Chapter 153: Today I Made You Lose Money

"The flood came, we were left homeless, the authorities did nothing, so naturally we fled elsewhere."

"The court provides relief every year, but they deduct it level by level, so the common people receive very little."

While they were speaking, the carriage arrived at a Small Town, and they could get off to stretch their limbs.

The old gentleman told the driver to stop at the entrance of a small inn, and everyone got off.

They moved around a bit, stretched their bodies, and then went inside to eat.

At that moment a group of rag‑clad refugees came up to them.

"Madam, miss, young master, please have mercy; we haven't eaten in three days."

The kind old lady asked, "Did you all come fleeing from Nanfang?"

"Yes, the flood destroyed our homes, and our relatives have vanished without a trace."

"If you want mantou, you must line up; everyone gets a share, so don't rush."

"I'm not going; Ru'er isn't coming today, so I'll return to my Niang Jia. Look at my brothers going; I'm telling you, old man, you have to go too."

The next day, at first light, she opened her eyes and got down from the kang.

Not to mention Qiao Mai, even I can't endure it.

She drank the tea in the cup, waved her hand, and gathered the tea set again.

She planned to make yam, tomato and egg‑flower soup for the children in the early morning, and then fry a few small pancakes to roll them up and eat.

"Bichun Garden?"

The old gentleman glared at her but said nothing; in fact, according to folk sayings, the old lady was right.

This was perfect for making rolls; after the soup was ready, she rolled each pancake with scallions, arranged them neatly on a plate.

The old lady grew suspicious, and Qiao Mai, seeing this, hurriedly said.

Watching the two elders bicker like children, she said, "I've eaten, I'll take the kids out for a walk."

"Mm‑mm, then thank you for the trouble, old man, your body is no longer useful."

"Alright."

The carriage rode through Jingcheng for about two quarters of an hour before stopping in front of a Zhai.

There were many fine things in the space that had never been taken out—fruits and vegetables that are usually eaten, only the few common varieties.

The children were awed by the imposing Cheng Men tower; when entering the city, each of them clung to the carriage windows, staring dumbly at the towering walls and the soldiers standing upright.

Finally, the old lady stopped humming; she knew that if she continued as she had, arriving in Jingcheng without at least ten thousand taels would be impossible.

She sat in the carriage and no longer stuck her head out; Qiao Mai, to keep her from getting bored, occasionally conjured one or two snacks.

Back home, she sat on the bed to meditate and cultivate.

"If you don't go to my house, I won't go to yours either."

"Old lady, I'm here; please go in, sit down and eat, and I'll take care of it?"

"Shall we go see Ru'er today?"

"Yes, Master."

"It's already averted disaster."

It's not my own home, so I can't sleep soundly; therefore, from the time we left Jingcheng until we return, I must protect the children and not make any mistake.

Especially after entering Jingcheng, the children couldn't even see enough; there were so many people, so many carts, so many merchants—this is what they call a sea of traffic, this is what they call bustling prosperity, right?

As for these pancakes, she's really not good at them; after thinking, she tossed white flour into the space and directly bought fifty thin spring pancakes on the Platform.

There were dozens of refugees in the Small Town, and the Mantou Shop had never done so well.

She sighed, and a tea set materialized on the table by thought; with a fingertip she summoned water into the kettle, lightly placed her hand on it, the water boiled, she added tea leaves, capped it, waited a moment, and poured herself a cup of tea.

"Did they all get to eat?"

The old lady had finished eating by then and was waiting for her,

Qiao Mai waved at them, "Come with me."

"Ten mantou per person, a quarter tael of silver—does that work?"

Qiao Mai guarded the steamer; each person took ten mantou, and she would give a quarter tael of silver, hoping they would cherish this chance, find a suitable place to settle, and stop wandering.

"Today I made you lose money."

She took a gentle sip; the tea leaves were from tea seedlings she had bought on the Platform and grown herself,

All the necessary utensils were prepared; once she entered the house, in no time she could eat hot Meal.

Thirteen days later, on the first day of the ninth month, they finally arrived in Jingcheng.

The shop owner sized up her attire and then nodded.

Such things had been too many along the way; the old lady showed kindness, and Qiao Mai contributed money and effort.

The small courtyard was quiet; Qiao Mai propped the courtyard gate and sat alone on the stone bench inside.

The weather was neither cold nor hot, and the dining table was set in the courtyard; Qiao Mai had rolled many pancakes, enough for the few of them.

"I won't go; I refuse to watch the Wang Family's expressions. They've all split up; my granddaughter is married—why should I still give face to their household?"

It was only then that Yuehong got them up; the old lady and the old gentleman arrived, originally intending to invite them all to the front hall for a meal.

Fortunately the courtyard had a Xiaochufang; she went into it and pulled a yam from the ground of the space, picked two tomatoes, took three eggs from the refrigerator, a small bag of white flour, two lettuce heads, a box of sweet bean sauce, and some fresh scallions.

If they stayed at an inn at night, she would also stock the old lady with some soothing soup.

After the meal, everyone boarded the carriage; the old lady still stuck her head out to look, and when she saw each refugee holding a snow‑white mantou, she finally relaxed.

The children were still sleeping; Yuehong and Yuexia heard her leave the house and immediately got up.

She looked up at the moon in the sky; after being here so long, her heart still hadn't warmed, the sense of belonging remained weak.

Everyone ate with weary faces, and Qiao Mai took her people to stay in the elegant Haitang Courtyard.

"Hmm, this is my dowry, my personal private property."

I feel like floating duckweed, drifting wherever, able to settle anywhere, unlike some people who are especially attached to home.

After washing up, she told them to rest immediately; after a long trek, even without work they felt weary in body and mind.

She led them to the Mantou Shop and said, "Owner, give each of them ten mantou; I'll pay for the money later."

Now Qiao Mai fully appreciated the ancient architectural charm; the whole journey was satisfying, and she even examined closely the clothes they wore and the accessories they wore.

At this moment, the refugees in the Small Town immediately gathered, and Qiao Mai shouted at them.

She wasn't envious, nor jealous; she simply liked this classical style.

Anyway, she had never taken out any overly special items.

Hundreds to thousands of mantou were sold out, and the broken silver Qiao Mai had in hand was spent down by over a hundred taels, yet it was still a drop in the bucket.

Even Ling'er couldn't bother to eat, opening her little mouth and looking outward.

The children, newly arrived here, were also unfamiliar, and they shouldn't run around recklessly.

Some people still tried to grab three, but Qiao Mai kicked them to the ground; they couldn't get up for a long time, and after realizing her might, they dared not cause trouble again.

The carriage entered through the side door; because she had previously sent someone to give instructions, the Zhai was cleaned very neatly.

"But that is the Main Family, after you and your husband return to Jingcheng, you should visit them at once."

Everyone else had fallen asleep, but she alone couldn't sleep; she wanted to go see Jiaru, yet didn't know where the Wang Family was.

"You!"

Seeing the food, she immediately said, "Let's eat right here."

"You all freshen up, just watch them; I don't need your help here."

After sending it off, she returned to the restaurant to eat.

"Ride the carriage, look from the carriage; if you like it, get off and buy. Jingcheng has many people, and many thieves too,"

"Got it."

In a short while, Wang Jiaru had the matron reply, saying she would come tomorrow to visit them.

So then, Qiao Mai took the children onto the carriage and left the door, while the elderly lady prepared gifts and took the old man back to Niang Jia.

(End of chapter)