Chapter 539. Regrets (1/2)
Currently, the Yu’s Braised Food Store was considered a collaboration between the two families. She provided the capital and ingredients, while her eldest paternal aunt’s family was in charge of management. At the end of the year, they split the dividends forty-sixty.
Last year, at the year’s end, Xiaocao was quite surprised by the amount of money she had received when her older cousin Liu Junping came over to split the money. She had even asked him about it as she was afraid that her eldest paternal aunt’s family had given her a larger share than they had agreed on. Now, after personally seeing the booming business, she was able to believe her older cousin’s assurances. From how well things were going, it was likely that her split of the money at the end of this year would be even more generous!
Yu Xiaocao and Liu Xiaoyan both revealed satisfied smiles when they saw the long and orderly line of people waiting to buy goods wholesale. Suddenly, within the line, they saw a familiar figure. This person had peppered white hair, an aged looking face, drooping eyes that looked a bit cruel, and deep lines around her mouth. All of this combined made her look even more harsh and mean——wasn’t this Xiaocao’s step-grandmother, Madam Zhang?
Madam Zhang hadn’t appeared in Xiaocao’s vicinity for more than two years now and Xiaocao had almost forgotten that this particular person still existed. After two years had passed, Madam Zhang looked a lot more old compared to before. Her previously straight back was now bent over and there were a lot more wrinkles on her face. Furthermore, more than half of her head of hair had already turned white.
Seeing her reminded Xiaocao of her own grandfather. Old Yu had been eating the medicinal cuisine that Xiaocao had personally prepared for him and had also been consuming mystic-stone water. His previously weak body had become healthy again. Her older brother had written a letter to her talking about the farm and the letter mentioned that their paternal grandfather’s energy in the fields were higher than some younger people’s. Perhaps it was because he had plumped up a bit, but the wrinkles on his face also seemed to recede recently. If he stood next to Madam Zhang now, despite Madam Zhang being younger than him by seven to eight years, it would look like he was standing next to his older sister!
Liu Xiaoyan lightly sighed and said, “Ever since she moved out of Dongshan Village, Madam Zhang has been buying wholesale from us so she could sell it at one of the vegetable markets to the south of the city. In the past, all she had to do was order people around. Now, for the sake of earning money for Younger Uncle’s studies and keeping their family afloat, even if it’s stormy out, she still opens up her stall to sell goods. Luckily, our braised food is quite popular. I heard Mother mention that, in her youth, Madam Zhang also wasn’t a lazy person, so her stall is doing quite well. It’s rumored that she’s already rented quite a few small stalls in the vegetable market. Other than selling braised food, she also buys vegetables from neighboring farmers to sell as well.
“What about Younger Uncle? I heard that he passed the county level examinations. So it doesn’t look like she’s labored in vain, right?” When she thought back to how it was for her family when she first transmigrated over, where everyone had been used up until they didn’t even resemble humans any more, Yu Xiaocao couldn’t feel one iota of sympathy for the old woman.
Liu Xiaoyan nodded her head, “Although Mother truly hates Madam Zhang for being so cruel, she can’t seem to bring it upon herself to also hate Younger Uncle who is related to us through Grandfather. Every few days or so, she’ll go to Younger Uncle’s academy and bring some food for him to eat. Maternal Grandfather will also give him some pocket money from time to time.
Liu Xiaoyan paused for a moment before she continued, “Ever since everyone found out about the crime that Madam Zhang committed and she moved out of Dongshan Village, it seems like Younger Uncle has also matured quite a bit. His past selfishness and desire to cut corners have all been thrown away. Now, he spends all of his time at the academy, studying his heart out. After working hard for two to three years, he finally passed the county level exams and became a county official. However, his results were lackluster as he was only in the back of the pack. Not like our Little Shitou, who was able to score high and become a granary official and receive the government’s annual stipend of grain. My mother spoke to one of the teachers at the academy and he said based off of my younger uncle’s talents, being able to pass the prefectural level exams would be the best outcome he could manage. As for passing the imperial exams, that likely can’t be done by him!”
If their younger uncle could pass the prefectural level exams, he would get a grain stipend every year from the government and could also decrease the amount of taxes his family had to pay. Should Madam Zhang continue to do business for a few more years and save some money, they could probably buy some land to farm. Even if she couldn’t tend the land herself, she could still get an income from renting it out to others. That way, wouldn’t her grandfather no longer have to worry about his youngest son anymore?
At this time, Madam Zhang had spotted Xiaocao and the expression on her face immediately changed and she looked away from Xiaocao to avoid her eyes. She scurried her thin and scrawny body to hide behind another person in line.
The news that Xiaocao had been entitled a royal princess had also spread to the prefectural city. Her eldest paternal aunt and uncle thought that it was a great honor, so they not only bought the longest string of fireworks that could be found but also promoted three days of twenty percent off of all of their goods at the stores. The previous prefectural magistrate of Jinwei prefecture had already finished his term of service there and moved back to the capital. Now, the Yu’s Braised Food Store had an even larger backer. Other than Royal Prince Yang, they also had a royal princess that the emperor himself had titled backing them. This was also the reason why no one ever tried to cause trouble for this business even though it became more and more popular with every passing day.
At that time, Madam Zhang had been in the crowd waiting to buy goods wholesale. When she saw the proud and joyful expression on Xiaocao’s eldest paternal aunt’s face, she felt so regretful that her face turned green. If she had treated Xiaocao’s family better in the past and hadn’t been so biased, she might be the one in front basking in the glory. Perhaps, she could still be with the old man and become the noble matriarch of the family. In fact, she might have been able to head to the capital and live in a large compound with a group of maidservants and underlings catering to her every whim, living a life of luxury and glory…
Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets. Ever since the news that she had murdered Xiaocao’s biological grandmother came to light, the Yu Family became estranged from her and regarded her with loathing. Madam Zhang avoided Xiaocao’s line of sight as she was afraid the now royal princess would recall her crimes and send people to pull her into prison.
She was already an old woman, so spending time in jail or even getting the capital punishment wasn’t a big deal. However, she was anxious about her youngest son’s prospects and whether he’d be affected by her issues. Even if the Yu Family remembered familial ties and let her youngest son go, without her around providing for the family, how could her son be able to study without any worries?
Madam Zhang made the decision to keep her distance away from the Yu Family when she spotted them in the future. If she couldn’t avoid them, then she would keep her head lowered with a smile on her face. As long as they didn’t pursue her past crimes against her, she was even willing to kneel in front of them and beg for forgiveness and mercy.