Chapter 104: She's My Wife

While Shen Lian was in the kitchen, Zhou Cunzheng arrived.

He came to deliver Shen Lian's passes, a favor owed for bringing news of turmoil from the north, and with Zhou Cunzheng's persuasion, along with the urgency of several Zhou family members to buy grain, Zhou Lizheng managed to secure passes early in the morning.

This included several for the villagers of Shili Village.

Zhou Cunzheng said, “Hearing about the chaos in the north last night spurred more action this time. Some families immediately requested my help with the passes, likely heading to buy grain in the next few days.”

Mostly families with elders who had endured past turmoils, reluctant to buy when prices were eighty-plus wen per dou but now forced to buy at three hundred fifty wen, painfully aware of the high cost and scarcity, likely planning to stock up on soybeans instead.

Zhou Cunzheng didn’t discuss these details with Sang Luo, but her awareness of people heeding the grain stockpiling advice made the efforts of Shen Lian, Zhou Cunzheng, and others worthwhile.

With the passes sorted, Zhou Cunzheng inquired if Sang Luo planned to go to the county town the next day.

Sang Luo nodded, confirming her plan to deliver the last three jars of twisted jujube sugar and sour jujube cakes to Yongfengzhai the following day.

Zhou Cunzheng then said, "If the grain prices don't change much, my family can buy about four shi. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have my eldest son bring a cart to meet you at the foot of the mountain, and we’ll go to the county together. Is that alright with you?"

Sang Luo smiled, "There’s no issue with that. Just have Zhou Da come out at the time of the third watch."

With Sang Luo's approval, Zhou Cunzheng left smiling. Soon after, Qin Fangniang and the others brought over tofu carriers and the soybeans needed for today's orders.

While Shen Lian spoke with Shi Dazhuang and Lu Erzhuang, Sang Luo discussed tomorrow’s joint trip to the county with Zhou’s family and asked the aunts, "Do your families have any plans regarding how much grain to buy?"

Indeed, there were plans.

Qin Fangniang replied, "Our family plans to buy two shi. All our resources are tied up in this, leaving just enough to buy salt and medicine."

Since mid-October, business in the county had been declining steadily, with grain prices constantly rising. The townsfolk were understandably anxious, even more so than those in the village because they could easily track daily grain prices.

Over the past month, Qin Fangniang and her family's business had been relying mainly on the tavern and wealthier families for support.

Gan Shi said, "Our situation is similar, we can manage to gather enough money to buy two shi of grain."

The Lu family was slightly better off; Feng Liuniang stated they could buy three shi, although their family had more members than Shi’s and Chen’s families, so proportionately, their situation wasn’t much better.

Sang Luo reflected on the fact that their stalls hadn't been operating for even three months, and all three families initially had limited resources with little savings. Despite having some grain left after paying autumn taxes, it wouldn’t last long. She suggested, "Have you considered buying less millet and taking advantage of the current situation, where news of the northern conflict hasn’t spread here yet and the price of soybeans hasn’t skyrocketed, to stockpile some bags of soybeans?"

During times of famine, beans were a staple food. All three families usually had soybeans in stock, but they had sent quite a lot to her in recent months in exchange for goods, so their reserves were likely low now.

Qin Fangniang and the others exchanged glances. Indeed, they had intended to buy soybeans, but had planned to first spend their money on grain from Xu Zhanggui with Sang Luo, then buy soybeans with future earnings. But if the true situation in the north becomes widely known here, would soybean prices stay the same?

When rice prices skyrocketed, soybean prices also rose, albeit modestly, because most local people grew their own soybeans and taxes didn’t apply to them. So, although prices increased, they didn’t surge dramatically, leading to a stable market.

Therefore, even for Sang Luo, who primarily used soybeans for tofu-making, there was no price adjustment. She had occasionally bought large quantities of soybeans, storing them in big sacks in the kitchen.

The fact that prices hadn’t escalated dramatically before doesn’t mean they won’t under the current circumstances. Realizing this, they agreed to discuss it with their families.

Sang Luo nodded, "Alright, then bring your money tomorrow. Zhou's family will bring a cart, Gan Shi's family another, and ideally, we should have one more, just in case we can't buy grain but can still purchase soybeans."

Feng Liuniang agreed, "Our family has a cart, so we'll bring it tomorrow."

After finalizing their plans and discussing the next day's requirements, Qin Fangniang and the others left.

……

Once everyone had gone, Shen Lian began preparing to slaughter the chickens, as the water in the kitchen was ready.

Shen An and Shen Ning stopped their calligraphy practice and ran out to watch the commotion.

Eyeing the beautiful feathers of the pheasant, Shen Ning eagerly approached Sang Luo, who was preparing salt water, and asked, "Sister-in-law, are we going to make a feather duster from these pheasant feathers?"

Sang Luo replied with a smile, “We already have one at home, don’t we? We don’t need that many. Just like last time, let's do the degreasing process, then dry and store them properly.”

Delighted, Shen Ning began to prepare ash for soaking the feathers and went out to assist her older brother.

Dinner featured a dish of pheasant stewed with winter bamboo shoots and another of assorted chicken offal. The combination of the tender pheasant and the bamboo shoots was so delicious that it seemed to melt right off the tongue.

Now that Sang Luo had some money, she didn’t skimp on treating herself well. Every ten days or so, she’d buy some pork or even lamb to enrich their diet.

However, the pheasant meat was a unique treat. Sang Luo had never had the chance to try such delicacies before, and it was also a first for Shen An and Shen Ning. Shen Lie had eaten pheasant before, but only roasted whole in the mountains with little more than salt for seasoning. It was no match for Sang Luo’s culinary skills.

Thus, all three siblings heartily enjoyed the meal, even Sang Luo, who usually ate in moderation, accidentally overindulged.

……

With a trip to the county planned for the next day, some preparations were necessary that evening. Aside from the goods to be sold, arranging the money was of utmost importance.

Shen An was the most experienced at this. He leaned over the edge of the bed and reached under it, pulling out a broken pottery jar that now felt quite heavy in his hands.

Since October, from the money earned by selling tofu and mock tripe, Sang Luo spent on essentials like a curved knife, hoe, and scissors, and the rest was mostly on buying grains and soybeans.

Soybeans were easy to purchase, but grain was scarce. Sang Luo had to visit the county almost six or seven times a month, taking Shen An and Shen Ning along to secure a quota. Despite these efforts, they could only obtain limited amounts, barely one and a half stones.

Initially thinking the household grain supply would last a year, Sang Luo hadn’t considered using Xu Zhuangpai’s connections. Therefore, the money spent wasn’t substantial.

Consequently, in October and November, aside from the few larger expenses, the rest was spent on household needs. Thus, when the pottery jar was brought out, it contained over three strings of copper coins - recent earnings - and several small silver ingots, gradually exchanged from Yongfengzhai and Dongfulou.

Shen An and Shen Ning were used to counting money and knew exactly how much was in the jar. Shen Lie, on the other hand, was astounded at the sight of the small pile of silver.

He knew Sang Luo’s tofu business sustained their livelihood, but he hadn’t expected it to accumulate so much money.

Shen An and Shen Ning were already tallying it up.

"Sister-in-law, there are fourteen taels in total."

Sang Luo responded, noticing Shen Lie's stunned expression, and explained, “Apart from selling tofu and dried beans, we also made and sold other things, which brought in a decent profit.”

Remembering something, she then asked with a smile, "We have crystal candy, sour and sweet, at home. It’s kept for Shen An and Shen Ning as a snack. Would you like to try some?"

Without hesitation, Shen Lie shook his head. After just a day of interaction, he couldn't shake off the feeling that Sang Luo treated him like she did Shen An and Shen Ning.

She was actually younger than him.

The fourteen taels of silver, along with the additional three strings of cash and the box of ginseng Shen Lie brought back, were all carefully stored away by Sang Luo.

The next morning, before dawn, the family of four, along with several other households, set out for the county town.

This time, bringing Shen An and Shen Ning wasn’t for buying grains, but because Shen Lie was uneasy leaving his younger siblings alone at home. Having witnessed too much on the journey from the north, he felt secure only when they were in his sight, especially for a trip to the county town with their recent experiences.

Fortunately, today’s cart had plenty of room, allowing Shen An and Shen Ning to stay on it for the entire journey without stepping off.

The city gate guards were very familiar with Qin Fangniang and her group; they had been visiting the city almost daily for over two months, rain or shine. The guards even recognized Sang Luo and the Shen siblings, so the pass check was cursory – just a glance before taking the entry fee and waving them through.

However, Shen Lie and the others, being new faces, had to show their passes and were scrutinized before being allowed in.

Once inside the city, Qin Fangniang and her group went their separate ways. Chen Youtian, Shi Dalang, Lu Erlang, and Zhou Dalang followed Sang Luo, while Chen Dashan announced he would first try to sell the pheasants.

On the way, Sang Luo had asked if he needed help selling them, but Chen Dashan declined, saying he had his connections. However, as they proceeded, it turned out they were heading in the same direction.

They thought it was a coincidence until they reached the back door of Dongfulou, where Chen Dashan and Shen Lie exchanged looks before both turned to Sang Luo.

Shen Lie asked, "Are you selling your pheasants to Dongfulou?"

Sang Luo looked at Shen Lie and Chen Dashan: “Were your previous hunting catches also sold to Dongfulou?”

Both Shen Lie and Chen Dashan laughed.

Sang Luo joined in the laughter: "Then let's go in together."

'Together' naturally included Shen Lie and Chen Dashan. Chen Youtian and the others waited outside for news, while Shen An and Shen Ning, already familiar with the Dongfulou kitchen, followed their older brother and sister-in-law inside.

The young cook in the kitchen, recognizing Sang Luo, greeted her warmly as "Madam Sang" and acknowledged Shen An and Shen Ning, the youngsters, ushering them in.

Chef Yu eyed Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, standing a step behind Sang Luo, and after a few moments of scrutiny, he exclaimed in recognition, putting aside his work to approach them: "Are you young master Shen and young master Chen?!"

Initially uncertain, Chef Yu's doubts were dispelled as Shen Lie and Chen Dashan both smiled and greeted him as Uncle Yu, delighting the chef: "It really is you! Where have you been all these years? Were you conscripted?"

Shen Lie nodded, smiling, "Just returned, Uncle Yu, have you been well?"

Chef Yu, repeatedly affirming his wellbeing and curious about their experiences, intended to catch up but, seeing Sang Luo present, didn't want to be impolite, saying to Shen Lie and Chen Dashan: "Wait a moment, I'll first take care of Madam Sang's delivery."

He then turned his attention to assisting Sang Luo.

Sang Luo cheerfully presented the konnyaku and pheasant with winter bamboo shoots she had brought.

Chef Yu's eyes lit up at the sight of the pheasant and bamboo shoots: "These are great ingredients, but…"

He looked at Sang Luo: "Madam Sang, you're now capable of trapping pheasants too??"

This seemed almost too versatile.

Sang Luo didn't know how to trap pheasants, but before she could speak up, Shen Lie chimed in with a smile, "The pheasants were trapped by me."

He then glanced at Sang Luo and told Chef Yu with a smile, "Ah Luo is my wife."

Chef Yu's forehead bristled with a string of question marks as he looked back and forth between Sang Luo and Shen Lie, his eyes filled with surprise.

Shen Lie's smile grew even wider, eyes crinkling, and he glanced at Sang Luo again, only to meet her gaze just as she turned towards him upon hearing his words. Quickly, Shen Lie restrained his smile, turning away and trying to compose himself.

Sang Luo: …

He sure said that smoothly.