Ever since Wei Yuyan and Wu Chen picked plum blossoms and made plum blossom-scented soap.
My brother-in-law also starts researching how to make this scented soap in his spare time.
"Hmm, not bad. Did you make this model yourself?"
Wei Yuyan discovered that the model of the scented soap was a flower, very beautiful, and could sell for at least twenty-five coins a piece.
"Yes, your sister drew it, and I carved it. It's not bad, is it?"
Chen Yu was quite pleased with himself.
"So beautiful. You really do have a talent for this. You've surpassed your teachers."
Wei Yuyan nodded. Her brother-in-law's scented soap was even more beautiful than her own; what else could it be but talent?
"Try washing it."
Her brother-in-law brought some warm water for Wei Yuyan to try.
"It's nice, very refreshing."
After washing her hands with scented soap, Wei Yuyan smelled her fingers; they smelled of plum blossoms.
"If you were to sell this, would you sell it for twenty coins?"
Chen Yu couldn't wait to take it to town and sell it today.
"I think it can be sold for twenty-five coins."
Wei Yuyan said frankly.
"so much".
Chen Yu sighed a little, as he had never bought one before and didn't know what price was appropriate.
"After the Lantern Festival, I'll find you a shop to sell scented soap, how about that?"
Wei Yuyan could tell from her sister and brother-in-law's expressions that they didn't want to sell steamed buns, but rather fragrant soap.
“Okay, actually, your sister is also very interested in this. She wants me to take care of Yueyue so she can make and sell it herself.”
Chen Yu admitted.
"Really? That's even better. When men sell these kinds of products, many customers are too embarrassed to come up and ask. Women will definitely do better business than men."
When Wei Yuyan heard that her sister wanted to sell scented soap, she thought it was even more suitable.
“From now on, I’ll do the cooking, and she’ll sell it.”
Chen Yu said with a smile.
"What are you selling? Why are you laughing so loudly?"
Hearing them laughing and joking here, the eldest sister, Wei Yuhan, couldn't help but come over to take a look.
"Fragrant soap, my brother-in-law said you really like this, so he'll let you sell it when it's ready."
Wei Yuyan explained.
"Great, I've been wanting to show off my skills."
Although Wei Yuhan had never sold anything before, she felt very confident looking at the beautiful scented soap.
"Girl, if I don't help out at the steamed bun shop, won't it be too busy again?"
Chen Yu put down the soap and went with everyone to the main room to warm themselves by the fire.
"Next year, I plan to buy one or two people from a human trafficker to help out at the shop."
Wei Yuyan picked up the teacup, took a sip, and then explained.
New Year's Eve
"Everyone, put on your new clothes after you take a shower."
Wei Yuyan found all the new clothes that everyone had made, and told them not to be reluctant to wear them, because it's Chinese New Year to wear new clothes.
"Little sister, I think you're just bored out of your mind."
Wei Yuhan couldn't help but tease.
"Yeah, now that someone's doing the work, I'm pretty idle. What should I do?"
Wei Yuyan began to think about whether she should find something to do next year.
Next year, the steamed bun shop will need to hire more staff, but the sister and brother-in-law from the soap shop are enough.
I don't even know what to do anymore. Should I go out and have some fun?
While we're at it, let's look for business opportunities.
"Free? You won't be free once you have a child."
Wei Yuhan is at it again, bringing up topics she doesn't really want to discuss.
"Um... I need to use the restroom."
Wei Yuyan didn't know what her older sister had become obsessed with lately, as she kept bringing this up.
"Alright, let them be. I believe that day will come."
Chen Yu felt there was no need to rush him; given Wu Chen's enthusiasm for the girl, it was only a matter of time.
“I’m afraid that if my sister continues to neglect Wu Chen like this, Wu Chen will change his mind one day.”
The eldest sister also had her own concerns.
"Do you need me to cook tonight?"
After using the outhouse, Wei Yuyan wandered into the kitchen. Wu Chen was currently taking care of everyone's three meals a day and was picking vegetables.
"Of course your cooking is delicious, everyone loves your cooking."
Wu Chen smiled and handed Wei Yuyan a stool so she could sit down.
"Then I'll cook it."
Wei Yuyan was itching to try her hand at it.
"Today's dishes are especially plentiful, so eat less rice and more vegetables."
More than half an hour later, the dishes were served.
Today we have braised pork belly with preserved mustard greens, steamed spare ribs, braised pig's trotters, stir-fried carrots and eggs, stir-fried cabbage with pork cracklings, chicken soup with shiitake mushrooms, stir-fried spinach, and spicy stir-fried dried bamboo shoots with cured pork—eight dishes in total, all neatly arranged.
"So many dishes! This is such a feast!"
Chen Yu wished there was some wine, but his brother-in-law was not fit to drink right now, and the others were women and children, so he had to give up on that idea.
"Come on, let's drink water instead of bar. Today is the last day of the year. I wish you a prosperous and successful year ahead."
Let's all raise our glasses and toast!
After eating and drinking their fill, the older sister and brother-in-law took Yueyue, Xiaolei, and Qianqian outside to set off firecrackers.
Only Wu Chen and Wei Yuyan were left to clean up the dishes.
"I want to visit my grandma tomorrow."
Wu Chen knew that his grandmother had always been biased and didn't treat her and her siblings well.
But when my father was alive, he always taught me and my younger siblings to be filial to our grandmother.
"So, what are you planning to bring?"
Wei Yuyan thought it was fine for Wu Chen to visit his grandmother, but he didn't need to bring any gifts.
Anyway, that old lady wasn't a good person either, letting Wu Chen's uncle's family bully Wu Chen's family.
After Wu Chen's father passed away, he completely ignored his children.
“Bring it, bring a pound of pastries, it will be my last act of filial piety to my father.”
Wu Chen thought back to when his father was alive, even when the family had no money, he would still grit his teeth and buy his grandmother a pound of the cheapest pastries.
At that time, Dad's biggest regret was that he never bought a good pastry for Grandma.
This time, I'll fulfill my father's last wish.
"Then it's up to you. I don't know if the old lady can digest it."
Wei Yuyan made this veiled remark and then went back upstairs.
The next morning was the first day of the Lunar New Year.
Wu Chen then took a pound of the finest osmanthus cake to his uncle's house.
The gate to my uncle's house was wide open, but no one was in the yard. It must be cold, so they were probably warming themselves in the kitchen or on the kang (a heated brick bed).
Wu Chen walked straight in and headed towards the old lady's room.
“Before, our family saw that they were poor and didn’t ask them to give us rice every year. Now that we’re rich, they don’t take you seriously anymore.”
Just as Wu Chen was about to knock on the door, he heard his aunt's voice.
The custom in the village is that if brothers separate from their mother and do not live with her, they must give her several dozen kilograms of grain every year.
Wu Chen remembers very clearly that his grandparents said it was troublesome to send grain every year, so they directly gave his uncle's family an extra acre of land.
It's ridiculous that my aunt is bringing this up again.
"That kid Wu Chen has never been close to me since he was little. I just didn't like him. Sure enough, he's grown up to be an ingrate."
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