The Prime Minister’s Little Wife

Chapter 10: We Are Family

After everyone finished eating, the third uncle stayed to chat with his brother. Xu Da Niu, as usual, volunteered to wash the dishes, mainly because Xu Zhizhi disliked doing it.

Xu Xiao Wu followed his brother to help with the dishes. Normally, Xu Er Niu, his fourth brother, ignored him. His older cousins, Xu Da Hu and Xu Er Hu, were much older and didn’t play with him either.

His second uncle’s two daughters would occasionally give him some snacks, and his third uncle’s daughter, Xu Lanhua, also shared food with him. However, Xu Honghua, his other cousin, never gave him anything and sometimes even hit him.

Although Xu Xiao Wu was only six, he was clever. Xu Honghua didn’t dare to hit him openly, but she would pinch him secretly when no one was looking. As long as he avoided her, he was fine.

In the past, his sister, Xu Zhizhi, didn’t hit him and was kind to him, but she had been so obsessed with Jin Zijun that she gave all the good food to him to “nourish his health.”

Over time, his brother grew to dislike their sister, and Xu Xiao Wu also distanced himself from her. Now, he wanted to behave well and earn his sister’s affection.

Xu Zhizhi, watching her two sensible brothers, felt at ease.

In the original host’s memories, Xu Honghua didn’t leave much of an impression. She was always at home embroidering handkerchiefs to sell or doing other tasks. She never worked in the fields, unlike the original Xu Zhizhi, who was constantly busy working both at home and in Jin Zijun’s fields, leaving no time or energy to pay attention to others.

Xu Er Niu, the chubby boy, was a bit more familiar. He studied at the old scholar’s private school in the village. Jin Zijun had also studied there before passing the imperial exam and moving to a school in town.

“Big sister, can we really sell bean sprouts? Can we make money from it?” Xu Honghua, the thirteen-year-old cousin, asked innocently.

Xu Zhizhi looked at her cousin, who was about the same height as her, with fair skin and a pretty face. With her unique ability to judge people, Xu Zhizhi could tell that this cousin wasn’t as innocent as she appeared.

Xu Honghua seemed like someone with her own agenda. Xu Zhizhi wasn’t afraid of smart and ambitious people, but she was wary of those with dark hearts and twisted values.

However, growing bean sprouts wasn’t a complicated skill. It was easy to learn, and Xu Zhizhi didn’t plan to do it long-term anyway.

She had originally thought of involving her second and third uncles in the business.

Seeing her father and third uncle looking at her expectantly, she decided to teach them as well. Given her father’s close relationship with his brothers, it made sense to include them.

Xu Zhizhi enthusiastically explained, “Yes, the cost is low, and the yield is high. One pound of beans can produce twelve pounds of bean sprouts.”

“It’s also simple to learn. See these baskets? You line the bottom with some sand, cover it with a damp cloth, soak the beans overnight, and then spread them evenly on the cloth. Cover the basket with a lid or a thick cloth to maintain humidity, which helps the beans sprout. Water them twice a day, in the morning and evening. By the sixth day, they’ll be ready to eat.”

“Remove the roots, and the bean skins will remain at the bottom of the basket.”

“I’ll try growing some first. You can learn too, and we can sell them together in town,” Xu Zhizhi shared without holding back.

Father Xu and the third uncle were pleased that their daughter (niece) wasn’t keeping secrets from them.

Mother Xu, knowing they had no beans at home, lowered her head and remained silent when Xu Zhizhi mentioned buying some.

Xu Zhizhi said, “I’ll go ask around the village to see if anyone has mung beans to sell.”

The third uncle said, “We have some at home. I’ll bring some over to try. It’s getting dark, so don’t go buying from others. We’re family; there’s no need to be so formal.”

Xu Zhizhi agreed, “Alright, we’ll split the first batch of bean sprouts equally between our families.”

The brothers had no objections, especially the third uncle, who was happy to learn the technique for free. It could become an additional source of income for them.

Xu Zhizhi took her younger siblings to the backyard to dig up some sandy soil and set up the baskets. The third uncle brought the beans, which needed to soak overnight before being spread in the prepared baskets the next morning.

Once everything was set up, everyone went to bed.

The next morning, the two brothers squatted by the basin of soaking beans, staring intently without blinking.

Xu Zhizhi, seeing her brothers like this, felt a pang of sadness. If she used the spiritual spring water, they could have bean sprouts by noon.

But she wouldn’t do that. Since she planned to involve her second and third uncles, she needed to take things slowly. She had the advantage of her golden finger and the ability to get rich overnight, but there was no need to rush. She didn’t want to risk messing things up.

Xu Zhizhi walked over and taught her brothers how to spread the beans. Then they made breakfast together, ate, and went to work in the fields.

On their way back, they passed the big tree where the village aunties often gathered to gossip.

They overheard Aunt Ma’s gloating voice, “Jin Zijun has become a scholar, so why hasn’t Wang Shishi agreed to his proposal yet?”

“Didn’t you hear? A scholar from the neighboring village passed the exam last year, and Wang Shishi didn’t agree to him either!” another aunt chimed in.

“Maybe Jin Zijun is just wishful thinking. Perhaps Miss Wang has no intention of marrying him.”

“That Wang Shishi isn’t a good person. If it weren’t for her flirting with Jin Zijun, Xu Zhizhi might have married him by the end of the year,” Aunt Hua said angrily.

“Yes, yes, that Wang Shishi is really unkind.”

“Exactly, the two families had been engaged for years, and there was never any talk of breaking it off.”

“That’s true. Ever since Wang Shishi came to our village, she’s been close to Jin Zijun. That’s why the engagement was called off.”

Once Aunt Hua spoke, the conversation turned entirely against Wang Shishi.

Aunt Hua was Xu Da Zhuang’s wife. Her husband had told her about the stolen wages and how Xu Zhizhi had given them half a tael of silver.

She had always remembered this kindness. Besides, although Xu Zhizhi had been infatuated with Jin Zijun in the past, she had never done anything to harm others.

What Aunt Hua said was the truth, and it easily swayed the crowd’s emotions.

Among the crowd, Qingzi, Wang Shishi’s maid, was unhappy. Previously, everyone had praised her mistress as gentle, quiet, and beautiful.

Why had the tone changed? This could damage her mistress’s reputation.

She needed to report this to her mistress immediately.

Xu Zhizhi listened to the gossip without much reaction. After all, the one who had been foolishly devoted to Jin Zijun was the original host, not her.

But Xu Da Niu and Xu Xiao Wu were furious. Their sister had loved Jin Zijun so much and treated him better than she treated them.

Just a few days after breaking off the engagement, Jin Zijun had passed the imperial exam. Had he known he would pass and become eligible to propose to Wang Shishi, leading him to break off the engagement with their sister?

Xu Da Niu had guessed correctly. Due to the remote location of Qili Village, the official announcement of the exam results arrived a few days later than the news Jin Zijun received personally.

What Xu Da Niu didn’t know was that Jin Zijun had no intention of breaking off the engagement, even after passing the exam.

While it was true that he admired Wang Shishi, she had been elusive, never clearly indicating whether she would marry him. She didn’t help with his family’s chores or take care of his elderly mother.

Even if he passed the exam, he still needed to take the provincial exam, which required money. Who would support him and take care of his mother? Once he passed the provincial exam, he could break off the engagement.

(End of Chapter)