Rebirth: Making a Fortune in Ancient Times

Hearing her second son's words, Liu stopped nagging and quickly stepped aside to let the people at the gate enter. Zhang Youyin, carrying a watermelon, hurried towards the main room where the old man lived. At this moment, Wang and Li, hearing the noise at the courtyard gate, also opened their doors and came out, following the old man and the others into the main room. Seeing what Zhang Youyin had placed on the kang table, they found it strange. Hadn't he gone to his third brother's house for dinner? Why was he bringing back such a strange thing?

"Old man, what is the second son carrying? It feels quite heavy!" Wang and Li were hesitant to ask at this time, but Old Lady Liu had no such reservations and asked whatever she wanted.

"It's a fruit, it's called... it's called..." Old Master Zhang suddenly couldn't remember what it was called, and looked at his two sons.

"The one who calls it watermelon," Zhang Youjin continued his father's words.

"Yes, yes, it's a fruit called watermelon. The third brother found it at the market when he went to buy cattle today, so he bought two. He just cut one up at their house, and we brought this one back with us."

"What kind of fruit is this? It's so big, how much does it cost! This third brother is really something. If he had money to burn, he should save it for the fourth brother's education. Buying this crap will just mean he'll have nothing left after taking a dump."

Old Master Zhang was so angry at Liu's coarse words that his beard almost stood on end. He growled at Liu in a low voice, "How can you talk like that, old woman? This is our children being filial to us. They think of everyone in our old house when they get some fresh food. You, as their mother, don't even think of finding a way to help the third son's family. Instead, you're complaining. If you keep spouting nonsense, you can go back to your parents' home!"

When Grandma Liu heard her husband mention going back to her parents' home, she didn't dare to nag anymore, afraid that she would annoy him and he would really send her back.

The two sons and their wives standing nearby didn't take their father-in-law's words seriously. This wasn't the first time he'd said something like that, but he only said it when he was angry. How could he possibly send Liu back to her parents' home? Putting everything else aside, it was impossible just because Liu had given birth to four sons and one daughter for the Zhang family.

"Father, Mother, what should we do with this melon?" Zhang Youjin asked.

"Let's leave it for now, and cut it up and eat it together tomorrow morning when everyone is here."

Hearing the old man say this, the two brothers went back to their rooms. Of course, both Wang and Li couldn't help but ask their husbands about the third brother's family. The two brothers told their wives everything they could. They dared not reveal a single word about the things the old man had instructed them not to say. After all, they couldn't be two people of the same name. Although the third brother had separated from his family, it was for the sake of his niece's life that he had no choice but to do so. They were brothers, and if something happened to the third brother because of the watermelon, everyone in the old house would be in trouble.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Wang and Li were cooking in the kitchen when they heard the old man's voice, filled with anger, coming from the main room. The two sisters-in-law were puzzled; the old man was usually mild-mannered and rarely spoke harshly to anyone who made a mistake, mostly offering verbal guidance. What was wrong? Why was he so angry? But the old man hadn't left the room that morning, and his anger seemed to be directed at either his mother-in-law or his sister-in-law, Qinghe. The two women exchanged a glance in the kitchen and continued with their work, neither of them going out to check.

Zhang Youjin and Zhang Youyin, who hadn't gotten up yet, were still in their respective rooms when they heard their father's angry voice and couldn't help but come out to check. Changsheng, Changyuan, Chunyu, and the others also came to the courtyard, but they only stood in front of their respective doors and didn't dare to go into the main room.

"It's all your fault for spoiling her. She's such a big girl now... does she act like a proper aunt? Her nephews and nieces still have to give in to her... just keep spoiling her, she'll cause trouble sooner or later."

"Isn't that your daughter? Don't you spoil her? Why are you blaming me for everything that went wrong?" This was the old lady's voice. It seemed that the old couple had started arguing because of Qinghe.

As everyone was speculating, the door to the main room creaked open, and Old Master Zhang emerged with a sullen face, ignoring everyone and going to wash up. After the old man came out, Liu Shi, who was inside, also fell silent, simply fetching a basin of water and carrying it inside. These were things Chunyu or Qiuyu used to do for her; the old lady hadn't fetched her own wash water in years. Qinghe, who had been the one who started the argument between the old couple, remained silent and didn't go out to wash up either.

Wang and Li had finished cooking and were hesitating whether to set the table. Old Master Zhang, having finished washing up, didn't return to his room. He stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant sky, lost in thought. Li gave her husband a look, signaling him to ask the old man. Zhang Youyin lingered before his father, clearing his throat with a couple of coughs: "Dad, the food's ready. Shall we set it on now?"

With a sigh, Old Master Zhang instructed his two daughters-in-law at the door, "Everyone, go back to your own rooms to eat today. Separate the food according to the number of people." After saying this, he returned to the main room. A little while later, Liu came out and took away the food for herself, Old Master Zhang, and her youngest daughter.

The others didn't dare to ask what had happened, and just as the old man had instructed, each family brought their own food to their own room to eat.

"Eldest son, second son, come inside for a moment," the old man's voice rang out from outside before they had even finished their meal.

Zhang Youjin and Zhang Youyin came out of their room, exchanged a glance, and followed their grandfather inside without a word. On the kang table in the main room were three basins filled with sliced ​​watermelon. However, to the brothers' surprise, the rinds had been completely removed, leaving only the white flesh and red pulp. All three basins were full, indicating that the large watermelon, weighing over ten kilograms, had been completely cut up.

"Eldest brother, second brother, these are the watermelons that the third brother gave us yesterday. Each of you take one of these two bigger basins back for your wives and children. These things can't be kept for long, so don't be stingy and let them spoil. Let the kids eat as much as they want, and finish them all." He pointed to the two basins as he spoke.

"Alright, Dad, then we'll benefit from your good fortune." Zhang Youyin wanted to say something witty to cheer up the old man. But after she finished speaking, the old man simply said, "Go on, it'll get old quickly."

The two brothers had no choice but to carry the basin out. However, as they were leaving, Zhang Youyin noticed a basin placed at the door filled with green watermelon rinds. He wondered what had gnawed on the rinds, as there were many teeth marks on them.

After leaving the house, Zhang Youyin whispered what he had seen to his brother. Zhang Youjin's first thought was that a rat had pried into his house, but then he remembered his parents' argument that morning and suddenly understood. He was about to pull Zhang Youyin away to stop talking nonsense when Zhang Youyin had already taken a basin into his room. Shaking his head helplessly, Zhang Youjin took the watermelon and went back to his room as well.

While Wang and her three children were eating, Zhang Youjin brought in a bowl of bright red stuff with a sweet aroma. The children didn't know what it was because their father and grandfather had been asleep when they returned the day before, so they hadn't seen a watermelon in its natural state. Wang knew what it was, but she didn't know how her in-laws would use the watermelon, so she didn't tell the children.

"Hey, why did Mom and Dad peel off the green skin? Is this what you called the flesh?" This was Wang Shi asking. Last night, she saw the watermelon was round and green, but now it was only red, so she knew they must have removed the outer skin. She took a slice and bit into it; the juice burst in her mouth, refreshing and sweet. "Mmm, Changsheng, Changyuan, Chunyu, come and eat! It's so sweet and juicy! I've never eaten such juicy fruit before!" After calling to the children, she didn't forget to hand a slice to her husband. "Dad, Mom, why did you peel it all off? It's so sticky!" She took another bite of watermelon, looking at Zhang Youjin, "Dad, I'm asking you a question, why aren't you answering?"