Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 138 - 128: Half a Beat Behind_3

Nevertheless, Qian Yixiu still wanted to have the little boy sleep on his own sooner than later, as at times, the little tyke could be quite annoying.

Before long, Huang Tie, driving an ox cart, arrived here from the entrance of that large courtyard, with Qian Manchuan already on board, along with eight large baskets filled with pastries. He would ride with Huang Tie to sell pastries in the county town every day and return to the village in the afternoon, either on Huang Tie’s cart or Uncle Wu’s.

The pastries of the Old Brothers of the Qian were doing exceptionally well in the county town and were not affected by the smear campaign of that riffraff; the eight baskets of pastries would generally be sold out in just half a day. The Brothers of Qian Family had already agreed that, once they made more money, they would rent a shop in the county town to sell their goods.

The younger siblings got onto the cart, and Qian Hua, carrying two baskets filled with sausages and another with pastries, placed them on the cart as well.

Qian Manchuan said to Qian Yixiu, "Duo Duo caught a chill last night and woke up with a bit of a fever this morning, so he can’t go to the county town."

Poor little buddy Duo Duo was rather unlucky; every time he was set to go to the county town, something would come up.

When the ox cart reached the entrance of Qian’s Main Courtyard, Old woman Qian, dressed in a cotton robe, was already being supported by Auntie Lu, waiting at the entrance of the large courtyard.

Qian Yeejin alighted from the cart to help Old woman Qian onto it and also reminded her to be careful on the road and to return home early.

Huang Tie picked up two last-minute passengers on the way and then headed towards the county town.

For this journey, Qian Yixiu was still full of expectations; she liked Qian Xiang and hoped that her family could make some extra money, seeing it as a way to repay the favor to the third branch of the Qian family.

The mornings in late December were exceptionally cold, with the harsh winds blowing fiercely. Qian Manchuan sat in front of Old woman Qian to shield her from the wind, while Auntie Lu sat by Old woman Qian’s side to support her. Old woman Qian then had Qian Yixiu sit in her lap, and they shared an old quilt together.

This was the first time Qian Yixiu had been in close contact with Old woman Qian, and it was also the first time she felt her grandmotherly love and care.

Without sons and great-grandsons nearby, Old woman Qian had finally set her sights on her granddaughter as well. Besides her favoritism, the old woman was still quite adorable.

Passing by the entrance to Darong Village, they would no longer have to endure the sly glances of the Xu family folks. Ever since Yama Raja Xu died, Xie Huzi, who had learned to butcher pigs but was unable to open a butcher shop due to the Xu family’s tyranny, finally opened one at Northern Village. As of late, the villagers of Darong Village had started coming to Huaxi Village to buy meat again.

Upon reaching the county town, they went straight to the north side of the city. This area was mostly inhabited by business families, with no grand mansions or decrepit hovels in sight, but uniform brick-walled, tiled-roof Siheyuan houses. The people here made some money from business, enough not to worry about food and clothing but were not excessively rich.

The door was opened by a young woman in her early twenties; this must be Eldest Daughter-in-law Zhang of the Qian Xiang family. As soon as she saw Old woman Qian, she approached with a smile and helped her in, while calling out loudly, "Mother-in-law, granny’s here!"

Although she had never met Qian Yixiu before, she guessed who she was and said with a smile, "You must be Yixiu, right? My, you really are pretty."

Qian Manchuan took the sausages and pastries meant for the Li family off the cart, warmly greeted Eldest Daughter-in-law Zhang and Qian Xiang, who came out to welcome them. He was off to set up his stall, while Huang Tie had to deliver sausages to the Wuxi Tea Building and the Zhang family.

This courtyard was even larger than Qian’s Main Courtyard, with several trees planted and an upper house, an east wing, and a west wing, each with four rooms made of green bricks and tiles.

Qian Xiang and her husband lived in the east wing, while their eldest son Li Zhanchun and his family and the second son Li Zhanqiu and his family stayed in the west wing. The third son Li Zhandong and Old Man Li lived in the upper house.

Currently, many families were slaughtering pigs, so Uncle Li had taken his two sons out early in the morning to butcher pigs and gather meat, while the youngest son Dongzi had gone to private school.

The second Daughter-in-law Lady Zhu, who was pregnant, came out to greet them, while the aged Old Man Li and the little over one-year-old Hu Wa were still asleep.

When Qian Xiang saw the sausages and heard what Qian Xiu had said, she was very surprised and promptly asked Eldest Daughter-in-law Zhang to cook a few pieces. After they were cooked and she had eaten a few slices, she was full of praise.

Old Man Li awoke and invited everyone to the main room of the upper house. The old gentleman, over sixty years old, was tall and stout with a full beard of graying hair. Having heard Qian Xiang’s comments and tasted the sausages, he nodded repeatedly, speaking in a booming voice, "This is even more delicious than cured meat, and it looks good too. Making a business out of this will be far more profitable than just butchering and selling meat." He then told Eldest Daughter-in-law Zhang, "Go to the stall and call the second son back; we’re not selling pork today. Have him find his father and the eldest as well, and bring all the pigs they’ve acquired back home."

No wonder their family was doing well; the old man certainly was shrewd.

Although Old Man Li was also a butcher and was tall and stout, his smile was gentle, making him appear kind and benevolent.

After giving his instructions, Old Man Li chatted with Old woman Qian for a while and then amiably praised Qian Yixiu. With a loud voice, he said, "It’s so good to have a girl, pretty and refined. Not like boys, who give you a headache with their crying and fussing." He clearly regretted not having a granddaughter.