Chapter 85: Paying a Visit

Without any fields or land, what could Sang Luo possibly sell to the county?

Li Shi didn’t believe in the value of wild mountain vegetables, as city folk weren’t fools; such things couldn’t bring in much profit.

Could it be something else from the mountains?

"Considering what could be found in the mountains that they frequently visited, Li wondered if Sang Luo had suddenly developed hunting skills like Shen Lian. But if that were the case, they wouldn't have previously resorted to surviving on wild vegetable soup."

"Li pondered over and over but couldn't make sense of it."

"Shen San remained silent in the dark, mulling over the same matter."

"The couple had a restless night. At the crack of dawn, Li awoke, her mind preoccupied with these thoughts, and unable to fall back asleep, she listened attentively for any sounds from the neighboring Chen family’s courtyard."

"After what felt like an hour or so, she indeed heard noises next door – the sound of a door bolt being opened, and the clatter of a cart being pulled over the threshold."

"Li sprang up, fumbling for her clothes, quickly draped them on, and tiptoed to the yard. She carefully unlatched the door and peeked outside through a narrow slit."

"The end of September wasn't like August; it was noticeably darker at this hour than before, making it hard to see the road."

"To make it to the early morning market in the county, it was necessary to leave early, which meant Qin Fangniang and the others would light a torch since Qin Fangniang was pulling the cart. Usually, Feng Liuniang or the Gan family prepared this torch."

"When Li pressed her face against the door gap, Gan and Feng had just arrived at the Chen family’s entrance, each carrying a basket that didn't seem very full."

"As the cart was pulled out, the baskets were placed on it, and then Li watched Chen Youtian lead the three women, pushing a cart that carried nothing but the three baskets, towards the mountain."

"They were heading in the direction of the main family’s mountain peak."

"After leaving the cart at the base of the mountain, the group ascended the hill. Seeing this, Li quickly stepped out, closed the courtyard door softly behind her, and hurried toward the parked cart."

"Approaching the cart, she found that the baskets contained only some wild vegetables and a few homegrown ones. One basket even had a small basket inside, holding about fifteen eggs."

"So, the main items for sale must still come from Sang Luo."

"Thinking this, she couldn't find a place to hide and, like a thief, hurried back home."

"Back in the courtyard and hidden away, Li saw torchlight on the mountain path. Chen Youtian and the others were coming down, each shouldering a load, too far to see clearly what they carried, but she watched as they unloaded onto the cart."

"Li watched intently as the group quietly pulled the cart out of the village."

"Back inside, Shen San, who had woken up, asked, 'What did you see?'"

"Li recounted her observations in a low voice, concluding, 'They really are taking things from Sang's place to sell in the town.'"

"Shen San remained silent for a long time."

"Li, removing her coat, crawled back into bed without lying down, sitting instead, 'Weren’t there a few families in the village planning to buy grain in town?'"

"Shen San looked at his wife, 'You mean to have someone go to the market to check?'"

"Li nodded, 'Exactly, I don’t believe others in the village aren’t curious.'"

"Everyone had suffered equally, reliant on farming. Why were the Chen family's circumstances different now?"

"Shen San shook his head, 'Grain prices have risen to 150 wen per dou. Who can afford it? No one’s going anymore.'"

"Li was taken aback, incredulous, '150 wen per dou? Who said that? Was it news from Qin Fangniang and the others?'"

"Clearly skeptical, she added, 'Isn’t it just a ploy to stop us from going to town, inflating the price deliberately?'"

"Last year, 150 wen could have bought almost three dou of grain."

"Shen San replied, 'It’s no lie. It's not just news from Qin Fangniang’s group; people from nearby villages have also been to town. No one can afford these prices now. Didn't you notice the Zheng family from Zhou Village has stopped buying? Everyone's tightening their belts, hoping for a better harvest next year. Except for families like Zhou Lai's, we should have enough sparse rations to last till autumn.'"

"Li's focus on uncovering Sang Luo’s business was sidetracked by disbelief at the soaring grain prices. How severe must the disasters have been elsewhere for prices to reach such heights?"

"She murmured, 'When we fled the famine years ago, grain prices here weren’t this high, were they?'"

Shen San nodded, “When we first came here, it was ninety-eight wen per dou.”

Li Shi’s lips trembled, “So now it’s…”

Shen San pulled the quilt over himself and lay down, “Who knows, let’s sleep.”

Li Shi couldn’t sleep, tossing and turning until dawn.

While preparing breakfast the next morning, she unconsciously used less rice than usual – one-tenth, then two-tenths, three-tenths less, scooping it out and then pouring some back.

The memories of the years of hardship, which she had nearly forgotten during the better days, were now vividly returning.

Li Shi, somewhat restless while washing rice in the kitchen, noticed Shen Jin running back into the courtyard with Shen Yin and Shen Tie. She glanced at them, instinctively checking Shen Jin's hands.

He wasn’t carrying any farming tools.

Realizing something, Li Shi’s eyes lit up. During breakfast, while the children were slurping their vegetable porridge, she casually chatted before abruptly changing the subject, asking, “Have you three brothers been playing with Shen An and Shen Ning recently?”

Shen Jin, who had been eagerly eating, paused, his eyes, now visible above his bowl, shifted warily between his father and mother. Noticing his father’s paused movements and the odd expression on his mother’s face, he became cautious.

"Shen Jin's first thought was whether his mother had discovered that he had been helping Shen An cut hemp."

"Was he about to be punished again? Or sent to plow the fields?"

"Although Shen Yin hadn’t been punished much for this, he had seen his brother suffer and had been made to do farm work as a penalty, making him just as wary. But being younger, he wasn’t sure how to handle this situation and instinctively looked to Shen Jin for cues."

"Lowering his bowl, Shen Jin cautiously asked, 'Why are you asking, mother? Didn’t you and father forbid us from going there?'"

"Li hesitated and forced a smile, 'So, just because we forbade you, you didn’t go?'"

"Both brothers simultaneously shook their heads: 'No, we didn’t go!'"

"Their voices were remarkably in sync."

"Shen Tie glanced at his older brothers, then buried his head in his bowl, continuing to eat his porridge resolutely without looking at his parents, his ears perked up attentively."

"Li pursed her lips, doubting their sincerity but chose to appease them, 'Your father and I only meant we didn’t want you working for others, not that you couldn't go play. You are still so young, we hardly let you do heavy work at home, let alone for someone else’s household.'"

"Shen Jin thought to himself that if he hadn’t started by helping with fieldwork, Shen An wouldn’t have bothered with him at all."

"But wisely, he didn’t voice this thought, instead following his mother’s lead and asking, 'So, I can go there to play, right?'"

"Li smiled: 'Of course, playing is fine. Why would I mind that?'"

"Seeing her sons' delighted expressions, Li casually added, 'Shen An and Shen Ning don’t visit us much anymore. What do they do all day? Does that Sang take good care of them? Are they well-fed?'"

"Caught off guard by his mother's probing, Shen Jin replied cheerfully, 'Yes, their elder cousin treats Shen An and Shen Ning really well.'"

"Li and Shen San exchanged a glance, then she asked, 'How good can it be? They must be working hard every day. Surely, they can’t have it as comfortable as you boys?'"

"This comment struck a chord with Shen Jin: 'What hard work? Shen Ning just feeds the chickens and ducks and tends the vegetable garden behind their house. Shen An goes into the mountains with their elder cousin. But she buys them treats – walnut cakes, pastries, sugar. I'd be happy to work too if I got those.'"

"If he wasn’t wary of his father’s sternness, Shen Jin might have almost expressed his desire to join them."

"But he had enough sense to hold back, not wanting to be unfairly punished."

"Into the mountains, huh…"

"Li's eyes dropped dismissively, 'What’s in the mountains anyway? Just some wild vegetables. At most, they gather mushrooms when it rains.'"

"Shen Jin, uninterested in this topic, didn’t respond and continued slurping his vegetable porridge."

"Biting her lip, Li carefully altered her approach, 'Since our families separated, Shen An and Shen Ning don’t seem keen on associating with you, right? I’ve noticed they’re closer to Ershan, Xiaoya, and Hu Zi.'"

"Shen Jin pursed his lips, his porridge suddenly losing its appeal."

"Li, observing his reaction, smiled, 'You don’t know why, do you? It's because Xiaoya, Hu Zi, and their families are in business with your elder cousin. They’re naturally closer. Have you ever seen what your elder cousin makes for Xiaoya and Hu Zi's families to sell in town during your visits?'"

"Shen Jin: '???'"

"Li watched him closely, 'Have you seen anything?'"

"Shen Jin quickly shook his head, 'No, we just play outside.'"

"Li then turned to Shen Yin, who also shook his head, 'We always play outside the courtyard.'"

"Looking at Shen Tie, he set down his porridge bowl, mimicking his brothers."

"Being the youngest, his eyes still appeared especially sincere."

"Indeed sincere, as they were speaking the truth."

"This convinced both Li and Shen San."

"Li, grinding her molars, then enticed the children, 'Why don’t you go in and take a look someday? See what your elder cousin is busy with.'"

"Seeing the bewildered looks on Shen Yin and Shen Tie, and the widened eyes of Shen Jin, as if wondering why they should do that, Li whispered with a smile, 'Your elder cousin makes things to sell for money, that's how she affords to buy walnut cakes, pastries, and sugar for Shen An and Shen Ning. If you want treats like them, go and see what she does. Come back and tell me quietly.'"

"'If I can make the same things, you could have treats like Shen An and Shen Ning too – sweets and cakes from town.'"

"The three brothers exchanged glances, puzzled."

"Li smiled warmly, saying, 'If you’re worried about Shen An and Shen Ning getting upset, you can always peek in quietly. Just sneak a look when they're not paying attention.'"

"'It won’t interfere with your playtime.'"

"Shen Tie: Confused."

"Shen Yin: Seemed to understand, but then again, maybe not. He looked to his older brother for cues."

"Shen Jin: ..."

"Shen Jin was a bit perplexed."

"He even forgot to drink the porridge in his bowl."

"Seeing the three brothers like this, and knowing the younger two were still naïve, Li turned to Shen Jin, 'Do you understand, Xiao Jin?'"

"Hesitantly, Shen Jin uttered an 'oh' and nodded."

"Satisfied, Li patted Shen Jin on the head, 'Remember that, and go play with your brothers after eating.'"

"Shen Jin’s head bobbed down as it was patted. He picked up his bowl and slowly finished the rest of his porridge."