Chapter 66: Return to the Village
The clerk sent to the grain shop didn't return quickly. Sang Luo waited in Dongfu Restaurant for nearly an hour, growing increasingly anxious, fearing any unforeseen circumstances that might prevent her from purchasing the grain.
Seeing the time, Manager Xu, worried about Sang Luo's anxiety, made a special trip to check on her.
The clerk returned at this moment, informing Manager Xu, "The nine shi of grain have been delivered to the back door of our restaurant."
Manager Xu hurriedly invited Sang Luo to come with him.
On the way, the clerk explained that the grain shop was now limiting purchases: "If it weren't for us, Manager Tong wouldn't have allowed the sale of nine shi. Individuals are restricted to buying no more than five dou, and the shop is limiting its daily sales. When I arrived, Manager Tong had to write a special order for us, allowing direct pick-up from the warehouse. There was already a crowd there, with many food shops having heard the news and rushing to buy grain. That's why it took so long."
Sang Luo realized her fortune today and repeatedly thanked Manager Xu: "I'm truly indebted to Manager Xu today. Without your help, it would have been very difficult for me to gather nine shi of grain by myself, and I might not have been able to buy it at this price later on."
She would have had to ask Qin Fangniang and others to help queue, which would have delayed their businesses.
Manager Xu waved it off: "It was just a small effort."
He sighed: "Who knows how high the grain prices will go. This year has been tough for most people."
Although the restaurant might not be greatly affected, for most people, life from this autumn until next year's harvest is likely to be a struggle.
"Exactly."
They had reached the back door of the restaurant by now. The grain shop's workers were unloading the grain. Seeing the rightful owner, they quickly greeted Manager Xu, who chatted amiably with them, casually inquiring about the situation.
Due to Manager Xu's courteousness, the grain shop worker confided in a low voice, "We have the stock, as our boss has collected it from various provinces, but it's uncertain how much will be released for sale."
Waiting for a better price.
Grain merchants are known for this; Manager Xu couldn't say much, just thanked the worker. After unloading, Sang Luo checked the goods and paid. Manager Xu discreetly tipped the delivery men for their hard work before sending them off politely.
Although discreet, Sang Luo noticed everything but remained silent.
People like Manager Xu have their way of dealing with worldly matters. A few coins as a tip might seem insignificant, but if she insisted on contributing, it would have seemed awkward. Accepting this favor was the best choice.
With the grain purchased, Manager Xu, checking the time, invited Sang Luo to have lunch at the restaurant, saying, "After lunch, I'll arrange for our workers to help deliver the grain to your home."
Sang Luo declined the offer, saying, "I appreciate your kindness, Manager Xu, but I shouldn't refuse. Several aunts from my village are setting up stalls around the county, and I've promised to meet them at the east market entrance. I need to inform them first, and we will return together later, so I won't have lunch here. However, I do apologize for the trouble it will cause your staff, who have to accompany me today."
"No problem at all," Manager Xu replied, accepting her refusal graciously. "I will arrange for the workers to load the grain on the cart, and it will be ready to go when you return. If you're going to the east market, please convey my message to your village aunt there. Ask her to deliver thirty blocks of regular tofu and twenty blocks of divine tofu tomorrow. The price will be the standard market rate, to be delivered to the back kitchen first thing in the morning and then settled with the accountant. I will discuss future orders with her tomorrow; today I won't make the trip to the east market."
Sang Luo cheerfully agreed, and before leaving, she handed Manager Xu a signed and sealed IOU: "I owe a great debt of gratitude to you today, Manager Xu. I won't repeat my thanks. This is the IOU for the six taels of silver I borrowed from the Eastern Fortune Restaurant. Please hand it over to the accountant for record-keeping, and I will retrieve it once I have repaid the loan."
Manager Xu was momentarily surprised, then remembered the writing materials still set out in the private room.
He nodded with a smile, accepting the IOU, and watched Sang Luo depart.
Back inside, he handed the IOU to the accountant, instructing, "Make sure this is recorded properly. Once the loan is repaid, return the IOU to Miss Sang."
The accountant exclaimed in realization, patting his forehead: "I was being too suspicious."
He had hesitated when Manager Xu initially instructed him to give the money to Sang Luo, questioning if they were afraid of not being able to recover the large sum of six taels of silver.
At that time, Manager Xu reassured him with a smile, insisting he lend the money without worry, and said any loss would be his personal responsibility.
Now, with Sang Luo gone, Manager Xu reflected, "Miss Sang is quite meticulous. Aside from our business dealings with the vegetarian tripe and tofu, just the recipes she shared with our restaurant today are enough value; even if she doesn't repay the loan, our restaurant still benefits."
The accountant had initially drafted the contract and handed over the silver before returning to the front hall. Only now did he realize the significance of the tofu recipes Sang Luo had given.
…
Upon arriving at the east market, Sang Luo easily located Qin Fangniang's tofu stall. Observing the tofu carrying pole, with only about eleven or twelve blocks left, she inquired, "How's business today?"
Qin Fangniang shook her head: "Worse than yesterday. By this time yesterday, I had nearly sold out. It seems the county has been affected too."
Of course, it's affected. For the lower-income families in the county, three or four thousand coins might not be crippling, but it's certainly enough to hurt. With such expenses, naturally, they would need to tighten their belts on food and clothing.
Sang Luo added, "The price of grain has risen again. Just yesterday afternoon, the county's grain price had already reached eighty-two wen per dou, and they're limiting sales – each person can buy a maximum of five dou. The grain shops close as soon as they sell their daily quota, so this price of eighty-two wen is just the beginning. The news should spread throughout the county today and tomorrow, and the grain prices are likely to rise further."
She earnestly advised, "Aunt, perhaps you should go home and consult with Grandfather and Grandmother. If you do earn some silver, keep some for emergencies. While the grain prices haven't soared too high yet, consider whether it might be wise to stock up on some grain."
Qin Fangniang appeared bewildered: "Do we really need to stockpile grain? We should be able to get by until next autumn's harvest."
Sang Luo shook her head: "I don't know, but having grain at hand always feels more secure to me."
Both fell silent, mirroring the unusual stillness that enveloped the east market that day.
The east market, predominantly frequented by villagers coming to the city to sell goods, bore a much more somber atmosphere compared to the main streets of the county town.
Sang Luo urged Qin Fangniang to continue with her work, then walked around the east market herself. During her stroll, she noticed that the usual grain sellers at the east market were nowhere to be seen.
Indeed, at this time of the year, apart from grain merchants, who else has surplus grain to sell?
By noon, Qin Fangniang still had a few tofu blocks unsold. Sang Luo bought two steamed buns, and the two women each ate one as their lunch.
While eating, Sang Luo shared with Qin Fangniang how she borrowed money from Manager Xu of Dongfu Inn to buy grain, and about the tofu order she secured from Dongfu Inn.
This good news undoubtedly bolstered Qin Fangniang's spirits, given the noticeable slump in her morning sales.
However, she quickly realized something: "Since it was a deal you secured, why is the order placed with me? I'm benefiting from your work without contributing."
It was an order for several dozens of tofu every day.
Even if the Godly Tofu couldn't be sold after mid-September, just thirty pieces of tofu a day could earn her an extra dozen or so wen.
Sang Luo laughed: "It's not about you taking advantage of this for nothing. In the future, when I regularly deliver vegetarian tripe to Dongfu Inn, I'll ask you to take it there for me. The daily orders from Dongfu Inn can also be picked up by you."
Qin Fangniang replied, "That's no big deal. You don't need to specifically direct business to me for this."
Sang Luo explained: "It's not just for a day or two. In the future, I might collaborate with other places too. With various foods to prepare daily, I won't have time to run back and forth, so I'll need your help. Please take care of Manager Xu's tofu orders without worry."
Hearing this, Qin Fangniang nodded: "Alright then, if you need anything to be brought to or from the county, just let me know. I'll ensure your items are delivered well, even if I'm not carrying my own goods."
Sang Luo couldn't help but smile at these words.
Towards the end of noon, Feng Liuniang and Gan Shi arrived one after another at Dongshi, where the four of them met up.
Sang Luo shared with them about the rise in grain prices and how she borrowed money from Dongfu Inn to buy grains. She also passed on her suggestion to Qin Fangniang about stockpiling grain while prices were still relatively low to Gan Shi and Feng Liuniang.
Gan Shi said, "I noticed it today while carrying my load selling goods. By mid-morning, long queues had formed at several grain shops in the county, and it was only when I asked that I learned of the hike in grain prices."
Whether to buy grain or not, Gan Shi would need to discuss it with her family.
Just like the first half of the year, they could manage by being frugal until autumn, but even someone as decisive as Gan Shi found it difficult to make a call on purchasing grain at high prices to store until the following autumn.
If the grain prices were to drop by then, the money spent would be wasted.
On their way to Dongfu Inn, they passed by a grain shop that had already closed for the day, despite it being only late noon and other nearby shops still being open.
At the back door of Dongfu Inn, the young boy Sang Luo met in the morning was still busily washing dishes. Spotting Sang Luo from a distance, his eyes lit up and he called out, "Mrs. Sang, you're here! Our manager instructed us, my brother and I, to help deliver your grain later."
"That's great, have you all had lunch?"
The boy nodded, "Yes, we've eaten."
Sang Luo smiled, "Alright then, please call your brother. I'll let Manager Xu know, and we can set off."
Qin Fangniang stopped Sang Luo, "Mrs. Sang, my cart can manage the nine stones of grain if we load it higher. There's no need to bother others, right?"
Everyone can carry their own loads, and with one more person to help push from behind, it should be manageable.
Sang Luo patted Qin Fangniang's hand, saying, "Auntie, our cart is small and we have lots of stuff. It would be too strenuous to pull it ourselves. Let's accept Manager Xu's help. Since we have business dealings, it's good to establish a relationship. If we need anything in the future, we'll know where to turn."
Qin Fangniang was momentarily startled, then realized Sang Luo was doing business with Dongfu Inn for the first time and had even borrowed six taels of silver. It made more sense for them to help deliver the goods, establishing a connection for future needs.
Qin Fangniang guessed correctly. Although Manager Xu probably hadn't thought of it that way, Sang Luo felt obliged to give the inn a peace of mind as she had borrowed a significant sum.
Qin Fangniang nodded, "You're right. My cart is indeed too small. If we were to transport nine stones of grain, the journey back would be challenging. I'll help with a few bags, so the young men from Dongfu Inn won't be too overburdened."
Sang Luo agreed, "Okay, I'll help push your cart later. When the two young men come out, please talk to them too."
After deciding, Sang Luo went to the kitchen to thank Manager Xu and say goodbye. She also ran into Chef Yu, who was very warm and friendly towards her.
By late afternoon, two carts were parked by the mountain path outside Shili Village. Feng Liuniang watched the carts while Gan Shi went to call her husband and the Lu brothers for help. Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang carried a bag of grain, leading the way for the brothers carrying the grain to Sang Luo's home up the mountain.
The young boy found carrying the grain up the mountain path challenging and wondered aloud to Sang Luo, "Mrs. Sang, doesn't your village have a road accessible to carts?"
His brother glared at him from behind.
Sang Luo smiled, "We do have a village path, but my house is a bit isolated up the mountain. We still need to walk some distance. The main thing is that this route is less conspicuous and more convenient."
As a single woman living with two children up the mountain, drawing attention by parading through the village with a large amount of grain might not pose an immediate problem, but if times became tough, hungry villagers might turn desperate, and her family could be the first to suffer.
One should never underestimate the terrifying lengths people can go to when faced with life or death.
The boy seemed to understand somewhat but didn't ask further.
After navigating left and right on the mountain path and crossing several hills, they finally saw a new small courtyard halfway up the mountain. Two children were guarding the house and ran towards them with joy upon spotting their arrival.
Then, the children addressed Sang Luo as "sister-in-law."
Sister-in-law?
The two brothers exchanged glances. Sang Luo's hair wasn't done up in a married woman's style – was she already married?
Observing the children eyeing them with curiosity and caution, the brothers didn't comment. They simply asked Sang Luo where to place the grain and carried it into the courtyard as instructed. Then they left to bring in another load.
On the return trip, they encountered two men and a teenage boy carrying bags of grain. The brothers noted Sang Luo's familiar attitude with them.
With the additional help, the rest of the grain was quickly transported. The men named Shi Erlang and the Lu brothers soon left. The brothers from the inn, having quenched their thirst with water offered by Shen An and Shen Ning, bid farewell to Sang Luo.
"It's getting late and you have a long way back. I won't keep you. Thank you for your hard work today," Sang Luo said as she escorted them out, handing over sixteen wen she had prepared earlier, eight for each: "This is a small token of my appreciation. Please also convey my thanks to Manager Xu when you return."
After several refusals, the elder brother eventually accepted the money and urged Sang Luo not to see them off, then departed.
When reporting back to Manager Xu, they showed him the reward. He nodded, "It was hard work, so keep it for yourselves."
Internally, he mused about Sang Luo's background, speculating she must be from a wealthy family up north – a rural household wouldn't have so many recipes, nor the means to generously reward helpers in these circumstances.
His esteem for Sang Luo grew.
Chapter 67: Planning
After the brothers left, Sang Luo turned to the nearly twenty bags of grain in the courtyard, worrying about storage.
Besides an earthenware rice jar, there were no other containers suitable for storing grain. Where to put it?
She couldn't just pile it on the ground – it would get damp and the grain would mold and become infested.
Deciding where to store the grain was a challenge; the stove room, while spacious, was constantly busy with cooking sour dates, soy milk, or konjac. With all the steam, it wasn't suitable for storing grain.
The only option was the main house.
Sang Luo and her nephews struggled to move Shen An and Shen Ning's new bed into a more central position in the room, making just enough space to walk between two beds.
Shen An and Shen Ning were quite happy, finding it better than being separated, being closer to their sister-in-law.
Sang Luo: "..."
As long as the kids were happy.
After rearranging the beds, half the room was freed up, but a rack was needed to keep the grain bags off the ground to avoid moisture and pests.
Scouring through old lumber, she found no suitable wood. While she could chop bamboo and small branches, felling trees was out of the question.
Eventually, she repurposed three of the four stools from the kitchen and a small square table, combined with some sturdy planks, to create a makeshift storage rack for the grain bags.
After all the hassle, they were ready to bring in the grain bags. Sang Luo, along with the kids, managed to lift one bag, preparing to carry it inside. Coincidentally, Shen Jin, who hadn't visited in a long time, happened to drop by.
Peering curiously into the yard, he saw it filled with fifteen to twenty grain bags.
Shen Jin: "?"
Shen An was so annoyed he almost bit his tongue, realizing he forgot to close the yard gate.
Unperturbed by any sense of intrusion, Shen Jin cheerfully called out, "Sister-in-law, Shen An, Shen Ning, need some help?"
He then eagerly ran inside.
Amazed, he examined the pile of bags: "What's all this? So many."
Shen Jin then poked one of the bags and his eyes lit up instantly: "It's grain! Wow, Shen An, your family has so much grain!"
He eagerly came over to help Sang Luo and the kids carry the grain.
Though not the strongest, his willingness to help was sincere and enthusiastic.
Sang Luo: "..."
Alright then, the four of them, including her and the three children, teamed up to carry each bag.
After clumsily stacking all the grain, not only the kids but also Sang Luo were exhausted. They all collapsed on Shen An's new bed, lying in a row, too tired to move even a finger.
After a while, Shen An finally had the energy to speak.
"You haven't been here for a while, what brought you today?"
Hmm, questioning Shen Jin.
Shen Jin: "Don't get me started. My dad's petty – he got upset because I had a meal at your place with my siblings and he wasn't invited. Knowing I had worked at your house before, he dragged me to the fields for work, then to guard the drying grains and scare away birds. It was only today, after the grains were stored, that I could finally get away."
In fact, he had given the person a beating, feeling humiliated, so he didn't mention it and just huffed angrily.
Shen An thought to himself how coincidental the visitor's timing was, as his sister-in-law had purposely taken a mountain path to transport grain, which they hadn't hidden yet, only for the visitor to find it.
Now, the visitor even had the comfort of lying in his bed.
Shen An didn't even want to talk.
Shen Jin seemed quite happy, patting the bed beneath him and rolling slightly in place: "Shen An, your bed is really comfortable. The mat is new, smells of fresh grass, unlike ours at home, ruined by Tian Ya and stinking."
As he complained about the bed at home, he suddenly remembered something important, sat up abruptly with a start, and exclaimed: "Almost forgot the main thing, look what I brought for you!"
Proudly pulling out a small handful of lard residues from his pocket, Shen Jin said, "Look, we also rendered lard at home. Here, I'm sharing mine with you two, not just freeloading off your food!"
Realizing something, he quickly added, "And for the eldest sister-in-law too."
Sang Luo was amused by his proud tone, leaning to one side and looking at the six or seven pieces of oil residues held in his possibly sun-tanned or dirt-stained little hand.
She laughed, "I'll pass, you guys enjoy it."
Regardless of their grubby appearance, the two siblings shouldn't be picky. It wasn't easy for Shen Jin to spare even a little from his own mouth.
Shen Jin, upon hearing that Sang Luo wouldn't eat, displayed a mixed expression, unclear whether he felt a bit disappointed that his sister-in-law wouldn't try his offering, or somewhat relieved that he could save a piece for himself.
He seemed particularly conflicted.
Hearing about the lard scraps, Shen An and Shen Ning also sat up abruptly.
Shen Jin actually managed to save some lard scraps to share with them?
The siblings could hardly believe it.
That disbelief remained until they actually saw the small black hand holding a handful of lard scraps.
The hand was indeed quite dirty, but those lard scraps did look appetizing.
Although Shen An and Shen Ning weren't particularly choosy eaters, they rarely had the luxury of enjoying lard scraps or meat, especially since the meal they hosted at their home had nearly emptied their coffers, leading to a period of frugality.
Now, enticed by the aroma of the lard scraps, both siblings found themselves salivating.
Shen Jin's eyes curled with delight, beaming with an extraordinary pride. It wasn't just him enjoying the meals at Shen An and Shen Ning's place; he too had something to offer: "Let's share them. I only had two pieces myself."
With just seven pieces of lard scraps, Shen An quickly figured out that it meant two pieces per person, with one extra.
But Shen Jin insisted on distributing them one by one, "One for you, one for me, one for Ah Ning, one for you, one for me, one for Ah Ning, one for you...? Wait, why do you have three pieces?!"
Sang Luo chuckled from the sidelines: "Shen An, teach him some math when you have time."
Shen An: "…"
"I tried teaching him before, but he just doesn't like to learn."
Shen Jin: "Eating lard scraps, why bother with math?"
Then, eyeing the third piece of lard scrap in Shen An's hand: "That's my lard scrap. I gave you and Ah Ning two each, can I have three for myself? It's my stuff, so it's fair for me to eat a bit more, right?"
He was itching to snatch back the piece he had handed to Shen An.
Seeing him like that, Shen An was surprised that Shen Jin had even given away four pieces and willingly handed back the contested piece: "Sure, it's yours after all. You decide how many to give. Go ahead and eat."
The three sat on the bed, munching on the lard scraps, savoring the rich flavor. Sang Luo watched as Shen Jin ate the fastest, finishing his three pieces in no time and was about to wipe his oily hands on his clothes, when she sternly stopped him: "Hold on, don't smear the oil on your clothes or on my bed. Get off the bed, all of you. Go wash your hands outside."
Shen Jin froze mid-action, then sheepishly slid off the bed, waiting for Shen An and Shen Ning to join him before they all ran outside together.
Just as they reached the courtyard entrance, they ran into Chen Ershan.
"Ershan Brother, what brings you here?"
"My grandpa sent me to find your sister-in-law. Is she around?"
Hearing the voices, Sang Luo came out: "Chen Ah Ye is looking for me?"
Upon seeing her, Chen Ershan hurriedly greeted her and then said, "Yes, my grandpa wants to inquire about the grain prices. He asked me to see if you could come over when you're free. But he said there's no rush, and you should focus on your urgent matters first. You can visit when you have time."
The Chen family was aware that Sang Luo's 'fairy tofu' required sourcing ingredients from the mountains.
"Alright, tell your grandpa that I'll come over after dinner," Sang Luo replied, indeed planning to head out soon. As it got later, she dared not venture too deep into the forest, and the leaves from the peripheral 'fairy trees' were getting scarcer. Recently, she had stopped letting the children pick leaves, choosing to go into the mountains herself.
Chen Ershan agreed and, after greeting Sang Luo and the others, headed back down the mountain to his home.
Sang Luo, preparing for her mountain trip, carried two baskets - one for picking sour dates and another for leaves.
She instructed Shen An and Shen Ning, "Don't tell anyone about our grain stock, not even a word to anyone."
Shen Jin protested, "Why can't I talk about it? We have grain at home too."
"Just do as you're told. If you spill the beans, forget about getting any food from me ever again."
"Fine, I won't tell anyone. Everyone has grain, what's there to talk about anyway," he grumbled. Then, changing the subject, he said, "I gotta head home now. Since yesterday, my parents have been really grumpy, they don't even give me extra lard scraps. I would have brought more for you today. Gotta go, or I'll get scolded for being late."
Saying he needed to leave, he added hesitantly, "Remember me when you have something to eat, and I'll share mine with you too."
Hearing this, Sang Luo's eyes curved in amusement, yet she sighed inwardly. Kids really don't understand the worries of life, content as long as they have something to eat.
…
After dinner, as agreed, Sang Luo headed to the Chen household.
In the Chen family's main hall, it wasn't just their family; Shi Erlang and his wife, Gan Shi, Lu Lao Han, Lu Lao Tai Tai, and someone she wasn't quite familiar with, the village chief of Zhou Village, were also present.
As Sang Luo entered, the group, who had been sitting in gloomy silence, all stood up in unison.
"Madam Sang is here!"
As Sang Luo greeted everyone and sat down on a stool moved by Old Lady Chen, before she could settle down, Old Man Chen asked, "Fang Niang mentioned you suggested buying some grain? She couldn't explain the details, so a few families gathered here to ask you directly."
Sang Luo had guessed why the old man had invited her over. She frankly shared the situation at the county grain store and the information she had learned from Shopkeeper Xu.
Hearing about the epidemic and the dire straits, everyone's faces changed, especially the Chen family who had fled the drought years ago. They were particularly shaken.
"Is this information reliable?" Old Man Chen and Old Lady Chen asked in unison.
Before Sang Luo could respond, the usually silent Zhou Village Head spoke, "If the information comes from the manager of Dong Fu Lou, it's very likely true. The owner of Dong Fu Lou doesn't just run a restaurant in our Qi Yang County; there are branches in several neighboring counties and states. Someone like Manager Xu, a trusted confidante, would have more access to external information than us."
Everyone felt a heaviness in their hearts, and Old Man Chen questioned, "Should we really stockpile grain at such high prices?"
As he spoke, he looked around at everyone, his gaze finally resting on Sang Luo and Zhou Village Head.
Among them, one with a good background and skills has led their families to profit; the other, a village chief for many years, possesses a wealth of experience.
Sang Luo, aware that everyone's attention was on her and Zhou Village Head, pondered for a moment before saying, "Aunt Chen's concerns about the potential drop in grain prices after next year's harvest are valid. But personally, if I have money later, I'll still buy salt and grain to stock up. Even if I end up at a loss, I'll accept it for peace of mind."
Seeking peace of mind.
This sentiment resonated with everyone present.
The crowd then turned their gaze towards Zhou Village Head.
Zhou Village Head clenched his teeth and declared, "I'll buy too! You all should consider it for yourselves. I think Madam Sang's advice is sensible. It's about having peace of mind. If real trouble comes, can money alone guarantee grain?"
Indeed, in the face of real trouble, can money necessarily secure grain?
For the Shi and Lu families, the impact might not have been profound, but for the Chen family who had fled hardships, they deeply resonated with the situation.
Old Man Chen and Mrs. Chen exchanged glances and decided, "We'll buy as well!"
Better to lose money than to be without life-saving grain.
Chapter 68: I did not fount on the internet. Error 404.
Chapter 69: Sharing a Single Pair of Trousers
Sang Luo had planned well, making some hawthorn cakes in the next few days to sell.
She made Fairy Tofu before going to bed at night, conveniently processing the hawthorns she had collected in the afternoon. However, the weather was not on her side, as it began to rain in the middle of the night.
Waking up from her sleep, Sang Luo was initially startled but then remembered her newly built house and the spacious kitchen. The hawthorn cakes she made were no longer dried outside but inside the kitchen, only to be moved to the drying rack in the backyard at dawn.
She felt relieved. Had they been drying outside on the tree branches as before, today's batch of hawthorn cakes would likely have been ruined.
The sound of rain was so loud that Shen An and Shen Ning also woke up. Shen Ning rubbed her eyes, confused for a moment before realizing it was raining outside and then suddenly becoming alert.
"Elder sister, are the chickens and ducks outside getting soaked in the rain?"
Speaking, Shen Ning seemed ready to get out of bed, intent on checking outside.
Sang Luo quickly stopped her, saying, "Don't go out now. The chicken coop has a wide-roofed canopy covered with banana leaves, and the ground level is lined with bamboo fencing and straw. It's rainproof. But if you get soaked and fall sick, that would be troublesome."
Hearing this, Shen Ning immediately calmed down.
Falling ill was distressing, and they couldn't afford treatment. Just a few years ago, a child in the village had died from a simple cold and fever.
The three of them sat on the bed, finding it hard to fall asleep again.
Shen An asked, "Elder sister, with such heavy rain, can we still sell tofu tomorrow?"
Even though everyone had already paid, they could simply make and deliver the tofu, but he worried about Aunt Chen and others selling it.
Sang Luo was also worried.
The beans had already been soaked and had to be used. If soaked for too long, even with frequent water changes, they could spoil.
Another option was to make fermented dried tofu, which is more time-consuming and cannot be stored for very long. Plus, there was the promise of delivering fifty pieces of tofu to Madam Xu early in the morning.
It was their first steady large order, and Qin Fangniang was unlikely to break the agreement.
"Each family should have raincoats. The tofu carriers have lids, and the barrels are covered. We can also cover the carts. The only problem is the difficulty of the journey today."
Sang Luo murmured, "I hope the rain stops or at least lessens by dawn."
Seeing the children awake, Sang Luo advised them to stop worrying and get some rest.
After about thirty minutes, steady breathing sounds came from the adjacent bed. It made sense; the children were worried about the rent tax and had barely slept. They had risen early to help her grind the beans, and they didn't rest all day. No wonder they were exhausted.
At the first crow of the rooster, Sang Luo, who had only been resting with her eyes closed since waking to the sound of rain, carefully got out of bed without waking the children and made her way to the kitchen to start grinding tofu.
She hadn't been grinding long when someone knocked on the courtyard door. Hearing Chen Youtian's voice, she hurried over with a wooden plank to open the door.
Chen Youtian was alone, and they stood under the shelter of the eaves to talk.
Chen Youtian had come early, concerned that Sang Luo might wonder whether to make tofu due to the heavy rain. He informed her that all three families had agreed to proceed as usual, and the men would help deliver the tofu to the county gate.
Smiling, Sang Luo replied, "I'm already on it. They can pick it up a little later than usual."
Relieved, Chen Youtian, dressed in a raincoat and hat, quickly left.
Back at his house, Chen Lao Han, Chen Po Zi, and Tian Fang Niang were awake and waiting in the main room. They inquired about his visit upon his return.
Chen Youtian reported, "She's already making tofu, guessing we wouldn't break our promise to Madam Xu."
Hanging up his rain gear, he commented, "Sang Luo works hard for her earnings. It's just after the first rooster crow, and she's already busy in the kitchen."
Comparatively, they could have slept an extra hour and a half on non-rainy days while selling at their stalls.
Chen Po Zi sighed, "It's hard-earned money. Nothing comes easy."
Especially without a man in the house.
Chen Po Zi kept the latter half of her thought to herself.
Initially, she felt Sang Luo burdened Shen An and Shen Ning. If not for her, the children wouldn't have faced separation so soon.
But as Sang Luo established herself and treated the siblings well, Chen Po Zi felt happy for them, relieved they could survive together.
Over time, Chen Po Zi grew fond of Sang Luo, seeing her almost like a granddaughter, especially when addressed warmly as "Grandma." Knowing Sang Luo was already busy making tofu at such an early hour made her feel uneasy.
If only there was a man in the house, there would be no need for a woman to endure such hardships.
Sang Luo was considered a widow, yet in truth, she was still unmarried... Chen Po Zi abruptly halted her train of thought, not daring to continue.
If she pondered any further, should she find Sang Luo another match? What would become of Shen An and Shen Ning then?
Despite knowing she shouldn't think about it, her mind wandered. Lying in bed, Chen Po Zi couldn't find peace, tossing and turning restlessly.
Chen Lao Han turned to his wife: "What's troubling you?"
Chen Po Zi couldn't bring herself to say: "Nothing much, just shallow sleep. Once awake, I can't fall back asleep. You go ahead and sleep."
How could she admit she had considered remarrying Sang Luo?
Sigh, such thoughts are not to be entertained, it's a difficult dilemma either way.
…
Sang Luo was completely unaware of the old lady's sleepless night over her and the Shen siblings. After finishing the tofu and handing it over to Chen Youtian and others braving the rain in raincoats, she saw the children were still asleep. Deciding against preparing breakfast, she went back to bed to catch up on some sleep.
She slept until it was fully light outside; it seemed the rain had stopped. Turning to look beside her, she found the young siblings were already up.
Sang Luo lifted the quilt and got up. As soon as she stepped out of her room, she was spotted by Shen An outside the kitchen, his eyes brightening as he smiled, "Big sister, you're up? Don't you want to sleep a bit longer?"
The siblings had realized they had overslept only after waking up. They had sneaked into the kitchen and noticed many buckets and basins were missing, and a basin of fresh tofu residue on the counter indicated their elder sister had completed all the work during the night.
They couldn't help but feel guilty.
Just yesterday, they had vowed to work hard and help earn money to support the family, yet today they had slept in.
Sang Luo smiled, "No, I won't sleep more. Have you two had breakfast yet?"
Shen An shook his head, "Shen Ning just finished cooking. We planned to eat together once you were up."
Speaking, he turned back to the kitchen to fetch a few cleanly washed white Imperata roots for Sang Luo: "Big sister, please wash up. I'll serve the porridge. We can eat very soon."
Sang Luo thanked him and took the white Imperata roots, going out to wash. Shen Ning was outside feeding their cherished chickens and ducks, looking somewhat sheepish: "Big sister, both Shen An and I overslept this morning."
Sang Luo laughed, "I deliberately didn't wake you. If you don't get enough sleep, you won't grow tall, and being too short later on isn't good."
"Ah? Is that really how it works?" Shen Ning's eyes widened in earnest. "Then you should sleep more too, big sister."
Sang Luo: …
A knowing strike.
The original host was only fifteen years old, well, in a little over two months, she would be sixteen. She wasn't really tall, Sang Luo guessed she was at most about 1.58 meters, and that's thanks to being well-nourished since childhood.
She pondered, at fifteen or sixteen, there indeed was still potential to grow taller, and with some luck, it could be for another two or three years.
Thinking this way made sense to her, so she nodded: "You're right. Starting today, we'll make our fairy tofu earlier before it gets dark. After a spell of autumn rain, it's going to cool down. The weather, as I see it, won't affect the freshness if we make it earlier. Moreover, we won't be selling fairy tofu for many more days, just about ten days left. After that, let's sleep early at night and try to get over four hours of sleep."
Shen Ning was delighted and nodded vigorously, then earnestly said to Sang Luo: "We'll go to bed early too, and big sister, when you wake up in the morning, don't get up quietly. Wake Shen An and me up too, grinding tofu alone is too tiring for the arms."
Only those who grind know the effort.
Sang Luo smiled, "Alright, I just didn't want to disturb you because you didn't sleep well yesterday. I'll call you from now on."
After all, it's a family effort. Sang Luo didn't have the mindset of a self-sacrificing 'mother hen'.
Shen Ning's eyes curved in a smile: "Then big sister, hurry up and wash up, I made something delicious this morning."
Only when Sang Luo entered the kitchen did she find out what Shen Ning's delicious treat was.
Tofu residue pancakes.
"I used some of the leftover flour from last time and cracked an egg into it. I tried to imitate how you fried tofu residue balls, big sister. This doesn't use much oil, just a little to fry them up. Try them and see how they are, big sister."
Sang Luo had to admit, Shen Ning, the young girl, truly possessed a natural talent for cooking.
The tofu residue balls she had fried just once on the day of the banquet, and Shen Ning wasn't even present at the time. She simply liked them and later asked Sang Luo how to make them. Today, she cleverly adapted the method to make pancakes.
After tasting one, Sang Luo raised her eyebrows in approval and gave Shen Ning a thumbs up: "Delicious!"
Receiving praise, Shen Ning beamed with joy, her smile never fading: "Then I'll make them for you more often, big sister."
There was only one small stool available for use at the table, which Sang Luo sat on. The siblings stood while eating, yet they enjoyed their meal immensely.
After breakfast, Sang Luo stood for a while before taking out the unfinished pants from yesterday. In less than half an hour, she finished sewing them and asked the little guy to try them on.
Excitedly, Shen An went inside to change and soon came out wearing the brand-new pants. He admired them from every angle, clearly delighted: "Big sister, these pants fit perfectly. Can I accompany you to the mountains today?"
"Yes," Sang Luo smiled. "I left a few inches at the bottom to be let out later. They are double-layered, so when you grow taller, we can adjust them. Let's go to the mountains later; the sun seems about to come out. We'll wait for the air to dry a bit after the rain. It's the perfect time now. After rain, mushrooms often grow in the mountains. Let's see if we can find some."
Previously, when she lived in the mountains, if the rice was ready to harvest and it rained, you could find black trumpets in abundance. In her original world, good-quality black trumpets were quite expensive, selling for about thirty to sixty yuan per kilogram.
She wasn't sure if this world had them, but considering the trees and plants were similar, Sang Luo felt it was very likely.
Hearing about picking mushrooms, Shen Ning's eyes lit up with excitement, but then she remembered she didn't have any long pants suitable for the mountains and looked at Shen An with longing eyes.
Shen An, who had long awaited a trip to the mountains: "…"
Seeing his sister's eager gaze, he relented. After all, he had to be considerate towards his little sister.
"How about I let you wear my new pants for a day?"
Sang Luo: "...?!"
Grateful for small mercies, she was relieved that in this era, even in previous ones, due to horse riding and archery, undergarments already existed, although quite different from modern ones. Otherwise... the thought was too beautiful to imagine.
Moreover, Shen An's words inadvertently reminded Sang Luo of the past poverty, where brothers shared a single pair of pants, the only decent pair they owned, worn by whoever had to go out.
So, had their family now reached the point of sharing one pair of pants, like in those stories?
Surely not, definitely not. Shen Ning, the young girl, should just go to the mountains next time!
No, better to work hard to escape poverty!
Chapter 70: Mushroom Picking
Shen Ning didn't see anything wrong with this arrangement. She happily bounced up, dragging Shen An towards the house. Upon reaching the door, she realized and pushed Shen An inside, standing guard at the door.
"Big brother, change quickly. I'll come in and change afterward."
It didn't take long for the siblings to swap the pants. The new pair Sang Luo made, when worn by Shen Ning, was a bit long. Despite being twins, there was still a height difference. Sang Luo saw the young girl emerging from the house, hands hoisting up her pants.
Laughing heartily, Sang Luo helped Shen Ning roll up the pants and then secured them tightly with a cloth tie.
Shen An watched from the side, quite happy, thinking today was his sister's turn, and tomorrow would be his.
People living in the mountains knew well about the seasonal offerings of the woods, so while Sang Luo was busy adjusting the pants for Shen Ning, the young girl Xiao Ya came running to the courtyard, peering inside, and seeing everyone there, she joyfully entered.
"Sister Shen, my grandma asked if you're going to the mountains today? She, Mrs. Lu, and Mrs. Shi are planning to pick mushrooms."
"I will!" Sang Luo replied cheerfully, beckoning the little girl in. "When are your grandma and the others leaving?"
The little girl came in smiling, "We're leaving soon. My grandma said if you're coming, just wait at home. She's getting things ready in the kitchen and will come over with Mrs. Lu to fetch you."
Since Sang Luo arrived in this time, she and the kids had been eating three meals a day, earlier than most households. They had woken up late today, and after breakfast and some sewing, she guessed that others were just finishing their breakfast and still had chores like dishwashing and feeding the chickens.
Just as she finished tying Shen Ning's leggings, Sang Luo smiled, "Alright, we'll wait at home."
She then asked the little girl to wait and sent Shen An to the kitchen to fetch a tofu residue pancake for her.
The little girl was a bit awkward upon hearing it was for eating, "Sister Shen, I've already had breakfast at home, I just came to deliver a message and was about to head back."
As she was about to leave, Shen Ning stopped her, "It's like the fried balls we made last time, but these are pancakes. I made them, try them."
Sang Luo, amused by the scene, let the two girls chat while she washed her hands and returned to the kitchen to dish up some fresh tofu residue for the little girl, advising, "Take this to your grandma. Just fry it in a little oil, add water, boil, and season. Remember to boil it thoroughly, or it can upset your stomach."
The little girl, holding a golden-brown pancake in one hand and a bowl of unfamiliar food in the other, was puzzled. She just came to deliver a message and ended up with so much.
Sang Luo, seeing her reaction, chuckled and suggested, "Shen Ning, why don't you accompany your little friend back? Explain to your grandma Chen how to cook this tofu residue."
Concerned about the little girl's young age and fearing she might not relay the instructions accurately, which could lead to digestive issues if the residue wasn't boiled properly, Sang Luo didn't want her good intentions to backfire.
Shen Ning agreed readily, taking the bowl of tofu residue from the little girl's hands, and walked her out.
Outside the courtyard, the little girl remarked, "Sister Shen Ning, your stone-paved ground is great, it doesn't dirty the shoes at all."
She glanced at her own shoes, already dirtied from the walk over.
But Shen Ning's shoes were still relatively clean.
This morning, Shen Ning noticed the stark difference between the stone-paved path in their yard and the unpaved ground outside. Previously, she had only appreciated its aesthetics, but today she truly realized its practical benefits.
"My brother said he will pave the path from our yard to the spring, the chicken and duck shed, and the vegetable garden in the next few days."
They had gathered a large pile of stones over these days, which should be enough.
The little girl glanced at Shen Ning's pants, which didn't have a single patch: "Is that a new pair of pants your sister-in-law made for you?"
Shen Ning shook her head, "No, they're for my brother, but whoever goes to the mountain wears them. I'm wearing them today because I'm going to pick mushrooms with my sister-in-law."
"Your sister-in-law is really good to you both."
The two girls chatted happily as they walked down the mountain.
Mrs. Li, sweeping the yard, spotted Shen Ning holding a bowl and walking with the Chen family's little girl, who was carrying a golden-brown pancake.
"Looks like Sang Luo is sending something over to the Chen family."
She spat disdainfully, "Always playing favorites."
Murmuring under her breath, she expressed her disdain openly.
Although not loud, Shen Jin and others in the yard heard her. Shen Jin peered out curiously, spotting Shen Ning and the Chen family's little girl, particularly the golden pancake in her hand.
His first reaction was craving, followed by confusion — was his mother scolding Shen Ning or his eldest sister-in-law?
Shen Jin's face fell, the initial joy of seeing the pancake quickly fading.
Seeing his reaction, Mrs. Li snapped, "What are you looking at? Do you think they'll give you some?"
"Shen Jin nervously glanced at Shen Ning, who was approaching, terrified that his mother's words would be overheard by him. His face flushed red as he protested, 'Who says they never fed me? My sister-in-law and Shen An have given me plenty to eat.'"
"Li's face darkened further. 'Yes, indeed, how capable you are. The family has never made you do hard labor, yet you managed to take your two younger brothers to sell your labor elsewhere for some food. You really are something – why don't you just die of gluttony?'"
"As Shen Ning approached and overheard this conversation, she glanced at her aunt and Shen Jin, pursed her lips, and remained expressionless. Without addressing her aunt, she followed Chen Xiao Ya directly into the Chen family's courtyard."
"Li was infuriated. The girl who once begged for food from her was now showing such capability."
"With a sneer, she gave Shen Ning's retreating back a contemptuous look. 'Who taught you such lack of manners!'"
Shen Ning paused in her steps, gently tugged by Chen Xiaoya, and whispered something before following her.
Shen Jin, feeling extremely embarrassed with his neck flushed red, tried to stop his mother from speaking further.
Mrs. Li, unwilling to cooperate, saw Shen Ning pause then continue walking, which only fueled her anger.
This anger had been accumulating since the construction of the main house, while they, living next door in the Chen family, were eating meat every day. It reached its peak during the autumn harvest, when they toiled to death and returned home at dusk, only to be mocked by villagers asking why they weren't invited to the housewarming party at the main house.
It had reached a breaking point.
There were rumors in the village about Sang Luo having a recipe to make food to sell in the county. Now, women from the Chen, Shi, and Lu families were setting up stalls in the county, leaving early in the morning and returning in the afternoon – everyone noticed it.
Thinking back, it all started with Qin Fangniang following Sang Luo, and then the Shi and Lu families helped Sang Luo build a house before joining her. It was obvious that Sang Luo played a key role in this.
Mrs. Li, feeling resentful that she wasn't getting any benefit despite being related to the Shen family, was particularly annoyed by Mrs. Chen's constant cheerful demeanor.
At this moment, Mrs. Li found nothing pleasing about the main house, or the Chen, Lu, or Shi families, even resenting her sons who worked for the main house. Unable to do anything to Shen Ning, she smacked her son on the sleeve when he tried to intervene.
Shen Jin winced in pain and, seeing that Shen Ning had left, didn't linger and returned to his room with red eyes.
Shen Yin and Shen Tie quietly followed him, "Big brother, didn't you say there were some stones piled outside second brother's house? Weren't we going to pick them up and send them over today? Shall we go now?"
Shen Jin, disheartened, pulled a straw from beneath the mat, "No, I'm not going."
He was too ashamed to face them.
…
Shen Ning didn't take to heart the sarcastic remarks she heard from her aunt on the road. Not wanting to upset her sister-in-law, she didn't mention it at home.
Mrs. Chen's group arrived quickly, including Old Lady Lu, Mrs. Shi Er-lang, and a girl from the Lu family named Da Niuniu.
Mrs. Chen brought a large bowl of bean dregs for Sang Luo, along with a cucumber and a head of Chinese cabbage as gifts.
After a rare rainfall, many women from the village ventured into the mountains to gather mushrooms. Sang Luo joined Old Lady Chen and other women from the village on this excursion.
Guided by the two elderly ladies, they traversed unfamiliar terrains. The old ladies, having lived in the village for many years, knew the surrounding mountains well and led the way to areas where they previously found mushrooms.
With snake-repelling powder and in the company of several women, they ventured deeper into the woods than other village women, resulting in a significant harvest.
They collected various types of mushrooms, including oyster mushrooms, pine mushrooms, straw mushrooms, and wood ear mushrooms, as well as the prized Huaigu mushrooms that Sang Luo was particularly keen on.
Mushrooms often grew in clusters, sprouting from old trees and pine needles scattered on the ground, especially after a night of rain.
The group of six felt as though they had stumbled into a treasure trove, joyously gathering mushrooms.
Despite her age, Old Lady Chen was remarkably agile and sharp-eyed, picking as many mushrooms as Sang Luo. Old Lady Lu was equally adept, as were ten-year-old Da Niuniu and nine-year-old Shen Ning. Only Mrs. Shi Er-lang, in comparison, lagged a bit behind.
They collected a large haul along the way, and the two old ladies were all smiles. After finishing one spot, they took Sang Luo and the others to another pine forest. Along the way, they picked sour dates and offered some to Sang Luo, Shen Ning, and Da Niuniu, commenting on their pleasantly sour taste.
They even gathered some extra sour dates into their baskets to take back for their grandchildren.
Following their example, Da Niuniu also ate some and collected a big handful in her pocket to take home for her younger brothers.
"Shen Ning also started picking sour dates, filling her pocket. Looking at the dates still scattered on the ground, she found it hard to move on, wishing she could gather them all into her own basket. Sang Luo had to gently squeeze her hand to restrain her, and Shen Ning managed not to show any odd expression."
"Sang Luo silently memorized the locations of the fairy trees, sour dates, and konjac plants, planning to return with Shen Ning in the afternoon to secretly gather these sour dates and pick some leaves from the fairy trees for the next day's use."
As for the devil's fig, since it won't spoil in the soil and no one desires it, Sang Luo plans to dig it up after the mushroom picking craze has passed. She's cautious about being seen digging up something perceived as poisonous in the local community.
Led by the two elder ladies, they filled their baskets in just half a morning. But they had ventured deep enough and didn't dare to go any further.
Old Lady Lu suggested returning: "Let's head back, we can't carry more. While the sun's out, let's get home and start drying these."
Sang Luo, intrigued, asked: "Drying them into preserved goods?"
Old Lady Lu nodded: "They can only be eaten fresh once, the rest we dry for winter."
Sang Luo thought about the black trumpets she had gathered in abundance. Drying them seemed a waste, as their fresh taste was far superior to their dried version.
She proposed: "I'll dry the wood ears, but these fresh mushrooms should fetch a good price. I'm considering taking them to the county, to see if Dong Fu Lou would be interested in buying them."
These were considered delicacies. Even the arrogant chef from the restaurant opposite Dong Fu Lou had mentioned that wild delicacies were worth offering, indicating that these establishments did buy such items.
Hearing Sang Luo's idea, the others were tempted, but Mrs. Chen pondered: "Would Dong Fu Lou really buy all of these?"
Sang Luo wasn't sure either and suggested: "Let's try taking them there? If they buy, great. If not, we move quickly and take them to the stalls in the market, perhaps sell them there."
Mrs. Chen readily agreed: "Good idea! Shall we go now?"
In rural areas, such foraged items are rarely consumed by the gatherers themselves if they can be sold for money.
Once Mrs. Chen decided to accompany them, Old Lady Lu also agreed to go: "If we don't make it in time, the worst we'll have is a half-day wasted walk and carrying them back, no big loss."
Of the four families, three decided to go. Led by the skilled Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Lu, they navigated several mountains, taking a shortcut to the path leading to Sanli Village, already covering half of the distance.
It was indeed a swift journey.
On the way, they ran into Chen You Tian and others, each carrying a sack of grain, who had just dropped their wives and sisters-in-law off at the county in the early morning.
With the dewfall still unlifted, they couldn't enter the county, so after dropping off their relatives, they utilized the break in the rain to buy grain from a miscellaneous store in Sanli Village and were now on their way back.
Upon seeing them, Sang Luo hurriedly greeted Chen You Tian, asking him to inform Shen An that they had gone to the county to sell mushrooms and would return later.
Failing to inform Shen An could cause the boy to worry endlessly, thinking they hadn't returned from the mountains.