Chapter 367

·

·

·

Protagonist:

Chai Mi

After Chai Mi came back from setting up her stall, it was not yet noon.

Chai Youqing had already ground the grain into millet and brought it back.

The sun rose to high noon, warmly spread across the Chai Family Small Courtyard.

Su Wan was making lunch, or breakfast. After all, Chai Mi had left too early in the morning and hadn't eaten breakfast.

Su Wan lifted the pot lid, white steam rose with a "whoosh," revealing golden, soft, sticky millet rice, each grain plump and full.

Freshly milled millet, glistening with oil, looked delicious at a glance.

The millet from Chai Mi's hometown, due to longer sunlight and less rain, was of very good quality.

(Sneaking in an ad: Liaoxi millet is indeed delicious, especially red millet, which makes porridge that is superb.)

Especially new rice, it tastes even better.

Chai Mi and Song Qiushui entered the house, set the table, and since the main dish was millet rice, they hadn't cooked many dishes, so they were about to eat.

"Time to eat!" Su Wan called out, placing a large basin of steaming millet rice on the kang table. Beside it was a small dish of shredded pickled vegetables cut as fine as hair.

Song Qiushui sniffed and inhaled deeply: "Fragrant! Auntie, this new millet rice, just smelling it makes one drool! What's grown in one's own field is different!"

"Eat quickly, you two went out busy this morning and haven't eaten." Su Wan had a satisfied look after her work, then shouted into the inner room, "Youqing, time to eat!"

Chai Xin was held by Su Wan, her big, dark, glossy eyes curiously looking around.

Su Wan took a small bowl, poured a little rice soup, then took a small spoon to feed her the rice soup.

The nutrition of this rice soup is also very good.

Chai Youqing slowly came in from outside; when he went out to grind grain, his waist hurt a little again, but he didn't dare say so.

Who let him say he was fine himself?

The family sat around the kang table. Chai Mi picked up the rice spoon and first served Su Wan a full bowl: "Mom, you taste it first."

Su Wan took the bowl, smiling: "Mm, although this year's grain harvest was difficult, we finally get to eat it." She lowered her head to smell it: "Truly fragrant."

Chai Mi's family didn't grow much grain to begin with, and then Chai Youqing fell again, so this millet was indeed hard to come by.

Song Qiushui served herself a large bowl, impatiently scooped a big spoonful into her mouth, and exhaled from the heat: "Mm! Fragrant! Comfortable!" She narrowed her eyes in satisfaction, then picked up a large chopstick of pickled vegetables.

Millet rice eaten with pickled vegetables is simply the best.

Chai Youqing held his bowl, eating silently, occasionally picking up pickled vegetables with chopsticks. The aroma of the new rice seemed to loosen his tense brows a little, but his movements remained silent.

Right now, the autumn harvest could be said to have just begun; the corn in the field had been cut down, but the corn cobs hadn't been stripped yet.

Stripping corn is the most labor-intensive and waist-straining work.

Always half-squatting, half-kneeling to strip corn, and it takes time, especially tiring.

This work is different from other work; strength doesn't matter. Everyone's speed is about the same, it's just a matter of enduring time.

So the main event of the autumn harvest—stripping corn and transporting it back—hasn't started yet.

Chai Mi also had a bit of a headache; the grain work had already used up one strong laborer, and these twenty-plus mu of corn... relying on people to carry on their backs and shoulders?

"Dad," Chai Mi swallowed the rice in her mouth, her voice neither high nor low, breaking the silence at the table, "Can your waist handle a long journey?"

Chai Youqing paused, raised his eyes to look at his eldest daughter, with a hint of wariness and confusion: "... I can. What's wrong?"

He subconsciously straightened his waist, then immediately frowned from the slight pulling sensation.

"The grain work is done. Seeing that the corn cobs in the field need stripping, they'll also need to be hauled back home." Chai Mi put down her chopsticks and said, "Our ox can't do the work, relying on people to carry on backs and shoulders, twenty-plus mu of land, they'd be worn to death. The family can't do without livestock. You go to the East Ditch Market, find the livestock dealer Old Zhou, see if there's a suitable little donkey, the kind that can pull a cart. For hauling corn during the autumn harvest."

Chai Youqing was stunned. Buying livestock? That's a major event! He subconsciously wanted to object, but seeing Chai Mi's gaze, the words on his lips became: "... How... how much money? Besides, Old Zhou is slippery..."

"The money is none of your concern, I'll pay." Chai Mi interrupted him, directly blocking the possible "saving money" argument, "You just go look, and when you've seen one, come back and tell me the price and its teeth. It needs a sturdy frame, a gentle temperament, not too old, and not a calf just weaned. As long as it can be harnessed. Don't let them perfunctorily fool you with a few words, look at several more, find a good, honest one."

"We used to raise donkeys at home, whether they're useful or not, honest or not, you can tell. Find one with a small mouth, the price will be fine. You don't need others to teach you this, right..."

Chai Youqing was a bit dazed by this string of demands from his daughter, and a feeling he couldn't quite explain surged in his heart.

This was... letting him handle official business? Looking at livestock... he was indeed experienced at this, when young he had dealt with livestock a lot. He opened his mouth, but finally just grunted "en," and lowered his head to eat faster.

Su Wan was a bit worried: "Her father's waist... can he walk a long way? The East Ditch Market is nearly twenty li round trip. Why not... wait a couple of days?"

"It's fine, Mom." Chai Mi gave Su Wan a piece of salted meat, "Walk slowly, consider it exercising the muscles and bones. Better than lying on the kang. Looking at livestock properly is serious business, it can't be delayed. The autumn harvest can't be delayed." She paused, her voice a little deeper, "Taking advantage of these two days not being especially busy, buy a donkey, and then we'll need to test it. Later hiring people to strip corn for cash can save time at both ends. Having a donkey to pull the cart saves you two from having trouble later, saying what to do if the grain is left in the field and lost?!"

Chai Mi's last sentence precisely hit the point Chai Youqing cared about most. His eating motion paused again.

Song Qiushui chimed in from the side: "Exactly! Uncle, you're an old hand at farming, your eye for livestock is much better than ours! Pick a good donkey back, later hauling crops and going to the market will save effort! No more suffering from carrying on shoulders and backs!"

"My aunt can't ride a bicycle, your family's third child is also getting a bit fat, my aunt hasn't gone to the market for a long time. Although the family doesn't lack food and drink, never going to the market, just staying at home in a daze, isn't that boring?"

After hearing this, Su Wan was moved; indeed buying a donkey, then riding a donkey cart to the market would be much more comfortable.

Otherwise, holding the child and walking is too tiring.

Riding a bicycle isn't very safe either, the road isn't easy to walk, holding a child on a bicycle definitely won't do, easy to bump and knock.

A small donkey cart is more practical and convenient.

Chai Youqing didn't speak, silently scraping the rice in his bowl clean, the bottom of the bowl scraped spotless.

After eating, Song Qiushui helped Su Wan clean the stove, Su Wan held Chai Xin and coaxed her.

Chai Mi took out money from her pocket, counted out several banknotes, and placed them on the kang edge in front of Chai Youqing.

"Take this one thousand yuan. Look it over, if the price is right, buy it."

Chai Youqing looked at those brand-new "Great Unity" notes, his Adam's apple rolled once. One thousand yuan!

Enough to buy how much salt, how many feet of cloth! He carefully picked up the money, rubbed it with his fingers, then tucked it into his inner pocket, pressed it, confirming it was placed well.

"Got it." His voice was low, he got up from the kang, found a relatively clean jacket to change into. In the movement, his waist still seemed a bit stiff, but he tried to walk steadily.

Chai Mi looked up at him: "If you can ride, ride; if not, walk—going slowly is fine. Watch the road, don't rush, keep your money safe, and don't let a pickpocket lift it."

Chai Youqing grunted, didn't look at his daughter, and pushed the door open to go out.

Buying a donkey was something he knew how to do.

Su Wan held the child and walked to the door, watching her husband's back disappear around the village path corner, and sighed: "Sigh, don't let anything go wrong..."

"What could go wrong? It's just looking at livestock. Mom, this afternoon pack those new millet into two small bags; one bag for Qiu Shui, you take it back directly, one bag... give it to Teacher An. She's always looking after Xiu'er." Chai Mi felt it wasn't appropriate for her to deliver it herself, and if she sent money they wouldn't accept it; this newly harvested millet wasn't very valuable, so sending some should be fine. And if Su Wan went, it would be easier to explain.

"Alright, fine." Su Wan agreed, thinking in her heart which bag would look nicer.

Song Qiushui came over, smiling and said: "Chai Mi, what kind of donkey do you think my uncle can buy back? Don't bring back a stubborn donkey, just like him."

Chai Mi's lips curved for once, carrying a hint of mockery: "If he dares to buy back a stubborn one, I'll make him work with the stubborn donkey every day."

Chai Mi finished portioning the new millet, and Song Qiushui carried a small bag home first to see her mother.

On the other side. Chai Youqing took a shortcut to the livestock market; crossing a mountain on that side would be much closer.

The livestock market was bustling with people, donkeys brayed and horses neighed, dust mixed with fodder and livestock odors permeated the air.

Livestock dealer Fan Zi Lao Zhou was actually from Sanjiacun; he was idly chatting, then caught sight of Chai Youqing at once and immediately went over enthusiastically, his voice full of exaggerated surprise: "Yo! Old Chai (Brother)? A rare guest, a rare guest! What wind blew you here? Haven't seen you at the market for many days! How are you, is your health all right?"

Chai Youqing seemed somewhat awkward, responding in a low voice: "Hmm... passable. Old Zhou, do you have... any ready-made donkeys that can pull a cart?"

Lao Zhou's eyes lit up, rubbing his hands as if a big deal had come: "Yes! Must have! You speak up, brother, even if I don't have one I'll conjure one for you! Come, come, this way please! Just acquired a fine donkey, take a look at this spirit!" He shouted loudly, making the onlookers clear a path: "Make way, make way! An old hand is picking livestock!"

Chai Youqing's gaze swept over the livestock, his steps slowed before a donkey pen, pointing to a blue-gray donkey inside: "... that blue-gray one, looks all right. Lead it out... let's take it for a walk?"

"Good eye! Brother, you've got a sharp eye!" Lao Zhou nimbly untied the reins and led the blue-gray donkey out: "This one, three years old, in its prime! Look at this frame!" He led the donkey walking: "Steady! Look at these steps, how solid! Temperament gentle, like a little lamb, leading it won't ever make it balk!"

Chai Youqing came closer, carefully pried open the donkey's mouth to check its teeth: "Hmm... teeth are even..." He squatted down, "Hooves... lift them up to look."

Lao Zhou slapped the donkey's leg hard, showing off: "Hard! Top-notch! Brother, rest assured, it's good at pulling carts and plows! My livestock, I guarantee you'll find it easy to use!"

Chai Youqing was silent for a moment, stood up and touched the donkey's back, then asked: "... How much?"

Lao Zhou's face was full of smiles: "Hey, old customer, I'll give you an honest price! Twelve hundred! At this price, ask around the whole market, you won't find a better deal!"

Chai Youqing frowned, shook his head: "... Too high. The coat isn't top quality, blue with mixed patches."

"Oh my old brother!" Lao Zhou feigned surprise, trying to persuade him: "You look at livestock for strength and temperament! Can a good-looking coat be eaten as food? This frame, these teeth, absolutely worth this price! You're an old hand, I can't fool your eyes, right?"

Chai Youqing insisted: "... Too high, last year they were seven or eight hundred yuan each, you lower it more."

Lao Zhou made a pained expression, smacked his lips: "Tsk... brother, you... all right, all right, all right, seeing you're sincere, eleven hundred! Can't go lower! Any lower and I'd lose money!"

Chai Youqing remained unmoved: "... Still high. At most... eight hundred."

"Eight hundred?! That's last year's price; this year even a sheep costs two or three hundred, let alone a donkey?" Lao Zhou seemed to have his tail stepped on, exaggeratedly stomped his foot: "Brother, you're taking my life! Not even enough for the cost! How much good fodder has this donkey eaten? You add a bit more, one thousand and fifty! Is that generous enough?"

Chai Youqing remembered his daughter Chai Mi's instructions and shrewd look, his tone hardened a bit: "I've inquired about prices before coming out; if I buy at your price and take it home, my family will fight with me." He pointed to a spot on the donkey's leg: "Look, this hind leg tendon..."

Lao Zhou sighed, carefully observed Chai Youqing's expression, with a hint of probing: "Oh... Old Chai, you..." He pondered for a moment, as if making a great decision, stomped his foot: "Fine! I'll count you as a friend! Also doing a favor for Miss Chai Mi! One thousand yuan! Losing money but making a shout! But let's be clear, it must be cash, decided today!"

Chai Youqing secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his hand subconsciously pressed the pocket where he kept money: "Fine, I'll give you the deposit, and you deliver it to me after the market closes."

"Refreshing! Brother, you're straightforward!" Lao Zhou immediately put on a smile, nimbly took out a small notebook and pencil, "Come, I'll write you a deposit slip, writing clearly: one blue-gray mule donkey, three years old, large frame, gentle temperament, guaranteed to pull a cart... deposit two hundred yuan! Keep it!" He wrote it quickly, tore off the slip, pressed his red handprint, and handed it to Chai Youqing: "Here, take it! This donkey is definitely your Chai Family's! Uh, how about tonight? Or tomorrow morning, I'll drive it over for you."

Chai Youqing carefully looked at the content on the slip, confirmed it was correct, folded it carefully, and put it into the innermost layer of his clothing pocket. Then from his inner pocket he took out that stack of money, counted out two hundred and handed it to Lao Zhou: "You said it well, don't deliver a different donkey when the time comes."

Lao Zhou took the money with a beaming face: "Hao la! Rest assured! I'll feed this donkey well, harness it and it can work! Take care, old brother!"

Chai Youqing nodded, said no more, turned and left the noisy livestock market, turned and walked home.