Chapter 86: Planning

Li Peach Blossom still couldn’t understand why they needed to build a large house in the village.

Since they would eventually leave, wasn’t building a big house just a waste of money?

Qin Huiyin explained to Li Peach Blossom how much time the imperial examinations would take. Even if Tang Yichen participated in the upcoming exams, it would take at least a year or more to achieve top honors. When he went to the capital for the exams, the rest of them couldn’t possibly follow him. So they’d still have to stay here for another two or three years.

Since they’d be here for at least two or three more years, it made sense to spend a bit of money to live comfortably in the meantime.

Moreover, when the leaves fall, they return to their roots; the Tang family’s ancestral records were here. If one day they returned home, sooner or later, they would come back here. Not to mention when they grew old—even if they just wanted to return to honor their ancestors, they’d have to come back. By then, wouldn’t it be much more convenient to have an old house they could live in?

Houses in the county town were ridiculously expensive and not practical for them. They’d rather save up for a carriage, making long daily trips, which was still more cost-effective than buying a house there.

“So how much silver do you think it would take to build a big house?” Li Peach Blossom asked.

“Hmm… probably more than fifty taels!” Qin Huiyin replied. “If we go into town every three days, and each time we make five taels after costs, we could earn fifty taels a month. Our family still has expenses, and we need to buy ink, paper, brushes, and inkstones for eldest brother, so the big expenses were already made in the last two trips. What’s left won’t be much. So after earning for another month, we can think about building a house. It’s just that with the weather cooling, many materials are getting pricier, so this season isn’t the best for building.”

“Then we’ll wait until next year,” Li Peach Blossom said.

“Our house is so small and rundown, winter will be tough. I don’t want everyone to suffer. Even if it’s a bit of a loss to build now, I’d rather lose out than endure hardship. If we build a new house, we can design a heated sleeping platform, so it won’t be cold at night. Yes, that’s settled. We’ll save for one more month, then build the house.”

Tang Luwu, dressed in new clothes, carried a wooden basin outside.

Inside the basin were the family’s dirty clothes.

She went to the riverside to wash them, and as soon as she appeared, the women who had just finished washing and were about to leave all stopped what they were doing. They even moved aside to make space for Tang Luwu.

Tang Luwu stood there awkwardly.

“You silly girl, why are you just standing there? Come over here!” Madam Wang called out enthusiastically.

Tang Luwu hadn’t forgotten Wang’s shrewishness when she’d pulled Li Peach Blossom’s hair. Seeing her smiling so warmly and obsequiously now made her even less inclined to go over.

She’d thought no one would be washing clothes at this hour, but apparently she’d arrived a bit too early.

Now, with seven or eight women watching her, if she just turned around and left, who knew what rumors they would start? Besides, as Yinyin had said, she shouldn’t avoid things but face them head-on.

Clutching the basin, she walked over, gritted her teeth, and squatted down to soak the clothes.

All the family’s laundry was here. But since they’d just changed out of their old clothes, she’d left out the rags worn by Tang Dafu and Tang Yixiao, keeping only what could still be worn.

The women exchanged glances, nudging one another until the most gossipy, Old Madam Zhang, was pushed forward.

“Luwu, those new clothes of yours look pretty fresh…”

“Of course they’re new. If new clothes aren’t new, are they old?” another woman joked.

“I just haven’t seen that pattern before. Doesn’t look like anything Li Peach Blossom or Huiyin have worn. Didn’t Luwu used to wear Huiyin’s hand-me-downs?”

“Maybe Li Peach Blossom bought her new clothes too. After all, she’s her stepmother. She couldn’t possibly let her daughter wear new clothes while the stepdaughter wears hand-me-downs.”

Madam Wang chimed in sourly, “Luwu calls Li Peach Blossom mother, so it’s only right she gets new clothes. Li Peach Blossom did nothing and got herself a bunch of sons and daughters for free.”

Tang Luwu pounded the clothes, eyes down, and said, “Whether I wear new clothes or old ones, what does it have to do with you? If new ones fit, I’ll wear them; if old ones fit, I’ll wear those. As long as I’m happy, that’s all that matters.”

“You silly girl,” Madam Hu said. “Your father listens to your stepmother for everything, and all the money your family earns she keeps. You work yourselves to death—what do you ever get?”

“By the way, Luwu, I heard your family is in the food business. What exactly are you selling? We’re all neighbors, but we haven’t seen it.”

“What else could a food business be but food?” Tang Luwu replied. “If you’re curious, auntie, it’s five copper coins a portion. If you want one of everything, a hundred coins will get you the lot. If you want to know, just pay, and my sister Yinyin and I will bring it all to your door.”

“A hundred coins! Why don’t you just rob us?”

“You’re curious about what we’re selling. I’m giving you a suggestion—if you want to know, buy it and study it at home. How is that me robbing you?” Tang Luwu said.

“That girl is really getting spoiled by Li Peach Blossom,” Madam Wang snapped acidly. “You used to be such a well-behaved child, now you’re so rude to your elders.”

“Aunt Wang, you live right next door. If you want to ask anything, talk to my mother. Why ask me, a junior? I don’t know anything,” Tang Luwu said. “I need to finish the laundry. If you’ve finished, you should go home and hang your clothes to dry. The riverbank isn’t safe—you remember last time Tang Mingxiu fell in, and Yinyin had to fish her out. I can’t swim, so I wouldn’t be able to save anyone.”

“Luwu really is growing up—her temper’s growing too. We elders can’t say anything to her now. I think she’s just been tricked by that stepmother of hers.”

“They toss her a dress their daughter won’t wear, and she treats her like her real mother. If they ever run out of money, she’ll be the first to be sold off, just like when they tried to marry her off for a dowry.”

“Well, that’s not necessarily true. I think Sister Peach Blossom treats Luwu quite well. Those clothes don’t look cheap. They must have made quite a profit recently.”

“Digging a well, buying new clothes, eating so well at home—they’ve struck it rich but won’t tell us neighbors. They must be afraid we’ll come asking for favors!”

Listening to their sour words, Tang Luwu’s face flushed bright red.

She’d already mustered the courage to talk back, but change takes time. She’d made progress, but facing all eight at once was exhausting.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

Tang Luwu pounded the clothes with extra force.

Soap suds splattered as the stick struck the laundry, spraying foam onto the women nearby.

“Ouch! Be careful!”

Tang Luwu kept pounding, saying, “My father’s clothes are covered in mud. If I don’t use some force, they won’t get clean. Aunts, maybe you should go gossip somewhere else. Otherwise I can’t guarantee your clothes won’t get wet.”

With that, she pounded a few more times, deliberately splashing even more suds.

Those women still had to hang their clean clothes to dry, and if the foam got into their basins, they’d have to wash everything again. They quickly took their laundry and moved far away.

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