Chapter 58: Savings Have Also Increased

After finishing dinner, I returned to the room to change Leng Xiao’s dressing. Just as I opened the door, I saw Leng Tian walking in with a small cloth bundle, the corners of his mouth uncontrollably lifted as he announced cheerfully to Wen Nuan Nuan, “I have something to discuss with Sister-in-law.”

Wen Nuan Nuan was puzzled. With Leng Xiao here, what could Eldest Brother possibly need to discuss with her?

Leng Tian handed over the tightly wrapped cloth bundle.

Wen Nuan Nuan turned to look at Leng Xiao, who nodded and said, “Take it.”

The bundle felt heavy in her hands.

“This is the money from selling the deer meat, antlers, and twenty-two small-year ginseng roots. After deducting the cost of the water vat, corn, and miscellaneous items bought today, there’s still four hundred and thirty-two taels left. Sister-in-law, take a look.” Leng Tian’s wide grin never faded.

Wen Nuan Nuan gasped in astonishment. “So much!”

She suddenly felt incredibly wealthy—more than just having savings. It felt like her wealth had more than doubled in an instant, with plenty to spare.

Leng Tian continued, “And there’s even more! The hundred-year ginseng root—the shopkeeper of Renxin Hall said he didn’t dare set a price for it. He immediately sent a carrier pigeon to inform the main store in Jingcheng. However, he estimated it to be worth over eight hundred taels!”

Wen Nuan Nuan took a deep breath. This price truly exceeded her expectations. “Is ginseng with such a long age really this expensive?”

“The shopkeeper said the heaviest ginseng he knows of weighs nine liang and one qian, worth a full three thousand taels! Ours is not only old but also weighs seven liang and nine qian, which is extremely rare—something that’s encountered by chance, not sought. The nobles in Jingcheng are searching everywhere with silver in hand.” Speaking of the ginseng, Leng Tian felt a sense of pride. After all, while the wolf pelts and deer were solely Eldest Brother’s achievements, he had participated in finding the ginseng. Even if it was under Eldest Brother’s guidance, at least he had contributed, right?

Wen Nuan Nuan closed her gaping mouth. Well, she had simply seen too little of the world.

She glanced at Leng Xiao, who remained as cool and detached as ever, not even raising an eyebrow.

Only such an astronomical price could justify the risks taken by batch after batch of people venturing into the mountains, gambling with their lives.

Moreover, as they said, top-grade ginseng is encountered by chance, not sought. Among so many groups of ginseng gatherers, perhaps only Leng Xiao and Eldest Brother had managed to find it.

Wen Nuan Nuan immediately decided, “I need to tidy up my storage room and move the ginseng to an empty space!”

She couldn’t risk bumping, knocking, dropping, or crushing it while retrieving other items!

It had been promoted to the most important treasure!

She hefted the heavy silver in her hand again. “So, is this silver for me to keep?”

“Yes. Once that ginseng root is sold, the money will also be given to you,” Leng Xiao replied.

Wen Nuan Nuan responded naturally, “Alright, my treasure is the safest place to keep silver. You can rest assured!”

After all, the storage room was the safest place.

“Not for you to keep,” Leng Xiao paused, “it’s for you. Use it as you wish, buy whatever you want.”

“Oh, but I don’t really have anything to buy.” The household had enough food, and she lacked neither clothes nor shoes. Most other necessities were already taken care of. Wen Nuan Nuan couldn’t think of anything else she needed to buy.

Still, the fact that they could give it to her so matter-of-factly made her feel a sense of being trusted.

Just by looking at Wen Nuan Nuan’s expression, Leng Xiao knew she didn’t understand the difference.

Never mind. Fortunately, none of the pelts had been sold yet. Once they were processed, he would give them all to her.

Wen Nuan Nuan thought of something and reminded him, “Eldest Brother, remember to exchange for some gold thread, gold leaves, and broken silver next time.”

The broken silver would be for everyday use, while the gold thread and gold leaves would be sewn into the hems and hidden pockets of their clothes for emergencies.

Every piece of clothing needed to be sewn. The amount she had exchanged last time wasn’t enough.

Next year, their family would only be nineteen, sixteen, thirteen, and two ten-year-olds.

Leng Xiao, of course, was not a concern.

Although Leng Tian was only half-grown, he was naturally strong and could defend himself without issue.

Leng Chen and Leng Yun would only be ten next year. Their age limited their height and strength, and with such a significant gap, it would be difficult for half-grown children to fight off adult men. Their self-defense abilities were weak.

As for her, it went without saying—she couldn’t carry heavy loads or lift much. Forget self-defense, she couldn’t even outrun Leng Chen and Leng Yun.

Their combat ability was too poor. Worrisome.

Wen Nuan Nuan hadn’t been too anxious before, but today’s incident with Aunt Wang had stirred her concerns.

Even if Aunt Wang tried to forcibly take something, she and the two little ones could probably handle it. But what if it were a strong, grown man? Or what if there were many of them?

And even though she clearly knew the family had to stick together, what if something happened on the road and they got separated?

Hiding thin gold pieces in inconspicuous places would make them harder to steal and might even save their lives in a pinch.

Although Wen Nuan Nuan hadn’t experienced such things herself, she had read quite a few books on the subject. She didn’t dare imagine things too optimistically and only prepared for the worst.

“Thinking about next year’s journey? Because of Aunt Wang?” Leng Xiao asked, watching Wen Nuan Nuan’s increasingly furrowed brow.

“Yes. There are plenty of people like Aunt Wang. Today, it was because you were home that she didn’t dare take advantage by force.” It was also because there were still laws in place, and food and warmth weren’t yet a problem. But if survival became an issue, sneaking and trickery might be considered mild. Forcible theft, injury, or even murder could become commonplace at any moment.

“Someone like Aunt Wang is manageable. Even if she tried to take something by force, the two little ones and I could handle her. But what if it were a strong, grown man? Or what if there were many of them? I just feel like the two little ones and I have too little combat ability,” Wen Nuan Nuan voiced her worries.

Leng Xiao spoke up, “We already have quicklime at home. We’ll buy more next time we go into town.”

Quicklime? An idea was already forming in Wen Nuan Nuan’s mind.

Leng Xiao continued, “They’re small. Neither knives nor bows are suitable for them. Knives could be snatched away by someone with a height or strength advantage, making things even more dangerous. Bows require strength they don’t have—they wouldn’t be able to draw them.

Relying on brute force, it’s hard for them to fight adults. But they’re agile. Sprinkling quicklime powder into someone’s eyes, mouth, or nose can immediately disorient them, and they don’t need to get too close. Even if the other person has a weapon, it’s safer.”

“That’s a good idea!” Wen Nuan Nuan extrapolated, “We could also prepare other powders—poisonous ones, antidotes, all kinds.”

“Yes. We have enough silver now. Next time we go to the pharmacy, we’ll ask and stock up on everything.”

Wen Nuan Nuan let out a sigh of relief, her worries about safety easing slightly.

“We also have two strong horses. They’ll definitely attract a lot of attention along the way. Before we set off, we should also rearrange the inside and outside of the carriage,” Leng Tian suggested.

His sister-in-law and his two younger brothers were the most vulnerable among them.

Just as wild beasts target the weakest in a herd, so do people.

They had to make it impossible for anyone to approach or climb onto the carriage.

“You’ve already thought of so much?” Wen Nuan Nuan had thought she was the only one quietly considering these issues. After speaking up, she realized Leng Xiao and Eldest Brother had thought even more deeply about them.

Leng Xiao smiled, “You take care of the food. We’ll handle safety. It’s the same.”

Wen Nuan Nuan found that with them facing it together, it didn’t seem quite so frightening anymore.