Wang Dahua was in a foul mood. During the day, Shen Nian had splashed her with filth, and just thinking about the stench made her stomach churn. She didn’t even want to drink water.
With the house in such a mess, she had no desire to stay there. She grabbed her quilt and went to the old cattle pen she used before.
No sooner had she spread the quilt over the straw than Shen Dafu burst in.
Thinking he had come to call her to cook, Wang Dahua turned her back to him and huffed, “I’m not cooking tonight. If you want food, you cook it yourself.”
Shen Dafu grit his teeth. “Wang Dahua, my mother raised me for decades and worked hard all her life. As her daughter-in-law, refusing to cook for her is unfilial.”
Wang Dahua was so angry she laughed. Without turning her head, she sneered, “Shen Dafu, you’re shameless. You talk as if before I married in, you and your mother were helpless children. If you think you can live with me this way, fine. If not, go live with your mother. She worked so hard—why don’t you take care of her?”
She didn’t even notice the fury burning behind her.
No sooner had she spoken than Shen Dafu slammed the stick in his hand heavily onto her, and a wail of pain echoed through the cattle pen.
Huaikua stood at the back door, letting out a cold laugh as she watched.
“Hmph. Dare to defy me? I’ll have my son beat you to death.”
After all, it wasn’t the first time they had done something like this.
That night, neighbors on both sides of the village could hear Wang Dahua’s screams.
Some thought about intervening, but considering all that had happened during the day and the lingering stench, they decided it wasn’t worth it.
The sounds of hitting, yelling, and crying continued until late into the night. Meanwhile, Shen Nian slept soundly until dawn.
At the first light of day, she closed the wooden door, grabbed two baskets of duck eggs, and headed straight for the town.
For now, she couldn’t leave the village, so she decided to stay in the hut for a while.
She had never worn anything decent in her life—always hand-me-downs from Shen Lan, with sleeves half a span too short.
Today, she planned to sell the two baskets of duck eggs at the market, then buy herself a proper outfit, shampoo, a new pot, a knife—everything she needed.
Thinking it over made her feel overwhelmed.
The county town was about ten kilometers away, at least an hour’s walk. Fortunately, having worked hard since childhood, Shen Nian was naturally strong. Carrying the two baskets of eggs was easy for her.
An hour later, she arrived in town.
After asking around, she went straight to the entrance of the farmers’ market.
At this time, not many people were setting up stalls yet. Protein was scarce, and ordinary people had to queue even to buy meat. Shen Nian found a conspicuous spot near the entrance and squatted down.
Soon, an elderly woman walked past her. Her eyes glanced at the duck eggs, then she paused and came back.
She noticed Shen Nian’s youthful, bright appearance, though her clothes didn’t fit well.
“Miss, how much are your duck eggs?”
The woman looked kind. On the way, Shen Nian had already reviewed the current prices in her mind. Being a geologist helped—she knew a bit about past prices.
She smiled sweetly. “Grandmother, chicken eggs are five cents each. These are duck eggs, eight cents each, or two for fifteen cents, three for twenty cents.”
The old woman’s eyes lit up, then she tried to haggle. “Miss, your duck eggs aren’t very big. I don’t know if they’re fresh. How about selling them at the price of chicken eggs?”
“No, Grandmother. These eggs are bigger than chicken eggs, and they’re all fresh. There are only two baskets. Later, when the market gets busy, they’ll be gone. I don’t know when I can come again.”
Just then, a few other elderly women saw the duck eggs and gathered around. Shen Nian stuck to her price.
Honestly, people were poor everywhere at this time. City dwellers had it even harder than villagers.
Villagers could raise chickens or ducks and grow some food in their plots, but city people had to make do with what little they could grow in their yards.
The first old woman, fearing others would snatch the eggs, quickly said, “Give me two yuan worth.”
Shen Nian smiled. “Sure, Grandmother, I’ll pack it right away.”
She counted out thirty duck eggs into the basket, and the woman handed her two yuan.
Others watching bought two or four yuan worth.
In less than ten minutes, one basket was sold for eight yuan.
The weather hadn’t fully warmed, so she didn’t have to worry about the eggs hatching. She thought about what to buy with the money.
Her eyes fell on the white steamed buns at the state-run restaurant nearby. She swallowed.
A pound of large white buns cost only ten cents. She decided to buy a few on her way back.
Just then, the two old women who had left earlier came rushing back with a few middle-aged women.
“Hurry, hurry! Just up ahead!”
Shen Nian felt a twinge of worry—were they coming to report her?
She bent down to grab her basket and run, but they blocked her.
“Miss, miss, give me two yuan worth too. When will you come again? Save some for me next time.”
Hearing this, Shen Nian relaxed.
Her innocent eyes blinked, and she smiled. “Grandmothers, I can’t say for sure now. I’ll come whenever there’s a market from now on.”
“All right, all right. Miss, pack it up quickly.”
The three women bought the remaining basket, and Shen Nian didn’t expect business to be so good.
It made sense—even selling tea eggs could be profitable at this time.
Seeing there were fish in the village river, she asked, “Grandmothers, if I sell fish here next time, would you buy?”
“Fish? Where? Give me two right away!”
Shen Nian chuckled. “Grandmother, I’m just asking. Soon there will be some.”
“Oh, that’s a treat! Ordinary people like us don’t have a chance to buy it. Miss, next time you have duck eggs, save some for me.”
“Sure, Grandmother.”
In less than an hour, she had earned nineteen yuan and eighty cents.
Shen Nian felt secretly pleased. She carried the basket and walked lightly to the state-run restaurant, buying six large buns and even a bowl of wonton soup for herself.
The bowl of wonton warmed her stomach.
She stood up to leave, but tears slowly welled in the corners of her eyes.
She touched her belly and whispered softly, thinking of her body’s original owner.
“It’s okay. Trust me. From now on, I’ll never let anyone bully you again, and I’ll never let you go hungry.”
She paid, grabbed her basket, and went straight into the supply and marketing cooperative next door.