Yu Yin had been too young two years ago, and her embroidery skills were subpar, so her work didn’t sell for much. It was only later, after she put in great effort, that her embroidery gradually improved and was accepted by the embroidery house. It was only in the past two years that her work had sold consistently at a fixed price.
Old Madam Yu was livid. The thought of Yu Laosan pocketing more than two taels of silver made her heart ache terribly. She raised the cane again, ready to hit them once more.
At this moment, Yu Li spoke up. “Third Uncle, you need to pay back the two taels of silver to Ah Yin.”
“What? That’s impossible…” Wang Shi started to object, but when she realized it was Yu Li speaking, she quickly shut her mouth.
In her heart, however, she was unwilling. That was two whole taels of silver! They had already spent it all—how could they pay it back?
Yu Li ignored her reluctance and said calmly, “Third Uncle, since you took Ah Yin’s embroidery money, you must repay it. If you don’t…”
Instantly, everyone held their breath, waiting to hear what she would do.
“If you don’t repay it, I’ll have no choice but to demolish your house as compensation.” Yu Li glanced toward the third branch’s residence. “You have three days. If you don’t pay it back by then, I’ll come back and tear your house down.”
The faces of Yu Laosan and Wang Shi turned pale.
The threat was both brutal and terrifying.
If she had said she’d beat them, they wouldn’t have been as alarmed. If Yu Li really hit them, a niece attacking her uncle and aunt would undeniably put her in the wrong. They could then take the matter to the clan leader or village elders, as they weren’t as concerned about maintaining appearances as Old Master Yu was.
But if she was talking about smashing their house…
They couldn’t guard their house day and night, and even if they did, they wouldn’t be able to stop her from tearing it down.
Yu Li didn’t care what they were thinking. After giving them the deadline, she turned and left with her sisters, heading back to the west room.
Old Madam Yu opened her mouth, wanting to argue that the money should have gone into the family’s collective fund, but the memory of Yu Li’s threat made her silently close her mouth again.
Her mood, however, was far from pleasant, and she turned her frustration on Yu Laosan and Wang Shi, pointing at them and unleashing a torrent of curses.
Yu Jin and her sisters couldn’t help but glance back.
In the past, it was always their parents who were scolded by Old Madam Yu, while the third branch stood by and watched the spectacle. Now, it seemed the tables had turned, and it was the third branch’s turn to be on the receiving end of Old Madam Yu’s fury.
When they returned to the west room, they found Yu Lao’er and his wife lingering at the door.
The couple had heard Old Madam Yu’s loud scolding of the third branch and felt something similar to what their daughters did—a peculiar mix of emotions.
Yu Jin, out of kindness, offered a reminder, “Father, Mother, if there’s nothing else, you should go back to your room and rest. Otherwise, Grandmother might start scolding you again if she sees you.”
Old Madam Yu was still fuming, and after venting her anger on the third branch, she might very well turn on them. After all, the easiest targets in the family were none other than Yu Lao’er and his wife.
Hearing this, the couple quickly retreated to their room, eager to avoid Old Madam Yu’s wrath.
Yu Jin watched them go, letting out a self-mocking laugh, though she wasn’t sure what exactly she was laughing at.
She followed Yu Li back into the room, her mood inexplicably low until Yu Li pulled out a piece of candy, broke it into several pieces, and placed one in each of her sisters’ mouths.
The sweet taste immediately made the three sisters forget everything else.
“Big Sister, is this what candy tastes like? It’s so delicious!” Yu Zhu cupped her face with both hands, carefully savoring the candy, reluctant to swallow it too quickly for fear it would disappear.
She had seen Yu Qin and Yu Jingzong from the main branch eating candy before.
Back then, she had watched enviously, only to be scolded harshly by the two. Yu Jingzong had even thrown the leftover candy wrapper on the ground, still sticky with bits of sugar, and mocked her, saying that if she wanted candy so badly, she should crawl over and lick it.
Had Yu Jin not passed by and pulled her away, she might have done it.
For both Yu Yin and Yu Jin, this was their first time tasting candy. So this was what it tasted like—sweeter than even the sweetest fruit from the mountains.
The three sisters were instantly captivated by the treat.
Yu Jin asked, “Big Sister, where did this candy come from?”
“I bought it in the county town,” Yu Li replied. Then she added, “By the way, I found a job in the county town. From now on, I’ll buy good things for you.”
Her three sisters’ eyes lit up, their faces filled with joy and excitement.
A job in the county town? That meant she would be earning money, and unlike their family’s income, this money wouldn’t have to be handed over to the Yu family’s collective fund—it would be hers to control.
That was better than anything.
Yu Jin, unable to contain herself, eagerly asked, “Big Sister, what kind of work is it? Can I do it too?”
The moment the words left her mouth, she startled herself but quickly grew resolute.
Why shouldn’t a girl be able to go to the county town to find work?
She was already fourteen, turning fifteen next year. At fifteen, she would come of age, officially considered an adult. Why couldn’t she work and earn money instead of being confined at home, doing endless chores with no recognition, only to be told she was freeloading?
If that was the case, she would go out and work. If she earned money, no one could say she was freeloading.
In the past, Yu Jin would never have dared to ask this, nor would she have thought it possible.
Old Madam Yu would never allow them to leave home to find work. There was always more work to be done at home, and the idea of letting the girls go out to earn money was unthinkable. What if they grew independent and defied the family? That would be unacceptable.
While it was true that during the agricultural off-season some rural women would go out to find odd jobs, most of these women were married. Young, unmarried girls were still kept at home to do chores.
After all, if they didn’t do the work, would Old Madam Yu have to do it herself? That was unthinkable.
In Old Madam Yu’s eyes, girls weren’t particularly capable, and earning money wasn’t their responsibility. She had never considered sending her granddaughters to the county town to look for work.
Yu Li saw the joy and anticipation in her sisters’ eyes and couldn’t help but feel fond of their expressions at this moment. She said, “Butchering pigs.”
The three sisters: “…”
The excitement and hope in their eyes froze as they exchanged glances.
“But… butchering pigs?” Yu Jin asked cautiously. “Big Sister, do you even know how to do that?”
She was conflicted. Although she believed her eldest sister had become very capable, the idea of her butchering pigs hadn’t crossed her mind. It wasn’t exactly the kind of work she had envisioned.
Yu Li replied confidently, “I know how. I’ve watched people butcher pigs for the New Year. I know how it’s done.”
Seeing her confident demeanor, the three sisters eventually decided to trust her.
When they learned how much money could be earned from butchering a single pig, they gasped in surprise. They suddenly realized it was a lucrative job. If someone could butcher several pigs a day, wouldn’t they earn a few hundred wen? That was far more than what Yu Yin made in a month of painstaking embroidery work.
Yu Jin’s face lit up with excitement. “Big Sister, can I butcher pigs too? I… I think I can do it!”
She had also seen people butcher pigs for the New Year and knew the process. She didn’t think she would be afraid of it.
Yu Li squeezed her thin, frail arm and shook her head. “Butchering pigs requires strength. You’re not up to it.”
Yu Jin’s excitement instantly dimmed.
Then Yu Li added, “I’ll keep an eye out. If I find any work that suits you, I’ll let you do it too.”
She didn’t think there was anything wrong with girls going out to work. Although it was uncommon for young women to do business or take on jobs outside the home in these times, she believed it was perfectly fine.
After all, she would watch over them and keep them safe.
Yu Jin was overjoyed and threw her arms around her eldest sister. “Big Sister, thank you! I’m so happy.”
Yu Li stiffened for a moment, unaccustomed to such close physical contact. But then she remembered it was her sister and gradually relaxed.
Seeing this, Yu Zhu laughed and joined the hug, throwing herself onto her two sisters.
Yu Yin, who had been quietly smiling on the side, finally couldn’t resist. She moved closer, leaning against her eldest sister. When Yu Li reached out to embrace her as well, she pursed her lips and smiled softly.
How wonderful!
She thought to herself that life would only get better from here.