Chapter 75: 75 Pig Lard Got Rich
“It’s locked,” said Ye Jiu.
“Good,” Mrs. He took the key back and put it away, “Your second sister-in-law has been completely spoiled by her family. If the cabinet isn’t locked tightly, that flour might end up on the Zhao Family’s dinner table by tomorrow.”
Ye Jiu didn’t comment but just grinned at Mrs. He, “Mom, it’s been such a long time since our family has had a decent meal.”
“Didn’t we have bone soup today? Just wait, we’ll stew some Chinese cabbage and radishes with it later. Don’t eat your teeth along with it,” Mrs. He joked.
Ye Jiu looked straight at Mrs. He, “I told my eldest sister-in-law that the whole family would be eating white flour noodles tonight.”
Mrs. He paused and turned around, “What did you say?”
“Oh my white flour!” Realizing what that meant, Mrs. He wailed and turned to head outside.
“Mom, the flour has already been kneaded into dough, and besides, aren’t you still sick?” Ye Jiu grabbed her, her voice growing weaker as she spoke.
Coming back to her senses, Mrs. He plopped down on the kang bed, “You girl, what am I to do with you!”
She herself was reluctant to eat that white flour on a regular basis, and now it looked like all of it was going to be completely wasted.
Ye Jiu comforted Mrs. He, “Mom, it’s just some white flour, after all. You’re distressed over this, but what about when our family can afford meat and fish in the future? Won’t you be even more heartbroken then?”
“I dare not dream of meat and fish. If I can have a full meal, I’m already content as an old lady!” Mrs. He said, holding back her sorrow.
In her whole life, it was only when she was a maiden, before her brothers had taken wives, and in the recent years after her mother-in-law passed away, that life had gotten a little better. A life with plenty of meat and fish was something she hadn’t even dared to dream of!
Ye Jiu got up and walked to the door, then brought over the basket hidden behind it and placed it in front of Mrs. He, “Mom, what do you think this is?”
Mrs. He fumbled inside the cover, and then revealed the half-basketful of lard hidden beneath the hay.
Mrs. He was so shocked that she nearly lost her breath, covering her chest and unable to recover for a long time.
Ye Jiu was terrified and quickly helped her to breathe smoothly, “Mom, don’t get too excited. Please, don’t get too excited. Let’s stay calm!”
If it had been someone else, Mrs. He would have been dying to kick them, but it was Ye Jiu. Even though she also felt the pinch, she couldn’t bear to scold her daughter and could only complain, “You girl, you just can’t keep your hands off money.
I didn’t take all the money back yesterday because I wanted to leave some for your personal expenses, but I didn’t expect you to squander it !
Tell me, what’s the point of buying so much pig lard? Even if it’s for making oil, one piece would be enough. How many years will it take for our family to eat all the oil you’ve rendered?”
“Mom, this isn’t for our family to eat,” Ye Jiu said as she covered the basket again with hay and placed it to the side. “This is for making money. Whether we can live a good life soon and whether you can become a wealthy old lady in the future all depends on this.”
Mrs. He’s gaze was fixed on the lard, she didn’t even notice the small packet of lye. Hearing Ye Jiu’s words, she replied indignantly, “Well then, I will be watching closely to see how you use this half-basketful of lard to make a fortune!”
Thinking about becoming a rich old lady, Mrs. He felt like she was nearly knocking at heaven’s door.
Faced with such a wasteful daughter, whom she had spoiled herself, what could she do?
Ye Jiu did not bother explaining; she knew that once she had created the items, Mrs. He would understand on her own.