Clothing, food, shelter, and transportation. Clothing matters a great deal to people.
This coarse linen robe he was wearing had been on Chu Xun for so long that it had already molded to his body. But the rough texture still made it uncomfortable.
Besides, the clothes worn by his aunt and second sister at home were even worse than his own. Working from dawn to dusk and rubbing against the skin all day long was never a good thing.
Since he was already in the city today, he might as well buy some more comfortable cotton cloth.
One bolt of cloth could make three sets of men’s clothing, but if it was used for women’s clothing, it could only make two.
So he bought three bolts in total: one for himself and Second Uncle, one for Second Aunt and little sister, and another to send to Qin Yue’er and her sister.
The cloth shopkeeper saw someone come in and his eyes lit up as he hurried over.
“Customer, do you want coarse cotton cloth or fine cotton cloth? My shop has every kind of ordinary cloth. Take a look?”
He was trying to draw in business, but Chu Xun had a clear purpose and said lightly, “Just coarse cotton cloth will do.”
The shopkeeper looked a little disappointed, turned around, and brought out three bolts of cotton cloth that looked rather decent.
Smiling, he introduced them to Chu Xun. “Take a look at these three bolts. They were all newly woven this year.”
One bolt was navy blue, handsome and dirt-resistant. The other two were indigo blue, soft and comfortable to the touch.
Chu Xun was quite satisfied and asked directly, “I want all three bolts. How much?”
The shopkeeper chuckled. “In past years they sold for more, but business is bad now and not many people are buying cloth. How about four hundred wen per bolt?”
Four hundred wen for a bolt of cotton cloth was a very fair price.
Chu Xun took out his money pouch. There was still one thousand three hundred wen inside.
After he spent it, he would still have exactly one hundred coppers left. Adding the money from selling the hare, he only had two hundred fifty wen.
It was lucky Second Uncle had not come with him. Otherwise, if he saw that more than two strings of cash had been reduced to so little, he would probably faint on the spot.
After paying, Chu Xun carried the three bolts of cloth and headed for the grain store.
When he got there, the donkey cart he had asked for was just being arranged.
Second Uncle was sitting proudly on the driver’s seat, whip in hand, as if he were the one driving the donkey cart.
“Xunzi, you’re back. Why did you buy cloth? Don’t you already have clothes to wear?”
Second Uncle looked at the bolts of cloth in Chu Xun’s arms and felt a little pained.
Cloth was very valuable, almost the same as money. These three bolts probably cost another few hundred wen.
Xunzi really was frightening when it came to spending money.
Chu Xun smiled faintly and casually said, “It’s just buying a few new clothes. It’s nothing.”
He decided to tell Second Uncle how much he had spent on the cloth after they got home. Otherwise, he was afraid the old man’s heart might not be able to take it.
Soon, the clerk arranged by the grain store climbed onto the front of the cart and snapped the whip, driving the donkey cart toward the city outskirts.
Along the way, Second Uncle Chu was quite excited, looking left and right from the donkey cart with a smug expression on his face, as if he had become one of those people with a cart of his own.
When they reached the city gate, the grain store clerk raised the small flag he carried to show that the cart belonged to their trade. They slowly made their way out of the city.
The large bundles piled on the cart drew the attention of many refugees and beggars. Some ragged, skin-and-bones children, clutching torn cloth sacks, followed behind the cart begging for food. Their pitiful appearance was enough to stir compassion in anyone who saw them.
Second Uncle Chu sighed. Life at home was no easier; where would they get any grain to feed them?
As for Chu Xun, he had received a good education under the red flag after all. He was kindhearted and could not bear to see people suffer, especially children who had become so gaunt from hunger.
So he simply closed his eyes.
Out of sight, out of mind.
These children had all been sent by their refugee parents. The moment he handed out a handful of grain, countless refugees would swarm forward to ask for food, or even snatch it away.
In a famine year, one should never underestimate how sinister human hearts can be.
…
With the donkey cart for transportation, they quickly arrived at the entrance of Chu Family Village.
As always, under the old locust tree at the village entrance, a group of old aunts, young sisters-in-law, old men, and idlers had gathered, gossiping about everyone who passed by.
“Hey, why did a donkey cart come to our village?”
“It looks like Chu Mancang and Chu Xun, uncle and nephew, riding on a grain shop cart!”
“Heavens, what is that in his hands? Is that cotton cloth? And three bolts at that! That has to be at least one string of cash!”
“That’s right. Could the sack on the cart be millet? They’re really rich!”
“Hmph! Last time the men sent by Squire Liu from the city came to collect the debt, they pretended they had no money to repay it, and everyone even spoke up for them. So they had money, but just refused to pay!”
“Go ahead, spend it all! When Squire Liu sends people to collect the debt again, let’s see what they use to repay it!”
“Doesn’t the eldest son of the Chu family know how to hunt? Didn’t he bring back a hare and two wild chickens just a couple of days ago?”
“Pah. He probably just got lucky. The old forest is so dangerous. Could he really go in there every day?”
The crowd gossiped endlessly, full of jealousy.
But when the donkey cart drew closer, everyone immediately put on warm smiles.
“Oh, you’re back?”
“Your eldest son is really promising. He went to the city and sold a lot of game, didn’t he?”
Second Uncle answered honestly, “Didn’t sell much. We just bought some dark flour and soybeans. No more talking, we’re heading home.”
Chu Xun only smiled a couple of times. He had heard more than enough of their muttering just now.
Riding a grand donkey cart back to the village. The effect was like a rural nuclear weapon.
Tonight, who knew how many people would be spreading stories about their sons being worthless.
When they reached their doorstep, Chu Qing, who had been waiting for quite a while, immediately rushed over.
Seeing her father and big brother get off a donkey cart, her little face was full of surprise. Her eyes widened as if she wanted to sit on it herself and enjoy the attention.
Chu Xun smiled. “Next time I take you to the city, I’ll let you ride it back too.”
Soon, the grain and cloth were unloaded, and the donkey cart headed back.
Chu Qing struggled to lift the grain sack in her hands, a little puzzled.
“Big brother, what kind of grain did you buy? It’s so heavy.”
Chu Xun did not answer. He only smiled and opened the sack containing white flour.
Inside was a mass of fine, snow-white flour.
With a thud!
The grain sack in Chu Qing’s hands dropped straight to the ground.
Her eyes went blank. Her rosy little lips opened and closed, but not a word came out.
She seemed nailed to the spot.
“Wh… wh… white flour!!!”
!!