After wearing it: I traded a pig for a man.

"Jiang Youcai, you've been smelling strange all month. Also, there's the ten taels of silver that were embezzled from the accounts. You have to make up for it before the end of the year. Otherwise, if this gets to the authorities, it might affect your son's chances of passing the imperial examination after the New Year."

Zhang Fu glanced at him without looking back, then turned and walked away.

A restaurant can't function without a manager.

However, given Jiang Youcai's example, it's still necessary to have both a manager and an accountant, so that they can check and balance each other and prevent anyone from seeking personal gain.

Jiang Youcai, who had been dismissed, left Zuixianlou in a daze.

He never expected that things would be exposed so quickly.

The shopkeeper even neglected his work because of the soap.

Now, life at home is even harder, not to mention they have to repay the money they embezzled earlier.

Back in the courtyard, there was still solidified mutton fat in a jar in the corner.

It contains a lot of fragrances and herbs, but it just can't achieve the hardness of soap, and it doesn't leave your skin clean after washing.

It actually made my skin feel even oilier after using it.

Jiang Youcai was so angry that he picked up the jar to smash it, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.

With the shopkeeper job gone, selling soap is now their only way to survive.

In Jiangjia Village, Jiang Che, carrying a basket on his back and holding a sickle and bow and arrow, was preparing to go out.

"I'll go for a walk up the mountain. This horse probably has bloating and indigestion, or maybe the hay in the stable is moldy. I'll go see if there's any suitable hay."

Jiang Yun Ning nodded: "Then be careful, don't go inside."

Although large animals are now hibernating, this very fact causes some predators, such as wolves, to venture out when they can't catch prey.

If you were to encounter one, you would most likely lose your life.

"I'll go with you."

Jiang Yun Ning was a little worried, fearing that Jiang Che might not heed her instructions.

"No need." Jiang Che pressed down on her shoulder, a smile playing on his lips. "I won't go inside. I know you're still waiting for me to come home."

These words, though simple, suddenly warmed Jiang Yun Ning's heart. She turned her gaze to the side and said, "Alright, then you go by yourself."

No sooner had Jiang Che left than she sprang from her chair and quickly headed for the backyard.

Fortunately, the cowshed was big enough that adding a horse didn't require expansion.

With no one around, Jiang Yun Ning put some spiritual spring water in the feeding trough and fed it a few handfuls of grass from her space.

After squatting down and staring at the horse for a while, I felt that its spirits and energy seemed to have improved. I didn't dare to feed it too much, for fear that Jiang Che would notice something was wrong when he returned.

Jiang Yunning stood up and walked towards the room where soap was made.

After looking around and finding nothing unusual, he called Chunmei and Hehua out.

"Sister-in-law Lotus, Sister-in-law Chunmei. These past few days, someone has been trying to bribe the women who work in the fields to steal the soap recipe. I suspect someone among them has ulterior motives. You two should keep an eye on them these next few days and see if anyone seems suspicious."

Jiang Yunning spoke frankly, then added a final reminder: "Don't get caught."

Lotus and Spring Plum frowned and looked at each other, their faces showing surprise and seriousness.

"Don't worry, Yun Ning, we'll keep a close eye on things." Lotus pursed her lips, and Chunmei nodded seriously, gesturing with her hands.

Back in the main courtyard, Wang Cuihua and Granny Zheng had already started gesturing to the carriage with curtains.

Jiang Yun Ning was somewhat surprised: "Mother, it's done so quickly?"

Wang Cuihua laughed heartily: "Many hands make light work! Granny Zheng is much more nimble than me. With Dongmei and Chunyan joining in, it's bound to be fast."

Granny Zheng was embarrassed by the praise: "Madam, please don't flatter me."

In the evening, Jiang Anhe returned, her little face red from the cold.

"Anhe, your aunt bought a carriage. You won't be cold if we take you there tomorrow." Jiang Yuning covered his little face with her hands, trying to warm him up.

"A carriage? Like the carriage the Manjin family has, Aunt?" Jiang Anhe has grown taller and gained a lot of weight recently.

In addition, the winter clothes are thick and heavy, and the little guy, weighing forty or fifty pounds, stretches out his arms for a hug, completely unaware of his current weight.

Jiang Yun Ning was afraid he would be sad, so she used a lot of strength to pick him up: "Yes, like the Man Jin family."

"Anhe, come down quickly. You're so heavy now, don't tire your aunt." Liu Yuzhi saw Jiang Yuning struggling to carry her as soon as she stepped out the door and couldn't help but speak up.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Anhe immediately frowned and reluctantly insisted on getting down. Then she grabbed Jiang Yunning's hand and said, "Can we hold hands? Auntie isn't tired."

"Yun Ning, don't spoil him like that. If you can't carry him, just say so." Liu Yuzhi shook her head helplessly.

Jiang Yun Ning reached out and stroked Jiang An He's head: "Who can blame you when An He is so adorable? Isn't that right?"

Jiang Anhe pursed her lips, a little embarrassed, and chuckled to herself.

When Jiang Che returned, it was already getting dark.

He was carrying three plump rabbits, their fur looking very thick.

He handed it to Laicai and asked him to peel it.

Lai Cai scratched his head: "Son-in-law, I haven't studied this."

Jiang Laosan laughed heartily and took the rabbit: "Come on, I'll teach you."

Lai Cai nodded and followed happily.

"I found a lot of chestnuts in the snow." Jiang Che took off his basket, removed the dry grass on top, and revealed that the basket was half full of chestnuts.

Jiang Yuning's eyes lit up, and she tasted a hint of sweetness from the roasted chestnuts.

"Dongmei, Chunyan! Come and peel chestnuts!" she called out, squatting down and eagerly peeling them.

Jiang Anhe blinked and joined in to help.

Jiang Che, who was standing nearby, brought over a stool and placed it behind Jiang Yun Ning so she could sit and peel it. Jiang An He looked up: "Uncle, what about mine? My bottom is empty too."

As he spoke, he stuck out his butt and wiggled it a couple of times, making Jiang Yuntian, who had just arrived, burst into laughter.

Jiang Che felt a little embarrassed, so he grabbed another one, grabbed Jiang Anhe by the belt and pulled him onto the stool. He then carried the hay on the ground to the neighboring yard, saying, "I'm going to check on the horses."

"Alright, Dongmei, put them in the drying trays and let them dry for three or four days." Jiang Yunning clapped his hands and looked at Jiang Yuntian: "Big brother, tomorrow you and Laifu go to the riverbank and get me some sand and gravel from the river."

Jiang Yuntian nodded: "Okay."

In the kitchen, Granny Zheng and Wang Cuihua had finished cooking and called everyone to wash their hands and eat.

I was just about to wash my hands when Changxi came back.

Jiang Yun Ning didn't intend to avoid his family and let him talk in the yard.

"Miss, I went to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion in town with Jiang Mancang today. He was arguing with a rather thin man. I didn't dare to go up to him and don't know what they were talking about."

Jiang Yun Ning nodded: "That person should be my second uncle."

Changxi pursed her lips: "After those women left today, I followed Jiang Mancang and saw him suddenly stop two women. I was close enough to vaguely hear something like, 'If you don't tell me, I'll tell everyone about you taking money.'"