A fierce wife enters the house: She helps up a house full of spineless people.

As night fell, the kitchen was cleaned up, the courtyard gate was bolted, and Chen Tianwei and Chen Tianrun each returned to their respective rooms.

Wang Jinzhu carried a basin of hot water into the room, intending to wash her feet. Just as she sat down on the edge of the bed, an arm reached out from behind her, and she was pulled into a burning hot embrace.

"Chen Tianfang".

"Um."

"Let go."

"……No."

Wang Jinzhu glanced down and saw that the hand was obediently placed on her waist, but the warmth of the palm was burning hot even through two layers of clothing.

This isn't the first time.

In the past few days, Chen Tianfang seems to have been possessed by some evil spirit. He's normal during the day, but as soon as he closes the door at night, he's like a completely different person.

He hugged her, held her close, rubbed his chin against her shoulder, and breathed heavily like a bellows. Last night was even worse; when she turned over in the middle of the night, there was an arm around her waist, and something hard was pressing against her back.

Wang Jinzhu wasn't some naive, clueless girl.

Spring has arrived, and all things are reviving; even the rabbits on the mountain are starting to pair off. Chen Tianfang, a robust twenty-year-old young man, full of vigor and vitality, goes hunting in the mountains every day and eats meat at every meal. If he doesn't react, she should be worried.

But having a reaction is one thing; whether she agrees or not is another.

Wang Jinzhu dipped her feet into the hot water basin, patted the hand on her waist, and said, "Sit over here, let's talk about something serious."

Chen Tianfang froze for a moment, then slowly released his hand and moved to sit down next to her.

He sat very upright, his hands resting on his knees, looking somewhat lost.

Wang Jinzhu turned her head to look at him. The oil lamp on the kang (a heated brick bed) illuminated his profile, revealing his taut jawline and bright red ears.

"Have you been feeling unwell lately?"

Chen Tianfang's Adam's apple bobbed, but he didn't say anything.

"Alright, stop pretending." Wang Jinzhu lifted her foot out of the basin and placed it on his thigh. "Wipe."

Chen Tianfang lowered his head, wrapped a dry cloth around her feet, and wiped them one by one. His hands were steady, and his strength was just right, a stark contrast to when he was skinning a badger.

Looking at his earnest expression, Wang Jinzhu felt a little reluctant. But some things, if not clarified now, would cause more trouble later.

"Tianfang, I'm sixteen this year, my birthday hasn't passed yet, so I'm only seventeen by the traditional Chinese age reckoning. Let me tell you the truth—we won't consummate our marriage before I turn eighteen."

The action of wiping his feet paused for a moment.

Chen Tianfang raised his head, glanced at her, moved his lips, and then lowered them again.

"Do you think I'm being unreasonable?" Wang Jinzhu tilted her head and looked at him.

"no."

"So you feel wronged?"

Chen Tianfang paused for a moment, then gently shook his head.

He folded the cloth, put it aside, and then—

He pressed himself against her again, pulling Wang Jinzhu into his arms, resting his chin on her head, and humming a muffled "hmm".

The way they looked clearly showed they were incredibly aggrieved, but they would never say it out loud.

Wang Jinzhu was struggling to breathe from his choking, so she nudged his chest with her elbow and said, "Don't strangle me."

Chen Tian relaxed a little bit, really just a little bit.

Wang Jinzhu found a comfortable position in his arms, then suddenly remembered something: "By the way, has your mother been urging you about this before?"

If a new bride hasn't gotten pregnant after more than half a year, her mother-in-law will usually start urging her to get pregnant.

Chen Tianfang's body was visibly stiff.

"Did you tell her?"

"...I said it."

"What did you say?"

Silence, a long silence.

Wang Jinzhu turned to look at his face—this man, who could lift a badger with one hand on the mountain, was now flushed red, as if someone had grabbed his vital spot.

"Tianfang".

"...I told her I couldn't."

A cricket chirped twice in the yard.

Wang Jinzhu was stunned for a moment, then a huge laugh surged up from her chest. She bit her lower lip hard, her whole body trembling like a leaf.

Chen Tianfang buried his face in her neck, his voice muffled and almost inaudible: "Don't laugh."

"I didn't laugh." Wang Jinzhu gritted her teeth, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Your mother...believed it?"

"I believe you." Chen Tianfang's voice was even more muffled. "My mother is now afraid you've run away."

Wang Jinzhu finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She turned over, cupped Chen Tianfang's face in her hands, and looked at his handsome yet embarrassed face, her eyes crinkling with sweetness.

"Chen Tianfang".

"Um."

"You're so cute."

She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the corner of the mouth.

Chen Tianfang's breathing suddenly became heavy. He grabbed her waist and lowered his head to—

"Alright." Wang Jinzhu slapped him on the chest, pushing him back an arm's length. "A kiss is a reward, not a signal. A man who takes advantage of you will never even be allowed to hold your hand again."

Chen Tianfang's hand hovered in mid-air, then he slowly withdrew it, silently turned around, pulled back the blanket, and lay down facing the wall.

His back was ramrod straight, like a silent mountain.

Wang Jinzhu blew out the lamp and lay down on the other side. In the darkness, she heard a very soft but very long sigh coming from the other side, as if a heart full of anger had been swallowed back.

She curled the corners of her mouth into a smile from under the covers.

Before we knew it, it was mid-April, and the weather was getting hotter every day.

The soap business has finally stabilized. Regular soap yields 400 bars per month, supplying two outlets: Manager Sun in town and Fuyinghao in the county seat, earning a monthly income of 10 taels. High-end soap yields 50 bars, packaged in a paulownia wood box, with a selling price of 150 wen, earning a monthly income of 7.5 taels.

After deducting raw materials, labor, and miscellaneous expenses, the eldest son's family earns a net income of eleven taels of silver per month.

In the entire Chenjia Village, this number is already the highest.

Manager Sun mentioned it once, saying that grocery stores in several towns in the neighboring county were also inquiring about "Zhu Ji" soap and asking her if she wanted to expand production.

Wang Jinzhu did not respond.

"Manager Sun, there's no rush. I only have a few people, and the place is just a tiny patch of land. If we expand too much, we can't maintain quality, and in the end, we'll only ruin our own reputation."

After Manager Sun left, Wang Jinzhu thought about the saltpeter in the back mountain.

It's hot, the sun is scorching, and you're drenched in sweat after just a few steps.

Sour plum juice, mung bean smoothies, chilled jelly. If she could make ice, who in town could compete with her for cold drinks? Others might just have a bucket of well water to chill, but she could make real "ice".

She has preserved plums, mung beans, sugar, and sweet potato starch. Now, she even has something no one else could imagine: ice. All she lacks is manpower.

Third Brother Wang Xiaobao has become quite adept at helping out here, handling everything from mixing soap solution and preparing ingredients to running errands, earning a little over one tael of silver per month. Chen Tianwei manages packaging and miscellaneous tasks, while Chen Tianrun assists. She pays each of the two younger brothers five hundred cash a month.

As for Chen Tianfang—he's free.

Chen Tianfang was quite unfazed. It was only natural for his wife to manage the money. Every penny she earned went to the household expenses; what need did a hunter like him have for pocket money?

Old Chen was the same. Wang Jinzhu tried to give him money twice, but he refused to accept it no matter what.

"I'm just twisting ropes and sharpening knives, it's nothing special," Old Chen said, his hands behind his back. "You all go about your business, don't worry about me."

Wang Jinzhu didn't insist. But Old Man Chen never lacked meat in his three meals a day, and his clothes and shoes were always replaced on time; to her, that was what she should do.

For this cold drink stall, ice making is key and must be entrusted to the most reliable people. She planned to have her second brother, Wang Yinbao, and his wife come over to help. Her second brother was strong and could go to the back mountain to transport the saltpeter, while her second sister-in-law was meticulous and skillful, making her perfect for mixing drinks and looking after the stall.