After paying for the wantons and sending a few smiles to the auntie, Xu Feng wanted to do some shopping. Not too much shopping, in Xu Feng's opinion.
It wouldn't be smart to purchase too many things with Steward Wu around, and Lady Xuan arriving in the next week for the wedding. He wouldn't want them to feel he was living too comfortably and inviting trouble before he could really be independent.
Xu Feng also wouldn't let any of the money for renovations be sent back to the main house. Not for the sake of Si, San, and Erlang. It was merely to spite Lady Xuan for being so stingy. Okay, maybe it was a bit of both.
Xu Feng had a clear list of things he wanted and necessities. His wedding was in a week, and it was uncertain when he would get a chance to come out to Yilin even after the wedding.
Miscellaneous grains, flour, beans, kimchee, seeds, rice wine, seasonings, spices, meat, and more, in moderation, were all rational and important staples they needed to last the winter.
They needed to get back on the streets and fill up those back baskets with a little discretion.
In his previous world, Xu Feng always enjoyed shopping, unlike most boys his age. From markets to convenience stores, department stores, online shopping and grocery stores, they all had their own uniqueness.
When he was young and visited his grandma, he loved going to traditional markets with her and picking fresh produce and local specialties. As a college student, going to the convenience store was always like a small adventure away from his studies.
Xu Feng found the seasoning here was very scarce and there were not many of them in Yilin. Maybe it was different in the south or in the capital, but the town didn't have very much variety. There was no shop specifically for condiments either.
Ordinary people generally used scallion, ginger, garlic, and salt. Soy sauce, sugar, and vinegar, were only used by those who were more particular about food. There wasn't any pepper, cumin, and star anise, that were all common in modern times.
Xu Feng liked spicy food, if there was no chili in this world, would he have to eat bland and mild food for a lifetime?
"What else to buy?"
Looking up at the meat seller on the corner of the street, their group headed to the corner. Other than the wonton, they hadn't eaten fresh meat since the Xuan mother and son left.
It wasn't that there was no meat served, but it seemed only Aunt Lan, Lifen, and Steward Wu were eating meat. Xu Feng even smelled meat from the guards when he walked to digest his meal.
The only meat Xu Feng had eaten recently were from the betrothal gifts sent from the Xuan family. Although Xu Feng wasn't a die-hard meat fanatic, he still liked to eat meat like most people from modern or ancient times.
Xu Feng wasn't a pushover, but he hadn't even officially entered the door, he wasn't ready to start a fight with the servants and the former power of this estate, Steward Wu. He had other things on his plate that were much more important.
"Excuse me, give me three jin of pork belly."
The sweet and firm voice of the young ger came into the owner's ears. As soon as the pork seller raised his head, he squinted his smiling eyes and said, "What?"
Xu Feng repeated it with a charming smile as the large man's face flushed a bit. This food couldn't be kept for too long without a refrigerator or at least the first snowfall. They would need to come back into town after the wedding to buy more meat to last them over winter.
The pork seller cut the meat neatly while occasionally look at the appearance of the beautiful and refined ger, "One tael for three jin."
Pork belly cost 16 wen a catty. Xu Feng saw there were a lot of pig bones next to him. He asked, "How much is this bone?"
"Eight coins per catty."
It was so much cheaper than meat, bones were less fleshy and weighed a lot. It was not enough for a family to eat. So not many people were willing to buy bones. This caused bones to be much cheaper than meat.
The meat was super delicious, but Xu Feng looked at his group of drooling children. They needed to drink bone soup to replenish their bodies. Xu Feng chose two tube bones and paid the money.
Erlang took the initiative and took the pork not letting his mistress do any heavy labor.
Next the group went to the doctor. Winter was coming, and the days would only get colder. With their group of malnourished children, the original owner included, a good prescription for winter was necessary.
The medical hall in the town was not as big as a modern smaller clinic, but it was full of the aroma of herbal medicine. Si immediately let out a sneeze as soon as they entered.
The cabinet for the herbal medicine occupied two walls. There was an old man with all-white hair and a beard who was sitting behind the wooden desk and diagnosed the pulse of a pale-faced-ger.
That middle-aged man who wore a cobalt brocade next to her asked anxiously, "Doctor Lim, what's wrong with my wife?"
Doctor Lim hummed and said, "Stomach cold that causes stomach and abdominal pain. Need some good treatment."
The middle-aged man breathed a sigh of relief. "Then please make the prescription!"
Doctor Lim glanced at the middle-aged man. "You should pay attention to your diet when you have a stomach cold. Don't eat raw or cold food. I'll prescribe some pepper for you and add some when you boil a stew."
When Xu Feng heard this, pure excitement flashed in his eyes. He sneakily looked over at Doctor Lim who lowered his head to write a prescription then asked his apprentice to grab the medicine.