"Chapter 41"

"Shen An promised to share some treats with Shen Jin, finally sending the little trio on their way. He and his sister-in-law then washed their hands and headed to the Chen family for dinner."

"Dinner was still a feast, with some leftovers from the midday's braised pork with pickled mustard greens. The flavorful greens, soaked in the meat's aroma, were more than half a bowl left, and the vegetable dishes were stir-fried in pork fat, providing a rich blend of veggies and meat."

"After a hearty meal, Sang Luo thanked everyone who helped that day, and then everyone headed back to their own homes."

"Sang Luo, along with Shen An and Shen Ning, hurried to fetch spring water to wash the leaves of the miraculous tree before it got dark. Back home, while sorting things out, she pulled out a handful of sour dates from under the wild vegetables in the basket and handed them to the siblings."

"Shen An and Shen Ning's eyes lit up instantly."

"'Big sister, you picked sour dates? Are they ripe already this year?'"

"It was evident they were longing for this treat."

"'They are ripe now. Try them if you don’t mind the sourness,' she said with a smile, handing a bunch to Shen Ning and then grabbing another handful for Shen An: 'Go wash them before eating.'"

"The siblings thanked her and ran outside joyfully."

"Village children, with little to eat throughout the year, always looked forward to the seasonal wild fruits in the mountains. Sour dates, growing on several hills to the west of the village, were highly anticipated despite their tartness."

"This year, busy with household chores, Sang Luo had completely forgotten about these sour dates."

"When Sang Luo came out carrying a bucket and a basket of leaves, she saw the siblings grinning at each other, their necks retracted, their small bodies and faces, along with the hands holding the sour dates, all shivering and trembling with delight."

"Despite this, they seemed to be thoroughly enjoying themselves, peeling another date after finishing one."

"Seeing Sang Luo emerge, Shen Ning peeled a date and fed it to her. Sang Luo had just eaten, but sour dates had a kind of magic; just thinking about them made her mouth water. She took one from Shen Ning's hand, and then her face also scrunched up in reaction, amusing the siblings greatly."

"Shen Ning offered another, but Sang Luo shook her head, 'No more, two is enough. They're too sour. You eat them yourself.'"

"Shen An and Shen Ning continued to eat them happily until they finished all the sour dates in their hands, then contentedly started helping with the work."

"Back inside, while preparing to wash the second bucket of leaves, Shen An tidied the wild vegetables, planning to bundle them with straw ropes. When he reached the basket Sang Luo used today and moved aside the wild vegetables, he found a whole basketful of sour dates."

"Even though he cherished these fruits, Shen An was stunned, incredulously digging through them with his hand. They were all sour dates."

"Baffled, just as Sang Luo walked in, he made a face as if soured, 'Big sister, did you pick this many? Are you taking these to sell in the county tomorrow?'"

"He shook his head vigorously, 'These are too sour; no one will buy them.'"

"Apart from village kids who eat them for lack of snacks, Shen An couldn’t imagine city folks enjoying such tart fruits."

"Sang Luo smiled, 'Not for tomorrow. When I come back after buying some things, I'll process them into a different kind of snack. Then people will like it.'"

"Shen An and Shen Ning: ???"

"Girls naturally have more curiosity about cooking, and Shen Ning asked, 'How can you process these?'"

"Sang Luo was quite willing to keep a sense of mystery, smiling, 'You’ll see tomorrow.'"

"Currently lacking sugar and a drying mat at home, she decided to leave the dates for another night, planning to work on them after returning from the market tomorrow. In a few days, they would become a treat for the siblings."

"Sour Date Cake, hmm, that should sell well in the county too, likely being a novel treat. She hadn’t seen it sold there before, and even in her previous life in a well-off family, with plenty of preserved fruits and snacks, she never came across Sour Date Cake."

"Shen An and Shen Ning exchanged glances. To them, their sister-in-law Sang Luo was now someone of great ability."

"Coming from a prominent family, literate and knowledgeable, they even had books with recipes at home."

"If she could make such delicious miraculous tofu from leaves, then what about the naturally edible sour dates?"

"Their eyes brightened immediately. Shen An asked excitedly, 'Big sister, does your family’s book have recipes for making dishes out of sour dates?'"

"Sang Luo nodded, confirming that indeed, they had the perfect excuse ready."

"The siblings were delighted. This meant that besides selling miraculous tofu, they could sell other things to exchange for money and grain."

"'Big sister, there are some on the hills to the west of the village. I’ll go pick more tomorrow.'"

"Hearing that they were available nearby, Sang Luo inquired, 'Are there many?'"

"Shen An shook his head, 'Not many, about three trees. We don’t dare to go further in.'"

"Sang Luo advised against it, 'Then don’t pick them. Other village kids like them as much as you, right? Leave them for snacks. I'll pick them in the mountains.'"

"She knew from her exploration today that there were plenty in two areas in the mountains, with more likely to ripen and fall daily. There was no need to compete with the village children for food."

"Shen An and Shen Ning only then learned that Sang Luo had ventured deeper into the mountains that afternoon, causing them some concern."

"Sang Luo reassured them, 'Chen Granny gave me some snake-repellent powder. I used it when I went, and although it was deeper in the mountains, it was still close to the village. There are no fierce animals there except for snakes, and with my trouser legs tied and the powder scattered, it was safe.'"

"She cautioned Shen An and Shen Ning, 'Don’t go too far in without an adult with you.'"

"Going deep into the mountains was risky, even with snake-repellent powder. Getting lost, injured, or encountering an unexpected danger was always a possibility, especially since these two children were braver than most their age. Sang Luo felt it necessary to instruct them more."

"Shen An and Shen Ning took Sang Luo's advice seriously, agreeing not to wander too deep."

"Still curious, Shen Ning asked, 'Big sister, how can you make these sour things tasty?'"

"'Add sugar,' Sang Luo replied. 'We don’t have any at home today, but I’ll buy some tomorrow, then we can start cooking.'"

"At the mention of sugar, the siblings started drooling again, but they wondered if sugar was too expensive."

"These worries were no longer theirs to bear. The household was no longer dependent on the siblings’ efforts, and they didn’t need to meticulously count every grain of rice. Everything was now managed by their big sister."

"As Sang Luo prepared the ingredients for the miraculous tofu, she suddenly realized something might be missing. Looking around, she remembered, 'Where’s the filter cloth?'"

"She normally washed and hung it on a hemp rope inside the house every night. But today, she didn't see it, realizing its absence only at that moment."

"'It’s with me,' Shen An said, reaching into his pocket. 'We had to go down the mountain for lunch, and it wasn’t safe to leave it unattended. Thinking this is something we need to keep hidden, I folded it and carried it with me. I forgot to hang it back up.'"

"Sang Luo was impressed by the young boy's meticulousness."

"She gave him a thumbs-up: 'Well done. Once we have some spare money, we’ll get a lock, so we won’t have to go to such lengths.'"

……

"The next day, after selling all the miraculous tofu at the West Market, Sang Luo bought several pounds of maltose. In fact, she knew how to make it herself, having learned from online tutorials and even uploaded a video after mastering it. But given the current inconveniences at home, buying ready-made maltose to melt and use was more suitable."

"She then met with Qin Fangniang at the East Market and bought two large, round bamboo winnowing baskets for drying things and a smaller rice winnowing basket, which would be useful for scooping rice once the kitchen was set up and all cooking utensils were in place."

"Of course, using this basket for straining water while cooking or washing things was also quite convenient."

"As they were about to leave, passing near a Hu cake stall, the aroma reminded Sang Luo of Shen Jin's craving conversation with Shen An yesterday, about sharing a Hu cake if she bought it again."

"Recalling that last time Shen An and Shen Ning barely had a few bites of the Hu cake she bought, she cheerfully took out three coins and, after a thought, added another three, asking the old man at the stall for two Hu cakes, which were then neatly wrapped in oil paper."

"Qin Fangniang found this quite amusing, noting that recently their merchandise had increased slightly, and they usually only returned after midday, using the sample miraculous tofu to tide over their hunger, thus not needing to buy food at the market."

"Seeing Sang Luo purchasing Hu cakes, she chuckled, 'Bringing treats for little An and Ning again?'"

"Sang Luo nodded, then added, 'Remember, Auntie? There are now seven children clearing that patch of land behind my house. I'm taking these back to share with them.'"

"This reminded Qin Fangniang of her own two children also being there, prompting her to laugh self-deprecatingly, 'My little girl is just joining the fun. What can she possibly clear? And why buy snacks for them?'"

"Moreover, Sang Luo had bought two Hu cakes, costing six coins in total. Qin Fangniang had only made seven coins selling wild vegetables all day, finding Sang Luo's generosity excessive, especially considering how her family had been eating well recently with Sang Luo, enjoying both rice and meat. Qin Fangniang herself would be reluctant to buy such treats for her children."

"For Sang Luo, however, the steady income from selling miraculous tofu had improved her living conditions considerably compared to her initial struggle after arriving in this world. Spending a few coins on treats to delight the children who had been helping her for several days didn't bother her at all."

"She explained with a smile, 'They’ve been helping out too, and it’s not like I buy this every day. It’s just to make them happy once in a while.'"

"Qin Fangniang, as a mother, felt she couldn’t compare, 'You really spoil those kids. No wonder they all love going to your place.'"

"'As long as Auntie doesn’t mind.'"

"'Mind? Why would I mind them having Hu cakes to eat?'"

"Chatting and laughing, the two women pulled the cart out of the East Market and went to a grain shop to buy some grains before finally leaving the county town."

……

"Upon returning to the village, it was necessary to stop outside and let Sang Luo take a shortcut to first carry back items like water buckets and ceramic pots that weren’t needed for selling wild vegetables. Hidden inside the buckets, the maltose and Hu cakes were also brought back."

"Carrying the items to her doorstep, Sang Luo felt glad she had thought to let the kids have a little extra, spending an additional three coins to buy two Hu cakes."

"Only upon reaching home did she realize that today's land-clearing team wasn’t just seven, but eight kids."

"Chen Ershan, who was originally in the team, had gone to carry yellow clay with the adults, and there were two new kids whom Sang Luo didn’t recognize. She learned from Shen An that one was called Huzi and the other Erniu."

"Huzi was the son of Lu Dalang, often mentioned by Shen An, and Erniu, whom she had heard of a few times, turned out to be Shen Erlang's nephew."

"Lu Dalang, a bit embarrassed, smiled and explained, 'Yesterday when I went home, I mentioned Shen An and the others clearing land behind the house. Huzi and Erniu heard it and, being good friends with Shen An, joined them today.'"

"The Lu and Shen families were neighbors. The aroma of the braised pork belly with preserved vegetables cooked for the Shen family’s house building had drifted everywhere yesterday. After their dinner, inevitably surrounded and chatted by the villagers, they gathered together. After everyone left, only their two families remained, and Lu Dalang brought up the kids working behind the house, which the children overheard."

"Children who weren’t close to Shen An naturally didn’t join, but those who used to play with him, hearing that Chen siblings and Shen Jin were helping out, became eager to join too. They didn't inform their families and brought their own small hoes in the morning."

"After exchanging pleasantries with Lu Dalang, who was working with mud bricks, Sang Luo turned to call the group of kids over. She thanked them and then took out the Hu cakes for Shen An to distribute among them."

"Shi Erlang and others went out to carry mud and didn't see it, but Lu Dalang was visibly stunned."

"These folks, who occasionally take up odd jobs in the county during the agricultural off-season, were well aware of the price of Hu cakes. Buying two Hu cakes for a group of children to eat?"

"Lu Dalang's mouth hung open in surprise, unable to close it."

"Considering her plans for sour jujube cake and tofu, Sang Luo had some other ideas in mind. While cautious with other villagers, she was more open with the Shi and Lu families who came to help."

"Handing the Hu cakes to Shen An and not seeing Chen Ershan around, she reminded him to save a piece for Chen Ershan. Then, placing the buckets inside, she greeted Lu Dalang and left, as Qin Fangniang was waiting for her at the edge of the village."

"Lu Dalang reflected on the meals from last night and today. While not as extravagant as the braised pork belly with preserved vegetables at noon, each meal was substantial – meat last night, stewed pig heart today – a far cry from the usual token meat slices in vegetables at other village homes."

"Though not particularly observant, Lu Dalang began to realize that Sang Luo, beyond selling wild vegetables, likely had her own means of earning money. Thinking of Qin Fangniang, who had been going to the county with them these days, and the tasks organized by the Chen family, his suspicions seemed increasingly likely."

"Even with his hunch, seeing Sang Luo taking back alleys to avoid attention, Lu Dalang surmised she preferred not to publicize her affairs and naturally wouldn't gossip about it."

"As for the children, they didn't ponder these matters, their eyes fixated only on the Hu cakes in Shen An's hand!"

"Shen Jin was so delighted he nearly jumped for joy, hovering around Shen An like a little tail."

……

"When Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang returned to the village, the villagers only saw some basic groceries, a few inexpensive bamboo utensils, and some old backpacks."

"Little did they know, the eight children who had been working on the mountain were now in high spirits, and with Chen Ershan, who had returned from carrying mud, there were nine of them."

"All nine kids washed their hands and gathered together to share the Hu cakes, a moment of joy that felt more splendid than the New Year celebrations."

"Did Shen Jin wash his hands today?"

"Yes, because when Sang Luo returned with the buckets and took out the cakes for Shen An to distribute, she specifically said to wash hands first before sharing the cakes."

"Shen An might not be able to persuade Shen Jin to wash his hands, but Sang Luo's words were surprisingly effective."

"Of course, they were effective! In Shen Jin's eyes, his sister-in-law was incredibly generous!"

"She actually bought Hu cakes!"

"He had been longing to taste these Hu cakes."

"Even though young Shen Jin didn't quite understand the meaning of 'generous,' it didn't stop him from grasping the concept!"

"Once his sister-in-law spoke, not just washing hands, if she asked him to wash his face, rinse his mouth, and even dunk his head in the mountain spring before eating, he would do it all!"

"That's the kind of authority she had!"

Shen An: "……"