There was no need to mention the radishes and cabbage—small pumpkins, lettuce, carrots, chili peppers, onions, garlic and ginger, spinach, and more were all growing.
Lu Meiyu happily pulled up an onion, then picked some lettuce and chili peppers.
The three dishes were planned: chili fried with meat, onion fried with eggs, and stir-fried lettuce.
She suddenly felt very satisfied with this rural life.
Coming from the post-apocalyptic world, in her previous life she had hoarded supplies, but mostly stayed trapped inside her house, hardly daring to go out.
Outside, there were natural disasters and human calamities—one wrong move could cost her life.
In fact, she eventually did die…
But now, this pastoral life was free, comfortable, and fresh!
Except for the few nosy villagers trying to provoke her.
But she didn’t need to pay them any mind; with her weapons, she and the children could live very well.
They had rice all along, now they had vegetables too—what worries were left?
Of course, silver still needed to be earned; more money meant a better life!
When Xiaoxuan and Xiaowei saw their mother bring back the vegetables, they happily hummed a tune, laughing and even singing along.
It was pure joy.
“Mom, our life is really good now, better than a landowner’s.”
Xiaowei chimed in: “Even better than the emperor’s.”
Lu Meiyu laughed uncontrollably. Better than the emperor?
“Little girls, you mustn’t say that outside.”
Although she didn’t know how strict social hierarchies were at this time, it was always good to be cautious.
If someone caught her in a mistake, they might exploit it.
The two little girls obediently nodded and dug into their meal.
The sweet potatoes in the stove were already cooked, placed aside, emitting a rich aroma.
Lu Meiyu saved a bit for herself, eating a small sweet potato—truly delicious!
Golden with strands of sugar, the sweet potato was very sweet.
“If you’re full, don’t eat these sweet potatoes yet. Eat them later after your meal settles.”
The sisters obediently listened and cleared the table.
Xiaoxuan even washed the dishes herself using the “detergent” her mother had conjured, cleaning them thoroughly.
With over two taels of silver in hand, Lu Meiyu generously bought all sorts of small-packaged bathing supplies.
Of course, they were all small portions…
Lu Meiyu thought: the garden had plenty of fresh vegetables—why not pick some to sell?
Then she could buy clothing for herself and the sisters.
And with the weather cooling, they would need bedding too…
Clearly, two taels of silver wouldn’t go far; she needed to earn more.
Early the next morning, Lu Meiyu picked a basket full of vegetables to sell in town.
Seeing the two little girls looking eagerly at her, she suddenly felt soft-hearted.
“I’ll take you with me. If we sell these vegetables successfully, we can also buy some treats for you.”
The sisters jumped for joy. The lively Xiaowei even hugged her mother’s leg, whining: “Mom, you’re the best mom in the world!”
Xiaoxuan nodded vigorously, agreeing with her sister.
Lu Meiyu smiled. Children were always so easily pleased.
After locking the house, the three of them boarded the ox cart.
Li Aunt, also going to sell vegetables, glanced at Lu Meiyu’s basket and exclaimed: “Meiyu, how are your vegetables so fresh?”
Other women selling eggs to trade for oil and salt were equally amazed.
“How long has it been since it rained, yet these vegetables grow so well?”
Lu Meiyu chuckled: “I don’t know either. Maybe my garden is just that good.”
“You rented Grandma Zhao’s house, really a good deal. Several rooms plus a vegetable garden. Selling vegetables could earn over thirty wen a month.”
Sister-in-law Liu sighed: “It’s like living in a good house for free.”
Everyone agreed, praising Lu Meiyu’s good fortune.
Though she had been separated from her in-laws, her life was getting better and better.
No longer oppressed or constrained by her in-laws—she had complete freedom!
The other wives were envious. For them, even earning a single wen had to be handed over. During work, they were shouted at the most; when eating, they were intensely monitored.
Afraid they would eat an extra bite.
This year’s harvest was poor; families had already reduced rations, and mixed grain porridge was getting thinner.
Thicker portions went to husbands and in-laws first; the thin portion was for the wives.
Lu Meiyu observed quietly: the women on the ox cart were relatively well-off.
But their faces still showed the strain.
Most of the people on the road walked on foot, struggling through poverty.
She sighed. The drought’s effects would only worsen; even this life was relatively comfortable.
Soon they arrived in town. Having already eaten noodles, they weren’t hungry.
They found a good spot and placed the basket down to sell vegetables.
“Ah, these vegetables look nice and fresh.”
An elderly woman brought a little girl to buy vegetables.
Lu Meiyu perked up—it was obviously a wealthy family, otherwise, who would bring a girl with a basket?
The woman picked through the vegetables, and Lu Meiyu had already noted the other sellers’ prices.
The prices were much lower than she imagined!
One wen for three jin!
So cheap! A round trip by ox cart cost six wen for the three of them—equivalent to eighteen jin of vegetables?
Lu Meiyu was dumbfounded.
“Ginger, garlic, onions: one wen per jin. Other vegetables: one wen for two jin.”
The elderly woman frowned: “Yours are more expensive than others.”
“Granny, there’s a reason it’s pricier. I’m sure you understand.”
Indeed, her vegetables were clearly fresher than the others’.
A few wen wasn’t an issue for the elderly woman, so she carefully selected her vegetables.
Eight wen in hand.
Although other women selling vegetables glanced at her enviously, Lu Meiyu wasn’t satisfied.
She slowly sold the remaining vegetables.
Some people liked to buy cheap vegetables; others were willing to pay a little more for quality produce.
After over an hour, she finally sold everything, earning a total of eighteen wen.
This was too slow…
If only she could encounter more people willing to pay a tael of silver for asking a question, how wonderful that would be!
“Hungry?” Lu Meiyu asked the children.
“No, mom, we’re full.”
The sisters really were too sensible.
Looking at their cloth shoes, Lu Meiyu noticed they were falling apart!
Her own shoes were similarly worn, patched, with soles almost worn through.
“Let’s go, I’ll take you to buy new shoes.”
Xiaowei jumped with joy, while Xiaoxuan was more measured: “Mom, these shoes can still be worn. Earning money is so hard; we should save a bit.”
Such sensible little girls made her heart ache all the more.