Chapter 53: Selling Goods and Saving Silver

What could Wen Nuan Nuan do?

She could only brazenly not respond.

Then she signaled Leng Xiao to continue.

“This year has had little rain. Animals are more sensitive than humans. Could it be that a great drought is coming next year, and the wolf pack is preparing early, which is why they risked their lives to forcibly attack the white tiger?”

Wen Nuan Nuan nodded vigorously. She agreed with this view. After all, animals can sense earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in advance.

Their sensitivity is different.

Hearing Eldest Brother mention the wolf pack, Leng Tian couldn’t help but exclaim, “Wolves are really clever! I originally thought it was just the mother tiger with three cubs, but later I found out the male tiger had gone out to hunt. No wonder the mother tiger kept roaring. At first, I thought it was to intimidate the wolf pack, but now I think it was also calling the male tiger back.”

And the wolf pack must have noticed the male tiger running far away long ago, seizing the opportunity to attack the mother tiger and cubs first.

During dinner, Wen Nuan Nuan had lamented how complicated the scheming between people was. After hearing this, she realized it wasn’t just humans—animals were the same!

Wen Nuan Nuan, who had originally wanted to be a freely growing tree or a carefree little goat running wild, immediately dismissed the thought.

Forget it. Better to honestly remain human. Being an animal or plant isn’t that easy either!

Striving to be human, Wen Nuan Nuan turned her gaze to the spoils on the floor of the main room.

A sturdy male deer.

Red cloth bundles laid out in a row—likely ginseng. Counting them, there were actually twenty-three!

Over a dozen plump hares and several pheasants piled together.

And a tall stack of wolf pelts! She estimated there were about ten!

No wonder after opening the courtyard gate, everyone moved quietly, trying not to make a sound.

Seeing so many goods, even the usually lively and energetic Little Brother hadn’t spoken loudly from start to finish! This completely contradicted his cheerful personality.

With such a bountiful harvest, were they afraid of attracting envious villagers?

Since encountering that sarcastic Aunt Wang on the way up the mountain last time, Wen Nuan Nuan decided it was better to be overly cautious!

Someone who, just because her in-laws disliked her, not only failed to protect her own daughter but personally threw her into the back mountain—what shameless thing wouldn’t she do?

If she saw the goods Leng Xiao brought back, wouldn’t she ask for the big items knowing they wouldn’t be given? Would she feel too embarrassed to ask for hares and pheasants?

Fortunately, the Leng Family was at the very end of the village. Although vulnerable to attacks from wild beasts coming down the mountain, there were no houses behind them, and the two houses in front were somewhat distant, offering both freedom and tranquility.

Now, with the courtyard gate closed and the main room door shut, the two little ones and Wen Nuan Nuan excitedly and happily looked at their harvest.

One touched the deer antlers, while the other carefully opened a red cloth bundle to look at the fresh ginseng.

Touching the antlers of the male deer, Wen Nuan Nuan thought, isn’t this deer antler velvet?

A genuine precious tonic—how much silver could this sell for?

Squatting by the ginseng, she opened three or five bundles to look. They varied in size, like silver ingots of different weights waving to her.

Wen Nuan Nuan then touched the plump hares. Winter had arrived, and these hares had already grown their winter fur, thick, warm, soft, and gentle to the touch.

Then her mind kept conjuring: spicy rabbit head, braised rabbit head, young ginger rabbit, spicy dry pot rabbit, cold rabbit, honey-glazed roasted rabbit…

Wen Nuan Nuan silently swallowed her saliva.

Leng Xiao turned to Leng Tian and said, “Keep the rabbit meat.”

Leng Tian replied, “Alright.”

Their haul this time was bountiful, relying mainly on ginseng and deer antlers and venison to earn silver. Since the silver didn’t need to be spent on buying horses anymore, Eldest Brother had already explained on the way back that the furs wouldn’t be sold—they would be kept for making winter clothes for the whole family.

Originally, he hadn’t mentioned keeping the hare meat, so why had Eldest Brother changed his mind?

Wen Nuannuan’s gaze fell on the pheasants.

The rural area she grew up in was mostly flat plains. There were a few hares, but no pheasants. She had once read in a book: “Cut the pheasant into chunks, salt them, fry a few pieces—they taste wonderful with porridge.” At the time, she really wanted to try how delicious it would be with porridge.

Now, seeing these plump pheasants, her heart stirred with temptation.

Forget it—these are meant to be sold for silver!

Suppressing her restless heart, Wen Nuannuan shifted her gaze to the wolf pelts.

Leng Xiao turned to Leng Tian and said, “Keep the pheasants too.”

Leng Tian: “Huh? Oh, okay.”

Whatever Eldest Brother says goes!

“Sister-in-law, come quick and look! The fur on this wolf pelt is different—it’s silvery and shiny!” Leng Yun eagerly shared his observation.

Wen Nuannuan leaned in and, after careful examination, reached the same conclusion: “You’re right. Even though they’re both wolves, how can they be so different?”

This one’s fur was noticeably glossier, with an oily sheen, and looked exceptionally smooth.

Leng Chen also leaned in, and the three of them—one adult and two children—compared and studied the pelts with excitement.

While the three of them were happily admiring their haul, Leng Xiao, who had remained seated in his chair without moving, withdrew his gaze and concealed the faint smile in his eyes. He turned to Leng Tian and gave instructions one by one:

“Tomorrow morning, take the horse and bring the Minor New Year ginseng, the deer, and the furs. Go to Renxin Hall pharmacy first to exchange them for silver. Remember to ask what price they offer for the hundred-year ginseng weighing seven taels and nine mace.”

“Arrange the furs as I told you on the way.”

“Fit the horse with reins, a saddle, and a large carriage. Choose a wooden carriage with oilcloth—ordinary appearance is fine, but pick thick, sturdy material. Don’t skimp on silver.”

Leng Tian knew this carriage would carry their family of five to Jingcheng. He also knew they would face wind, sun, and potential threats from bad people along the way, so it was essential to choose something thick and practical.

Even though he was frugal, he understood what should be saved and what shouldn’t.

Besides, wasn’t the reason he and Eldest Brother went into the mountains to earn silver so their family could live more comfortably? Now that they didn’t need to spend the bulk of their silver on buying horses, of course they should pick a suitable carriage!

He wholeheartedly agreed. “Eldest Brother, I understand!”

Leng Xiao gave a slight nod. “You have to get up early tomorrow. Go to sleep.”

Leng Tian shook his head like a rattle drum, his voice unconsciously growing louder. “No need, I’m not tired. I’ll fetch water for you to wash up.”

Hearing Eldest Brother’s loud voice, Wen Nuannuan’s heart skipped a beat. She turned to look at Leng Xiao, who had been sitting motionless at the table since entering, and a suspicion gradually rose in her heart.

She had vaguely felt that Leng Xiao was acting a bit strange tonight but couldn’t pinpoint why, especially since she hadn’t seen him much.

But now she realized what had struck her as odd!

Tonight, Leng Xiao hadn’t even moved the goods. Apart from picking up chopsticks to eat noodles, he had tried to move as little as possible the rest of the time!

She had thought it was because they had been in the deep mountains for days and were exhausted, so it was normal not to want to move.

But why did Eldest Brother look worried?

And Leng Xiao was always so independent—why would he need Eldest Brother to fetch water for him?

Looking at the pile of wolf pelts stacked high before her, Wen Nuan Nuan’s mind suddenly cleared—how could rescuing a white tiger cub from a wolf pack be easy?

Eldest Brother must have omitted and simplified details when he spoke earlier. And Leng Xiao was truly able to endure—even injured to the point where Eldest Brother had to fetch water, he sat there without uttering a sound, deceiving both her and the two little ones.

At least before Eldest Brother mentioned it, she hadn’t noticed he was injured at all.

Wen Nuan Nuan stood up, offering a gentle, soft smile. “Eldest Brother, you and Second Brother and Little Brother should rest first. I’ll go fetch water for your Eldest Brother to wash up.”