Chapter 18: Agreement

Zhao immediately tugged on Zhou Huailin's sleeve and gave him a look.

Zhou Huailin paused for a moment, then said, "Qing, your third uncle will join you in this venture, but the profits shouldn’t be split that way. Your father will take four parts, you will take four, and your third uncle will take two."

Just as Zhou Qing was about to refuse, Zhou Huailin continued, "Listen to your third uncle. I’m a grown man and cannot take advantage of you."

Zhao added, "Your third uncle is right."

Zhou Qing understood what Zhou Huailin meant and thought for a moment. "How about this, let's include Yao too. My father and I will take six, and Yao and third uncle will take four. We'll discuss it again when Ping comes. Is that alright?"

"Me? What can I do!" Zhou Yao was surprised but her eyes sparkled with excitement.

Zhao and Zhou Huailin both looked at Zhou Qing.

"My father writes, and Yao helps to cut the paper. This way, we'll be more efficient."

Zhou Yao blushed, embarrassed, "How can cutting paper count as a share?"

"Why not? If our sales go well, you'll be cutting paper all day long. That's hard work and it must count. Let's settle it this way. After dinner, we'll start working. We'll sell what we write today in the nearby villages tomorrow."

As Zhou Qing spoke, she suddenly thought of something and turned to Zhou Huailin, "This small business might not make money, we might even lose some. What about your farm work, Third Uncle..."

Before Zhou Huailin could respond, Zhao grabbed Zhou Qing's hand, "Qing, you know your third aunt has long wanted your third uncle to stop farming. Working hard all year and not earning a penny, even struggling to get a meal, why should we suffer that? Whether we make money or not, we'll try first."

Zhou Huailin sighed.

"Just as today there was a commotion at home, while the eldest branch is still putting on airs, as your third aunt suggests, you should sell tomorrow. We were just looking for an excuse, and now we have one."

Zhou Qing smiled.

The decision made, they got to work immediately.

When Zhou Huaishan heard he didn't have to copy the Analects but instead write the character "abundance," he was so happy he almost farted.

Zhou Qing and Zhou Yao cut paper while Zhou Huaishan wrote sheet after sheet. Zhou Ping mimicked the strokes with his finger in the air while using a palm fan to dry the ink.

After writing about fifty sheets, Zhou Huaishan's back started to ache and his legs cramped.

However, with Zhou Yao and Zhou Ping there, he didn't dare break his persona, biting his lip to keep from complaining, only casting sorrowful glances at Zhou Qing.

Where's the chicken?

My chicken?

I want to eat chicken!

Zhou Qing, amused, finally got off the kang after Zhou Huaishan finished writing a hundred sheets.

"Yao, keep working. I'll go make dinner."

"Big sister, my mother is cooking."

"I'm going to kill a chicken."

Hearing they would have chicken, Zhou Ping immediately grabbed Zhou Yao's arm, "My birthday is in a few months. Let's celebrate early with a chicken today."

Zhou Yao...

Zhou Qing...

Zhou Huaishan patted Zhou Ping's head. He wasn't his biological child, but he treated him as if he were.

Originally, Zhou Qing was in charge of the three daily meals. Now that she wasn’t doing it, Sun was worried about how dinner would be handled.

Unexpectedly, Zhao entered the kitchen.

Sun, still fuming from being scolded by Old Zhou, stormed into the kitchen.

"You hardly do any work all day but eat like a pig. You’ll eat us out of house and home."

Before she finished her rant, there was a commotion outside the chicken coop.

Sun immediately ran out of the kitchen and saw Zhou Qing holding a chicken from the coop.

"You..."

Sun was about to scold her when Zhou Qing swiftly slit the chicken's throat, letting it loose to flap towards Sun.

Sun...

She felt faint as if something was trampling over her head.

"Grandma, don't get upset. This chicken is for me, to calm my nerves. After being scolded for selling meat, I need to eat some meat to recover."

Seeing Sun about to curse, Zhou Qing coldly shut her up.

Old Zhou came out from the main room, glaring at Sun, "I told you to to call the eldest son and his wife. What are you dawdling for? Hurry up."

Without looking at Zhou Qing or Zhao, he turned and went back inside with a dark expression.

Zhao and Zhou Qing exchanged a glance. Zhao continued cutting vegetables, while Zhou Qing began plucking the chicken once it was drained of blood.

Seeing another chicken gone, Sun's heart ached, muttering under her breath, "Little brat, just you wait."

After calling the eldest couple, the three of them entered the main room.

Old Zhou sat in his chair, holding a large teacup, his face still showing traces of anger.

"First daughter-in-law."

Wang, hearing her name, responded immediately, "Father."

"Have you ever felt wronged since you married into the Zhou family?"

Wang, not understanding, quickly shook her head, "No."

But thinking of the beating she just took from Zhou Qing, she felt aggrieved and started crying.

Old Zhou sighed.

"Do you feel wronged being beaten by Qing?"

Wang cried louder but said nothing.

"Have you thought about why she beat you?" Old Zhou's voice was filled with suppressed anger, "Everything was fine, what did you and your husband do? How does your second brother's studying affect you?"

As he spoke, his fiery gaze fell on Zhou Huaihai.

"He's your younger brother, your niece. How black-hearted must you be to slander her like that!"

"Father, I was afraid Qing would be deceived!" Zhou Huaihai explained with his head down.

"Nonsense! Don't think I don't know what you're up to! If you offend the second and third families too much, tomorrow you two will go to the fields!"

Zhou Huaihai fell silent.

"Qing has a temper and will be angry for a while. Your second brother has a soft heart. If you still want a good life, apologize to him sincerely."

"I already did," Zhou Huaihai muttered.

"Did they forgive you?" Old Zhou was furious, "If your second brother doesn't forgive you, prepare to go to the fields yourself!"

He then glared at Wang, "From tomorrow on, you'll handle the three daily meals and take over Qing's chores."

Wang was stunned, looking at Old Zhou in shock.

Old Zhou gritted his teeth, "This is what you two owe Qing!"

Wang didn't dare argue, only softly replied, "Yes, father. But with Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Yuan will be back soon. Then..."

Old Zhou slammed the table, "So what? Even if Yuan isn't a top scholar yet, can't his mother cook?"

Sun quickly signaled Wang.

Wang lowered her head, "I understand, father."

Old Zhou's expression softened a bit.

When the couple left the main room, Zhou Huaihai glanced venomously at Zhou Qing plucking the chicken in the courtyard.

"Take care of Wang Qiang's matter quickly."

He muttered under his breath.

Wang was startled, then understood, and shot a cold look at Zhou Qing.

This morning she went to her family, and her eldest sister-in-law made it clear that Wang Qiang wouldn't marry anyone but Zhou Qing, and she had to make it happen.

She wanted it too!

If Zhou Qing married Wang Qiang, the second family would be at their mercy.

They could manipulate them however they wished.