Upon hearing that the Wus were causing a fuss about divorce, the Zheng family imdiately backed down.
"Young Madam, this is really not appropriate. Now that the Young Master is severely ill, instead of going back to care for him, you’re actually showing no concern for your marital bond and insisting on divorce. If word gets out, you’ll be criticized by everyone."
Wu Erniang had been frail and yielding for many years, but this ti she truly took a firm stand.
Indeed, she had been pushed to her limits, and if she didn’t assert herself now, death would be the only outco.
"Is this sothing you, a steward, should be discussing with ? Your Young Master is ill? What illness has he contracted? You better go back and inform Madam to find another doctor for a check-up, then you’ll know. He has caught that disgraceful disease—what, do you want to drag down with him to death? I’m not willing to die like that. You just go and tell your master and madam, if they don’t want to let the whole Qingyuan City know what their son is made of, they’d better agree to the divorce quickly. Otherwise, I won’t show any consideration."
Her words truly stunned the steward.
The steward thought for a mont, truly uncertain whether to refute Wu Erniang’s remarks.
She also feared that Young Master Zheng had indeed caught so disgraceful illness; if Wu Erniang vented her disgruntlent, it would reflect poorly on the Zheng family.
She smiled and said: "Alright then, I’ll go back and inform the master and madam. As for the outco, it is still up to the master and madam to decide."
Looking crestfallen, the steward left.
Wu Erniang then took Anning’s hand and sat down: "I do owe you a lot for today’s affair."
Anning smiled: "We are relatives. Knowing about these matters and not lifting a finger would weigh on my conscience. There’s no need for thanks."
Mrs. Wu quickly had the maids bring over tea and refreshnts.
Anning took a few sips of tea to moisten her throat: "I ca to see how Second Sister Wu was faring, and since I got married, I have not yet paid a visit to my uncle and aunt. So I thought I should co to pay my respects. Please don’t find troubleso."
Anning was attractive and had a clever tongue. Coupled with the gratitude owed for reminding Wu Erniang, Mrs. Wu liked her very much: "Troubleso? Not at all. You should co by more often. I’m bored at ho all day with no one to talk to. It would be nice to have a chat with you ladies."
Anning cheerfully agreed.
After sitting for a while more, and seeing that Mrs. Wu and Wu Erniang’s mood was still decent, and the divorce matter being settled, she got up to leave.
On the way ho, Anning happened to run into Miss Wang, who had married Yue Zhong, coming out of a shop with her maids, cursing and looking fierce.
Anning glanced at her but did not pay much attention, urging the coachman to hurry ho.
In the ti leading up to the end of the year, Anning and Xiao Yuan remained hobound, reading books.
The weather was bitterly cold, freezing outside, truly unfit for going out. It was better to stay warm at ho.
However, the food during the winter beca sowhat monotonous.
The entire winter consisted of nothing but radishes and cabbages, which Anning and Xiao Yuan were starting to find intolerable.
In previous years, although Xiao Yuan’s diet was simple, he loved to have fun and was out and about every day, which made it bearable.
But this year, he was cooped up at ho, eating either salty vegetable dumplings or at, which was truly unbearable.
Then, Mrs. Xiao also developed internal heat.
Even though the house was kept warm, and they ate rich food without any fresh fruits and vegetables, her age made her gut sensitive, and her irritation flared up as well.
Seeing this situation, Anning thought of setting up a greenhouse to grow so fresh vegetables.
She went to Mr. Xiao to discuss a solution, implying that it wouldn’t do to keep on like this, they need to find a way. Essentially, she suggested Mr. Xiao put in the silver while she would contribute the effort.
The Xiao Family is the wealthiest in Qingyuan, truly not short of money.
In fact, Anning’s dowry was not small either, and she could manage on her own. However, she felt that using her dowry silver to set up the warmhouse would certainly displease Mr. Xiao, so she directly asked him for money.
Mr. Xiao happily gave it.
Generations of Family Heads in the Xiao Family had a special talent for business, and Mr. Xiao was no exception.
It’s just that he was sowhat laissez-faire and not the type to compete aggressively with others; otherwise, the family business would have expanded significantly by now, and perhaps at this mont, they wouldn’t just be the wealthiest in Qingyuan, but in the entire province.
The Xiao Family had an abundance of silver, so much so that there was no place to spend it all. As soon as Anning asked, Mr. Xiao gave it.
With the money in hand, Anning started to work in the backyard of the Xiao residence.
She did not set up a large warmhouse.
At this ti, glass was still a precious item, and although she had the money, she couldn’t afford to be wasteful.
She set up a small one instead, first having people build a large room with glass covering so part of the roof to allow sunlight in, with warming ducts inside the room, and had people outside light a fire to heat it up.
This warmhouse didn’t require any specialized skills, and it was constructed in a matter of days. After fumigating the room for a day and making it warm and cozy, she began planting vegetables.
To get green vegetables as soon as possible, Anning planted the types that grew quickly, like spinach, leeks, and baby bok choy, among others.
Spinach and baby bok choy, for example, could be eaten tender in just ten days to half a month.
By the ti the New Year ca, the dinner table of the Xiao Family was graced with fresh green vegetables.
Although the warmhouse wasn’t big, the Xiao Family couldn’t finish all the vegetables it produced. So, Anning personally plucked so and sent a basketful to both the Xu Family and the Wus.
Xu Bao’er was fed up with eating white cabbage, so when Anning sent over the fresh greens, she was almost too delighted and clamored to go see Anning at the Xiao Family, but Mrs. Xu held her back, telling her to stop fussing and wait until after the New Year if she wanted to see Anning.
The Wus also received their share of vegetables and were quite happy. Mrs. Wu even sent back a gift in return.
By New Year’s Eve, most of the dishes on the Xiao Family’s dining table were replaced with green vegetables.
The family of four sat down together for a al, Anning served so greens to Xiao Yuan and added a few leek-filled dumplings to his plate, smiling and saying to Xiao Yuan, "This year we’ll make do, but next year I’ll think of a way for you to eat all kinds of fruits in the winter, and we’ll have whatever you wish to eat."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan was delighted: "Really? That would be wonderful."
Mr. Xiao and Mrs. Xiao were sowhat skeptical, but since Anning made such a statent, they did not dampen the mood and said a few words to show support with a laugh.
Halfway through the al, Anning looked at Mr. Xiao a few tis and hesitantly said: "Father, have you been arranging to go out for business after the New Year?"
Mr. Xiao nodded: "Did Yuanyuan tell you?"
Anning shook her head: "No, my husband didn’t ntion it to , I just observed it. But, Father, you should hold back on this. The business venture won’t be easy, and in my opinion, it’s better not to go."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yuan imdiately raised his head and said, "Dad, if Ningning says we shouldn’t go, then let’s not. Ningning has a sharp eye for these things."
Mrs. Xiao had co to trust Anning very much by now and also advised, "Then let’s not go. Let’s stay at ho and take it easy. Your son is planning to take the Imperial Examination; he certainly won’t be doing business like you. What’s the use of expanding the business anymore? It would be better to rest instead."
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