Eat My Childless Life: The Little Fisher Girl is Poor and Fierce

Chapter 19 The Gu family feels sorry for Sister Chang because of the misunderstanding.

Lin Chang'er had no idea what the two brothers were thinking, nor did she care.

She hadn't asked about the harvest from the fish traps, nor had she checked the accounts. The main reason was that she had exercised a lot today and hadn't eaten lunch yet, so she was a little hungry.

Lin Chang'er sighed. She should have asked her sister-in-law to start making bone broth before she left home, so that she could drink it when she got back.

However, she was never one to waste time on internal conflicts, so she strode forward and said, "Let's all go to the main room to talk!"

Soon, the Gu family members were all seated neatly in the main room.

Gu Silang had already told the whole family about Guo Dabao and the others, so Lin Chang'er didn't mention it again and asked about the ground cage first.

Sister-in-law Gu replied with a smile, "Both fish traps were caught, including several crucian carp weighing over a pound each. I picked out the two fattest ones and sent them to Aunt Zhou along with the duck eggs you left."

I also brought a basin of Zixi grouper, all kept in a bucket, waiting for you to come back and deal with them.

Lin Chang'er nodded. Sister-in-law Gu was reliable, so she had nothing to worry about. She continued, "The duck eggs we collected yesterday..."

Sister-in-law Gu and her mother exchanged a glance, and the two of them put away the basket that Gu Silang had put at the door.

I didn't open it to check, but judging from the weight of the basket, I figured the duck eggs probably hadn't been sold.

So before Lin Chang'er returned from the Guo family, Gu's mother privately told her son and daughter-in-law that no one was allowed to mention the salted duck eggs.

I didn't expect Lin Chang'er to bring it up on her own.

Fearing she might feel bad, before she could finish speaking, Sister-in-law Gu comforted her, saying, "Third sister-in-law, you've worked hard. Sell as many duck eggs as you can."

"If this doesn't work, we can try something else. I heard that you can earn six or seven coins for embroidering a handkerchief in the county, and even more in the provincial capital. We could do some embroidery."

Second Sister Gu nodded in agreement; this was something she was good at.

Mother Gu chimed in, "Chang'er, you've done your best. The burden of supporting the family shouldn't fall entirely on your shoulders."

Gu Dalang added, "Yes, Third Sister-in-law, I can also do some bamboo weaving to supplement the family income."

Gu Erlang chimed in, "And Second Brother, Second Brother can also..." What can he do? He only knows how to farm, and he's not even as good at it as others.

Gu Erlang lowered his head in frustration.

Lin Chang'er: "..." Did they misunderstand something?

Lin Chang'er didn't understand, nor did she think much about it.

Looking around, he continued, "We collected a total of 96 sea duck eggs yesterday. The village head's family sent us 2, and this morning my sister-in-law cooked 9."

I took a total of 85 coins to town. The large ones were 35 each, costing 5 coins; the medium ones were 30 each, costing 4 coins; and the small ones were 25 each, costing 3 coins. I broke 6 coins on the way: 1 large, 1 medium, and 4 small ones.

Three elderly women in town helped me sell my wares, and when we packed up, I gave each of them a small salted duck egg.

I traded the remaining one large, one medium, and one small bun with the lady selling steamed buns for five meat buns.

In total, we sold 34 large coins, 29 medium coins, and 21 small coins today, earning a total of 349 coins.

In addition, I spent 6 coins to buy three catties of scallions as an extra. When I exchanged them with the lady at the steamed bun shop, I spent another 13 coins to buy 5 more meat buns and 3 more vegetable buns.

On the way back, I bought 2 catties of pork and got a free large bone, which cost 36 coins. I also bought 5 catties of refined rice for 40 coins, for a total of 95 coins. I had 254 coins left over.

It's a small number, but at least it's a start.

As he spoke, he magically took the items out of his basket.

Most of the Gu family members had never been to school, let alone learned arithmetic. As Lin Chang'er recited one number after another, they finally came up with a total.

It felt like listening to gibberish; my head was spinning, but I couldn't stop feeling happy.

Gu Xiaoman couldn't understand, but he heard steamed buns, scallions, pork, and fine rice. He subconsciously smacked his lips and looked at his aunt with starry eyes.

Gu Silang scratched his head, he had been to school for a few days but still couldn't figure it out, but he was still happy that his third sister-in-law knew so much.

The twins, a boy and a girl, couldn't understand either, but they listened most attentively. Gu Xiaolu poked her fingers, showing even more admiration for her stepmother.

The little goldfish quietly had an idea.

The adults belatedly realized they had misunderstood, and their eyes reddened again.

Sanlang's wife just went out for a stroll and earned more than two hundred coins, and even managed to get meat for the family. The Gu family really struck gold.

After Lin Chang'er finished tidying up, she continued, "In a little while, I'll trouble you, sister-in-law, to make soup with the pork bones. We'll have steamed buns with the bone soup for lunch, and then braise some meat and fry some small fish for dinner. We'll have rice for dinner tonight."

Gu Xiaoman said sweetly, "It tastes good."

Gu Xiaolu pinched his cheek and teased him, "Little brother only remembers delicious food!"

Gu Xiaoman wasn't angry. She giggled and bounced her little legs into Gu Erlang's arms.

Everyone in the room was amused.

Lin Chang'er took out another bag of copper coins, "This money..."

Mother Gu interrupted, saying, "You earned all this money yourself, so naturally you should keep it."

Sanlang is gone, and the twins aren't her biological children. It's already commendable that she's willing to help support her family. She has no right to say that this money should be donated to the public fund.

Otherwise, what do they think Chang'er is?

Sister-in-law Gu chimed in, "Mother is right. This money was earned by my sister-in-law through her own abilities, so it naturally belongs to her."

Besides, her three younger siblings cover all the household expenses, so asking her for money is really going too far.

The Gu brothers naturally had no objections.

Having money in her hands gives her a sense of security, so Lin Chang'er didn't refuse. However, she also remembered the Gu family's efforts. Although she had little savings now, she would definitely share the profits with them when she earned more money.

Then, gradually let each household develop their own businesses according to their strengths.

Only when each household has its own property can the family be stable and lasting.

Sister-in-law Gu was quick and efficient, and soon she had cooked a whole big pot of potato and bone soup.

Lin Chang'er distributed the steamed buns, giving each member of the Gu family a meat bun, and finally leaving one vegetable bun. "This one is cut in half, and Xiaoman and Silang will each get half."

Gu's mother asked, "And what about you?"

Lin Chang'er took a sip of soup. "I ate a vegetable bun and a meat bun in town. As for the other vegetable bun, Little Goldfish and Little Deer each shared it in half. This one is for Si Lang and Xiao Man as an extra treat."

"That won't do." Gu's mother immediately broke off half of her meat bun and gave it to her.

Lin Chang'er waved her hand, "You should eat by yourself. Only when you have oil in your stomach can you be healthy."

The Gu family, however, refused to agree.

"Third sister-in-law, eat mine. I'm small, so half is enough for me."

"Mother, eat mine."

"Eat mine."

Gu Xiaoman also held a large meat bun and handed it to her with both hands, saying, "Auntie, please eat."

Lin Chang'er patted his head and said, "Eat up, and you'll grow tall."

She then looked at the Gu family, who rushed to offer her food. It would be a lie to say that Lin Chang'er wasn't touched, but she didn't show it on her face. She simply said, "Alright, everyone eat by yourselves. There's still a long way to go!"

After saying that, he thought of something else and said, "After eating, everyone should take a nap, and then we'll continue working tonight."

Upon hearing this, the Gu family members stopped refusing and began to eat soup and steamed buns.

She only cared about her mother, turning her face away to wipe her tears. For so many years, since the head of the household passed away, the family had never eaten lunch.

This child is so stubborn, only thinking about home and not buying himself an extra one.

After finishing her soup, Lin Chang'er went back to her room for a midday rest.

She had just lay down fully clothed when a small head peeked in through the doorway and softly called out, "Mother!"