Chapter 51

The wool workshop has not moved, it is very close to here. In addition, the sharp and very familiar voice of the arguing woman made Song Dingxiang unable to help but frown.

Seeing this, the steward Wang quickly said, "I will go and chat with the master and madam, Young Madam Song, please make yourself comfortable."

Song Dingxiang smiled and said, "Then please go inside to warm up, even though it's already spring, the weather is still very cold."

After that, she took the steward Wang to the main house to accompany Song Xingyi. Then she went out through the back door and directly entered the wool workshop.

The one quarreling was Zhu shi, ever since Song Taohong became the county magistrate's wife, her previously modest demeanor completely changed, or it should be said, reverted to her true nature, becoming more assertive.

"Jin Qiao'er, Jin Qiao'er, I never thought you were such a person. You used to look quite honest in front of the old lady, but you've turned bad now, you've changed just because you've got some money." Zhu shi pointed to Jin Qiao'er's forehead, her voice becoming louder, "I know you look down on the old lady, think I'm poor, but even if I'm poor, I couldn't do something like this! Everyone looks up to me, tell me, am I such a person?"

Jin Qiao'er's face blushed from the scolding, tears swirling in her eyes.

The sixth grandaunt and fifth grandaunt couldn't help but frown at her appearance.

The sixth grandaunt, who was unwell was sitting inside, and the fifth grandaunt standing beside Jin Qiao'er, said, "What are you being so arrogant for? Everyone is given the same line for the work, produces the same things, so how come there's less when it comes to you? Are you saying you didn't stash some for yourself?"

"Oh, fifth aunt, you're accusing me so harshly, I have no face to live. Go and search, go and search, it's just a bit of wool, I asked my fourth uncle and aunt for it, would they not give it to me? Do I need to scheme for such a small thing?" Zhu shi raised her chin, looking disdainfully, her eyes rolling.

Song Dingxiang entered the courtyard, took a quick glance, and smiled, "What's going on? Why is no one working?"

The group of aunts and sisters-in-law laughed and left one after another, leaving only the few people from the Song family. But even after they left, their ears were still perked up, waiting to hear some gossip.

"Sister-in-law, what's going on?" Song Dingxiang asked.

Jin Qiao'er's tears fell down with a plop, crying, "We sent out some work, one skein of thread can make three pairs of gloves, but the two sisters-in-law from Uncle Eight's family each took three back, so they only handed in seven pairs of gloves. I said the quantity was not enough, and they said they only did this much, and then called Uncle Eight's wife over."

Song Dingxiang smiled and said, "Oh, I thought it was something serious, but it's just a few missing pairs of gloves, right? I guess those two sisters-in-law are not quite competent in this job. We won't assign them this kind of work in the future, we'll find something else for them to do."

In this workshop, making gloves is the most profitable, a skilled worker can finish a pair in a day and earn five wen in wages. But don't underestimate these five wen, as every bit counts, and at the end of the month, it adds up to over a hundred wen, which can buy several pounds of meat to improve the family's living conditions.

Moreover, this work is light and doesn't interfere with their household chores, so many women in the village are eager to do it.

These two daughters-in-law from the Zhu she's household are also skilled, and since they are relatives, although Jin Qiao'er is reluctant to let them help, they did well before the New Year, so she didn't stop them from working after the New Year.

Originally, these two only worked in the workshop without taking work home, but later they said they were busy with spring farming and wanted to take work home, and with Jin Qiao's soft heart, she agreed, not expecting this incident to happen.

"Oh, Dingxiang, how can you say that? Why stop them from working when they were doing well?" Zhu's face looked very displeased.

Song Dingxiang smiled and said, "What's the big deal about this? If Uncle Eight's family took six skeins of thread and we are short two pairs of gloves, then if they continue like this, working for a year, wouldn't we be missing hundreds of pairs? This business is too much of a loss. I think the two sisters-in-law are just not familiar with this area. Let's change their tasks."

"You!" Zhu shi a couldn't find words to respond.

Actually, it wasn't because of a lack of skill that four pairs of gloves were missing, but because Zhu shi had a plan and secretly kept back four pairs of gloves. She personally sewed the linings for those four pairs of gloves, wanting to please her son-in-law and gave them to her daughter's side early on, so her daughter could take them to her husband in the south.

If Jin Qiao'er or others were to accuse her of stealing, she could easily let them search, and they wouldn't find a single thread. She could also play the victim, saying that her brother-in-law's family looked down on her own family, and then demand a better task.

But just as Jin Qiao'er was falling for it, there came Song Dingxiang, who, although not asking about the gloves, directly removed the task. How could she tolerate this?

The problem was that Song Dingxiang's words were clear-cut, as others could weave nine pairs of gloves, but in her house, there were only seven pairs. It was natural for them to be dissatisfied.

If it were another family, they might have to compensate.

However, Zhu shi couldn't swallow this anger. She angrily said, "Dingxiang, I've always known you resent my family, resenting Taohong. But you can't do this. Aren't you taking advantage of your sister-in-law and me being honest?"

Song Dingxiang innocently looked at her and asked, "Where is this coming from, Eight Auntie? How am I taking advantage of you? We have set up a workshop and haven't forbidden you from working here. You still get paid for your work, right? With so many people from our Song family working here, not to mention others, even the Fifth Uncle's family took work home to do. Why do they get paid for good work, yet your family consistently produces subpar gloves? Who is really taking advantage of whom here?"

"You, you... I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to find Fourth Uncle and Fourth Aunt." Zhu shi gestured to leave.

Song Dingxiang smiled and said, "What a coincidence, Mr. Wang's steward just happened to come to report good news to our family, and now my grandfather is entertaining him. You can go over there too, let him also help mediate, right?"

Zhu was suddenly speechless.

Her face turned red with anger, and after a while she said, "Why, why should we be refused to work when we've been doing well?"

Song Dingxiang's face darkened as he said, "Why? Eight Auntie, think about it. If one family comes and says two pairs are missing, and another family comes and says two pairs are missing, but when all the goods are handed over for inspection they find hundreds of pairs missing, who will be blamed? Will it be Eight Auntie or Third Granduncle and Third Grandaunt? How about this, I will personally ask Third Granduncle and Third Grandaunt. If they think there's no issue, and they agree to take responsibility in case of blame, then I don't mind."

"Do you have no sense of reason? Your workshop makes my parents guarantee it?" Zhu shi was getting anxious.

Song Dingxiang replied, "Eight Auntie, do you even know this is our family's workshop? The workshop must follow our rules! But it seems like Eight Auntie doesn't think highly of the work here. Why don't you just not come in the future, so you won't accuse us of not treating you like family, or saying my sister-in-law has turned bad, or unjustly accusing you of withholding things from our family. Sister-in-law, pay whatever is due, and if there's a shortage of workers, hire a couple more."

"Mother!" Zhu's two daughters-in-law also became anxious. They were relying on earning some extra money here to support their families, but now because of their selfish mother-in-law, they were left without work.

How would they manage in the future?

What if others thought they were stealing the goods?

Zhu shi harshly said, "What are you calling me for? Can't you see that others look down on our family? Go, go, go, it's all in vain to suffer, and in the end, we'll still be blamed!"

With that, she stormed out of the courtyard without even raising her head. Her two daughters-in-law had no choice but to take the copper coins settled by Jin Qiao and followed her with flushed faces and thick necks.

Wu shi, the fifth aunt, stood in the corner and watched closely. With a plan in mind, she also followed along.

The fifth grandaunt sighed in relief and said, "It's still Dingxiang who has ideas. We were all in a mess after being scolded by her, unable to come up with a word. As soon as Dingxiang arrived, the matter was resolved."

Jin Qiao wiped away her tears and said, "It's all because I'm so stupid, I don't know how to say anything, I just end up crying."

Song Dingxiang comforted Jin Qiao, saying, "Sister-in-law, what are you saying? If I were scolded like that, I might just cry too. Don't take it to heart, just manage the workshop well."

After comforting, Song Dingxiang returned to her own courtyard.

Song Xingyi was discussing tea matters with the steward from the Wang family. Upon entering, Song Dingxiang heard him say, "Hey, I'm a rough person, can't tell the difference between Longjing and Maofeng. In the past, we would pick some wild tea on the mountain, dry it, and brew a big pot of it for anyone thirsty, just to give the water some flavor."

The steward from the Wang family replied, "Wild tea also has its own charm. I think it's quite good. If the old master has spare, how about giving me about two taels?"

Song Xingyi was flattered and laughed heartily, saying, "This is all last year's aged tea. In another month when the rain comes, I'll go to the mountain to pick fresh ones for you, roast them and give you a big bag, drink it however you like. Oh, Dingxiang has returned?"

Song Dingxiang laughed, "Yes, I'm back. Just a few aunts had a little argument, nothing serious. My sister-in-law is gentle and doesn't like to argue, so I went and settled everything."

Song Xingyi said, "The more women there are, the more problems there are. Hurry, go ask your mother what we'll have for lunch and invite your Uncle Wang to join us."

Upon seeing the issue resolved, Uncle Wang quickly stood up and said, "I won't eat this meal. I still have to deliver a message to another family. But the old master must remember my tea, I've been thinking about it all this time."

"Absolutely, I'll definitely make sure you get it." Song Xingyi smiled and escorted Wang to the door. After seeing him off, he turned back, the smile on his face vanished, "Dingxiang, it was that family who had a quarrel, right?"

Now, he was also tired of the endless troubles in his brother's family, not to mention Zhu's voice, which they were all very familiar with as relatives. Who wouldn't recognize it?

Song Dingxiang said, "Yes, it was the eighth aunt. Her daughter-in-law took some work home, but secretly kept some gloves, and the numbers didn't add up when she handed them in. After a few words from my sister-in-law, she started cursing and accusing her of turning bad due to money. Even after Fifth Grandaunt tried to intervene, she wouldn't listen and insisted on causing a scene. I simply won't let her daughter-in-law take any more work."

"Sigh..." Song Xingyi sighed deeply, saying, "I never thought they would act this way before. Isn't this just stealing?"

The word "steal" is really unpleasant, if someone in the family is caught stealing, they will be looked down upon.

Song Dingxiang supported Song Xingyi and said, "I didn't say it directly, just mentioned that the workmanship wasn't good and two pairs were missing. She rushed to say that our family looked down on theirs, claimed that working in our house was a waste of time, and then left."

Song Xingyi stood at the door of the room and waved his hand, saying, "Go talk to your grandma, I'll smoke a cigarette."

Song Dingxiang knew that the old man was feeling uncomfortable, so she smiled and said, "Smoke a little less, it's not a big deal. I'm just worried that the eighth aunt will cause trouble when she goes back, and then Third Granduncle and Third Grandaunt will intervene... This matter is neither big nor small. If she casually withholds things, we won't say anything, but if others follow suit, the workshop won't be able to continue."

"Grandpa knows, how could he not know? Go talk to your grandma."

In the room were only Li shi, Bai shi, and a few children. Fang shi was busy in the kitchen, Zhang shi had gone to help at the pickled vegetable shop, and the sisters-in-law were not at home, making the house feel very quiet.

Li shi was busy dismantling old clothes. With the young people in the family busy, she was also occupied, dismantling and washing the old clothes of her grandchildren.

She would lengthen where needed and modify as necessary. In a rural household, it was like this, three new years, three old years, sewing and mending for another three years.

Especially with children who grow quickly, the clothes were made with just enough room to grow, allowing them to wear them for longer.

Bai shi has already completed her postpartum recovery and was holding her daughter to breastfeed, while also keeping an eye on the children playing on the heated brick bed, making sure they didn't fall off.

"Dingxiang? Come, sit on the kang bed," Li shi called out, taking a small cushion and placing it on the edge of the bed. "Did your eighth aunt cause trouble again?"

Song Dingxiang grabbed a few dates, eating them as she asked, "Grandma heard everything?"

Li shi grunted and said, "How could I not hear? I heard everything you said to your grandpa. Tell me everything from start to finish. If someone from their family really comes to complain, Grandma will help you argue back."

Song Dingxiang chuckled and said to Bai shi, "My grandma always takes my side, loves me so much. Auntie, don't be jealous."

Li shi playfully tapped her on the head and said with a laugh, "Why would your aunt be jealous of you? She's my daughter-in-law, she gets more favor than you. I helped take care of her during her postpartum recovery, you won't get that kind of treatment when you have children."

"Grandma!!" Song Dingxiang quickly acted cute, causing both Li shi and Bai shi to laugh.

Seeing them both laughing, Song Dingxiang finally talked about the workshop matters. After listening, Li shi said, "Who does she think she is? Acting so arrogantly. By the way, has her daughter left?"

Song Dingxiang said, "Spring planting has just ended, so it should be within these few days. She should come to see us before leaving."

Li shi grunted again and said, "Now her daughter-in-law has really lost face. Both of them are young daughters-in-law, who have never experienced such direct accusations. I bet they won't dare to leave the house for a few days."

Even though no one openly said it, everyone knew that this was just another way of saying theft.

Once the word 'steal' is involved, it implies being a thief and people will be cautious around them.

"There's nothing anyone can do about it. It's not like I guided her hand to steal," Song Dingxiang reached out and gently poked her younger sister's round face, continuing, "She even said it was just some wool. If she wanted wool, she could have just come to our house and asked for it directly. She wouldn't do something like this."

Li shi said, "She really has the nerve to come asking for things. Let's see if she dares to enter this house!"

Song Dingxiang thought for a moment and said, "Grandma, what do you think she intended to do with the gloves she took? Wear them herself? We don't need such good quality gloves anyway. Who was she planning to show them to? Her daughter? That might be possible."

Li shi replied, "I doubt it. You don't know that she often picks out the best dried vegetables and good flour from our home and sends them over there. Nowadays, that son-in-law of hers is the most precious in her heart. As for the gloves...hmm."

Just the thought of Xu Qiang wearing gloves made by them made Li shi uncomfortable and disgusted.

"Let's forget about it, let's not talk about these things," Song Dingxiang said. "I'm going to help my mother with something, and it's almost noon so we should have lunch. Oh, Grandma, after lunch, I need to go to the town. Madam Wang has given birth to a son, and she invited us to 'wash the three days' in a couple of days. I need to pick out some gifts."

Song Li nodded, then took out two taels of silver from the cabinet and handed it over, saying, "When you go, take your father and grandfather with you. I won't go this time. Pick out a nice-looking design for the 'washing the three days' ceremony, I'll contribute two taels and you can chip in with two taels."

Bai Shi also chimed in, "I made some nice tassels for my sister, and she hasn't used them yet. Take a few with you as well. It'll look nice hanging on the ceremony necklace."

Song Dingxiang smiled and agreed.

After lunch, the three of them walked to the town. They could have used a cart or a mule, but their large livestock had been busy with spring planting and needed a break, so they didn't want to use them.

They walked all the way to the town, sweating and exhausted by the time they arrived. Song Dingxiang went to the silver shop to choose the necklace design, while her grandfather and father rested in their own shop.

After she put down a deposit for the necklace, she went to visit the general store run by Hu Tou. The store was small but well-stocked, with goods from their own produce as well as some specialties from the southern merchants, giving it a good appearance.

"Sister, I'm using my own money for this," Hu Tou winked at Song Dingxiang. "I ordered some cheap seafood products, like dried oysters, seaweed, dried shrimp, and small dried shrimp. They are affordable, everyone can buy them. A two-tael purchase can last a long time and they are easy to store."

Song Dingxiang held back a laugh and replied, "You're right, Store Manager Song. In the future, this shop will be managed by you, so you can decide what products to bring in."

Song Hu Tou chuckled and scratched his head, saying, "Sister, don't say that. I just wanted to give it a try. But they are selling pretty well. That merchant is really reliable too. Look at the dried oysters that were just delivered today, they are fat and big. I was thinking of sending some to my family in a couple of days, but it turns out you came instead."

Dried oysters are what I'm referring to. Song Dingxiang pinched the dried oyster meat, which was indeed dry. It's difficult to transport fresh oysters here, so having dried ones to eat is quite nice. Plus, they make delicious soup.

She suddenly remembered that the Wang family had also given her some seafood, probably from the same merchant. They could definitely make some delicious dishes with all the ingredients.

After checking out Hu Tou's shop, Song Dingxiang went back to her own shop. Originally, the shop didn't have a signboard, but after splitting it into a general store and a restaurant, Song Zhixuan wrote and had the signboards for "Song's General Store" and "Song's Eatery" made, which were hung up with some flags, giving it a decent appearance.

As Song Dingxiang was walking to the entrance, a young boy popped out and greeted her, saying, "You, ma'am, look unfamiliar. Did you come to taste our delicious food because you heard how fragrant it is? Come in, please."

Song Dingxiang smiled and walked in, and when she looked up, she saw a man in his twenties dressed like a scholar standing behind the counter, busy with bookkeeping.

The woman cleaning the house hurried to offer her a seat. Before she could say anything, Song Zhiyuan said, "Don't be confused, she is our second young miss."

The two men quickly greeted and welcomed her. Song Dingxiang chuckled and said, "You both carry on with your work."

She then moved to the table in the corner, poured herself a cup of water from the teapot, and said, "My sister really has this place looking nice and tidy. By the way, who is that person at the entrance?"

Song Zhiyuan exclaimed, "What, you don't know?"

Song Dingxiang was completely puzzled, "Of course, I don't know. I haven't come here many times, and I haven't been here since my sister arrived."

Song Zhiyuan slapped his forehead and said, "It's my fault, I forgot to tell you. This is a schoolmate of your younger uncle's, his family is not well-off, but he's a good person, so your younger uncle introduced him to be the accountant. He comes during the day and goes back at night. He earns some money to support his studies."

Song Dingxiang said, "If it's uncle's recommendation, then it should be fine. Dad, grandpa, I'll go to the kitchen to take a look. You can sit down first."

She entered the kitchen, where besides Song Yulan, there was a young girl assisting with the work.

Song Yulan quickly waved her hand when she saw her, "Why have you come here too? Quickly go and sit down, be careful not to smell of oil and smoke."

"I came to see my sister, it's been a while since I last saw you." Song Dingxiang hugged Song Yulan.

"It's only been a little over a month, why do you say it's been a while? We did even only see each other a few times a year before, I didn't know you missed me so much." Song Yulan rolled her eyes and said, "Since you're here, why don't you help out with some work?"

Song Dingxiang quickly waved her hands and said, "I don't want to work, I just came to see if there's enough food. I was thinking of making some fresh dishes to try out later."

Song Yulan laughed and said, "It's not mealtime yet, there are only a few people outside. When it's time to eat, we'll be too busy to handle it all. But I've also added some fresh clay pot stew dishes, they seem quite popular, probably because they're warm and comforting to eat."

Song Dingxiang said, "If it's too busy, you can always hire a few more people."

Song Yulan replied, "During mealtime, there's a boy who comes to help serve, and we manage to handle the rush. This Li lady and the other lady outside are related by marriage, they're both hardworking, and were recommended by the Wang family. As for the boy outside, he was originally a beggar. But he seemed articulate, so I asked him if he wanted to work, and he immediately agreed. After cleaning up, he looked presentable and could hold a conversation, so I decided to keep him."

Song Dingxiang nodded in satisfaction. In reality, there were few naive people in her family, and Song Yulan had become more cautious due to her experiences after marriage.

Now that she had her own business and could earn money, she had become more lively and reassuring.

After having tea and taking a big bag of peach-filled pastries, Song Dingxiang bid farewell to Song Yulan. They had to hurry back home before sunset, as there were still many matters to attend to.

Upon returning home, they were met with Fāng shi, who looked extremely unhappy. She said, "Father, Third Uncle's wife has come, saying that our family has caused such a disturbance that Eight sister wants to split the household, and they want an explanation."

——— Author's Note: Feel like I'm running out of space for writing in ancient style, what should I do?

Happy writing ~