Chapter 28: Fun and Games

A height of over ten meters was equivalent to just three or four stories. Wen Nuan Nuan had seen such structures before in scenic areas and ancient towns, but back then, surrounded by towering skyscrapers, she had never felt city gates were particularly tall.

Now, with flat land all around and only low, small thatched or earthen houses in sight, it truly took contrast to make things stand out.

“Sister-in-law, will you come with me to deliver food to Eldest Brother?” Leng Tian asked.

They had previously agreed to split into two groups—one to sell goods and the other to deliver food to Eldest Brother—otherwise, they wouldn’t have enough time.

Three pairs of expectant eyes fell on Wen Nuan Nuan.

Deep down, Wen Nuan Nuan really, really wanted to see what the future powerful minister looked like in his youth.

In fact, that had been her decision before coming here.

But!

After walking on dirt roads for over two hours in cloth shoes, with her legs aching faintly and the soles of her feet throbbing painfully, and with several more hours of walking ahead, Wen Nuan Nuan—no matter how curious she was about the future powerful minister’s youthful appearance—chose to refuse without hesitation!

Heavens, have mercy on her.

It would take at least another hour to reach Tianhong Academy, and that was at Eldest Brother’s pace.

After delivering the food, they would have to rush into the city to shop without a moment’s rest.

She chose to stroll leisurely in the city instead.

After all, Leng Xiao would be going into the mountains to gather ginseng next month, wouldn’t he return home then?

And wouldn’t she see him when he returned home?

No matter how overwhelming her curiosity was now, she would just have to endure it!

Not that she had a choice—her mind wanted to see, but her legs and feet said: No, she didn’t.

Sighing, Wen Nuan Nuan pretended to be helpless and said, “Sister-in-law wants to see him too, but look at how slowly I walk. I’m afraid I’ll hold you back.”

“It’s fine. How about you sit on the flatbed cart, and I’ll pull you?” Leng Tian kindly suggested.

“How could that be!” Wen Nuan Nuan exclaimed, shocked and wide-eyed, quickly refusing.

After thinking for a moment, she said, “How about this: you deliver the food to Leng Xiao, and Little Brother and I will go sell the herbs and bamboo baskets. After we’re done, we’ll meet up to buy what the family needs, and you can join us after delivering the food.”

“Alright. If Sister-in-law came along, we definitely wouldn’t have time to buy what we need afterward. I’m afraid you’ll just have to endure the pain of longing.” Leng Tian also considered the limited time. Even if they returned to the city at the earliest, it would be noon, and there really wouldn’t be enough time to shop.

Especially since they had so much to buy this time and many places to visit.

Sister-in-law would just have to bear it and wait until next month to see Eldest Brother.

Wen Nuan Nuan secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly waved her hand to indicate it was fine.

She wanted to say it wasn’t a hardship at all—she was just curious, what “pain of longing” was there?

But of course, she couldn’t say that.

After all, she had told Eldest Brother that she was deeply devoted to Leng Xiao and had come specifically for him!

“Where should we meet? I can probably enter through the North Gate around noon,” Leng Tian asked instead.

This question hit right at Wen Nuan Nuan’s blind spot.

She had no idea about the city’s layout, nor which roads or shops were where. Not daring to give an opinion, she cautiously said, “I’m not familiar with Tongcheng. You, Little Brother, and Eldest Brother should decide.”

The three youngsters whispered and discussed by the roadside.

Wen Nuan Nuan thought about how important communication was. Without phones or telephones, in such a large city, if they took a wrong turn or missed the timing, how would they ever find each other?

No wonder some people in ancient times parted ways and never saw each other again—missing someone could mean a lifetime…

“Sister-in-law, we’ve settled it with Second Brother. Let’s enter the city.”

The two boys had already unloaded all the bamboo and wooden products from the cart. The smaller, heavier items were packed into the large bamboo baskets they carried on their backs, while the larger, lighter ones were held in their hands, both arms fully loaded.

Wen Nuan Nuan nodded, deliberately waiting until Leng Tian had walked some distance before raising her voice to call out, “Eldest Brother, wait a moment!”

Turning to her second and youngest brothers, whose hands were completely full, she said, “Wait here for a bit. I need to get something from Eldest Brother’s cart.”

With that, she jogged over.

Using the cotton cloth covering the cart as cover, Wen Nuan Nuan took pork out of the refrigerator and placed it into a bamboo basket. As she did so, she said, “Second Brother, I brought along the pork belly that’s been accumulating these past two days. Take it to Qin Old Master.”

“Ah? We should thank the master for looking after Eldest Brother, but will Qin Old Master accept it?” Leng Tian knew that aside from tuition fees, other students often gave gifts to their masters.

Qin Old Master had shown considerable care for Eldest Brother, but their family was poor and didn’t have anything good to offer.

Now, if they directly gave these two large pieces of pork belly weighing a full six jin, what if the old master refused?

“It’s fine. Just say it’s for good luck in pairs. If it weren’t for Qin Old Master’s strong support all these years, how could your Eldest Brother have studied peacefully at the Academy? Now that we have some food, of course we should express our gratitude within our means.” She couldn’t go see Leng Xiao today, so how else could she earn his favor?

After some thought, aside from preparing food for Leng Xiao, she could also start with his master.

Qin Old Master was a great scholar from Jingcheng. As he grew older, he had returned to his hometown of Tongcheng a few years ago to teach, wanting to settle where his roots were. Recognizing Leng Xiao’s talent, he had accepted him into Tianhong Academy, allowing him to cover his accommodation and meal costs by cleaning the Academy and copying books.

Tuition fees were just for studying, while accommodation and meals were extra expenses. Those who lived nearby could go home and avoid these costs, but Leng Xiao lived too far away and had no choice but to stay at the Academy.

Leng Tian’s voice grew hoarse with emotion as he choked out, “Sister-in-law, you’re so good to Eldest Brother!”

She had thought of everything for him.

As his younger brother, he had never considered Eldest Brother’s situation.

Only his sister-in-law had put herself in Eldest Brother’s shoes and thought about his needs.

Wen Nuan Nuan felt a bit embarrassed and laughed it off, saying, “Go early and come back soon!”

She casually took a covered carrying basket from the flatbed cart, securing a container for their midday meal.

Leng Tian nodded heavily, tears in his eyes, and bid farewell.

Wen Nuan Nuan watched as her eldest brother pulled the flatbed cart away at a brisk pace, sighing inwardly at how vast the differences between people could be!

Resigned to her fate, she dragged her heavy body toward the two little ones.

After paying the copper coins to enter the city, the three of them first went to their usual shop to sell the woven products. After all, there were too many of them, and they were bulky, making them cumbersome to carry and inconvenient for anything else.

Wen Nuan Nuan finally realized just how cheap these baskets, wooden basins, and bowls—which she considered eco-friendly and practical—really were!

Dozens of woven baskets, wooden basins, and wooden bowls, stacked layer upon layer, large and small, only fetched one string of cash.

The two little ones were especially happy.

“Isn’t that a bit low?” Wen Nuan Nuan felt sorry for how long her second brother had spent weaving them.

“Not low at all, it’s quite good. Broken rice costs just over ten wen per jin, and coarse grains are around ten wen per jin. One string of cash can buy many jin. Besides, weaving these things doesn’t cost anything—the bamboo and wood are from the mountains and free.”

“Lots of people know how to weave and sell these. Third Brother’s skill is why we got this price. Some people don’t even get this much.” Leng Yun said proudly.

Wen Nuan Nuan thought about it and realized it made sense. With no cost and many people knowing how to make them, naturally they couldn’t fetch a high price.

The same items placed in Jingcheng would naturally fetch a different price.

Moreover, for a child of his age, this was indeed a substantial amount of money!

“Sister-in-law, here you go!” Leng Chen respectfully handed it over with both hands.

Wen Nuan Nuan was pleasantly surprised but did not take it, speaking gently, “You earned this, so you should keep it yourself.”

“Sister-in-law has already given me plenty of silver. What I earn should naturally be for you to manage,” Leng Chen insisted.

Leng Yun nodded in agreement beside him.

If Sister-in-law could give them her silver, then what they earned should naturally go to her!

Wen Nuan Nuan felt a warm glow in her heart and cheerfully accepted it, tucking it away. “Come on, now that we’ve earned money, let’s go buy food and supplies!”

She planned to take the two little ones to buy local specialty foods from Tongcheng.

Buy plenty to take home and enjoy!

Buy cloth to make pouches, cotton shoes, and cloth shoes!

Buy paper, inkstones, brushes, and ink to learn numbers at home!

Buy…