Chapter 30: Stocking Up for the Coming Winter

“Shopkeeper Sun said the price varies greatly depending on weight, size, quality, and place of origin. Top-grade ginseng is extremely scarce. Medicine shops in Jingcheng often come to purchase it, but it’s often hard to find even a single root. One root could cost several hundred or even a thousand taels! However, ginseng that has already been sliced and has a short growth period isn’t valuable. It’s priced according to the rate for ginseng fibers, which is even lower than the price for whole ginseng.”

Hearing this, Wen Nuan Nuan felt her heart sink. If only she hadn’t been lazy back then and had bought a few fresh ginseng roots from the pharmacy to keep on hand.

Two fresh ginseng roots in a set—weren’t they only selling for 268 yuan at the pharmacy near her home?

Why hadn’t she thought of buying fresh ginseng back then to stew with old hens?

If she had thought that way, she wouldn’t be worrying about earning silver now.

“Shopkeeper Sun said he could only offer half a tael of silver per tael of ginseng,” Leng Chen continued.

Wen Nuan Nuan’s mood at this moment was a perfect example of going from sorrow to joy!

Ginseng really was a rare treasure in ancient times.

Even though it was said to be worthless, it could still fetch half a tael of silver per tael!

And that was the lowest, poorest price for ginseng!

Even lower than the price for whole ginseng.

Then what would whole ginseng and medium or top-grade ginseng cost?

Oh, right, Shopkeeper Sun said top-grade ginseng could cost several hundred or even a thousand taels per root!

Thinking about it, that made sense. After all, ginseng in ancient times could only be wild.

Without artificial cultivation, the yield was low, and there were few nourishing varieties with high demand, so of course it was expensive.

What she had prepared were small bottles of ginseng slices, very little, only a few dozen grams, equivalent to about one tael. Calculated this way, she could earn half a tael of silver per day just from the ginseng slices.

Although it couldn’t compare to others who earned buckets of gold daily, for her, it was very good!

She took back her earlier words about not buying fresh ginseng. La la la, she was also very satisfied and content with the ginseng slices!

One shouldn’t be too greedy!

Moreover, half a tael per day meant fifteen taels per month. That would give them some savings for Leng Xiao’s travel expenses for the imperial exams and for their group to buy a house and furnish it in Jingcheng.

Seeing his sister-in-law’s overflowing joy, Leng Chen said puzzledly, “Shopkeeper Sun said whole ginseng could fetch one tael of silver per tael. Although top-grade ginseng is too hard to find, Eldest Brother has found several medium-grade ginseng roots! Sister-in-law, you don’t need to worry too much about expenses.”

Thinking Wen Nuan Nuan was calculating the household expenses, Leng Chen quickly comforted her.

“Mhmm, mhmm,” Wen Nuan Nuan nodded happily.

It was even better if Leng Xiao could earn silver. After all, their family had five people, and with many mouths to feed, the house they would live in couldn’t be too small, especially in the expensive Jingcheng.

There were also various expenses for official dealings and social interactions—too many places to spend silver. Saving more silver was always right.

They went to the bookstore to buy paper, inkstones, brushes, ink, and oiled paper, of course all of the poorer quality. After all, it was for the four of them who weren’t good at writing, so buying the best wasn’t cost-effective.

Besides, the three younger ones wouldn’t take the imperial exam path in the future; being able to write and use them was enough.

To be honest, even the poorer quality ones were quite expensive—three sets cost two taels and six mace!

Studying really consumed silver.

Wen Nuan Nuan also picked out a medium-to-high-quality set for Leng Xiao. Just one set cost three taels and one mace!

Her heart bled as she couldn’t help but sigh: Investments that needed to be made still had to be made!

As they were about to leave, she noticed rough straw paper in the corner by the main entrance. Wen Nuan Nuan was especially delighted, an idea popping into her head.

Her eyes sparkling, she asked, “Shopkeeper, how much is this?”

“Sister-in-law, there’s no need to buy this—it’s too coarse. It would be better to dip water and write on a wooden board.” That would also save wasting copper coins.

Leng Yun, afraid Wen Nuan Nuan might suffer a loss, quickly tugged at her sleeve.

The shopkeeper overheard and, steeling himself, quoted a price: “Madam, don’t let the roughness of this paper fool you. It’s perfectly suitable for children to practice with. How about this—these two large bundles for just one string of cash. What do you think?”

At this price, even Leng Chen and Leng Yun were tempted.

Wen Nuan Nuan was, of course, extremely satisfied and immediately decided to buy them.

She had been using mulberry leaves these past few days, but in a little while, not just mulberry leaves—all leaves would wither and fall off.

She really couldn’t bring herself to use tree branches or tile shards.

Now, at last, the major worry that had been troubling her was resolved!

Oh, there was one more thing. “Second Brother, where around here sells toothbrushes—you know, things for brushing teeth?”

“Sister-in-law, aren’t willow twigs good enough?”

“Um, I’m just a little unused to them.”

“Oh, the general store up ahead has them. They also have soap. Would you like to buy some together, Sister-in-law?” Leng Chen thought of how his sister-in-law had suffered in their family and felt a pang of sorrow.

Reminded by Second Brother, Wen Nuan Nuan remembered she had forgotten about soap—this was the equivalent of modern soap, suitable for bathing, washing hands, and even hair. She nodded eagerly.

Arriving at the general store, Wen Nuan Nuan was once again amazed.

It was just like the department stores from her childhood—they sold everything.

Rouge, face powder, scented soap; hair ties, hair oil, velvet flowers; needles, thread, lamp oil, candles… even fire starters!

Wen Nuan Nuan hurriedly took out the paper she had written on yesterday, bought everything listed on it, and also picked up items not listed but likely useful, like toothbrushes, scented soap, candles, and fire starters.

With silver on her and a source of income secured, Wen Nuan Nuan stocked up on daily necessities with great enthusiasm!

Truthfully, she had no choice. The Leng Family lacked everything; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say their home was bare and impoverished.

Moreover, for the next four or five months, it would be bitterly cold, and they would hardly venture outside. Stocking up was essential—otherwise, their comfort would be severely affected.

After finishing her shopping, Wen Nuan Nuan spotted a money exchange shop. She asked the two boys to wait outside and went in to exchange four silver notes: two for gold leaf and gold thread, and the other two for broken silver. She pretended to place them in a small bamboo basket covered with cotton cloth but actually stored them in the expanded space of her refrigerator.

She also took the opportunity to experience the security measures and attentive service of an ancient money exchange shop.

When exchanging the silver notes, she was not only invited to a seat of honor and served fine tea, but the apprentices and others were also dismissed when exchanging the silver. After the exchange, they thoughtfully provided cloth bags for storing the silver.

Wen Nuan Nuan wondered if this was the ancient equivalent of modern VIP service—not only personalized assistance but also bags for the money.

Who would have thought that, unable to experience such service in modern times, she would get to enjoy it here.

However, theft and robbery were all too common in ancient times. If something happened every time someone exchanged a large sum of silver at a money exchange shop, who would dare to come back in the long run?

No matter the type of shop, lasting success depends on reputation.

Ancient people placed even greater emphasis on reputation than modern folks.

Wen Nuan Nuan’s idea of exchanging for gold leaf and gold thread came from books she had read before. While she had her refrigerator to store gold and silver conveniently, Leng Xiao and Eldest Brother did not. Carrying silver or copper coins when going out was not only heavy but also prone to loss and unsafe.

Before heading out, they could sew gold leaf and gold thread discreetly into the collars and hems of their inner garments, taking them out only in emergencies.

It’s best if it’s never needed, but if the time comes when it is, it could very well be a lifesaver.

When traveling, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.