"It's alright, Sis. I have to get back. The family business can't be neglected. The medical fees are enough for a few more days. Focus on treating Hu Zi first. I'll bring the subsequent treatment costs as soon as possible."
Xie Sui gulped down the water. He was truly thirsty. He hadn't expected getting the hospital procedures done to be so troublesome, with all the tests and running around. It wasn't like his previous life in a super VIP ward where the hospital handled everything efficiently and provided exceptional service.
"It's so late, be careful on the road."
"I know. You guys rest. Wen Feng, can you really make the journey tonight?"
"It's fine. I can take it slow. If I don't go back, my dad will worry too."
Zhang Wen Feng was also anxious. The donkey cart was his father's prized possession. If he didn't return tonight, his father would be beside himself with worry.
"Good brother, from now on, your problems are my problems. If I eat meat, I'll let you have the broth."
Zhang Wen Feng scoffed, "Can't I have meat too? You're not even trying to fool me. Who would want broth when there's meat?"
"Oh, getting smart, are we? Alright, I'll let you eat meat too."
The journey was uneventful. By the time they got home, it was pitch black. Seeing the lanterns lit in front of their house from afar, their faint yellowish glow was exceptionally warm in the night.
Lin Wan Wan heard the donkey cart and opened the door, just in time to see Xie Sui jump off, smiling brightly. "Wife, I'm back."
"I see. How's Hu Zi?"
"He's hospitalized for treatment. It'll cost quite a bit, but it's good that he can be cured. Spending money is a small matter."
"Indeed. Money can be earned back, but people are most important. Wen Feng, come home for dinner. I've already cooked."
Zhang Wen Feng waved his hand, "My dad must be waiting impatiently. I'll head back. Goodbye, Sister-in-law."
"Ah, goodbye."
Lin Wan Wan felt a little unaccustomed to him calling her Sister-in-law.
While Xie Sui was eating, there was another knock at the door. Lin Wan Wan opened it to find Zhao Xiu E. "Mom, why are you here so late?"
"Xiao Sui and Xiao Lan left and haven't come back. I've been worried. Did something happen at Xiao Lan's house?"
Xie Sui suddenly remembered. He was so focused on taking Hu Zi to the hospital that he forgot to inform his mother. "Hu Zi is sick. Eldest Sister came to borrow money, but it's alright now. I took Hu Zi to the hospital, and everything's been taken care of."
"Is he seriously ill? Will it cost a lot of money? Your family doesn't have much. Should I go borrow some?"
After all, he was her grandson. Zhao Xiu E was very worried about Hu Zi.
"No need. It's enough for now. I'll work a few more days, and I should be able to scrape enough together. Mom, have you eaten? Have some here?"
"No, your father is waiting at home. I've already eaten. I'll come tomorrow to help you out."
"No need, we can manage..."
Zhao Xiu E didn't listen and left, carrying her lantern.
Xie Sui was so tired that he fell asleep as soon as he hit the pillow, with no energy to banter with Lin Wan Wan. He slept until dawn, the sun already high in the sky.
"Daddy, the sun is shining on your backside. We've already played for a while. Look, there are so many cicada shells. We're waiting for payment."
"Okay, son, you're amazing. Daddy will get up now."
Xie Sui yawned. The downside of being young was sleeping so much. In his previous life, after forty, he woke up precisely at six every day; sleeping in was a luxury.
"The food is ready. Wash up and eat."
Lin Wan Wan, unable to sit still, had already washed a pile of peaches and was peeling them.
"Let's settle up with my son first. Let me see how much he's collected?"
Dou Dou took out a bulging cloth bag and poured it onto the table. There were about a hundred. "Wow, that many?"
He had underestimated the children's capabilities. They had been roaming the woods since early morning, almost catching live cicadas.
"Mm-hmm, we've counted. Seventy-eight. Two cents per cicada shell, that's three cents and nine fen. Pay us, Daddy."
"Then you two calculate, how much will you earn?"
Xie Sui drank his cornmeal congee with a side of pickled mustard greens. The taste was surprisingly good, better than the delicacies, shrimp dumplings, and sea cucumber porridge of his previous life.
The two started calculating, using their fingers, their faces becoming confused and muddled.
"Alright, stop counting. You've given them theirs, so the rest is yours, right?"
Lin Wan Wan suggested. Dou Dou and Ding Ding exclaimed happily, "Mommy is the best! Let's go divide the money."
"Wan Wan, can you figure out how much our son has earned?"
Xie Sui teased Lin Wan Wan. He knew too little about his wife.
Lin Wan Wan gave him a sideways glance. "I'm not a child, can't I do such simple arithmetic? Three cicada shells for one cent, that's two cents and six fen spent, earning one cent and three fen."
"Oh my, my wife is so smart? I've struck gold. What kind of blessings did I accumulate over lifetimes to be able to marry you!"
Zhao Xiu E entered and heard him say that, her expression turning a bit sour. "Xiao Sui isn't bad either. Wan Wan, after marriage, you should follow your husband's lead. Don't throw tantrums like a spoiled young lady..."
"Mom, I want to eat the egg pancakes you make. I'm hungry."
"Alright, Mom will make them for you. You rest."
Zhao Xiu E, ignoring her words to Lin Wan Wan, went into the kitchen to busy herself.
Xie Sui sighed inwardly. The mother-in-law and daughter-in-law relationship had always been a major hurdle, a test for him.
"Wan Wan, I'll handle my mother. If you don't want to listen to her nagging, go out for a bit. Go to town and buy some food, or even sell canned goods. Clear your head."
Lin Wan Wan thought he would side with his mother, but unexpectedly, he considered her feelings. She was touched, but outwardly said, "What if Mom is unhappy with me?"
"I'm here. It's always distant relatives who are cherished, and close ones who are disliked. Distance creates beauty. You're a great contributor to our family, having given birth to two grandsons. Our whole family is grateful to you, so how could we be displeased? It's just living under the same roof; there are bound to be occasional bumps. Once we save enough money, we'll renovate both houses and live separately, just like before. I heard that the best distance between a mother-in-law and daughter-in-law is the distance of a bowl of soup. It was good before, right? When a bowl of soup could be sent over and still be warm, there weren't any major conflicts?"
Lin Wan Wan was surprised. "You understand this?"
"Hehe. There's nothing your man doesn't understand. Your man is omnipotent!"
"Just brag, will you? Have some shame!"
"Why would I need shame in front of my own wife?"
"Xiao Sui, it's ready, eat while it's hot. Wan Wan, how do you make this? Mom will help you."
"Just peel them. Mom, you rest. I can do it."
"Mom isn't so old that she can't work. You're looking down on Mom."
"No, I'm afraid you'll get tired..."
Lin Wan Wan wouldn't really hold grudges against Zhao Xiu E. As long as it wasn't about Xie Sui, her mother-in-law was quite reasonable, diligent, and not one to gossip or slander people, making her easy to get along with.
Seeing their harmonious relationship, Xie Sui smiled. Having been reborn, his greatest wish was to see his family harmonious and his loved ones well.
"Brother Xie, are we good to go?"
"Coming."
The hospital was in urgent need of money, so Xie Sui had to speed up his money-making efforts. These few days, he would hire Zhang Wen Feng's donkey cart. It was the slack season for farming, and Zhang Yu Tian was happy to earn some money, but he warned Zhang Wen Feng to collect payment daily, just in case he was swindled. Xie Sui hadn't established his credibility yet, so it wasn't unreasonable for people to be wary. Time would tell.
They visited two villages in one day. The canned goods were in high demand. They also collected various mountain goods, wild chickens and rabbits, dried mushrooms and fungus, and a bag of walnuts, filling the cart to the brim.
"Wen Feng, we'll go to town tomorrow. Come early, okay? This is your pay."
Zhang Wen Feng scratched his head sheepishly upon receiving the two yuan. "Brother Xie, you're giving me so much?"
They hadn't gone to the county town, nor did they carry too much cargo. The donkey hadn't exerted itself much. Giving him so much, Zhang Wen Feng felt he was getting a bargain. Formal workers in the county town earned fifty to sixty yuan a month, which was already a high salary. By this calculation, he could earn sixty yuan a month, more than he earned in a year.
"Take it if I give it to you. You're helping drive the cart, so you deserve it. Go home now."
"Goodbye, Brother Xie."
Xie Sui inventoried the goods at home. There were over ten wild chickens and rabbits. The mountain goods were sorted and packed, ready to be sold in town tomorrow for another income.
"Does anyone want these?"
Lin Wan Wan was worried. These were things people in town could find on their own mountains. Who would pay for them?
"If you find the right sales channel, there's nothing that won't sell. These could be even more profitable than canned goods. Let's go together tomorrow. You can relax too. Let Aunt Wang and Uncle Wang next door help out."
Girls loved shopping. Lin Wan Wan was tempted but felt pained about spending money. "It'll cost money again. I'd better do it myself."
"Listen, it's only a dollar or two. Learning to use people to make money is what a successful businessman does."
"What about Mom..."
"Leave that to me."
Xie Sui manly slapped his chest, making a decisive commitment. Lin Wan Wan nodded, feeling a sweet sense of being doted on.
At six in the morning, just as the sun began to peek over the horizon, Lin Wan Wan called out to Xie Sui, "Wen Feng is already waiting. Hurry up!"
"Wife, just ten more minutes, please! Just ten minutes."
Lin Wan Wan put her hands on her hips, slightly annoyed. It was fine to sleep in when there was nothing urgent, but at this critical moment, when they desperately needed money, sleeping in was too much. She grabbed a cool, damp towel and flung it at his face. Xie Sui shivered, instantly waking up. "Wife, you're trying to murder your husband!"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Lin Wan Wan glared at him coldly. Xie Sui immediately caved, "No. Wife, that move is excellent. Instant effect, I'm not sleepy anymore. I'm going to pee."
Xie Sui clutched his shorts and walked out hunched over. Young men, especially in the morning, were sensitive. You know how it is. How embarrassing in front of his wife!
Lin Wan Wan also remembered something and couldn't help but laugh. He had really changed. He even knew to be shy now. It wasn't like they hadn't seen each other before. Her children were also asking, "Daddy, why is there a stick under his belly?"
What had Lin Wan Wan said back then? "He can't control his stick, so Mommy broke it. Don't worry about him." Poor Xie Sui. From then on, he never dared to be unrestrained in front of Lin Wan Wan. She said it and she did it; he was the one who suffered.
Today, Zhao Xiu E and Xie Da He came together. The old man was idle at home anyway, so he might as well come to help his son.
"Wan Wan is going to town too? Xiao Sui, can't you manage alone?"
Zhao Xiu E glanced unhappily at Lin Wan Wan. Was she trying to be lazy?
Xie Sui thought: No, I can manage. I'm very capable. How can a man say he can't?