Reincarnation and Rebirth

Su Wan'er felt that in ancient times, without cell phones, computers, or nightlife, if she didn't find some fun, life would be incredibly boring.

After quickly getting ready and leaving the room, I discovered that Su Youlu and his wife had also woken up.

"Wan'er, why are you up so early? Go back to sleep for a while. Mother is much better now and can get up to do chores."

Su Wan'er was truly exasperated. She had a good life but didn't know how to enjoy it. Just when the Su family had finally gotten used to the eldest and fourth wives doing the housework, she was now eagerly taking on more chores.

This time, Su Wan'er truly misunderstood Madam Wang. Yesterday, Madam Wang learned that her daughter had gone up the mountain with Uncle Lin to collect herbs for her, and then sold them in town, only to be harshly criticized by Old Madam Su. She felt very sorry for her daughter. Moreover, she had been in a daze for two days, assuming that her eldest and second daughters were doing all the housework. She thought that she was already much better and wanted to help them share some of the burden so that her daughters could rest.

"up to you."

Su Wan'er left after saying a few words.

Wang paused in dressing, looking at Su Youlu, who was also somewhat puzzled.

Su Youlu has been going out every day these past few days, either preparing firewood for the winter or working in the fields.

"Her father, Wan'er, she seems to be towards me..."

"Don't overthink it. The child is probably just exhausted; that's why he sounded a little upset."

"Yes, yes, these past few days must have exhausted them."

Su Xiang'er also got dressed and came out. Hearing what the couple said, she sighed and finally decided to have a good talk with her parents.

"Mom, these past few days, my eldest aunt and fourth aunt have been doing all the housework."

"Huh?" Mrs. Wang wondered if she had misheard.

“Mother, you’re not fully recovered yet. Your eldest sister went to great lengths to get you medicine. If she didn’t care about you, she wouldn’t have done so much. You’re already rushing around like a slave before you’re even fully recovered, making all the effort your eldest sister went through. Do you think she wouldn’t be angry?”

"But I'm worried that your grandma will scold you again and won't give you any food."

"Don't worry, Grandma wouldn't dare do that now. Eldest sister is amazing. Although they still don't like us, they don't mistreat us when it comes to food anymore." The Su family doesn't have much good food anyway. If eldest sister didn't dislike them, they might even be able to eat plain steamed buns. Eldest sister is so clever; she secretly sold the herbs and saved the money to buy rice and flour. Who knows where she hid it?

"Xiang'er, Mother has taken the medicine and is feeling better."

"You haven't finished your medicine yet, Mom. It wasn't easy for my eldest sister to buy those medicines. Don't let her kindness go to waste. Just rest in your room and come out after you finish your medicine. Besides, we don't have any chickens, ducks, or pigs at home now. My aunt and fourth aunt are in the vegetable garden, and Dad is outside. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Ms. Wang looked at her husband, somewhat at a loss, and asked, "Is this alright?"

Su Youlu also pressed Wang Shi back onto the kang, saying, "Just listen to the children. If you really have nothing to do, you can take care of Ming'er. That child has been following Zhao'er since he was born. Look how thin he is, and he can't even walk or talk yet. You can teach him more."

When her son was mentioned, Mrs. Wang stopped struggling and said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

It would be a lie to say she wasn't sad. She had said so much and tried so hard to persuade him, but in the end, Ms. Wang still listened to her because of her son.

However, Su Xiang'er was already used to it. She went out and everyone else got up. If none of the second branch of the family went out to work, it would cause trouble.

As Chen was cutting the perfume, she saw Su Wan'er come out and said provocatively, "Wan'er, look at the perfume your aunt made, it's no worse than yours, is it?"

"Mother, you've eaten more salt than she's eaten rice, how could you possibly be inferior to her?" Su Qing'er approached with a grin, sniffing the air. "Mother's cooking is so much more fragrant."

Looking at the murky ointment with a faint, oily smell, Su Wan'er exclaimed dramatically, "That's right! Auntie is so skillful; this ointment is so solid, it'll definitely sell well." Of course it's solid! She wondered how much silver the old lady had given them to buy lard; Chen Shi must have coveted a lot. The ointment looked alright at first glance, but Su Wan'er believed that by the afternoon, it would harden and crack. At that point, it wouldn't be as good as a bar of soap, let alone be used.

"I'm very busy today, so you can cook the meal later."

Su Wan'er didn't want to stay at home, so she raised her voice and said, "Aunt, I want to go up the mountain to pick herbs again today. In a few days, it will rain and the mountain will be closed, so I won't be able to pick them. Anyway, Sister Qing'er is at home, so let her help Fourth Aunt."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing'er exclaimed, "How can that be? My mother promised to take me to town today!"

“No, my mother can’t carry it by herself. I have to go with her. Besides, these perfumes are so precious. If something goes wrong, and you need to go out, there’s always Xiang’er. You can just ask her.”

"I'm going to bring Xiang'er with me today. The two of us can pick more and exchange it for more silver."

Mrs. Chen waved her hand impatiently, "Your fourth aunt can manage on her own at home. Besides, isn't your mother better yet? She's such a delicate person, she's been lying in bed for almost two days now."

"Oh, right. Anyway, I can gather herbs now. If my mother's health doesn't fully recover and she relapses, I can just buy some more medicine."

Old Mrs. Su inside could no longer sit still. She scurried to the door and said, "Fourth son's wife, today the chores at home will be done by your fourth branch."

Madam Xiang rushed into the courtyard, "Mother, you can't be so biased! All the work for the whole family is being handed over to our fourth branch."

"What, do you think I can't order you around? Fourth brother, why don't you come out and do something about your wife?"

Su Youcai, still sleepy, came out wearing a coat. "Mom, my wife is right. Jie'er is still young and needs someone to take care of him. This whole family is too much for you to handle. Besides, my second sister-in-law has been resting for two days. She should be better by now."

Originally, Su Wan'er was just watching their argument from the sidelines, but since they insisted on involving the second wife, she decided not to hold back.

"Fourth Uncle, before, our second branch of the family did all the housework. Now that we don't have any chickens, ducks, or pigs, all we have to do is cook and clean the yard. It's much easier than before."

"You brat, it's not your place to interrupt when your elders are speaking."

"Since Fourth Uncle insists on saying so, then I have no choice but to stay and work, even if it means earning less money."

“I’m still in charge of this family. Fourth brother, you know the current situation at home. You’re staying at home every day, and everything costs money. So this is settled.”

Su Youcai was unwilling to give up. Seeing Su Hehua standing to the side, he said, "Little sister is not young anymore. She should help with the housework. Otherwise, she will be disliked by her husband's family after she gets married."

Su Hehua said angrily, "Fourth Brother, I'm going to marry into a wealthy family and become a young mistress. This kind of rough work is not for me." With that, she swayed her plump hips and went back to her room.

The old lady gave Xiang a sinister look and said, "If you don't work today, none of you from the fourth branch of the family will get any food."

Seeing that it was getting late and fearing that the old lady might change her mind, Madam Chen quickly took Su Qing'er and left.

Su Wan'er also invited Su Xiang'er up the mountain. As for Su Zhao'er, with Su Youlu around, she should be fine. If her father can't even protect his wife and daughter at home, then they're better off without him.