Chapter 32

Chapter 32

Big Tree Village.

Shen Yuan brought the food home and let Shen Dong and the other little ones eat the sugar-steamed cheese curd first.

The children, who had never even tasted sugar before, saw their eyes light up when they ate the curd.

Shen Xi covered his mouth in surprise, his eyes wide. "Big brother, this is so delicious!"

"It’s delicious! I’ll bring you more later," Shen Yuan said while checking the wound on Shen Nan's face. Seeing it was healing, he felt a weight lift from his heart.

Seeing that Shen Xi liked it, Shen Dong scooped a spoonful from his own portion for both Shen Xi and Shen Nan.

Shen Xi immediately turned and affectionately called out, "Second brother!"

Shen Nan, who usually kept his emotions in check, lowered his head and said softly, "Thank you, second brother."

Shen Yuan ruffled his younger brothers' little heads, then went to check on his cooing little sister. He went to the cookhouse to ladle out some mutton soup and prepared half a bowl of millet rice to take to Village Head Liu's house.

Village Head Liu had been waiting for a long time. He had glanced down the path countless times that afternoon, just waiting for Shen Yuan to arrive.

"Uncle Liu! Look what I brought today!"

Shen Yuan raised the small earthenware jar in his hand. The rich aroma of the meat soup wafted out, and Village Head Liu couldn't help but sniff it again and again.

"My word, is this mutton soup?" Village Head Liu asked in surprise.

Mutton was something only the wealthy and powerful could afford!

Shen Yuan nodded. "You've got a good nose, Uncle Liu! You guessed it right away."

Village Head Liu's old face flushed red. "What's so amazing about that?"

Back when he was young and strong, working as a laborer carrying heavy sacks at the docks, he had smelled the mutton soup sent by the servants of minor officials many times.

It was truly fragrant.

He never thought he'd get to smell it this close again in his lifetime.

Live long enough, and all sorts of good things happen.

Shen Yuan handed the food to Village Head Liu. "Yesterday, I asked Fourth Sister-in-law to pass on the message that I want to build a new house. Do you have any candidates in mind, Uncle Liu?"

Village Head Liu immediately nodded. This was an important matter and couldn't be delayed. "Yes, yes, I do."

He then listed several names, waiting for Shen Yuan's opinion.

"Uncle Liu, why didn't you mention your eldest and fourth sons?" Shen Yuan was somewhat puzzled. Eldest Brother Liu and Fourth Brother Liu were top-notch workers, diligent and reliable, perfectly suitable. "And your grandson Liu Ping—he's also very good."

Liu Ping was the eldest son's boy, eighteen years old this year. At this age, he should have been married long ago. However, due to poor harvests in the past two years and the landlords raising taxes, the family had no savings, so his marriage kept getting postponed.

Village Head Liu was very embarrassed. In fact, the family had discussed this matter.

They reckoned Shen Yuan had already helped their family enough. Even though the men in their family were skilled, they wanted other similarly capable villagers to have this opportunity.

"Ah, our family is already fortunate enough that you think of us like this, Xiao Yuan. There are many others who can't even put food on the table, but their character and work ethic are impeccable. They've all watched you grow up, Xiao Yuan, and you know these uncles and brothers are good people. Uncle Liu wouldn't steer you wrong. If they go, they'll definitely build your house well and quickly."

"Uncle Liu, just go ahead and hire people. Include your eldest son, your fourth son, and Liu Ping—all of them." Shen Yuan gestured with his hands. "The courtyard I want to build is especially large. Each of my younger brothers and sisters needs their own room. I also need a dedicated bathing room, a stable, a storeroom, an outhouse, and a courtyard wall. And I'm in a hurry to move in. You know the ropes, Uncle Liu. For a courtyard like this, how many people would be needed to finish it within two months?"

The Shen family's homestead plot was actually quite large. In fact, the homestead plots of all the Big Tree Village villagers were quite large. However, due to limited funds, the courtyards they built weren't big.

They would gradually expand after the men in the family married.

Expand one room when the eldest son married, another when the second son married.

If expanding left and right wasn't feasible, they'd expand backward.

Shen Yuan planned to expand left, right, and back.

Village Head Liu nearly lost his grip on the earthenware jar. He was shocked. "You want to build such a large courtyard?"

Did this child have that much money? Just buying bricks would cost dozens of taels, and that was the minimum estimate.

"Yes. Don't worry about the money; I can even pay daily wages. However, I'll probably be very busy, so I need you, Uncle Liu, to oversee things for me. I'll also pay you daily."

Village Head Liu didn't ask Shen Yuan where he got so much money. Instead, he said firmly, "Uncle will handle it for you, no payment needed. Uncle knows that in the future, there will be fewer and fewer things I can do for you. Listen to Uncle, let me handle this for you."

Shen Yuan threw his arms around Village Head Liu. "Uncle Liu, you're so good!"

The simple and reserved Village Head Liu had never experienced such an open display of affection. He was so embarrassed his old face turned red, his eyes darted around, and he was at a loss for what to do with his hands.

It was really too embarrassing!

Village Head Liu didn't want to push Shen Yuan away, afraid of hurting the child's feelings, so he could only find an excuse. "Oh, Xiao Yuan, let go, let go quickly, I can't breathe!"

Auntie Liu, who had come out of the house hearing the commotion, saw this and couldn't stop smiling. "Xiao Yuan, what happened? Why are you so happy?"

Shen Yuan let go of Village Head Liu, his face beaming. "Uncle said he'll help manage the building project and be the foreman! Auntie, are you free? I also need people to help with cooking. If your eldest and fourth daughters-in-law are also free, plus Auntie Ping, Sister-in-law Wang, and Sister Wang Si, six people should be about enough."

Before Shen Yuan could mention the terms, Auntie Liu nodded immediately. "We're free, we're free! When there's work to be had, we'll make time!"

Shen Yuan said, "Alright then. I'll go ask Auntie Ping's family later. By the way, here are three hundred copper coins—the tax money Uncle Liu advanced for my family last time."

That day, thanks to Auntie Ping and Uncle Liu arriving promptly, one family advanced two hundred coins and the other three hundred.

Shen Yuan knew that back then, they had emptied their family savings to give him that money.

Today, since he was going to both families, it was the perfect time to repay them.

Uncle Liu, however, was rather embarrassed to take it. His sons, daughters-in-law, and his wife would soon be earning money from Xiao Yuan. Even if they went to the county town to find work for the whole family, the "grease" money alone for securing such positions would be more than three hundred coins.

"Xiao Yuan, this money, don't..."

"Here, take it." Shen Yuan stuffed the string of copper coins into Village Head Liu's hand. "Uncle, three hundred coins can buy a lot of things, enough to keep you in full meals for a good while. I want you all to live well, eat your fill, and wear good clothes."

Village Head Liu and Auntie Liu's eyes reddened. These words warmed their hearts. The two elders patted Shen Yuan's hand, calling him a good child.

Shen Yuan still had to go to Auntie Ping's house, so he didn't stay long.

Auntie Ping's house was just a quick walk around the bend from Village Head Liu's.

When he arrived, the Wang family children were happily running around the yard. Seeing Shen Yuan, their eyes lit up and they ran over to pull him. "Brother Xiao Yuan, our family has yummy fish! Come in, come eat fishies with us."

This was perhaps the children's first time eating fish. Even if it wasn't, meat was a rarity in the village. Yet, they were unstintingly pulling Shen Yuan in to share their fish. It was clear the Wang family adults had often instilled in the children the idea of being good to Shen Yuan.

Shen Yuan still had younger brothers and sisters at home waiting to eat fish. The fish Wang Sanhu brought back wasn't much, not even enough for the Wang family themselves. He couldn't possibly take any for himself.

The adults rushed out upon hearing the commotion outside. Only then did Shen Yuan notice the Wang family's eyes were all red.

Auntie Ping walked straight towards Shen Yuan and, without a word, knelt down before him. Shen Yuan was so startled he plopped down with a thud. In his fluster, he didn't kneel steady and ended up sitting on the ground with a smack.

There happened to be small pebbles on the ground, which hurt Shen Yuan's leg. He cried out, "Ouch, ouch... Auntie Ping, quick, quick, help me up, I can't get up..."

This even made the usually unsmiling Auntie Ping chuckle in exasperation.

She took hold of Shen Yuan's arm, careful not to hurt him, pulling him up slowly and carefully, while she couldn't help but fuss, "You child, how did you become so careless? Let Auntie see if you're hurt."

She bent over to check Shen Yuan's leg. Seeing it was fine, she breathed a sigh of relief. Good thing nothing was wrong, or she would have worried herself to death.

"Xiao Yuan, whether you listen or not, Auntie has to say thank you to you." Auntie Ping was sincerely grateful to Shen Yuan. He had taken Wang Sanhu under his wing and changed his fate.

The job at the teahouse was a good opportunity that people like them, for generations, wouldn't have dared to dream of.

That old Taoist priest was truly a living immortal, she thought. He said Xiao Yuan had a fate touched by the immortals, and it turned out to be true. He said her Sanhu would meet a noble person and have a life of fortune. She hadn't believed it before. Now, in her view, that noble person was Xiao Yuan. From now on, with Sanhu following Xiao Yuan, that was a life of prosperity!

"Brother Sanhu has always looked out for me before. Besides, it's also thanks to Brother Sanhu's own skill, otherwise he wouldn't have gotten this job." As he spoke, Shen Yuan gave a thumbs-up to Wang Sanhu, who was standing behind. "Brother Sanhu is a super awesome storyteller! As long as he practices more to memorize it better and gets more familiar with the material, he can start performing right away."

Wang Sanhu chuckled heartily, his confidence much greater. The other Wang family members watched Shen Yuan's strange yet amusing gesture and listened to his words, feeling overjoyed.

They had just learned from Wang Sanhu what storytelling was. Starting a performance meant earning money! Twenty wen per show!

Shen Yuan then immediately brought up the work on his house and the cooking job. Wang Sanhu couldn't go, but Wang Dahu could.

The Wang family looked at Shen Yuan as if he were the God of Wealth. There wasn't a single objection.

When Shen Yuan returned the two hundred wen, Auntie Ping had the same reaction as Village Head Liu. Fortunately, Shen Yuan had experience now and quickly persuaded Auntie Ping to accept it.

This money was nothing much to him now, but for Auntie Ping and Village Head Liu, it was a small fortune.

He sincerely hoped that both families would get better and better, accumulate savings, and not worry about food and clothing.

Shen Yuan said goodbye to Auntie Ping's family and headed home for dinner. Halfway there, he turned back and saw the Wang family still watching him. Seeing him look back, they all raised their hands and waved.

Shen Yuan grinned, raising both hands high and waving them back and forth vigorously. "Go back and eat!"

In the future, everyone should have enough to eat!

Early the next morning, at the start of the Chen hour (7-9 AM).

The Xie family's large ship was preparing to set sail. Ji Ping'an stood on the deck like a wooden post, watching the busy crew.

He was thinking, when they reached Qingyun County, would Fifth Granduncle be angry seeing yet another group of people waiting?

Probably. He was unhappy yesterday and made a whole group stand as punishment...

Sigh, and he was still hoping to go find Shen Yuan at the teahouse quickly.

Meanwhile, at the Ji Family Teahouse in Qingyun County.

Shen Yuan and Wang Sanhu arrived early today. On the way, Wang Sanhu ran through the story for the first performance. Shen Yuan found that Wang Sanhu was improving rapidly, probably having practiced at night.

As soon as they entered the teahouse, Fang Zaoshang pulled Shen Yuan aside to listen to him practice again. His progress was similarly astonishing.

Shen Yuan was happy in his heart. This way, they could open more performances! The money he earned from the storytelling sessions was twenty wen per show, even if he didn't perform himself. As long as a show was held, he got twenty wen.

Earning a bit more meant the courtyard could be built a little better.

He and his younger siblings could live more comfortably.

Earn money, earn money, earn money!

Letting Wang Sanhu and Fang Zaoshang continue practicing, Shen Yuan went downstairs to ask Ji Xingwang how the seal carving was coming along.

"Love Between Human and Ghost" could be told in thirty sessions total. They were carving thirty different seals, each pattern representing something distinctive from that chapter.

For example, the first seal was Chu Qi's bow and arrow for hunting in the mountains, the second was Chu Qi's jade pendant, the third was the pit...

Ji Xingwang said, "I've had the craftsmen rush the work. They'll be ready the day after tomorrow. Have you thought about what other items to give away?"

Shen Yuan had already decided. "Character design drawings." Before Ji Xingwang could exclaim about not being able to afford a painter, he added, "I'll draw them myself."

His drawing skills were average, but here, they were passable.

Ji Xingwang exclaimed in surprise, "That immortal really taught you everything."

Could it be Shen Yuan's ancestor? Otherwise, why would he dote on him so much? Telling him everything!

"Oh, right, the young master is returning today. The ship is estimated to arrive around noon. Do you want to go to the dock to welcome him?" Ji Xingwang, thinking of their good relationship, mentioned it offhandedly.

Shen Yuan didn't hesitate at all. "I happen to have time. Of course I'll go welcome him."

Brother Ping'an has taken such good care of him and been so kind. If he has time and it's convenient, it wouldn't be right not to go welcome him.

"Perfect. I'll have Auntie Chun make some sugar-steamed crispy milk. It gets a bit hot around noon. Brother Ping'an can eat some to cool down."

Ji Xingwang asked, "The Family Head and Madam will also be going. Should we prepare some for them?"

"Prepare it. Let them taste our sugar-steamed crispy milk, see how delicious it is, and understand how much money the teahouse can make. Then they won't dare think about selling the teahouse again."

Ji Xingwang nodded in full agreement. "Exactly!"