Chapter 20 Buying Chicks

Chapter 20 Buying Chicks

Shen Miao crouched there for a long time, observing the chicks at Aunt Li's house. These chicks were likely from several different hens, as their colors and sizes varied, all mixed together.

After much deliberation, she finally caught a multicolored chick. She flipped the chirping chick over, blew on the yellow, white, and black fluff on its bottom, and checked its vent. A male chick would have a noticeable protrusion around the vent, while a female would not—this one was female.

For egg-laying, hens were a must. She chose this one and also picked a white male chick because Xiang Jieer liked it—it had no mixed colors, even its tail feathers were pure white, with only a small red comb on its beak. Its frame was large, indeed very beautiful.

Then she let Ji Geer pick a fully yellow-headed hen. Shen Miao stood up and clapped her hands, deciding not to raise too many for now. In her past life, she had only killed chickens, never raised them. These chicks were not even half the size of her palm; what if she accidentally killed them? Better to start with three to practice.

Aunt Li, while sewing shoe soles, watched Shen Miao and the children pick the chicks, thinking, "This Shen Da Jieer is quite skilled, even knows how to distinguish males from females." She raised her eyebrows and said, "All picked? The hen is six coins, the rooster seven. When the rooster grows up and can crow, it can sell for three hundred coins at the livestock market!"

Shen Miao had previously bought chicken meat; a live chicken ready for slaughter sold for seventy coins. Ordinary chicks could sell for ten or eight coins, while famous breeds like the Gushi or Luhua could fetch over ten coins each.

Aunt Li's chickens were likely common local breeds from Bianjing, probably crossbred too much to be considered a specific breed. Upon closer inspection, only the one Ji Geer picked could barely qualify as a "Sanhuang chicken"—yellow beak, yellow feathers, yellow legs, and its body size seemed smaller than the others.

Speaking of which, Sanhuang chicken stew was truly fragrant.

Shen Miao gazed tenderly at the chick, as if already seeing it transformed into a pot of delicious chicken soup.

"My price isn't high. These chicks have been fed for over ten days since hatching, all robust. Look at their bottoms, clean, no droppings, no diarrhea. If you buy elsewhere, you might get chicks with diarrhea that die in two days," Aunt Li quickly explained, thinking Shen Miao's silence was due to the price.

Shen Miao nodded. Aunt Li's price was quite reasonable, so she didn't haggle. Being neighbors, the price was already below market rate, and she felt it inappropriate to bargain further. She promptly counted out nineteen coins for Aunt Li, placed the chicks in the small wicker basket she brought, and prepared to leave.

Just as she was about to go, Aunt Li suddenly remembered something and smiled at Ji Geer, "By the way, Ji Geer, aren't you attending Master Liu's private school anymore? If you're free these days, why not come to my house and help Gouer review his lessons? Ah! Your Uncle Li is always out on the streets, never has time. Today, while shopping, I heard that the Imperial Academy's Biyong Academy will start summer exams next month to recruit students. Gouer is still young, but I don't expect him to pass; I just want him to try and see the world!"

Though she said this, Aunt Li's expression was full of pride for her child.

Shen Miao's heart stirred; in the original owner's memory, the Imperial Academy seemed to have high barriers. She asked, "Doesn't the Imperial Academy only admit children of officials ranked seventh grade and above?"

"Da Jieer, you've been away for three years, so you wouldn't know, but the Imperial Academy's rules have changed!" Aunt Li, well-informed, raised her head proudly, as if the Imperial Academy was her family's. "You don't know, but the officials have established the 'Three Dormitories Law.' The Imperial Academy is now divided into upper, middle, and lower dormitories, and also inner and outer dormitories. The inner dormitories only admit children of officials, but the outer dormitories admit children of officials below eighth grade and commoners who pass the summer exams! The outer dormitory students study at the Biyong Academy built in the southern suburbs, separate from the inner dormitory students."

Shen Miao's eyes lit up, "When does the summer exam start?"

"Same as last year, likely in mid to late May," Aunt Li glanced at Ji Geer and smiled ambiguously at Shen Miao, "Da Jieer, you seem interested in having Ji Geer take the exam? Then you must persuade him to change his old habits. Auntie speaks bluntly, don't take offense, but I heard that in the past two years at Master Liu's private school, Ji Geer not only had average talent but was also lazy in his studies, often sneaking off to bookstores to read idle books all day. If he continues like this, getting into the Imperial Academy will be quite difficult! Even attending other private schools would be a waste of money..."

Ji Geer's face turned red, wanting to say something but ultimately lowering his head in silence.

Shen Miao glanced at him, her expression unchanged, and smiled slightly, "Thank you, Auntie, for the information. Ji Geer is still young; who doesn't make mistakes? As the saying goes, 'Let bygones be bygones, and from now on, let's start anew.' I never judge the present by the past. Besides, I know my own brother; how much of what's heard can be true? Gossip can't be taken seriously."

After saying this, Shen Miao ignored Aunt Li's somewhat stunned expression, straightened her back, slightly bowed, and firmly took her siblings' hands to leave.

Aunt Li, holding the half-sewn shoe sole, watched the three siblings leave, puzzled, "This Shen Da Jieer, married to a scholar, has become so scholarly... something about life and death..." Aunt Li tried to mimic, but her tongue seemed tied.

She could only shake her head and continue sewing.

Meanwhile, Shen Miao's words had a profound impact on Ji Geer.

"Let bygones be bygones, and from now on, let's start anew..." He muttered to himself, repeating the phrase several times, and eventually couldn't help but look up at Shen Miao, his eyes slowly lighting up with admiration.

Shen Miao felt a chill down her spine and then realized her mistake: this phrase came from "Liao Fan's Four Lessons," not an obscure saying in later times, but the key point was...

This book was written in the Ming Dynasty!

She had blurted it out, and now Ji Geer seemed to regard it as his life's philosophy.

Cough, sorry Mr. Yuan Huang, I'll make sure to give you proper credit when I get the chance! Shen Miao silently sweated in her heart.

Upon reaching home, Xiang Jieer hadn't paid attention to what her siblings were saying, her eyes never leaving the chicks. As soon as they entered, she eagerly placed the chicks in the yard, chasing them around and laughing joyfully by herself.

Especially today, Shen Miao braided her hair into two little perky pigtails, like two little wings fluttering as she ran. Dressed in a goose-yellow outfit, she looked like a chubby little bee from afar, absolutely adorable.

Ji Geer's steps grew heavier as he walked, until he seemed to make up his mind. He stepped forward, tugged at Shen Miao's sleeve, and hesitantly explained, "Sister, actually, I didn't sneak off to the bookstore just to read leisure books..."

Shen Miao, knowing already, smiled and said, "I know, you were copying books to help out at home, right?"

Ji Geer looked up abruptly, his eyes filled with disbelief: How did Sister know about this?

"Auntie has been so strict with you. When I saw you, you were pale and thin as a bamboo pole, and your temperament was so mature and steady, completely different from your mischievous self before. But Xiang Jieer remains as innocent and carefree as ever, her little face still chubby and fair, just like before."

Shen Miao bent down, her gaze gentle and meeting his, "When I arrived, I said it, Ji Geer, you've taken good care of your sister in the three years I was away. You've been through a lot."

Ji Geer was stunned for a moment, then suddenly lowered his head. Those words nearly brought tears to his eyes, but he didn't want Shen Miao to see, so he quickly turned away and rushed out the door. Shen Miao didn't chase after him, just called out to his retreating back, "Remember to come back for dinner later."

He needed a quiet place alone to slowly let out his tears.

It was better not to disturb.

Shen Miao then peeked out and told Xiang Jieer not to keep chasing the chick, or she might scare it to death. She then went back into the kitchen to prepare the dough for tomorrow's business. After finishing the dough, she washed her hands and came out, asking Aunt Gu to look after Xiang Jieer for a while, then went around to various grain shops to inquire about prices.

When she returned, Ji Geer had already silently come back and was nonchalantly helping Xiang Jieer feed the chickens with the wheat bran sieved in the morning, adding a bit of water.

"Perfect, you two come with me to buy some beans."

Shen Miao decided not to make meat sausages tomorrow. Besides hand-pulled pancakes, she planned to bake some bread. In the Song Dynasty, most staple pastries were called "cakes," so this wasn't straying from her trade.

She also intended to buy some writing materials for Ji Geer.

Aunt Li thought Ji Geer was just average in his studies and might not get into the Imperial Academy, but Shen Miao believed in him.