Chapter 26
"Of course, you can. It's your snack, after all. You two decide how to share it," Sang Luo responded.
Mrs. Chen had mentioned not bringing things every time, and Sang Luo didn't plan to bring anything this visit. But for the children's friendships, they were allowed to make their own decisions.
Hearing Sang Luo's agreement, Shen Ning happily fetched a small bamboo tube, put in two pieces, then added two more after some thought, cautiously explaining to Sang Luo and Shen An, "Two pieces for Brother Er Shan too."
Er Shan was the second brother of little Ya from the Chen family.
Shen An had no objections, and both siblings looked to Sang Luo for approval.
Sang Luo smiled, "I said it's your decision. But take two more pieces, so you and Shen An won't have to just watch Er Shan and little Ya eating later."
It meant the siblings could enjoy another piece later on.
Shen An and Shen Ning both smiled, not so much for the extra piece they'd get to eat, but because they could now share with their friends, something Er Shan and little Ya had previously done for them. Their excitement was palpable.
Despite the excitement, Shen An chose to stay home and guard their belongings, now considered his treasures.
Thus, Shen Ning only carried five pieces of pork rinds in her small bamboo tube, cheerfully following Sang Luo to the Chen family's house.
…
The August sun was too fierce, making it a poor time for farm work. Most men who had worked in the fields that morning were now resting. Women, however, took only a brief break before resuming their tasks like spinning hemp or weaving.
The Chen family was no different.
When Sang Luo and Shen Ning arrived at the Chen house, Shen Ning greeted Mrs. Chen and quickly joined little Ya, whispering and chatting away, soon running outside together.
Sang Luo wasn't concerned about them; she was focused on discussing her purpose with Mrs. Chen, who was bustling to offer her a chair.
Mrs. Chen was momentarily stunned, as if she couldn't believe her ears.
"Help you sell Fairy Tofu?"
"Yes, whether it's you or Auntie, I'll give half a coin for every piece you sell. How about it?"
Was there even a need to ask? It sounded like a windfall from heaven.
Yet, Mrs. Chen didn't understand.
"There's only one market every five days. Why don't you sell it yourself? That way, you won't have to share the profits."
Sang Luo shook her head: "I'm not asking for help to sell at the market, but to expand to the county town. Your family can provide help, and I'll go too. It's like having an extra stall, selling separately."
Mrs. Chen instantly grasped the idea; Sang Luo, having tested the waters the past two days, now sought to expand her business.
This Sang Luo...
Mrs. Chen pondered, "Entering the town requires a fee. What if we can't sell the expanded stock?"
Sang Luo confidently reassured, "I'll cover that. The entrance fee will be on me."
Fairy tofu cost her almost nothing, so she made the offer without hesitation. However, she added seriously, "Of course, if we set up a stall in the county, we need to get a pass from the local official, which costs a fee of five coins, and that would need to be paid by your family."
A pass was akin to an identity letter from the 70s and 80s in later times, serving as a population control measure. To enter a town or pass through checkpoints, one needed a valid identification, and for commoners, it was called a pass.
To enter the county town, the pass had to be drafted by the local official and then verified and stamped by the county magistrate.
For travel to other counties or states, the process was more complex, requiring approval from the state administration's household department.
Five coins weren't a small sum for rural folks, but fortunately, a pass was valid for three months. Mrs. Chen hesitantly agreed.
It wouldn't be right to expect someone to offer a money-making opportunity, cover the entrance fee, and also pay for the pass.
Resolved, Mrs. Chen said, "Of course, I'll get the pass from the local official shortly. We can go today, and it should be ready by tomorrow afternoon. Will you join me to visit the official's place later?"
Sang Luo hesitated, mainly because she had already spent all her earnings that day.
"Let's do it tomorrow."
Mrs. Chen noticed her hesitation, "Is it a matter of funds?"
Sang Luo nodded, "I spent today's earnings on some essentials."
Now committed to selling for Sang Luo, Mrs. Chen generously offered, "I'll advance the money for you. You can repay me when you're able. Otherwise, it'll delay us another day."
Appreciating the offer, Sang Luo agreed, "Alright, I'll get my household register and come to find you."
Mrs. Chen nodded, then inquired, "Besides labor, what else is needed? We can lend you buckets and basins if necessary. Let me know if you're missing anything. We can lend you items from our home."
In reality, the arrangement had evolved beyond a simple loan to Sang Luo. It was a mutually beneficial partnership. The more tofu she made, the more they helped sell, resulting in higher profits for both.
After all, if she contributed to running the stall, the earnings were divided accordingly. Selling just two more pieces of tofu meant she could earn an extra coin.
Chen Popo calculated the profits clearly, realizing this was no longer about helping Sang Luo, but about helping herself!
Reflecting on Sang Luo's ability to sell over thirty pieces of tofu within an hour at Sanli Village's grand market, Chen Popo's enthusiasm instantly soared.
The old lady's willingness to support was undoubtedly beneficial for Sang Luo, who cheerfully said, "Even if you hadn't offered, I would have brazenly come to borrow. I need a pair of buckets and, if possible, two smaller carrying baskets and a carrying pole. I now have two pottery basins at home. Carrying them by basket alone is challenging, but using a pole should be more effective."
Chen Popo, seeing her well-thought-out plan, agreed, "Alright, we have all those. I'll have your aunt accompany you to bring the items over."
Sang Luo interrupted, "No need to bother, Granny. They're light when empty. I can carry them myself. Let's decide on a day to go to the county town. We can bring the carrying pole from your house that day. Either you or Auntie can join me early in the morning to pick up the items from my place."
After stacking the buckets and small baskets and shouldering them, Sang Luo bid farewell to Chen Popo and left.
Qin Fangniang emerged from the west room, confused, just in time to see Sang Luo carrying away their buckets and baskets, with Chen Popo herself escorting her out. When the old lady returned, Qin curiously asked, "Mother, what were you calling me for just now?"
What she really wanted to know was the purpose of Sang Luo's visit.
It wasn't Qin Fangniang's first time borrowing items, but her mother-in-law had never been so enthusiastic as to escort someone out of the courtyard.
Mrs. Chen's face was beaming with joy: "It's a good thing."
As she walked back inside, she said to her daughter-in-law who was following her, "Weren't you envious of Sang Luo making money by setting up a stall? In a few days, I'll let you go with her to set up a stall in town."
Qin Fangniang was baffled.
Mrs. Chen's eyes twinkled with amusement, "She came over and asked us to help her set up a stall in town to sell fairy tofu. For every piece sold, she'll give us half a coin."
Qin Fangniang's eyes widened in surprise, "Half a coin for each piece sold? Mother, is this for real?"
Mrs. Chen glanced at her sideways, "Do you think I'd make up such a thing just to tease you?"
Qin Fangniang then broke into a smile, "It's not that, mother. I just didn't expect such a good opportunity to come our way."
Thinking of how Sang Luo sold over thirty pieces in less than an hour at the market the day before yesterday, she knew this product would also sell well in town. Even without Sang Luo's eloquence, she figured she could sell around thirty pieces, albeit taking a bit longer. That could earn her over ten coins in a day.
Even just earning ten coins would be worthwhile.
In those days, besides raising chickens and weaving, there weren't many income-generating opportunities for women at home. The number of chickens one could raise was limited since livestock also required feed.
To Qin Fangniang, the task Sang Luo offered was like a pie falling from the sky, landing squarely in their lap, igniting a fiery excitement in her heart.
Mrs. Chen, seeing her daughter-in-law's beaming face, said, "If Sang Luo had enough strength, she wouldn't have needed our help. When you go with her in a few days, pick the heavier loads yourself. Whatever she allocates for you to sell in town, you sell that amount. Don't assume that just because you carried it, you have to sell it. If she buys something, help her carry it back too."
Qin Fangniang replied, "Mother, I understand."
Having said this, the old lady didn't linger on the topic. She turned to fetch her daughter-in-law's household registration book, preparing for Sang Luo's arrival so they could go together to get the travel permit from the village head.
Mrs. Chen had just found the registration book when she heard a loud wailing outside.
She hurried out, just as little Ya came running in. Seeing her grandmother, Ya's eyes lit up, and she called out, "Grandma!" before running towards Mrs. Chen.
"Slow down, why are you running like that?" Mrs. Chen cautioned.
Mrs. Chen barely finished speaking when little Ya reached her, tugging at her sleeve, urging her to bend down.
Mrs. Chen instinctively bent over, about to ask what had happened outside, when she smelled a buttery fragrance. Something was suddenly stuffed into her mouth by little Ya.
Mrs. Chen immediately recognized it as pork crackling. The delicious treat was now in her mouth, already moistened with saliva. She was torn between spitting it out and savoring it, a real dilemma.
"Where did this come from?"
"Sister Ning gave it to me, and brother Ershan asked me to bring some back for you and mom to try."
"Did you thank your Aunt Ning? Why aren't you eating it yourself?"
"I did thank her! Aunt Ning gave me four pieces. Brother didn't eat his, so I saved one piece," the little girl explained, rushing to Qin Fangniang and attempting to stuff the lard residue into her mother's mouth.
Qin Fangniang quickly turned her head away and blocked with her hand, "I won't eat it, save it for yourself and your brother."
While the mother and daughter gently refused each other, a commotion erupted next door, "Shen Ning got to eat pork lard residue, why can't we have some? Mom, when are we rendering pork lard?"
Chen Popo clearly heard the unmistakable voice of Shen Jin; the two courtyard walls did little to muffle the sound.
Chen Popo looked at her granddaughter in puzzlement, "Did Shen Jin see you eating the pork lard residue?"
The little girl shrank her neck under her grandmother's gaze and confessed, "I took Ning to find Brother, but we didn't know Shen Jin was playing in the reeds. He tried to snatch Ning's bamboo tube of lard residue, so Brother just picked him up and moved him aside."
She added quickly, "We didn't hurt him, just moved him aside to stop him from bullying Sister Ning."
It was a scene of effortlessly picking someone up.
Chen Popo could easily visualize the incident.
Fortunately, Shen Jin, focused only on food, wasn't the type to make a fuss over a slight nudge; otherwise, he would have been throwing a tantrum somewhere else by now.
Indeed, Shen Jin's attention was solely on the food. He watched Shen Ning, Chen Er from next door, and their little sister enjoying pork lard residue, standing just close enough to be tantalized by the aroma.
Unperturbed by Chen Er's intervention, he was single-mindedly pestering his mother to buy meat for rendering lard residue.
Following behind, Shen Yin and Shen Tie, who were not even as tall as an adult's thigh, were also drooling and making a fuss.
"Are you sure those pork cracklings are Shen Ning's and not from the Chen family?"
Li Shi was skeptical.
Shen Jin asserted, "I heard it clear as day; they are Shen Ning's!"
Six-year-old Shen Yin and five-year-old Shen Tie also chimed in agreement.
Li Shi's eyes flashed with doubt. Thinking carefully, she realized she hadn't smelled any pork fat being rendered at the neighbor's in the past few days.
Frowning, she turned to Shen San, "Where did they get the money to buy pork?"
Since the day Shen San was publicly called out by Sang Luo in front of the neighbors and exposed by Mrs. Chen next door, he had lost face and had been irritable these past few days. Hearing about the eldest family's affairs only added to his annoyance.
"How should I know? Who knows how they got those things? They can't even afford grains, let alone pork."
Li Shi muttered to herself, "Indeed, they have been quite bold these days; those two kids haven't come begging for food."
Shen Jin, seeing his parents only concerned with their irrelevant chatter and not mentioning when they would buy pork, started wailing again, "Mom, I want meat, I want pork crackling!"
Li Shi, her ears ringing from the noise, snapped back, "Enough, stop your fussing! It's just pork crackling. We'll render some fat in our house too."
"When is 'eventually'? If we're going to render it anyway, do it tomorrow, Mom."
Li Shi, now irritated, retorted, "Who renders pork fat just like that? In this sweltering heat, do you think it won't spoil?"
Then there was another round of wailing and howling from next door, with the older ones leading the younger ones, almost loud enough to lift the roof.
Mrs. Chen: ...
"Well, now what? Crying over a piece of pork crackling, how will they cope in the future?"
Mrs. Chen chewed on the pork crackling in her mouth, savoring it, "Hmm, truly delicious."
Chapter 27
Sang Luo arrived promptly, coincidentally just as the commotion next door subsided with Shen Jin getting scolded and storming out.
Unaware of the uproar caused by a piece of pork crackling, Sang Luo wouldn't have cared much even if she knew, treating it as just an amusing incident.
She brought her household registration book and a half-pack of small dried fish, joining Mrs. Chen to visit the local headman.
Seeing her with the dried fish, Mrs. Chen thought for a moment, then took an egg from the jar in the kitchen.
"Ah, there goes another coin."
But to expedite the paperwork, such measures were necessary.
The headman of Shili Village didn't actually live in Shili Village.
In the Dagan Dynasty, a 'li' consisted of a hundred households, and with just over twenty families, Shili Village clearly didn't qualify.
Fortunately, it wasn't too far away, located just a mile beyond Shili Village in Zhoujia Gully.
The headman, surnamed Zhou, wasn't particularly close with Mrs. Chen, but they were acquainted. Mrs. Chen handed the half-pack of dried fish and the egg to Mrs. Zhou, whose smile instantly warmed up considerably.
Upon understanding their need, Chen Popo led them inside and sent her son to summon Zhou Lizheng from next door.
The process went smoothly. Zhou Lizheng, after understanding that the plan was to sell food in the county town, took out pen and ink to note down their details. For a fee of ten coins, he promised to visit the county town the next day, ensuring they could collect the permit by evening. With that, the matter was settled.
Returning to Shili Village, Sang Luo and Chen Popo parted ways at the crossroad. Once home, Sang Luo took the siblings to pick fairy tree leaves, preparing goods for their next trip to Sanli Village.
Indeed, before she could enter the county town, Sang Luo had to play the role of a hawker in Sanli Village one more time. She needed to earn enough for the permit fee and entrance costs.
With the extra time on their hands, Sang Luo continued to clear and cultivate the land behind their house, tirelessly working every moment with the children.
Having only consumed pig liver soup at noon, Sang Luo made a proper meal of dry rice in the evening.
Well, it was barely qualifying as dry rice.
Limited to a single earthenware pot and lacking a dedicated steaming vessel, cooking dry rice was a challenging task. It required reducing the water and carefully managing the fire, relying on her recent experience with the pot and rudimentary stove.
While fetching rice, Shen An, concerned about their dwindling supply, suggested, "Big sister, we could also eat some bean rice, right?"
Sang Luo reassured him with a smile, "Don't worry about meals, I won't let you go hungry. Those soybeans I have are earmarked for another purpose."
When it came to serving the meal, they used the large wooden spoon for cooking and serving soup, each person receiving half a spoonful.
It wasn't much, but this was white rice – a luxury that even eaten plain was a delight, not to mention the dish of stewed eggplant cooked with pork fat, seasoned with salt, soy sauce, perilla, and wild onions.
Midway through the meal, Shen An suddenly burst into tears, leaving both Sang Luo and Shen Ning baffled. He hastily wiped his eyes, crying and laughing simultaneously, "Big sister, this life feels like a dream."
As he tried to dry his tears, they only seemed to flow more freely, "If only our big brother could come back, it would be perfect."
This single remark triggered Shen Ning, her eyes reddening as tears began to well up, eventually spilling over in streams down her cheeks.
The tearful little girl looked to Sang Luo, "Big sister, will big brother come back? The villagers say since the government hasn't reported his death or removed him from the family register, he might still be alive. Are they right, big sister?"
Sang Luo remained silent.
According to the original host's memories, Li Shi, always resentful, often bitterly complained about the issue of fallen soldiers not being removed from the registry.
"Because the government doesn't officially register the death, they aren't obligated to provide compensation to the families of fallen soldiers. Without registration, the Emperor's decree granting two years of tax exemption for families of soldiers who died in battle doesn't apply."
"There were cases in neighboring villages where soldiers were confirmed dead but not officially registered."
"So, not being registered doesn't really prove anything. And those conscripted with Shen Lie have been back for almost half a year; the likelihood of his return after such a long silence is very slim."
"The greater likelihood is death in battle, nameless and unclaimed, with no one to tend to the remains or provide a proper burial."
"But faced with the earnest tears of the two children, she couldn't bring herself to speak the harsh truth, unwilling to destroy their last shred of hope."
"Sang Luo nodded, 'Right, no bad news is good news.'"
"Such a comforting statement seemed to reinforce the little bit of faith in the children's hearts. They tried to smile for Sang Luo, wiping away tears while meticulously finishing every last bit of food in their bowls."
"Their appetite was not due to the situation, but because the white rice and the oily, meaty dish in the bowl were a rare luxury, hard to come by, and too precious to waste a single bite."
"The next day, heading to Sanli Village as Sang Luo had anticipated, the miraculous tofu wasn't selling as well as the first two days."
"With the buckets borrowed from the Chen family, she made twenty-four pieces of tofu that day. Even after walking around Sanli Village twice, she only sold fifteen pieces. The remaining nine were sold on the way back, calling out at each village."
"From these twenty-four pieces of miraculous tofu, she earned thirty-two wen, which she then exchanged for three and a half liters of soybeans and two eggs."
"This time, Sang Luo was cautious with her spending. She only spent three wen on an iron needle and two wen on malt sugar, bringing the remaining twenty-seven wen back home. After a visit to the Chen family to repay five wen, she still had twenty-two wen left."
"This was the first time she had some spare money overnight."
"Unbeknownst to Sang Luo, her prompt repayment excited the Chen family, especially Qin Fangniang, who was about to set up a stall in the county to sell miraculous tofu, as if she could already see herself making money."
"That evening, without waiting for Sang Luo to come, Old Lady Chen went early to Zhoujiagou, retrieved the two women's passes, and sent her daughter-in-law to deliver them to Sang Luo."
Old Lady Chen was meticulous. When Qin Fangniang prepared to deliver the travel permit, she was instructed to only call out from a distance outside the door and never to step inside Sang Luo's house.
Sang Luo's skill in making 'Fairy Tofu' was now her livelihood. Old Lady Chen worried her daughter-in-law might accidentally see something inappropriate inside Sang Luo's home, which could create unnecessary misunderstandings.
…
On her sixth day in this new world, Sang Luo was ready to enter the city.
On Qin Fangniang's first day of setting up a stall, she was so excited that she barely slept the night before. She woke up exceptionally early, while it was still dark, and her husband, Chen Youtian, accompanied her to Sang Luo's place.
Sang Luo was also up early, fully prepared by the time Qin Fangniang arrived.
The lotus leaves for wrapping the goods, bowls for taste testing, sugar water, wooden spoons, and other necessities were packed in the carrying basket. Sang Luo also brought along six bunches of purslane picked the previous evening and some sun-dried small fish, hoping to exchange them for some coins.
Thinking of purchasing household items, Sang Luo carried the 22 coins she had saved the day before in her sleeve.
Shen An and Shen Ning eagerly followed her around, clearly wanting to join. However, Sang Luo explained, "The pass for the county was too expensive, I can't take you this time. Don't worry, once we're financially stable, I'll definitely take you to the city."
After comforting the children, who were capable of cooking and managing the fire, Sang Luo confidently left them at home and set off with Qin Fangniang.
Chen Youtian, having accompanied his wife, volunteered to carry the heaviest buckets, while Qin Fangniang took over Sang Luo's lighter baskets.
Eventually, the three of them headed towards the village exit, with only Sang Luo empty-handed.
Chen Youtian continued to help for about three to four miles until it was fully daylight, then handed the carrying pole back to Qin Fangniang and returned home.
Sang Luo, having endured their affectionate display, finally took back her load and thanked Chen Youtian. After he left, she joked with Qin Fangniang, "Auntie, Uncle Youtian is really good to you."
Qin Fangniang replied somewhat shyly: "It's just simple brute strength."
The couple shared a similarly reserved and bashful nature.
Observing Sang Luo's frail appearance, Qin Fangniang asked, "Can you manage to carry it?"
Sang Luo smiled, "It's manageable. It's much lighter than the buckets of water I carried initially. After carrying things these past few days, I've built up some strength. Auntie, have you been to the county town before?"
"Yes, I have," Qin Fangniang replied, hesitantly adding, "But it's been many years, and I'm not very familiar with it."
In fact, her experience was quite limited. Her first visit to the county town was during the year they fled famine. They only reached the town gates, where a wealthy family was distributing porridge. As refugees, they stayed outside the gates, never actually entering the town.
Her second visit was for settling in Shili Village, accompanying her mother-in-law to trade and purchase supplies. That time too, her mother-in-law went inside while she waited outside. After all, people living outside the town needed a pass to enter, which cost money. Who would willingly spend five coins just to visit the town for no reason?
Over the years, only the men in her family would go to the town for temporary work during the agricultural off-season. She hadn't been there herself.
Thinking this, Qin Fangniang began to feel nervous.
Sensing her unease, Sang Luo shifted the conversation to farming and asked what crops could still be planted at this time of year.
Qin Fangniang remembered seeing Sang Luo's backyard with a small patch tilled and planted with mint and perilla she had transplanted from the wild. She realized Sang Luo wanted to grow vegetables.
This was something Qin Fangniang was good at. She gradually relaxed.
"Our local climate is favorable. At this time, we can still plant many things like radishes, Malabar spinach, turnips, cabbage, mustard greens, cucumbers, onions, garlic, and Chinese chives. If you want, I can bring you some seeds when I return today."
"That would be great, though I don't have much experience in gardening."
Qin Fangniang's face lit up with a smile, "It's not difficult. I'll teach you when the time comes."
Qin Fangniang was honest and enthusiastic. Promising to teach Sang Luo, she spent the entire journey sharing her knowledge about farming.
Sang Luo had experience in gardening during her years living in the mountains, but her original persona lacked such skills. To properly cultivate the crops, she indeed needed a mentor, especially since she was unfamiliar with the appearance and cultivation of many vegetables at that time, so she listened very attentively.
One teaching and the other learning, they passed Sanli Village without realizing it and soon left the mountain path. The landscape opened up, and from a distance, they could see the earthen walls of the town.
"That's the county town ahead."
Chapter 28
Qin Fangniang was both nervous and excited, and her continuous talk about farming ceased.
For Sang Luo, it was also her first time seeing the ancient city walls and gates up close. As they approached, she realized they were nothing like the grand structures she had imagined, but rather simple and made of compacted earth, no more than five meters in height.
The characters "Qi Yang County" above the city gate were different from the simplified characters of Sang Luo's original time, resembling the traditional script of ancient times.
Fortunately, her original persona was literate. Although not as educated as her brothers, she learned needlework and household management from her mother, including the recognition of common characters, so she wasn't illiterate after time-traveling.
By now, it was broad daylight, and a long queue had formed at the city gate. Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang joined the line behind people pushing carts and carrying baskets and burdens.
Three guards with spears were at the gate, two managing entry and one managing exit.
"What's your business here? Show your pass and proof!"
Sang Luo quickly took out her pass from her sleeve and handed it over.
Perhaps for preservation or due to the high cost of paper, the pass used by local villagers to enter and leave the county town wasn't made of paper, but a rectangular wooden plank. It had Sang Luo's name, place of birth, and family information inscribed on it. The guard examined it, found everything in order, and handed it back to her.
Sang Luo, having observed how others entered the city, quickly took out two coins from her sleeve and handed them over, saying, "This is for the entry fee for myself and my auntie here."
She gestured towards Qin Fangniang, who was standing behind her.
Qin Fangniang, somewhat flustered, handed her own pass to the guard. After being allowed through, she hurriedly gave Sang Luo a coin she had prepared in her sleeve, explaining, "My mother-in-law said you'd cover the entry fee only if we couldn't sell our goods. I believe we will be able to sell them, so we should pay our own way."
Sang Luo, amused, accepted the money without protest.
She was confident in her ability to sell her products.
Seeing Sang Luo accept the coin, Qin Fangniang breathed a sigh of relief.
As soon as they entered the county town, Qin Fangniang's eyes were overwhelmed by the sights.
Many people were entering the city at that time, carrying various items. What caught Qin Fangniang's attention the most was the architecture of the town. She muttered, "The houses here are so impressive. Back home, only the Wang family has such brick and tile houses. Here, every house is like that. It's so grand."
Sang Luo nodded in agreement, though for her, the town couldn't really be considered grand, especially compared to modern standards. But compared to their village, it certainly was.
Qin Fangniang took a few steps on the stone-paved road, feeling its smoothness and comfort under her rough cloth shoes.
"This road is so clean, all paved with stone slabs. How many slabs must that be?" she wondered.
She thought about how much easier and cleaner it would be to walk on these roads during rainy days, without getting her shoes soaked and muddy.
Wait—clean?
Stopping in her tracks and clutching the ropes of the carrying pole, Qin Fangniang gazed in amazement at the exceptionally clean streets before her.
Swallowing nervously, she instinctively looked to Sang Luo and asked, "Wife of Ah Lie, where shall we set up our stall?"
"This is different from the village market. There isn't a single stall set up along the roadside."
As Sang Luo looked around at the other villagers with their goods, she was about to suggest following them when she heard three drum beats from not far ahead, followed by someone shouting loudly, "The market is open!"
Upon hearing the drum, those who had just entered the city carrying burdens or pushing carts quickened their pace, all heading in one direction.
It turned out there was a designated market area. Sang Luo quickly called to Qin Fangniang, "Auntie, let's follow them."
The crowd was heading towards an open space surrounded by buildings, not far from the city gate. It was the designated market of Qiyang County. The drum that had just sounded was located on a high platform on the second floor of a building at the entrance of the market.
Inside the market, many stalls had already been set up, and a few local residents were already entering with empty baskets. It seemed that people like Sang Luo, who came from afar, were among the last to arrive.
Entering the market required queuing. Sang Luo craned her neck to see ahead. At the front of the line was an old man with a cart, who was resting his single-wheel cart at the market entrance and handing over a copper coin to the gatekeeper.
The gatekeeper scrutinized the contents of the old man's cart and then accepted the coin, tossing it into a copper basin behind him. He handed the old man a rectangular wooden tag the size of a child's palm. The old man tucked the tag into his sleeve and then continued pushing his cart inside.
Qin Fangniang watched anxiously and whispered to Sang Luo, "Do we have to pay here too?"
A middle-aged man in front of them turned around and said, "Haven't been to the county to sell goods in a while, have you?"
His comment revealed his experience.
Sang Luo quickly asked for advice, "Sir, it's our first time here. We've already paid the city entry fee. Is there another fee for entering the market?"
The man looked at the gatekeeper and explained to them, "It's a new rule from three months ago. To enter the market, you have to pay a market tax. The fee depends on what you're selling. For ordinary items and foodstuff like grain and vegetables, it's one coin per person."
He glanced at their goods and advised in a lower voice, "If you have a lot of goods, paying one coin is okay. The market is busy, and you'll sell quickly. If you have less, walk the streets and alleys to sell. You can save a coin that way. Just be careful not to set up a stall on the main street. If the patrolling officers catch you, the fine is five coins, maybe more."
Sang Luo understood that this was another tax imposed by the authorities.
Qin Fangniang felt anxious. They hadn't even started selling and had already spent two coins on entry fees. Now, entering the market would cost another two coins. Four coins were a significant amount for farmers. Spending money before earning anything felt like throwing it into water.
"Sister-in-law of Ah Lie, let's split up and sell our goods by carrying them on shoulder poles."
"No hurry," Sang Luo reassured, then asked the middle-aged man, "Sir, is the market entry fee charged per person, regardless of the amount of goods?"
The man nodded, "Yes, per person."
"Are there several such markets in the county? And do all of them charge a market tax?"
Seeing that Sang Luo was more interested in the number of markets than the cost, the man smiled, "There are two. This one is the East Market. Farther inside, on the other side of the county, there's the West Market. The market tax is the same in both."
"If we sell by carrying our goods, as long as we don't set up a stall on the paved main streets, we won't be caught by the patrol officers, right?"
"That's right. If you want to be extra careful, you can sell by calling out in the alleys where residents gather."
Sang Luo made up her mind and said to Qin Fangniang, "The county folks aren't familiar with Fairy Tofu yet, so it's better to sell in a crowded place like the market. As it's our first time doing business, we aim for a good start. I suggest you go into the market, Auntie. I'll cover the cost for today."
Selling by carrying goods outside isn't impossible, but it challenges one's salesmanship. Qin Fangniang, being shy and reserved, might find it hard to even open her mouth if she were to sell outside, making it difficult to sell the two buckets of Fairy Tofu.
Qin Fangniang opened her mouth hesitantly, "How can I let you pay?"
The middle-aged man, overhearing their conversation about "Fairy Tofu," grew curious and glanced into their buckets and baskets. However, with one covered by a wooden lid and the other by lotus leaves, he couldn't see anything.
Hearing Qin Fangniang's concerns about the one-coin market tax, he advised, "If you don't have money, it's not a problem. Just tell them you'll pay later when entering. If you haven't paid the tax, the gatekeeper will give you a green card. Later, officials will check inside, and you can pay the tax after selling your goods and get a red card."
Understanding that the market tax could be paid after selling their goods, Qin Fangniang sighed in relief, though she still felt reluctant to spend the money.
Sang Luo had already handed a copper coin to Qin Fangniang, smiling, "Auntie, it's your first time doing business, so aim for a bustling start. You take these two buckets of Fairy Tofu into the market to sell. I'll cover the market tax. My load is lighter, and since we're selling the same thing, I'll sell outside in the streets. This way, I can also get to know the county better."
Qin Fangniang was stunned, "Both buckets for me to sell?"
She felt bewildered, wondering if Sang Luo was bad at calculations. Giving her the larger portion meant losing half a coin per sale.
With one coin already spent on the entry fee and now another for the market tax, plus taking on the responsibility of selling the larger portion, Qin Fangniang couldn't understand Sang Luo's logic.
Being honest her whole life and never taking advantage of others, Qin Fangniang felt uneasy with such an obvious benefit being offered.
"Otherwise, let me take your basket to sell, and you go into the market."
Her discomfort was evident on her face.
Sang Luo smiled, "Auntie, you stay here and sell. You carried all this way for ten miles, I can't take advantage of you. Besides, this is just a one-time partnership. We'll handle our own expenses next time. I want to walk around and get to know the place, including the West Market."
Sang Luo patted Qin Fangniang's back, "Let's settle it then. You go ahead and join the line. I've packed these two buckets full today, with forty pieces inside. It's hard to say who will sell out first, but let's meet back here at the East Market entrance once we're done."
Not waiting for Qin Fangniang to hesitate, she divided most of the lotus leaves and other tasting necessities between them, leaving only one bamboo knife. With fewer items to sell on her end, she cut the tasting samples in advance and placed them in another bowl, giving the bamboo knife to Qin Fangniang. After thanking the middle-aged man who had been helpful with information, Sang Luo picked up her basket and left the queue, heading into the town.
Caught in a moment of hesitation, Qin Fangniang found herself clutching the coin in her hand.
Once Sang Luo had left, Qin Fangniang regretted her hesitation, almost biting her tongue in frustration. Why fret over a mere coin or two? With no money, she could have just used a green card. Feeling like she had unfairly taken advantage, she lightly slapped her own face, berating herself internally: "Why so slow to react and so foolish!"
In the brief time, the few people ahead had already entered the East Market, and soon it was Qin Fangniang's turn. She paid with the coin Sang Luo had given her, received a red card with two unfamiliar characters, and when she looked up again, Sang Luo was nowhere in sight.
Chapter 29
Sang Luo didn't rush to sell in the alleys but walked along the main street to familiarize herself with the layout and shops of the county town.
The small stalls and vendors of Qiyang County were concentrated in the East and West Markets. The shops along the main street were clearly more upscale, offering rouge and fragrances, ready-made clothes and fabric stores, gold, silver, and jade shops, pubs, eateries, and shops for wooden and bamboo wares – everything one could need.
Sang Luo, curious and interested, entered several shops to inquire about prices, though she knew she couldn't afford much.
When she came across a pharmacy, her eyes lit up, and she walked in, carrying her basket.
The morning was still early; the pharmacy wasn't crowded but had a steady flow of customers. The doctor was busy diagnosing patients, with a few others waiting their turn.
Sang Luo set her basket by the wall and approached the medicine counter. A young attendant noticed her and asked, "Miss, are you here for a consultation or to pick up medicine?"
Sang Luo inquired at a medicine shop, "Do you have gypsum?"
The shop assistant nodded, "Yes, do you have a prescription?"
Sang Luo shook her head, "No prescription, our village doctor only told me to buy gypsum."
Village doctors often prescribed medicine based on hearsay or home remedies without examination. The assistant, accustomed to such requests for individual herbs, simply asked, "How much do you need?"
"Half a pound should do."
The assistant was briefly surprised but proceeded efficiently, considering gypsum was inexpensive and might be needed in large quantities for continuous use. He wrapped half a pound of gypsum into two paper packages.
"That'll be five coins."
The price matched Sang Luo's expectations. She paid and placed the gypsum into her basket, ready to leave.
Half a pound of gypsum would last quite a while.
Leaving the pharmacy, Sang Luo inquired about where to buy a stone mill, finding one at a stone shop in the western market for 265 coins – a substantial amount.
Sang Luo calculated the cost in her mind, realizing she'd need to save for a few more days.
Having gathered the information she needed and walked around the main street of the county, Sang Luo didn't linger, entering a side alley to focus on her primary task.
By now, she was adept at selling 'Fairy Tofu.' As long as someone showed curiosity or struck up a conversation, she could skillfully encourage them to try a taste.
Residents of the county, far wealthier than those in the countryside, didn't hesitate to spend two wen for a piece of food, especially something novel like Immortal Tofu, which they had never tasted before. Sang Luo, without much to carry, managed to sell all twenty-four pieces of tofu she had brought, along with some purslane and dried small fish, after wandering through six or seven alleys.
Along with these, she also sold the ten-odd bunches of purslane and dried small fish she brought.
Sang Luo counted her earnings: fifty-nine copper coins, adding to the twenty-two she had brought. After deducting seven wen for the gypsum, entry fee, and market tax, she had a total of seventy-four wen.
With her now empty basket, her first task was to head back to the main street and buy scrap cloth from a clothing store – she needed to make a purse.
Scrap cloth was a popular item in clothing stores, coveted by thrifty women both in the city and countryside.
Of course, these scraps were indeed small; any piece large enough to make a pouch would not be sold as scrap, so finding a good piece required aesthetic judgment and skill.
The female store owner sorted the scraps by quality and size. The lowest quality consisted of tiny, coarse cloth pieces, suitable only for patching shoes or mending, sold for one wen per two jin (about 1 kg).
The second quality was plain or dark blue coarse cloth, slightly larger in size. The biggest piece was only the size of a palm. Skillful cutting could yield material for two coarse cloth patchwork purses or be used for shoe soles, slightly better than the tiniest scraps, priced at one wen per jin.
The third quality, while still coarse cloth, was finer and had more color variety. Sang Luo chose this quality, paying two wen for one jin.
As for the finer silk and satin scraps, they were priced beyond her current means, so Sang Luo didn't even consider them, focusing her spending where it was most needed.
Not far from the clothing store was a fabric store. Sang Luo thought about buying some filter cloth for making tofu but decided against it after calculating her budget.
Making tofu would have to wait until she could afford the necessary equipment; for now, her priority was buying wooden barrels to carry more Immortal Tofu to the market daily.
With this in mind, she stopped wandering aimlessly and headed straight for the East Market.
Without goods to sell, she didn't have to pay the market tax at the East Market and was simply a buyer. It took her a while to locate Qin Fangniang amidst the bustling crowd.
Arriving late, their stall location wasn't ideal, but there were still two women at the front, with Qin Fangniang handing out samples for them to taste.
Watching with amusement, Sang Luo didn't approach immediately, waiting until the women made their purchases and left. Seeing Qin Fangniang standing earnestly waiting for the next customer, Sang Luo was reminded of Chen Youtian on their first day at the market, awkwardly waiting behind a basket of eggs.
The couple really were quite similar.
Sang Luo chuckled and approached, cheerfully greeting, "Auntie!"
Qin Fangniang was delighted to see Sang Luo, "You're back already?"
Peering into Sang Luo's carrying basket, she exclaimed with joy and surprise, "You've sold everything?"
Sang Luo replied with a smile, "Yes, I only brought a little over twenty pieces today."
"That's impressive! I only managed to sell about twenty myself," Qin Fangniang confessed, glancing at other stalls, realizing her own shortcoming, "I'm just not very good at calling out to customers."
Laughing, Sang Luo responded, "I noticed, you're just like Uncle Chen. He was also quiet when selling eggs. Calling out isn't hard, it's just the initial hesitation. Once you start, it'll become more natural."
Then, standing in front of the stall, Sang Luo began to call out energetically, "Fairy Tofu for sale, delicious Fairy Tofu! A fresh treat that cools and detoxifies, only two coins per piece!"
Whenever someone glanced her way, even if they only slowed their steps, Sang Luo would smile and ask, "Have you tried Fairy Tofu? It's the perfect delicacy for hot weather, suitable for both cold and hot dishes, sweet or savory. Only two coins per piece. Care to try something new?"
Her crisp, clear voice and appealing words quickly attracted several women with baskets.
Qin Fangniang, who had been staring in amazement, finally came to her senses, "We have small pieces mixed with sugar water for tasting. You can try it for free."
Perhaps influenced by Sang Luo, she tried to project her voice more, initially feeling uncomfortable. But after a few sentences, her voice became louder and no longer soft-spoken, gradually gaining volume.
That's more like it for calling out to customers.
Then Qin Fangniang discovered that once she started, it wasn't that difficult, and it actually felt quite good.
Moreover, she noticed that more people started coming over, and several women were willing to try the samples.
Like opening a floodgate, she handed out samples and, following Sang Luo's example, began to call out loudly. Initially, it wasn't smooth, only remembering "Immortal Tofu, two wen per piece," but after a few tries, she got the hang of it.
"Refreshing and heat-relieving, sweet and savory, suitable for cold or hot dressing."
They had eaten it several times at home, and Qin Fangniang knew it well.
Praise it – that's the key!
She chatted with the women who came to buy, explaining how delicious Immortal Tofu could be prepared.
Once she started talking, she couldn't stop. Qin Fangniang was surprised at her own eloquence. Importantly, this ability to sell was making her money – a delightful realization that made her feel almost weightless.
Seeing her transition from novice to adept, gradually taking control of the situation, Sang Luo quietly stepped back, letting Qin Fangniang take the lead, while she watched from the sidelines.
It proved that a novel food item, unknown to everyone, would sell well as long as one dared to speak up, making people aware and interested. Especially in the county market, which had a stronger purchasing power than rural markets.
The remaining eighteen pieces of Immortal Tofu were sold in less than half an hour by Sang Luo.
Qin Fangniang, looking at her empty buckets and feeling the money in her purse, was almost in disbelief.
It was incredibly fast.
There were some who came over, drawn by the activity, and expressed a desire to try the remaining samples.
Qin Fangniang, refocusing, called out to attract more people and distributed all the samples, effortlessly preparing for the next day's market.
After distributing all the samples, she checked the sundial at the center of the eastern market; it was not even midday yet.
Qin Fangniang looked at the still bustling Eastern Market with a hint of regret: "Sang Luo, can you make more for tomorrow? I'll bring a few more pottery basins and our home's cart to the market. There are a lot of people in the county town, and I think we could sell even more, which would also save you the trouble of carrying them on the road."
She had seen several carts in the market.
Sang Luo smiled: "Sure, but first, we need to buy another pair of wooden buckets."
The cart Qin Fangniang mentioned was similar to a flatbed cart of later times, but just having the cart wasn't enough; the pottery basins they could carry were also limited.
"Right, right, right." Qin Fangniang came back to her senses, remembering that she hadn't given Sang Luo the money yet, and hurriedly handed over her purse: "All the money from selling is here, please count it."
Today, she had only brought money for the entry fee, not a penny more. This empty purse was specifically given by her mother-in-law last night for collecting today's sales.
Sang Luo, without any hesitation, took the purse and stepped aside to count the money.
Eighty copper coins, not one more, not one less.
Sang Luo then took out twenty coins and handed them back to Qin Fangniang along with the purse, smiling: "Auntie, this is your share, twenty coins for forty pieces of Immortal Tofu. Please count them as well."
Qin Fangniang, who usually didn't handle financial matters at home, was touching so much money for the first time and couldn't help but grin, showing all her teeth.
After counting twenty coins, she handed one coin back to Sang Luo, "Wife of A'Lie, I'll pay the market tax myself. I wasn't planning to accept it initially and before I realized, you had already left. If I used your money, my mother would scold me."
Excluding the city entry fee and market tax, she made a profit of eighteen coins. Even her husband working odd jobs in the city during winter wouldn't make much more than this.
Qin Fangniang was overjoyed and satisfied. After giving the tax money back to Sang Luo, she put the remaining nineteen coins into her purse and tucked it away contentedly.
Thinking of Old Lady Chen's straightforward and exacting nature, Sang Luo smiled and accepted the money without refusal, adding sixty-one coins to another pocket, now carrying a total of one hundred thirty-three coins.
Carrying her load, Sang Luo called Qin Fangniang to join her in purchasing wooden barrels.
At this moment, a clerk from the east market arrived, looking at Qin Fangniang and said, "Have you sold all your goods? Please return the tax badge."
Monitoring and collecting tax badges from stall owners at the market is one of the tasks of the clerks. As vendors sell most of their goods, they must hand back the tax badges. Otherwise, vendors could blend with the next batch of buyers, possibly reusing the tax badge for evasion.
Qin Fangniang, new to this, was unaware of these regulations. However, like most commoners at the time, she respected and complied with official orders without question.
Without any hesitation, she pulled out the tax badge from her sleeve and respectfully handed it to the clerk.
…
Wooden barrels were available for sale in the east market.
The barrels were crafted by an experienced artisan. Tested with water on-site, they were reliable and leak-proof. A barrel cost fifty coins, and buying a pair came with a free carrying pole. This was a few coins cheaper than those in the woodcraft shops, and the quality was nearly the same.
Sang Luo decisively purchased a pair, and her one hundred thirty-three coins quickly dwindled to just thirty-three.
Carrying the newly acquired pair of barrels, she stacked her carrying basket on top of the barrels. The extra carrying pole was also tucked inside. Sang Luo then went to an old man selling millet from a single-wheel cart and spent twenty-one coins on three liters of millet. Naturally, buying from a small stall, the old man threw in a little extra.
Qin Fangniang watched in awe, realizing the true expense of setting up a household without land or fields. Just buying a bit of grain was costly. In a short time, one hundred twenty-one coins had been spent.
Qin Fangniang didn't know exactly how much money Sang Luo had, but she had a good idea of how much they had brought to sell that day.
That must have been all of it, right?
Surely it was all spent?
If not all, then there couldn't be much left.
Qin Fangniang touched her own purse, already elated from earning nineteen coins that day. Now she felt even more blissful, not having to spend a single coin herself.
Only the money that could be saved was truly money.
If Sang Luo knew what Qin Fangniang was thinking, she would reply that although it wasn't all spent, there wasn't much left.
She now had only twelve copper coins left in her hand.
Sang Luo didn't mind the expense, as the items she bought were necessities. With the addition of two new barrels, if Qin Fangniang could bring a cart tomorrow, they could sell more Fairy Tofu, potentially earning an additional eighty coins in a day, quickly offsetting the cost of the barrels.
After spending most of her money, Qin Fangniang asked, "Shall we head back now?"
Sang Luo shook her head, "Auntie, it's our first time here. Let's see what else is sold in the east market. I'm a bit hungry too. Let's also find something to bring back for A'Ning and Xiao An."
The children couldn't join them today, surely curious about the county city. While they couldn't visit the city yet, bringing back some local snacks would be a nice treat.
Hearing that Sang Luo wanted to buy food in the city, Qin Fangniang initially thought it extravagant but then remembered Sang Luo's skill in making Fairy Tofu and checked her impulse to comment.
She hadn't fully explored the county city herself, not even completing a full round of the east market. After all, they had paid an entry fee to come here.
Her perspective shifted, and Qin Fangniang felt it would be foolish not to explore more: "Okay, let's have a look around."
Each carrying their loads, the two women wandered through the east market.
The east market was bustling with food stalls, particularly abundant in pastries like steamed buns, fried pancakes, ring cakes, and Hupi cakes, each uniquely shaped and crafted.
Sang Luo paused at a Hupi cake stall.
The rich aroma was irresistible, stirring up cravings in her stomach.
She asked the stall owner, "Old sir, how much are these Hupi cakes?"
Qin Fangniang tugged at her sleeve cautiously, whispering, "These cakes contain mutton and are expensive."
Before she could finish, the elderly man making the cakes cheerfully replied, "Three coins each."
Indeed pricey, as an additional half coin could buy half a liter of grain, enough for a meal with the children.
Yet, the Hupi cakes were freshly made. Sang Luo watched as the vendor spread finely chopped mutton, added an appetizing sauce, and used crisp oil before baking them in the oven.
The cakes in the oven, about half-cooked, emitted a blend of meaty, wheat, and sauce aromas. Despite the cost, her craving won over.
The children likely had never tasted such a delicacy.
She rationalized the expense as equivalent to one and a half pieces of Fairy Tofu – a worthwhile indulgence for a new culinary experience.
Money should be spent wisely, but one must not neglect their own well-being. Given the original body's poor health and the effort of carrying heavy loads for miles and working tirelessly, the meager Fairy Tofu eaten earlier was insufficient.
Sang Luo handed over three coins, "Please, one Hupi cake for me."
"The old man at the bakery happily accepted the money and swiftly wrapped up a freshly baked cake in oiled paper for her. As Sang Luo took it, the warmth permeated through the paper into her hands. She tore off a piece and handed it to Qin Fangniang."
"Qin Fangniang took it, bewildered: 'Why are you giving this to me?'"
"Sang Luo tore off a piece for herself, wrapping the remaining two-thirds in oiled paper and putting it in the bucket. 'Aren't you hungry? We've been busy all morning. We should eat something oily and meaty to fill up.'"
"After biting into the piece of Hu Bing (pancake), Sang Luo gave a thumbs up to the baker: 'Uncle, your cakes are delicious! When I have more money, I'll buy several more.'"
"Just two bites weren't enough to satisfy her craving; she'd need at least one or two cakes to quell her hunger."
"The cheerful baker responded: 'Then, little mistress, please come again next time.'"
"'Absolutely, I'll come again!'"
"Qin Fangniang, holding the small piece of cake, hesitated to eat it, watching Sang Luo enjoy hers and involuntarily swallowing her saliva."
"After a moment's hesitation, she tore off a tiny piece, barely larger than a fingernail, and put it in her mouth."
"Delicious, truly delicious!"
"Savoring the taste, she couldn't bring herself to eat more, turning to Sang Luo: 'This cake is so good. Ah Lie's wife, may I take this little piece back for my mother and children to try?'"
"She felt somewhat embarrassed. Sang Luo had given it to her as a snack."
"But it was just too good, rich with oil, flour, and mutton – her family had never eaten anything like it. She couldn't bring herself to spend three wen to buy one, considering the twenty li round trip to town and the costs of city entry and market taxes, from which she barely made twenty wen, leaving only eighteen after expenses."
"There were just too many expenses at home."
Sang Luo was not at all bothered by it. She had shared a bit of her food out of politeness, while Qin Fangniang's intention to save it for the elderly and children reflected her filial and kind heart. Sang Luo smiled, "Auntie, please do as you wish."
Upon hearing Sang Luo's words, Qin Fangniang's face lit up with a smile. She bent down, took out a clean lotus leaf from her bucket, and carefully wrapped the small piece of Hu cake, placing it back in the bucket.
Thinking of her in-laws' and children's delighted expressions upon tasting the Hu cake, Qin Fangniang's face unwittingly broke into a broad smile.
After finishing her small piece of Hu cake, Sang Luo decided not to buy anything else. With the remaining nine coins in her sleeve, she contentedly set off on the return journey with Qin Fangniang.
Unbeknownst to Sang Luo,
In Shili Village, outside their straw house, a standoff was occurring over a piece of food, involving five children.
Chapter 30
Shen Jin, accompanied by two younger brothers, was standing outside the straw house. Shen An and Shen Ning, who had been clearing land behind the house, were now guarding their home's entrance, faces full of wariness.
Although Shen Jin was a year younger than Shen An, he was taller and sturdier. However, he was standing lower and wasn't there to fight. Feeling confident, he looked up, reasoning with the siblings.
"What you're doing isn't right. We've been eating at your house for so many years, and now we just want a couple of pieces of your pork cracklings. Why can't we have them?"
Shen Jin felt extremely wronged. For the past three days, he had almost rolled into mud pits in their yard, yet his mother still hadn't agreed to buy meat and render lard for him.
Remembering the aroma from two days ago, he had been so tantalized that his craving had only intensified over these few days, having tried everything yet still unable to get a taste.
Hence, he thought of trying his luck at Shen Ning's place, wondering if she might still have some.
Unexpectedly, Shen An and Shen Ning were unwilling to share, guarding the door like protecting against a thief. Once the door was shut, the siblings stood guard.
Initially unsure if Shen Ning still had any pork cracklings left, Shen Jin now felt certain there must be some.
Shen Jin, seeing Shen An's stern silence, suddenly remembered the last time Shen An and Shen Ning had eaten pork cracklings at his house. Recollecting the time his mother had rendered lard at the beginning of the year, his eyes lit up with realization. "At the beginning of the year, remember? My mother rendered lard and gave each of you three hot pieces in a small bowl. You can't deny that, can you?"
Shen An remained cold and tight-lipped.
That time was shortly after they had received news of their elder brother's death. He and his sister had been crying every day, and their aunt and uncle, feeling guilty, had treated them especially well for a while.
But they hadn't touched those three pieces of cracklings, unable to eat due to grief. Their aunt had returned them as they were.
Yet, Shen An chose not to speak about it.
Shen Jin, assuming silence as admission, pressed on, "See, you don't have anything to say, right? Just this once, you ate six pieces from our house. Give us two pieces each, and we'll be even, right?"
Shen Ning, puffing her cheeks in frustration, finally retorted, "Who's evening out with you? Who owes you anything? Before we split the household, it was also our house. We didn't eat yours. My brother also worked the fields."
Shen Jin was taken aback.
Their eldest cousin did more than just farm; he also hunted.
Shen Jin, though young, had heard enough rumors in the village to know his elder cousin had taken his father's place in the military and died in battle.
Shen Jin's fingers trembled slightly, and he faltered.
As a child, he intuitively avoided acknowledging his fault.
"Let's not talk about before the split. Even recently, after the division, you often came to our house asking for food. What's wrong with just giving me a few pieces of cracklings in return?"
Shen Yin and Shen Tie, also longing for the cracklings for days, had almost forgotten about them due to their short attention spans. However, Shen Jin's constant reminders reignited their cravings.
Repeatedly being reminded, the two younger brothers yearned intensely for the cracklings. Following their elder brother's lead, they eagerly joined him, only to realize he couldn't obtain any.
Shen Yin, on the verge of tears from craving, sulkily added, "Sister, just a few days ago, our mother also gave you vegetable porridge."
Shen Tie, standing beside his fourth brother Shen Jin, sucked on his fingers, saliva almost dripping. Only five years old, he understood little but knew that his sister used to agree to whatever he asked. He gazed pleadingly at Shen Ning: "Sister, I want to eat some pork cracklings."
Shen Ning could retort Shen Jin, but facing her two little cousins on the verge of tears, she was at a loss.
Shen Jin, however, saw this as his younger brother Shen Yin hitting Shen Ning's weak spot and smugly added: "Exactly, you were eating the food my mother gave just a few days ago."
Shen Ning had almost calmed down, but Shen Jin's words reignited her anger.
Angrily, the young girl retorted: "Two spoonfuls. Aunt knew we had no food left, not even chaff. For two days, she only gave two spoonfuls of vegetable porridge, which was all watery. We could count the rice grains mixed into the boiled wild vegetables. Divided among three, we couldn't even find the rice."
Recalling the hardships of the recent days, Shen Ning's eyes reddened: "My sister-in-law almost starved to death."
"My brother went knocking on doors in the middle of the night begging for food, and your parents pretended not to hear!"
"We are still so young. Why did our uncle separate us without land or fields?"
The more she spoke, the more aggrieved she felt, tears rolling down her cheeks as she cried. Her words became jumbled, mentioning her uncle and Shen Jin's parents alternately.
Finally, wiping her eyes fiercely, she accused Shen Jin: "You even said my brother was a beggar. I won't give you any cracklings! Don't even think about it!"
"Shen Jin was dumbfounded, but it was either Shen Yin or Shen Tie who started crying loudly."
"Once one started crying, the other joined in as well."
"The birds in the mountains were startled by the thunderous crying of the two children, fluttering away with their wings."
"Shen Ning, still with tears on her face, was suddenly struck dumb, her tears stopping in their tracks."
"No matter how harshly she spoke, among the Shen family's children of this generation, apart from the eldest brother who could already do farm work, only she and her second brother were the oldest. Before being separated, she and her second brother had essentially raised their two younger cousins, including little Shen Tian, who was too young to leave the family."
"Shen Ning, at six years old, was already adept at chasing around her two- or three-year-old cousins Shen Yin and Shen Tie with a spoon to feed them."
"For a nine-year-old girl dealing with her tiny cousins, where could there be any resentment or annoyance?"
"Tears met tears between the older and the younger."
"The two little ones were still wailing with their eyes shut, while the older one was bewildered by the crying."
"Shen Jin was also left dumbfounded."
"Shen An watched the scene speechlessly, wondering how just a few words had turned the situation into this."
He first looked at his sister, Shen Ning, and seeing that she had stopped crying, he then turned to his two little cousins, saying, "Stop crying."
"Waaaah…"
"Boohoo…"
Who would listen to him?
Both their third brother and elder sister were arguing fiercely.
After craving pork fat for three days, now realizing they wouldn't get any, wasn't crying justified?
They were utterly heartbroken.
Shen An's forehead throbbed as he raised his voice, "Shen Yin, Shen Tie, if you want pork fat, shut up immediately. No more howling!"
A sudden silence fell in the forest.
The two youngsters opened their tear-drenched eyes. The youngest, Shen Tie, choked on his sobs, looking at his second cousin with a hiccup, then covered his mouth with his tiny, dirt-streaked hands after a delayed reaction.
Shen An: …
"You want pork fat?"
The two little ones nodded furiously, with Shen Jin, who was standing beside them, nodding even more eagerly.
Shen Ning, in a panic, tugged at her second brother's sleeve: "Second Brother, our sister-in-law has hardly eaten any herself."
Shen An reassuredly patted his sister's hand and said to Shen Yin and Shen Tie, "If you want pork fat, see that patch of land behind our house? Help me clear it. If you do a good job, I'll give each of you a piece in the evening."
The two little brothers, their eyes still moist and faces streaked with tears, looked confused, "How do we clear land?"
One six years old, the other five - how could they understand land clearing?
Yet, Shen An genuinely intended to teach them.
He led the little ones to the back of the house, not handing them a hoe but showing them how to use bamboo sticks to scrape away the soil and pile up the stones and grass roots.
He specifically used his small hoe to show the little ones what properly cleared land looked like: "Properly cleared land should look like this, just soil, no stones or grass roots. It must be cleared this way to plant anything."
The little brothers became excited: "Second Brother, I can do it!"
It's just like playing in the mud.
They did that every day.
The only difference was that their second brother had specified they must remove stones and roots.
With bamboo sticks in hand, the brothers eagerly started digging where Shen An had just shown them.
Shen Jin, without a bamboo stick, scrambled to find a suitable wooden stick to use. Ignoring Shen Ning's fierce glares and her insistence that Shen An hadn't asked him to help, he excitedly joined his younger brothers in their task.
This infuriated Shen Ning, who pouted and glared at her second brother.
Shen An hadn't seen such a range of expressions on his sister's face for a long time. He instinctively wanted to pinch her puffed-up cheeks, but seeing his hands were dirty, he withdrew them, leaning in to whisper: "It keeps them quiet, and three pieces of pork fat in exchange for their help in clearing the land is a good deal. It'll mean less work for our sister-in-law, and we need to prepare the land for planting soon."
Lowering his voice even more, he added, "Think about Auntie Li's cupboard."
Auntie Li's cupboard, where she stashed food, locked but never safe from Shen Jin's sneaky hands.
Of course, Shen Jin wouldn't dare take things from other people's homes, but growing up together, did he even consider their home as 'other people's'?
Shen An worried that a moment's lapse could lead Shen Jin directly into their house.
Their house didn't have a lock.
With daily tofu-making, their house bore too many traces, and even a child like Shen Jin shouldn't be let in.
If Uncle and Auntie started prying, it wouldn't be long before they figured everything out.
Shen Ning's eyes widened in realization and she turned to look at Shen Jin, but Shen An tugged at her, saying, "I'm not saying he'll definitely do that, but it's better to keep him busy rather than always guarding against him. In a few days, they'll think the pork fat is gone and will calm down."
Shen Ning was still not happy, not about giving Shen Yin and Shen Tie their share - it was fair since they helped - but about giving anything to Shen Jin.
She resented the idea of rewarding Shen Jin.
But then she thought of her sister-in-law's secret family recipe and how tirelessly she worked, traveling far to sell tofu and then coming back to toil in the fields, so exhausted at night that she barely moved in bed, yet still waking up in the middle of the night to make tofu.
Shen Ning, no longer speaking, pursed her lips and went back to the land they were clearing. Shen Jin, having been closely watching the siblings' whispered conversation, was now squarely in Shen Ning's gaze.
Huffing, Shen Ning picked up her small hoe and started working the land. After hoeing a bit, she glanced at Shen Jin's progress and darkly warned, "Don't think you can just play in the mud all day and expect my brother to feed you. If you don't clear enough, you won't get anything."
Shen Jin, who was indeed planning to play in the mud all day, stiffened. Finally acknowledging them, he looked up at Shen Ning, then turned to ask Shen An, "How much do I need to clear for the pork fat?"
Shen An, unceremoniously, used a stick to mark out a two-foot square area for Shen Jin.
"You need to clear this section. Shallow work won't do; it needs to be at least a foot deep, and you must thoroughly remove all stones and roots."
He illustrated the depth with the stick in his hand.
In the Daqian dynasty, one foot was roughly equivalent to thirty centimeters, making the area Shen An marked about half a square meter.
It might seem small, but the hard, dry mountain soil and the entangled roots and rocks beneath made clearing the land challenging. The size Shen An had marked was what he himself could only manage in a day's hard work.
If he could do it, so could Shen Jin.
As for the two younger cousins, they didn't ask, and Shen An chose not to address it, turning a blind eye.
Shen Jin examined the area Shen An had marked and the length of the stick, having never worked in the fields and unaware of the difficulty of clearing land. He was only focused on one thing, "I get the pork fat after I finish?"
Shen An, having made a promise, would not go back on his word, "Once I check and confirm it's done properly, with no stones or roots and the soil loosened, I'll give you a piece of pork fat."
Shen Jin became excited, "Okay! You mean it, right? I'll be right back, just wait for me!"
He then turned and ran down the hill.
Shen Yin and Shen Tie, watching their older brother run off, were perplexed. But now having a task at hand and the promise of pork fat as a reward, they eagerly continued digging with their bamboo sticks, not minding their brother's sudden departure.
Shen Ning was indifferent to Shen Jin's departure, feeling it was better if he left. However, she noted his parting words didn't sound like he was giving up on the pork fat.
As expected, it wasn't long before Shen Jin returned, carrying a small iron hoe from their house on his shoulder.
Unlike the less effective stone hoes Shen An and Shen Ning were using, Shen Jin had brought a proper, pointed iron hoe.
Shen Jin boasted confidently, "Watch and see, I'll be the first to get that pork fat today!"
Shen An's mouth twitched slightly, moving Shen Yin and Shen Tie away from Shen Jin. He then warned Shen Jin, "Be careful not to hurt yourself with that hoe. I'm not covering any medical expenses."
Shen Ning couldn't help but laugh out loud at this.
Shen Jin's first hoe strike nearly missed its mark, making him glare in frustration, "Who are you underestimating?"
Indeed, all kids in the mountains could handle a hoe; it was just a matter of strength and technique.
Shen An chose not to comment further, focusing on his work. He was clearing land near the house, keeping an eye on Shen Jin and the house entrance.
Around noon, when Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang returned via the mountain path, they saw all five children, armed with hoes, stone hoes, and bamboo strips, either standing or squatting, busily clearing land around the hut.
Sang Luo was taken aback.
Qin Fangniang, who had helped carry the buckets, was also surprised.
Shen An, working near the hut, first noticed his sister-in-law returning and called out to her. He hurried over to help her with her load, reacting quickly.
Followed closely by Shen Ning, then by the three Shen brothers from the third family, who had heard the commotion and came running over.
From tallest to shortest, the three brothers peered around the corner, then simultaneously retreated.
Sang Luo, observing Shen Jin and his brothers from a distance, gestured towards them and asked Shen An, "What's going on here?"
Shen An, looking somewhat embarrassed and anxious, whispered, "They wanted some pork fat and were crying at the door, so I decided to let them work on clearing the land in exchange for pork fat."
After saying this, he cautiously glanced at Sang Luo and added, "I didn't promise them much, just one piece each."
To his relief, Sang Luo responded with a laugh, "That's fine. Just make sure they don't hurt themselves. It's too hot right now, and there's no shade. Stop the work for now to avoid heatstroke."
Shen An smiled, relieved at his sister-in-law's approval, "I understand. I'll send them back for now and let them return when it's cooler in the afternoon."
He helped Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang move their items under the eaves of the house, careful not to open the door and bring them inside.
This was despite the fact that the people who came with them were from the Chen family, who had been quite kind to him and his sister.
In his busy and seemingly effortless handling of things, Qin Fangniang didn't seem to suspect anything amiss.
Taking the small piece of Hubing wrapped in lotus leaf from the bucket, Qin Fangniang bid farewell to Sang Luo and hurriedly left down the mountain path, heading back to the village.
Once Qin Fangniang was gone, Shen An urged his sister-in-law to quickly wash her face and hands and softly instructed Shen Ning to keep an eye on their things and the house door, before heading over to Shen Jin and his brothers.
Shen Jin, visibly nervous, pulled on Shen An's arm, "About the pork fat deal, you're still going to honor it, right?"
In his view, such valuable items were always decided upon by the adults.
When Sang Luo wasn't home, Shen Jin dared to ask Shen An and Shen Ning for things, but the moment Sang Luo returned, the authority shifted.
He belatedly realized, did the promise made by Shen An still hold any weight now that Sang Luo was back?
It's worth noting that this wasn't just Shen Jin's understanding; it's a common perception among many children.
Shen An was also nervous when Sang Luo asked about it earlier. His sister-in-law had given him and his sister the authority to decide on the use of the pork fat, but that was for their own consumption, not to give away.
Then, it turned out, his sister-in-law was the best there could be.
Shen An, who was somewhat mature for his age, felt a sense of pride swell within him. He glanced at Shen Jin and said, "Of course, my word counts. My sister-in-law treats me and Ah Ning the best. She gave me the remaining pieces of pork fat and allowed me to decide on their use. But it's too hot now, and she's worried about you getting heatstroke, so no work at noon. You can come back when it's cooler in the afternoon."
Shen Jin, looking at the patch of land he had already half-cleared, was somewhat reluctant, "It's not that hot."
He was worried that Shen An might change his mind by the afternoon.
Children's words are not always set in stone; it's common for them to change their minds, and Shen Jin was reluctant to leave without securing the pork fat.
Shen An gave him a stern look, "Are you going back or not? If you don't, there won't be any pork fat left for you."
Shen Jin was almost desperately fixated on that piece of pork fat, "Fine, I'll go back, but you better not go back on your word this afternoon. I've been hoeing for so long, my hand's blistered from holding the hoe."
As he spoke, he extended his right hand, showing Shen An the blistered area near his thumb.
Though calling it a blister might be an exaggeration, there was indeed some redness.
Shen An pursed his lips, "Who's going to go back on their word?"
"It's agreed then, if you go back on your word, you're a puppy."
Dropping this remark, Shen Jin carried his little hoe and left with his two brothers, glancing back every three steps. Even from a distance, he didn't forget to shout, "You can't trick me!"
This made Shen Ning roll her eyes in exasperation.
When they got home, Shen Jin was immediately confronted by his mother Li Shi as soon as he entered the yard, "Where have you been taking your brothers all morning? And why did you take a hoe to play?"
"Just playing around a bit." Shen Jin propped the hoe against the courtyard wall and dashed into the main house. He grabbed a water jug, gulped down a cup of water thirstily - toiling under the sun for an hour had left him parched.
As for the matter of helping Shen An with work, Shen Jin was smart enough not to mention it. His mother wouldn't allow it if she knew.
After all, he couldn't rely on his mother; getting that piece of pork fat today depended solely on Shen An.
Li Shi was puzzled, wondering what he meant by "just playing around a bit" and then turned to question the two younger ones.
Shen Yin was quite cunning. Without anyone specifically instructing him, he instinctively knew his mother didn't like his second brother and sister. Keeping his mouth shut, he shook his head and dashed into the main house, scrambling onto a stool to pour himself some water.
After half a morning of digging up mud, stones, and roots, he was quite exhausted – far more tiring than playing with mud.
Only Shen Tie got caught by Li Shi, "Tell me, what have you been up to all morning?"
Shen Jin and Shen Yin, who had slipped away earlier, felt a sudden jolt of panic. They stopped drinking water and ran back to the entrance of the main house, frantically gesturing to Shen Tie.
Held firmly by his mother, Shen Tie, unable to wriggle free, wailed, "Playing with mud."
Inside the house, the two older brothers almost burst into laughter.
It wasn't wrong; they were indeed playing with mud.