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

When Old Mrs. Yang heard Tang Susu ask for help, she subconsciously assumed that she wanted Miao Yulan to come to the old house for lunch. She secretly thought to herself: Although Miao Yulan was not carrying the Yang family's child, it would still be good to help Tang Susu reduce her burden.

Having spent time with the girl over the years, she had developed some affection for her and agreed, "Alright, let her come and eat. But let me make this clear: the food at the old house is poor; we usually only have wild vegetable dumplings and rice porridge, nothing like the good food at your house."

Tang Susu was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this, and quickly explained, "Mother, you've misunderstood. I didn't mean for Yulan to come to your place for a meal; I just wanted to trouble the old family to send someone to help out at my house. They just need to feed the chickens and ducks some wild vegetables and cook lunch, and Xiaobao can eat by himself. Whoever comes, I'll give them two copper coins a day."

Old Mrs. Yang initially waved her hand, saying, "We're all family, why are you talking about coins?"

But then I thought, if Tang Susu had all the money in her hands, she might just squander it on meat and rice.

To save money for the bride price of my two grandsons, I feel more at ease keeping the money in my own hands.

She immediately changed her mind: "Okay, it'll be like you said, two copper coins a day. I'll go back and ask my family who's willing to go."

Seeing this, Miao Yulan wanted to say that she could handle it and that there was no need to trouble others, but Tang Susu stopped her with a look.

Tang Susu secretly made up her mind that now that she had the ability to do business and make money, she must make sure that Miao Yulan, who was pregnant, could take good care of her health.

Women in feudal times already had a hard life, and pregnancy was even more dangerous, allowing no room for the slightest accident.

Having settled the matter of helping out, Tang Susu glanced at the empty bowls and plates on the table and announced on the spot, "From today onwards, Yulan no longer needs to clean up the dishes. This task will be taken care of by the four boys in turns. Also, from now on, whoever takes off their clothes must wash them themselves, and Yulan is no longer allowed to help them wash."

Miao Yulan felt uneasy and quickly said, "Big sister, I can clear the dishes, it's no trouble." She then got up to get up and start working.

Tang Susu quickly stepped forward and pressed her down, her tone firm: "I said no, and that's final. Today it's Lifu's turn to wash the dishes, tomorrow it's Liqiang's, the day after Gousheng's, and then it's Xiaobao's turn. They'll take turns, remember that?"

In this family, Tang Susu has always been the one who has the final say.

The four boys replied in unison, "We've got it!"

Tang Lifu went straight over and helped Miao Yulan sit down. He then quickly cleared the dishes from the table and took them to the kitchen to wash.

After the dishes were cleared away, the whole family sat back down at the table. Tang Susu cleared her throat and announced again, "From today onwards, whether it's Lifu, Liqiang, Gousheng, or Xiaobao, they all have to learn addition and subtraction within ten with me. Business is inseparable from arithmetic; you'll need it from now on."

Upon hearing this, Tang Liqiang immediately lowered his head and declined with a bitter expression: "Mom, I'm not very bright, I can't learn this brain-taxing arithmetic. I'm full of energy, I'm suited for heavy work, let Gousheng learn it."

"No way," Tang Susu refused decisively. "Even if I can't learn it, I have to try. Learning a little is better than not learning anything at all."

She turned to Yang Xiaobao and asked, "Xiaobao, how many characters did you learn from Zhimao before?"

Yang Xiaobao immediately straightened his back and replied with a smug look, "I learned ten characters! I traded ten chestnuts with Brother Zhimao for them, and I can even write the names of everyone here!"

Tang Susu nodded in satisfaction and planned, "Okay. After you've mastered arithmetic, you should all learn to write the character 'Yang' with Xiaobao first, so you can write your own surname first."

Tang Liqiang looked on with obvious resistance, wishing he could run away immediately, but when he met Tang Susu's serious gaze, he dared not move.

As darkness fell, and there were no oil lamps or candles in the house, Tang Lifu turned around, lit a torch, and held it up for illumination.

The dim, flickering firelight cast indistinct shadows on the faces of the six people.

Arithmetic learning officially begins.

Tang Susu asked a series of questions: "What is one plus two?" and "What is nine minus five?"

Tang Liqiang clumsily counted on his fingers, and even made a mistake when he got to "nine minus five". Tang Susu scolded him and made him use the small stones on the ground to help him count.

Tang Susu was initially enthusiastic and patient in teaching, but before long, she was overwhelmed by the various problems in the arithmetic class.

After finally getting through the ordeal, she asked Yang Xiaobao to teach everyone to recognize the character "Yang".

Yang Xiaobao stood on tiptoe, dipped his finger in water on the table, and carefully wrote the character "Yang" stroke by stroke, earnestly teaching everyone to recognize it.

Tang Susu leaned over to take a look and was instantly dumbfounded—Yang Xiaobao hadn't written the character "Yang" in its entirety; he had only written one-third of the character "Wu".

Left with no other choice, she had to call a halt: "It's getting late. Learning characters is too taxing on your mind. Let's stop learning now and make some jelly."

Upon hearing that he no longer needed to study arithmetic and literacy, Tang Liqiang instantly perked up and excitedly shouted, "I'll go boil water right away!"

Tang Lifu never liked studying and was just pretending to cooperate before, but now he immediately got up to peel the lantern seeds.

Still confused about arithmetic, Yang Gousheng sidled up to Tang Susu and asked, "Mom, is there a faster way to calculate numbers greater than ten?"

Tang Susu patted his head and comforted him, "Don't rush. Once you've learned the numbers up to ten, Mom will teach you slowly. Learn a little bit every day, and you'll understand soon."

Yang Xiaobao scratched his head, a little embarrassed, and said, "Mom, the character 'Yang' I wrote isn't as straight as Brother Zhimao's. I'll practice with Brother Zhimao more tomorrow."

Tang Susu looked at his eager expression with approval, stood up and urged, "Good, that's ambitious. Everyone get moving and start peeling the lantern seeds. We need to work overtime tonight to make more than three hundred bowls of jelly so we can sell them tomorrow."

Miao Yulan got up again to help, but Tang Susu pressed her back into her chair: "Go back to your room and sleep. Don't come out without my permission."

Miao Yulan felt a mix of emotions, and with tears welling up in her eyes, she turned and went back into the house.

She lay in bed, but couldn't sleep. By the faint light coming in from outside, she took out the fabric she hadn't finished cutting during the day and began to grope and sew it.

Farmers have a long-standing tradition of doing needlework at night. Even without an oil lamp, they can manage with their years of experience and feel.

While Tang Susu's family of six were busy with their own things, the Yang family members also didn't go back to their rooms to sleep.

The moonlight spilled across the earth like water. Old Mrs. Yang sat in the courtyard weaving hay, looking up at her family and asking, "Regarding what I just told you, who has time to go help feed the chickens and ducks at Third Aunt's house?"

Fangjuan was about to agree, but Shen pinched her arm hard, making her immediately shut her mouth in pain.

Shen scoffed inwardly: Tang Susu pocketed all the money she earned, yet she still had the nerve to order the people in the old house around. It was truly outrageous.

She couldn't help but complain that Old Lady Yang was biased, just because Tang Susu had given birth to two sons and was the youngest daughter-in-law, she was being indulged like this.

The more Shen thought about it, the more desolate she felt. Not only had she failed to give the Yang family a son, but even getting pregnant had become a luxury. She could never hold her head high in this family.

Just then, Lanxia spoke up and asked, "Grandma, besides helping Third Aunt feed the chickens and ducks, is there any other chores to do?"

After thinking for a moment, Old Mrs. Yang added, "Just help clean the yard and take care of the chicken and duck droppings. Third Aunt said she'll give you two copper coins a day, one to keep at home and the other for yourself."

Lan Xia looked on incredulously. This wage was too easy to earn!

Wild vegetables for feeding chickens and ducks are everywhere along the edges of fields, much easier than picking lantern fruits on the mountain.

Shen's eyes widened as well. Although Old Lady Yang had taken a copper coin, she could save one for herself and use it to buy a nice piece of homespun cloth for a new dress in the future, so she didn't say anything more.