The next morning, Gu Yi woke up earlier than usual.
She went for a brisk walk for half an hour and then came back to soak six pounds of soybeans.
She planned to let the soybeans sprout to just six centimeters, like the ones she sold to Li Gang yesterday. Although this reduces the yield to six pounds per pound of beans, they are crispier than longer ones.
Gu Yi thought it was crucial to build a good reputation first, which would ensure long-term success.
After working on this, Gu Yi remembered the cloth she bought for Ye Family's parents yesterday.
After breakfast, seeing there was nothing much happening at home, Gu Yi retrieved Ye's mother.
"Mom, since there's nothing much happening now, let's make a trip to town. Yesterday I bought a piece of cloth for a jacket for both you and Dad. We can go to the tailor shop in town to get measurements and have the tailor make it for us."
"Why did you buy cloth for us, wasting money like that?"
Ye's mother was the typical rural elderly woman, who spent her life unwilling to eat or dress well. Gu Yi treating her like this made her very happy, but she genuinely felt bad about spending money.
"Mom, my sister-in-law is being considerate. Please accept it. I'll accompany you to town later. Where's Dad? Let's go together."
Ye Qian understood the elderly woman's thoughts and chimed in quickly.
"Your dad's in the fields. Okay, I'll accept my daughter-in-law's filial piety. I'll tidy up, and both of you can accompany me. We have his measurements at home, just bring them along."
Ye's mother cheerfully went into the house.
The three headed straight to the tailor shop in town.
After measuring Ye's mother, she asked the tailor to measure Gu Yi, but Gu Yi refused. She felt she hadn't lost much weight yet, but she was determined to keep at it.
She bought the cloth merely for its design and fabric, aiming to motivate herself to stick to weight loss. Therefore, she didn't bring it today.
She's waiting until she reaches her ideal weight to have it tailored.
After leaving the tailor shop, Gu Yi said she wanted to go to the grain station to weigh herself, and Ye's mother and Ye Qian accompanied her.
"Sister-in-law, you look a lot slimmer lately. Are you too tired?"
Ye Qian hadn't noticed much, maybe because she saw her every day.
Today, upon closer look, Gu Yi indeed looked slimmer. Ye's mother also perked up her ears to listen, curious if she was truly worn out.
"It's not exhaustion. I just feel I'm too heavy and easily tired doing anything, so I've deliberately eaten less, stayed active, and soaked in mugwort each day to improve circulation. That's why I've lost some weight. It's inconvenient to weigh at home, so I thought about checking it at the grain station."
"We don't think you're overweight at all. Having some weight is blessing. While being active is good, you shouldn't eat less; it'll sap your strength and make you prone to sickness."
Ye's mother disapproved, thinking Gu Yi was overdoing it. She worried Gu Yi might take it the wrong way, so she spoke gently.
"Mom, it's alright. I know what I'm doing."
Gu Yi knew Ye's mother cared, but losing weight was the one thing she wouldn't compromise on.
Talking like this, they reached the grain station, explaining their reason for visiting.
Although the station staff seemed a bit displeased, they didn't say much. Gu Yi weighed herself—130 pounds.
In her past life at the army, she weighed 145 pounds, so she indeed lost a lot recently.
But given her height of 163, at 130 pounds she was still overweight, and needed to keep working hard.
The following evening, the beans Gu Yi soaked sprouted small shoots, and she placed them in wooden boxes.
Gu's father made ten boxes for her, and she used six this time.
While packing, Gu Yi thought about asking her dad to make more next time. Besides sending them to the county, she could sell in the village, town, and other villages, possibly earning some money.
On the seventh morning, Gu Yi feared the beans would stifle in bags, so she used a large bamboo basket. Ye Qian pushed the bicycle while she held onto it.
Upon reaching town, they loaded the beans into a car trunk.
Gu Yi and Ye Qian left their bicycles at Boss Wang's house and took a car to the county.
Upon arrival, they saw Li Gang waiting on a tricycle. As soon as they alighted, the driver opened the trunk, and Li Gang rush to move the beans onto the tricycle.
Once Gu Yi and the others boarded the tricycle, Li Gang couldn't hide his smile.
"Sis, these sprouts are really popular. The few pounds you brought last time sold out in no time, and lots of people asked about them the next day. Thanks to folks wanting to buy sprouts, other veggies sold well too."
Li Gang felt immense gratitude for not having outright refused them that day.
At the market, Li Gang weighed the beans—32 pounds in total.
Gu Yi said she was worried about weight loss from exposure, so she brought extra but would charge for only 30 pounds.
Li Gang's group didn't refuse, paying Gu Yi nine yuan, including 15 yuan more, requesting 50 pounds next time.
As Gu Yi was leaving, they handed her a cauliflower.
Spending more time with Gu Yi lately, Ye Qian grew fond of her sister-in-law.
Although younger than Ye Qian, Gu Yi was internally older, viewing Ye Qian like a child.
She spoke her mind, was transparent, and kind-hearted, so Gu Yi lovingly indulged her, becoming as close as real sisters.
Ye Family's parents kept remarking that marrying a wife like Gu Yi was ideal. Harmonious household dynamics foster cooperation in challenges, leading to better days. So they were always smiling.
Ye's mother praised her daughter-in-law to everyone, so much that Gu Yi often ran into enthusiastic aunts and young wives on the street.
The older women lavished her with praise, and the young ones asked for tips on pleasing their mothers-in-law, making Gu Yi avoid going out for a while.
These stories reached Gu Family's parents, bringing them assured relief.
Gu Yi's ability to manage relations with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law showed she would fare well at Ye's home, allowing them to finally ease their hearts.
Seeing Gu Yi staying home, Ye's mother knew it was due to her.
Outside, unless asked, she ceased speaking about Gu Yi, allowing things to settle down after a while.
Gu Yi kept rising early for exercise, switching fast walking to slow running, jogging for half an hour daily, with yoga in the afternoon and foot soak plus yoga in the evening.
She routinely watered the sprouts. After trying out selling in town and different villages unsuccessfully, she stopped.
Now, whenever families hosted gatherings, they'd order sprouts from her, served as a dish at banquets.
This way, she didn't have to peddle daily; she waited for orders at home.
As for delivering sprouts to the county, after several trips herself, Gu Yi started paying 50 cents each time to have them sent on a shuttle bus, with Li Gang waiting to collect them at the station.
Gu Yi busied herself at home, unaware a letter from Ye Qian sparked unprecedented curiosity within someone in the B City's army.