Su Jiaoniang felt that she had reached the most satisfying aspect of being a mother: her children loved each other, were responsible, Xiao Ya helped with what she could, and Xiao Futu was studying medicine diligently. A person who studies medicine helps people and will surely become a kind and compassionate person in the future.
Having experienced this human trafficking incident, she felt deeply that this world was far less safe than later generations, and that she needed to arrange a martial arts teacher for her child.
Xiao Ya and Chang Sheng worked together to prepare some light meals and also brewed medicine for Su Jiao Niang. After three days of this, Su Jiao Niang could no longer lie down.
Although these wounds on her body would take time to heal, it was no big deal for Su Jiaoniang. She asked Xiaoya to borrow a needle, and then asked Xiaoya to buy some sheep intestines. She also took out some thread, boiled it in hot water several times, and began to suture the wounds.
The pain of each stitch on her body is unimaginable to those who haven't experienced it, but she persevered because she knew the wound would heal quickly and she wouldn't have to stay in bed for long.
Su Jiaoniang was sewing, and Xiao Futu couldn't help but pay attention. He put the book down and stared at the needle and thread without blinking.
Seeing Futu's concern, Su Jiaoniang reluctantly explained the precautions for suturing, and even went on to explain the principle of catgut sutures.
The little Buddha remembered everything.
After her wound was stitched up, Su Jiaoniang rested for two more days and was finally able to move around freely. However, her business and money-making activities were still controlled by her child, and she could only walk around but not work.
Whenever there was any sign that she needed to do something, Xiaoya would stare at her with her bright red eyes. If she dared to do anything, Xiaoya would cry.
What can I do but enjoy this carefree, parasitic life?
Being cared for by several five- or six-year-old children, she is probably the only one in the world to enjoy this kind of treatment.
That day, she was sitting on a chair in the courtyard, basking in the sun, when the gate creaked open from the outside. Changsheng led someone into her house. When Su Jiaoniang saw the person following behind Changsheng, a look of surprise flashed in her eyes.
The person who came with Changsheng was Fu Chuntang, a student from the county school. He was very interested in shaved ice and his family was in business. He came with Gu Changsheng during his vacation.
“Madam Su, I have heard from my father about your actions. People like you are worthy of respect.” Fu Chuntang cupped his hands in a respectful gesture to Su Jiaoniang.
Leading a few villagers to confront human traffickers armed with knives—who else has that kind of courage?
"You came here just to praise me?" Su Jiaoniang laughed. These things didn't need any praise from her.
Her deeply ingrained belief is to live a life free of guilt.
If you had stepped back, what would have happened to the children behind you?
The villagers who went up the mountain with her also helped a lot in the end. They were not praised, and no one even knew that they were heroes. In order to continue the investigation and to take the credit for themselves, the county magistrate put a silence on them. Apart from the well-connected people in the county, no one knew that the people of Sweetwater Village had participated in the rescue of the human traffickers.
Su Jiaoniang stared at Fu Chuntang for a few moments.
This child is probably one of those upper-class people?
At this moment, Fu Chuntang became a symbol in Su Jiaoniang's eyes.
She took medicine for several days and became very poor.
I started being supported by the children. Since I couldn't go out to earn money, I decided to earn money at home.
"Do you still want that ice churning machine?"
"Lady Su is incredibly insightful," Fu Chuntang praised.
Su Jiaoniang felt the conversation was going nowhere, and suggested they get straight to the point. Was it really okay to keep offering compliments? She wasn't good at mutual flattery!
"I don't want to sell anymore." Su Jiaoniang closed her eyes.
"...Why?" Fu Chuntang finally stopped praising Su Jiaoniang, a look of doubt flashing in his eyes.
“Because we don’t lack money,” Su Jiaoniang said.
Hearing this, Changsheng, who was tending the fire, was taken aback: "Our family hasn't eaten meat or cake for several days."
How could they not be short of money? They're desperately short!
Fu Chuntang glanced back at Xiao Changsheng and chuckled. He said calmly, "My father is asking for fifty taels of silver for the method of buying the ice crusher and the recipe for adding a small amount of glutinous rice balls to it."
Fifty taels of silver is neither a lot nor a little.
At least with this money, we can renovate the courtyard. It's too difficult for four people to squeeze into one room!
The children are still young and the weather is still warm, but it won't be good to keep them crammed together like this when it gets cold in winter.
When Gu Changsheng, who was tending the fire, heard that it was fifty taels of silver, his hand trembled slightly. In the end, he said nothing. He felt it was too little. However, he only made a profit of one hundred coins a day from selling ice bowls. To earn fifty taels of silver, he would have to work continuously for two years, rain or shine.
Su Jiaoniang nodded, "Fifty taels it is."
For those at the bottom, and for those in small counties, this is already quite good.
Moreover, simply giving the recipe to Fu Chuntang doesn't mean that only Fu Chuntang can use it in the future; she can still make smoothies and sell them for money.
Su Jiaoniang dictated the instructions, and Fu Chuntang wrote them down on paper. He then took down the method, and the purpose of this trip was almost accomplished.
As they were about to leave, Su Jiaoniang stopped them and pointed to Zhang the blacksmith next door: "That blacksmith has made similar blades before. You can order them from him. It's hard to say whether other places can make blades that are sharp enough to cut ice."
Fu Chuntang smiled and agreed.
At the same time, it gives a better impression of Su Jiaoniang.
A person who, even in his wealth, remembers to help those in his village—how could anyone not be happy with such a person?
Su Jiaoniang touched the silver in her hand, looked at Xiao Changsheng who was tending the fire, and asked, "Would you like to have a separate room by yourself?"
"Is that okay?" Changsheng's eyes widened.
Su Jiaoniang nodded: "We can expand this little courtyard and build a big one. You and Xiaoya Futu can each have your own room. With a bigger courtyard, we can also grow vegetables and flowers!" Now that she has money, she can have everything she wants.
Changsheng laughed heartily.
Su Jiaoniang stared at the soil that had been turned over in the corner, where the chili seedlings had already sprouted. Once they grew a little longer, they could be transplanted, and she wouldn't have to be so stingy with her chilies.
As Fu Chuntang left the courtyard, she could still hear Su Jiaoniang and Gu Changsheng laughing inside. Infected by their simple happiness, the young Fu Chuntang also smiled.
Lu Dashan, whose injuries had just healed, was on his way to buy meat in the county town because his son was home on vacation. He looked at Fu Chuntang with suspicion in his eyes, and then glanced at Su Jiaoniang's courtyard.
His eyes shifted, a hint of suspicion creeping in, and he spat on the ground: "You slut! A thing ridden by a thousand men!"
He reached up and covered the scabs on his face, a burning rage raging in his chest. The thought of almost being torn to pieces, and the fact that his injuries hadn't fully healed, intensified his resentment.
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