MGASC -Chapter 47 Craving Something Sour — Sour for a Boy, Spicy for a Girl?

While they were talking, Wang Yan came out carrying a bowl of noodles and set it down on a customer’s table, calling him “big brother” in a sweet voice.

When she looked up and saw Zhang Qiao and Yingzi across from her, she snorted contemptuously and turned away.

Zhang Qiao took a look around. There were four tables set up outside, and three of them already had customers.

At one table sat someone in a blue uniform, seen from behind. He looked familiar—wasn’t that Wang Mingqing?

She curled her lips into a faint smile. “Starting a price war? Don’t worry, that kind of business won’t last long.”

Yingzi huffed. “But it’s so unethical. Look at how smug she is—her tail’s practically sticking up to the sky. Sister-in-law, that slut has always had designs on Brother Yue. You really need to watch out for her. She’s sneaky. Brother Yue hasn’t been home much lately—if anything happens, come straight to me and Chen Gang.”

Zhang Qiao nodded, already forming a plan in her mind, then asked Yingzi where she could buy pickled mustard greens.

She’d probably been having pregnancy reactions these past few days—she was especially craving something sour.

Since there was fish at home, Zhang Qiao wanted to make a sour-and-spicy pickled fish to whet her appetite.

“Pickled mustard greens?” Yingzi had spent years around the market and knew every stall well. “Probably not. Nobody around here eats that stuff. Sister-in-law, they say ‘sour for a boy, spicy for a girl.’ You’re craving sour? Then it must be a boy. Brother Yue will be thrilled!”

No one sold it?

Zhang Qiao thought about it and realized it made sense. The market had only just opened up, and with transportation issues, goods from other regions couldn’t easily circulate here, nor could local products spread nationwide. But that also created an information gap.

In the early days of economic reform, many people got rich quickly precisely because they controlled certain information gaps.

“Yeah, I’ve really been wanting something sour these past couple of days. Has Tianyue ever said he wanted a son? We already have three little monkey boys at home—aren’t they enough to drive him crazy? I actually want a daughter…”

When Yingzi heard that, she hurriedly slapped her own mouth. “Peh peh peh! What daughter, sister-in-law—of course you should have a son! Brother Yue may not say it outright, but do you even need to ask? Men definitely prefer sons!”

Zhang Qiao was a bit speechless. She hadn’t expected Yingzi, so young, to have such thinking.

“What’s wrong with a daughter? Who can control whether it’s a boy or a girl? What—if I give birth to a daughter, should I strangle her the moment she’s born? If Lin Tianyue really dared to think like that, I’d divorce him!”

Zhang Qiao said this with full confidence.

Yingzi stared at her in shock. She’d never seen a woman like this before. In this era, having a daughter was considered shameful. If a wife gave birth to a girl, even if the husband didn’t complain, she herself would feel guilty. Yet Zhang Qiao could say so righteously that she’d divorce him if it came to that.

Either she was incredibly willful… or she truly had backbone.

Yingzi quickly tried to smooth things over. “Sister-in-law, just take it as me talking nonsense. I didn’t say having a daughter is bad—it’s just that having a son is better, right?”

Zhang Qiao said firmly, “Actually, I think sons and daughters are the same. But Yingzi, we’re women—we can’t look down on ourselves from the bone up. If you don’t even value yourself, tell me, will others value you? Take you, for example. You work so hard making money, doing business, supporting yourself. Do you really think you’re inferior to men?”

That hit Yingzi right in the heart. She straightened her chest. “Of course not! I earn more than Chen Gang every month. Even my parents say I’m more capable than my younger brother.”

“Exactly. So no matter whether it’s a man or a woman, don’t belittle yourself.”

Zhang Qiao’s words made Yingzi’s blood surge with excitement.

Suddenly, Yingzi grabbed her arm. “Sister-in-law, I just remembered—I know a peddler from northern Sichuan. He should have the pickled mustard greens you want!”

“That’s great! Take me there, quick!”

With Yingzi’s help, Zhang Qiao finally found the pickled mustard greens she’d been craving. They were actually homemade, pickled for personal use, and only after Yingzi vouched for her did the vendor agree to sell Zhang Qiao a few stalks.

Zhang Qiao treated them like priceless treasures and once again invited Yingzi and Chen Gang over, insisting they come eat fish at her place another day.

Yingzi thought to herself, what’s so great about fish? But she couldn’t resist Zhang Qiao’s enthusiasm and could only smile and agree.

Two days later, Chen Gang brought definite news: the principal had agreed to let Lin Xun and Lin Ran skip a grade. They’d just need to take a small test when school started—if they passed, they could move up.

Zhang Qiao relayed the principal’s exact words to Lin Xun and Lin Ran. The two had originally been worried that, being older, they’d have to study first grade with a bunch of little kids, which would be embarrassing.

As soon as they heard they could skip a grade, their motivation skyrocketed. Especially Lin Xun—he even asked Zhang Qiao to give him extra study tasks, afraid he might not pass the exam.

But Zhang Qiao had full confidence in the kids. Not only were they stunningly good-looking, their intelligence was clearly above average. Whatever she taught them, they learned quickly, which filled her—this “teacher”—with a strong sense of accomplishment.

To thank the principal, she had Chen Gang invite him over the day after tomorrow for a meal at their home.

The fish at home was still being kept alive—they hadn’t had the heart to eat it. Zhang Qiao decided to make pickled fish, and also asked Aunt Liu to buy some ribs and pork belly. She even planned to slaughter the chicken at home, intending to prepare several dishes to properly host their guest.

These past few days, Zhang Qiao continued her routine of translating an English book every night. Having something to do every day made her life feel full and satisfying.

Tomorrow was the dinner invitation, so she planned to go to the market again to buy more vegetables.

Just after breakfast, Aunt Liu came by saying Lin Tianyue had called.

Zhang Qiao followed Aunt Liu eagerly to take the call. On the way, they ran into Wang Yan head-on. Neither of them paid her any attention. Aunt Liu kept chattering away, asking after Lin Tianyue. Hearing two women talk together about the man she liked made Wang Yan feel utterly miserable.

At the door of Zhang Qiao’s house, she stopped Lin Ran, who had just come back from buying soy sauce, and pulled him aside.

“Aunt Yan, what is it this time?” Lin Ran glanced toward his own front door, sounding impatient.

Wang Yan tugged at the corner of her lips. “Lin Ran, let me ask you—what’s your family been busy with lately? I’ve seen Zhang Qiao buying a lot of good food.”

Lin Ran wanted to say none of your business, but he pressed his lips together, a bit eager to show off. “Aunt Qiao found a good school for my brother and me. In a little while, we’ll be going to school.”

“School? You’re already that old and still going to school?” Wang Yan was genuinely surprised.

In her view, these three kids were ones Lin Tianyue had picked up. Providing them food and shelter was already kindness enough—they should be grateful. And now he was even sending them to school? Lin Tianyue himself hadn’t even gone to school!

“Aunt Yan, do you think we don’t deserve to go to school?” Lin Ran shot back.

She was momentarily embarrassed. “That’s not what I mean… but is she really sending you to school, or is she trying to push you away? Does your dad know about this?”

Lin Ran was completely speechless. Going to school was a good thing—how did it turn into harming them once it came out of her mouth?

If that counted as harm, then he really wished Aunt Qiao would “harm” them more.