Ye Yunniang married Li Yong at the age of 17.
Three days after the wedding, Li Yong was conscripted and left home.
One month later, Yunniang was pregnant.
Eight months later, she successfully gave birth to Li Jun, whose nickname was Pan'er. The name was given with the hope that Li Yong, who had gone to war, would come home soon.
However, the family's beautiful expectations were dashed. A fellow villager brought back Li Yong's blood - stained clothes and a last letter.
Li Yong died on the battlefield, and his body was nowhere to be found.
They buried Li Yong with his blood - stained clothes in the coffin. His father fell ill and passed away a month later.
The Li family held another funeral.
With the loss of the family's mainstay, the widow and the orphan were easily targeted by others.
Cai Damei, Ye Yunniang's mother - in - law, was a decisive woman. After the 21 - day mourning period, she sold the family's land and house. Carrying the money, she took her daughter - in - law and grandson to Jiangcheng to seek a living with her younger sister.
They traveled by boat for about ten days and then by ox - cart for five days before reaching Jiangcheng.
After having their household registration and travel permits checked and paying the entrance fee to the city, the three women asked for directions all the way and finally arrived at the Zhou's shop.
Cai Xiaomei was standing in front of the shop, playing with her grandson with a rattle.
"Xiaomei."
Cai Xiaomei stopped shaking the rattle and looked up.
"Elder sister!"
The two sisters hugged each other and wept bitterly.
Persuaded by the family members, they stopped crying.
As they caught up, Cai Xiaomei learned about all the misfortunes that had befallen her elder sister's family.
Cai Xiaomei arranged for Cai Damei and her daughter - in - law and grandson to stay.
Cai Xiaomei's husband's family was named Zhou. They owned a clothing shop in Jiangcheng, and her in - laws had passed away.
Cai Xiaomei and her husband had a son and a daughter, both of whom were married. They had two grandsons and a granddaughter.
The Zhou family lived behind the shop. There were three main rooms and one and a half rooms on each side of the east and west wing - rooms. They squeezed out one room for Cai Damei and the other two to live in.
At night, after feeding Pan'er, Ye Yunniang walked to Cai Damei, who was lying down, and whispered, "Mother, when you said we would settle in Jiangcheng, I noticed that my cousin - in - law didn't look happy. Maybe we should rent a house and move out first."
"Do you know why I had to sell the land and house and come to Jiangcheng?" Instead of answering, Cai Damei asked Ye Yunniang.
Ye Yunniang shook her head. Her husband had died, and then her father - in - law had passed away.
Ye Yunniang had to take care of the child and observe mourning with Cai Damei. Every day passed in a daze.
Ye Yunniang was surprised by Cai Damei's decision. But being a gentle and obedient woman, she didn't think too much. She packed up her luggage, held the child, and followed her mother - in - law all the way to Jiangcheng.
No matter what Cai Damei decided, Ye Yunniang knew one thing clearly: her mother - in - law would never harm her and Pan'er.
"It was your father - in - law who told me to do this." The night before Li's father passed away, he had a detailed discussion with Cai Damei.
After his death, the only male in the family was the nursing Pan'er. Everything would depend on Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang.
Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang had never worked in the fields since they married into the Li family.
It would be difficult for the two women to raise Pan'er by relying on the land.
Moreover, Ye Yunniang had a greedy father and step - mother. And there were also those uncles and cousins in the Li family who wanted to take over the family property.
Cai Damei and Ye Yunniang couldn't protect the land, the house, or even Pan'er.
Li's father told Cai Damei to sell the land and house as soon as possible after his funeral and bring Pan'er to Jiangcheng.
Cai Xiaomei was brought up by Cai Damei. The dowry for her marriage was prepared by Cai Damei and Li's father.
Cai Xiaomei always remembered Cai Damei's kindness. Although they lived far apart and met each other rarely, she sent letters and gifts every year.
"Yunniang, we don't have much money. Let's stay at your aunt's place first. We'll move out after we find jobs and earn some money." Cai Damei told her plan, "As for the looks on others' faces, just ignore them."
"Okay, I'll do whatever you say, mother. I'll follow your arrangements." Ye Yunniang stopped having wild thoughts.
"You've been taking care of Pan'er and me these days. Go to sleep."
Ye Yunniang responded with an "um" and lay down to rest.
After two days of rest to regain their energy, Cai Damei told Cai Xiaomei about her plan.
"Elder sister, this is your home. You can stay here as long as you want. I'd like to see who dares to say no." Cai Xiaomei said, glancing at her daughter - in - law who was mending shoes at the side. She wondered if her daughter - in - law had said something.
"As an old woman, you still can't change your impulsive nature. It would be okay if it were just me staying here.
But Yunniang and Pan'er have a long way to go. I have to think about them." Cai Damei paused here.
"Jun'er passed away early. Pan'er is the only single seedling of the Li family. Your brother - in - law couldn't close his eyes before he died. It was only after I promised him that I would raise Pan'er to adulthood that he finally closed his eyes."
"Elder sister." Cai Xiaomei tightly held Cai Damei's hand.
Cai Damei held her hand back and patted it twice. "I'm still in good health now. I just want to earn some money for them. When I'm gone, Yunniang and Pan'er will have a better life."
Hearing this, Cai Xiaomei didn't try to persuade her anymore. She wiped away her tears and said, "Don't worry, elder sister. I'll definitely find you a good job."
"I don't care if it's a good job or a tiring one. As long as I can get a job, I can settle down in Jiangcheng." Cai Damei just wanted to have a job.
Cai Xiaomei mobilized her whole family and relatives to help find a job for Cai Damei.
Cai Xiaomei couldn't find one, but her daughter - in - law, Zhang Cai'er, introduced a job.
It wasn't for Cai Damei but for Ye Yunniang.
"What about Pan'er if Yunniang goes to be a wet - nurse?" Cai Damei disagreed.
Cai Xiaomei sighed. "Elder sister, I don't want Yunniang to work either. But the jobs you can do can only support yourself. If you want to rent a yard and support Yunniang and her son, it's..." Cai Xiaomei didn't finish her sentence, and Cai Damei understood.
"I'm putting you in a difficult position."
"Elder sister, you're being too polite. We're sisters. I'm happy to help you." Cai Xiaomei retorted. "Pan'er is eight months old and can be weaned. Yunniang has good milk. If she goes to the Jiang Mansion to be a wet - nurse for a year, the money she earns will be enough for your family's food, clothing, and expenses for at least five years."
As she said this, Cai Xiaomei held up five fingers.
"So much!" Cai Damei was surprised.
"The Jiang Mansion is the wealthiest family in our Jiangcheng." Cai Xiaomei told Cai Damei in detail what she had learned.
The one who needed a wet - nurse was the son of Fourth Master Jiang, who was the most favored in the Jiang family.
The Jiang Mansion originally prepared four wet - nurses, but two of them had an accident. Now they needed to recruit two more to fill the positions.
Zhang Cai'er's mother's cousin guarded the corner gate of the Jiang Mansion. Knowing the news and that Zhang Cai'er's sister - in - law had just given birth, she sent a message for the Zhang family to prepare someone to go.
Zhang Cai'er's sister - in - law didn't have enough milk and couldn't go.
When Zhang Cai'er went home to visit her sister - in - law who had just given birth, she heard the news and told her mother about Ye Yunniang.
"The Jiang Mansion is a generous family. For those wet - nurses who fail the recruitment, they will be given 500 cash as compensation. Those who are hired will get two and a half taels of silver per month, and they will be provided with two sets of clothes throughout the four seasons. When the young master stops breastfeeding and the wet - nurse leaves, there will be additional reward money."
"The rules in a wealthy family are complicated. I'm worried about Yunniang." Cai Damei's tone wavered a little.
"You've watched Yunniang grow up. You know her character well. She's the most honest and reliable.
Sending Yunniang to the Jiang Mansion doesn't mean asking her to be a maid and fight for favor. As long as she takes good care of the child, the scraps from the Jiang family will be enough for your family to live on for a lifetime."
