Old Li set the carrying basket on the medicine shop counter with a broad smile. “Thirty-six and a half catties in total.”
The shopkeeper’s smile couldn’t be suppressed no matter what.
He took the scale and weighed it, tapped away on his abacus for a moment, then said cheerfully, “Five hundred forty-seven and a half coins in total, I’ll give you five hundred forty-eight coins, is that all right?”
“Yes, yes, yes!” Old Li answered eagerly.
The shopkeeper took out five strings of cash, then counted out another thirty-eight coins and set them on the counter.
Old Li’s eyes lit up like lanterns.
He tucked the long-stemmed pipe into his waistband, stood by the counter and counted the coins once through, then nodded again and again with a smile. “That’s right, that’s right, it’s all there. Shopkeeper, will you still be buying?”
“Yes! However much you bring, I’ll buy it!”
“Still fifteen coins a catty?” Old Li asked again, not quite at ease.
The shopkeeper nodded firmly. “Next time you bring it, I’ll definitely buy at this same price.”
No other shop could get Wupao.
If he collected more, he could even send the extra to his employer’s other shops.
Old Li stuffed the money into his shirt, both hands still pressed over his stomach.
He held it in the whole way out of the medicine shop before finally urging Zhou Daya, “Let’s hurry back!”
With this much money tucked away, it would be terrible if a thief noticed.
Zhou Daya said, “Xiaoman’s still hungry, we should buy her something to eat.”
“Buy what, we’re going home to eat hand-pulled noodles!”
Chen Xiaoman swallowed. “Can I have some?”
“Yes!” Old Li held up two fingers boldly. “I’ll even add two eggs for you!”
Chen Xiaoman grinned, her eyes curving into two crescent moons.
She got to eat hand-pulled noodles again.
Zhou Daya was overjoyed too.
She put Chen Xiaoman back in the basket, hoisted it up, and hurried home.
Along the way the three of them kept bursting into laughter now and then, though none of them spoke.
They held it in all the way home, and once the three of them stepped into the kitchen, Old Li couldn’t help muttering happily over and over, “We earned five hundred eighty coins in a single day!”
Zhou Daya took out white flour, scooped out a small bowl of it, added water, and began kneading it.
“The strong laborers in our village who go out for day work only earn twenty or thirty coins a day.”
“That’s exactly right, and we didn’t even put in any labor, oh my, and this money just came rolling in!”
Old Li clenched his left hand into a fist and pounded it hard into his right palm.
Zhou Daya said happily, “And it’s all thanks to Xiaoman.”
Old Li cleared his throat and put on a stern face. “We’ve only earned five hundred sixty coins, that’s still a long way from five strings!”
Chen Xiaoman put her feet together, placed her hands on her knees, and said obediently, “I’ll earn lots more money.”
“That’s the spirit!” Old Li nodded approvingly.
Then his mouth stretched to his ears again.
This little girl was quite lucky.
Zhou Daya set the kneaded dough aside to rest.
She wiped her hands, cracked two eggs into a bowl, and stirred them.
“Old man, go find the villagers to collect Wupao. Tomorrow we can go earn another round at the medicine shop.”
Old Li smacked his lips. “Why spend money buying it, let’s just pick it ourselves.”
“The eldest and second sons’ wives rarely get to visit their own mothers, I’ll have them stay a couple more days. With just the few of us picking for one day, we won’t get much.”
Zhou Daya walked over to the stove, stuffed in some straw, and lit the fire.
“While people still don’t know Wupao can be sold for money, let’s hurry up and earn a round.”
Old Li stood up at once.
The old woman was right. If they dragged it out a few more days, what if the medicine shop stopped buying?
“I’ll go tell the villagers right now.”
Zhou Daya added, “There are quite a few people cooling off under the old locust tree at the village entrance. Go tell them there, and it’ll spread through the whole village in no time.”
Old Li agreed, put his hands behind his back, and walked off unhurriedly.
Zhou Daya waited for the water to boil, then dropped in the cut noodles.
She turned her head and saw Xiaoman sitting by the stove, tending the fire seriously.
Zhou Daya’s heart ached.
Such a small girl, living so carefully, what a shame!
She turned, took an oil jar out of the cupboard, and scooped a spoonful of lard into the noodles.
The water had just come to a boil when a cheerful voice sounded outside the door: “Smells so good!”
A boy of four or five in a gray robe rushed into the kitchen.
Because he was running so fast, the cloth bundle stuffed full and slung on him made a “thump thump” sound as it bounced against his body.
His eyes fixed straight on the steaming stone pot.
Hand-pulled noodles, topped with a layer of egg.
The boy couldn’t help swallowing, unable to look away.
Zhou Daya pushed his head aside. “This is for Xiaoman, don’t even think about it.”
Li Chuyuan looked in disbelief at the little girl peeking her head out from beside the stove.
The eggs at home were all supposed to be sold for money to help the household.
There were only about three bowls of white flour left.
Such precious things, and Mother had just casually made them for some girl from who knows where?
“Who are you?”
Chen Xiaoman grinned, showing her two little canine teeth. “I’m your wife.”
The boy jumped back, startled. “Don’t talk nonsense!”
Chen Xiaoman’s round eyes stared at him as she asked back, “You’re Li Chuyuan, aren’t you?”
Li Chuyuan stumbled back in shock. “How do you know that?”
“Mother only has three sons. The eldest and second are already married, and the youngest, Li Chuyuan, is only four.”
She sniffled her little nose. “You just said this is your home.”
He looked only a little older than her.
He was her husband.
Li Chuyuan grabbed Zhou Daya’s clothes and asked, “Mother, why does that girl say she’s my wife?”
“Xiaoman is the child bride I brought home. From now on, treat your wife well.”
Zhou Daya said this, then handed Chen Xiaoman a full bowl of egg noodles.
“Eat it while it’s hot.”
Chen Xiaoman held the bowl with both hands, saying happily, “Thank you, Mother!”
Li Chuyuan’s glare at Chen Xiaoman looked like it could shoot fire. “That’s my mother, don’t call her that carelessly!”
Sensing Li Chuyuan’s hostility, Chen Xiaoman grew nervous.
She pushed the bowl back toward Zhou Daya. “Xiaoman isn’t hungry.”
Zhou Daya put the chopsticks back into her hands and said with a smile, “Just eat your food, don’t mind him.”
Chen Xiaoman snuck a glance at Li Chuyuan, lowered her head, and picked up a few noodles to put in her mouth.
The rich wheat aroma spread through her mouth, and soft bits of egg slid across her tongue, it was so delicious she nearly bit her own tongue.
She had never eaten anything this good before!
Chen Xiaoman’s eyes lit up.
She couldn’t help taking several more mouthfuls.
So good!
So happy!
Zhou Daya, watching beside her, nodded with satisfaction, then turned and grabbed Li Chuyuan by the ear.
Li Chuyuan cupped both hands over his ear, howling. “Ow, ow, ow!”
“You dare bully Xiaoman right in front of me?”
“We barely even said anything to each other, how did I bully her!”
Li Chuyuan begged repeatedly, “Mother, let go, it hurts so much!”
Zhou Daya pulled harder. “Don’t think I didn’t see you glaring at her! And shouting at her too!”
Chen Xiaoman licked a drop of oil off her lips and said carefully, “Mother, he didn’t bully me.”
Mother was so good to her, she couldn’t let Mother worry.
Zhou Daya gave a “humph” and let go.
Li Chuyuan bounced back several steps like a rabbit, rubbing his ear and gasping.
His mother’s grip was too strong.
His ear must be red.
“Who’s actually your real child here?”
Li Chuyuan glared at Zhou Daya angrily.
Zhou Daya put both hands on her hips. “You’re my real child, but Xiaoman is my daughter-in-law too! From now on, every time you bully Xiaoman, I’ll hit you once!”
Li Chuyuan stomped his feet in anger.
He shot Chen Xiaoman a resentful look, then shouted at Zhou Daya, “I don’t want her as my wife!”