These were things Jiang Song had learned while in the city buying chicks and ducklings. As for the piglets, he had bought them from a nearby farmstead. Their village wasn’t the only one farming outside the capital.
Jiang Song said, “There’s a morning market and an evening market, and there’s no curfew. I saw quite a lot of food stalls on the streets.”
Jiang Ran couldn’t help asking, “What do they sell?”
Jiang Song thought back. “There are northern food shops, southern food shops, Sichuan restaurants, and stalls selling buns, steamed buns, hu bing, and chui bing. Butcher shops hang chicken, goose, lamb, and pork.”
Thinking of all the sights, Jiang Song said, “There was too much to even look at. Street stalls sold white sausage, smoked meat, stuffed lungs, roasted chestnuts, honey cakes, and all kinds of snacks. Oh, right, this is for you—sweet yuanzi soup.”
He had brought it back in a bowl, and somehow it hadn’t spilled during the journey. It was a treat Jiang Song had brought home for his younger sister.
That caught Jiang Ran by surprise.
Even sweet soup existed.
Looking at the bowl, Jiang Ran suddenly remembered the cup of sugar water she had made for him yesterday.
She accepted it with an obedient smile. “Thank you, Brother. Since there’s no curfew, we won’t have to worry about coming home late. If I go with you, I won’t be scared even after dark. We’ll need a pushcart, a pot, and bowls and chopsticks.”
As she spoke, Jiang Ran looked at the chirping chicks and ducklings in the cage. Fluffy little balls of feathers—it was hard not to feel happy seeing them.
Jiang Song nodded, then said, “I checked the wheat. It should be dry enough soon. Let’s wait until the grain is divided and we’ve bought rice seedlings. We spent too much money today on piglets and chicks, and there’s barely anything left.”
The two piglets had cost two taels of silver. Each chick cost thirteen wen, and each duckling fifteen wen. Jiang Song had bought twenty of each.
The remaining money had to go toward rice seeds so they could grow seedlings themselves. If it wasn’t enough, they would buy seedlings directly. He planned to start preparing them later.
Half the money Madam Yun had handed over had disappeared in just half a day.
Jiang Song had never spent this much money before, and there was no guarantee raising livestock would make a profit.
Animals got sick just like people. If they died midway through, the money would be gone for nothing, and they would need savings to cover the loss.
The market looked lively, but Jiang Song still wasn’t sure whether they should really give business a try.
Walking through the streets, it felt like anything could make money.
His second cousin from Eldest Uncle’s family had once tried selling things in the capital too, but quit after only a few days.
For years, Third Branch had only survived by farming. Jiang Song didn’t feel confident.
His grandparents’ old words echoed in his ears.
“Third Branch is too honest. Things can’t go on like this.”
“Too honest. They’ll never get ahead.”
“Jiang Song isn’t as clever as his older brothers.”
Jiang Song let out a long breath.
Jiang Ran frowned.
Why did everything have to wait again?
She said, “Brother, I still have some silver—the rewards the young ladies gave me these past two days. If we’re short on money, we can use mine first. The longer we delay, the hotter the weather gets. It’s still cool now, so we can start selling and try it out.”
Street vending was already small-scale business.
Jiang Song said they would start after buying rice seedlings, but after buying seedlings, they would have to plant them. Who knew how many more days that would delay things?
For the first few days, Jiang Ran could even go alone.
Seeing the worried yet eager look in his sister’s eyes, Jiang Song found himself unable to say words of refusal.
Jiang Ran added thoughtfully, “If you don’t want to use my money, then just give me a share after we make money. If we both have money, maybe you could even go back to school.”
That day, Jiang Song had clenched his fists so tightly his eyes turned red, the veins at his neck bulging like twisted roots as he held himself back from slamming the table.
The fact that Eldest Brother and Fifth Uncle got to study had become a sore spot in his heart.
People were like that—not afraid of having too little, but afraid of unfairness.
Honestly, Jiang Ran wasn’t certain either. She had never run a business before, though she had studied financial planning. Making money always came with risk. High risk meant high reward, while low risk meant lower returns.
She continued, “Or we can just start simple. I think we already have a cart at home. We can use the family pot for now and just buy some bowls. We can make chopsticks ourselves by shaving bamboo smooth to save money. My silver should be enough. Brother, let me try. I can’t really help much with farming anyway.”
If she put in the money, then if they made a profit, she should get some say too.
In the end, Jiang Song nodded.
Jiang Ran took out one silver peanut and gave it to Jiang Song, asking him to buy bowls that afternoon and some seasonings too. They were running low on soy sauce and vinegar at home.
After lunch, Jiang Song left the household chores to Madam Yun and Jiang Chuanli.
One fed and watered the chicks and ducklings, while the other built a pigsty behind the house.
Jiang Chuanli wasn’t talkative, but the stone walls he stacked were neat and even, and he spread the mud cleanly.
Jiang Ran brought them both bowls of water and said, “Father, Mother, rest a bit before working again.”
Jiang Chuanli didn’t even lift his head. “Almost done.”
The space behind the house was large. Following Jiang Song’s idea, they built the pigsty bigger.
Maybe when they had more money, they could raise more pigs.
Otherwise, they’d just have to tear it down and rebuild it later.
The pigsty floor had also been redone, sloping from high to low, with two drainage ditches dug along the sides to make cleaning easier.
The pig troughs were carved from stone—one for food, one for water.
The family already had a chicken coop, but the chicks were still too small. Since mornings and evenings were cold, they had to be kept indoors for now.
As the two worked, wiping sweat from their foreheads from time to time, Jiang Ran stayed busy too. She soaked rice, dried it, and pushed the stone mill herself, grinding it several times before sifting it.
By the time Jiang Song came back, she had already made half a sack of bright, fine rice flour.
She had tried grinding raw rice directly before, but it didn’t work.
When Jiang Song returned, everyone in the family was busy, and he felt uneasy.
His younger sister was still so young. He felt like it was his failure as an older brother.
Suppressing the complicated feelings in his heart, he said, “I bought everything. I checked the wheat too—it’ll be ready to weigh tomorrow. Once that’s done, we’ll go buy rice seedlings.”
Jiang Ran poured him a cup of water.
After being out all day, Jiang Song was terribly thirsty. The cool water slid down his throat, washing away his exhaustion.
Jiang Song had also stopped by the blacksmith’s shop to ask about a pot.
A large iron pot would cost two strings of coins and take two days to make. Better to wait until they earned money first.
He had bought twenty bowls. If that wasn’t enough, they could just wash used bowls and reuse them.
This trip had spent even more money on rice seeds.
Now they could only hope tomorrow’s wheat weighing would give them a decent share.
Early the next morning, the steward from the Marquis Manor arrived.
Wheat yielded less than rice—only around 1.2 shi per mu. Half of it went as rent. The steward immediately counted out one hundred sixty-eight shi of wheat and had servants load it onto carts to transport back to the capital.
The rest was for the Jiang family to divide.
Everyone gathered in the courtyard where the wheat had been drying, too distracted to notice Jiang Rong quietly slipping away.
Madam Liu picked up a handful of plump wheat grains and said, “The family has split up, but the wheat was harvested before the separation. I’d like to hear what everyone thinks about how it should be divided.”
No one spoke.
Old Master Jiang looked around sternly. “The family’s already split. Everyone makes their own decisions now. Say what’s on your mind.”
Say whatever they wanted?
Jiang Ran lowered her head, hiding the strange look in her eyes.
Madam Liu clearly wanted both things at once—split the family while still taking advantage. She was too embarrassed to say it directly and wanted the younger generation to offer concessions willingly.
If someone suggested dividing it the old way, she would probably agree immediately. Otherwise, why bring up that the wheat had been harvested before the separation?
What a clever plan.
Seeing the silence, Madam Lin said, “Since the wheat was harvested before the split, we should divide it the old way. Family harmony matters most. Father and Mother are staying with Eldest Branch. Though we’ll shoulder most things and take more responsibility, we’re still children—we should do our part.”
A pleased look flashed across Madam Liu’s face.
Jiang Song clenched his fists tightly, refusing to let go.
Second and Fourth Branch were dissatisfied too, but the pressure of filial piety made it hard to say anything.
Jiang Ran didn’t want to suffer a loss.
“Eldest Aunt,” she said, “then why don’t we just not split the family after all? I still think staying together is better. Once Eldest Brother and Fifth Uncle pass the exams, and Second Sister gains favor in the Marquis Manor, won’t we have everything we want? It’s only right to support them. What’s wrong with my father and brother working harder? We’re not capable anyway—we’re counting on Eldest Brother and Fifth Uncle.”
Jiang Ran deliberately acted lazy and greedy.
Madam Liu and Madam Lin frowned at the sight.
Jiang Song looked at Jiang Ran, his eyes filled with heartache.
If he were more capable, why would his younger sister need to step forward for him?
He loosened his fists and looked directly at everyone.
“I don’t agree with dividing things the old way. Everyone knows who worked more and who worked less during the harvest. Eldest Branch has eight people, sure, but the women don’t work in the fields. Sixth Brother and Seventh Brother are young and only help carry things. Eldest Brother and Fifth Uncle haven’t even touched a sickle. Before the split, I accepted the unfairness. But now the family is split—if we can’t share the benefits, why should grain still be divided by headcount? I refuse.”
Eldest Branch only had three real workers.
Since there was a scholar in the family, he was exempt from labor. Before Eldest Sister married, she and Jiang Xing were girls, so they didn’t work either.
The two younger boys were too young to harvest wheat.
Even worse, those three workers often slacked off.
Yet they still received grain for eight people, plus the shares for Madam Liu, Old Master Jiang, and Jiang Chuanbao.
Meanwhile, Third Branch only got grain for four people.
And on top of that, they still had to help support the two scholars.
Jiang Song continued, “Filial support is one thing, but don’t mix it together with everything else. Since we’ve split, then let’s separate things clearly.”
Madam Liu and Old Master Jiang looked displeased.
Madam Lin and Jiang Chuanshun looked even worse.
Second and Fourth Branch were better off than Third Branch, but not by much.
Second Branch’s wife, Little Madam Lin, stepped in to smooth things over.
“Since the family’s already split, it really doesn’t make sense to divide things the old way anymore. Let’s divide according to workers instead, but let’s not hurt family harmony. We can’t help much with studying, but we can contribute yearly grain. Father and Mother are elders—we should still support them. Let’s count four extra mouths. The women only cook, and the children just help move things, so we won’t count them. How about that?”
Originally, Eldest Branch received grain for seven people, plus money for studying.
Now, with Jiang Xing gone and the two younger boys removed, they would only receive grain for four.
Second, Third, and Fourth Branch each counted three workers. Add Madam Liu, Old Master Jiang, and Jiang Chuanbao, and the total came to seventeen people.
The elders were still being supported, and the grain was still divided.
Madam Liu’s expression finally softened.
Third Branch had originally gotten twenty-four shi of grain.
Now, they would receive nearly thirty.
What they gained came mostly out of Eldest, Second, and Fourth Branch’s shares, while Madam Liu and the others still received almost the same as before.
As Jiang Ran saw it, cutting off Madam Liu, Old Master Jiang, and Jiang Chuanbao completely was impossible.
But in the future, each branch would farm their own land and dry their own grain, avoiding situations like this.
Since everyone still lived nearby, it was best not to tear relationships apart completely.
Still, before leaving, Old Master Jiang glared bitterly at Jiang Chuanli.
“You’re still alive, yet Jiang Song’s already grown wings. You let your son climb over your head, you blockhead!”
Jiang Chuanli lowered his head and said nothing.
Furious, Old Master Jiang stormed off.
Jiang Song patted Jiang Ran’s shoulder. “It’s fine now.”
The discussion about farmland afterward was also handled by Jiang Song.
There were two hundred eighty mu of land in total, divided according to each family’s ability. As long as everything got planted, Old Master Jiang couldn’t be bothered to care.
The family ox cart would still be shared.
Jiang Song claimed sixty mu of land.
Madam Liu only gave them some rice seeds. They would have to buy most of the seedlings themselves.
Half the grain they received would stay home for food.
The rest would be sold for money, probably around ten strings of coins.
After buying seedlings, they’d be lucky to have two or three strings left.
Still, Jiang Ran didn’t think it was bad.
Even if things had been divided the old way, Madam Liu definitely wouldn’t have paid extra for rice seedlings.
Jiang Song had to focus on farming, and Madam Yun needed to work in the fields too.
That left selling food entirely on Jiang Ran’s shoulders.
She needed broth, water, an iron pot, vegetables, toppings, firewood…
And the farmstead was twenty li from the capital.
There was no way a thirteen-year-old girl like Jiang Ran could push all that there by herself.
Jiang Ran sighed inwardly.
Why couldn’t she have some overpowered cheat ability?
Super strength, maybe. Or a storage space where she could pack everything up, carry it effortlessly, and unpack it once she reached the city.
She wasn’t picky.
But she had absolutely nothing.
So all she could do was lighten the load.
The family cooking pot couldn’t be left behind.
She built a small stove onto the cart, packed two strainers, loaded a few jin of firewood, and put broth into a small wooden bucket.
She also brought two empty buckets and planned to figure out water after reaching the city.
That made things much lighter.
She packed only a little seasoning and didn’t bring much rice noodles.
The plan was simple—sell however many bowls she could. If it didn’t work, she would come home.
Jiang Ran tested the cart.
She could push it.
If the food sold, she’d think of a way to leave the cart in the city instead of pushing it back and forth every day.
Jiang Song still felt uneasy about Jiang Ran going alone.
“How about letting Mother go with you?”
Jiang Ran shook her head. “Mother should stay home and help farm. She can cook lunch too.”
Jiang Song added, “Then how about asking Second Branch? Let Jiang Rong go with you.”
Since coming back from the grain-drying yard, Jiang Ran hadn’t seen Jiang Rong at all.