Lu Qing gently tapped Han Qiuniang’s forehead and said, “Of course it’s real.” He really couldn’t understand how such thoughts had formed.
“Right, Husband, this is my dowry!” Han Qiuniang suddenly remembered. She quickly placed her bundle on the table and opened it. Inside were two patched garments, and between them, fifteen copper coins.
Money in households had always been managed by the man. If a woman secretly saved money, it was considered improper behavior. So after marriage, women were expected to hand over all their money to the husband.
“Here’s mine too,” Zheng Yulan said, opening her bundle—ten copper coins. “Mine too,” Cheng Su’e added, also ten copper coins.
Altogether, it totaled 35 copper coins.
“Husband, please take this money and go to Luliang County to buy some food,” Han Qiuniang said, placing the coins on the table.
She had glanced around earlier and noticed there was no food at home.
They couldn’t keep surviving on wild herbs. So she hoped Lu Qing could buy some grain.
By being frugal, this 35 copper coins could support them for a few months. During that time, they’d figure out other ways to improve their lives.
Lu Qing looked at the copper coins.
In the Great Yong Empire, 1 tael of gold equaled ten taels of silver. 1 tael of silver equaled ten guan. 1 guan was 300 copper coins. If an ordinary household could save 100 copper coins, they were already considered well-off.
“Alright,” Lu Qing said, taking the 35 copper coins without hesitation and heading toward Luliang County.
On the way, he passed by Sun Magan’s house and heard a woman screaming—it was clearly Sun Magan establishing dominance.
After walking for three hours, Lu Qing finally reached Luliang County. “I really need to work on my stamina,” he muttered, panting.
His body was too weak. Otherwise, he should have made it in two hours.
Entering Luliang County, Lu Qing didn’t follow Han Qiuniang’s instructions to buy food. Teaching someone to fish was better than giving them fish. 35 copper coins might keep them from starving for a few months, but then what?
Maybe he could survive alone, but now he had three wives—he had to find a way to earn money and support the family.
So the 35 copper coins had to be spent wisely.
“Young master, are you here to forge something?” the blacksmith asked, seeing Lu Qing enter the smithy. He greeted him with a cheerful smile.
“Yes,” Lu Qing nodded.
“Come in, please. What would you like to forge?” the blacksmith welcomed him inside and poured a bowl of water before asking what he wanted made.
“I’ll draw it for you,” Lu Qing replied, thinking the blacksmith might not understand if he tried to explain it. Drawing would be clearer.
“Sure!” the blacksmith didn’t object and had someone bring paper, ink, and brushes.
Soon, Lu Qing finished the sketch of what he needed. The blacksmith looked at the odd designs. “This?”
“Can you make them according to the drawing?”
“No problem,” the blacksmith nodded. Although he didn’t understand what they were for, they didn’t seem difficult to make. “It’ll take an hour. They’re small but intricate. How about 30 copper coins?”
“Deal,” Lu Qing agreed readily.
After an hour, the blacksmith completed the items. Lu Qing inspected them one by one, nodded in satisfaction, paid the thirty wen, and left.
“What a strange man,” the blacksmith chuckled, holding the coins. “Had me make a bunch of weird stuff. No idea what he’s planning. Looks like a waste of money.”
After leaving the smithy, Lu Qing went to a fabric shop and used the remaining 5 copper coins to buy cloth. By the time he returned to Manglong Village, it was nearly noon.
Back at home, he saw Han Qiuniang busily tidying the courtyard.
Spring had arrived—if they cleared the yard, they could plant some wild greens. But due to her frail body, she hadn’t cleared much.
“Husband, you’re back!” Han Qiuniang beamed and came over quickly.
“Yes, I’m back,” Lu Qing nodded. “No need to push yourself too hard. Your health matters most.” Seeing the sweat on her face, he smiled and gently wiped it for her, making her cheeks blush. Though they were married, they were still strangers.
“I’m fine. As long as Husband doesn’t dislike me,” Han Qiuniang said shyly, shaking her head.
“Where are Yulan and Su’e?” Lu Qing asked, not seeing Cheng Su’e and Zheng Yulan. Since Han Qiuniang was working, they should’ve been helping too.
“They were called by Aunt Zhang to gather wild herbs,” Han Qiuniang explained with a smile.
“Oh!” Lu Qing recalled that Aunt Zhang and Uncle Facai’s family had once received kindness from his father and had always treated him well. They must be looking out for him now.
“You’ve all worked hard.”
“Not at all, as long as Husband doesn’t mind us,” Han Qiuniang said quickly. Then she noticed the strange tools on Lu Qing’s back and asked, “Husband, what are these…?”
Seeing those oddly shaped objects, she instantly guessed it—Lu Qing probably didn’t buy food. He had spent all the money on these strange things.
“35 copper coins isn’t even enough to buy us a full meal. We’d still be hungry afterward. So I had the smith make some tools instead,” Lu Qing said as he put the tools down with a smile.
“Huh?” Han Qiuniang felt a chill all over.
Looking at the strange tools in front of her, she thought, These things can’t be eaten.
As expected, scholars don’t know how to manage household life.
Whatever, let him do what he wants. Hopefully, Yulan and Su’e could gather plenty of wild herbs—otherwise, they might really starve.
Seeing her confused expression, Lu Qing simply smiled and didn’t explain more. “I’m heading into the mountains.”
“The mountains?” Han Qiuniang stared at him.
Wasn’t Lu Qing a Xiucai?
What was he doing going into the mountains?
With his weak body, what if something happened?
“Husband, are you going to gather wild herbs too?” she asked, eyeing the tools, which seemed designed for digging.
“Something like that,” Lu Qing replied with a smile. He picked up a basket and left the courtyard. Leaving Manglong Village, he headed straight for the back mountain. It was lush and dense—clearly full of mountain goods.
“Hey, isn’t that Lu Qing? Just got married and already heading into the mountains to gather herbs?” someone coming down the mountain greeted him with a laugh.
“Yeah,” Lu Qing nodded.
“You’ve still got work to do tonight. Be careful you don’t wear yourself out and lose your strength.”
“Don’t make Manglong Village men lose face.”
“Everyone knows our village is livelier than any other at night. If there’s no noise from your house, you’ll be a laughingstock.”
After a few more jokes, the villagers moved on. Lu Qing could only shake his head helplessly.
Entering Manglong Mountain, Lu Qing carefully observed the flora and trees around him and kept going deeper. After two to three hours of walking, he finally reached the spot he had in mind.
“Let’s hope I’m right,” he murmured and began searching thoroughly.
“Found it.” Soon, he discovered a ginseng plant. A smile spread across Lu Qing’s face. Heaven rewards the diligent—he had finally found one.
Back in Jinchuan County, Lu Qing had inquired: a ginseng plant, regardless of quality or age, could sell for at least two guan. If the appearance was good and the age old enough, the price would go even higher.
He took out his tools, laid them out one by one, and began carefully digging up the ginseng.
…