Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Hu Xiaolangjun's servant was very familiar with Lin Chunyan's stall. Seeing new items, he immediately bought quite a few and started sampling them on the way back.

Having followed Hu Xiaolangjun, he had tasted many good things, but the taste of these small crabs and snails still made him click his tongue in admiration.

Unable to resist, he ate a few more and regretted not buying more.

But just then, Officer Sun squeezed in and waved for ten copper coins worth, leaving little behind.

Officer Sun had helped Lin Chunyan, so she gave him extra, making him grin from ear to ear.

After selling most of their goods, Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong took a break. However, they felt a gaze fixed on them.

It was Wang Yingniang from across the street. After being hit, she no longer called out but kept staring at them instead.

Her envious and bitter gaze made Lin Chunyan uncomfortable, so she glared back.

Wang Yingniang didn't expect Lin Chunyan to look back and, unsure how to react, didn't dare to lift her head again.

After packing up, Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong went to find the straw hat vendor.

They were on the same street, so Lin Chunyan quickly found the old man who made the hats. His hands were particularly skilled, weaving the hats finely and densely.

There were several styles of straw hats: wide-brimmed ones, some with flowers, and Lin Chunyan chose the simplest design.

She learned that even the simplest hat cost two copper coins.

Lin Taohong picked a more expensive one with two palace flowers, which cost five copper coins.

Seeing her hesitate, Lin Chunyan looked at other items. The old man also made mats and curtains.

Lin Chunyan liked the bamboo curtains, which had a faint scent of bamboo and looked beautiful when hung, creating a soft, hazy light like a filter.

The curtains cost ten copper coins.

Lin Chunyan took out the copper coins, and Lin Taohong decided to spend five copper coins on the flowered hat.

"When it gets cold and we don't wear hats anymore, we can take off the flowers and still use them as hair ornaments. It's not a loss."

Seeing her happiness, Lin Chunyan smiled too.

Mrs. Zhang dug holes at home for a while, panting heavily, wondering when this would end.

Thinking about the days when she could leisurely chat under the big tree, knowing all the village gossip better than anyone else, Mrs. Zhang sighed deeply, now rarely venturing outside her door.

Just as she fanned herself with a palm leaf fan, Little Hei barked, and a cheerful voice came from the doorway.

Mrs. Zhang recognized the voice and immediately threw down her hoe, fearing someone might see her forced labor. She hid the hoe in the kitchen.

"Mrs. Zhang, are you home?"

Mrs. Zhang tidied her clothes, brushed off the dirt, and opened the door.

Two women around her age stood outside, wearing slightly better materials and carrying baskets with shoes to make.

"I haven't seen you at the village entrance for a long time, so I thought I'd come check on you," said Qian Niangzi, wearing a green short jacket, brown pants, a hairpin, and two flowers in her hair, with a touch of powder and a faint fragrance.

Her husband worked on boats but wasn't as unlucky as Mrs. Zhang's. Even if he dallied elsewhere, he always returned home.

Qian Niangzi expected Mrs. Zhang to be bedridden and weak, but instead found her cheeks rosy and energetic, with a clean yard.

She seemed different from the Mrs. Zhang she knew.

"Any news?" Qian Niangzi couldn't help asking.

Sun Niangzi frowned slightly, thinking the question was rude.

Mrs. Zhang didn't get angry but sighed, "I asked someone to look for him, but no one knows where that deadbeat ran off to. I don't know what's so special about that woman outside, but I've come to terms with it."

Impressed by her sincerity, Qian Niangzi admired Mrs. Zhang.

If it were her, she might have taken her own life.

Sun Niangzi, dressed more modestly with a headscarf, got straight to the point, "Did your family make something delicious? Yesterday, I saw Zhao Huaizi taking something home, and my little monkey has been pestering me ever since."

Hearing they came for this reason, Mrs. Zhang brought out some food from the kitchen, sounding proud, "I told you before, Yan Niang's cooking is exceptional."

Qian Niangzi and Sun Niangzi had heard this before but dismissed it as boasting. Now, seeing the food, they exchanged glances and popped a piece into their mouths, their eyes widening.

"It really is delicious. My little monkey wasn't lying." As a widow, Sun Niangzi was generous with her child and asked Mrs. Zhang to weigh some for her.

Mrs. Zhang considered pretending to refuse but hesitated over losing a few copper coins.

Sun Niangzi understood her thoughts and took out the copper coins, "Fill this up for me; it saves me cooking lunch. If you want to do business long-term, you can't give away freebies."

Grateful, Mrs. Zhang filled a large bowl for her.

"I want some too; it's really good." Qian Niangzi had eaten quite a bit already, and Mrs. Zhang noticed it was nearly half a bowl.

When filling for Qian Niangzi, she gave less than Sun Niangzi.

Qian Niangzi was unhappy, "Why did you give me so little?"

Mrs. Zhang pocketed the copper coins first. "You just ate nearly half a bowl. I only gave you a little less, all because of our past friendship."

Qian Niangzi really wanted to put the item down, spit at Mrs. Zhang, and walk away. But she couldn't help savoring the flavor of the snails in her mouth and wanted to take it home for her family to taste. So she endured the indignation.

After leaving, Qian Niangzi complained to Sun Niangzi, "I thought she had improved, but who knew she would still be like this."

Sun Niangzi didn't comment much on their affairs; she only quickened her pace, eager to get home so her family could taste it.

On the way back from town after selling their goods, it started raining. Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong had no choice but to cover their heads and run back.

After Mrs. Zhang and the others left, she resignedly resumed digging the pit. When it started raining, she stopped and stood on tiptoe outside the door, waiting for them to return. Seeing them come back, she hurriedly welcomed them inside.

"You two are such fools; you don't even know to find shelter when it's raining?"

Mrs. Zhang's words were harsh, but they came from concern, buried within her complaints. Fortunately, the rain wasn't too heavy, and they were only slightly wet.

Zhaon Niangzi from next door heard the commotion and came out with an umbrella to see what was happening. Earlier, when Sun Niangzi and the others arrived, Zhaon Niangzi had heard and wanted to taste those items as well.

She ignored Mrs. Zhang's gloomy expression, munching on something and spitting the skins onto the ground, looking very relaxed.

"Really, you should go work as maids for others. Your two young ladies are working too hard."

The skins littered the ground, not a pretty sight, but the rain washed some of them away.

Mrs. Zhang glared at Zhaon Niangzi, feeling disgusted by the skins on the ground, and slammed the door shut.

Inside, Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong had changed their clothes. Lin Chunyan went to the kitchen to look for some ginger but found that a significant portion of the prepared snails and crabs was missing.

Given Mrs. Zhang's appetite, she couldn't have eaten that much in one meal. So Lin Chunyan lifted the curtain and asked about it.

Mrs. Zhang didn't want to admit it, having hidden the copper coins, but she hadn't expected Lin Chunyan to notice upon returning.

Lin Chunyan let out a cold laugh. "These things are all made by me. Didn't we agree that whatever is sold, I would give you a share?"

Mrs. Zhang continued to pretend not to hear, trying to brush it off.

Estimating that villagers must have bought it, and there weren't many copper coins involved, Lin Chunyan sliced the ginger first, planning to settle accounts later.

There wasn't much brown sugar at home, so Lin Chunyan used it all to make two bowls of ginger and brown sugar syrup.

The air carried a faint sweetness, making Mrs. Zhang swallow hard and stretch her neck to peek into the kitchen.