Chapter 122 - Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Despair (1/2)

Chapter 122: Chapter 122: Despair

Translator: 549690339

“What’s the matter with you, looking so worried?” Zhuang Qingning lightly tapped her on the head.

“Aunt Liu has not been here for the past two days, and neither has Sister Qiuying been setting up her stall.” Zhuang Qingsui frowned with concern. “I wonder if something has happened at home.”

“Indeed.” Zhuang Qingning also pursed her lips.

In the past few days, she had been busy managing the shop and thinking about how to arrange shifts and expand production at the tofu factory. Her mind was filled with these matters, and she hadn’t paid much attention to what Qingsui had just mentioned until she realized that Mrs. Liu and Zhang Qiuying had not come to set up their stalls in town for the past two or three days.

Mrs. Liu had been feeling unwell but had been forcing herself to come and sell her fried chop rice cakes until her health became unbearable and only then did she rest for a couple of days.

But today was a big market day, and the fact that Mrs. Liu hadn’t shown up indicated that something major must have happened at home that kept her away.

As the sisters were talking, Zhang Qiuying walked over with a bamboo basket on her back.

“Qiuying.”

Upon seeing Zhang Qiuying’s red eyes, Zhuang Qingning asked in surprise, “What’s the matter with you? Where is Aunt Liu? Why didn’t she come today?”

“Big Sister Ning.” Zhang Qiuying’s lips trembled, and tears fell from her eyes. “My father went to work a few days ago, installing beams for someone’s house, and his leg was crushed. The owner said it was because my father was careless that this happened. He refused to compensate us, and my second and third uncles won’t help either. We are broke at home, so my mother and grandmother had to sell everything we had, including our fields, to afford my father’s medical treatment.”

“The doctor applied some bandages and gave us medicine, saying that my father needs a good rest. But he also said that the leg injury was too severe, and even if he could walk again after more than three months, he would probably limp and be unable to do heavy labor. His leg would also likely hurt on cloudy and rainy days.”

“My grandmother is extremely anxious. My mother cries all day and takes care of my father while trying to negotiate with the owner. I couldn’t be of much help at home, so I pleaded with my grandmother to make some fried chop rice cakes last night. I brought them to the market today to sell, hoping to help the family and earn some money for my father’s medicine.”

Zhang Qiuying’s words became more sorrowful, and her tears fell like broken beads.

With the family’s pillar gone and their fields sold, the family essentially had no means of livelihood in the short term, and Zhang Qiuying felt quite desperate.

“Don’t cry now, don’t cry.” Zhuang Qingning reached out to wipe the tears from Zhang Qiuying’s face. “Since you’re here in town now, dry your tears first. Let’s sell your fried chop rice cakes first, then we can talk about other things.”

Experiencing such a calamity, Zhang Qiuying was indeed pitiful. But since the family was already in such straits, and she had decided to do something for the family, she had to first take care of current affairs. Otherwise, she would just cause more chaos.

Zhuang Qingning’s tone was gentle yet firm, which made Zhang Qiuying, who was initially panicky and grief-stricken, feel much calmer. Zhang Qiuying had respected Zhuang Qingning a great deal in usual times, and so naturally took her words to heart. She nodded and said, “Okay, I understand.”

After saying this, she dried her tears and calmed her emotions, then began to hawk her fried chop rice cakes.

Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui assisted in selling the fried chop rice cakes.

During the intervals of selling, they also offered many words of encouragement.