Chapter 31: Spending, Must Spend!

Finally, I have money!

After calculating the total profit, Chen Wuji let out a long sigh in his heart.

Since crossing over, the massive taxes have been like a towering mountain, pressing him down. With only ten wen of savings and facing a tax of a full 1,600 wen, it is as if a poor household with only two mu of land and no other income is longing to take a daughter‑in‑law.

Although Chen Wuji did not show it, his mind was constantly buzzing.

Now he can finally breathe a sigh of relief.

After paying the Court's taxes, he still had about seven hundred wen left.

Life finally has a glimmer of hope.

"Wuji, we should first buy two baskets and a pair of shoulder bags; the house has nothing to store anything now. We also need to prepare some plasters for you; seeing you like this makes people feel sorry," Huo Sanniang whispered into Chen Wuji's ear.

Chen Wuji simply nodded in agreement.

After yesterday's battle with the python, his skin was torn in an unknown number of places; the injuries weren't serious, but the pain was real. If it hadn't been to take advantage of Huo Sanniang last night, he would have just sat down and slept.

"Besides these, we also need to buy some millet; we don't have much money, so let's start with fifty jin. With the remainder, I'll buy you a pair of shoes and prepare a set of underclothes for You Wei; she's been wearing only a single ruqun all day, which is rather shabby."

Chen Wuji was suddenly startled; Shen Youwei had been just hanging around idle?

How had he never noticed?

The Fire Hemp Cloth skirt was so deceptive; he completely missed such a fine view and didn't notice at all.

In that instant, Chen Wuji felt a regret as if he had missed out on millions.

"What about yours?" Chen Wuji asked.

Huo Sanniang smiled lightly, "I don't have much I need."

"You only have that one dress, and it's almost falling apart; you must first pick one for yourself. I don't want the day my wife walks on the street and, because her dress tears, gets exposed to everyone," Chen Wuji said.

Huo Sanniang laughed helplessly, "What are you talking about, how could it be that easy? Fire Hemp Cloth may be the cheapest fabric, but it's very sturdy; I can wear it for another two or three years without problem."

Chen Wuji tugged at the tear on Huo Sanniang's shoulder, "You're really treating me like a fool, huh? It's already like this. Not to mention other things, this tear could easily rip open and expose my delicacy; that exposed thing wouldn't be good, would it?"

Huo Sanniang's cheeks flushed red; she gently brushed Chen Wuji's hand away, "People come and go, don't talk nonsense; that's not your delicacy."

"Anyway, I think it's tasty, so it's my delicacy— not only tasty but also fun, soft," Chen Wuji chuckled.

Being the fool feels great; it can be further cultivated.

Huo Sanniang clamped Chen Wuji's mouth, "Wuji, stop talking, I'm buying, buying!"

Only then did Chen Wuji smile contentedly.

The two first bought a pair of baskets and two shoulder bags at a nearby stall in East Market, then headed straight to the ready‑to‑wear shop.

Inside the shop, a dazzling array of garments and fabrics displayed everything—from brightly colored silk brocades embroidered with various patterns to Fire Hemp Cloth available only in green, gray, and brown.

Huo Sanniang glanced briefly, then fixed her gaze on the Fire Hemp Cloth dresses.

"Shopkeeper, how much is this one?" She was too shy to reach out directly, so she pointed toward the Shopkeeper and asked.

The Shopkeeper, over fifty years old yet with a rosy complexion, his beard and hair gray‑white, was holding a feather duster to brush dust off the fabric.

Probably because Chen Wuji and Huo Sanniang's attire was so plain, the Shopkeeper showed no enthusiasm for customers, gave a careless glance, and quoted, "One hundred wen."

Huo Sanniang's outstretched hand suddenly recoiled, "Wuji, that's too expensive; just buy one for You Wei, and I won't buy any."

"Buy!" Chen Wuji clasped his hand over the tear on Huo Sanniang's shoulder.

"You kid, stop messing around."

"No, we must buy!"

The Shopkeeper set down the feather duster, shuffled over very slowly, and said, "If money is tight, don't buy ready‑made clothes; buy a bolt of cloth to make at home. One bolt costs 120 wen and can make two skirts with a little surplus."

Huo Sanniang felt a bit awkward, "The cloth is indeed cheaper, but unfortunately I don't know women's needlework."

"Shopkeeper, lower the price, please. Look at her dress; if it gets any more torn she won't dare go out. I often run around shirtless, but I can't let her be like that; I'm afraid some bad person will see."

"Ninety‑five wen, the cheapest. Do you think this old man can light a lamp and simmer oil to stitch this garment easily? It takes me three years to make one," the Shopkeeper said after thinking.

"You say eighty wen? Eighty wen sounds fine; I want two nice ones," Chen Wuji shouted.

The Shopkeeper's eyebrows lifted, "You kid, what are you hearing? Ninety‑five wen!"

Huo Sanniang quickly apologized, "Shopkeeper, don't argue with him. My husband is simple‑minded, like a child; just treat him as a child."

Chen Wuji thrust his chest forward, "Wife, I'm taller than you, not small at all."

"Yes, yes, Wuji, you're tall and mighty, already a man who stands up to the heavens," Huo Sanniang laughed a couple of times, then said again to the Shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, make it even cheaper."

The Shopkeeper gave a deep look, then sighed, "You're not an easy customer either; take it for ninety wen. Your hands are so clean, so don't worry about staining the clothes; pick it yourself."

"Thank you, I also want a set of underclothes; may I ask the price?" Huo Sanniang smiled lightly.

"Still want it in Fire Hemp Cloth?" the Shopkeeper asked.

Huo Sanniang nodded, "Money is scarce; I can't hope for silk brocade."

"Use silk instead; don't mind the extra few wen. Fire Hemp Cloth is so stiff for a woman to wear close to the skin—do you want to turn your skin into stone?" the Shopkeeper said.

"Silk for two sets of underclothes is forty wen, hemp cloth twenty wen; I'll give you a discount, take it for thirty‑five wen."

"Silk then, two sets; Shopkeeper, wrap them quickly," Chen Wuji shouted.

Fire Hemp Cloth is acceptable to wear outside, but close to the skin it's like sandpaper.

Just thinking about it made his whole body uncomfortable.

This amount of money absolutely cannot be saved.