"Ah, this is what I mentioned last time, made by that woman. She calls it 'candied hawthorn'!"
When Yang Ming saw the candied hawthorn and took a bite, wasn't this just the hawthorns that the fourth brother brought back for the kids from the mountain? He had not expected there to be such a way to eat them! Weren't these hawthorns only found on their mountain? Could it be that the woman Chu Lian was interested in was from a nearby village?
"Indeed delicious, did that woman make it for you?"
"I wish she made it especially for me. I just got lucky today; she was selling it at the entrance of our Academy."
"I wonder what kind of trouble her family is in, both copying books and selling candied hawthorns! She must be in urgent need of money!" Chu Lian murmured to himself again.
"You mentioned copying books? Is that the same person everyone was talking about in the Bookstore last time?"
"Yes, yes. You wouldn't know, she was so fierce today, she beat me up! Look here, and here!" he said, showing his arms to Yang Ming.
Meanwhile, Xiaoxiao had used all the money she made to buy sugar, and the two hurried home, excited at the thought of making two hundred strings of candied hawthorns at once. But once they arrived, they found the men of the Yang Family all lying on the kang bed, and the women looked as if their souls had been sucked out, which likely meant trouble.
"Dad, what happened?" Xiaoxiao hurried over to the kang and asked.
"Wuwu, Yang Erpang who went hunting with us today is gone!" the mother-in-law began to cry and wail again.
"We were unlucky today; we encountered a big tiger. The six of us couldn't fend it off, we all got injured, and Yang Erpang, who ran a bit slower, couldn't escape!" Yang Chun, the Yang family Boss, explained.
"How are you all, is there anything wrong? Where are you hurt? Have you found a doctor?" Xiaoxiao was truly anxious. If something happened to the men in the family, that would be a big problem; the women in the family would all have to suffer the consequences!
"We're alright, just superficial injuries. A little rest and we'll be fine; no need for a doctor. But after this incident, I'm afraid it'll be hard to go hunting again!"
"Dad, hunting has always been dangerous. It's a stroke of luck that you've returned alive this time. It's better not to go hunting anymore. I wasn't too keen on you guys doing it from the beginning, and now this is a good opportunity to stop!"
"But without hunting, the silver we owe will be even harder to repay!"
"Dad, just rest up well. Leave the matter of repaying the money to me!"
The old man looked around at everyone in the house and thought to himself that this third daughter-in-law was a good choice. With the trouble at home, the few women in the family were already scared senseless, not knowing what to do. It was fortunate that this third daughter-in-law had ideas.
"Sister-in-law, with this situation at home, I think we should call my third brother back!" Yang Dong spoke up.
"No need, he would be of no help if he returned. Mom, let dad and the others rest on the main kang bed. Although they aren't seriously injured, they did bleed, after all. Mom, take out the money from home and buy some meat for dad and the others to replenish. To my eldest sister-in-law and second sister-in-law, cooking will need some extra care from you. My youngest brother and I will make the most of these few days to sell the remaining candied hawthorns! Dad, you and the others just relax and recuperate, you'll get better..."
Xiaoxiao began to arrange everything at home while also calculating their financial situation now that there was no income. Relying solely on selling candied hawthorns, they could earn at most two taels of silver. She would need to think of other ways to make money. Why was it that others seemed to make money within minutes of time-traveling, yet when it came to her, it was so pitiful?
The next day, Xiaoxiao and Yang Dong made two hundred strings of candied hawthorns and went to the County early. The business was very good, and they sold out by afternoon. When the two returned home, they found a crowd of people gathered at the entrance of their house.