Daily Life of an Ancient Couple’s Struggle 12

Chapter 12: The Eldest Sister’s Plans
The sixth day of the Lunar New Year.
Yuan Yao woke up late again.
As she rose, rubbing her lower back in frustration, she couldn’t help but feel angry; she had clearly underestimated Jiang Song’an’s shamelessness. The two of them had stayed up until the hour of Yin last night, and when he attempted one final advance, Yuan Yao had kicked him hard.
Yet that man was remarkably skilled at pushing his luck: “I’m leaving this time and won’t be back for the Lantern Festival; it will be over forty days before I return. Yao-niang, please show me some mercy.”
Yuan Yao had always been one to yield to softness rather than force, so in the end, she let him have his way.
Hearing her second sister’s voice from outside made her flush with embarrassment; only after composing herself did Yuan Yao step out.
“Eldest Sister!” The three sisters immediately gathered around Yuan Yao. “Are you alright? Has your cold improved? Perhaps you should still lie down!”
A cold?
Yuan Shuang said, “Brother-in-law mentioned that you caught a chill last night from soaking in the bath for too long and asked us not to disturb you. Are you really okay, Sister?”
Yuan Yao suddenly understood. She bit her lip and asked, “I’m fine. Have you all eaten?”
“Yes! Brother-in-law bought steamed buns early this morning, and congee is keeping warm in the pot!”
Yuan Yao nodded and turned toward the kitchen.
The vegetable plot in the small courtyard was already neatly planted with greens, while the chirping of chicks and ducklings echoed from the yard. Although Jiang Song’an had left home, Yuan Yao felt their days were flourishing. After breakfast, she would begin planning for their future.
Jiang Song’an was away from home most of the time, so she would definitely need to establish her own livelihood.
There was another market fair on the tenth day of the month, and Yuan Yao planned to go to town that day as well. Yesterday, she had used a little over half a jin of mung beans to make eight pieces of mung bean cake. With the remaining two and a half jin, she could make approximately twenty more cakes. Yuan Yao intended to sell each cake for two wen; calculating it this way, there would still be a profit.
Of course, this was the ideal scenario. Yuan Yao also needed to prepare other items to sell. As she walked around the kitchen, she unexpectedly discovered something else wonderful: in the corner sat a bag of white kidney beans, placed there at some unknown time!
Yuan Yao’s eyes lit up. This was a treasure! If mung beans could be made into mung bean cakes, then white kidney beans could certainly be made into kidney bean cakes.
If both the mung bean cakes and kidney bean cakes sell out, then setting up this stall will have been worth it.
Yuan Yao glanced again at her three younger sisters in the courtyard, did some quick calculations, and finally formed a clear plan for their futures.
A-Shuang’s marriage into the Cao family in her previous life had been her own mistake; Yuan Yao would absolutely not allow that error to repeat itself. This time, instead of seeking a good marriage match for her second sister, she intended to find A-Shuang a skilled trade and nurture her confidence.
Yuan Yao remembered that A-Shuang loved embroidery; next market day, she would buy her second sister an embroidery basket.
As for Yuan Qi, the tutor will only begin accepting new students in the third month; she needs to save up tuition fees for her third younger sister. If there’s any money left over from this market trip, she’ll buy books, paper, and writing brushes to bring home.
Turning to Yuan Li, Yuan Yao felt another headache coming on. She certainly couldn’t indulge the girl’s whims by letting her learn horseback riding and fighting. Fortunately, the current Yuan Li showed no interest in such things anyway, being curious only about novel trinkets. If necessary, she too could be sent to study to temper her disposition. For now, that would be the plan.
As for herself, Yuan Yao pressed her lips together. Jiang Song’an had asked her yesterday what she liked. At that time, she hadn’t known, but now she finally understood.
What she loved most was making money.
Her only hobby is making money.
Thinking of this, Yuan Yao couldn’t help but laugh at herself for being such a money lover.
Just as she was chuckling, a knock came at the door. Yuan Qi went to answer it; the visitor was Aunt Dou, who entered the courtyard with a smile: “Sister-in-law!”
After what happened last time, Yuan Yao had grown quite familiar with her. She smiled and walked over to greet her: “Aunt Dou.”
“Here! Today’s soy milk. We had guests early this morning, so the beans were ground a bit late; don’t mind!”
Yuan Yao accepted it with a smile and offered her thanks.
Aunt Dou glanced into the courtyard, her eyes lighting up: “Oh, things have changed since the New Year! You’ve got chickens, ducks, and even a vegetable garden now? Excellent, excellent!”
Yuan Yao felt slightly embarrassed and could only reply, “I was unwell before the New Year; I only started setting these up once the weather warmed after the holidays.”
Aunt Dou certainly wouldn’t say anything inappropriate; she simply kept praising Yuan Yao. Only after her compliments did she add, “Xiao An spoke with me before he left today. If you need any help, just call out! We’re neighbors, and as the saying goes, a nearby neighbor is better than a distant relative!”
Yuan Yao understood this principle well, yet she hadn’t expected Jiang Song’an to be so thoughtful. Even as he departed, he had taken the trouble to ask their neighbors to look after her. It wasn’t just Aunt Dou; he must have spoken to the Liu family as well.
Yuan Yao felt a warm glow in her heart, and her smile grew even more earnest. After a moment’s thought, she said, “Auntie Dou, then I won’t stand on ceremony with you. Could I borrow a stone mill? Do you happen to have a smaller one? I’ve bought some mung beans and kidney beans to prepare some food, and there’s still some wheat at home that I can grind into flour.”
Hearing this, Auntie Dou laughed heartily: “My house lacks everything except a stone mill! Just wait; I’ll bring it over to you shortly!”
“I’ll go with you to get it!”
How could one borrow something and still expect the lender to deliver it? Amused, Auntie Dou replied, “That works too!”
It wasn’t long before the two of them carried over a small stone mill. The Dou family now owned a donkey, and their courtyard mill had long been replaced by a much larger one; this smaller version was no longer useful to them, yet it suited Yuan Yao perfectly.
Yuan Yao deftly poured a bowl of tea for her guest, thanked her once more, and after Bean Auntie finished drinking, she waved her hand and departed.
Only after stepping out of the room did she chuckle softly to herself, “Ah, I hadn’t realized—this young wife of Xiao An actually has quite a plan!”
Yuan Yao indeed had a plan. Having borrowed the stone mill, she intended to make full use of it. It wasn’t just mung beans and kidney beans; there was also wheat. Moreover, the household still possessed plenty of kudzu roots and lotus roots.
These were all gathered by Jiang Song’an from the mountains earlier; kudzu root powder is a wonderful remedy, renowned for beautifying and nourishing the skin, and many young ladies in Chang’an use it as a facial mask.
By early morning, Yuan Yao had already planned out her strategy for the next five days; now, she rolled up her sleeves and set to work.
–
The tenth day arrived quickly.
When the three sisters heard they were going out again today, any trace of sleepiness vanished instantly. Yuan Shuang felt a bit nervous: “Eldest Sister, are we going alone…?”
It was no wonder she was afraid; once before, when Yuan Yao had taken her out alone, they had encountered some hooligans. But this time, Yuan Yao smiled and said, “Yes, we’re all going together. Actually, it would be better if I went alone, but I wouldn’t feel at ease leaving you three at home. Today we’re going to sell some food and buy a few things for you. Don’t you want to go?”
The three sisters exchanged glances, their eyes lighting up.
“We want to go, we want to go!!!”
Big Sister is so amazing, even selling food.
When Yuan Yao brought out the freshly made pastries along with the ground lotus root powder and kidney bean powder, Yuan Shuang was stunned: “Big Sister, so you made these to sell? Why didn’t you let me help you?”
Yuan Yao gently patted her head: “I’ll tell you the reason when we get back.”
There were exactly twenty pieces of mung bean cake; unsure of the market demand, she hadn’t made many kidney bean cakes either, coincidentally also twenty pieces. Both types of pastries were arranged on plates, placed inside a basket, and covered with cloth. Since these items could easily break if dropped, Yuan Yao carried the basket herself. Several small cloth bags containing arrowroot powder and kidney bean powder were distributed among the three sisters, each carrying a portion. Finally, Yuan Yao also took a few bowls, though it wasn’t yet clear what they would be used for.
Just as they stepped out, the gates of the Liu family and Aunt Dou’s house opened simultaneously. Aunt Dou and Hongmei walked out together; spotting Yuan Yao, they approached and asked, “Heading to town?”
Yuan Yao nodded. “Yes, to do some business and buy a few things.”
Hearing that she intended to work, the two women showed not a hint of surprise, simply replying, “Alright, we’re going the same way; let’s go together.”
It was Yuan Yao who felt surprised, but she quickly understood upon second thought.
Jiang Song’an must have mentioned her desire to start a business when he asked Aunt Dou to look after her; no wonder the two of them had come out with her.
Watching the two figures flanking her, one on each side, Yuan Yao suddenly felt a warmth swell in her heart and couldn’t help but steal a smile.
They soon arrived at the marketplace. Aunt Dou, being generous, immediately said, “Come over to my stall. Since this is your first time setting up a booth, you’re surely unfamiliar with everything; I’ll guide you!”
This was indeed a tremendous help to Yuan Yao, so she did not decline. As for Sister Hongmei, who still needed to go to the pharmacy to fetch medicine, setting up a stall had nothing to do with her; after exchanging a few words, she turned and left.
Aunt Dou sighed as she watched her retreating figure: “Hongmei has such a hard life; with two elderly parents in the house who are constantly ill, it’s an immense burden.”
Yuan Yao: “What illness do Grandma Liu and Grandpa have…?”
“It’s an old lung condition; I’ve been coughing all along.”
Yuan Yao nodded and asked no further questions.
Aunt Dou’s family was actually in the same situation; otherwise, after doing business for so many years, they would have long had the means to rent a shop. Instead, they were still operating from a stall. Fortunately, their stall was large enough that setting aside a section for Yuan Yao was entirely feasible.
Yuan Yao quickly set up the stall together with the three sisters. Though called a “stall,” it was truly no bigger than the palm of a hand. Yet Yuan Yao remained quite confident. Once everything was arranged, the three sisters found themselves at a loss, glancing at one another uncertainly. But in the next moment, the eldest sister began giving an on-the-spot lesson—
“Mung bean cakes! Fresh and delicious mung bean cakes! Steamed and made to order! Silky and delicate texture, made with authentic malt sugar!”
“Kidney bean cakes! White and delicate kidney bean cakes! Soft, sweet, and fragrant!”
“Kudzu root powder for whitening and nourishing the skin, soothing the stomach and intestines; plus delicate lotus root powder, sweet and delicious—free samples available!”
Those few loud calls made the three sisters, who had been at a loss just moments before, widen their eyes in surprise, and even left Aunt Dou, who had been preparing to teach her how to make purchases, standing there dumbfounded…