Qin Sang had Eldest Brothers Wife put all those medicinal herbs into her room. With hundreds of catties of mugwort piled in the yard, plus the Plantain and the drying mosquito coils, there was hardly any space left to step in the courtyard.
Third Brothers Wife walked over, supporting her slightly showing belly, and said:
"Mother, we're making more and more mosquito coils, and space is becoming increasingly scarce. Why don't I have my Father make some Drying Racks for us? They would be the kind where you can stack several layers to dry both the mosquito coils and the medicinal herbs."
Actually, Qin Sang had the same intention.
"Sure. Your Father and brothers are carpenters, so making a Drying Rack shouldn't be a problem."
Third Brothers Wife was delighted.
"Then Mother, how much money will you pay for making the Drying Racks? Even though they're family, we can't let my Father and brothers lose out."
Qin Sang never intended for anyone to work for free, but she didn't quite understand the prices and wages of ancient times.
"How much do you think is appropriate?"
Third Brothers Wife's eyes darted around.
"Five hundred wen per rack, including materials. Although it's a bit low, I'll go talk to my Father; it should be fine."
Father and brothers only earn forty wen a day making a set of cabinets for someone. A Drying Rack doesn't require much wood and can be finished in a day or two. When the time comes, I'll have Father make them for two hundred wen each. Even though it's a bit of a loss for him, I am his daughter after all. I can keep the remaining three hundred wen as my private savings.
Just thinking about it made her happy.
Qin Sang glanced at her. Although she didn't know the price of carpentry, a Shop Assistant doing manual labor in town earned about twenty wen a day. No matter how complex a Drying Rack was, it shouldn't take more than two or three days to make one. Even including materials? But in ancient times, ordinary wood wasn't expensive—it was all their own, and trees on the mountain could be cut down at will.
Five hundred wen?
Qin Sang didn't mind helping her In-law, but was Third Brothers Wife taking advantage of her easygoing nature and treating her like a sucker?
If she really agreed to five hundred wen, her In-law would likely receive three hundred wen at most.
"Five hundred wen is a bit expensive. I don't have much money on hand, and I still need to buy some rice and grain. Since I'm going to town tomorrow anyway, I'll ask about the price first and see if there are any ready-made ones to buy."
Third Brothers Wife was terrified that Qin Sang wouldn't let her family do the work, so she hurriedly said:
"Mother, then I'll tell my Father four hundred wen. Instead of buying from others and letting them profit, why not let my family earn a little? It's better to keep the wealth within the family, right?"
Qin Sang finally agreed. "What you say makes sense. Then ask your Father if three hundred and fifty wen per rack is okay. I can only provide that much money right now. If he agrees, have him make them as soon as possible. Each Drying Rack should have four layers. Let's start with five, and we can add more later if it's not enough."
Third Brothers Wife's enthusiasm dampened when she heard another fifty wen was being cut, but she cheered up again upon hearing that five were needed.
"Alright then, my Father should agree."
Qin Sang thought for a moment.
"Then San Gui shouldn't go on patrol tomorrow. Let him accompany you back. You're pregnant, so walk and rest for a while on the way; don't overexert yourself."
Third Brothers Wife was very happy. She gave a quick response and went to find her husband.
Qin Sang turned over the mugwort to dry and checked the finished mosquito coils. She noticed that Eldest Brothers Wife had peeked at her several times, looking as if she wanted to say something but didn't dare.
"What is it, Da Hua? Is something the matter?"
Seeing that Qin Sang had spoken, Eldest Brothers Wife walked over, rubbing her fingers together and looking down at her toes as she whispered:
"Mother, you're buying medicinal herbs from the villagers... if... if my family finds some, will you... will you buy them?"
Qin Sang then remembered that Da Hua was the eldest of five sisters.
Because of the Original Body's harshness, she had spread rumors throughout the village that Eldest Brothers Wife's inability to bear a son was due to her Mother's genes.
This resulted in her two younger sisters not having any marriage proposals yet. Her eldest younger sister must be sixteen this year. Although in modern times that would be a high school student who knows nothing, in this ancient countryside, she was no different from an old maid.
The Zhou Family had no sons and were honest people, often being pushed around in the village. Every time the village head held a meeting, they stood at the very back, so much so that Qin Sang hadn't even remembered them.
Because Da Hua hadn't gotten pregnant again, the Original Body had even suggested that Da Hua's sister be sent over as compensation to bear a son for the Tian Family in her place. Consequently, the two sets of In-laws were practically enemies.
The Original Body was truly... If this were modern times, Da Hua's Father might have come to the door with a machete after such an insult.
"I'll buy them, of course. But gathering herbs on the mountain is dangerous; remember to tell them to be careful."
Eldest Brothers Wife gave a grateful reply. "Okay, I'll go back and tell them now."
Seeing her so excited she was flustered and at a loss, Qin Sang pulled her back and said:
"Don't be in such a hurry. You haven't been back to your parents' home in several years, have you? Since it's in the same village, wait until Da Zhuang returns from patrol. Then, take Eldest Girl, change into the new clothes we made, and take some things with you."
Qin Sang had already made up her mind. Da Hua was a good person, and it was the Original Body who had been inhuman, causing the Zhou Family's daughters to be unable to marry. Although it wasn't her cause, she couldn't turn a blind eye to the effect.
The gifts didn't need to be fancy. The big Pumpkin she brought back today, plus ten catties of rice, a rabbit, and a catty of apples would be enough.
Seeing Qin Sang putting rice and other items into the basket, Eldest Brothers Wife hurriedly waved her hands:
"Mother, there's no need to take so much..."
Qin Sang brushed her hands aside.
"It's fine. It's all food; it won't go to waste."
Looking at such a kind Mother-in-law, a wave of bitterness welled up in Eldest Brothers Wife's nose and eyes.
Qin Sang urged her to change into the new clothes. She had been reluctant to wear the clothes they'd made, insisting she was afraid of getting them dirty while working.
After finishing her whispering with San Gui, Third Brothers Wife came out. Upon learning that her sister-In-law was taking gifts to her parents' house, she also spoke up:
"Oh, Eldest Sister-In-law is taking so many things back home. Mother, when I go back to my parents' house with San Gui tomorrow, it wouldn't be right to go empty-handed either, would it?"
Qin Sang naturally wouldn't favor one over the other. Business was business, and personal relations were personal relations.
"It'll be the same. There's only one Pumpkin, so you take potatoes instead. Remember to tell your family that if they sprout, they can't be eaten; they're poisonous and can kill people."
"There's only one rabbit, so you take ten eggs. Have San Gui carry them carefully so they don't break."
Third Brothers Wife smiled contentedly.
"Thank you, Mother."
Previously, she had insisted on marrying Tian Sangui. Her Father and brothers had all disagreed, and her sisters-In-law would always secretly say she went back to sponge off them. The villagers also mocked her, saying a beautiful flower had been stuck in cow dung.
Tomorrow she was going home. Not only was she bringing work for her Father and helping her Father and brothers earn money, but she also had so many gifts. She wanted her sisters-In-law and the villagers to see that the "cow dung" she had chosen was the most fertile of all.
After changing Eldest Girl into her new clothes, Qin Sang intended to tie two little buns for her. However, she was clumsy with her hands; back when she was a student, she only knew how to tie a single ponytail for herself.
Since her transmigration, she had just been using a wooden hairpin to casually coil her hair. Now, trying to do Eldest Girl's hair without the hair ties of the future, the results were either lopsided or pulled so hard the child grimaced, yet didn't dare cry out in pain.
Qin Sang had no choice but to give up. She undid Eldest Girl's little buns and pushed her toward her Mother:
"Let your Mother tie it for you. Grandma doesn't know how to do hair."
With a head of messy hair, Eldest Girl seemed to sense Grandma's gloom. She trotted back on her short legs, hugged Qin Sang's leg, and said softly:
"It doesn't matter if Grandma can't tie hair. Grandma can treat illnesses, Grandma knows so many medicinal herbs, Grandma's cooking is the most delicious, Grandma is the best."
Qin Sang couldn't keep her lips from curling up at the coaxing. Goodness, this child was so sensible it made one's heart ache. She pinched her little cheek.
"Alright, alright. Go quickly and have your Mother tie your hair; it's all frizzy."