Chapter 53 – Going to the Tavern
Yan Xiaosi folded her arms across her chest, grinned mischievously, and said, “I think my father would be very grateful for your help, Second Aunt. Tonight, I will invite you for a drink.”
Ancient people believed in ghosts and gods. Yan Xiaosi spoke so solemnly that Ms. Hu’s face turned pale, while her speech became hesitant.
“Yan… Xiaosi, you little rascal, don’t talk nonsense.”
Yan Xiaosi said, “Second Aunt, why are you so scared? If you don’t do anything wrong during the day, you won’t be afraid of ghosts knocking at night.”
“Third sister-in-law, you should discipline your son. He has no respect for his elders in his words and actions.”
With Yan Xiaosi’s words, Ms. Hu dared not take advantage of Ms. Zhong anymore. She clenched her teeth, glared at Yan Xiaosi, and turned to leave, hastily exiting the firewood market.
The two men dressed as helpers followed her, and one of them shouted, “Madam, aren’t you buying firewood anymore?”
“How unlucky! No, I’m not buying anymore.”
Just then, Ms. Hu only felt a chill down her spine and didn’t dare to stay in the firewood market for another second.
Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun watched Ms. Hu leave the firewood market in a panic, and then turned their admiring gazes to Yan Xiaosi.
Yan Shuqin laughed and gave Yan Xiaosi a thumbs-up, “Xiaosi, you’re really amazing! When has someone as powerful as Second Aunt ever suffered a loss? Yet today, she was so scared by what you just said.”
While Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun were happy that Yan Xiaosi had scared off Ms. Hu, Ms. Zhong’s face was full of worry.
She looked in the direction Ms. Hu had left and said, “Your Second Aunt has never been one to suffer losses. I don’t know what trouble she’ll cause now that she has been humiliated by Xiaosi.”
Yan Xiaosi turned to Ms. Zhong, whose eyes were filled with distress.
Her mother had been oppressed by the Yan family over the years, so it was no wonder she was so wary of Hu.
“Mom, I’ve grown up. From now on, I’ll protect you and my three sisters. If anyone dares to bully you, I’ll make them regret it.”
Ms. Zhong looked at her thin, pale-faced daughter in front of her, feeling both touched and guilty.
“Xiaosi, I’m sorry for the hardships you’ve suffered over the years. It’s my fault.”
Originally a delicate girl, she had never been able to wear women’s clothing because of her incapable mother.
Ms. Zhong’s sudden words left Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun confused.
Yan Shuxue asked curiously, “Mom, what are you talking about? What do you mean you’re sorry for Xiaosi?”
Afraid of revealing Yan Xiaosi’s true gender, Ms. Zhong quickly brushed off her second daughter’s question, “It’s nothing. I’m just feeling upset and talking nonsense. Let’s continue selling firewood.”
“The firewood won’t sell if we stay here. Mom, let’s change to another place.”
Ms. Zhong was about to call out loudly to advertise, but was interrupted by Yan Xiaosi.
“Change to another place? There’s only one firewood market in Daxing,” Yan Shuqin said, puzzled. Ms. Zhong, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun all looked at Yan Xiaosi.
Ms. Zhong felt that her youngest daughter’s character had changed significantly in recent days. She had not only become braver and more assertive, but also had more ideas. There were many more woodcutters selling firewood in the market, but the number of buyers remained the same as always. Some people would definitely be unable to sell their firewood. Even if they managed to sell it, it would be at a low price. Yan Xiaosi planned to sell their firewood directly to the taverns in town, but she wasn’t sure which one to visit yet.
“Mom, eldest sister, second sister, third sister, why don’t we take this firewood directly to the taverns and ask?”
Ms. Zhong listened to Yan Xiaosi’s suggestion and hesitated, “Xiaosi, will this work?”
Yan Xiaosi replied, “If it doesn’t work, we can just bring the firewood back and sell it here.”
Yan Shuqin weighed the idea and thought Yan Xiaosi’s suggestion was good, persuading Ms. Zhong, “It’s still early anyway, Mom. Let’s give it a try as Xiaosi said. Maybe some taverns need our firewood.”
Yan Shuxue and Yan Shuyun nodded in agreement.
Ms. Zhong looked at her four daughters and finally made up her mind, “Alright, let’s give it a try.”
After Ms. Zhong agreed, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Xiaosi hurriedly helped load the firewood onto the ox cart. Yan Shuyun, with an injured foot, also helped as best she could.
Ms. Zhong drove the cart. The five of them left the firewood market, heading for the busiest part of Daxing Town, where all the taverns, teahouses, and guesthouses were located in the bustling market.
On the way, Yan Xiaosi took out the three pearl flowers and three embroidered silk handkerchiefs she had bought. “Eldest sister, second sister, third sister, look at what I have here.”
Not knowing what treasures Yan Xiaosi had in her hands, Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun all looked curiously. When they saw the pearl flowers and embroidered silk handkerchiefs in her hands, all three of them showed expressions of shock.
Yan Shuqin hesitated for a moment and asked, “Xiaosi, how did you get these?” Hearing the tone of Yan Shuqin’s voice, Ms. Zhong, who was driving the cart, glanced back at Yan Xiaosi. When she saw the pearl flowers and embroidered silk handkerchiefs in Yan Xiaosi’s hands, her expression was the same as Yan Shuqin’s. She immediately turned serious and asked Yan Xiaosi, “Xiaosi, where did these come from?”
It wasn’t that she didn’t trust her daughter, but their family was too poor to afford such items. Seeing the concern on the faces of Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuqin, Yan Xiaosi quickly replied, “Mom, sisters, don’t worry. I bought the pearl flowers and silk handkerchiefs with the silver that Brother Long gave me. I saw that my older sisters liked them, so I bought them.”
Ms. Zhong first breathed a sigh of relief, then said sternly, “Xiaosi, that’s Brother Long’s money. You can’t just use it casually.”
Yan Xiaosi shrugged nonchalantly and replied, “Who says it’s his money? Since he gave it to me, it’s mine. Besides, if I hadn’t saved him that day, who knows what would have happened to him?”
Her words left Ms. Zhong at a loss for what to say, so she just sighed softly. Yan Xiaosi handed the three pearl flowers and three embroidered silk handkerchiefs to Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun, saying, “Mom, I’ve already bought these things, and they can’t be returned. Let my older sisters happily accept them. Besides, Brother Long has been recovering at our house for the past few days and we’ve been treating him like an ancestor. Spending those twenty silvers is not unjust.”
Ms. Zhong didn’t say anything more. With her eyes, she signaled Yan Shuqin, Yan Shuxue, and Yan Shuyun to accept the pearl flowers and embroidered silk handkerchiefs.
Having received such precious items, the three sisters naturally cherished them. They took them from Yan Xiaosi’s hands and carefully placed them in their bosoms. “Thank you, Fourth Brother.”
