80s Transmigration: The Young Widow's Hustle to Riches

Zou Chunhong grabbed her arm and said with a bitter smile, "Wen Hui, you know what my parents are like. If I go back, they’ll marry me off to any man who can afford the bride price in less than a year. I want to stay here and learn how to make pastries from your cousin. Can you please talk to your second aunt about it?"

Wu Wenhui frowned at her. "Learn from my cousin? My cousin can’t afford to pay you fifty yuan a month."

Zou Chunhong said quickly, "I don’t want any wages, as long as your cousin can teach me the craft." As she spoke, she grabbed her hand, pleading, "Wen Hui, I’m begging you. We grew up together. You don’t want to see me end up like my sisters, married off to some old bachelor or widower, do you?"

Seeing she was on the verge of tears, Wu Wenhui hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Alright! I’ll ask for you, but it’s ultimately my second aunt’s call."

"Thank you, Wen Hui." Zou Chunhong pressed her hands together gratefully. "As long as you ask for me, I’ll be in your debt whether it works out or not."

"Wen Hui, what are you two up to?" Wu Jiafu said, walking to the doorway and looking at them.

Wu Wenhui said quickly, "Nothing, we’re going to help Second Aunt wash the vegetables." With that, she pulled Zou Chunhong away.

Wu Jiafu watched them go, then turned and went back into the kitchen. He said to Lin Changyou, who was feeding the fire, "Second Brother-in-law, after we eat, we’ll go to the police station. When we’re done there, we’ll head to the bus station to catch a ride back."

Lin Changyou nodded. "Good idea. That’ll keep everyone back home from worrying."

Wu Jiafu said sheepishly, "Sorry for making you spend money on us."

"Don’t mention it." Lin Changyou hesitated for a moment before looking at him and saying, "You need to keep a tighter rein on a girl. It’ll save you from regret later on."

The memory was still fresh and frightening for Wu Jiafu, and he nodded repeatedly. "You’re right. After this, I’m sure she won’t dare to just run off with someone again."

Wu Shufen came in with a dish, followed by a line of girls. She placed the dish on the stove and said to them, "Go sit under the eaves and relax. It’s cooler out there."

"Okay!" The girls went outside.

A little while later, Wu Wenhui came in and said to Lin Changyou, "Uncle, I’ll tend the fire."

"Alright, I’ll go let the chickens out." Lin Changyou brushed some rapeseed husks off his clothes and walked toward the chicken coop.

Wu Wenhui added a piece of wood to the firebox, then walked over to the stove and said to Wu Shufen, "Second Aunt, Chunhong wants to stay and learn how to make pastries from my cousin. She said she doesn’t want any wages..."

Wu Shufen just shook her head as she listened. She looked at her niece and said, "You tell her your cousin has all the help she needs. She’s not hiring." ’How does this girl’s mind work? She just got scammed, and now a few words have her completely wrapped around someone’s finger again.’

Wu Wenhui didn’t give up. "Second Aunt, Chunhong’s parents are cruel. They don’t treat their daughters well..."

Wu Shufen put down her cleaver and looked at her. "You know perfectly well how difficult the Zou family is. If we let her stay in East Market and something happens, can we afford to deal with the fallout?"

’Zou Chunhong’s parents are ruthless enough to sell their own daughter. Letting her work with Little Lan would just be inviting disaster for her.’

Wu Wenhui thought about it and realized she was right. "Oh! I’ll tell her my cousin isn’t looking for anyone."

Wu Shufen instructed, "Turn her down flat. Don’t make things complicated."

"Got it. I’ll tell her in a bit."

Wu Wenhui sat down in front of the stove, ’wondering how she was going to tell Zou Chunhong.’

Wu Shufen stir-fried two vegetable dishes, then lifted the lid of the steamer. She took out the large bowl of steamed preserved pork, then lifted the entire steamer basket to scoop the taro boiling underneath into a ceramic basin. Finally, she began to slice the preserved pork to stir-fry with pickled greens.

"Wen Hui, take the dishes to the main hall and call your dad and the others for dinner."

"Okay!" Wu Wenhui carried the boiled taro to the table and shouted toward the veranda. Wu Chunsheng, his brother, and the other girls came inside.

Wu Shufen said politely, "It’s not much, but please eat."

Wu Chunsheng smiled. "You’re too kind, Second Sister. Just having white rice is a feast in itself."

"You eat so well at Second Aunt’s house. My family only gets to eat white rice once a year, during the New Year!" Zou Chunhong said, turning to glance at Wu Wenhui. "You’re so lucky to have such a wonderful second aunt."

Wu Wenhui: "..."

Once Wu Shufen brought the stir-fried preserved pork with pickled greens to the table, everyone sat down and began to eat.

After dinner, it was nearly seven o’clock. Wu Jiafu said to Wu Chunsheng, "Let’s go to the police station now. After they question us, we can take the bus home."

Wu Chunsheng said, "Good. The production team is busy harvesting rice. If we rush back, we can still earn half a day’s work points."

Lin Changyou smiled. "We know you’re busy, so we won’t keep you. Come visit again when you’re free."

After a few more pleasantries, Wu Chunsheng told the girls to grab their bags so they could leave.

Wu Wenhui led the girls into the room. Zou Chunhong came up behind her and asked in a low voice, "Wen Hui, did you ask for me?"

Wu Xiaoqing and the others turned to look at them. "Ask about what?"

"I did," Wu Wenhui said, looking at her apologetically. "My second aunt said that my cousin doesn’t need any more help."

Zou Chunhong looked at her, disappointed. "Are you sure you told her I don’t need wages? That I just need a place to stay and food to eat?"

"I did tell her! Do you think food is free?" Wu Wenhui was getting annoyed by her expression. "When you first asked me, I told you it was up to my second aunt. What are you trying to imply now?"

Wu Xiaoying tried to reason with her. "Chunhong, Ge Hongyu was lying to us when she said an apprenticeship was free and that she’d even pay us. Who learns a trade for free nowadays?"

With her eyes turning red, Zou Chunhong said, "It’s easy for you to say. What’s the difference between being sold by my parents and being sold by Ge Hongyu? I’m going to go beg Second Aunt myself." With that, she turned and headed for the kitchen.

The girls looked at each other in dismay, then hurried after her to the kitchen.

Zou Chunhong walked straight toward Wu Shufen, who was cleaning up at the stove. When she reached her, she dropped to her knees with a THUD. "Second Aunt, I’m begging you, please let me stay! I can do any kind of work! I don’t need wages, I’ll even eat less..."

Wu Shufen was stunned for a second before reacting, rushing forward to pull her up. "Chunhong, get up! What are you doing?"

Zou Chunhong struggled, refusing to get up from the floor. "Second Aunt, please help me! I won’t get up unless you agree!"

Wu Wenhui went to help pull her up. "Chunhong, why are you acting like this? My second aunt doesn’t owe you anything."

Zou Chunhong shoved her aside and grabbed onto Wu Shufen, crying, "Second Aunt, please, I’m begging you! If you don’t let me stay, my parents will definitely sell me off when I go back! Please, just give me a chance to live..."

Xu Xuefei watched Zou Chunhong with a complicated expression, while the two sisters, Wu Xiaoying and Wu Xiaoqing, were completely stunned.

"My family helps you out of the kindness of our hearts, and now you turn around and bite the hand that feeds you!" Wu Shufen was seething, pointing at her. "So if I don’t let you stay, that means I’m condemning you to death? Did we make an enemy out of you by trying to help?"

Wu Wenhui turned to Wu Xiaoqing and the other girls. "Help me get her up."

"Okay!" Wu Xiaoqing and the others came forward and hauled her up from the ground.

"WAHH... WAHHH..." Zou Chunhong covered her face and began to wail.

Hearing the commotion, Lin Changyou, Wu Jiafu, and the others who were talking in the main hall ran over. "What’s wrong? What happened?"

"Chunhong wanted..." Wu Xiaoying quickly explained what had happened.