Li Cuilian had nothing to do at her parents’ home and thought of visiting her third and fourth sisters. Since they lived in adjacent courtyards, she might even run into both at once. However, as soon as she reached Fourth Sister’s gate, she heard Lin Xia shouting loudly in the yard, “I want to go! I insist on going!”
Then came Fourth Sister’s voice: “You didn’t say anything when they left. It’s been half a day—what’s the use of bringing it up now?”
“I don’t care! I want to go! I want to go!”
“Talking won’t help. If you really want to go, wait a few more days.”
“No! Mother, please take Xia’er there! Please, Mother! Wuwu—”
Li Cuilian hurried inside and asked, “What’s going on?”
“Auntie!” Lin Xia clung to Li Cuilian’s leg, looking up with a pitiful expression. “Auntie, Uncle and Auntie took all the older siblings away. Wu’er is gone too. No one plays with Xia’er anymore. Xia’er wants to go too!”
Li Cuilian was momentarily confused. “Your uncle and aunt left? Where did they go?”
“They went to town! Auntie, please take Xia’er to town! Wuwu—”
“Why did they go to town?”
Li Cuihong, having just finished hanging the last piece of laundry, pulled Lin Xia over and wiped her daughter’s tears while chiding Li Cuilian, “You! Third Sister mentioned on the second day of the month that they were moving to town. How could you forget in just a few days?”
“I never heard about it,” Li Cuilian said gloomily. “Ever since my husband brought that concubine home, I’ve just been forcing smiles.”
“Ah—what are you planning to do? Return to the Zhou family? Or even seek a divorce?” Li Cuihong swiftly placed the laundry basin against the wall and headed inside.
Li Cuilian took Lin Xia’s hand and followed. “I don’t know.”
But Lin Xia refused to move, tugging Li Cuilian backward with a pleading, nasal tone. “Auntie, please take Xia’er to find the older siblings and Wu’er! Xia’er wants to play with them!”
Earlier that morning, after the eldest son’s family had left, everyone else went about their own business. Granny Tong went out for a medical visit, Second Son was invited to discuss farming tools, and Li Gen’s family had moved to the land that came with Li Cuimei’s dowry—a large plot of fifty acres with a small house built at the edge. Li Cuihong also sent her eldest daughter to help with the move and settling in, planning to return once everything was settled.
When the adults had discussed taking Lin Meng and Lin Juan to town, they had explained to Lin Xia that her eldest brother was going to study and her third sister would be learning embroidery from their aunt—it wasn’t for fun. Though Lin Xia had been reluctant when the family left, she had obediently stayed behind and played alone. But with the usual lively atmosphere gone, she grew increasingly bored and began pestering her mother to take her to play with her siblings and Lin Wu—leading to the argument Li Cuilian had walked into.
Seeing Lin Xia’s pitiful state, Li Cuilian decided not to go inside. “Fourth Sister, since I have nothing to do, why don’t I take Xia’er to town?”
Li Cuihong, tired of Lin Xia’s nagging, agreed. Third Sister’s household had many children, and Li Cuilian had a childlike personality herself—perhaps the trip would lift her spirits. The moment Lin Xia heard she could go to town, she became impatient, refusing to let Li Cuilian even inform their grandmother before dragging her off to find Old Tian. The village wasn’t far from town; a round trip by carriage took less than half an hour. Old Tian had already returned from taking the eldest son’s family to town and reported back to Granny Tong, so little Lin Xia knew he was home.
Only after arriving in town did Li Cuilian remember that Fourth Sister had mentioned Guicheng’s wife had given birth the day before. She told Old Tian to return first while she walked slowly, intending to buy a congratulatory gift. But Lin Xia couldn’t wait—she dashed ahead toward the eldest son’s shop, with Li Cuilian chasing after her, calling her name.
Nanny Liu hurried over to intercept Lin Juan, scooping her up and whispering, “Oh, little ancestor! Madam just fell asleep after a tiring morning. Be quiet, and I’ll take you to play with the fifth young master, alright?”
After exchanging greetings with the eldest son and Guicheng, Li Cuilian followed Nanny Liu to Lin Wu’s room.
Only after Nanny Liu entered the fifth young master’s room did Granny Zhou dare approach the eldest son. “Master, this servant has something to report.”
The eldest son was surprised. This cook had just arrived that day and hadn’t even prepared a single meal yet. What could she possibly have to say? Keeping his expression neutral, he asked, “What is it?”
Granny Zhou said, “Master, I heard you were looking for someone skilled in fish farming. My husband has over a decade of experience.”
“Oh?” The eldest son hadn’t expected this. “Skilled craftsmen can usually obtain official permits without selling themselves. But I’m looking for someone willing to be indentured. Would your husband agree?”
Granny Zhou lowered her head and sighed. “Fish farming isn’t considered a real craft. In times of drought, we still starve. My family fled here as refugees. With three children, we wouldn’t have sold ourselves unless desperate. Now that I’ve entered your household, my husband and children have nowhere to go. If you find him useful, I beg you to buy all three children as well. Our family will never forget your kindness.”
She knelt. “My children are all old enough to work. They won’t waste your food.”
Guicheng asked, “Why go this far? You and your husband selling yourselves is one thing, but why the children? Once they sign indenture contracts, any future children will also be servants.”
Granny Zhou replied, “If parents are servants, their sons cannot attend school, take imperial exams, hold leadership roles, or obtain craft permits—they can only do menial labor, worse than the servants of wealthy families. Daughters cannot marry into rich households as wives, only as concubines. Even if they marry into poor families, if the groom is under twenty, they cannot be first wives. Concubines and second wives are neither servants nor masters—no different from being a servant. Rather than live in such ambiguity, it’s better for the whole family to serve together and stay united.”
This law aimed to promote filial piety—children of servants, though technically free, couldn’t abandon their parents to pursue their own fortunes. Guicheng was struck by Granny Zhou’s detailed understanding, likely researched before selling herself. He sighed and said no more.
The eldest son was also moved but preferred to discuss such matters with his wife. “Prepare the meal first. We’ll discuss this after Madam wakes.”
After the meal, the eldest son spoke to Li Cuimei about Granny Zhou. Li Cuimei felt external matters were best left to men and didn’t interfere much, only advising him to decide for himself. The eldest son had Granny Zhou bring her husband and children for evaluation.
Fish farming, like farming, was something one learned through practice—not a specialized craft. But if someone could, say, double or triple yields on the same land with the same conditions, the government would issue a craft permit after verification. This permit gave an advantage in employment, much like a graduate degree today.
Granny Zhou’s husband, Zhou Yu, held such a permit, proving his skill. Their eldest son, sixteen, had grown up helping with fish farming. Their fourteen-year-old daughter was strong for her age. The youngest, twelve, had been studying before the family fled.
With fish farming manpower secured, the eldest son and Guicheng relaxed. They arranged for Zhou Yu’s family to stay in the inn’s courtyard temporarily, moving to the fishery later. Zhou Yu and his eldest son would manage the fishery, Granny Zhou and her daughter would work in the household, and the youngest son would run errands.
The previous winter, the eldest son and Guicheng had toured nearby villages, securing cloth supply contracts. Now, trusted suppliers delivered directly. Though they had old contacts from their past work, the shop’s limited capital and their reluctance to leave family—especially with Guicheng’s newborn—kept them local for now. They planned to revisit expansion after settling the fishery.
Lin Xia refused to return home, playing wildly with Lin Wu. One unsupervised moment, they dashed into the street. Li Cuimei assigned Second Daughter and her mother to watch them full-time, fearing kidnappers. Though the law punished crime harshly, opportunists still lurked.
Li Cuilian stayed too, having grown cold toward Zhou Xiaosuo. Her in-laws treated her well, but their tolerance of the concubine—despite complaints—showed their priority was heirs, something she couldn’t provide.
Her presence helped Li Cuimei. More patient than Li Cuihong, Li Cuilian had learned embroidery and painting from Li Cuimei. While not as skilled, she could teach Lin Juan and guide Lin Meng and Lin Wen, freeing Li Cuimei for shop management.
Soon, Lin Cui’e regained her cheerfulness, playing with her nieces and nephews. But she clung to her sister-in-law, following her everywhere—even during calligraphy and needlework—until Lin Wu complained she was stealing his mother. Lin Fang understood: traumatized by her parents’ abandonment, Lin Cui’e feared losing her sister-in-law too. This anxiety would likely linger.
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