My sister became the empress, but I'm still growing vegetables and raising chickens

Si Muyan said, "When I asked you to go to Lingnan City, I told you that you were too bored at home, so why not go out with them? I also explained that they were on a business trip and that their food and lodging were all included, right?"

"Yes...but..."

Feng Zizhou wanted to say something, but Si Muyan interrupted him.

"I gave Brother Zhu and Lai Qian some money in advance. It was an advance. Lai Qian recorded all your food and lodging, and returned the extra money to me."

When Feng Zizhou heard this, he was completely furious: "Si Muyan, you mean to say that you asked me to go to Lingnan City just to buy books for your sister, right?"

Si Muyan spread her hands. "Buying books is just a side job. I didn't stop you from shopping. Didn't they all shop around when they went to Lingnan City? They bought a hairband for Lai Di, my second brother bought something for my second aunt, and the other children in the Zhu family all bought things. How come you didn't buy anything?"

Of course Feng Zizhou didn't buy it. On the first day, he picked out some books for his second sister, leaving only one and a half taels. He went out to drink tea and listen to music, and also bought himself a very small jade pendant of very ordinary quality.

This took all his money.

What's left? Where are the left?

Lai Di happened to be standing nearby. Upon hearing this, she burst out laughing and said to Si Muyan, "My brother not only bought me a hairband, but also a brush, spending a lot of money on it. He also bought lard cream for my mother's face and a horse whip for my father. All these things cost nearly four hundred coins in total. Brother Feng has only one and a half taels of silver, but he can't even buy anything?"

Feng Zizhou's face turned red because of her teasing. He looked down at the invisible jade pendant on his waist, angrily pulled it off and put it in his sleeve.

Si Muyan continued, "Speaking of which, they all use their own money to buy things. If my second sister, younger sister, and younger brother want to buy something, it's also their own money, but I usually give them pocket money because they work. Cousin, this tael and a half, consider it as your pocket money for the next few months."

Does this mean that Feng Zizhou got no money if he didn't work, and the extra money was given to him because he was his cousin's diligence?

"I don't need it! I'll give it back to you!" Feng Zizhou was furious.

Seeing that he was truly angry, Si Muyan sighed, asked him to sit across from her, and then briefly explained the Si family's situation: "Cousin, you came late, so you don't know what life was like for the Si family in the past. That one and a half taels of silver was half a year's expenses for the whole family. Before we started our business, our family was so poor that we couldn't even make a sound. We only relied on my second brother to go hunting occasionally in the mountains to get a taste of meat."

"It was after I started my business that things started to get better. Now that my business is bigger, I have some extra money, so I'm not short of anything. But cousin, just ask around, who in the family dares to spend money lavishly? Spending a few coins on a single outing is already a lot. If my second sister wasn't buying books, do you think she would be willing to ask me for a few taels of silver?"

Feng Zizhou frowned, thinking about what Si Muyan had said, and realized that it was indeed true. Except for Xiaoxia'er, who wore a silk gown, everyone else in the Si family wore coarse cloth.

He had originally thought it was for convenience, but his cousin's father-in-law was a teacher and didn't have to work, yet he dressed just like everyone else in the village. Speaking of the entire Si family, the most eye-catching person in the entire village was him.

Si Muyan calculated: "I have opened so many shops and workshops now. After deducting various expenses a month, I can only make less than two hundred taels. Cousin, for you, two hundred taels is not enough, but for ordinary people, it is really a huge sum of money."

Feng Zizhou subconsciously touched the jade pendant. He was very disgusted with the eight hundred wen jade pendant. You know, in Kyoto, he had many jade pendants worth hundreds of taels.

But it turned out that even though my cousin opened so many shops and built such a large workshop, she couldn't even afford to buy him a jade pendant in a month.

Later, Feng Zizhou did not make a fuss about going out for a stroll. Every day, apart from taking Xiaoxiaer and explaining the laws of the Great Zhou to his second sister, he would read the books left by the eldest brother of the Si family.

Seeing this, Si Xingzhi smiled and said, "If the Duke saw how diligent you are, he would definitely be very happy."

Feng Zizhou blushed: "Cousin uncle, please don't laugh at me."

As spring passed and autumn came, Fourth Aunt Zhu gave birth to a big fat boy, and the whole Zhu family was delighted. Fourth Aunt Zhu's mother came to take care of her during the confinement period, and Mrs. Zhu saved up two taels of silver for Fourth Aunt Zhu.

"Originally, I should have been the one taking care of your wife, but I'm old and can't get away from the Si family, so your mother-in-law has to trouble you. Don't be reluctant to spend this money. The purpose of earning money is to give your family a good life. If a woman doesn't take good care of herself during the confinement period, she will suffer greatly."

He then brought two chickens and a basket of eggs to his mother-in-law. "She's worked so hard, and these chickens and eggs are for her health. Eat as much as you can, and there's plenty for you. You've worked so hard to take care of her, too. My father-in-law isn't in good health, and her brother is still young and doesn't know how to take care of things. Ask the fourth brother to bring the extra chickens and eggs to her when he has time."

The fourth aunt was flattered. After Mrs. Zhu left, she said to her daughter, "Everyone says you are a strong mother-in-law, but I think you are quite good and generous to me."

Aunt Zhu sat on the bed holding the child without saying a word.

Fourth Aunt continued, "You were instigated by your eldest sister-in-law. I remember when you gave birth to Si Ya, life was poor, but everything was done for you. Your mother-in-law and the fourth child never let you do anything except breastfeed. What's done is done. If you keep thinking about Si Ya, how can you live like this?"

Fourth Aunt Zhu kissed the child's face and said, "Mother, I know in my heart that she is not to blame for Si Ya's death. In fact, I blame myself. It was because I, as a mother, did not do my best that Si Ya died at such a young age. I feel so miserable. It seems that only by blaming her can I feel less miserable."

Fourth Auntie patted Fourth Auntie Zhu's hand and said, "Silly girl, crying is not allowed during confinement. People should look forward. You don't know that before you even gave birth, your mother-in-law came to my house with a bunch of things and begged me to take care of you during confinement. She was afraid that you would be unhappy. She even took care of other people's children, so why can't she take care of her own grandson? She did it for your own good, don't you understand?"

"I know. I plan to let the fourth child go to work in the shop with his brothers after the confinement period, so that he can also earn some money. I can manage the family by myself. If I am too busy, I will ask my mother-in-law to take care of Da Pang for me."

Seeing that her daughter had completely come to terms with it, Fourth Aunt was also happy.

Everyone in the village congratulated Zhu Laosi on having a big fat boy, but they were also curious. After all, in this era, if the husband's family did not take care of the woman during the confinement period, they would be pointed at and scolded.

Zhu Laosi said, "My mother is old and not in good health. I can't take care of her, but I still send her money and food every now and then."