Before Wang Yonggui could finish his sentence, he exploded: "Since when is she your sister-in-law? Why don’t you listen to Little Sister, but instead to that troublemaker? Are you out of your mind?"
Lady Jiang’s tears started to fall: "She is the sister-in-law, and when she insisted on her way, I couldn’t resist—"
"If you couldn’t resist, why didn’t you tell your husband? He’s not dead!" Wang Yonggui exclaimed, stomping his foot.
"Enough, Laosan, stop scolding our sister-in-law! This is all that fool Lady Lin’s fault!" Wang Yongfu hurried to mediate.
Hearing this, everyone finally understood why the mountain goods couldn’t be stored properly this year.
It wasn’t for any other reason but because Lady Lin, in her eagerness to save a little money and being lazy, used too little lime.
If Wang Yongzhu hadn’t discovered the problem, the consequences could have been far worse later on.
Thinking of this, the Wang Family brothers felt lingering fear. If Lady Lin continues to be lazy, the mountain goods stored in the warehouse, without frequent disinfection and enough lime to absorb moisture during the rainy season, would surely spoil.
Lady Lin is a disaster! Her laziness is one thing, but she’s endangering the entire Wang Family!
Right now, everyone present, even Jindou and the half-understanding Jinguan, realized that if Wang Yongzhu hadn’t come back and discovered the issue, the Wang Family’s mountain goods business would have been ruined.
Never mind what Jindou and Jinguan thought about it.
Everyone else was furious. Wang Yonggui thought for a moment, worried: "Since everyone’s here today, Jindou, Jinpan, bring pen and paper. Let’s write down all the rules from last year that we remember, compare notes, and see if anything is missing. Once confirmed, these will be the rules we follow from now on!"
Wang Yongfu and Wang Yongping immediately expressed their agreement.
The family sat around, scratching their heads, trying hard to recall the instructions Wang Yongzhu gave last year, and his usual practices, filling two large sheets of paper.
After writing, they had Jindou and Jinpan read them aloud. Seeing that no one had any additions, they tasked Jindou and Jinpan to read these rules to everyone every morning, ensuring everyone memorized them, and checked in the evening that they had learned them.
Despite the fuss, no one complained.
Everyone knew this was crucial for the Wang Family’s business and everyone’s interests. Instead, they were all motivated, especially considering Boss Zhang’s price increase by ten percent. With careful management, this year’s income could be much higher than last year’s.
With everything settled, Wang Yonggui exclaimed: "It’s a good thing, big brother, you divorced Lady Lin. If she stayed, who knows how much more trouble she’d bring us! Our Wang Family business almost got ruined by her!"
Wang Yonggui spoke without much thought, but Wang Yongfu took it seriously. That night, he called Jindou into his room: "What do you think about what happened today?"
Jindou looked troubled and took a long time before saying: "Mother surely didn’t mean it. She, she just..."
She just was stingy, shortsighted, and lazy; Jindou found these words hard to say.
He couldn’t help but feel some resentment. The entire Wang Family now depended on the mountain goods business, and although they had bought back their fields, everyone knew that was just enough to get by.
The Wang Family needed the mountain goods business to live well.
If Lady Lin’s actions hadn’t been discovered for a year, the quality of the initial shipments would deteriorate, customers would lower prices, and they’d make no money. A year or two, and the business would collapse.
That would cut off several families’ sources of income!
Thinking about this, Jindou felt too ashamed to defend Lady Lin.
Seeing Jindou’s expression, Wang Yongfu continued: "You saw what happened today. Your mother’s mistake was partially overlooked by your third and fourth uncles out of brotherly affection because it didn’t cause a major disaster. But this affection can’t withstand constant erosion! Think of your second uncle! If he hadn’t been so ruthless years ago, wearing down brotherly affection and harboring evil thoughts, leading to harming your grandfather, he wouldn’t have ended up the way he did."
"Our household used to have many people, lots of labor, and did most of the work. Your grandfather valued us, so our household had weight in family decisions. Now that we’re divided, your third uncle is sharp and aims to connect Jinpan and Jinshao to education to stay connected with your aunt and uncle. Your fourth uncle may be simple, but he has support from the Chongzi Gou clan. Even without us, he could succeed in the mountain goods business."
"Given the current state of the three households, ours is the worst off, thanks to your mother offending your grandmother and aunt. Before, Jinhoo meditated in between and was well-liked by your aunt, yet your mother drove him away, out of home at a young age. Now, who knows where he is. Because of this, our household has the hardest time dealing with your grandmother and aunt, do you understand?"
Jindou, though honest and simple, had learned about half of Wang Yongfu’s skills. He was a hard worker, never one to seek the spotlight.
He was sincere but not foolish. Ever since his father’s injury, he noticed their family’s standing in the household gradually declined.
Especially after the family split; even though the third household used to be weaker, they now thrived, full of energy and prospects, while the populous first household constantly faced setbacks.
From Wang Yongfu’s tone, Jindou sensed helplessness and much more complicated emotions.
Seeing Wang Yongfu’s expectant gaze, Jindou felt the heavy burden on his shoulders, wishing Jinhoo were home to share some of it with him.
Grinding his teeth, Jindou nodded: "Father, I understand!"
The next day, Jindou went to the old house and locked himself in a room with Lady Lin, what they discussed was unknown.
They heard Lady Lin’s outcry, calling them ungrateful beings, cursing them harshly, followed by sounds of things being slammed.
Soon after, it fell silent.
Wang Yongzhen hid in her room, cracked her window slightly to listen in.
Jindou’s voice was too low to hear clearly!
After a while, Lady Lin’s heart-wrenching cries resounded, and then the door opened. Jinhoo emerged with a stern face, bearing a fresh red handprint.
Wang Yongzhen gasped, nearly audibly, but quickly covered her mouth.
Jindou seemed to sense something, glancing her way, Wang Yongzhen shrank back, patting her chest.
When she peered out again, Jindou was gone, leaving the yard empty.
She sneaked to Lady Lin’s room; Lady Lin’s sobbing had subdued.