This Life, I'm Raising the Right Man

During dinner, Zhang Zhaodi asked Su Yaoguang how she planned to arrange the upcoming work.

Such a large order couldn’t possibly be done by the three of them alone in just twenty days. This inevitably involved hiring help. However, they didn’t want others to know the family had made money, so they needed to manage this with discretion and plan ahead for how to allocate the work.

”The formula is a secret, can’t be revealed, so we can only outsource the preliminary work. Before, we went up the mountain to pick petals, but now there’s definitely no time. We can only buy from the flower market or hire people to help with the picking. I’m thinking, we hire people from the village to pick some, and buy the rest from the flower market.”

”The bottles and jars also need to be purchased, along with other medicinal materials. We should inquire in the city tomorrow to see if there are good and cheap suppliers.”

”No need to go to the city; have you forgotten there’s a doctor in our village?” Zhang Zhaodi said, ”I’ll go find Doctor Lin and ask him later.”

”Right, Uncle Lin will definitely know which herbalist is fair. After dinner, mom, you can take a trip to see Uncle Lin.” After saying that, Su Yaoguang thought about other matters, ”Even if we prepare all this, there still won’t be enough people to make the perfume powder. We still need to hire people, but where to find reliable help?”

”Your second aunt and Chunni are diligent, why not ask them to help? They spend all day working hard in that household for others, better to bring them to earn some money. Also, your little aunt, her husband needs money for medicine, I’m afraid their home is struggling. Before, I couldn’t even take care of myself, couldn’t help them, now that we’re doing better, we should help if we can. Daughter, what do you think?”

”I’ve been thinking I’ve forgotten something, turns out it was this.” Su Yaoguang tapped her head, ”This brain of mine is getting dumber.”

”Why are you hitting your head?” Jiang Jing touched the forehead she had just tapped.

”My little uncle has been ill for a long time, Jing’er, tomorrow come with me to see him, help take his pulse and diagnose his condition.”

”Your little aunt has hired many doctors, and none have helped; Jing’er is so young, you expect her to cure him?” Zhang Zhaodi was skeptical.

Jiang Jing said nervously, ”Yaoguang, I can’t even cure my own father, I’m afraid... I wish I had learned more medicine from my father.”

”What are you worried about? We do our best and leave the rest to fate. As long as we try, we can face any outcome calmly. If you say you can’t do it before even trying, blaming the timing, location, or people, how is that different from being a deserter? I’m asking you to see him because I want to understand my little uncle’s situation, so don’t pressure yourself.”

After dinner, Jiang Jing stayed to wash dishes and tidy up the house, Zhang Zhaodi went to find Doctor Lin, and Su Yaoguang went next door.

Aunt Li next door was one of the few kind-hearted people; when Su Yaoguang was small, Zhang Zhaodi entrusted her to Aunt Li for help and care, and now it’s time to repay her.

When Aunt Li heard that a basket of petals could sell for ten cents, and a bamboo basket of petals for two cents, she immediately agreed.

With so many wildflowers on the mountain, picking them was akin to picking money. She called her whole family to join in, planning to pick more the next day to earn more money.

”I need quite a lot; if Aunt Li could get more people to help pick would be better. Aunt Li will handle the collection, and I’ll pay accordingly. Anyway, I’m giving you ten cents for a basket, how much you collect from them is up to you. I won’t leak this detail, everything follows Aunt Li’s lead.”

Aunt Li didn’t understand fully, but her daughter-in-law beside her was sharp and understood. She tugged on Aunt Li’s sleeve and said to Su Yaoguang, ”Alright, I’ll handle it.”

”Sister-in-law, different petals need to be sorted, can’t be mixed. If they get mixed up, they’ll be bought at a lower price.” She needed various scents for face cream; mixing would require more processes, naturally incurring more work, thus priced differently. ”Also, the petals must be fresh and clean. If the goods you select are good, I’ll buy for half a month, however much you have.”

Mrs. Fang smiled and said, ”Yaoguang, don’t worry, I’ve noted it all down, I’ll make sure it’s done properly.”

After agreeing with the neighbors, Su Yaoguang didn’t look for other villagers.

Since it was entrusted to Aunt Li and Mrs. Fang next door, she left it to them to coordinate, giving them this opportunity to build rapport.

”There’s a fight! Go see, the village’s two big brawlers are at it, must be exciting!” Shouted a few drama-loving busybodies rushing past.

Those women, often bored, loved to gossip from house to house, knowing every household’s matters better than anyone. Upon hearing any commotion, they ran faster than anyone.

Su Yaoguang noticed they headed towards Doctor Lin’s courtyard, thinking Zhang Zhaodi was there, and quickened her pace.

A crowd had already gathered at Doctor Lin’s door. Unable to squeeze in, she shouted, ”Who dropped money?”

Upon hearing, everyone quickly looked down for money.

While they searched, she artfully squeezed her way in.

Once inside, she saw a fat woman swinging a hand to hit Zhang Zhaodi. Zhang Zhaodi grabbed at her hair, refusing to let go, and the woman yelled in pain.

Doctor Lin anxiously mediated, ”Stop fighting; stop fighting. Chunsheng’s mother, if you continue, I won’t treat your family anymore. Let go, quickly!”

Su Yaoguang swiftly intervened, pulling the woman away.

The woman staggered, landing on the ground with a thud.

She glared venomously, cursing, ”Where did this dead girl come from, daring to push me?”

Su Yaoguang checked over Zhang Zhaodi, ”Mom, are you hurt?”

Zhang Zhaodi touched her face’s injuries, baring her teeth at Hu, ”Don’t worry, she didn’t gain anything either. Pah, crazy woman, fighting me, I’ve never lost.”

Hu got up, rolling up her sleeves, ready to charge again, but Doctor Lin stopped her.

Doctor Lin, incensed, commanded, ”Chunsheng’s mother, leave immediately; you are not welcome here.”

”Doctor Lin, are you choosing her over me?” Hu, pointing at Zhang Zhaodi, accused angrily with grievance.

Doctor Lin’s face flushed crimson with embarrassment.

The villagers watching at the door gaped.

What is going on?

”Doctor Lin, you and Lady Yaoguang...”

”No, it’s not like that.” Doctor Lin hurriedly explained, ”This is a misunderstanding. Chunsheng’s mother, don’t spew nonsense; Lady Yaoguang came for a consultation.”

Zhang Zhaodi spat, cursing, ”If you’re mad, have Doctor Lin check you. Damn it, as I was talking with Doctor Lin here, she suddenly barged in to hit me; I didn’t even know what was happening.”