Chapter 43: A Carriage Is Absolutely Necessary

Huh?

Back in her room with the door closed, Wen Nuan Nuan was utterly puzzled as she inspected the refrigerator.

Up on the mountain, it had been continuously emitting a ding-ding-ding alert sound—she hadn’t misheard.

Yet the refrigerator before her, with its expanded storage room, was still about the same size as when she last saw Leng Xiao.

The lower level had five distinct storage areas, clearly separated and not interfering with each other—she remembered that clearly.

But the refrigerator had issued an alert sound, so there should have been some change.

What was going on?

“Sister-in-law, Second Brother, Little Brother, I’m back!” Leng Tian’s loud, cheerful voice rang out from a distance.

Leng Yun had already dashed over to open the courtyard gate.

Wen Nuan Nuan set aside her confusion, opened the door, and went out.

She thought perhaps the favorability points she’d earned hadn’t reached the required threshold.

Besides, having five areas now was already quite good. It would be great if it could expand, but if it didn’t, she’d just have to think of other ways.

By being more meticulous and organizing things more efficiently, they could pack as much as possible. Whatever truly couldn’t fit probably wouldn’t be much—they could just load it outside and let the carriage carry it.

When Leng Xiao returned, she’d earn lots more favorability points. Once the storage expanded, they could load more goods, making things easier for the horses.

The only real challenge was water. Heading north all the way to the capital, water would likely be scarce everywhere, and water, like food, was indispensable.

Maybe they could use wooden basins and clay pots in the upper part of the storage room to hold as much water as possible?

Although it would be a drop in the bucket, during a drought, even an extra cup of water would be precious…

“The new cotton quilts are so fluffy and comfortable!” Leng Yun hugged the snow-white thick quilt, reluctant to let go.

He even rubbed his young face against the quilt.

“Second Brother, why is there still so much cotton?” Leng Chen asked, looking at the large bamboo basket Leng Tian was carrying, piled high with cotton, and the big bundle of cotton he held in his left hand.

“Oh, Sister-in-law asked to exchange it. Not just what we brought back—about ten catties were sent to the cotton shop to make another large quilt! We can pick it up in three days. Sister-in-law said each of us three would get a quilt to sleep comfortably.” Leng Tian tossed the two quilts he was carrying in his right hand to Leng Yun to take back to the room.

He placed the bundle of cotton in a clean spot, then took off the bamboo basket.

Turning around, he saw Wen Nuan Nuan had already brought over a large bowl of tea, which he gulped down in big mouthfuls.

Mmm, Sister-in-law was really the best.

After running around with Eldest Brother for most of the day, there’d been no food and no drink.

Wen Nuan Nuan waited until Leng Tian finished the tea before asking, “Did you ask about the care and price of horses?”

Leng Tian had already moved past his initial stage of thinking it was too expensive. Plus, with what Eldest Brother had said, he felt more assured. Now he was just thinking about going into the mountains to hunt more and gather more ginseng to earn silver for buying horses. With high spirits, he answered loudly, “Yes, I asked. The people at the horse market said feeding them is very convenient. If there’s fresh grass, feed them fresh grass; if not, dry grass or withered leaves will do. When they’re working, you can occasionally give them a few meals of beans or something. But the price of horses is quite steep.”

Hearing the discussion about buying horses from inside the room, Leng Yun put down the quilt and ran out, joining them and listening intently.

Leng Chen also set aside the bamboo basket he was about to weave, focusing intently on the conversation.

Wen Nuan Nuan found it somewhat amusing. They really are a bunch of boys, she thought.

They just loved things like horses, carriages, knives, and swords.

Unlike her practical considerations, these three little ones simply liked them for the sake of liking them.

“How expensive? How much silver for a decent horse?” If it was around the amount of silver she had previously estimated, they could buy two good horses, plus a smaller one for the two younger ones to ride.

Leng Yun paused for a moment and answered truthfully, “A good one costs one hundred thirty taels, a medium one around one hundred ten taels, and a poor one anywhere from seventy to one hundred taels.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the two little ones gasped in shock.

Leng Yun could understand—after all, when he first heard this price, if it weren’t for Eldest Brother keeping him steady, he might have reacted even more dramatically than his two younger brothers.

Even with Eldest Brother by his side, he was still utterly astonished.

Wen Nuan Nuan was also greatly surprised.

She had never imagined it would be so expensive.

This far exceeded the price she had expected!

So horses were this expensive, after all.

No wonder the entire village only had one ox, owned by the village chief, which was used to make an ox cart.

Having an ox or a mule at home was already considered quite good.

Were horses equivalent to sports cars—or even supercars—in her world?

They were simply unaffordable for ordinary families like hers.

“Sigh, it is a bit expensive,” she thought, realizing her wish to buy two horses was dashed, let alone buying a pony for the two little ones to ride.

Nuan Nuan felt somewhat disheartened.

Her three hundred seventy-nine taels of silver, which she had previously thought were an enormous, almost limitless amount—enough to buy many, many things and accomplish many, many tasks—now seemed far less impressive.

It turned out it was because everything she had bought before were daily necessities, and even then, they were on the lower end of the spectrum. For example, when buying fabric, although she purchased whole bolts, they were made of hemp or coarse cloth. The better ones were only cotton. If she were to buy brocade, silk, satin, or even Su embroidery, her savings probably wouldn’t even cover the cost of a single bolt!

Moreover, horses were different from fabric. Cheap fabric was often more durable and wearable, but a cheap horse might frequently have issues. So, it was better to either not buy one at all or at least purchase a medium-quality one.

It seemed that good means of transportation were luxuries no matter where you were.

In her previous life, she couldn’t afford them, so it was only natural that she couldn’t afford them here either.

“What about asking about mules?” Nuan Nuan suggested instead.

Having a mule cart wouldn’t be bad either.

It could carry goods and people.

If she worked harder to improve her relationship with Leng Xiao, expanded the storage room, and stored everything that could fit inside it, they could mostly walk, taking turns riding in the mule cart when they got tired.

Most importantly, it would save money.

Horse-drawn carriages were already beyond her expectations—so expensive.

Property prices in Jingcheng were certainly not cheap either. Converting them to the prices in her time, they might be astronomical figures she couldn’t even imagine.

Although she really wanted a horse-drawn carriage, she should save money wherever possible.

Having savings on hand brings peace of mind.

“Eldest Brother said we should buy a horse, and only a good one. Eldest Brother and I have already decided to go into the mountains!” Leng Tian seized the opportunity to announce the decision he and his eldest brother had made.

“Eldest Brother said there will be many places to spend money in the future, and this is something we should take on.”

They were men, and men should have the responsibilities of men.

If they were too afraid of getting hurt to do anything, they wouldn’t be able to protect their family and would only become useless burdens.

Only then did Wen Nuan Nuan truly feel shocked!

After the shock wore off, she wondered if this was an unavoidable trial that Leng Xiao was destined to face.

But someone with a strong will and a broad mind would never shrink back due to fear of danger or injury, would they?

Once she understood this, Nuan Nuan stopped dwelling on it and said to the three little ones, “Alright, I’ll go prepare dinner first.”

“Second Brother, can you talk to Eldest Brother and ask him to take me too?” Leng Yun tugged at his second brother’s hand, pleading.

He wanted to go!

Leng Chen also stared at Leng Tian. “Me too.”

“Don’t even think about it. Eldest Brother already made an exception by agreeing to let me go! Besides, you’re still so young—Eldest Brother definitely won’t agree. Just stay home and rest easy.” Leng Tian had no intention of bringing it up with Eldest Brother.

Not only were they too young, but even if they were around his age, it still wouldn’t work. If everyone went deep into the mountains, what would happen to all the things at home?

What about Sister-in-law?

“Second Brother~” Leng Yun persisted, unwilling to give up.