A single statement roused Old Granny Zhang and the other old ladies; it was time to head home to cook.
They scattered like birds and beasts.
Old Granny Zhang watched as everyone dispersed and then scoffed, "These city folks are all so pretentious, too insincere. Early in the morning, no sooner do you all leave than I bet they’ll gather at our doorstep. I stepped out to buy a pancake and got surrounded, and now my once hot pancake has gone completely cold!"
As she spoke, she pulled out the pancake from her bosom. Indeed, the once fragrant pancake was now as cold as stone, stiff and hard. She knocked it against the wall, and it could have knocked off a patch of dust.
Wang Yongzhu took the pancake, "What does this matter? Mother, is there anything else you want to eat? I’ll go buy it right now?" Handing over the remaining snacks and candies to Old Granny Zhang, she turned to leave.
"Isn’t this enough? When it’s time to cook later, won’t the pancake soften up if soaked in water? I’ve already inquired around; everything in the city costs money. We can’t just consume our resources; I have no idea how much that stipend for Chongjin is going to be. We need to be frugal with our spending, you got that?"
Old Granny Zhang snatched back the pancake, caring deeply. She had patiently chatted with those city ladies this morning, and it wasn’t for nothing.
She had now learned which nearby rice shop sold the cheapest rice, when to buy vegetables to get the freshest ones, which bakery offered the best deals on buns, and even with firewood, she knew whom to buy from.
One could say that in just a morning’s time, she had grasped at least half of the secrets on how to survive in Jing County.
She had also calculated in her mind that, considering their family’s expenditure, excluding the stipend for Chongjin’s studies, the cost of food and clothing for the whole family, along with other miscellaneous expenses, would at least amount to Five Taels of Silver.
Although Old Granny Zhang was now aware that her daughter had some money, and her son-in-law wasn’t someone without plans, for her, Five Taels of Silver was way too expensive.
In the countryside, Five Taels of Silver could keep their whole family comfortable for two to three months. But in the city, that amount of silver seemed worthless.
Deep down, Old Granny Zhang harbored a worry that she couldn’t even discuss with her daughter.
Originally, her younger son, that beast, was touted as a child prodigy and became a Scholar at sixteen. But what happened afterward? He had taken exams for over ten years without ever passing the Graduate level.
Chongjin only started to learn to read and write in his teens. That initial success as a Scholar was probably just luck, plus the help of his patron father, that barely got him through.
She was prepared for a ten-year struggle for him to reach the Graduate level.
With their family’s mountain goods business now out of her daughter’s hands, and though the dye workshop did provide dividends, there would be more expenses once her daughter had children.
Not to mention that she knew, if there was a scholar in the family, the financial burden would be immense. Even if her daughter could earn a substantial amount, it would not suffice if the family spent money extravagantly.
Hence, she resolved to manage the household well for her daughter, saving wherever possible. It didn’t matter if she lost out a bit; she couldn’t let her daughter suffer in the future.
Wang Yongzhu had no idea that Old Granny Zhang was thinking so far ahead, still contemplating how she finally managed to bring her own mother out to live with her, naturally wanting nothing more than to give her mother everything she liked.
One insisted on buying, the other firmly refused; they were at a stalemate when Song Chongjin returned.
"Mother? Yongzhu? What are you doing?" From afar, he could hear words about buying a pancake and whether to buy it or not.
Seeing Song Chongjin return with Scholar Gu and his young servant by his side, Wang Yongzhu merely smiled and gave a slight nod in the direction of Scholar Gu.
Before she could speak, she saw Scholar Gu freeze for a moment, then, like he’d been pricked by a needle, he took off at a brisk pace, walking fast without a backwards glance while saying, "Brother Song, I’ll head back first—"
His hasty manner was as if a wolf was chasing him from behind.
Wang Yongzhu, puzzled, looked at Song Chongjin, then back at Scholar Gu, and to her surprise, discovered that even the tips of Scholar Gu’s ears and his neck had turned red.
"Brother Song, what’s with Scholar Gu?" Wang Yongzhu said with a baffled look. She didn’t think she looked scary, did she?
Yesterday, he hadn’t dared to glance her way, and this morning, just one look at her made him dumbfounded, and then he took off running. She hadn’t taken it to heart before.
But why did he act as if someone wanted to kill him at noon, just because she gave him a polite smile and a nod, before he turned tail and ran?
Was he really that afraid of her?
Touching her own face, Wang Yongzhu asked, "Brother Song, mom, do I look very scary?"
Old Granny Zhang, being such a savvy woman, could tell at a glance that it wasn’t fear that Scholar Gu felt after seeing her daughter, but rather shyness.
But with her daughter now married, and herself quite satisfied with her son-in-law, why would they care for anyone else?
Not to mention Scholar Gu had a weedy look about him, as if a puff of wind might knock him over—what use would he be?
In Old Granny Zhang’s simple view, a man should be strong and sturdy. What use is one who’s as weak as a chick, unable to shoulder a load or lift a hand? Just for show at home?
Moreover, a woman needs a good reputation. Being new to the area, if she got tainted with a bad reputation, it would ruin her daughter’s and son-in-law’s lives forever.
Seeing that her daughter still hadn’t caught on, thinking that Scholar Gu was actually afraid of her, she immediately chimed in: "Exactly, this Scholar Master must look down on us because we’re from the countryside, right? I heard he’s from the Capital City; it wouldn’t be surprising if he looks down on peasant folk! Chongjin, we’d better have less to do with such people!"
With that, she glanced at Song Chongjin.
Song Chongjin had no trouble understanding, feeling warm inside. His mother-in-law was taking his side.
Smiling, he affectionately rubbed Wang Yongzhu’s face and said, "Mom, Yongzhu, you’ve both got it wrong. Brother Gu isn’t like that at all. He’s just naturally scared of dealing with women. He gets frightened at the sight of them, especially young women. He can’t even speak when he sees them, and his whole body breaks out in red rashes. In the future, if you see him, just don’t talk to him, to avoid triggering his condition—"
Upon hearing this, Wang Yongzhu thought it sounded like the illnesses that overbearing CEOs in stories from her previous world would have. What was it called again? Gynophobia? Typically, only the destined heroine could be immune to it, and furthermore, she’d be the only one immune—like it was hardcoded in their genes.
Feeling sympathetic, she said, "That’s so sad! Mom, we must stay far away from Scholar Gu when we see him in the future, and we shouldn’t speak to him either!"
Old Granny Zhang cast a glance at Song Chongjin and turned with a smiling face: "You’re right, Zhuzhu. We should keep our distance from such people."
Song Chongjin flashed Old Granny Zhang a grin, eager to please, recalling the words he had just heard and guessing what was going on. "Mom, I’ll go buy you some hot baked buns to eat."
Saying so, he hurried off to buy baked buns.
Old Granny Zhang, pulling Wang Yongzhu into the yard, wanting to say something, opened her mouth a few times, then closed it again, and finally simply waved her hand: "Go back and rest in the room. I’m going to make some mushroom soup—it’ll go well with the baked buns."