Transmigrated into the role of the matriarch, I ensured my family had enough to eat and wear during

Hearing Shen's sarcastic remarks about Tang Susu forgetting her roots, Old Lady Yang's face instantly lost its expression, and she spoke in a cold tone: "Alright, stop talking nonsense. The bamboo in the backyard needs to be cut down. Go and cut some back to weave some bamboo baskets and carrying baskets. The ones at home are almost worn out."

Shen was holding her anger in her heart and was about to retort when she heard Fangjuan and Taohua's footsteps coming from the courtyard gate.

Her anger instantly shifted to the two girls. She put down the shoe sole she was holding and yelled, "You two brats! It's completely dark and you're still running around outside! Aren't you afraid of being carried off by wolves in the mountains?"

"Alright, don't frighten the child." Old Mrs. Yang gently scolded Shen. "There are patrolmen in the mountains watching day and night; wolves won't dare to come near."

As she spoke, she turned to Fangjuan and her sister, her tone much gentler: "Where did you two go? Why are you so late?"

Fangjuan stepped forward timidly and answered softly, "Grandma, Taohua and I went to the mountains to pick lantern fruits. We sold them to Third Aunt after we finished picking them."

"We picked so much!" Peach Blossom eagerly added, her little face beaming with pride. "We picked six pounds in total, and Auntie said she'd give us twelve copper coins!"

Upon hearing this, Madam Shen immediately asked, "Are you going to give me the coins now?" When she learned that she wouldn't receive the money until tomorrow, a look of disappointment instantly appeared on her face. She cursed Tang Susu for taking advantage of the child, and worried that Tang Susu's business would fall through, leaving her daughter's coins to go down the drain.

But then I thought, if Tang Susu was willing to spend so many copper coins to buy lantern fruits, she must have made a lot of money.

Peach Blossom was still chattering away, saying, "Third Aunt bought some delicious snacks for Bao'er, and there's lots of new fabric at home. Bao'er will be able to wear new clothes soon!"

Shen immediately began to calculate in her mind: the meat, twenty ducklings, and so much new fabric, all added up to at least a tael of silver.

My husband works himself to the bone every day to earn only twenty coins, and it would take him more than half a year to save up that much.

The fire of jealousy in her heart burned ever brighter.

"In that case," Madam Shen immediately said, "Li Fu's wife is pregnant and needs to rest. Third sister-in-law will definitely be too busy to cook all the food by herself. I'll go over and help her tomorrow."

Old Mrs. Yang saw right through her thoughts and mocked her without hesitation: "Who can't see through your little scheme? Instead of wasting time thinking about other people's money, you should do your job well. Don't wander around aimlessly tomorrow, go and pull the weeds in the rice paddy."

Shen's face instantly turned a pale green, looking extremely ugly.

The rice paddies of the eldest and second sons of the Yang family, along with the old man, total more than 20 mu. In this sweltering heat, weeding is practically killing her.

As dawn broke, a hazy mist enveloped the world, and a faint, pale white appeared on the horizon.

Shen was not yet well asleep when she was woken up by Old Lady Yang's shouts. Reluctantly, she got up and dragged her heavy steps toward the fields.

Halfway there, she saw Yang Defu's oxcart parked at the village entrance.

Tang Susu, along with Tang Lifu, Tang Liqiang, Yang Gousheng, and Yang Xiaobao, boarded an oxcart, seemingly heading to Jiangtou Town to sell cold noodles.

Standing on the edge of the field, watching the oxcart gradually disappear into the distance, Shen's anger grew stronger and stronger.

She gritted her teeth, steeled her resolve, and turned to walk quickly toward Tang Susu's house.

Since I can't help out and get some benefits, I might as well take this opportunity to learn the craft and make my own jelly to earn money!

At this moment, only Miao Yulan was home at Tang Susu's house. She was sitting in the living room, holding scissors and a ruler, cutting fabric to make clothes for her family.

Last night, Tang Susu gave her three pairs of cotton underwear and specifically told her to wear them underneath to prevent gynecological diseases.

This was the first time she had ever worn such close-fitting clothing, and she felt very uncomfortable. She would unconsciously twist her body from time to time, with a faint blush on her face.

Suddenly, the chickens and ducks in the yard took flight as if startled, chirping and squawking incessantly.

Miao Yulan put down the scissors and cloth in her hand, got up and walked into the courtyard, where she saw Shen pushing the gate with all her might.

"Second Sister-in-law?" Miao Yulan stepped forward, opened the door, and asked in surprise, "Why are you here?"

As soon as Shen entered the door, her eyes darted around. She stared at the little ducks in the yard and counted them for a long time before heading straight to the hall.

Seeing the pile of tan fabric on the stool, she forced a smile and made a perfunctory greeting: "Yulan, are you cutting fabric to make new clothes?"

As she spoke, her gaze fell upon the half-basket of lantern fruits in the corner of the hall. She immediately walked over, picked it up, examined it for a few moments, and feigned surprise, saying, "This thing looks ordinary, yet it can be made into such delicious jelly? Yulan, you've learned to make jelly from your third sister-in-law, haven't you? Teach me how to make it!"

Miao Yulan's vigilance instantly rose. She quickly composed herself, maintaining her gentle and composed demeanor, and gently shook her head: "Second sister-in-law, I don't know how to make jelly. Eldest sister is very decisive; she doesn't let me get involved in making jelly at all."

"Don't lie to me!" Shen persisted, pressing for an answer. "I'm just asking, are these lantern fruits to be cooked directly, or dried and ground into powder? Just tell me, I'm not going to steal her business."

Miao Yulan continued to shake her head, pursing her lips, refusing to say another word.

Seeing this, Madam Shen began to bribe her: "Yulan, tell me the truth and teach me how to make jelly. In the future, if I earn any copper coins from making jelly, I'll give you 50%! This money has nothing to do with Tang Susu, you can spend it however you want, without having to worry about her."

Seeing that bribery was ineffective, Madam Shen's face darkened, and her tone became harsh: "You blockhead! You're completely under Tang Susu's thumb! You're pregnant and still working every day, harder than a servant. Now that you have a chance to make money, you're not seizing it. You'll regret it later. Tang Susu will definitely find ways to 'take care' of you!"

Miao Yulan frowned, ignored her, turned around, picked up a broom from the corner, and started sweeping towards where Shen was standing, saying, "Second sister-in-law, this floor is too dirty, let me sweep it. Please move aside."

Her movements were quick and urgent; in just a few strokes, she swept Shen Shi out of the courtyard gate.

Then, with a loud bang, she slammed the gate shut, making the chicken coop next to her shake.

Shen was locked out of the room, trembling with rage, burning with anger, yet utterly helpless.

Just then, Aunt Liu, the neighbor, returned from working in the fields and saw Shen standing angrily at Tang Susu's door. She went up to her and asked, "Second daughter-in-law, what are you doing standing here? Why are you so angry?"

Shen took a deep breath, suppressing her anger, and shook her head irritably.

Aunt Liu leaned closer and lowered her voice, saying, "By the way, I just came from the village entrance and saw a few young men from Ma'an Village. They said they were from your mother's side of the village, and they were tall and strong. The village patrol team didn't dare let them pass, so they told you to go and check on them quickly."