Chapter 31
At Sang Luo's place, after sending off Shen Jin and his two younger brothers, Shen An turned to help his sister-in-law carry things into the house.
When they realized the two new barrels were purchased by their sister-in-law that day, and found several liters of grains and bone-in meat in the smaller carrying baskets on top of the barrels, the siblings were almost jumping for joy.
Sang Luo, seeing the children focused on transferring grains from the bags, unaware of the hu biscuit tucked aside, took out the oil-paper bag, "Come see what this is?"
The siblings simultaneously turned their heads, then saw the oil-stained paper package in their sister-in-law's hands unfold, revealing more than half a piece of appetizing oily biscuit inside!
"Hu biscuit?" Shen An asked uncertainly.
"Sang Luo was surprised: 'Have you eaten this before?'"
"She remembered there wasn't anyone selling this at the market."
"The siblings nodded together, their eyes dimming a bit: 'Big brother bought it for us once.'"
"Great, that had reminded the two children of their elder brother again."
"Sang Luo quickly tried to distract them: 'Go wash your hands and come eat the cake. It's best when it's still warm. Someday, I'll take you to the county to eat freshly baked ones.'"
"Shen An nodded and led Shen Ning to go wash their hands."
"When they returned, the remaining half of the cake was divided into three parts by Shen An, who offered the largest piece to Sang Luo. But she didn't take it: 'You eat it, I've already had some in the county.'"
"Turning around, she went to lie down on the bed, not minding that her clothes couldn't be considered clean after a day's outing."
"Sang Luo was utterly exhausted, having carried loads back and forth for twenty li. Even her hair felt tired, and in the room, apart from a bed, there wasn't even a chair to sit and rest."
"Right now, Sang Luo didn't even want to move a finger; she just wanted to collapse on the bed like a limp noodle."
"And that's exactly what she did."
"Seeing her like this, the siblings stopped eating and approached her. Shen Ning climbed onto the bed and asked, 'Big sister, do your feet hurt?'"
"She looked ready to start massaging them right away."
"Sang Luo, who was ticklish, quickly moved away: 'I'm just tired, don't worry about me. You and Shen An go eat your cake.'"
The siblings didn't heed her words; Shen Ning, after confirming twice that her big sister didn't need her leg massaged, clambered down from the bed and set about preparing to cook soup.
The radish at home, as Sang Luo had mentioned, was to be stewed with pork bones. Now with the pork bones bought, Shen Ning, knowing it was time for lunch, started making the soup without needing to ask.
Her big sister's health wasn't great, and she had been working so hard recently. What if she fell ill again?
She needed to nourish her big sister.
The siblings cooperated silently; Shen Ning started the fire while Shen An brought a cup of cool boiled water for Sang Luo, saying, "Big sister, have some water first."
He then took the family's earthenware pot to fetch water, cleaning the chopped pork bones along the way.
By the time Shen An came back, Shen Ning had already kindled the fire and set the pot over it. Turning to Sang Luo, she inquired, "Big sister, should I add the radish now?"
Radish, also known as white radish in later times.
Sang Luo, relieved from cooking duties, sat up sipping her water and instructed, "Wait for the water with bones to boil first, skim off the scum with a wooden spoon, then simmer on low heat before adding the peeled and chopped radish. Don't throw away the radish peel. Peel it a bit thicker, cut into small pieces, season with a little salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. We can eat it with plain porridge tonight."
Pickled radish peel was a dish Sang Luo particularly liked – delicious and calcium-rich. Unfortunately, they lacked chili peppers and garlic in their household.
The Shen siblings, hearing this new way to eat radish peel for the first time, took note of it. One tended the fire while the other washed the radish, busily peeling and chopping it.
It was a laborious task without a proper knife, relying only on sickles, bamboo knives, and stone knives, but the children seemed adept, managing the chores efficiently without causing Sang Luo undue worry.
While stewing the bone soup, the siblings, despite their cravings, refrained from touching the biscuit.
Soup paired with biscuit made a complete meal; naturally, they waited for the soup to be ready to enjoy it together with their big sister – a shared family meal was always more enjoyable.
With nothing else to do, Shen An elaborately explained to Sang Luo his reasons for employing Shen Jin and his brothers to clear the field in exchange for pork lard. In the end, he was still nervous, fearing that his big sister might disapprove.
"All the money in the house was earned by their big sister, who had previously suffered neglect and illness at the hands of their third uncle and aunt, nearly dying. Now, Shen An felt anxious about using the money she earned to buy meat for his cousins."
"He explained all the reasons for his actions and his concerns, trying to figure out how to make amends."
"Shen An lowered his head, 'Shen Yin and Shen Tie really can't do much work. It'll just be for two days. I'll make sure they understand that once the oil scraps are gone, they won't come again.'"
"His voice was weak. He had a soft spot for the two younger cousins he had helped raise."
"Sang Luo didn't mind much. One was five and the other six, with Shen Tie being a 'virtual' two-year-old. In modern times, they would be in kindergarten. A few scraps of pork fat weren't worth fretting over to her."
"What concerned her was Shen An's worry about Shen Jin, who might be tempted to sneak into their house due to his greed, adding to her caution."
"Indeed, making miraculous tofu every day couldn't go unnoticed. She buried the leaf residue as fertilizer, but the filter cloth was stained from use, something a keen observer might notice."
"Plus, she planned to buy a stone mill for making tofu, which would add more tools... Sang Luo looked around the cramped straw hut, which lacked even a proper stove."
Making tofu requires boiling soy milk. Using this makeshift stone stove and small pot is feasible, but it limits the quantity and requires much more effort.
It seems necessary to have a proper kitchen with a surrounding wall and a lock. Otherwise, we'll have no privacy whatsoever in our future endeavors.
"Your concerns are valid. You and Ning should be more vigilant recently and ensure our home is secure. If Shen Jin really works the land earnestly, don't fret over a few pieces of pork fat. Just give it to him."
Collaborating with the Chen family to sell 'Immortal Tofu' in the county has stretched Sang Luo's limits. First, the distance is greater, and second, more tofu needs to be made. Moreover, timing is crucial in farming, and missing the right time could mean no harvest for certain crops.
Honestly, exchanging a piece of pork fat for Shen Jin's half-day labor feels a bit exploitative to Sang Luo. But then, remembering Shen Jin's glib tongue, any guilt she feels quickly dissipates.
After all, it's a case of mutual agreement - she's not one to interfere.
This wholehearted affirmation from his sister-in-law makes Shen An feel thoroughly reassured and secretly delighted. Isn't this both an affirmation and a compliment, easing his worries?
A smile spreads across his face as he turns away to tend the fire, quietly reveling in his joy.
Shen Ning, standing close, glances over and sees his expression. She lets out a soft chuckle but doesn't tease her brother about his innocent delight.
…
"At the Chen family, Qin Fangniang had eagerly shown off the money pouch as soon as she got home, excitedly telling everyone she had earned eighteen wen."
"She carefully unwrapped the small piece of Hu Bing she had packed, dividing it into five tiny portions. Aside from her taste test, every family member got a bite to try."
"She watched them eat, never once closing her mouth in contentment."
"In the hot noon, Old Man Chen and Chen Youtian were also at home. The whole family gathered together, listening to Qin Fangniang excitedly recount her trip to the county, describing how she entered the city, heard the gongs, went to the Eastern Market, the hustle and bustle there, and how well the miraculous tofu sold."
"She especially praised Sang Luo, for letting her sell the extra tofu; for offering to pay the market tax for her first time, boosting her confidence; and for remembering to bring back a Hu Bing for Shen An and his sister, even sharing a piece with her."
"In summary, two words: Integrity!"
"She ended up praising her mother-in-law, who had extended a helping hand during a crisis, thus gaining Sang Luo's friendship and the opportunity for their family to sell miraculous tofu."
"So, it's true what they say: good people receive good rewards. Her mother-in-law is indeed a very good person, and now her good fortune has arrived."
Old Lady Chen: ...
This is the first time I've realized how eloquent my daughter-in-law can be.
It seems like she's picked up some hawking skills from the market, boosting her confidence and unlocking her gift of the gab, hasn't she?
Qin Fangniang, completely oblivious to the look her mother-in-law was giving her, was just too excited. While she managed to maintain a semblance of normalcy alongside Sang Luo on their trip, once back home amongst her own family, she couldn't contain her excitement and just let loose.
She even recounted the nineteen copper coins she brought back from the market several times over.
Shifting the topic, she said, "Mother, Sang Luo suggested that I gather some wild vegetables this evening, bundle them with straw, and take them to sell in the eastern market tomorrow. She said they go for one coin for two bundles, and everything she brought today was sold out."
Old Lady Chen nodded: "Then you should go out and pick some this evening."
Qin Fangniang continued eagerly: "Mother, I was thinking, if we sell some wild vegetables and earn a few extra coins, I could buy a piece of pork bone tomorrow. We could use the white radish to make a nourishing bone soup. Sang Luo said it's nutritious – it helps kids grow taller and eases leg pain for you and dad. Just think, selling a couple of bundles of wild vegetables could get us a bone, and it's not expensive."
Old Lady Chen: ...
Has she fallen under the influence of the Sangs?
"Throughout the conversation, constantly hearing 'Ah Lie's wife' from both sides, Old Lady Chen was almost tired of hearing it."
"But this gossipy chat was quite pleasant, and it seemed to liven everyone up."
"'Okay, if wild vegetables can be exchanged for money, let's do as you say. I'll buy one tomorrow to make soup.' Then she asked, 'Did Ah Lie's wife mention how much miraculous tofu she's going to make for sale tomorrow?'"
"This was what Old Lady Chen was most concerned about."
"Qin Fangniang smacked her forehead, 'I almost forgot! This stuff is a novelty in the county and sells well. I discussed with Ah Lie's wife, and she agreed to make more tonight. Tomorrow, we'll take a cart and set up stalls in both markets.'"
"Paying one coin for market tax only to leave by mid-morning is a loss."
Qin Fangniang also mentioned Sang Luo buying two wooden barrels, "If our family adds two more pottery pots to her two, we can carry much more merchandise."
Old Lady Chen had no objections, as their cart was idle anyway. More goods to sell meant more money to earn, which was a good thing.
Old Man Chen, who had been silent all this while, suddenly spoke up after tapping his pipe, "With so much to do, can her little straw hut handle all that?"
"Just the barrels alone are several, plus four pottery pots. I reckon there won't be much space left inside, would there?"
Hearing her husband's comment, Old Lady Chen looked over and exchanged a glance, "What do you mean?"
Old Man Chen tapped his pipe and, while filling it with tobacco, suggested, "I was thinking, since she's partnering with us in this business and needs to prepare more goods daily, should we build her an additional kitchen?"
He paused and added, "Ask her this afternoon. If she's planning on it, we could start building before the busy farming season. I, along with You Tian, can ask for help from some familiar folks in the village. We can get it done in a few days, and now's the best time for building sturdy mud walls."
Old Man Chen, illiterate but wise, understood the importance of reciprocation. The new enterprise was adding to their family income, and he wanted to ensure that Sang Luo could supply without too much strain, also considering it a way to give back within his means.
Chapter 32
Qin Fangniang, mentioning the vegetable seeds she promised to bring Sang Luo, went to deliver them after the midday rest. Old Lady Chen personally brought them, along with two more pottery pots from the Chen family.
She didn't enter the house but called Sang Luo out, handed the pots for Shen An and Shen Ning to take inside, then gave Sang Luo the seeds, explaining what each type was. After that, she brought up the main topic, asking whether Sang Luo wanted an additional kitchen built.
Sang Luo: ?!
"Isn't this like getting a pillow just as you're falling asleep?"
"Of course, I need it!"
Sang Luo replied with a radiant smile, "It's such a coincidence. I was just thinking about this at noon. With more work to do, my little hut is indeed getting cramped. I've been thinking about building another wall around the yard for added security in winter. I was planning to save up some money and ask for your help in finding people to assist."
Old Lady Chen looked around and sighed, "It is necessary to enclose the area. It's fine if it doesn't snow much in winter, but if there's heavy snow, wild animals from the mountains might come searching for food."
"Isn't this isolated straw hut in the mountains an easy target?"
"Since you're already planning this, we need to hurry up before the busy farming season. No one will have time then. You don't need to worry about saving too much money. In our village, building houses doesn't typically involve labor costs. Good relations mean helping each other. Our family, your grandfather, and uncles can come help. We'll also call a few people from the village. Just prepare the materials and manage the meals."
"For materials, you can chop wood from these mountains, even the unclaimed ones. Find some good yellow clay, and for straw, we have some at home. I'll ask your Uncle You Tian to bring it over."
Then, considering their current situation with no male head of the household, she added, "Let your Uncle You Tian gather some people to help chop trees. If you're willing, since it's physically demanding, make sure the meals are substantial. Not necessarily lavish, but hearty with a few homemade dishes."
"These days, saving food for the family is considered earning."
"She's taken care of everything for me."
Sang Luo's eyes curved in a smile as she quickly agreed, "Then, how about starting the day after tomorrow? I'll borrow the stone mortar from your place in the evening to grind rice and consult your husband and You Tian Uncle about what preparations are needed."
"With the money I'll earn from the stall tomorrow, I can manage the meals the day after."
"Until the kitchen is built, I might need to use your place for cooking. Our house only has a small clay pot and can't really prepare decent meals."
"That's no problem at all," Old Lady Chen agreed readily.
After finalizing the plans, Old Lady Chen took a look at the land Sang Luo had cleared behind the house and gave some advice on which vegetables needed to be sowed and nurtured by a certain time, advising her to ask Qin Fangniang if she was unsure, before heading back home.
As soon as Old Lady Chen left, Shen An and Shen Ning, the siblings, almost jumped up on the spot with excitement.
"We're building a house! Even though it's just a kitchen and enclosing the yard, it's still a big deal."
"Big Sister, where will we build the kitchen? How big will the yard be?"
In reality, they couldn't enclose a very large yard, given the house's location halfway up the hill. How much space could they really have for building?
Sang Luo was pondering the same.
She realized she had forgotten something important – besides the kitchen, a proper toilet was essential. The one at the back of the house near the mountain was unbearable, dirty, disgusting, and dangerously positioned...
"Let's take a look around."
She picked up some small stones and began planning the layout of the property with the children, marking boundaries for the yard, kitchen, and other structures with stones on the ground.
When the topic of building a new toilet closer to the house came up, Shen An and Shen Ning were shocked, shaking their heads vigorously.
"Big Sister, that won't work, it will be too smelly."
"And disgusting."
Sang Luo thought to herself that she knew how to construct a non-smelly toilet, having renovated a small, dilapidated house in the mountains in her previous life. She knew exactly how to build a septic tank but hesitated to speak up, considering they would be using yellow clay for construction.
Bricks were definitely available, a more advanced and waterproof alternative to yellow clay. But did she have enough money for such materials?
"Well, I guess I can save up for it, but is it the right choice?"
"It's not suitable. It would attract too much attention."
"Just a while ago, I was nearly starved to death, and now, within a few days, buying bricks to build a toilet and septic tank..."
"Let's forget it. I need to think of an alternative. Being a time-traveler already makes me feel insecure. Right now, keeping a low profile while making money, quietly storing food and acquiring belongings is what I should do. Being too conspicuous isn't wise."
"Alright then, I'll convert it into a washroom."
"As for the toilet, I'll endure for now and place a makeshift commode in a corner of the washroom. When I have more money, I can think about more permanent solutions."
Seeing their big sister fall silent, Shen An and Shen Ning didn't insist on placing the toilet near the house, much to their relief.
While they were talking, Shen Jin, carrying his hoe, arrived with Shen Yin and Shen Tie, ready to start working. Sang Luo also stopped discussing and got ready to leave.
Shen An and Shen Ning went to till the land, while Sang Luo shouldered a basket to gather leaves from the divine tree.
"Today, I need to explore one or two more hills. The nearby hills where I could find divine trees have been almost stripped of usable leaves. Even Shen An and Shen Ning know not to strip the trees bare to avoid arousing suspicion, and I'm well aware of this too."
Watching Sang Luo head down the hill and into another, Shen Jin curiously approached Shen An, "Shen An, where's your big sister going?"
Shen An frowned slightly, disliking Shen Jin's informal attitude towards his sister-in-law, but then he remembered that his sister-in-law wouldn't bother with Shen Jin and relaxed.
"Nothing much, just looking for wild vegetables."
Shen Jin's mouth twitched, "Still eating wild vegetables every day? Where do you get the money to buy meat for oil residue?"
Shen An glanced at him, "Why are you so nosy? Are you going to help till the land?"
"Of course, I'm working." Shen Jin immediately fell silent, understanding Shen An's look meant he could forget about the oil residue if he kept prying.
It was a clear threat, and Shen Jin felt intimidated, quickly turning to work on the plot of land Shen An had assigned to him.
…
"As for Sang Luo, this time she ventured a bit farther than usual. The main task was gathering the leaves of the miraculous tree. Along the way, she didn't miss any other wild vegetables she came across. After spending over half an hour in the mountains, she picked a whole basket of the tree leaves and a good amount of ferns. On her way back, she compressed the leaves and placed the ferns on top of the basket, securely covering the miraculous tree leaves."
"Calculating the amount of miraculous tofu she needed to make for the evening, she ran to the mountains and back three times, carrying three full baskets of items, including large leaves suitable for wrapping."
"Shen Jin was indeed observant. From afar, when he saw Sang Luo, his neck stretched out like a goose's, hoping for something good. But when he realized it was just ferns and lotus leaves, he retracted his neck and continued his work."
"Using quality tools, he efficiently cleared the small piece of land assigned to him by Shen An. Shen An and Shen Ning inspected it together and found it well done. Even Shen Ning, who was usually keen on finding faults with him, couldn't find anything to criticize after a few passes with the stone hoe."
"Keep watching, I bet I can hoe much cleaner than you can with that stone hoe!" Shen Jin boasted to Shen Ning, acting as if he would wag his tail if he had one.
"Shen An, true to his word, put down his tools saying, 'Wait here.' He then went to wash his hands before returning to fetch the pork scraps."
"This sent Shen Yin and Shen Tie, the two youngest, into a panic. They hadn't been assigned any tasks by their second brother in the morning, but even when they tried, their small size and strength only allowed them to use bamboo sticks to dig, leaving much to be desired."
"Shen Yin, looking at his own work and then at his third brother's, was left dumbfounded by the stark difference."
"Now that their third brother was getting pork scraps, what about them?"
Shen Yin, in a panic, stood up to grab the hoe his older brother had left aside, prompting Shen Ning to urgently call him back: "You're not even as tall as the hoe handle, and you dare to use it? If you accidentally hurt your foot, I wonder how you'd cry."
Shen Yin pouted, glancing at the stark contrast between the two patches of land, and stood dejectedly with Shen Tie.
Shen Jin, on the other hand, was quite cheerful: "Don't rush, take your time. We still have plenty of time."
While saying this, he kept glancing towards the house. As soon as he saw Shen An emerge, he dashed over, eagerly extending his hand: "Hurry up, give me my pork fat residue."
Shen An glanced at Shen Jin's dirt-streaked hands, his lips twitching slightly: "Aren't you going to wash your hands first?"
"No need, why bother? A bit of dirt never hurt anyone."
Resigning to his brother's ways, Shen An handed over a piece of pork fat residue.
Shen Jin, with a keen eye, noticed there was more in Shen An's hand, his eyes lighting up. When Shen An headed towards his younger brothers instructing them to wash their hands before eating, Shen Jin suddenly protested: "Shen An, they get some for just that tiny bit of land?"
The previously delighted Shen Yin and Shen Tie were shocked by this unexpected betrayal from their own brother, freezing on the spot.
Unaware of the existential crisis he'd triggered in his younger siblings, Shen Jin eagerly followed Shen An, haggling: "Then you should give me two more pieces. The patch I worked on is bigger than both of theirs combined. If they get one each for that little work, surely I deserve three."
Shen An gave him a sidelong glance: "What are you dreaming about? What you got is exactly the deal we agreed on."
Seeing that their older brother Shen An didn't deny them their share, Shen Yin and Shen Tie relaxed and ran to a nearby spring to wash their hands. They hurried back, quickly drying their hands on their clothes: "Big brother, our hands are clean now."
Shen An smiled and gave each of them a piece.
The brothers, fearing their eldest brother might snatch their share, quickly stuffed the pieces into their mouths. Chewing contentedly, their eyes lit up with delight. The younger one beamed, "The fat residue is so delicious."
The hours of labor spent digging through soil and roots seemed to melt away in that moment of enjoyment.
Being older, Shen Yin happily thanked Shen An for the treat, and didn't forget to extend his gratitude to Shen Ning as well.
Shen Jin, however, was discontented. Having already finished his piece, he watched his brothers chew theirs and complained, "Shen An, this isn't fair! Why do they get the same amount for less work?"
Shen An laughed: "Because they're sweet and well-behaved, unlike someone who badmouths and complains."
Sang Luo, who was spinning hemp under the eaves, nearly burst into laughter upon hearing this.
So satisfying.
But when it came to dealing with Shen Jin, she thought: Nicely done!
Sang Luo managed to hold back her laughter, but Shen Ning didn't. Ever since Shen An promised Shen Jin pork fat residue for working, she had been feeling resentful. Seeing Shen Jin's frustration now, she found immense satisfaction and relief.
Shen Yin and Shen Tie finished chewing their pieces, licking their fingers and palms where they had held the fat residue. Despite their eldest brother's grumbling about their lesser efforts, the more aware Shen Yin quickly added, "Big brother, I'll finish the rest later and come back tomorrow. It might be slower, but I can dig as much as big brother."
"Shen Tie, as Shen Jin's loyal little sidekick, quickly nodded too, his voice still babyish: 'Second brother, I'm well-behaved too.'"
"Shen Jin glared at the two younger boys, almost wanting to ask sarcastically who they were trying to impress, questioning who their real brother was."
"But the lingering taste of deliciousness between his teeth made him wisely swallow down those words."
"The one with the pork scraps is the real brother."
"Looking down, Shen Jin saw Shen Tie sticking out his tongue to lick his palm, his face blissful. Shen Jin's hand instinctively moved, but then he looked down to see it dirty…"
"This was a bit too dirty to lick off."
"Shen Jin swallowed, glanced at Shen An and then at the small patch of land his younger brothers had worked on, compared it to his larger plot, felt a reluctant envy, but couldn't resist the delicious pork scraps. Finally, he gave in, 'If I dig another patch, will you still give me some pork scraps?'"
"Chapter 33"
"Shen An looked at the neatly prepared patch of land and agreed readily, 'Sure, but only for the next couple of days. We don't have many scraps left. Come back tomorrow, though; no more for today. We need to prepare dinner.'"
"Big sister said she needed more goods prepared for today. He also wanted to find more purslane for big sister to take to the county market tomorrow. Shen Jin's lingering around would just get in the way."
"'Preparing dinner so early?' Shen Jin muttered, looking at the sky. He had worked quite long and was already tired. Besides, he wouldn't get more scraps today and would have to wait until tomorrow. Patting his backside, he decided, 'Then, I'll come back early tomorrow morning.'"
"Picking up his hoe, he left."
"Shen Yin and Shen Tie still wanted to dig a bit more, but after glancing at their third brother and then at their own poorly dug patch, they decided to bend down and pick up their little wooden pieces, having promised to continue digging."
Shen An stopped the two brothers: "Alright, that's enough for today. Go home and come back tomorrow."
The younger brothers looked at Shen An, and then at Shen Ning for confirmation. Seeing her nod, they finally felt assured enough to leave.
Shen Yin hesitated, remembering what his second brother had said about their unfinished work, but then corrected his steps, pretending he hadn't turned to leave just yet, and said obediently, "Alright, big brother, sister, we're going home now."
After seeing Shen An nod, Shen Ning smiled and then took Shen Tie's hand, and they both ran down the hill.
…
Sang Luo was reminded by Shen An's mention of preparing dinner. She glanced at the sky, gathered up her rolled-up hemp fiber, returned to the house, cleared a basket, placed a clean empty pottery basin inside, and added the cloth bag used for storing grains.
With their supply of rice depleted, she needed to grind more before dinner at the Chen household and planned to repay the previously borrowed rice as well.
Thinking of the amount of Immortal Tofu she needed to prepare, she also placed a piece of cloth she had traded for at the market into the basket, planning to borrow scissors from the Chens to tailor the cloth. With a needle already in her possession, she planned to hem the cloth using the freshly spun hemp thread that evening, allowing her to use a new, larger filtering cloth for easier tofu making.
Deciding to borrow scissors, Sang Luo also selected two pieces of plain but sturdy fabric from her recent purchase in town, planning to sew a new coin purse. With an increasing number of coins, storing them in her sleeve was inconvenient and risky.
After packing everything, she set out with her basket, while Shen An also left to gather Portulaca oleracea, leaving Shen Ning to watch the house.
Chen Granny knew Sang Luo would come to grind rice that afternoon. So, Chen Old Man stayed home to facilitate communication. Sang Luo discussed her construction plans with him, describing the proposed size and features, and inquired about necessary preparations.
The details matched what Chen Granny had said. The primary materials, wood and yellow clay, were readily available from the surrounding mountains. The main items Sang Luo needed to provide were the straw for mixing with the clay for bricks, rice chaff for smoothing the walls, and reed mats and straw for the roof.
These materials were inexpensive, but the challenge was the drainage-friendly bathhouse Sang Luo wanted to build.
While houses made of yellow clay were generally sound, Sang Luo's requirement for internal water drainage was unachievable. Even if she was willing to pay for laying flagstones, the earthen walls built on a constantly moist foundation would disintegrate within a few years.
In the county, brick and tile houses would be feasible, but too costly. Sang Luo didn't want to attract attention by building a bathhouse with bricks in the village at this time, so she decided to construct the bathhouse with yellow clay, like the kitchen, and buy a bathtub for convenience.
Adding a toilet in the corner of the bathhouse would mean their home would finally have a clean restroom.
As for the existing outhouse built on the mountainside, Sang Luo asked Chen Youtian to clean it, naturally giving the manure to the Chen family.
Chen Granny looked at Sang Luo with a look that said, "You're wasting resources": "Aren't you supposed to be gardening? With your mountain terrain, without manure, what can you grow?"
Thinking of the filthiness of the outhouse, Sang Luo shook her head adamantly: "No need, I'll use green manure. I'll consider using animal manure later when I clear more land on the other side of the mountain."
Jokingly, Sang Luo couldn't fathom using manure, especially with so many unknown organisms in it, and the thought alone made her feel unwell.
"What green manure could be better than animal manure?"
Chen Granny was skeptical, thinking Sang Luo was just squeamish about dirt and smell, and remarked, "What kind of farmer finds manure dirty and smelly? You're lucky to have tofu-making skills, otherwise, you'd be struggling to survive."
Chen Granny doubted Sang Luo's ability to successfully grow the vegetables and worried about wasting her seeds, potentially leading to no harvest at all.
Nevertheless, it was Sang Luo's own business, and since she had a way to make a living, Chen Granny didn't press further. Confirming that Sang Luo really didn't want the manure, she agreed to clean the outhouse.
"I won't take advantage of you. For the straw and bran needed for your construction, you won't have to look elsewhere. You can pick the straw from our haystack, and as for the bran, you'll likely save quite a bit while cooking for us. If you run short, you can take what you need from me, in exchange for the manure."
Relieved to not be pressured into using manure in her garden and having someone to clean the daunting outhouse, Sang Luo breathed a sigh of relief.
Pleased, Sang Luo headed home with the ground rice and tailored cloth.
With the setting sun, she busied herself with hemming and sewing. Not only would tonight's tofu-making be easier with the new filter cloth, but she also now owned a coin purse. Shen Ning received a bath towel.
Indeed, the large piece of hemp cloth she exchanged was cut into a reasonably square large filter cloth, with a towel-sized piece used to make a bath towel.
Bathing in clothes, returning home drenched, and then changing into dry garments without even a towel to dry oneself... only those who have lived it truly understand that hardship.
She gave one towel to Shen Ning and didn't forget herself and Shen An, selecting two slightly larger than palm-sized, relatively soft pieces from the scraps for each of them.
"In a few days, when we cut more filter cloth, I'll make two more towels, so each of us will have one."
Shen An waved his hands in refusal: "Big sister, I'm fine with this piece. It's really good already."
He felt that the piece Sang Luo gave him was already excellent, soft and comfortable in his hands.
Sang Luo chuckled at the modestly sized cloth: "Thrifty, aren't we? As long as you're happy."
It might suffice now, but what about in winter?
However, she decided not to mention it. When it gets colder, she would simply replace it for him. Frugality is a virtue, after all.
With the uplifting prospect of soon having a kitchen and a small courtyard, they enjoyed a meal of white rice porridge, paired with pickled radish skin from lunch, cold mixed ferns, and purslane, each using a small bamboo tube as a bowl, squatting together for a delightful dinner.
During the meal, Shen An still seemed somewhat dazed, as if it all felt unreal.
"Big sister, are we really going to build a kitchen and a courtyard wall?"
Sang Luo nodded affirmatively: "Yes, we start the day after tomorrow."
"How much will it cost?"
Sang Luo pondered; trees and mud were free, and straw and bran were exchanged for manure. She only needed to buy some reed mats for the roof, so the expense wasn't significant. "Mostly the cost of providing meals, depending on how many people come and for how many days. We'll know more tomorrow."
Without strong relations, nobody works for free.
So, who would come to help would depend on the Chen family's inquiry today.
Shen An, upon hearing about providing meals, suddenly found his bowl of porridge less appetizing: "I remember two years ago at Er Niu's house construction. Many people helped out. Uncle was there too. They were served white rice twice a day, and Shen Jin said there was even meat."
"So many people… serving meals and even meat for over ten days? How much would that cost?"
Unable to calculate the expense, Shen An immediately became worried.
Shen Ning also recalled the event. It was hard to forget, especially since Shen Jin had clung to Uncle's legs, insisting on going to Er Niu's for the meat.
"Big sister, are we also going to provide white rice and meat?"
Sang Luo nodded: "Yes, we won't pay wages, but we should at least ensure everyone is well-fed. Otherwise, why would they bother helping us with such tiring work?"
Seeing the kids looking downhearted, she reassured them: "Eat up, don't worry. We're not buying all the food in one day. We earn money every day and can buy food daily. Don't worry, we'll make more fairy tofu. We can manage for the next ten to fifteen days."
"It's uncertain for the longer term, as the tofu is a novelty item. Not every household will buy it daily, so business will slow down after the initial rush. But it's okay, constructing a kitchen and a fence won't take as long as building a full house. It shouldn't need more than ten to fifteen days."
Sang Luo felt confident about the plan.
Noticing the continued worry on the kids' faces, Sang Luo joked: "Stop fretting so much at such a young age, or you'll age into little old men and women."
"When we start building later, there will be a lot of people around, making it hard to pick fairy tree leaves without being noticed. I'll try to return early, but if the demand for our products increases, I might not make it back in time. If I'm not back by noon, you two should take advantage of the lunch break to pick some fairy leaves. Remember, only pick them in the nearby mountains where people often go, don't venture too deep, and cover them with some wild vegetables when coming out."
Shen An and Shen Ning, hearing they could be of help, perked up immediately and nodded in agreement to take on the task.
…
Worried about the potential shortage of food during their own house construction, Chen Lao Han, after dinner, went out to ask familiar families if anyone could spare a hand to help build and enclose a kitchen for the Shen family.
At the first house he asked, the man hadn't even responded when his wife began to worry.
"We can help, but surely we won't have to provide the meals, right?"
The Shen family's poverty was well-known throughout the village, famous for subsisting on chaff and wild vegetables.
The woman's remark was immediately met with a stern glance from her husband, who said, "Go back inside and take care of the children."
The woman, partly fueled by her husband's attitude and partly seizing the opportunity to express herself, retorted, "What's wrong, Shi Er? Did my words embarrass you? Uncle Chen isn't a stranger to us. I haven't said anything out of line. Food is precious nowadays, especially since this year's spring grain was levied early. Who has extra food to spare? Building a house requires heavy labor. Asking such a question is reasonable, right? Uncle Chen, wouldn't you agree?"
Chen Lao Han, knowing these words were intended for him, replied with a smile, "Absolutely reasonable, it's a fair question to ask."
Then, addressing Shi Er and his wife, he added, "Yes, meals will be provided. I wouldn't dare to ask for your help otherwise."
Shi Erlang, feeling somewhat awkward, said, "We all live in the same village; even if meals aren't provided, we should still help out where we can."
However, there's a difference between helping for ten days and just one or two, but that didn't need to be said out loud.
In his heart, Shi Erlang wasn't truly upset with his wife; he just felt that it was inappropriate to ask such a question outright. He would have helped regardless, whether meals were provided or not, out of respect for Chen Lao Han making the effort to ask.
Yet, if meals really weren't provided, his wife's point was valid; sustaining heavy labor without sufficient food is tough. In that case, just helping out for a day or two would suffice to save face for the Chen family.
So, there was no need to raise such a query. If the Shen family couldn't provide meals, asking this question would only embarrass Chen Lao Han, wouldn't it?
Shi Erlang's wife, not having thought this through, relaxed visibly upon hearing that meals would be provided. She then curiously asked, "Haven't they been eating wild vegetables for a while? How are they going to provide meals?"
Her eyelids twitched as she suddenly wondered, could it be just wild vegetable soup?
But then she thought if that were the case, the Chen family shouldn't be the one proposing it, and suppressed the thought, waiting to hear what Chen Lao Han would say.
Chen Lao Han was also momentarily taken aback by the question.
His family knew that Sang Luo was now making money, but he hadn't considered that this might not be common knowledge in the village.
Indeed, the first time they went to the big market and even yesterday's trip to the county, they had left before dawn and returned via the mountain path without entering the village.
Remembering when Sang Shi first brought them a bowl of fairy tofu, they hadn't hidden the fact that it was made with ingredients from the mountains, so it's true that this information might not be widely known and shouldn't attract too much attention.
Realizing this, Chen Lao Han vaguely said, "Don't worry, there will definitely be rice provided. Sang Shi is diligent, usually selling wild vegetables in the county. My daughter-in-law often helps her. So, while the food might not be luxurious, we will certainly provide rice when helping to build the house."
Indeed, they do sell wild vegetables – two bunches for one coin. His daughter-in-law had been praising their efforts all afternoon, scouring the area for wild vegetables to earn a few extra coins the next day.
Chen Lao Han reassured himself, thinking that he wasn't exactly lying, just not revealing the whole truth.
It was then that the Shi couple understood why the Chen family was helping the Shen family's main house with this initiative.
So Qin Fang Nian and Sang Shi were selling wild vegetables together?
Shi Erlang immediately assured, "Uncle Chen, don't worry, I'll be there the day after tomorrow. We need to start with cutting trees, right?"
Chen Lao Han nodded, "Yes, start with felling trees. They don't have any materials prepared, so processing the wood will take a few days. Once the walls are up, we'll need it."
"Alright, then I'll bring my axe when I come."
With this family's agreement, Chen Lao Han turned to leave, and Shi Erlang escorted him to the front door of the hall, but Chen Lao Han waved him off, indicating there was no need.
Before he had left Shi's courtyard, he heard Shi Erlang's wife muttering, "How much can wild vegetables be worth? Aren't they everywhere? Can they really afford to build a house with that?"
Chen Lao Han's back stiffened, and then he quickened his pace, leaving the Shi's courtyard in just a few strides.
Chapter 34
In the small village of only twenty-two households, news that the Shen family's main house was building a kitchen and enclosing a courtyard had subtly spread from the riverside where the village women washed clothes.
When Li Shi went to wash clothes, she was baffled by questions from other village women. One, who didn't get along with her, asked with veiled malice whether the third branch of the Shen family had contributed money, questioning how selling a few wild vegetables could fund a house construction.
Help? As if! She hadn't even heard anything about building a house.
Li Shi, with a face turning blue, carelessly scrubbed the clothes a few times in the water, wrung them out, and threw them back in the basket. Carrying the basket, she returned home without hanging the clothes to dry. Tossing the basket under the eaves, she headed straight inside.
"Do you know that Sang Shi is building a house?"
Shen San, who was just getting out of bed and putting on his shoes and socks, was startled and then scoffed, "Her building a house? With what? Is she going to mix the mud and build it herself?"
He continued putting on his shoes and socks at a leisurely pace, saying, "Materials and labor for free, and no need to provide meals for those helping build the house? Serve them wild vegetable soup? Who would help her? Would you?"
He purely took Li Shi's information as a joke.
Li Shi glared at him, "I'm not joking. Several people by the creek where I was washing clothes were talking about it. They said she earned some money by selling wild vegetables and the Chen family next door is helping to gather people."
Shen San became even more incredulous, laughing so hard that the fine lines at the corners of his eyes crinkled, "Selling a bit of wild vegetables can build a house? Look at our side of the mountain, can you still find wild vegetables?"
At the doorway, Shen Jin poked his head out, "Dad, Auntie Sang sells wild vegetables, not just a little bit, but baskets and baskets of them."
The couple turned their heads to look at their son, surprised by his presence. Li Shi beckoned, "Come in and tell us, what kind of wild vegetables is Sang Shi selling in such large quantities?"
Shen San also looked at him.
Shen Jin, still eager to go to the fields to earn pork lard, didn't come inside but answered from the doorway, "Ferns, I saw her pick three large baskets of them yesterday."
Li Shi wanted to ask more, but Shen Jin glanced to the side and saw Shen Yin and Shen Tie already running out, knowing they must be off to work the fields in exchange for pork lard.
Unable to stay any longer, he turned and ran, calling out to Li Shi as he went: "Just came to tell you that Tianya wet the bed again, the blanket's all soaked."
By the time Li Shi ran out, he was already out of sight, and her chance to ask more questions vanished.
She turned to check the children's room, finding all three sons absent. Only the youngest, Tianya, was snuggled up on the inside of the bed, sound asleep. Li Shi felt the bedding and found it completely drenched...
Irritated, she smacked her daughter's bottom twice, waking her up to change her clothes while ignoring her wails. Then, she lifted Tianya and placed her in a small bamboo bed with railings at the front of the main room.
She took the wet bedding to wash and hang to dry, still preoccupied with the Shen family suddenly deciding to build a house without saying a word, making them the last in the village to know. Speaking to Shen San, who was washing up, she said, "You should go out and find out what's going on. Sang Shi is up to something, not telling us about the house building. It's like she wants the whole village to laugh at us."
Shen San, already looking displeased and no longer amused by the news, brushed his teeth and washed his face in silence.
Li Shi, frustrated, bundled up the wet sheets and threw them into a wooden basin, then glared towards the Chen household, muttering spitefully, "That family has been acting strangely lately, sticking their noses everywhere, showing off what they can do."
…
Behind the Shen family's thatched cottage, Shen Jin saw Chen Ershan and Chen Er Ya, busy with hoes and bamboo sticks, and his expression was equally bristled.
"Are you here to work for lard as well?"
His demeanor was on edge, tense voice ready to jump at Chen Ershan's confirmation.
Shen An had mentioned there weren't many pieces of lard left. If Chen Ershan and his sister came to claim some, what would be left for him?
Was this stealing his work?
It was like stealing his life!
Chen Ershan, who had just learned the previous evening about Shen An and Shen Ning's work in the fields, looked confused. He turned to Shen An and asked, "What lard?"
Shen An, exasperated, explained how Shen Jin was working in exchange for lard at his place.
Chen Ershan: "..."
He couldn't be bothered with Shen Jin and turned back to his work.
Shen Jin: "?"
What does this mean? What was that look just now?
Chen Xiaoya, standing nearby, looked at him with an expression very much like Chen Ershan's. Disdainfully, she uttered, "You're working in your own sibling's fields and still want lard in exchange?"
Shen Jin finally understood the meaning behind Chen Ershan's look and immediately got infuriated.
"Why can't I? I'm earning my food with hard work, why shouldn't I get any!" Recalling how many pieces of lard Shen Ning had given to the Chen siblings, his face puffed up like a blowfish: "Of course, you don't need it; you already had your share, several pieces at that, enough for a few days' worth of digging!"
Unable to listen anymore, Shen An glared at Shen Jin: "Are you still going to work or not?"
"Yes!"
Shen Jin bellowed out, his voice unusually loud!
He had to express his frustration and anger somehow!
Glaring at Shen Ning with a face full of resentment, his expression clearly accusing her of favoring others over her own family.
Shen Ning ignored him.
Shen Jin, not wanting to deal with Shen Ning either, snorted and turned away, then looked for Shen An with a rigid voice: "Mark it out, where do I work today?"
The sooner he finished, the sooner he could savor the lard, and then he wouldn't come back again.
Shen Jin bitterly thought to himself that when it was his turn to cook lard at home, he would grab not just one, but two handfuls, and eat it right in front of Shen Ning!
With a handful in each hand, he would take a noisy bite from one, then the other, determined to tantalize her with the aroma!
…
As Shen Jin stood with his back to Shen Ning, fantasizing about his day of triumph, Shen San had already completed half a round of the village, returning home with a long face.
The reason for only half a circuit was similar to Li Shi's experience; he too had been subjected to direct and indirect taunts, and those ambiguously mocking glances.
Going out was no longer an option for him; the village was abuzz with the news, and stepping outside would make him the subject of everyone's scrutiny – like a monkey in a zoo.
Shen San felt a lump of frustration in his throat, wanting to call his sons to ask what more they knew, but realized that all three were not at home.
"Where did Shen Jin go? Off gallivanting early in the morning again?"
Li Shi, equally annoyed and noticing a hoe missing from the yard, deduced that Shen Jin had taken it.
"These past few days, who knows where he's been loitering; he probably won't be back before noon. But you don't need to look for him. What could a kid like him know? He's probably just playing around the hills and saw Sang Shi picking wild vegetables."
After pondering for a moment, Li Shi asked Shen San, "Did you find out who in the village has been asked to help?"
Shen San's expression darkened further: "I didn't ask specifically, but if the Chen family is the one finding help, it's likely to be the Shi family, Lu family, and those few families in the village who previously helped with house building."
As for other families in the village, if he wasn't directly involved in rallying support, who would bother to help Sang Shi, a woman with two young children?
The notion of neighborly simplicity is a joke; where was this simplicity when Sang Shi was forced to eat wild vegetables? Did anyone offer her even two sheng of grain?
Everyone's struggling to feed themselves; the idea of simplicity and mutual aid only makes sense when there's a reasonably equivalent return. Without any return, who would bother to help?
If he were the one leading the project, almost every family with labor to spare in the village would contribute, knowing he would back them. In turn, this favor would be returned when those families need help in the future.
But now, it's the Chen family stepping forward. Can they promise to repay these favors for Sang Shi and the now only nine-year-old Shen An?
Obviously not.
The biggest disadvantage for the Sang household is the lack of adult males.
Besides, the whole village knows of Sang Shi's poverty, her diet of bran and wild vegetables. How much could she possibly earn from selling wild vegetables? If selling wild vegetables were lucrative, every rural family would be wealthy.
Without the expectation of returning favors, people expect at least a decent meal in return for their labor. Without the ability to repay favors or provide ample food, who would expend their energy on such an act of charity?
In recent years, the corvée labor was particularly heavy. In our village of twenty-two families, four strong men have died in just three years while serving their labor duties.
The strain on one's strength without adequate food to replenish leads to deteriorating health, a realization common to everyone. Naturally, people wish to extend their lives as long as possible.
Tentatively, Li Shi asked, "Do we need to help with the construction at their place?"
"No way!" Shen San replied without hesitation. "If she doesn't come to ask for help, don't expect me to volunteer."
After saying this, he quickly remembered that Sang Shi hadn't actually asked for his help, adding, "She didn't ask this time, and she shouldn't expect my help in the future either. She can just rely on the Chen family."
Li Shi inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, especially pleased with the latter part of his statement, thinking to herself that Sang Shi better remain strong and not come asking.
She had been worried that her husband, considering Shen Lai's death, might still feel obliged to look after the main house. Building a house isn't easy; the Sang household lacks even basic cooking facilities, and providing meals would be costly. She feared her husband, out of pride or soft-heartedness, might end up shouldering the cooking responsibilities.
How much money could one possibly make from selling wild vegetables? She dreaded the thought of having to provide additional food and possibly incurring costs herself.
Li Shi was not interested in such a loss-making endeavor.
As for the village gossip, let them talk.
With the events of their family division and her previous confrontation with Sang Shi at the courtyard gate, Li Shi had grown thick-skinned. Let them talk – it doesn't cost her a thing, and saving on food and vegetables is the real benefit.
She then added fuel to the fire: "Exactly, Sang Shi seems to think she's so mighty, not even considering us as her uncle and aunt. If such matters are left for the Chen family to initiate, it's like a slap in our face. Why should we bother if she doesn't care? The families are separated now. Whether her life is good or bad, it's no longer our concern."
"Shen San remained silent, his face dark."
"Li Shi knew she had stoked the fire perfectly, thinking, 'Let it burn, let it burn.' Smiling, she said, 'Fine, if you don't feel like going out, just rest. There's not much work in the fields these days. It's a good time to look after little Tian. I'll go to the field. The vegetables need to be harvested, and I'll dry some in the sun. Otherwise, we won't have much to eat in winter.'"
"Shen San nodded in response, and Li Shi left with two baskets in tow."
"As for the dirty bedsheet in the basin, Li Shi planned to wash it later in the evening. She didn't want to face the gossipy women at the creek, who, under the guise of friendly chatter, would slyly gossip loudly enough for her to hear."
"It was infuriating enough."
"She was curious to see how many people from the other side would actually come to help, and for how many days they'd be willing to work."
"Who would want to do such strenuous labor without proper meals?"
"Would the Chen family really compensate for it?"
"In these times, not to mention grains, even vegetables were precious. They barely ate enough themselves, drying most of the harvest for winter. Was the Chen family supposed to be saints?"
"Li Shi was ready to watch the drama unfold."
"Chapter 35"
"On the road to the county town, Qin Fangniang was explaining to Sang Luo the instructions from her father-in-law."
"'We could have asked for more help, but my father thought of it just last night. It's better to keep your miraculous tofu business a bit secret for now, to avoid drawing too much attention. We only asked two households we're close with. Building the house might take longer this way.'"
"By the way, about the money for building your house, my dad told everyone that we earned it from selling wild vegetables in the county. Even if people in the village are curious, they won't bother coming all the way to the county to check, nor would they want to spend the money for the city entry fee."
Sang Shi chuckled: "Your granddad is right. Aren't we just selling wild vegetables? Let's stick to his story. It's okay if it's a bit slow, as long as it's done before the autumn harvest."
Qin Fangniang nodded: "We can definitely make it in time."
As long as it was finished before the autumn harvest, Sang Shi was content. Though it would be slower, it would save her a lot of trouble.
They entered the city smoothly and headed first to the West Market. Sang Shi unloaded her goods at the market, and then Qin Fangniang headed to the East Market with her cart.
Sang Shi had prepared 120 blocks of magical tofu the night before. They each took 60 blocks, along with their wild vegetables, and went off to their respective markets.
By early afternoon, aside from two bunches of wild vegetables, everything was sold. Seeing only a few buyers left in the West Market, Sang Shi decided it was unlikely to sell the remaining vegetables. She packed up her stall, handed in her tax plate, and, as agreed, went to find Qin Fangniang in the East Market with her empty buckets and basket.
They planned to start building the house tomorrow. Sang Shi had told Qin Fangniang in the morning that she would buy some grains in the East Market, conveniently using the empty cart to bring them back.
When they met in the East Market, Qin Fangniang had also sold all her magical tofu, with only a few bunches of purslane left.
Seeing Sang Shi arrive, Qin Fangniang knew it was time to pack up and head back.
In the middle of the day, everyone was resting at home, and nobody was visiting the market.
After tidying up, Qin Fangniang excitedly and quietly handed over the day's earnings to Sang Shi: "I sold eighteen bunches of wild vegetables today, and with the tofu money, that's thirty-nine copper coins in total. After deducting the entry fee and market tax, I still have thirty-seven coins. I can even buy a pork bone to take home today."
Qin Fangniang was genuinely delighted.
She knew exactly how much she would earn from the magical tofu. She had calculated slowly, but by the time she reached the East Market, she had figured out that selling all her tofu would bring in thirty copper coins.
As for the wild vegetables, Qin Fangniang calculated her earnings by adding one coin for every two bunches sold, tallying up the total in her mind.
Now, she didn't need to count the money again; she knew exactly how much she had earned today.
Thirty-seven coins - she had been overjoyed, almost as if in a dream, even before Sang Shi's arrival.
"I really thank you," Qin Fangniang said emotionally, struggling to find the right words. "This is a significant income for our family."
How significant, she wasn't sure; Qin Fangniang wasn't accustomed to handling large sums.
She knew earning nearly forty coins in a day was astounding, something she had never dared to dream of before.
Typically, a farmer's family relies on a few profitable harvests throughout the year, selling eggs maybe once every eight to ten days. Aside from selling their crops, they seldom see much money.
Now, after giving Sang Shi her share, Qin Fangniang held her slightly heavy purse, exhilarated at the thought of earning this much every day, her heart and hands trembling with excitement.
Sang Shi smiled and gently cautioned her: "This is just the initial excitement over a new food. Sales might slow down and decrease later on."
However, by then, they would have tofu as an additional product, but Sang Shi decided not to discuss this with Qin Fangniang just yet.
Qin Fangniang paused, a trace of disappointment in her expression, but she quickly recovered: "That's still very good."
Sales might slow down, but there would always be a steady group of customers who liked this new food. Establishing a stable business with these customers would be beneficial.
However, remembering that the main ingredient came from the mountains, Qin Fangniang worried whether it was available all year round or seasonal.
But she knew some questions were not hers to ask and kept her concerns to herself.
"Let's go. I'll buy a pork bone, and then we can get some grains."
Sang Shi nodded, "Before buying grains, I'm thinking of getting a rice jar first. We only have two cloth bags at home, and they're not very convenient to use."
Hearing Sang Shi's plan to buy a rice jar, Qin Fangniang agreed, "A rice jar is essential. It's a belief in our place that, no matter how poor or difficult life gets, a household should never be without a rice jar or a water jar. It's part of a home's Feng Shui."
To buy a rice jar meant they had to go beyond the East Market to the main street shops. The two women, each carrying a load, walked on as Qin Fangniang said, "After you get the rice jar, remember to put three coins in it."
Sang Shi, hearing this for the first time, asked, "Is there a special reason for this?"
Qin Fangniang shook her head, "I'm not sure myself, but it's a common practice. We have an old saying: 'Put copper coins in the rice jar, and wealth will never cease.' Anyway, it's for good luck, and there's no harm in it."
Sang Shi noted this and planned to do it once she got home.
Each of them bought a pork bone, and Sang Shi also had the butcher cut a small piece of lean meat to stew with the bones. She knew the importance of nutrition for herself and the children, focusing on a consistent and gradual approach to health.
With their meat purchases complete, they left the East Market and headed straight for a general store on the main street.
The county's general store was much larger than the one in Sanli Village, particularly in the variety of pottery on display. Ranging in all sizes and designs, they had over a dozen types of rice jars.
Sang Shi was undeterred by the variety; she only wanted the simplest, most practical, and affordable option.
She spent eighty-nine coins on a terracotta rice jar that could hold five dou (bushels) of rice, sufficient for her family's daily use. She also bought some salt.
After asking the shop assistant to wipe the rice jar clean with a fresh cloth, she carefully placed it onto Qin Fangniang's cart, surrounded by buckets for stability.
Now equipped with a rice jar, they proceeded to buy grains. With a bit more money in hand, Sang Shi didn't just buy a sheng or two but purchased a whole dou of grain.
It cost seventy coins, and once ground into rice, it would yield about seven to eight sheng, enough to last a couple of days for the few people they had invited to help, considering the previous day's grinding.
With over fifty coins left, Sang Shi refrained from unnecessary purchases. With house construction starting the next day, she anticipated expenses for meat, eggs, vegetables, and unforeseen costs. It was wise to keep some extra money handy.
By the time they returned to the village, it was already afternoon. Sang Shi, both tired and hungry, decided to let Qin Fangniang push the cart back home as she planned to carry only a basket through the shortcut to her house. She intended to pick up the water buckets later in the afternoon, after some rest.
Qin Fangniang was agreeable on most things, but she firmly insisted on one point.
"The rice jar mustn't be placed in my house; it could leak your family's wealth. When I get home, I'll just pour the grains into a basket at the door. I'll ask my husband to deliver the rice jar to your place."
She was quite superstitious, with her own set of beliefs.
Sang Shi felt it was better to heed such advice if known. It's comforting, isn't it? She replied to Qin Fangniang without hesitation, "Auntie, I'm truly exhausted. I'll have to trouble Uncle You Tian to make the delivery."
Qin Fangniang, aware of Sang Shi's daily routine of heading to the county town before dawn to set up her stall, returning in the afternoon only to venture into the mountains for ingredients, and then making fairy tofu at night, quickly reassured her, "No trouble at all. Don't worry about the buckets either; I'll have my husband deliver them to your house. He can also help grind the grains for you. Just go home, eat something, and rest well."
Sang Shi thanked Qin Fangniang and bid her farewell, then turned to head home via the shortcut.
…
Shen San sat at home, waiting and waiting, but neither Sang Shi nor Shen An and Shen Ning showed up at his place.
When he managed to catch Shen Jin at noon and inquired, Shen Jin said he hadn't seen their eldest sister-in-law all morning.
Shen San and Li Shi had been covertly observing the Chen family all morning and indeed hadn't seen Qin Fangniang moving about. Usually busy with washing clothes, sweeping, or visiting the vegetable garden, Qin Fangniang's diligence was well-known in the village, and she wasn't one to hide idly inside her house.
The couple eventually started to believe the rumors about Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang going to the county to sell wild vegetables.
With this on his mind, Shen San found his usual afternoon nap less restful. After tossing and turning for a while, he got up and went out to the yard.
As it turned out, stepping outside was timely; soon he saw Qin Fangniang returning from a distance, pulling a cart.
Shen San squinted to get a better look, noticing that the cart seemed to be loaded with baskets and buckets. As she approached, he could see clearly that it was indeed loaded with about seven or eight pick-baskets and wooden buckets.
Qin Fangniang stopped the cart at her front door and called for Chen You Tian. The couple appeared to be busy with something, and then Shen San saw Chen You Tian carrying a rice jar out, heading in the direction of Sang Luo's place.
Shen San, with a stern face, stood in his yard for a long time, watching Chen You Tian make several trips back and forth, each time heading up the mountain carrying buckets, baskets, and pottery basins.
He pondered deeply when exactly had his family become so close with the Chen family?
When Shen Lie was around, they had close ties with Chen Da Shan, but it wasn't unusual for the village's younger generation to associate closely.
After Shen Lie left home, it was Shen An and his siblings who got close to the Chen family's kids.
But it was never like this before, right? At least Chen Da Shan's parents and the Chen You Tian couple didn't get involved. Especially after hearing about Chen Da Shan's death, they seemed quite depressed and withdrawn, barely speaking to anyone and seldom smiling for almost half a year before gradually getting better.
It seems their closeness with Sang Luo began after that midnight when they borrowed grains, didn't it?
However, if the Chen family lent grain to Sang Luo, it should be Sang Luo who is grateful to the Chen family. Why does this situation seem so peculiar?
Shen San stared in the direction of the Chen family's house for a long time, unable to figure it out. He returned to the main room with a gloomy face.
…
Sang Luo had no idea that her building two rooms could cause such a day-long dilemma for Shen San and his wife. Even if she knew, she would probably just wonder, "What's it to them?"
When she arrived home, the patch of land behind their thatched house where they were clearing was bustling. Scattered across the small area, from the tallest to the shortest, were seven children.
She paused, then amusingly thought to herself, "Hmm, tie them together and they'd be like the 'Gourd Brothers' — seven of them, just the right number."
Shen An and Shen Ning were the most enthusiastic to see her. They quickly set down their hoes to help her with the basket and fetch water, constantly asking if she was tired or if she had eaten.
Chen Ershan greeted her from afar with a call of "Sister-in-law Shen," while the shy Xiaoyi followed Shen Ning over, timidly addressing Sang Luo as "Sister-in-law Shen" as well.
Shen Jin, having been coolly reprimanded by Sang Luo a few days ago, was acting awkwardly and merely paused his hoeing, without making a move.
Shen Yin and Shen Tie, not very familiar with Sang Luo and seeing their brother's hesitance, also dared not approach.
Observing this line-up, Sang Luo felt a strange sense of being a coal mine boss with so many child laborers.
She wondered what to say, as anything seemed somewhat awkward in this situation.
Shen Jin understood why the three of them were there, but why were Chen Ershan and Xiaoyi also helping?
Crouching down, Sang Luo asked Xiaoyi, who was clinging to Shen Ning's side, "Xiaoyi, why are you also helping with clearing the land?"
It was Xiaoyi's first encounter with an adult who would squat down to talk to her at eye level. The close proximity made her feel a mix of novelty, joy, and a bit of nervousness.
"I'm good friends with Sister Ning, so I came to help her." She added shyly, "And about the hu cake, the one mother brought home yesterday was delicious. Thank you, Sister-in-law Shen."
Shen Jin's ears perked up immediately: !
What hu cake? !
The people who had been focusing on their work stopped and looked toward the pair talking in the distance.
Shen Jin's lips moved, wanting to ask, but recalling how he was subtly rebuked by this elder sister-in-law last time, he strangely couldn't bring himself to speak up.
Shen Jin felt aggrieved, wondering who she really was the sister-in-law to.
"Why did the Chen siblings get to enjoy the hu cake while I haven't even seen a crumb of it?"
"That's just not fair."
"I'm a Shen by blood, right?"
"If they are cousins, that still makes them my siblings, doesn't it?"
Shen Jin's frustration only grew when he looked at Chen Ershan, who was quietly hoeing next to him.
Contempt! Contempt! Contempt!
He couldn't contain his feelings and, with his hoe in hand, shuffled closer to Chen Ershan, who wore a look of confusion.
Hmm, not tall enough.
Standing on tiptoes and stretching his neck, Shen Jin lowered his voice yet managed to maintain his authority: "You're here working after eating hu cake too, how dare you look down on me this morning!?"
Chen Ershan: "?"
What are you talking about?
Angrily but unable to hold back, Shen Jin asked Chen Ershan, "So, was the hu cake tasty?"