Madam Ma and Su Erbo returned to Madam Ma's home after a bumpy journey. As soon as they entered the house, their parents, brother, and sister-in-law greeted them.

The elderly couple's faces were filled with joy, and their love for their daughter was evident in their eyes.

Grandpa Ma smiled as he took the bundle from his son-in-law's hands, but his eyes were fixed on his daughter. "Girl, you're finally back! You must be exhausted from the journey!"

Grandma Ma was also standing to the side, holding Ma's hand and looking her up and down, muttering to herself:

"Look at this child, hasn't he lost some weight and gotten a bit darker?"

Sister-in-law Ma smiled and took Ma's hand, leading her straight into the main room. "Little sister-in-law, you and Zhen'er should go inside and rest. The meal is ready."

The family sat around the dinner table, their laughter filling the air.

Brother Ma inquired about the Su family's situation, and Ma answered with a smile, though a fleeting, almost imperceptible hint of melancholy occasionally flashed in her eyes.

After the meal, Ma quietly tugged at her sister-in-law's sleeve and led her to a corner.

Mrs. Ma lowered her head slightly, a hint of embarrassment on her face, and said softly:

“Sister-in-law, I heard… I heard that the famous old woman in your village has some fertility formulas. You know, I’m not young anymore, and I have to leave an heir for the Su family so that the family line can not end.”

"Sister-in-law, could you help me find out if you can get me some prescriptions?"

As she spoke, Ma's eyes reddened.

No matter how eloquent and timid she was in the Su family, she couldn't help but reveal her most vulnerable side in front of her own brother and sister-in-law.

Seeing Ma's appearance, her sister-in-law couldn't help but feel sorry for her.

She remembered that whenever her sister-in-law went back to her parents' home, she always brought large bags of things, and she always thought of them when something good happened.

She has been married into the Su family for so many years, but she has never been able to give birth to a son, which is indeed a worrying matter.

The sister-in-law gently patted Ma's hand and comforted her:

"Don't worry, sister-in-law, I'll definitely find out the details for you. Just leave it to me. But you should relax about having a baby. You and Qingtian are still young, and you might have a baby in a couple of years."

Ma raised her head, though a trace of melancholy still lingered in her eyes.

Sigh, what's with all this talk about being young or not? She's already past her prime.

But hearing her sister-in-law's sincere words, she still managed a forced smile. "Sister-in-law, I feel much more at ease knowing that you said that."

But little did anyone know that while the two of them were chatting, Su Zhen happened to pass by the door.

Su Zhen stopped in her tracks instantly, her back stiffening.

She stood there quietly, listening to her mother and aunt's entire conversation.

After a moment, Su Zhen took a deep breath, slowly released her grip, and left as if nothing had happened...

On the other side, inside the Su family's main room, the warm charcoal fire flickered with an orange-red light, dispelling the winter chill.

The family sat around the main room, the flickering firelight illuminating their faces.

Su Sangu was wearing a dark purple cotton-padded jacket, her hair was neatly combed back and adorned with a plain silver hairpin. Her face was kind, but her eyes revealed shrewdness and composure.

She leaned slightly forward and said softly to Su Li, "You've been running a shop at the dock for quite some time now, haven't you? Today, your aunt will have a good chat with you about the ins and outs of doing business."

Upon hearing this, Su Li immediately straightened her back, placed her hands on her knees, and looked at her third aunt with bright eyes. "Third aunt, I knew you were experienced, and I was hoping you could teach me."

The others in the main room, who had been chatting about everyday matters, stopped talking as soon as they heard this, moved their stools closer, and sat down with curiosity and anticipation in their eyes.

Grandma Su snorted coldly, breaking the brief moment of harmony.

At this moment, her brows were furrowed and the corners of her mouth were turned down, clearly revealing her dissatisfaction.

She had always looked down on the business Su Li was doing at the docks. In her mind, a woman should stay at home, manage household chores, and raise children.

For an unmarried young woman to go out and do business among men is simply outrageous!

So, she didn't hold back and began to criticize:

"Why are you telling her about these shops? This girl just rented a small, run-down shop at the dock and spent dozens of taels of silver on it. You have to give her a good talking to. Even if her family is rich, they can't afford to squander money like this. She's just a kid, all she knows is how to waste money!"

Su Sangu naturally understood her mother's temper.

Having weathered many storms over the years, she had developed a good temper and did not get angry at Old Mrs. Su's words.

She gave a slight bitter smile, a hint of helplessness flashing in her eyes, and then said to Grandma Su with a smile, "Mother, Li'er isn't that kind of child. No matter what she does, let's hear what she has to say first."

Grandma Su still looked unhappy, with her arms crossed, sitting silently to the side, fuming.

His eyes were like knives, constantly stabbing at Su Li.

At this moment, my third aunt's husband came over with a smile and tried to smooth things over: "Alright, Mom, it's just the two of us chatting. Come on, I remembered that I brought you some nice things this time. Come with me to take a look."

As he spoke, he strode over to Old Mrs. Su's side and, half-pushing and half-supporting her, pulled her forward.

Grandma Su's expression softened slightly. Although she was still muttering something, she left with her third uncle.

Before leaving, Uncle San turned back and gave Aunt San a wink. Aunt San understood immediately, and smiled slightly.

Su Li watched this scene from the side and secretly admired the good relationship between her third aunt and her third uncle.

It is said that harmony in the family brings prosperity. If a couple quarrels all day long, they would probably not have the family they have today.

From a humble peddler gradually accumulating wealth to eventually set up a shop in the city and establish himself, the hardships and harmony he endured were undoubtedly intertwined.

Aunt Su came to her senses and her gaze returned to Su Li.

She slowly picked up the teacup, brought it to her lips, and gently blew away the tea leaves floating on the surface, her movements elegant and composed.

Then, she took a small sip of tea, put down the teacup, and said slowly:

"Since you're opening a noodle shop, the ingredients are the foundation of the business. They must be carefully selected, and freshness and cleanliness are paramount. You absolutely cannot ruin your reputation. Also, the shop's environment and hygiene must be pleasing to the eye. Those dockworkers, after a long day, just want a hot and safe meal."

Su Li nodded slightly, her hands unconsciously clenching into fists.

"Third Aunt, don't worry, I pick out the freshest ingredients every day and I don't dare to be careless in the slightest. It's just that I'm still a little undecided about the pricing..."

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