Chapter 36

Chapter 36

After buying buckets at the market, Lu Yuan purchased some bittern.

Bittern, also known as bitter brine, has a slightly acrid taste. Consuming too much is harmful, which is why it's cheaper than coarse salt, costing only one copper coin per liang.

Impoverished families who couldn't afford coarse salt sometimes bought bittern, diluted it with water, and used it for cooking.

Lu Yuan bought just five copper coins' worth to experiment with.

Bittern can be used not only for tofu pudding but also for tofu and firm tofu. However, she had only a rudimentary understanding of the quantities and methods, so she would need to try things out when she returned.

With this in mind, Lu Yuan bought a few more pounds of beans.

By the time she returned, three ox carts were already waiting at the town entrance.

People from all the surrounding villages came to Anping Town for the market, and ox carts were the common mode of transport.

Qi Cheng and Liu Junsheng sat on stones under a tree, chatting, surrounded by a small crowd.

Xing Niang had also returned. She was staring intently at the chattering group, completely engrossed.

Her basket was empty—she hadn't bought anything, and it was unclear why she had even come to town.

Old Man Li was still at his market stall, likely not packing up until it was time to leave.

With half an hour remaining before their departure, Lu Yuan decided not to disturb them and boarded the ox cart first.

Xing Niang shot her a glance, then turned her gaze back to the crowd.

As soon as Lu Yuan settled down, she heard Xing Niang say in a wistful tone, "You're so fortunate. So many girls wished to marry Qi Cheng, but none succeeded. Yet you got him so easily."

Lu Yuan: …

She called this fortune?

Dirt poor and destitute, first in a vegetative state, then blind.

Who taught her that "good fortune" was used this way?

When Lu Yuan didn't respond for a while, Xing Niang frowned and turned to look at her.

She saw Lu Yuan with her eyes closed, clearly unwilling to engage.

Xing Niang said irritably, "I'm talking to you!"

Lu Yuan opened her eyes and sighed helplessly. "What do you want me to say?"

Xing Niang was momentarily stumped by the question, then heard Lu Yuan continue, "You say I'm lucky, but I think the Qi family is the lucky one. They were destitute, almost starving, and it was only because I earned money that we managed to survive. Qi Cheng was unconscious for months—didn't he only wake up after I arrived? He's still blind now, and I have to earn money to treat his eye condition."

"You say I'm lucky—have I enjoyed any benefits? Yet he has received so many advantages because of me. Tell me, who is truly the lucky one?"

Xing Niang opened her mouth to refute but found herself at a loss for words. After a long pause, she finally said, "But he's so handsome. There's no one in the surrounding villages as attractive as him. Not only is he handsome, but he's also literate and skilled in martial arts."

Lu Yuan rolled her eyes. "Can good looks put food on the table? Even if he's literate and knows martial arts, look at him now—can he support a family with those skills?"

"If you're so kind, why not lend us some money for his eye treatment?"

With that, she had no desire to say more.

She thought mentioning money would quiet Xing Niang, but to her surprise, after a moment, Xing Niang asked, "I don't have much savings—just one tael of silver. Is that enough?"

Lu Yuan: …

Seriously? You'd actually lend it?

Lu Yuan opened her eyes and gave her an annoyed look. After a moment, she got up and sat next to Xing Niang.

Lowering her voice, she said, "Xing Niang, you're married now, and Qi Cheng is married too. If you want to live a good life, you should let go of these feelings."

Xing Niang, enraged, gave her a light push. "What are you talking about? I'm just offering to lend you money out of kindness. What feelings could I possibly have?"

She didn't use much force, so Lu Yuan only swayed slightly before sitting upright again.

"Yes, yes, it's out of kindness. But what will others think? If rumors start spreading, with three people claiming there's a tiger, and public opinion melting metal, you won't be able to defend yourself even if you try."

Xing Niang interrupted her abruptly, "Three people claiming there's a tiger, public opinion melting metal—what does that mean?"

Lu Yuan paused, then said, "The meaning isn't important. The point is, everyone will say you're fickle and promiscuous… Don't glare at me yet, let me finish."

Xing Niang glared at her but eventually looked away.

Lu Yuan continued, "If your in-laws believe the rumors and decide to divorce you, and your own family turns you away because of your reputation, where will you go?"

In this era, it went without saying how important a woman's reputation was, and it was easy to imagine how hard life would be for a divorced woman.

"I understand—everyone, when they're young, has liked one or two remarkable people. Not being able to forget them for a long time is only human. But you can't ruin your entire life for the sake of a crush, right?"

Xing Niang was surprised by Lu Yuan's words.

Surprised that she could articulate such reasoning, and surprised by her calm demeanor. So she remained silent and didn't argue.

After a long while, she finally said, "I thought you'd yell at me, accusing me of coveting your man."

Lu Yuan retorted, "Well, are you?"

Xing Niang was silent for a long time before saying, "Such a fine man is hard to forget. I did have feelings for him once, but I was thoroughly rejected. Now that I'm married, I know right from wrong and won't do anything improper."

She had truly been unwilling to let go, which was why she'd married in a huff into Weishan Village. But as time passed, that unwillingness gradually faded.

When she heard Qi Cheng had woken up, she resisted the urge to see him and didn't dare ask too much. Today, seeing him on the ox cart, she'd grabbed her basket and hurried to town just to find out how he was doing.

On the cart, she couldn't help sneaking a few looks.

Now, hearing Lu Yuan's words, she suddenly came to her senses—she had indeed overstepped.

Seeing that Xing Niang had calmed down, Lu Yuan added, "There's no need to lend us money. If we don't have enough for his eye treatment, I'll save up slowly."

Xing Niang lowered her gaze, lost in thought.

After a long time, she looked up again, her eyes now clear. She eyed Lu Yuan doubtfully.

Lu Yuan felt puzzled and touched her own face. "What are you looking at?"

Xing Niang asked doubtfully, "You're just a country woman like me, so how do you know so much? And why do you speak so eloquently?"

Lu Yuan immediately straightened her back proudly. "Well, you wouldn't know this, but I'm literate too."

Xing Niang looked surprised, her voice rising without her realizing: "You know how to read?"

The sound reached under another tree. Qi Cheng turned his face toward the sound and asked Liu Junsheng beside him: "Is that Lu Niang back?"

Liu Junsheng nodded, looking over at the two women with a mixed expression.

"Lu Niang is talking with Xing Niang."

Qi Cheng nodded, then said: "Then we shouldn't bother them."

Liu Junsheng opened his mouth to ask, "Aren't you afraid Xing Niang might say something to Lu Niang?" But with others around, he kept silent.

Lu Yuan said to Xing Niang: "Don't look at me now, all dark and skinny as a rail. Before I escaped the famine, I was the belle of the village."

Xing Niang looked her up and down skeptically.

Lu Yuan: "You don't believe that?"

Xing Niang shook her head: "No."

Lu Yuan: "Well, just wait and see. Once I earn some money and fix myself up nice, you might even think Qi Cheng doesn't deserve me."

Xing Niang burst out laughing as if at a joke, covering her mouth as she chuckled: "You've got some nerve."

Lu Yuan gave her a dirty look: "If you talk like that, I don't want to talk to you anymore."

Xing Niang snorted too: "Like I want to talk to you either."

Once again, they ignored each other.

It was past time when Old Man Li finally arrived, carrying his baskets. Despite his limp, he walked fast.

Liu Junsheng shouted from a distance: "Uncle Li, slow down, there's no hurry."

After a moment, Old Man Li approached, drenched in sweat, and said: "They were about to close up at the market, and someone came to look at the baskets. They hemmed and hawed for a long time but didn’t buy anything, so I got held up. Sorry I made you wait."

Lu Yuan said: "No problem, it wasn't a long wait."

She glanced at the load and remarked: "Uncle Li, business looks good today."

Old Man Li wiped his sweat and smiled: "Yes, business was quite good today. Sold several baskets and a pair of winnowing fans."

Old Man Li wasn't up for heavy labor, so he usually made bamboo wares to sell at the market.

With everyone present, Liu Junsheng got the ox-cart moving toward home.

Back at the house, Lu Yuan set down her carrying pole, washed her hands, and the two children ran over to her.

Lu Yuan gave them their usual pats on the head, then headed straight to the kitchen to see what was in the pot.

There was still some congee keeping warm inside.

The medicine pot also had warmed medicine—deworming medicine for the kids.

The herbs had been strained out, and the liquid was light in color.

She put the lid back on, planning to give it to the children after she ate.

Lu Yuan scooped two bowls of congee and brought them into the room.

Qi Cheng was outside washing his hands and face. She called out: "Come in and eat!"

The sun was beating down outside, and half the table and chairs were in direct sunlight, so they had to eat indoors.

Qi Cheng groped his way into the room. The two children hesitated at the doorway, watching.

Lu Yuan waved them in: "Come in, what are you doing out there?"

Chun Hua hesitated for a moment, then pulled her sister inside and hid beside their mother.

Lu Yuan asked them: "Where did Great-Grandma go?"

Chun Hua said: "Great-Grandma said the reed catkins are out, so she went to cut some to stuff quilts and clothes."

Lu Yuan remembered—after the heavy rain, the reeds had grown wildly, and recently the catkins had appeared.

Lu Yuan frowned: "She should cut them in the morning. Working under such strong sun, she might get heatstroke."

She put down her bowl and said to Qi Cheng: "You eat first. I’ll go bring the old lady back."

Qi Cheng was also worried and nodded: "Go ahead. I’ll wait for you to eat."

Lu Yuan stood up and left the room, the children following her out. Lu Yuan told them: "Stay home."

She put on a straw hat and headed toward the river.

Before she reached the river, she spotted a hunched figure cutting reed catkins by the bank.

Lu Yuan felt a pang of sadness. She took a deep breath to steady herself, then strode over.

"You could cut these in the morning or evening. Why come under such harsh sun? Aren't you afraid of heatstroke?"

Old Lady He saw it was her, wiped her sweat, and said: "The first batch of reed catkins is the softest. If I wait until morning or evening, they’ll be gone."

Lu Yuan picked up the half-filled basket of catkins and said: "Stop cutting, let’s go back."

Old Lady He said: "Let me cut a bit more."

Lu Yuan immediately took the sickle from her hand: "Old lady, are you trying to worry your grandson on purpose? The doctor said he shouldn't be overly anxious now, or his eye condition will be harder to treat. Don't you want him to recover soon?"

Old Lady He, hearing it concerned her grandson, was immediately persuaded: "Then let's go back. We can come again when the sun is weaker."