Lin Chaodong and Lin Chaonan, who had been acting like quails for half the day, finally breathed a sigh of relief.
With so many aunts, grandmothers, and elderly women around earlier, aside from greeting them at the start, they hadn’t dared to make their presence known at all. They were terrified that one of the elders would call them out, and then that scene at the spring would repeat itself.
The spring?
Oh, right—the fourth brother!
The two brothers finally remembered their younger sibling. The eldest, Lin Chaodong, helped Yue Jiuyue carry the load of “weeds or medicinal herbs”—whatever they were—back home, while the third, Lin Chaonan, went to check on Lin Chaobei at the spring.
At the spring, the villagers were still lined up in a long queue, waiting to fetch water. No one had gone home to eat just because it was noon. One by one, they tightened their belts, thinking that every meal they skipped would save a little for the family.
Lin Chaobei and his brothers had come after breakfast, so they were at the very back of the line. Half the day had passed, and there were still several people ahead of him!
“Third Brother, how’s Mother?”
Lin Chaobei assumed that his two older brothers had only managed to persuade Mother to go home after much difficulty—and that was why they were late. He figured the eldest had stayed behind to keep talking to her. It never crossed his mind that they might have been slacking off.
“Mother’s fine.”
Lin Chaonan didn’t go into detail. He thought their mother’s idea was highly unreliable, and besides, there were too many ears here. This wasn’t the place to talk. If someone overheard, they’d probably become a laughingstock all over again.
Seeing that his third brother didn’t want to say more, Lin Chaobei didn’t press the matter. He was hungry and thirsty himself and didn’t feel like talking either. So he quietly continued waiting in line until it was finally their turn.
The wild vegetables the three brothers had dug up while waiting in line were still with Lin Chaobei. So lunch was a bit late that day. By the time they carried the water home, other families had long finished their midday meals. Theirs was only just being prepared.
While cooking, Liu wept as she worked. Listening to the constant sound of her blowing her nose, Yue Jiuyue felt that no matter what, she wouldn’t be able to eat this meal.
“I’m tired. You all eat lunch without me. Don’t bother calling me. I’m going to rest for a while.”
With that, Yue Jiuyue closed the door and lay down on the bed.
Sleep wasn’t going to happen. Though her body was tired, her mind was buzzing with energy. She sat on the bed, leaned against the quilt, and started counting.
The copper coins she had exchanged in the System 2023.
Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands…
Not quite ten thousand.
Just over four taels of silver.
Of course, that wasn’t a small amount—considering it was only the fruits of a single morning’s labor.
Yue Jiuyue happily gazed at the balance in the system and began browsing the products.
Earning money was for spending. For filling her belly.
Starving as she was, Yue Jiuyue went straight for the food section.
For staples, there were steamed buns, stuffed buns, dumplings, noodles, stuffed flatbreads, pancakes…
The dishes were even more numerous—after all, just the eight great cuisines alone boasted 6,744 dishes.
In the end, she didn’t even dare buy vegetable buns. She was afraid the smell would escape and she wouldn’t be able to explain it. So she bought a steamed bun bigger than her head—for three whole wen!
Don’t blame her for eating alone. The family had nothing—absolutely destitute. How could she suddenly produce a big, fluffy white bun? She’d have to wait until she sold the herbs and had a legitimate source of income.
Besides, she was still thinking about splitting the household. Facing that weepy woman day in and day out would absolutely break her spirit.
And that business with Liu blowing her nose while cooking—she never wanted to see that again. It completely killed her appetite.