Lu Meiyu returned with the girls, carrying meat!
“Do you two still have silver?”
Zhao Hai paused: “What if we don’t?”
“If you don’t, I’ll just take this meat back,” Lu Meiyu said with a smile.
Zhao Hai quietly pouted—wasn’t that a bit too practical?
“I’m just joking. Yesterday you gave plenty of silver. This meat, just eat as you like.”
Zhao Granny was overjoyed to see Lu Meiyu arrive.
“I was worried at first, but since you brought meat, make some meat porridge.”
She noticed the vegetables Lu Meiyu had brought as well: “You really cared for the garden, fetching water from the river to tend it, didn’t you?”
Lu Meiyu mumbled assent, then started the fire.
She cooked not only porridge but also roasted a few sweet potatoes.
“Are you going back to the mountain? Any plans?”
Jing Yi replied: “Of course, we’re going back up the mountain.”
“Prepare your equipment well. Since you don’t have armor, you must prepare other useful items.”
Zhao Hai rolled his eyes.
Who didn’t know that? The question was—where could they find “equipment” on such short notice?
Seeing Zhao Granny sweeping the yard, Lu Meiyu whispered: “I have something good!”
“How much silver?” Zhao Hai asked instinctively.
“Haha, you really know me well! I not only have something good, but it will help you survive.” Lu Meiyu paused. “I want to sell it to you for silver, but also ensure your safety. And then…”
“One hundred taels, won’t forget,” Jing Yi added.
Lu Meiyu smiled even wider: “Exactly! That’s right.”
The two men perked up with curiosity at her mention of “something good,” but seeing she only brought vegetables, they knew she wouldn’t reveal it so easily.
“Don’t worry, I’ll show it to you properly when you go up the mountain. Guaranteed, it’s worth it!”
Lu Meiyu was happy, thinking she could resell some items later. The more silver, the more secure life would be!
“Do you have silver now? My stuff cost a lot.”
Lu Meiyu’s convenience store had expanded, and the shelves now had waterproof clothing.
Though old-fashioned village waterproof gear, it was sufficient in her eyes.
Leather jacket and pants, high rubber boots!
Even gloves were rubber—full-body protection.
Additionally, there were motorcycle safety helmets!
Extremely practical.
The snake couldn’t possibly bite through leather and rubber boots, right?
Most importantly, it protected the head and face.
And she also had pepper spray!
She didn’t believe it wouldn’t affect the snake.
Zhao Hai said hesitantly: “We still have some silver, don’t worry.”
Jing Yi added: “Don’t worry, even if silver isn’t enough, I have other items.”
Zhao Hai called out anxiously: “Sir!”
Lu Meiyu rolled her eyes: “Other precious items? Imperial gifts?”
Jing Yi blushed: “Not exactly imperial gifts.”
“Have you really seen the emperor?” Lu Meiyu exclaimed.
Jing Yi didn’t answer.
He hadn’t seen the emperor… his grandfather and father had, but by his generation, the family had declined.
There were still some imperial-gifted items at home.
But there was no way he could carry them freely.
He just meant that he had two gold leaves.
Silver on Zhao Hai, gold leaves on him—safer that way.
But with Lu Meiyu mentioning “imperial gifts,” he couldn’t bring himself to speak about the gold leaves.
Zhao Hai was speechless and helpless.
He finally retorted: “Qingsheng sister-in-law, your standards are too high! Living in this village, always talking about ‘seeing the emperor’ and ‘imperial gifts’—isn’t that too…”
He couldn’t find the right words.
Lu Meiyu continued for him: “Too flashy and impractical, too unaware of yourself, too self-important!”
Zhao Hai was at a loss.
He wanted to argue but didn’t expect her to hit so hard verbally.
This Qingsheng sister-in-law was… indescribable.
Jing Yi felt a bit reluctant: “I guess you didn’t mean it seriously.”
Lu Meiyu didn’t care: “I was just joking, not as serious as you think. As long as you have some silver, that’s enough—after all, my good items cost a lot.”
Zhao Granny returned, and the three fell silent.
The meat porridge was ready quickly, each serving a bowl.
“I steamed some buns and flower rolls early. The kids should be warm now, I’ll bring some over.”
In fact, the buns and flower rolls were bought from her space!
Lu Meiyu found an excuse not to bring them immediately.
Zhao Granny’s house was close, so a quick trip was easy.
Back at her own home, the sisters had finished eating, also with buns and meat porridge.
Lu Meiyu packed several steaming buns and flower rolls and brought them to Zhao Granny’s house.
Jing Yi praised the flower rolls: “Chewy, flavorful, really delicious.”
He still felt slightly apologetic about Lu Meiyu “self-inflicting” her jokes.
He hoped complimenting her would cheer her up.
But Lu Meiyu had long forgotten such minor matters.
Zhao Granny praised: “These buns are so good, you could sell them in the market.”
He Ya got a brown sugar bun and loved it: “Sweet, really tasty.”
She whispered to her sister Xiao Xuan: “Our mother is so good, always making delicious food for us.”
“As long as it’s at home, our mother is happy to make anything delicious!”
The two sisters laughed joyfully.
Life was truly wonderful now!
No worries about food or clothing, and they could always eat well, with meat as a regular treat!
They might even live better than landlords!
Jing Yi observed the girls, realizing their happiness was so simple.
Perhaps common folk’s happiness was just that—full bellies and warm clothes. A meal with meat every so often was a good life.
Looking at this Qingsheng sister-in-law, with her husband far away and managing two children alone, life was hard enough.
If she weren’t feisty, wouldn’t the villagers take advantage of her?
Lu Meiyu felt something odd: “Why are you looking at me like that?”
Jing Yi, for some reason, took a gold leaf from his belt and handed it over.
Lu Meiyu curiously looked: “Oh! This is…”
She quickly stopped herself and pushed the gold leaf back.
Zhao Hai, who had been worried, finally relaxed.
That single gold leaf was heavy and worth fifty taels of silver!
Luckily, the money-loving Qingsheng sister-in-law was, at this moment, not greedy!