Unlimited Resources: Raising a Minister with a Pocket Supermarket

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Madam Sun looked up at Yu Xiaolian. “Then you do it. I’ll go to the well to get water. There’s porridge in the pot. Just boil it. There’s no need to boil too much.”

After Madam Sun finished giving her instructions, she picked up the carrying pole and two buckets and left.

Yu Xiaolian looked at the two flints on the stove and knocked a few times according to the original owner’s memory. Her hand hurt, but she didn’t start the fire.

Could it be that using flints to start a fire needed skill?

Yu Xiaolian didn’t believe it and tried a few more times.

In the end, her hand hurt from knocking them, but she did not ignite the fire.

“Oh, if only I had a lighter.”

Just as Yu Xiaolian finished sighing, a red lighter appeared in her hand.

Only then did she realize that as long as she thought like this, the things in the convenience store would appear in her hands.

Yu Xiaolian was amused.

Since she was already here, she would take things as they came. Yu Xiaolian used a lighter to light the firewood under the stove. After boiling the pot, she swept away the broken firewood.

At this moment, Madam Sun also came back with two buckets of water. Just as Madam Sun poured the two buckets of water into the large water vat, Madam Cao walked over. “Sister-in-law, this vat is not full.”

However, Madam Sun placed the shoulder pole at the foot of the wall and did not intend to pick it up again. “Since we’ve already split up, get what you need.

I only cooked some porridge and brought back two buckets of water. No matter what, you guys are the ones who took advantage of me.”

When Madam Cao heard Madam Sun’s words, her expression immediately changed. If Madam Sun did not fill the water vat, her mother-in-law would instruct her to get it. She did not want to go so far to fetch water.

“This tank used to hold water belongs to our family. If we lend you the tank, you have to fill it with water. You can’t use our water tank for nothing, right?”

Madam Sun put the two buckets back and glanced at Madam Cao. “Since Eldest Sister-in-law has calculated so clearly, let’s settle the score properly. In the past, when Changhe was a bailiff in town, your father was sick, but he borrowed a tael of silver from me and hasn’t returned it to me until now. Also, Zishu and Ziyi’s tuition fees have always been paid by Changhe. When do you plan to return them? If you don’t have money, you can use something to cover the debt.”

Madam Sun’s words were harsh and reasonable.

Madam Cao was stunned, but she was not a pushover. She immediately replied loudly, “At that time, we had not split up. Mother asked Changhe to give the money. If you have the ability, go ask Mother.”

At the mention of Old Madam Yu, Madam Sun was even angrier. All the money that Yu Changhe and Yu Changfu had earned over the years had been handed over to Old Madam Yu. The annual harvest of the family’s farming was also in Old Madam Yu’s hands. How could she not have money?

When she thought about how they only got 450 copper coins from the separation, Madam Sun felt aggrieved.

However, at this moment, she did not dare to fall out with Old Madam Yu. Once they did, Old Madam Yu would definitely chase their family out. At that time, they would not even have a place to stay.

When Madam Cao heard her mention Old Madam Yu, Madam Sun fell silent. She immediately felt a little smug. “You’re talking as if your mother and brother have never spent Changhe’s money. If you ask me, you don’t know how much money you’ve spent behind your family’s back all these years. You still have the cheek to ask me for money. I think we should go to your family to ask for money.”

When Madam Sun heard Madam Cao’s words, she was furious. She picked up the shoulder pole at the base of the wall and shouted at Madam Cao, “You dare to go? If you dare to find trouble with my mother, I’ll dare to go to Zishu’s school and make your two sons unable to attend school.”

Madam Sun’s words hit Madam Cao’s Achilles’ heel.

Madam Cao turned around and ran to the backyard. As she walked, she shouted, “Yu Changfu… Yu Changfu…”

“What now?”

When Yu Changfu saw Madam Cao’s sullen face, he frowned and said, “I’ve just finished fixing the mud bricks with Changhe. Why did you call me?”

“What are you doing? We’ve already split up, so you have to take care of yourself. I sprained my waist when I was washing the dishes just now. Hurry up and go to the well to fetch water. If Mother sees that the water vat isn’t full soon, she’ll scold me again.”

As Madam Cao spoke, she pulled Yu Changfu’s arm forcefully. Yu Changfu turned around and glanced at Yu Changhe. Yu Changhe immediately said, “Big Brother, go ahead. I’ll do the rest myself!”

Madam Cao gave birth to two sons for Yu Changfu. The eldest son, Yu Zishu, was fifteen this year, and the second son, Yu Ziyi, was eleven this year.

On account that Madam Cao had given birth to two sons for him, Yu Changfu usually treated Madam Cao very well. He also followed Madam Cao’s orders when it came to small matters.

Yu Zishu and Yu Ziyi were the only two grandsons of the Yu family, so they naturally received the unconditional love of everyone in the Yu family. Among them, the eldest, Yu Zishu, was very talented in studying. He was often praised by the academy teacher, and he was also valued by Old Madam Yu.

As for the second son, Yu Ziyi, although he looked smarter, he was unwilling to spend his time studying. A few days ago, he even made a request not to go to school again.

Now, the Yu family was not as generous as before. Not only did they provide for their two grandsons to go to school, but they were also about to get Yu Changyu a wife. Therefore, when Yu Ziyi mentioned that he wanted to leave school, Old Madam Yu immediately agreed.

However, the tuition fees for this quarter had long been paid. Even if he didn’t go to school, he couldn’t return the money. Therefore, Old Madam Yu asked Yu Ziyi to drop out of school in the autumn.

Madam Sun scooped the porridge into a basin and said to Yu Xiaolian, “Go to the backyard and call your father back for dinner!”

When Yu Xiaolian walked to the backyard, she saw that the wooden stick that Yu Changhe usually used was thrown to the side. Yu Changhe was kneeling on the ground and removing the clay figurine’s mold. As it was difficult for him to move, his legs were covered in mud.

Seeing Yu Changhe like this, Yu Xiaolian felt very upset.

“Father, it’s time to eat.”

Yu Xiaolian walked over, helped Yu Changhe up, and handed him the wooden stick he usually used.

“Lian’er must be hungry. Go and eat first. Don’t worry about me. I have to wash up first. Otherwise, your mother won’t let me in!” Yu Changhe smiled.

Yu Changhe really had nothing to say to his adopted daughter.

One had to know that at this time, the idea of favoring boys over girls was very serious. Who would pick up a girl for no reason?

At this time, food was very expensive. No one was willing to have an extra mouth to feed for no reason.

Moreover, the conflict between Madam Sun and Yu Changhe was getting deeper and deeper because of her.

Perhaps Madam Sun would only be truly happy if she could have a child of her own?

However, she remembered that Yu Changhe had died when Yu Xiaolian was 12 years old. He did not have any children.

He wondered if her arrival could change Yu Changhe’s original fate.

Madam Sun scooped a bowl of porridge for everyone. The porridge was very thin.

“We have to eat sparingly, or winter won’t be easy,” Madam Sun explained.

There were still crops growing on the land that Old Madam Yu had given them, but the food growing on the ground would belong to Old Madam Yu when it was harvested in the autumn.

Therefore, they had to survive eating the 200 catties of food Old Madam Yu gave them.

Although it was said to be 200 catties of food, Old Madam Yu had given him 200 catties of rice. The rice had rice shells. After grinding off the rice shell, there would only be more than 100 catties left. How could it last until next autumn?

According to Madam Sun, these grains would last through this winter. By next spring, they would be able to eat wild vegetables.