Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

"Uh? N-no, nothing. I was just thinking about something. What were you talking about?"

"I said I'd stop boiling the water once it boiled, and we'd cook the noodles when everyone came back."

"Hmm, good, that's excellent. Shall we stop burning it now?"

"It's stopped burning, let's go outside and cool off for a while!"

The group washed their hands and sat on the stone benches in the courtyard, waiting for the people working in the fields to return.

"Fourth Uncle, there's the provincial examination next year. Will you take it?" Xia Yu was very curious about this fourth uncle. She hadn't had much contact with him before and didn't know what kind of person he was, but judging from his performance this morning, he wasn't a pedantic person who only knew how to study.

"I'm going to give it a try," Zhang Chengwen said firmly after a moment of silence.

"Oh, that's still more than a year away. You need to study hard. Are you still going to the school in town?"

"I'm not going. I went to the school before I went home. The teacher there recommended me to Bailu Academy. I'll set off for Bailu Academy after the autumn planting season."

"Bailu Academy? Where is it? Is it far from our home?" The farthest place Xia Yu had been since arriving here was the county town. She only knew that there was a Ming'an Academy in the county town and a school in their town. She really didn't know anything else.

"It's not far, it's also under the jurisdiction of our county, on Bailu Mountain, about ten miles east of Ming'an County."

"I don't know where it is. The farthest place I've ever been is Ming'an County. I haven't been any further east."

The three—uncle, nephew, and uncle—chatted idly until they heard voices greeting each other outside. They knew the workers in the fields were returning; his father had stayed behind to watch the fields the day before yesterday, and today it must be his second uncle. It was time to start a fire and cook noodles. Xia Yu didn't dare let her fourth uncle do any more work, or she'd be scolded by her grandmother. Although she wasn't afraid of her grandmother, she didn't like hearing her scold for no reason.

"Fourth Uncle, please sit here. Qiuyu and I are going to start a fire and cook noodles."

"I'll help you start the fire." She said, getting up to speak.

"Stop, Fourth Uncle, please stay seated and don't move. Don't do any work before Grandma agrees to let you, or we'll be the ones who get scolded." Xia Yu quickly stopped Zhang Chengwen's movements. She could let him do it before, but now that her grandparents were back, she couldn't let him get into trouble.

"Sigh, then you and Qiuyu will have to work hard." Thinking of his mother's temper, Zhang Chengwen gave up the idea of ​​helping.

Autumn Rain tended the fire, while Summer Rain stood before the stove, watching the smoke rising from the cracks in the pot lid, waiting for the water to boil. Beside her was a large basin of cold water, for making noodles.

Just as the water boiled and Xia Yu hadn't even put the noodles into the pot, she heard a series of excited sounds coming from the courtyard. It seemed everyone had returned and seen her fourth uncle sitting in the courtyard.

Knowing they were having noodles for lunch, the three sisters-in-law, surnamed Liu, greeted Zhang Chengwen in the courtyard and then went into the kitchen. They saw Qiu Yu tending the fire, and Xia Yu putting noodles into the pot while standing on a brick. Wang grumbled somewhat discontentedly, "This auntie is really something. She can't cook other dishes and the children don't ask her to, but can't she even put some noodles in the pot?"

"Sister-in-law, keep your voice down, or Mother will hear you," Madam Liu whispered.

"Ugh... ugh..." Li, who was following behind, had just entered the kitchen when she suddenly covered her mouth and ran out, looking as if she was about to vomit.

Wang and Liu exchanged a puzzled look, wondering what was wrong with her.

"Sister-in-law, could it be that Second Sister-in-law is pregnant?"

"What is it?" Wang didn't understand for a moment.

"Having children? What else could it be?" Madam Liu looked at her with amusement.

"But your second sister-in-law injured her body when she gave birth to Dongyu, and she can't have any more children, right?" This was the reason why Wang Shi didn't understand at first.

"Hey, stop talking, stop talking now," Liu was about to speak when she saw Li come in clutching her chest, looking somewhat uncomfortable. But as soon as she reached the door, she seemed about to vomit again, turned around and ran out.

"I think it's probably true. Xiaxia, Qiu'er, you two continue cooking, let's go out and take a look."

"Okay, you guys go ahead," Xia Yu said obediently.

"Second sister, do you think Mom is going to give birth to a younger brother for us?" Qiu Yu looked at Xia Yu with hopeful eyes.

Xia Yu was about to say, "Why does it have to be a younger brother? Can't a cute younger sister like Dong Yu be born?" But then she suddenly thought about people's views in today's society. Her second aunt already had two daughters, and she was finally pregnant again. She must be hoping for a boy.

"Hmm, I think we're going to have a little brother," Xia Yu said. When she saw tears welling up in Qiu Yu's eyes, she quickly put down her chopsticks, walked over to her, and carefully wiped away her tears.

"Why are you crying? Isn't this a good thing? You should be happy."

"Yes, Second Sister, I am happy, but I don't know why, I just can't help but want to cry." Qiu Yu smiled, but at the same time, tears were streaming down her face, which made Xia Yu feel heartbroken.

"Over the years, Grandma has openly and secretly cursed my mother, saying she was a barren hen, that her womb was useless and would cause my father's lineage to end. My mother didn't say anything, but I know she was suffering inside. Every year when we go back to visit relatives at my maternal grandparents' house, Grandma would ask about my mother's pregnancy, and then sigh and say it's all fate." After saying this, she wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at Xia Yu. "Second sister, aren't Dongyu and I my father's children? Why do you say my mother is a barren hen? I want to stand up for my mother, but I'm too timid. Before, when my aunt bullied me and Grandma scolded me, I could only cry. When I heard Grandma scolding my mother, I didn't dare to stand up for her. Now my mother is pregnant again, and I'm really happy. Second sister, I'm so happy."

"Okay, okay, Qiuyu, don't cry anymore. We're all happy. From now on, you have to be strong. We're not afraid of anyone. Protect your second aunt so she can give birth to your little brother smoothly, okay? Don't cry anymore!" Xia Yu carefully wiped Qiuyu's tears with a handkerchief.

"Hey, it's spilled! It's spilled!" Qiu Yu, who was wiping her eyes, suddenly pointed at the pot and shouted.

Xia Yu looked up and saw that the pot had spilled water. "Oh dear, I was so busy talking that I forgot about the noodles in the pot." As she spoke, she quickly stood up, took chopsticks in one hand and a strainer in the other, and scooped the noodles from the pot into a basin of water.

After the noodles are cooked, add more water to the pot and continue cooking. Since there are many people and a lot of noodles, it is necessary to cook all the noodles in batches.

"Grandpa and Grandma, let's eat. A pot of noodles is ready." Xia Yu looked around the yard but didn't see her mother and two aunts, thinking they might be whispering to each other.

After saying that, he looked at Liu and said, "Grandma, I saw that Fourth Uncle came back today, so I took it upon myself to cut a pound of soy sauce pork and put it in the pot as a topping."

"Hmm, good. Xiaxia is clever enough to know to give her fourth uncle a kiss." Before Liu could speak, Old Master Zhang nodded in satisfaction.

Liu had no objections. She cooked meat for her favorite son, and even thought that one pound was too little. She wanted to cook more dishes to welcome her fourth son to dinner.

"Fourth son, wash your hands and eat first. I'll cook some meat dishes for you tonight to welcome you back. Just eat whatever you like for lunch." Liu held Zhang Chengwen's hand with heartache, feeling that he had lost a lot of weight since he left. He must have been eating and sleeping poorly these past few days.

"Alright, alright, let's eat first. We still need to bring food to your second brother later."

"Dad, is Second Brother watching the game? I'll go bring him his food in a bit," Zhang Chengwen said.

"Why send it? Let your third brother go. You should just stay home and rest. You're a scholar; how can you do these things?" Liu was immediately displeased when she heard that her precious son wanted to send food to her second son.

Xia Yu, listening from the kitchen, was utterly speechless. Well, Liu, the protective mother, was back at it again.