Chapter 71: "Brother, the County Town is Beautiful"
At Dong Fu Lou, Chef Yu from the kitchen had the authority to purchase mushrooms. Thanks to Sang Luo's earlier exchange of cooking recipes with him, he readily agreed to buy all the mushrooms she brought, except for a few wood ears she chose to keep for drying.
The two baskets weighed several dozen pounds. Although there were multiple varieties, none exceeded more than a few pounds, hardly sufficient for a restaurant's needs.
The modest quantity wasn't even enough to justify listing them on the menu.
This favor from Chef Yu was clearly a gesture to support Sang Luo's business.
The common grass mushrooms were cheap, only a few coins per pound, but others like the black trumpets fetched a good price, with Chef Yu offering twelve coins per pound.
Sang Luo was delighted with the price, especially for the black trumpets she had eagerly gathered. The total earnings, divided between her and Shen Ning's baskets, amounted to 283 coins.
Sang Luo mentioned that a few villagers outside the city gates had also collected mushrooms, with four more baskets available, to which Chef Yu readily agreed to purchase.
"Of course, we'll buy them. I was just thinking we don't have enough, and would have to remove them from the menu after a few orders."
He called the dishwashing boy to help carry the baskets along with Sang Luo.
…
The group from their village, unable to enter the city due to lack of permission, waited eagerly at the city gate, visibly excited when they saw Sang Luo approaching.
Passing items between inside and outside the city gates was allowed, and the city guards were cooperative. Sang Luo took the baskets from Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Shi's second daughter-in-law, while the young boy helped Mrs. Lu and Lu Danü.
After sorting and weighing, Mrs. Chen and Shi's second daughter-in-law each received 190 and 149 coins, respectively, while Mrs. Lu and her granddaughter, with their two baskets, earned 296 coins.
At the front counter for payment, Sang Luo sorted the money for the three families, not claiming her own portion, but instead asking for a receipt of 283 coins, considering it repayment to Dong Fu Lou.
With Manager Xu absent, Sang Luo didn't linger. After thanking the cashier and Chef Yu, she left Dong Fu Lou carrying six empty baskets.
She distributed the money to the three families outside the city gate. Mrs. Lu was especially thrilled, having earned the most.
Mrs. Chen was also delighted, remarking that it was enough to buy over two dou of grain, attributing their fortune to Sang Luo's help.
Mrs. Lu and Shi's second daughter-in-law warmly thanked Sang Luo, their eyes crinkling with smiles.
Shi's second daughter-in-law's admiration and envy were almost written all over her face.
"Sang Luo, you're truly capable. You've only been here a short while, yet you know the innkeepers in town. I've lived here since I was a child, and I've hardly been to the county town. I'm not even familiar with the streets."
Shi's second daughter-in-law's admiration was genuine. Although she addressed Sang Luo as 'auntie', she was only twenty-four, not much older than Sang Luo.
She had always found Sang Luo impressive, even more so than her sister-in-law. Today's mushroom picking and selling venture in town, where Sang Luo helped her earn a significant 149 coins, made her feel closer to Sang Luo.
Feeling more connected to Sang Luo, she approached and asked, "We all call you Sang Luo, but what's your given name?"
Sang Luo smiled at her approach, "I'm called Sang Luo, and my family calls me A Luo."
Shi's second daughter-in-law beamed, "Then I'll call you A Luo too, it feels closer. Auntie is actually not much older than you, just senior by generation."
Sang Luo observed Shi's second daughter-in-law, who seemed about twenty-four or twenty-five, younger than her previous life.
She brightly responded, "Sure, Auntie, you can call me A Luo."
On the way back, Shi's second daughter-in-law chattered non-stop, affectionately addressing her as A Luo and sharing the latest gossip from Sanli Village.
When it came to gossiping, Shi's second daughter-in-law was unrivaled in Sanli Village.
It wasn't so much that she was exceptionally well-informed, but her animated and vivid storytelling made her gossip particularly engaging.
She shared with Sang Luo and Mrs. Chen the recent news about grain price hikes in Zhou Village, "I was out for a walk after dinner last night, and A Luo's Uncle Shen, I mean Shen San, was just coming back from the fields. He ran into Zhou Village Zheng on the way, who happened to mention the grain price hike and the famine outside, advising him to consider stockpiling grain. Guess how your Uncle Shen reacted?"
She paused for effect.
Sang Luo guessed, "Probably not with anything pleasant."
Shen San was known for his lack of gratitude and had a poor reputation in the village.
Shi's second daughter-in-law clapped her hands in delight, "Exactly! Let me imitate him for you!"
Clearing her throat, she stopped walking, straightened her back, lifted her chin, half-closed her eyes with a sneer, and mimicked, "Zhou Village Zheng, what nonsense are you talking? We're farmers. When grain prices are high, we sell, not buy. We can tighten our belts and get by. Won't there be new grain next autumn? It's a waste of money."
She perfectly captured Shen San's ambiguous tone, hovering between sarcasm and mockery.
Mrs. Chen chuckled, "That's quite an accurate imitation."
Shi's second daughter-in-law smiled, "Had to be accurate, I was right there. Zhou Village Zheng just stared at him for a while, shook his head, said he was just giving a heads-up, and left."
"It's not surprising. Being notified about such matters is already an act of kindness. Who would listen to complaints anyway?"
Sang Luo, being the junior and not wanting to involve herself with the third family, simply smiled and changed the subject, "Did Zhou Village Zheng's notification yesterday attract many buyers for the grain?"
Mrs. Chen shook her head, "No, aside from our five families, no one else in the village is stockpiling grain."
"Most share the same mindset as Shen San, though I guess only Shen San would rebuff those trying to help him."
Sang Luo sighed, "I'd rather we were overcautious for nothing."
"Even if it means wasting money."
The usually spirited Shi's second daughter-in-law seemed a bit down, "Exactly. Hopefully, after paying next year's tax this year, they won't come asking again. Struggling to feed ourselves daily is tough. The best meal I had this year was actually at your place, A Luo, during the feast."
Noticing the somber mood, Sang Luo smiled and steered the conversation, "Since it rained last night, there should be more mushrooms in the mountains for the next few days. Let's pick some more this afternoon? Maybe we can ask the aunties to bring them to the town tomorrow. Auntie You Tian can inquire at the Dong Fu Lou when delivering tofu. If they don't buy, we can sell them at the market."
Old Lady Lu agreed, "That's a good idea. We can earn some money from it, and if we can't sell them, we can dry them for winter. They're a blessing from heaven, so it would be wasteful not to make use of them."
Mrs. Chen also smiled and suggested, "Why don't we take the mountain path on our way back? We can walk along the mountains near the road. These areas are safe and less frequented by villagers, so we might find untouched mushrooms. We can pick them on our way home."
This suggestion was met with such enthusiasm that even Shen Ning excitedly hopped along in agreement. So, after passing Sanli Village, the group of six, spanning different ages, ventured back into the mountains.
Qin Fangniang and the others took more than half an hour to return from the town, but they ended up arriving back at the village over an hour later than usual.
Of course, their haul was significant, with all six baskets brimming with mushrooms.
The villagers, unaware of their trip to town to sell the mushrooms, assumed they had spent the entire morning in the deeper parts of the mountains foraging, and joked about their dedication to gathering just a few vegetables.
Mrs. Chen and the others kept a pact of silence about selling the mushrooms in town for a good price.
Why mention it and incite everyone to rush there?
That would quickly drive the mushroom prices down.
Besides, this abundance was only due to the recent rainfall. Even without selling in town, everyone would swarm the mountains after the rain, leaving little to forage. Like today, such a yield required venturing far. Best to quietly enjoy the profits earned.
…
When Sang Luo reached home, the area outside their house was bustling with activity. Chen Ershan, Huzi, Erniu, and Shen An were all busy working, some with hoes and others with shovels, preparing the ground from the house's entrance to the mountain spring. The first task was to clear the grass and turf.
Seeing Sang Luo and Shen Ning return, Shen An immediately dropped his hoe and rushed over, curiously peeking into Shen Ning's basket. To his surprise, it was full of mushrooms.
Shen An was taken aback, "You didn't manage to sell them in town?"
Shen Ning's eyes crinkled with joy, "We sold them, sold them! We picked these on our way back after selling the others."
Leaning close to Shen An, she whispered excitedly, "We sold them for 283 wen at Dong Fu Lou. Our sister-in-law didn't take the money, just asked for a receipt, considering it as repayment for the six liang of grain we bought. The mushrooms we picked today, we plan to send to Dong Fu Lou again tomorrow through Auntie Youtian."
"Sold for that much?" Shen An's eyes lit up with amazement.
Shen Ning nodded proudly, "I picked half of them myself."
Shen An smiled genuinely, praising his sister, "Ning is really amazing. Are we picking mushrooms again tomorrow? If so, I'll let you wear the pants again."
Shen Ning nodded vigorously, "Yes, we need to pick them, only available these next few days."
Her eyes sparkling, Shen Ning shared with Shen An, "The county town is so beautiful! The streets are paved with blue stone slabs, very clean, and beyond a small section near the town gate, there's no mud at all even on rainy days. The people there dress so well; their clothes are colorful, different from what we wear here."
"The houses in the town are grand too, made of blue bricks and big tiles. I even saw some two-story buildings."
"Two stories?" Shen An's eyes widened in wonder, "Can houses really be built with two floors?"
"Yes, that's what Chen Granny said. In those tall buildings, the bottom floor and the top floor can both be lived in."
Having never been further than Sanli Village, Shen An turned to look at their new thatched house, unable to imagine what a two-story building looked like.
Listening to his sister talk about the money they made from mushrooms and describing the county town, his eyes filled with longing, "I wish I could go to the town with sister-in-law someday. Even just standing at the town gate and looking inside would be great."
Shen An imagined finally being able to see what a two-story house looks like.
Sang Luo laughed, "In the future, there will be a chance. Next time, we won't just stand at the city gate; we'll go inside. I only dared to take Ah Ning with me today because Aunt Chen and others were with us at the gate. If I left you alone at the gate, I'm afraid you'd have been chased away by the guards by the time I came out."
Hearing about the guards, Shen An finally sobered up, feeling even more envious of his sister's luck that day.
The siblings walked home, chatting animatedly until they reached their yard. Only then did Shen An remember to ask, "Big sister, have you and Ah Ning had lunch yet? I've cooked something. You both should eat now."
Sang Luo was surprised: "Little An can cook?"
Usually, if she was not at home, it was Ah Ning who cooked.
Shen An, remembering the bean dregs he cooked at noon, felt embarrassed. Compared to what his sister-in-law and Ah Ning usually made, the taste of his cooking... He scratched his head awkwardly, "Well, it's cooked, but the taste isn't great."
Even though he followed the same methods his sister-in-law and Ah Ning usually used, he couldn't understand why his dish turned out so differently.
With this thought in mind, he couldn't stay still in the courtyard anymore, and without bothering to help unload the baskets as he usually did, he said, "Big sister, I'll go back to digging the road base."
With those words, he turned and quickly left for the outside of the courtyard.
Chapter 72: I did not found on the internet. Error 404.
Chapter 73: Let's Cooperate
The shopkeeper grabbed Sang Luo's arm before she could steady herself, her eyes immediately darting to the two baskets Sang Luo carried.
"Miss, you've kept me waiting. Are you here in the county today to sell your crystal cakes?"
Sang Luo's eyebrows twitched, and she smiled, "Yes, I just arrived in town and was planning to inquire at two other pastry shops. Were you looking for me, shopkeeper?"
Planning to inquire at other pastry shops!
The female shopkeeper's grip on Sang Luo's sleeve tightened as she heard this, instantly becoming alert.
Catching her breath, she smiled and said, "Don't go just yet. Come, sit in my shop first, and we can talk at leisure."
Sang Luo felt she might not need to pitch her products elsewhere today; a buyer was already interested.
Smiling, she agreed and followed the shopkeeper, only then realizing that she had unwittingly passed by Yongfengzhai, which explained the shopkeeper's pursuit.
Inside Yongfengzhai, the shopkeeper invited Sang Luo to the back courtyard of the shop, even offering tea and snacks.
This gesture made Sang Luo suspect that this was about more than just buying or helping someone buy crystal hawthorn.
Sure enough, the shopkeeper began, "Miss, are you truly unwilling to sell the recipe for crystal hawthorn? We can negotiate a good price."
Sang Luo was tempted by the offer, but having arrived in ancient times with no support and two children, she preferred a steady income over a quick payout.
Selling recipes might bring quick money, but what about the long term, after selling one or two recipes?
There were many resources in the mountains, but without venturing deep, few were reliably profitable, and even those were seasonal.
There were potential profits in medicinal herbs, but Sang Luo didn't know them well. Her one attempt at selling medicinal herbs - hawthorn fruits - to an apothecary didn't bring in much. They only bought a few times before saying they had enough, and Sang Luo had to discard the rest back into the mountains. Fearful of revealing her hawthorn cake recipe, she even avoided using the remaining hawthorns for any purpose, like making beaded curtains.
Therefore, Sang Luo intended to hold onto and maximize what she knew as much as possible.
So, even though the shopkeeper's offer to negotiate a price was tempting, Sang Luo shook her head, "I'm sorry, shopkeeper, but our family relies on this skill for our livelihood."
The shopkeeper had already guessed it was unlikely to happen, as valuable recipes in these times were often closely guarded, passed down through generations as a means of livelihood. Unless one was in dire straits, such recipes were not easily sold.
With a sigh in her heart and a slight hint of regret on her face, she said, "I bought your crystal cakes a few days ago and after packaging them, delivered them to the Dong family. The ladies, misses, and young masters of the Dong family really liked them, even the old lady kept two jars. Therefore, our Dong family has been contemplating buying the recipe to refine it and sell it in our shop."
Sang Luo smiled, waiting for her to continue.
Seeing Sang Luo's composed demeanor, the shopkeeper had no choice but to offer the Dong family's alternative proposal: "If you really don't want to sell the recipe, perhaps we could talk about a collaboration."
Sang Luo asked with a smile, "What kind of collaboration?"
The shopkeeper outlined the terms, essentially involving making the product according to their specifications using their provided molds, ensuring steady supply exclusively for them.
Sang Luo could agree to the first and last points, but the middle condition was unattainable for her.
"Sour dates naturally grow in the wild and are not cultivated by her; how could she guarantee their consistent availability? Considering the local climate and season, in another month and a half, they would no longer be available."
"Of course, she couldn't speak plainly about this. Revealing the real reason would make the recipe easier to decipher."
Consequently, Sang Luo simply shook her head: "I can make them using your molds, and exclusively supply you; these two conditions are manageable. However, a stable supply isn't feasible. Besides making these crystallized fruits, our family has several other businesses to attend to. We're too busy to keep up, and hiring outsiders risks the leakage of the recipe, so we only produce them when we have spare time."
The female shopkeeper: "…"
"You mean you're too busy to make money?"
She looked doubtful.
Sang Luo frankly explained: "The immortal tofu and tofu recently sold in the county are also part of our family business, and we have some collaboration with Dongfu Tower. We truly are swamped with work, so please understand, shopkeeper. Of course, I will try my best to make some batches intermittently and bring them over."
Hearing about the immortal tofu and tofu, the female shopkeeper showed a hint of surprise in her eyes.
That finally convinced her of Sang Luo's words.
"Alright then." With the conversation reaching this point, the shopkeeper had no other option. The pastry chefs in her shop had spent days pondering over the half-jar of crystal hawthorn Sang Luo had provided, trying over a dozen times without success to replicate it.
She then turned her attention to the basket Sang Luo had brought: "How much crystal hawthorn have you brought today?"
"Eight hundred and thirty-six pieces."
Sang Luo reported with remarkable precision.
The reason Sang Luo remembered the exact number was that when she packed the jars, there were thirty-nine extra pieces. She initially planned to leave nine as snacks for the younger siblings and bring eight hundred and thirty to town. However, the children, concerned about the family's debts, refused to keep more than three, insisting the rest be packed.
So, Sang Luo was particularly clear about this number.
In the past few days, she and either Shen Ning or Shen An scoured dozens of nearby mountains. They only picked the fruits that fell naturally, as sour jujube trees are too high and their branches too brittle to climb. The fallen fruits, unharmed by the impact, could last a few days, giving people enough time to collect them, which is why they mainly picked the overripe ones that had fallen naturally.
The eight hundred plus wen sounds like a lot, but it was hard-earned. They spent every day in the mountains, running back and forth several times. Once the nearby fruits were picked, they had to venture further, spending most of their time on mountain trails.
At night, they made jujube cakes at home. Days with a big harvest meant working late into the night, which was exhausting.
Now, even Shen An and Shen Ning had become adept at peeling and mashing the jujube.
The female owner laughed, "I'll take them all. Remember, in the future, only sell these crystal candied fruits to Yongfeng Zhai."
Sang Luo was more than willing, and immediately asked the owner to have them counted.
The female owner was prompt in her actions; she had the fruits counted and handed Sang Luo eight strings and thirty-six wen. She also gave Sang Luo time to count the money.
Sang Luo did not hesitate this time, as she had specific plans for the eight hundred plus wen she earned. She even asked the owner for a few strings to tie the money.
With each string costing eighty-eight wen, she strung nine strings, leaving only forty-four wen, which she strung into a smaller string.
Before leaving, the female owner asked Sang Luo to wait a moment and went inside to bring out a small box for her.
Sang Luo realized they were molds for making desserts. If she used them for her sour jujube cakes, they would not only come out uniform and neatly shaped but also bear the Yongfeng Zhai imprint.
"For future orders, could you kindly use these molds? What do you think?" the owner asked.
The imprint from the bamboo winnowing basket on the desserts would certainly make them less appealing.
After examining the molds and seeing they were similar in size to her current ones, Sang Luo nodded, "Alright, I'll use these for future batches."
She carefully inspected the molds, noting each was a rectangular shape with two rows, capable of making twenty pieces. The owner had brought out ten molds, meaning Sang Luo could make two hundred crystal candies at a time. Sang Luo frowned slightly, "If you have more molds, I would appreciate a few extra. These candies, if stored properly, last quite well. We don't make them often, so we usually produce more in one batch."
The sour jujube season was short, so Sang Luo needed to plan and preserve a stock. This way, she could continue supplying Yongfeng Zhai even after the season, reducing the likelihood of people associating her crystal candies with wild sour jujubes from the mountains.
The female owner frowned, understanding that fresher products were preferred for her shop. But recalling how the six hundred pieces she sent to her boss's family vanished almost instantly, despite their large family size, she knew her clientele at Yongfeng Zhai were mostly from similar wealthy households.
She realized her mistake in limiting the number of molds.
If Sang Luo got too busy with tofu and her deal with Dongfu Lou, and only made the crystal candies infrequently, how far would two hundred pieces go?
"Isn't this limiting myself indirectly?"
The female shopkeeper immediately agreed with a smile, "Certainly, please wait a moment while I fetch some more."
Eventually, she brought out another ten molds, allowing for the production of four hundred pieces in one batch.
Once business matters were settled, the shopkeeper invited Sang Luo to sit and have tea and snacks. She introduced herself with a smile, "My surname is Yan. You can call me Manager Yan. May I ask for your name and where you live?"
She began to inquire about Sang Luo's background.
Since they were now in a partnership, Sang Luo saw no harm in sharing. "My surname is Sang, just Luo for the first name. Manager Yan can call me Mrs. Sang or Luo. I live in Qingpu Township, Shili Village."
Manager Yan noted this information and then asked, "May I know when Mrs. Sang can deliver the first batch of goods?"
After pondering, Sang Luo replied, "I should be able to deliver the first batch in about four days."
The production time of these items was weather-dependent. They could be dried in two days under good sunlight, but they required longer if they had to be aired indoors during rainy days.
Having agreed on a rough delivery schedule, Sang Luo gathered her jars and the dessert molds given by Manager Yan and prepared to leave.
Manager Yan, being hospitable, accompanied her all the way to the shop's entrance.
After leaving Yongfeng Zhai, Sang Luo decided not to visit anywhere else and headed straight to the grain shop where Chen You Tian and others were lining up.
It was still early, and a long queue formed outside the grain shop. Chen You Tian and others were mid-way in line. Sang Luo approached, pulling money strings from her pouch and handed three to Chen You Tian, Shi Er Lang, and Lu Da Lang, along with a grain bag each: "Thanks for your effort, please buy three dou (a unit of volume) of grain for me, each string of money is exactly eighty-eight wen."
Assisting Sang Luo with buying grain was prearranged; Chen You Tian and the others could only buy about one to one and a half dou per trip due to purchase limits. Sang Luo was too busy selling goods to queue, so she had asked them to buy grain on her behalf.
They nodded, pocketing the money, and Sang Luo waited aside.
Zhou Village Chief had noticed Sang Luo's bulging purse on his way here in the morning, not realizing that she had earned the money by selling goods in town. He was rather curious about the confectionery molds in Sang Luo's basket, several of which couldn't fit into the jars and were left outside.
…
By mid-morning, they had bought the grain and proceeded to purchase salt, priced at twenty-four wen per liter. Zhou Village Chief directly bought five liters, prompting Sang Luo to gaze at him several times in surprise – that amount could last well over a year.
Sang Luo recalled that Zhou Village Chief's family was quite large, but with careful usage, the salt should indeed suffice for more than a year.
Sang Luo also considered stocking up on salt, a commodity well-known for its long shelf life, easily lasting two to three years. But feeling the weight of her money pouch, she pragmatically asked the shopkeeper for just one liter.
That was all she could afford – purchasing this one liter left her with only twenty wen in hand.
The Chen, Shi, and Lu families were in a similar situation to Sang Luo, each buying a liter of salt with gritted teeth.
Having completed their purchases, everyone was in a hurry to return to their fields, opting not to wait for Qin Fang Nü and her group. They hoisted their bags and set off.
For Chen You Tian and the others, carrying their own purchases was no trouble; it was easily manageable by hand. Sang Luo's rice, however, totaled nine dou and was divided into three bags. Thankfully, Chen You Tian and his companions assisted with carrying them.
The group of five, with Sang Luo carrying a load on a shoulder pole and the rest shouldering grain and carrying bags, unavoidably drew attention as they returned to the village.
"Really buying high-priced grain, huh? What's the point? It's just for this year's tax. Otherwise, I'd be tempted to sell some to the grain merchant," someone commented.
"Tsk, really earning money by setting up a stall in the county."
"Chen You Tian, what does your wife sell in the county? She must be making quite a bit, right?"
Chen You Tian: "Wild greens, mushrooms, whatever vegetables we grow at home. Whatever we have, we sell. If you're hardworking, you could also carry your goods to the county to sell."
The person sneered, speaking to Chen You Tian but his eyes were fixed on the carrying basket Sang Luo was shouldering, especially those covered jars.
The dessert molds were no longer visible, as Sang Luo had placed the bag of salt on top, partially concealing them.
Sang Luo noticed these reactions and put on a worried face, forcing a smile as she responded, "Uncle You Tian and the others are helping me carry grain. This year, our family has to pay a tax of four shi and four dou of grain. We're still far from meeting that amount."
Chen You Tian and the others had indeed helped Sang Luo carry grain and knew that she had already stored enough grain for her tax and even for consumption until next autumn. The nine dou she purchased today was just her being cautious and wanting to store some more.
On their way back to the village, they deliberately did not take the mountain path but went through the village to show off their haul. Otherwise, how could they suddenly produce four shi of grain when it came time to pay taxes?
Shi Er Lang, quick-witted, immediately played along with Sang Luo's reaction, saying, "Don't worry too much. If you haven't gathered enough grain by September 14th, our families will help you out."
Chen You Tian and Lu Da Lang were momentarily stunned but quickly caught on, nodding in agreement, "Yes, yes, each family can contribute a little. You can return it once you've earned enough to buy grain."
Zhou Village Chief, unaware of the pretense, took their performance seriously. He knew tofu-making was profitable but also required capital. With Sang Luo also supporting three other families and considering the costs of building a house and other expenses, it seemed plausible that she might struggle to buy grain.
Thinking of how Sang Luo still had to pay her deceased husband's share of the tax and considering the similar situation of the Chen, Shi, and Lu families, Zhou Village Chief felt heavy-hearted. He couldn't interfere when the Shen family split, but now he felt he could lend a hand with the tax payment.
With this thought, Zhou Village Chief offered, "If you're short by a lot, my family can help contribute as well. Just make sure to replenish the grain later."
Sang Luo, originally just acting, was momentarily taken aback by his offer, then smiled graciously, "Thank you, Uncle Zhou."
Although Sang Luo didn't actually need this help, Zhou Village Chief's offer, whether it was a sincere desire to help or an investment in her tofu-making skills, was a gesture she appreciated.
Chapter 74: The First Frost
The villagers, who were just there to watch the excitement, heard that the grain Chen You Tian and others were carrying wasn't theirs but was purchased by the Sang family to pay their taxes.
They quickly realized that the amount of grain Sang family had bought was still far short of the required tax payment, making them even less well-off than themselves. They could at least pay their taxes.
A sense of superiority instantly inflated among them.
Looking at what Chen You Tian and the others were carrying, which amounted to barely ten jin of grain, they thought that must be the so-called 'high-priced grain' they bought to hoard. Tsk, it wasn't much. Running to the county every day as if they were doing something big, huh.
The group's envious tone suddenly lightened, turning into genuine curiosity and idle chatter.
Li Shi, however, seeing Sang Luo coming and going with a group of men who could be her uncles, and hearing them offer to lend her grain for taxes, gritted her teeth and ultimately couldn't help but spit lightly.
Wanting to curse but remembering her previous quarrel with Sang Luo, she forcibly held back her words.
When Sang Luo got tough, she showed no mercy, and the term 'seductress' was something Li Shi dared only to mutter resentfully in her heart.
Sang Luo, unaware of Li Shi's dirty thoughts seeing her walking with Chen You Tian and other men who could be her uncles, had almost no interaction with Li Shi since crossing over, not even greeting her when passing by on the road. Therefore, she didn't give Li Shi a second glance, nor did she notice Li Shi's resentful expression.
After thanking everyone for carrying the grain, Sang Luo stored the not-quite-full bags and, together with her two children, moved the grain inside the house.
Seeing two more bags of grain brought home, Shen An knew the crystallized fruit must have made money again, happily exclaiming like a squirrel that had stored food for winter, "Big sister, did you sell all the crystallized fruit you took today?"
"Sold out. From now on, our family will be exclusively cooperating with Yongfeng Restaurant. We'll deliver our crystallized fruit there to be sold in their shop."
"Yongfeng Restaurant? That's the best snack shop in the county, isn't it?"
The siblings were delighted. Shen Ning asked, "How much will they sell our crystallized fruit for?"
Sang Luo shook her head, "I don't know, but definitely much more expensive than the price we sold it to them."
The products from Yongfeng Restaurant are exquisitely packaged and sold by the box, none of them cheap. The markup really depends on them.
Shen An commented, "Even if they sell each piece for one coin, it's still a good profit. Big sister, shall we go back to the mountains later?"
Sang Luo nodded, "We need to go to the mountains. We promised a delivery in about four days, but first, we need to cut some bamboo to make three simple drying mats."
With the twenty molds provided by Yongfeng Restaurant, Sang Luo could save using four winnowing baskets. The konjac could be sliced thickly and dried for later use when fresh konjac is no longer available.
Sang Luo planned to make four simple drying boards for the Yongfeng Restaurant molds, not needing the fine craftsmanship of thin bamboo strips like the winnowing baskets, but rather more substantial bamboo bars woven into a large, relatively flat surface that can fit into the drying rack and hold the molds steadily.
The saved winnowing baskets would be dedicated to drying konjac slices, as konjac also has a harvest period. If she wanted to continue selling vegetarian tripe beyond the harvest period, she needed to stockpile ingredients now.
Sang Luo was quite adept at bamboo crafting by now, even storing some of Chen You Tian's tools at her place. The simple drying mats were not difficult to make, and she had them ready by mid-afternoon.
The following busy period goes without saying.
…
Soon, it was the 7th of September, the day the tax collector was scheduled to visit Shili Village.
Early in the morning, families were preparing, transporting their grain to the village's drying field to wait.
Sang Luo, not having a male in the household and not wanting to attract attention in the village while pretending to be poor, decided not to go. She planned to buy more grain and pay the taxes closer to the 13th or 14th of September, when a trip to the county would be less conspicuous.
Although not paying taxes, Sang Luo didn't miss the chance to observe the scene.
The observation only highlighted the tax collector's malice and the hardships of the villagers. Paying taxes involved not just handing over grain but also appeasing the tax collector with a smile and discreet bribes.
The tax collector's measuring instruments were the bushel, and the amount of tax grain collected depended on his mood. Those who paid a bribe were passed easily, while others found the collector stepping in the bushel to reduce the measured amount.
Indeed, the heavy stamping on the wooden grain-measuring bucket by the tax collector drastically reduced the seemingly overflowing grain. Just a few stomps, and the grain level visibly decreased.
At that moment, even offering a bribe was useless. The collector wouldn't accept it if the amount was insufficient. No choice but to add more grain, and tears wouldn't help.
This incident served as a stark warning to the entire village. Nobody dared to challenge the collector again, although their faces clearly showed discontent. Yet, they were forced to maintain a polite facade in front of the tax collector.
Sang Luo felt suffocated by the injustice and left for home with Shen Ning.
On the 9th of September, Sang Luo went to the county again, delivering the first batch of crystallized fruit made with the molds to Yongfeng Restaurant. The goods were excellent, and Manager Yan was extremely happy, promptly paying 400 coins for them.
Chen You Tian, Zhou Village Head, and others were still in the county buying grain, which had risen to 92 coins per bushel.
The grain price was surging every few days, and a sense of panic was visible on the faces of people in the main streets of the county. The line at the grain store grew even longer. Chen You Tian and his group had to enter the city as soon as the gates opened; otherwise, by their usual arrival time, the day's grain would be sold out.
Initially, the Chen, Shi, and Lu families bought grain following Sang Luo and Zhou Village Head's advice to stockpile. But seeing the rapid price increase and hearing the various concerns and discussions among the townspeople, their decision to stockpile became even more resolute.
In reality, spending each day like this to buy a bushel or two didn't accumulate much.
Helplessly, they couldn't afford to buy more. The price of grain increased daily, and later, they could only buy seven or eight bushels at a time. They dared not skip days for fear the price would rise even further.
Sang Luo brought out almost all the money she had saved from selling tofu these past few days, but it was only enough to buy one stone and four bushels of grain.
However, considering the weather might turn colder any time, Sang Luo decided to hold onto some cash and only bought one stone.
As for Zhou Village Head's family, it wasn't just him coming to buy grain anymore; his two sons, having completed their travel permits, joined him, along with two young men rumored to be Zhou's sons.
The rising grain prices gradually spread to nearby villages, including Ten Mile Village. People who were initially indifferent became increasingly anxious.
Those who spoke with the Chen, Lu, and Shi families sought their opinions, with many villagers starting to turn to Zhou Village Head's family for advice.
"Isn't it just a disaster? Our vast empire always faces calamities in one or two regions every year, right? Although grain prices have risen in the past, they've never soared like this."
What could Zhou Village Head say? In this era, the furthest most people had traveled was to the county town, with some never having stepped into the city due to distance, the cost involved, and various restrictions.
Therefore, news from other states or counties was not easily accessible, let alone information from farther regions. He had already shared everything he knew.
That night, many in Ten Mile Village had a restless sleep.
As for Sang Luo, she had already stockpiled enough grain for the next autumn thanks to Mr. Xu's loan, and her ongoing grain accumulation was methodically planned. She felt at ease. After finishing the day's batch of crystallized fruit and celestial tofu, she and the two children washed up and went to bed early.
In the middle of the night, she woke up shivering from the cold, curled up tightly. It took her a while to fully awaken. Rubbing her ice-cold arms and body, she noticed, by the faint moonlight seeping in, that the two siblings were also huddled together like shrimps.
Without a second thought, Sang Luo grabbed her thin blanket and squeezed onto Shen An's new bed. The three of them huddled together under two thin blankets, which finally brought some warmth.
Sang Luo felt the thickness of the blanket, a mere summer sheet made of two layers of hemp, barely more than a bed sheet. Thankfully, she had retained over four hundred coins from her county trip and had just earned another two hundred and sixty, bringing her total to seven hundred coins.
After considering the upcoming revenue from tofu and crystallized fruit sales, Sang Luo realized she couldn't spend on grain anymore. Instead, she needed to save for clothing and blankets. Once September passed and October arrived, it would be winter.
Even though this was the south, the mountainous region inherently had lower temperatures than the plains.
Waking up before dawn to make tofu, she felt it was significantly colder than usual.
She didn't notice it at first, but when Chen Youtian and others came to collect tofu, carrying torches, the light revealed a layer of white frost on the wild grass outside her courtyard.
"So it's already the time of the first frost," she remarked.
Qin Fangniang nodded, "Indeed, the mountain roads are already slippery."
She then asked Sang Luo, "Your family hasn't prepared winter clothes and blankets yet, have they?"
Sang Luo nodded. The little money she had earned was mostly used to compete with grain merchants for grain. The summer and autumn clothing of rural people like them barely differed, and it was only when winter approached that they gradually added layers.
"If your families have fabric, let's use it to pay for today's tofu order. Otherwise, I'll have to make another trip to the county," Sang Luo suggested.
Qin Fangniang promptly replied, "Yes, we have fabric."
Gan Shi and Feng Liu Niang, who came along, also readily agreed. Gan Shi said, "Don't wait for us to come back for you to collect. If you need it, just come by our house later. Since you'll be coming daily for tofu, we can just settle the account when you return."
Sang Luo had indeed planned to do so and nodded with a smile.
After seeing the others off and having breakfast with the children, as the sky began to brighten, Sang Luo led Shen An down the mountain to collect fabric from the three families.
Learning the fabric was for autumn and winter clothing, all three families provided thick, durable autumn fabric. Sang Luo and Shen An carried enough material to make three sets of autumn clothes for each of the three members of their family, then headed home.
As deep autumn approached and winter was just around the corner, why was it necessary to prepare three sets of autumn clothes?
Simply because of poverty.
At that time, people typically made one set of cotton or padded clothes filled with willow catkins or reed flowers, and wore oversized autumn clothes over them. Only the outer two layers were changed regularly. The inner cotton or padded clothing was worn repeatedly, as neither fabric nor cotton was cheap; hence, saving wherever possible was the norm.
Sang Luo did the same. The money she earned was saved for household expenses and grain, not making her much richer than the other villagers. Her winter clothing preparations followed the same pattern: one set of padded inner clothing and two outer layers.
However, Sang Luo had no intention of letting herself and the children endure winter in catkin or reed flower fillings. Despite the high cost of cotton, she was determined to save up for cotton clothes, trousers, and blankets.
Chapter 75: A Broken House Worth Ten Thousand Coins
Though it was just after the first frost, it wasn't cold enough yet to necessitate cotton-padded coats. Sang Luo measured the children for clothes; Shen An already had a pair of trousers, so she only needed a top. Shen Ning required a full set.
She spent two days making the first set. By September 12, both siblings were dressed in brand-new clothes. The fabric was much thicker than their worn and faded summer clothes, and most importantly, it covered their ankles properly.
If one could overlook the patched shoes with the toes showing, they looked remarkably smart.
Of course, no one paid much attention to the siblings' patched shoes. Even if patched, they were still decent footwear compared to many village children who wore torn shoes exposing their toes, or even went barefoot.
It wasn't just the children; people like Sang Luo and Qin Fang Niang, who trekked twenty li through the mountains every day, also wore shoes that were practically layers upon layers of patches. They just used similarly colored fabric to make it less noticeable unless looked at closely.
With new clothes, even Shen An, who usually tried to act mature, couldn't resist showing off a little. Taking advantage of his sister being home, he and Shen Ning took three rounds around the village.
It had been many years since they wore new clothes, and now they wanted everyone to see them.
It was also a way to show everyone how much their sister cared for them.
This subtle pride was unknown to others, but the siblings' appearance indeed sparked envy among the village children, especially since it was just getting cold and Shen An and Shen Ning were already wearing their new outfits.
Before, Shen An and Shen Ning might have been considered the most pitiable children in the village, but now they were the envy of all the other kids.
Satisfied with their stroll, Shen An and Shen Ning happily returned home.
Amused, Sang Luo instructed them, "With these clothes, you should be warm enough for now. If it gets colder, wear the old clothes underneath and the new ones on top. Wearing two layers like that should keep you warm."
Shen Ning noted, "By wearing the old clothes on the outside, the new ones won't wear out as quickly."
Shen Ning was secretly pleased, knowing everyone had seen their new clothes today, including their aunt, who had watched them intently.
Shen Ning felt content inside.
"Quite thoughtful," Sang Luo said with a smile. "Do as you like, whatever makes you happy."
In between picking sour dates and digging devil's tongue, Sang Luo began making her own autumn clothes. In the late afternoon, she returned from the mountains. Old Chen and Chen You Tian arrived with a wooden measure borrowed from Zhou Cun Zheng's house.
"Let's measure out your grain for the autumn tax now. It's better to pay it tomorrow to avoid the long lines on the 15th. We recently noticed in the county that some families are struggling to stock enough grain due to purchase limits at several grain shops. They are panicking, with entire families queuing to buy grain. Even then, they might have to wait until the last two days to gather enough."
So, the county government office will be extremely crowded on the 14th and 15th.
Sang Luo hurriedly invited the two men into the courtyard and carried the baskets into the kitchen, asking them to help move the grain from the main house.
Measuring out four stones and four dou of grain, unbagging and passing it through the measure before rebagging it, took quite some time.
In the end, Old Chen suggested Sang Luo prepare an additional bag with two dou of grain as a backup. "Bring a few coins for tipping the grain clerks, so you hopefully won't need to use this backup grain."
Otherwise, if they kick the measuring bucket a few times or shake it, it really could mean swallowing your own blood in silence.
Sang Luo nodded, planning to bring a dozen or so coins for tipping – an amount that could buy nearly two sheng of rice. Though she didn't want to spend this money, it was necessary, as two sheng could make a big difference.
Once the grain was measured, Sang Luo went to the Lu family to inform them that she needed to borrow their cart early the next morning to take the grain to the county for payment.
Sang Luo's home was up in the mountains, and the cart couldn't be pulled up there, so Lu Da Lang said he would bring the cart to the mountain's base early the next day and help transport the grain down.
Before dawn the next day, as Qin Fang Niang and the others came to pick up tofu, Lu Da Lang, Shi Er Lang, and Chen You Tian, who were also heading to the county, came to help move the grain.
A lamp was lit in the main house, and Shen An and Shen Ning watched nearly half of the grain they had accumulated over days disappear.
The sight deeply saddened the two young children.
While the village was still asleep, two carts quietly left the village.
Zhou Cun Zheng and his son, seeing the cart full of grain pulled by Lu Da Lang, realized it was Sang Luo heading to pay her taxes.
Zhou Cun Zheng didn't ask how Sang Luo managed to gather enough grain but simply asked, "Did you bring all the household registration documents?"
Sang Luo simply nodded, acknowledging their observations.
Zhou Village Chief didn't add anything more and followed them towards the county.
When the group arrived, the city gates were still closed, yet a line had already formed outside. Every so often, someone holding a torch would appear, illuminating others in the queue who, like Sang Luo, had brought carts of grain – there were more than a dozen.
A common characteristic marked these individuals: poverty, stark and evident!
Just after the autumn harvest, in the countryside where normal farming takes place, it's rare for someone to be unable to pay the autumn tax at this time. Those struggling are likely those who already live meagerly or those who don't own their land and rely on tenant farming. Especially if the land quality is poor, paying taxes can indeed be difficult.
In villages like Shili, such cases are uncommon. Even the poorest household, Zhou Laizi's family, managed to pay their taxes a few days ago. Their challenge lies in their grain supply not lasting until next year's autumn harvest.
Sang Luo glanced briefly, then chose not to dwell on it. Everyone has their own struggles and difficulties. Had she not crossed over to this era, her original self would have been dead, and Shen An and Shen Ning's fates would be unknown.
In these times, just taking care of oneself is hard enough.
As dawn broke, more people arrived, not to pay taxes or set up stalls, but mostly holding grain bags – they were here to buy grain in the city.
Sang Luo realized that compared to her previous visits to the county, the number of people coming to buy grain had increased slightly.
This anxiety, coupled with rumors of disasters in various states, seemed to have spread to the villages. Families in better conditions were prudently starting to prepare.
The city gates opened later than usual today. As soon as they opened, the crowd surged. Sang Luo and her group, arriving early, were among the first to enter the city. Since Lu Dalong was joining the queue to buy grain, Sang Luo decided not to trouble him and pulled her cart alone.
However, Feng Liuniang and Gan Shi assisted, pushing the cart and accompanying Sang Luo to the county government office where she would pay the tax.
Passing by the grain shop en route to the county office, they quickly noticed the long line already formed outside. Judging by their attire and the timing of the city gate's opening, they were all residents of the county.
At that moment, Sang Luo felt a pang of concern – would Chen You Tian and his group be able to buy grain today?
She couldn't dwell on it and continued towards the county office. Arriving there, there was no need to ask for directions to the grain storehouse; it was evident from the long queue already formed in the alley next to a separate courtyard not far east of the yamen. The residents who had enough grain had been gradually paying their taxes over the past few days.
Sang Luo, pulling her cart, queued in line and let Feng Liu Niang and Gan Shi attend to their own matters, waiting for the yamen clerks to start their work.
Indeed, apart from the city gate guards, other clerks in the yamen didn't arrive so early. People came early merely to secure a spot in the queue. Being first in line still meant waiting.
As daylight brightened, after waiting another two to three quarters of an hour, the gates of the eastern courtyard of the yamen finally showed signs of activity.
The queue instantly became restless.
Sang Luo, standing on tiptoes, tried to see what was happening at the front. She saw the two men first in line beginning to unload grain bags from their cart into the courtyard, silently counting how many carts were ahead of her turn.
In front was a woman with a young man around twenty, the woman whispering, "Have you prepared the money for the clerk?"
The young man patted his narrow sleeve and nodded.
The woman then breathed a sigh of relief, which seemed to carry a tinge of resignation.
The process of receiving grain wasn't quick; each bag had to be opened and measured. It took nearly half an hour before it was Sang Luo's turn. Only then did she realize the challenge of carrying each bag of grain by herself, a daunting task.
And it wasn't just one bag, but a whole cartload.
The yamen clerk inside the courtyard was urging them on. Sang Luo glanced at the cart behind her, next to which stood two burly men in their twenties or thirties.
Knowing when to ask for help, Sang Luo politely requested, "Excuse me, brothers, these grain bags are too heavy for me to lift. Could you lend me a hand?"
Such requests were common during grain delivery. Seeing Sang Luo, a delicate young woman clearly struggling, the two men realized she genuinely needed assistance.
One of them asked, "Why did your family send such a little lady to deliver grain?"
It was merely a rhetorical question. Sang Luo just smiled in response. Without waiting for her to lift a finger, the two men, working in tandem, each shouldered a bag and carried it into the courtyard.
Not wanting to stand idle, Sang Luo attempted to carry a bag herself, but it was more of a struggle than a lift.
The man who had just returned from delivering a bag clucked his tongue and said, "This task isn't suited for you, miss. Stand aside, we'll take care of it for you."
Saying so, he effortlessly hoisted the bag Sang Luo was struggling with and carried it inside.
Sang Luo thought to herself that she had encountered kind souls.
The two men efficiently transported half a cartload of grain, with Sang Luo expressing her gratitude repeatedly. They dismissed her thanks with a wave of the hand: "No need for thanks, just go ahead inside."
Once inside, Sang Luo noticed that the granary of the yamen was a separate compound, surrounded by high walls on three sides, with only a doorway and no windows.
The grain collection was conducted in the outer courtyard. Sang Luo couldn't see what was inside and had no time to look. She approached quickly, offering a smile to the clerks responsible for collecting the grain.
The officials were all business, asking, "Please show your household registration."
Sang Luo handed over the household registry she had prepared that morning, discreetly slipping eight copper coins into the clerk's hand under the cover of the document: "Thank you for your hard work."
The clerk raised an eyebrow, a smile appearing on his face as he accepted the money and registry, beginning to check against the tax list.
Sang Luo also didn't forget the other clerk, subtly passing eight copper coins to him while shifting the grain bags with her back turned to the crowd: "Thank you for your efforts."
"Of course," the clerk replied, adeptly accepting the money. He weighed it in his hand before slipping it into a hidden pocket in his belt, then turned to his colleague, asking, "Did you find it? How much is she to pay?"
The other clerk quickly scanned the document and stated, "Four dan, four dou."
"Alright then."
The other clerk efficiently began working, untying and pouring out the grain bags. With the bribe adequately given, there were no extra shenanigans. Sang Luo's tax was smoothly paid. After receiving the proof of tax payment and carefully folding it away, she collected her empty grain bags, the two jars, and the extra two dou of grain left in the cart before leaving.
Her first stop was naturally Yongfeng Zhai. This time, she brought over 360 pieces of crystal candy, urgently needing the money.
Upon leaving Yongfeng Zhai, she received a payment of 365 coins from Manager Yan, which, added to her existing 700 coins, meant she now had over 1,000 coins on her.
With that, she headed straight to the cloth shop, pulling her cart behind her.
Sang Luo recalled from her original memories, she had once picked out fabrics with her mother at a cloth shop. However, they always chose fine fabrics, and she never handled the payments, thus she was unaware of the cost of cotton.
Upon inquiring at a fabric store, she gasped in shock.
At that time, the store offered two types of stuffing for cotton jackets or quilts: expensive silk or silk cotton, which Sang Luo didn't even consider asking the price of, as it was beyond her means.
The cheaper option was cotton, known in modern times as kapok, derived from a tall flowering tree. In this era, it was simply referred to as cotton.
Regarding the price, a liang (tael) of cotton cost 100 wen (coins).
Sang Luo finally understood why poorer families would stuff their quilts and jackets with willow catkins or bulrush fluff; genuine cotton was simply unaffordable.
It was too expensive.
For children like Shen An and Shen Ning, a jacket and trousers would require at least a jin (500 grams) of cotton, costing a whole guan (unit of currency).
For two children, that would be two guan, and for an adult of her height, at least one and a half jin was needed.
Just for the three of them to have a set of cotton-lined garments would cost 3,500 coins.
And that didn't even cover the more significant expense: quilts.
Even in the south, during late autumn and early winter, a quilt might need four to six jin of cotton. Aiming to be thrifty, a quilt would require at least four jin of cotton filling.
To endure the winter, eight jin? Even if she planned to use thinner quilts with jackets laid on top, she would still need about six jin of cotton.
Sang Luo, upon pondering, truly realized the difficulty of the situation and understood the phrase "it costs a fortune to break a family."
Many families' fortunes were built just like hers now, from nothing, accumulated bit by bit.
Keep saving then.
She took out ten strings of coins and requested, "Please, could you weigh out a jin (500 grams) for me?"