Chapter 30.1

Song Yulan carried the child back home with Xu Dashan, and Fang shi finally breathed a sigh of relief. Although she claimed not to fear separation, she hoped more than anything for her daughter to live a good life, avoiding separation if possible.

No matter how pampered a daughter is at home, once she becomes someone else's daughter-in-law outside, she can't enjoy the same comfort as at home. Only Li shi doesn't care about these things, as long as the daughters-in-law don't cause trouble, she doesn't interfere.

Fortunately, both Fang shi and Zhang shi are down-to-earth people, even if Fang shi is a bit petty, Li shi chooses to ignore it.

With the situation settled on Song Yulan's side, peace returned to the Song family.

The summer sun beat down mercilessly, turning Song Dingxiang's forehead damp with sweat as she inspected the rows of wooden barrels lined up in the courtyard. Six or seven of them, worn smooth by years of use, brimmed with a dark, glistening liquid - her homemade soy sauce.

The air hung heavy with the salty, savory aroma.

She ran her calloused fingers along the rough surface of a barrel, feeling the warmth of the afternoon sun seep through the wood. It was a familiar sensation, one that spoke of countless hours spent tending to her soy sauce.

Each day, she meticulously stirred the contents, ensuring an even fermentation process.

The anticipation of the finished product danced on her tongue. Soon, the rich, umami flavor of her soy sauce would be ready to enhance countless dishes.

But Song Dingxiang wasn't one to rest on her laurels. A spark of creativity ignited in her eyes.

Beyond the soy sauce, she envisioned another culinary masterpiece - a fiery chili sauce that would tantalize taste buds with its vibrant kick.

Chili wasn't popular in the area, as the spicy taste wasn't widely accepted. Most of the chili brought to the area was cheap and mainly used by pharmacies for sweating and warming effects.

Using the money earned from renting the shop, Song Dingxiang bought a large quantity of dried chili and planted the seeds in a newly opened piece of land.

Instead of grinding them plain, she turned the leftover chili skins into a fiery seasoning. With a mortar and pestle, she crushed them to a powder, then added a touch of toasted sesame seeds for nuttiness and a drizzle of oil to smooth it out.

This homemade chili paste packed a punch and a unique flavor, a secret weapon for her seasoning at home.

*

The summer sun beat down mercilessly, turning the air thick and heavy. Even the cicadas seemed sluggish in their usual relentless chirping.

Inside their humble dwelling, Fang shi lay on a simple bed, sweat beading on her brow. Despite the oppressive heat, a different kind of fire burned within her – the fire of childbirth.

Beside her, Li shi, her face etched with worry, moved with a quiet urgency. She knew the toll this labor was taking on her daughter-in-law.

Disappearing into another room, she returned with a small, intricately carved wooden box. With trembling hands, she opened it, revealing slices of ginseng, their golden color a stark contrast against the dark wood.

These were no ordinary roots. Li shi had treasured them for years, a precious gift meant for a time of great need.

Without hesitation, she began boiling them, the air soon filled with the earthy, invigorating scent. The aroma wasn't just a fragrance, it was a promise – a promise of strength and renewed energy.

As the ginseng potion worked its magic, Fang shi found a renewed wellspring of strength within herself. With a final, earth-shattering cry, a baby boy entered the world.

Li shi, tears glistening in her eyes, cradled the child, his cries a melody that chased away the oppressive heat and replaced it with a surge of joy and relief.

Fang shi didn't produce enough milk, but Jin Qiao'er did. She had to feed both children, causing a concern.

Song Dingxiang made fresh sheeps milk, added some cheap tea leaves and jasmine flowers to remove the smell, solving the problem.

"Thank goodness for your sheeps," Fang shi said, forgetting about her previous prohibition on her daughter raising sheeps, seeing the baby boy drinking happily, with a smile on her face.

"Just endure these first three months, then switching to rice porridge will be fine. Gouzi, when you grow up, you must treat your sister well. If not for your sister, you would go hungry..."

In the countryside, children are given ignoble names to make them easier to raise. For example, those small black egg, dog egg, and mud egg are what they are called on a regular basis, only the teacher at school would address them by their full names.

Some never receive a proper name even as they grow up, continuing to be called by these nicknames, as they are not concerned about being teased since they will stay in the village for life.

Helping Fang shi hold the chubby baby brother, Song Dingxiang's heart softened. She had never had her own child in her lifetime and cherished her siblings' children immensely.

Now in this phase of life, almost starting over, she didn't know what to expect...

After a few more days, it was heard that Xu Qiang was appointed as an official and was to go a thousand miles away to take up a position as a county official. This news delighted both the Xu and Song families, with Third Old Song San's wife even coming to Li shi to borrow money, just to make sure her grandson-in-law had enough money for the journey and to save face.

Li shi didn't refuse, but made her write an IOU before handing over twenty taels of silver.

Gao shi's was ecstatic, teeth showing through a big smile, "Younger sister-in-law, rest assured, once my grandson-in-law starts his job, he will earn a lot of silver and will return you double."

Li shi smiled faintly, "I'm not expecting double repayment, I lent you twenty taels, just return me twenty taels."

Listening to the talk of earning a lot of silver, it seemed as if they believed becoming a county official was solely for making money and not for serving the people.

Song Taohong was also overjoyed, staying up late to make several new clothes for Xu Qiang, eagerly anticipating herself as the wife of the county official. However, this dream was shattered before its fulfillment by her mother-in-law.

"Your health hasn't fully recovered yet, and Jin Bao'er is still so young. If you go now, it will be months of traveling on a thousand-mile journey. How will my grandson endure this hardship? Don't worry about your man being unattended on the road, my niece has arrived recently, she is also diligent, let her go with him, it will be the same."

Song Taohong was struck as if by lightning after hearing this, and it took her a while to come to her senses.

Now that Xu Qiang has become an official, he no longer likes Song Taohong as much as before. In his eyes, he is already a government official, and he is still young, so he should find someone from a similar background.

When Song Taohong was with him, it was a forced relationship without a matchmaker, and it almost caused a scandal. Even if they had a son, so what?

The main thing is a woman, who can give birth to a son, so why worry about not having one?

Seeing Song Taohong crying and complaining to him, Xu Qiang impatiently said, "Mother didn't say anything wrong. Jinbao is only two or three months old. Do you want to take him on a thousand-mile journey? I can't delay the matter of taking office, and I have to rush all the way. How can I take care of you and your son? When Jinbao is older, you can bring him to see me."

But Song Taohong cried, "But, but Qiuhong is also a woman, young, I don't believe you didn't see what mother really meant."

Xu Qiang smirked and said, "These days, which official doesn't have multiple wives and concubines? You are the main wife now, you should be more generous. When I take office, other people will send me various beauties and concubines. If you are jealous now, what about the future? Besides, Qiuhong is not an outsider, she is also my cousin. What are you worried about? Wait until there is someone else, then you can worry."

Song Taohong gritted her teeth so hard that she almost crushed her silver teeth. How could a family like theirs have multiple wives and concubines?

Some men find it difficult to even marry a wife, and there are a lot of old bachelors in their thirties and forties. But now, Xu Qiang was already thinking about having multiple wives and concubines right after taking office.

When they arrive in the county town with all kinds of enchanting women, would he still care about her, a village girl?

But it was too late to say anything now, she could only clench her fists and say, "You are right, cousin serving you all the way is also a tough job. I have nothing to thank her, this bracelet is new from my family, so let's give it to her as a gift."

Xu Qiang smiled contentedly, "That's good, although you are not from a prominent family, you still have a big heart. Now that I have left, you will have to take care of everything inside and out. In a few years, when I climb even higher, I will get you official documents, and you will be on equal footing with the wives of those high-ranking officials."

Song Taohong looked to the future and felt a little more comfortable in her heart, smiling coyly, "You just like to tease people. What makes me so eager for a decree? I just hope you have a safe journey all the way to your post. Now that I am not by your side, remember to send letters back, so that my parents and I won't worry about you."

Xu Qiang nodded vaguely, "Got it, you rest in the house, I'll go see if there's anything else to take care of over there." With that, he got up and went to the main house.

Song Taohong's face darkened as she clenched her fists, what was there to take care of?

What was there to see?

Perhaps he wanted to see the enchanting cousin in that room?

She regretted that her condition did not allow her and bring the child with her. Otherwise, where was there any mentioning of this annoying cousin?

However, she was the legal wife, she had a legitimate son, even if the cousin gave birth to a child, it couldn't compare to her.

But hearing the laughter and joy coming from the other room, and looking at the child sleeping beside her, Song Taohong felt a chill in her heart.

The joyful sounds from the other room, a stark contrast to the quiet beside her, felt like a physical blow. Each peal of laughter echoed the hollowness she felt inside.

*

"Sure enough, as your little uncle said, look, he hasn't even taken office yet, and he's already brought the young one with him. When he takes office... it's all thanks to Song Taohong rushing to join in this excitement, otherwise, it would have fallen on our Dingxiang's head, and I would have been heartbroken." Fang shi coaxed her son to sleep while chatting with a few people in the house.

The day had begun to wane, stealing the sunlight and replacing it with a cool, inky blue that seeped through the gauze-covered windows. Inside, the aroma of mugwort lingered, a faint, herbal whisper left behind by the recent fumigation.

The whole family couldn't sleep for a while. Drawn together by a current of unspoken restlessness, they found themselves gathered on the familiar comfort of the kang.

Some, fingers nimble and practiced, let their needles dance across fabric, weaving stories with thread.

Song Zhiyuan didn't have his hands idle either, he had bought a bunch of jute and was helping to roll jute threads for the soles of shoes. He said, "Once he takes office, he's bringing a whole bunch of people with him. His big brother, sister-in-law, nephew are all going with him, he even brought the two sons of the clan head, and also the sons of the fifth and eighth uncle. They have borrowed money left and right for travel expenses, I heard the third uncle's family has even sold most of their grain."

"Exactly, they even borrowed twenty taels of silver from mother, with an IOU, who knows when they'll be able to pay it back." Fang shi rolled her eyes, "The third uncle's mother must be so happy, and so is the eighth brother's wife, standing at the door telling everyone that her daughter-in-law is now an official's wife and that she is now related to a big official's family. I just can't stand her, it's embarrassing."

Qiao shi raised her brow, "That's not all, the fifth uncle's wife wanted to send Song Jiaoxing over when she saw Xu Qiang bringing his cousin to take office. They had a big fight about it, I heard they even tore their clothes."

Fang shi said, "She usually looks down on your eighth uncle's family, but now that she sees a practical benefit, she's rushing forward. How could such a convenient thing happen? Jiaoxing is still so young, how can she bear to part with her?"

Qiao shi said, "If you can't keep the child, you can't keep the wolf, fortunately, our Dingxiang didn't get involved, otherwise who knows what a mess it would have been. It's better for a village family to live a good life as a village family. You won't find anyone in the eastern, western, southern, or northern towns, you won't know anyone, how can you be comfortable?"

Fang shi was very satisfied with this daughter-in-law and said, "You're right, but Liu'er, you should have another baby with Dashan, huh? Goudan is three years old, why is your belly still quiet?"

Qiao shi blushed.

"Why so soon? Tudan is already six years old, I don't see Zhao Di in a hurry either. Not only Jin Qiao'er can give birth in our family, this mouthful of air, it made the old lady so happy."

Fang shi said, "Although they are two girls, her first birth was a son, and the old lady also likes girls, she's making headbands and little skirts for them every day, the old lady is really happy."

She looked towards Song Dingxiang.

Song Dingxiang was busy sewing the shoe soles.

She hunched over her work, her brow furrowed in concentration as she wrestled with the thick shoe soles. Unlike the supple fabrics she usually handled, these were stubborn beasts, resistant to the delicate touch of a needle.

To tame them, she first had to wield a sharp awl, punching a path through the tough material. Only then could she thread the needle, its course thread a stark contrast to the shimmering silks she was accustomed to.

Each stitch demanded her full attention, needing to be pulled taut and knotted firmly with practiced ease. The longevity of these soles rested on the skill of her hands.

If she wasn't skillful, they would fall apart after one or two months, but if she was skillful, they could last for one or two years.

"Second daughter, has your husband sent another letter home again?"

Song Dingxiang smiled and replied, "He just sent a letter home last month, how could he have sent another one so quickly? There's a war going on over there, he's busy every day and doesn't have time to write letters." She finished speaking and lowered her head.

Zhou Yinuo traveled north, leaving his family behind. As soon as he settled in, he wrote a letter, eager to assure them he was okay. But letters took time. By the time it reached his family, whispers of war in the north had begun.

The family desperate for good news. Even though it said everything was fine, their worry wouldn't fade. "Everything is fine" could mean anything without knowing more.

The war news hung heavy in the air, making them doubt his safety. Every creak of the house, every bark of a dog, sent shivers down their spines. They just wanted to know for sure that Zhou Yinuo was safe from the war.