The next day, the golden sun rose from the Qingshan, and the mist turned into dew hanging on the branches. The villagers were either working in the fields or picking wild vegetables on the outskirts of the Back Mountain.
“Big brother, what are you doing?”
The rooster with the flowery tail was still as fierce as ever, pushing aside the other three chickens to peck at the feed. Qiao Yue felt relieved and looked down at Qiao Xiaoyuan, “Look at our chickens, aren’t they majestic?”
“I fed them, I did. I caught the bugs, and they ate a lot,” Qiao Xiaoyuan let go of his pant leg, puffing out his little chest proudly.
Qiao Xiaoyuan stretched out his soft little hand, no bug could escape his grasp!
Qiao Yue patted his head, encouraging him, “Xiaoyuan, you’re amazing. Big brother will rely on you for food from now on.”
Qiao Xiaoyuan: “!”
“Okay!” Qiao Xiaoyuan nodded vigorously, his fighting spirit ignited, “Big brother, I’ll catch more bugs and dig up earthworms for you to fish and sell.”
Just then, Qiao Xiaomei happened to pass by the chicken coop: “…”
The eldest family had three children: Qiao Xingsheng, who was twenty, Qiao Lei, who was eighteen, and Qiao Xiaomei, who was fifteen and at the age to be courted. Qiao Lei had already been engaged to someone from Zhou Shi’s family, but because the eldest, Qiao Xingsheng, hadn’t had any good news yet, it was postponed.
Every time she went out, she made sure to wear a straw hat to avoid getting tanned. Today, she realized she forgot her hat when she reached the Back Mountain, so she hurried back home, only to overhear this conversation.
Qiao Xiaomei pursed her lips. Qiao Yue, her cousin, was something else. He was old enough to be a father, yet he still needed to coax a four-year-old little brother.
Qiao Xiaomei grabbed her straw hat and left again.
After playing with Qiao Xiaoyuan for a while and confirming the chickens were fine, Qiao Yue realized he had nothing else to worry about.
He returned to his room and closed the door.
The spring chill was still in the air, and the steamed buns covered overnight wouldn’t spoil. In front of Qiao Xiaoyuan, Qiao Yue took down the basket from the top of the cabinet.
Qiao Xiaoyuan curiously asked, “Big brother, what’s that?”
Qiao Yue lifted the cloth, and Qiao Xiaoyuan, seeing the plump white steamed buns in the basket, exclaimed as if he’d never seen anything so good, “Wow—is this something delicious? White and round, is it the lamb buns that Little Fatty mentioned?”
“It’s not buns, it’s steamed buns, no filling. If Xiaoyuan wants lamb buns, big brother will bring some next time.”
“No buns, Xiaoyuan wants steamed buns,” Qiao Xiaoyuan leaned in to sniff, “Smells so good, so big, the steamed bun is bigger than my head, hahaha~” He laughed at his own words, covering his mouth and giggling.
Qiao Yue felt a pang of sadness.
When he was young, the Qiao family was relatively well-off, thanks to an ancestor who was good at beekeeping and left behind a lot of land.
Back then, the Qiao family was one of the wealthiest in the village. He had even tasted braised pork from a restaurant, let alone buns.
Until he was seven, when Qingshui County undertook a major canal construction.
The Qiao family had only Qiao Laohan left at home, and canal construction was a tough job, with lives at risk. Afterward, the old couple of the Qiao family decided to send Qiao Xingsheng from the eldest family to school.
The eldest brother’s child could go to school, but his own son, only a few months younger, had to stay home and farm. No one would feel good about that, and his father, Qiao Lao Er, was not happy.
So, the Qiao family had a big argument, and although Qiao Laohan was angry, he agreed.
It’s hard for a poor family to produce a scholar, especially a farming family. Supporting a scholar required a lot of money, and the Qiao family sent two at once.
In less than two years, half of the family savings were gone, and then his grandmother, Qiao Laotai, suddenly fell ill and passed away. Qiao Laohan realized this couldn’t continue.
It was around that time he returned from the academy.
To support a scholar, the family was not as well-off as before.
The years after Xiaoyuan was born were even more frugal until last June when Qiao Xingsheng passed the scholar exam, and the family’s situation slightly improved.
Qiao Yue broke off a small piece of the steamed bun. It had been left overnight and was a bit cold. Since Zhou Shi was at home, Qiao Yue didn’t take it to the kitchen to heat it, so he didn’t give the child too much at once to avoid an upset stomach.
“Xiaoyuan, eat.”
Qiao Xiaoyuan held it with both hands, carefully taking a bite. The soft bread became more fragrant the more he chewed, even with a hint of sweetness. His eyes lit up, “So delicious!”
Qiao Yue ate the remaining large half, just enough to feel full.
There were still two steamed buns left. Qiao Yue took one with him, put a small straw hat on Qiao Xiaoyuan, and prepared to go find Xia He.
Qingshan Village was nestled by the mountains and water, with a river winding through it. In early spring, the outskirts of the Back Mountain were bustling.
Qiao Yue went to the usual places Xia He frequented but didn’t find him until the village chief’s husband told him he saw Xia He on the other side.
After saying goodbye to the village chief’s husband, Qiao Yue turned around to find him.
“Little dad, why are you here today?” Qiao Yue saw Xia He squatting alone by a tree stump, not sure what he was doing. Qiao Xiaoyuan, not tired at all, ran over.
Xia He turned his head and smiled, “I found an ant nest here last time. It rained a bit last night, so I came to see if there are any mushrooms. Why are you two here?”
“I’m going to the county later, so I brought Xiaoyuan… A grayish umbrella cap… Is this a termite mushroom?”
Qiao Yue was surprised by the patch of termite mushrooms in front of him.
Xia He nodded, “Yes, you can sell these termite mushrooms.” Termite mushrooms aren’t common, and just a simple stir-fry makes them very fresh. The wealthy families in the county love to buy them, so they’re expensive.
There were about two pounds of termite mushrooms here, and fresh ones could sell for thirty to forty coins per pound.
Qiao Yue wasn’t keen on farming, but he was interested in selling mountain goods, “Okay.”
The two of them worked together to pack the termite mushrooms into a basket, with a few bunches of water celery on top, ready to take to the county.
“Little dad, be careful. I’m leaving. Remember to toast the steamed buns before eating.”
Qiao Yue waved, leaving half a steamed bun behind, and set off with the basket.
Xia He looked at the half steamed bun, bigger than his hand, moved his mouth, and finally just replied, “Okay.”
…
Since Qiao Yue set off around mid-morning, he didn’t encounter many people along the way, let alone a bullock cart for a ride.
After walking for more than half an hour, he finally saw the city gate, panting heavily.
The city gate was weathered, and the words “Qingshui County” on the city wall were somewhat dilapidated.
The grass market between the city gate and the dock was bustling, mainly selling various crops, mountain goods, wild vegetables, and some food.
Although not as spacious and clean as the city market, there was no entry fee or stall fee, so everyone loved to set up stalls here, filling it with various small stalls. If they couldn’t sell much, they could just pack up and go home.
Qiao Yue looked at the stall selling mung bean sweet water. A cup cost three coins. He touched the ten coins in his pouch and decided to sell the termite mushrooms first.
He arrived late, and the good spots near the city gate were gone, so he had to walk along the stalls towards the dock.
Finally, he saw a gap between two stalls and quickly squeezed in.
The two stall owners were immediately displeased, “Hey, are you blind? This spot is taken!”
“Yeah, if you want a spot, come early. There’s no room left, and you’re squeezing in!”
Qiao Yue grinned, “Isn’t there a spot here? You squeeze a bit, he squeezes a bit, and there’s enough room!”
People don’t hit a smiling face, and seeing he only had one basket, not taking up much space, they grumbled a bit and focused on their stalls.
Qiao Yue put down the basket and shouted, “Termite mushrooms, fresh termite mushrooms!”
The thick and delicious termite mushrooms quickly attracted someone to ask about the price.
“Forty coins per pound.”
“Forty coins?” The woman looked at the termite mushrooms in the basket, seeing they were indeed of good quality, “Forty it is, I’ll take them all. How much for the water celery?”
Qiao Yue was delighted. He thought he would have to haggle, so he quoted a higher price, but she wanted them all!
“Three coins per pound for the water celery.”
“Give me a pound.”
Qiao Yue immediately borrowed a scale from the aunt next to him, weighed the water celery and the oil paper, and then the basket.
“With the basket, it’s a little over two pounds and six ounces.” Qiao Yue let the customer see, then put down the weight and picked out the termite mushrooms, “The basket alone is four ounces.”
“That’s two pounds and two ounces, eighty-eight coins, plus the water celery, it’s ninety-one.”
The woman nodded and handed over a small piece of silver, “No need for change, pack it up for me.”
Qiao Yue took the silver, relieved he still had ten coins on him, or he wouldn’t have enough to give change. These large pieces of silver were usually cut into one qian for convenience.
But to be sure, Qiao Yue borrowed a small scale from the aunt next door and weighed it.
Good, just under one qian.
No need for change.
Qiao Yue pretended nothing happened, still smiling as he packed it up, “Take care, have a nice day.”
After waiting a while, someone came and bought the remaining water celery, and Qiao Yue happily picked up his basket and headed to the dock.
The aunt next to him saw he left in less than a quarter of an hour and couldn’t help but comment, “These young lads just don’t get it. Coming all this way with so little stuff, if they brought more, they’d earn more.”
“Exactly…”
At the dock, a merchant ship was docked, with laborers of various appearances and heights, some thin, some strong, some tall, some short.
However, they were all very tanned, sweating so much their shirts were soaked.
Qiao Yue originally wanted to try the purple one-star card to see if it really made him a strongman as it claimed.
Maybe he could earn dozens of coins in one go?
But seeing the laborers’ condition, Qiao Yue immediately dismissed the idea. Next time—
Next time, he’ll try the card.
“Qiao Shanzi…”
Why does someone have the same nickname as him?! Qiao Yue’s heart tightened, sweating on his forehead, looking around. Good, not calling me, time to go.
“Indigo clothes, five feet six tall, stop looking around, I’m calling you!”
The clear, melodious voice was as terrifying as a magic sound, drawing the surrounding eyes to him, as if saying it’s you.
Qiao Yue: “…”
Qiao Yue looked over the heads, spotting the culprit, Fang Chuyue.
Fang Chuyue raised his hand, waving, smiling brightly like a peach blossom in spring.
“Come over—”
Can I not go over?
Qiao Yue took a step back.