Chapter 35: Returning Home After Shopping

Wen Nuannuan clearly understood the importance of increasing Leng Xiao’s favorability, but how exactly should she go about it?

She had already sent food, delivered stationery, and spoken caring words. What else could she do?

Ah, right. As the eldest brother, especially one studying alone away from home, he must be most concerned about his younger brothers and the household.

Wen Nuannuan’s eyes sparkled, her small face brimming with a smile, her tone as virtuous as could be: “You can focus on your studies at the Academy without worry. I’ll take good care of your younger brothers at home. It’s fine even if you don’t come back.”

After speaking, she silently gave herself a thumbs-up in her heart. What a model virtuous wife!

But no matter how long she waited, the expected ‘ding’ never came.

Huh, that’s strange.

She looked up at Leng Xiao’s expression—steady and aloof, impossible to read.

Oh well. Perhaps today’s favorability was already maxed out. She’d just have to try again next time.

Having reached this conclusion, Wen Nuannuan didn’t dwell on it further. Without any plans to expand the storage room, her speech naturally became much more casual. “The cooked dishes I brought you won’t keep long. You can share them with your classmates and finish them early. I’ll have Eldest Brother bring you more in a few days. But don’t give away the salted duck eggs! Those are sea duck eggs, each one rich and oily—so delicious!”

“I only put two in the treasure box back then. Over these three days, I couldn’t bear to eat a single one—I saved them all for you.”

“This time I didn’t bring many vegetables. Remember to eat fruits to supplement your nutrition.”

“I also brought some tea leaves. I wasn’t sure which kind you prefer, so I brought some green tea, white tea, and Pu’er tea. When Eldest Brother comes next time, remember to tell him which one you like, so we’ll know what to bring you the time after that.”

“Do you like cured meat and sausages? I noticed the garlic in the field is growing really well. Next time, I’ll make you cured meat stir-fried with garlic, okay?”

“Okay.”

Wen Nuannuan had chattered a long string of words, and Leng Xiao only replied with a single “okay.” For a moment, she had no idea which part of her speech he was responding to.

Ding!

The familiar sound rang out. Wen Nuannuan stopped worrying about which sentence it was, her small face immediately blooming into a radiant smile like a flower in full bloom!

It didn’t matter which sentence it was. As long as she carried out everything she had just said!

It wasn’t that many things anyway.

She had thought today’s favorability was already maxed out, but unexpectedly, it had increased again.

The thoughts of a powerful minister were truly hard to guess—no pattern to follow, and no telling which words had struck a chord with him.

But whichever sentence it was, as long as the result was good!

The hour was growing late. Satisfied with today’s achievements, Wen Nuannuan waved goodbye to Leng Xiao with a carefree air.

Compared to the three little ones with tears in their eyes, Wen Nuannuan, beaming with sunshine and cheer, was quite the anomaly!

Leng Xiao gazed deeply at Wen Nuannuan, then turned his eyes to his three younger brothers. “Go back now.”

They would meet again next month.

On the return journey, the four of them walked even faster than they had come.

Mainly because they were well-fed, had purchased a large batch of goods, had seen Leng Xiao to ease the three little ones’ longing, and had expanded Wen Nuannuan’s storage room. The four of them were quite content.

Now, the three little ones were eager to quickly return to their small home, to stockpile winter reserves for the approaching harsh cold, and to raise travel funds for their eldest brother’s upcoming examination as soon as possible.

Wen Nuannuan’s thoughts ran deeper. After all, she knew that when Leng Xiao went for the examination, their area would suffer a disaster. That was why she had taken the three little ones with her to Jingcheng back then, and the journey had been extremely miserable and bitter.

Not only did their own four suffer hardships, but all the refugees lived in misery and distress. In comparison, at least the four Leng brothers had all made it to Jingcheng, not a single one lost.

To know that even without fleeing, one could only wait for death in a famine year, and on the escape route, some large families of over ten people would be fortunate to have half survive—many ended up with only one or two left, or even entire households wiped out!

Wen Nuan Nuan hadn’t experienced it herself, but she had heard her grandmother speak of it. At the time, she listened as an outsider—though heartbroken, distressed, and fearful, she didn’t feel genuine panic.

But now it was different, because she would be the one to experience and face it!

The key issue was, she didn’t know when it would happen, nor was she certain whether it would be a flood or a drought.

It really wasn’t her fault for not reading carefully back then.

“The Prime Minister’s Overwhelming Power” was a serialized novel, already spanning several million words. By the time you reached the later parts, who could remember what was written at the beginning?

Moreover, the male protagonist Leng Xiao appeared from the start as an invincible presence in the imperial court and official circles, with no description of his tragic circumstances in his hometown or during his journey to the exams amid the disaster.

If it weren’t for the original host—a pitiful supporting female character added for word count—who went to cause trouble and court death, triggering memories for Leng Xiao and the three younger ones, there wouldn’t have been even scattered, fragmentary descriptions.

Otherwise, she wouldn’t have known even this much.

But she couldn’t recall the specifics, as these parts were only briefly mentioned in the original text.

As a working professional, she diligently worked every day and relaxed by reading books when she returned. She felt it was already quite an achievement to remember this much.

Fortunately, she had brought a refrigerator with ample food. Whether it was a flood or a drought, she wouldn’t have to worry about food and drink. She only needed to prepare for the famine year and the unknown risks on the journey to the exams, making all necessary preparations in advance!

Food and water had to be stocked in abundance, and silver had to be saved as much as possible.

Even though she didn’t have to worry about food and drink, who would ever complain about having too much food or money?

Moreover, when settling down in Jingcheng for daily life, not to mention purchasing farmland and social expenses, even the simplest act of buying a house for the family to live in would require a significant sum of money.

This was also the fundamental reason she wanted to expand the storage space as much as possible!

There were too many things to use and bring along. Having a portable space to store items would be both convenient and safe.

If they settled down in Jingcheng, the belongings they had acquired here wouldn’t go to waste, and they could save a considerable amount of silver.

“Sister-in-law, sit on the flatbed cart, and I’ll pull you,” Leng Tian said, seeing Wen Nuan Nuan frown, thinking she was tired.

The return trip was even lighter than the way there, and with three days of hearty meals—meat, salt, and flavor—Leng Tian felt stronger than ever before!

“No, there’s no need!” Wen Nuan Nuan quickly refused. Even if she could still walk, she couldn’t let Eldest Brother pull her, let alone when she was still able to move.

Second Brother and Little Brother didn’t know the cart was empty.

“It’s fine, I’ve pulled loads much heavier than you before, Sister-in-law,” Leng Tian urged.

Wen Nuan Nuan refused to get on the cart. Even if Eldest Brother was pulling an empty cart, it was still pulling a cart! She was exhausted just walking this far empty-handed, let alone pulling a cart back and forth all day!

She rejected the offer without hesitation.

“Eldest Brother, do we need to buy an ox to raise?”

That way, they wouldn’t need to rely on human strength to pull the cart when going into the city.

Leng Yun asked in surprise and confusion, “With Second Brother here, what do we need an ox for?”

Wen Nuan Nuan couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Sorry, but Little Brother’s words were too ambiguous.

Not only did Wen Nuan Nuan laugh out loud, but Leng Chen also chuckled.

The person in question didn’t react at first. Leng Tian replied honestly, “Raising cattle requires building a shed, hiring someone to herd them, cut grass, and clean up manure. We don’t have farmland and only come to the city occasionally. Each time we buy only a little, and cattle move slowly with goods—they’re not even as fast as me! Raising cattle isn’t cost-effective.”

“Right, we can carry goods in bamboo baskets. Raising cattle for silver is too slow,” Leng Yun added.

If there were no other ways to earn money, raising them for silver might work, but Second Brother can hunt and dig for herbs, and I can help gather herbs, pick fruits, and collect firewood. Little Brother can weave.

Besides, calves aren’t cheap either. For a family like ours without farmland, just raising them would be too time-consuming and not worthwhile.

Wen Nuan Nuan nodded in understanding.

It seemed raising cattle wasn’t suitable for their family.

“If only we had a horse. Horses run fast—it would be convenient for delivering food to Eldest Brother or bringing him back. We could even attach a carriage for transporting people or goods. But horses are too expensive,” Leng Chen sighed.

Wen Nuan Nuan’s heart stirred upon hearing this!

Her mind raced with excitement. Having a horse-drawn carriage during their journey of fleeing famine and taking the imperial exams would be worlds apart from walking.

Especially after today, she fully recognized the importance of having a vehicle!

No wonder so many people were willing to take out loans to buy cars in the past, spending huge amounts annually to maintain one—because having a vehicle was incredibly convenient.

Especially in ancient times when there were no cars and one had to rely solely on walking.

Today, even walking lightly on these roads left her legs aching as if they were broken. Imagining walking all the way from Tongcheng to Jingcheng, exposed to sun and rain, hungry and sleepless—the thought was terrifying!

Having made up her mind, Wen Nuan Nuan decided to save more money and try to buy two horses!

Why two?

Because there were many of them, plus the carriage and items that had to be carried outside. Firstly, one horse pulling five people would be too strenuous. Secondly, if one horse fell ill or had an accident, the other could serve as a replacement.

Of course, if they really couldn’t afford it, even one horse would be wonderful.

During their journey of fleeing famine and taking the imperial exams, not having to walk and having a carriage to shelter from wind and rain would be incredibly convenient!

As she trudged along the long dirt road, Wen Nuan Nuan dreamed of having a horse-drawn carriage.

It seemed there was still a difference between people and salted fish.

After all, people should have dreams.

La-la-la, her dream now was to have a horse-drawn carriage.