The Wealthy Eldest Sister Rules Supreme

“What’s the matter with you, looking so worried?” Zhuang Qingning lightly tapped her on the head.

“Aunt Liu has not been here for the past two days, and neither has Sister Qiuying been setting up her stall.” Zhuang Qingsui frowned with concern. “I wonder if something has happened at home.”

“Indeed.” Zhuang Qingning also pursed her lips.

In the past few days, she had been busy managing the shop and thinking about how to arrange shifts and expand production at the tofu factory. Her mind was filled with these matters, and she hadn’t paid much attention to what Qingsui had just mentioned until she realized that Mrs. Liu and Zhang Qiuying had not come to set up their stalls in town for the past two or three days.

Mrs. Liu had been feeling unwell but had been forcing herself to come and sell her fried chop rice cakes until her health became unbearable and only then did she rest for a couple of days.

But today was a big market day, and the fact that Mrs. Liu hadn’t shown up indicated that something major must have happened at home that kept her away.

As the sisters were talking, Zhang Qiuying walked over with a bamboo basket on her back.

“Qiuying.”

Upon seeing Zhang Qiuying’s red eyes, Zhuang Qingning asked in surprise, “What’s the matter with you? Where is Aunt Liu? Why didn’t she come today?”

“Big Sister Ning.” Zhang Qiuying’s lips trembled, and tears fell from her eyes. “My father went to work a few days ago, installing beams for someone’s house, and his leg was crushed. The owner said it was because my father was careless that this happened. He refused to compensate us, and my second and third uncles won’t help either. We are broke at home, so my mother and grandmother had to sell everything we had, including our fields, to afford my father’s medical treatment.”

“The doctor applied some bandages and gave us medicine, saying that my father needs a good rest. But he also said that the leg injury was too severe, and even if he could walk again after more than three months, he would probably limp and be unable to do heavy labor. His leg would also likely hurt on cloudy and rainy days.”

“My grandmother is extremely anxious. My mother cries all day and takes care of my father while trying to negotiate with the owner. I couldn’t be of much help at home, so I pleaded with my grandmother to make some fried chop rice cakes last night. I brought them to the market today to sell, hoping to help the family and earn some money for my father’s medicine.”

Zhang Qiuying’s words became more sorrowful, and her tears fell like broken beads.

With the family’s pillar gone and their fields sold, the family essentially had no means of livelihood in the short term, and Zhang Qiuying felt quite desperate.

“Don’t cry now, don’t cry.” Zhuang Qingning reached out to wipe the tears from Zhang Qiuying’s face. “Since you’re here in town now, dry your tears first. Let’s sell your fried chop rice cakes first, then we can talk about other things.”

Experiencing such a calamity, Zhang Qiuying was indeed pitiful. But since the family was already in such straits, and she had decided to do something for the family, she had to first take care of current affairs. Otherwise, she would just cause more chaos.

Zhuang Qingning’s tone was gentle yet firm, which made Zhang Qiuying, who was initially panicky and grief-stricken, feel much calmer. Zhang Qiuying had respected Zhuang Qingning a great deal in usual times, and so naturally took her words to heart. She nodded and said, “Okay, I understand.”

After saying this, she dried her tears and calmed her emotions, then began to hawk her fried chop rice cakes.

Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui assisted in selling the fried chop rice cakes.

During the intervals of selling, they also offered many words of encouragement.

As it was her first time selling fried chop rice cakes alone, Zhang Qiuying was afraid she wouldn’t be able to sell much. This led Mrs. Liu to not produce in large quantities. So even though she arrived late at the market, she had sold out by noon.

Zhang Qiuying heaved a sigh of relief and thanked Zhuang Qingning and Zhuang Qingsui, “Thank you, Big Sister Ning, and thank you, Sister Sui for helping me out so much.”

At this time, Zhang Qiuying’s face no longer bore the tear-streaked look from when she first arrived in town. Instead, it now showed signs of strength and determination.

“No need to be polite, we should help each other,” Zhuang Qingning responded, handing her something. “I’ve packed a cage of buns for you to take home for lunch.”

“I should have come to visit your father, but my affairs haven’t settled down yet. I’m afraid if I go now, I might just add to the chaos at home. You take the buns home first, and tell your grandmother and father that I will visit your father after some time.”

“I couldn’t possibly…” Zhang Qiuying immediately shook her head. “How could I accept the buns that Big Sister Ning bought after you’ve been helping me sell fried rice cakes for so long?”

“Just take it and let’s not say more about it.”

Without further ado, Zhuang Qingning stuffed the buns into Zhang Qiuying’s hands. “Okay, it’s getting late, and you came here alone. If you stay out too long, Aunt Liu will worry about you. Hurry home.”

Seeing that she could not refuse, Zhang Qiuying hesitated for a moment, then nodded, “I understand, thank you, Big Sister Ning.”

“Go quickly and take it slow on the road.” Zhuang Qingning repeatedly reminded her. After Zhang Qiuying left, Zhuang Qingning started to clean up, and walked home with Zhuang Qingsui.

When they arrived home, Zhuang Jingye was standing at the door, appearing as if he had been waiting for a long time.

“Uncle Village Chief.” Zhuang Qingning walked over quickly. “Did you come to find me? Come in quickly. I just bought some tea leaves from the town, let’s have a cup.”

When Ning was not angry, she was indeed a considerate and polite person.

Zhuang Jingye was very pleased with Zhuang Qingning’s warmth.

“There’s no need to rush. I came to talk to you.” Zhuang Jingye said, “You mentioned before that you wanted to find a place to build a house. I had some free time in the past two days and also took a good look around the village to see if there are suitable plots of land for you to build on.”

“Unfortunately, the other locations are not available. However, there is a vacant spot near the entrance of the village. Since you’re busy with the tofu factory here and can’t be too far away, it seemed suitable.”

“A couple of rooms and a small courtyard won’t take up much space. Why not just build a small courtyard across from Butcher Hua’s house? Although there’s a dirt pit in front filled with weeds, it would be nice if it were tidied up and filled.”

“If the tofu factory in Mrs. Wen’s house is not enough in the future and you want to expand it, there will be enough space here.”

In any case, it’s just a dirt pit. Nobody is cultivating fields here. As long as you’re not afraid of the trouble of filling the pit, you can build as large a house as you want as long as it doesn’t exceed the standard of the common people.

“Okay.” Zhuang Qingning took a look, then carefully examined the place according to Zhuang Jingye’s description.

It was indeed as he said.

This street is called Ban Dao Street in the village. It is named so because no houses are built on the south side of the road..