Chapter 14 — The Husband and Little Uncle Fake the Disaster, My Sister and I Clean Up the Marquis' Palace

That institute was smaller than the current one, in front of the door there was a shallow pond, inside it used to raise fish, but the previous owner moved out a long time ago, the water was murky and moss grew. As soon as Tieu Ngoc Xu saw it, he hated it, saying that this pond was not as good as the basin of water to wash vegetables in the kitchen. But on cleaning day, the one who rolled up her skirt and went into the pond first was her. She ordered someone to change the water, bought some small carp and put them in, and planted two cinnamon trees next to the wall. I asked her why she suddenly liked doing these things. She squatted next to the pond and watched the fish swim, saying: "In the past there was everything in the Marquis Palace, but nothing belonged to me. Now this pond is small and the fish are skinny, but if I want to raise it, I raise it. If I want to plant trees, I plant them. I'm happy." I looked at her and said nothing more. Since leaving the Marquis Palace, Tieu Ngoc Xu has become more and more like a real living person. She still speaks harshly, still likes to laugh coldly, and can still stand in front of the counter to argue for a small merchant that weighs less than half an ounce until the other person blushes. But when she comes home at night, she will count each coin with her own hands, she will be happy because the last plate of stir-fried vegetables is no longer black, and because the newly planted cinnamon tree survived a rain without dying, so she will be happy all day. Ta Can Ngon appeared more often after that. The first time he came was to discuss fabric with Tieu Ngoc Xu. Then there are medicinal herbs, transportation routes, warehouses, and then the merchant guild wants to find someone in this town to act as a focal point for collecting goods. He is the chief treasurer of the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce, and works extremely well. He didn't take it lightly because we were women, nor did he ask about our past because we had come from the capital. This point makes Tieu Ngoc Xu very satisfied. She once told me privately: "This person knows moderation. There are not many people in the world who know moderation, especially men who know moderation, even rarer." I said: "You've only met him a few times and already complimented him?" She sneered: "I compliment him in moderation, not that he's handsome. Why are you so nervous?" I'm too lazy to pay attention to her. But we cannot help but admit that Ta Can Ngon is truly a person who makes others feel comfortable. Every time he comes to discuss business, he only talks about business. If I talk about books, he will listen seriously. If Tieu Ngoc Xu bargained, he would not be angry. One time at the Chamber of Commerce, someone casually said that women in business are often indecisive. He just put down the tea cup and said lightly, if you are indecisive and still earn money, then those of you who are so decisive, you should earn more. The other person immediately shut up. Then Tieu Ngoc Xu laughed behind him for half a day. The days slowly passed by. We expanded the store, renovated the cottage, raised fish, planted trees, learned how to look at the sky before drying medicinal herbs, learned how to choose fabrics before importing goods, learned how to trust others a little, but still keep our own retreat. Without the Marquis Palace behind us, our lives are more stable than before. That late fall night, the wind blew through the yard carrying the faint scent of cinnamon. Tieu Ngoc Xu sat at the stone table, strummed the abacus and asked me: "Aren't you planning on remarrying?" I was choosing medicinal herbs, but my hand paused for a moment. If it were before, I would definitely say no. But that day, I looked at the light under the eaves, at the shadow of the fallen Pipa tree on the ground, suddenly did not respond immediately. Tieu Ngoc Xu raised his head to look at me, his eyes brightened slightly. I bowed my head and continued to choose the medicinal ingredients. After a while, I said: "Let's talk about the future later." She looked at me for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter.

“Okay, let's talk later.”

Spring next year comes earlier than usual. When the cinnamon tree in the monastery had just sprouted buds, our fabric store opened a third space. The fish pond in front of the hospital is no longer as empty as when it was first purchased. The small carp from last year have now grown larger, each time it's time to feed they jostle each other to the surface. Tieu Ngoc Xu once stood by the pond with her hands on her hips, looking at it for a long time, then exclaimed, saying that if her father was still alive, he would definitely not believe that one day she would sit and calculate the profits of three stores, and then at night, she would have to remember to feed the fish. After hearing that, I just burst out laughing. Many things in this world are inherently like that. While I was there, I always thought I couldn't live any differently. Only when you really step out do you realize that there are many other paths. Over the past few years, Ta Can Ngon has often visited. Initially it was for business. Then gradually became friends. But he never exceeded the limit. There was a time when the Chamber of Commerce held a party, and when others saw him take the initiative to make room for me and Tieu Ngoc Xu, they teased and asked if he had fallen in love with someone else. He just laughed. Don't admit it. Not denying it either. After that, continue to discuss goods as usual.