Chapter 47

Sang Luo had her eye on a stone mill, priced at 265 pennies, including a wooden base for placement. In the shop, she bargained with the stone store's shopkeeper for nearly half an hour, managing to get a mortar thrown in for free.

The mortar was quite sizable, easily three times larger than the modern ones used for crushing garlic, suitable for Sang Luo's small family. If they ever forgot to pound the rice, this could be used as a temporary substitute.

After arranging the wooden barrels and baskets on the carriage, making space, the shopkeeper and the assistant helped to load the stone mill onto it.

It was quite heavy, but as it could be disassembled and reassembled, a woman accustomed to farm work should be able to manage it, though carrying it up a mountain would be quite a challenge. Qin Fangniang finally understood why Sang Luo specifically asked her to help with the lifting.

After purchasing the stone mill, Qin Fangniang’s contribution combined with Sang Luo's own savings were exhausted, and she had to count out a few dozen more coins from her purse. Nevertheless, the ease it brought was indeed comforting.

Sang Luo went to pull the cart: "Let's go buy some grain. Moving into a new house, we should start living well. The first thing is to fill the new rice container. And buy a bathtub, so I won't have to worry about bathing in the creek anymore."

Hearing this, Qin Fangniang laughed and didn’t insist on Sang Luo pulling the cart: "You're not as steady as I am. The county roads are paved, easy to pull, but outside the city, you can help me push."

Qin Fangniang took over pulling the cart and continued the previous conversation: "Bathing in the creek is not comfortable, and it's always a bit frightening."

"Auntie, have you also bathed in the creek?"

"Yes, when we first fled here during the famine. We had nothing back then, life was no better than yours was before. We only gradually improved over time."

As they spoke of their past struggles, they visited the grain and woodworking shops. Sang Luo finally bought a bag of grain and the longed-for bathtub.

Loading the carriage took some effort due to the number of items. The assistant from the wood shop even used a roll of straw rope to secure the items on all sides, ensuring nothing would fall off even if the cart tilted, before they were ready to go.

Qin Fangniang looked at the fully loaded cart, noting that besides two barrels, a pair of carrying baskets, and a backpack belonging to her, the rest of the items, including the stone mill, wooden barrels, grain, bathtub, and several chirping yellow ducklings, were all Sang Luo's purchases, and remarked, “Your life is certainly looking up.”

Sang Luo felt a deep sense of satisfaction. With a house, food stores, mountains in view, a spring by the house, a few chickens and ducks in the yard, and a small patch of vegetable garden, plus a little silver to spare, what more could she ask for in life?

……

Upon returning to the village, Sang Luo first carried the wooden barrels and the newly purchased ducklings home. Seeing her return, Chen Youtian, busy in the yard, knew it was time to help carry the rest of the items. After confirming, he set down his work and headed down the mountain path.

As Sang Luo set down the barrels, Shen An and Shen Ning, who were approaching, heard the crisp chirping of the ducklings and brightened up: “Big Sister, did you buy ducks?”

Sang Luo took out the basket holding three ducklings from atop the barrels, “Yes, are you happy?”

Few can resist the charm of fluffy young animals.

The children were indeed thrilled, squatting beside the basket and peering in. Shen Ning even reached in to gently touch the head of a duckling, delightedly turning to Sang Luo, “Big Sister, I can take care of the ducks. I used to feed our chickens and ducks back home, I'll look after these.”

“Alright then, I’ll leave these three ducklings in your care. Why don’t you both find some fine grass for the duck nest? We’ll build it later. I still need to go down the hill twice more; there’s stuff to carry.”

About to leave, Shen An eagerly asked what needed carrying. Sang Luo thought for a moment, “The bathtub. Come with me, Shen An, and give me a hand.”

Shen An immediately agreed, no longer preoccupied with the ducklings, and followed Sang Luo out.

The wooden bathtub wasn’t very deep and could be carried by one person, but it was not easy over a long distance. It was much more manageable for two people.

……

Chen Youtian was surprised to see that what Sang Luo had wanted help moving was a stone mill. Before Sang Luo's arrival, he asked his wife, “Why did she decide to buy a stone mill?”

Such an item wasn’t cheap.

Qin Fangniang shook her head and said, "She only mentioned it has a use and told us we'll know in a couple of days."

Hearing this, Chen Youtian didn't ask further. He assessed the upper millstone of the stone mill, found it manageable, and after informing Qin Fangniang, lifted it and began to walk. After a few steps, he encountered Sang Luo and Shen An coming from behind. Sang Luo, noticing Chen Youtian had already lifted the millstone, asked, "Uncle Youtian, can you manage it alone?"

Chen Youtian nodded: “I can handle it.”

Sang Luo, seeing he was fine, didn’t insist further and went with Shen An to carry the bathtub. On their way back, they asked Chen Youtian to wait so they could help carry the lower millstone together.

The bag of grain was directly entrusted to Qin Fangniang to pull back. Sang Luo planned to go later to pound it into rice and bring it back.

After bringing the stone mill back, Chen Youtian also helped assemble the mortise and tenon structured wooden base. After asking Sang Luo where to place it, they both carried it inside the kitchen. The stone mill was then properly set up.

Once the work was done, he said, “I’ve finished making Shen An’s bed. Your return is timely. Decide where in your room to place it, and I’ll come over to help install it.”

Everything being of mortise and tenon structure, it currently looked like an assortment of separate parts. If he didn’t help assemble it, Sang Luo would likely struggle for a long time.

“The bed is ready so soon?” Sang Luo was pleasantly surprised. “The room was cleared out early this morning, so we can install it now.”

Saying this, she went to help Chen Youtian carry the bed slats and posts.

Indeed, it should be called posts. The four legs of the bed were complete cylindrical shapes sawed from a single piece of wood, with grooves at the top, likely the mortise and tenon joints that are said to be more sturdy than nails.

Once everything was moved into the room, and Chen Youtian started the installation, Sang Luo watched, marveling at the smooth process.

The four round posts and the uneven boards, with a few taps and knocks from Chen Youtian, quickly came together to form a bed.

After the bed slats were laid out, Sang Luo went over to test them with her hand, and indeed, they were very sturdy.

She gave Chen Youtian a thumbs up: "Uncle Youtian, your craftsmanship is unquestionable."

Isn't this much better than the three benches and a few planks Shen San initially divided among them?

Speaking of Shen San, her own uncle, she really didn't feel like commenting.

Chen Youtian, having been praised, just smiled, gathered his tools and said, "My family has clean straw. Later, you can fetch some to spread on the bed, over which you can lay mats for softer bedding. You needn't buy mats from the market, my mother is weaving them at home. They should be ready by evening, and it will be our gift to celebrate your new home. They will likely be delivered to you tonight."

Chen's mother had been inside the thatched cottage before. She knew exactly what the bed there was like - so narrow, barely fitting three people, probably unbearable in the heat of summer.

Therefore, there was no need to wait for a special occasion to give the gift. As soon as the bed and mats were ready, they would be sent over.

Sang Luo was taken aback to hear that the old lady had almost finished weaving the mats. It was moving, really, and at such touching moments, she found it hard to express her gratitude.

She smiled: "Our little An is lucky, he'll get to sleep on a new bed tonight."

Chen Youtian chuckled, remembering something else, "Oh yes, about the chickens you wanted to raise. My mother asked around, and the Lu family can spare two, and another family in the village also has two to spare. If you can manage four, you can buy from both. If not, just choose one from each. Both families have raised them well."

Sang Luo beamed: "Today's a good day, both chickens and ducks are settling in. Uncle, I'll come down with you to bring the chickens back. Also, could I borrow your tools? I'm planning to build a chicken coop and a duck pen out of bamboo."

"Of course, I wouldn't refuse," said Chen Youtian. "I'll just head back now. You can use these tools and take care of the remaining wood. These will come in handy for future projects."

Sang Luo agreed, asking Chen Youtian to wait a moment. She went inside to fetch an old cloth bag, and as she stepped out, she encountered Shen An and Shen Ning returning with dry grass. She said, "Perfect timing, Ning, stay at home. An, come with me to Aunt Chen’s house to get some straw."

Unaware that his new bed was already set up, Shen An, upon hearing his sister-in-law's request, handed the grass he was carrying to his sister and followed her down the hill.

Arriving at the Chen household, it was a coincidence that the old lady had just finished weaving a mat. Seeing Sang Luo and Shen An with Chen Youtian, she smiled and said, "You've come at the right time. This mat is for you. Take it home with you."

She then turned to ask Chen Youtian, "Is the bed done?"

Chen Youtian nodded: “It's ready. Just lay some straw and then a mat, and it can be used.”

Shen An's eyes lit up: “Uncle Youtian, is my bed ready?”

It still looked like a pile of wood when I left.

Chen Youtian smiled: “It’s ready. You’ll need to bring back the straw yourself since your sister is going to buy chickens and won’t be able to carry it.”

Hearing this, Granny Chen chimed in with a laugh, “Wait a moment. An, come with me, and I’ll help you get the straw.”

“Okay!” Shen An agreed excitedly, telling Sang Luo before happily following Granny Chen.

A new bed for their home! And soon chickens too – he hardly knew how to contain his joy!