you teach me, sister-in-law?"
"Of course, I can teach you all my skills."
"Sister-in-law, what are your abilities?"
Well, Chen Qi thought about it seriously.
I know most of the characters in the world and have read a few books passed down by sages.
The food I cook is not bad.
She can help her mother sew clothes and embroider patterns, and she can also look at the account books and check the accounts for her father.
The most important thing is that no matter who you deal with, you should not bully others, nor let others bully you.
After hearing this, Xiao Yujing was so happy that she almost jumped up.
"Sister-in-law, you are really amazing! Aunt always tells me I should learn these things, but she also says she doesn't have time to teach me. She only lets me learn things like sweeping the floor and making a fire. However, she wants to teach my second sister, but she doesn't want to learn."
Upon hearing this, Chen Qi couldn't help but feel a lump in her throat. She knew that her little sister had suffered because of her mother's early death. Her father and brother were busy with things in the shop, and her second aunt only treated her as a maid and never taught her any real skills.
Chen Qi took Xiao Yujing's hand, imitated Xie Yuduo, placed it in her own palm, and spoke in a gentle tone.
"Don't worry, I will teach you everything one by one in the future."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com