After You Jin sisters climbed over the first short hill, Wuliqiao's villagers were no longer in sight.
Most of the villagers in Wuliqiao were on the sunny side of the mountain. You Jin sisters had currently reached the shady side. The wet bamboo leaves that have rotted on the ground were full of fertility and nourished the land. Because of the heavy humidity, there were more tea tree mushrooms here than on the sunny side. What's more, You Jin finally found the daphne genkwa she hadn't found in the sun-facing hills!
You Jin dug out a few of the daphne genkwa by their roots. Afterward, she tied them with a straw rope she always carried on her and set them aside. Then she searched for the traces of tea tree mushrooms with her few younger sisters.
You Jin can distinguish several edible mushroom. That was why she picked more variety of mushroom. Not only did she pick a basket full of tea tree mushrooms, she even foraged a small bunch of bamboo mushrooms by the roots of the dead bamboo. Hold the bamboo fungus! These had been labelled as one of the 'Eight Treasures of Grass' since ancient times!
Previously, there hadn't been any trace of the bamboo mushroom on the other side of the mountain. Now from the look of it, the dead bamboo over there hadn't had time to grow the bamboo mushrooms due to being chopped by the villagers and used as firewood.
She hurriedly called the few younger sisters over to show them the appearance of the bamboo mushroom: "This mushroom is also edible. It grows on the rotten bamboo roots. If you see it, you can also pick it."
As soon as she said this, You Zhu immediately remembered the sight of these on withered bamboo roots earlier and uttered: "Eldest Sister, I know where it is. I will go to pick it!"
Both You Yin and You Bao also had some recollections. The sisters dispersed again and went to work on their own.
The four sisters stayed on the mountain for an hour and a half. In the end, not only was the baskets on their backs were tightly packed, but their hands also carried a large bundle of leaf-wrapped parcels tied with straw ropes. It was a bountiful return.
Sure enough, Second Master Huang recognized the precious mushroom like bamboo fungus. He gave three times the price of the tea tree mushroom and bought out You Jin's yesterday's half basket full of bamboo mushroom. He specially called You Jin to the front to speak: "Little miss, if you have any new and novel in the future, send it to Yunweixuan. As long as it is fresh enough, I will take it all."
After that, he got the kitchen to pack two plates of new snacks for her to bring home.
You Jin smilingly accepted the snacks and responded, "Second Master is our Su Family's benefactor. The price you gave us is also appropriate. Naturally, I will prioritize your side first."
Second Master Huang nodded with satisfaction, "This fresh tea tree mushroom tastes good. These two days, there's not enough to buy. If you have it, why don't you send more?"
Second Master Huang only needs tea tree mushroom because bamboo were sold everywhere on the street now and tea tree mushroom was only available from Su Family. It wasn'y a problem to only get from her.
"Second Master, you also know that things like mushrooms depend on the weather. I don't dare to promise you on the quantity. I can only say we'll give you as much as my family gets. What do you think?" You Jin naturally left some leeway. After all, the mushroom did depend on the weather.
It went without saying Second Master Huang understood and didn't make it hard for her. The two talked for a while before You Jin came out of the back door. You Yin and You Zhu, who had been waiting at the back door for a long time, followed her to the West Market.
Luohe Prefecture was a large town extending in all directions. There were many merchants coming and going. Therefore, there were many variety of things that can be bought. Since You Jin had more money in her hands, she liked to go shopping in the West Market when she has time. If she found something new and were seeds that in Luohe Prefecture didn't have, You Jin would consider buying it back to check it out.
As a result, she bought a package of sansho pepper seeds from a merchant who just returned from the Western Regions. The merchant found it novel and brought a small bag back. This thing wasn't worth much. That was why he charge You Jin thirty wens.
You Jin happily paid the money, put the tightly wrapped sansho pepper seeds into the back basket, and then continued shopping with You Yin and You Zhu.
"Eldest Sister, such a small package costs thirty cents! This too expensive!" You Zhu was a little stunned. The merchant really dared to sell it! Eldest Sister is actually willing to buy it!
You Jin patted You Zhu's little head: "Little miser, this is called investment. Although it is expensive, it's not expensive as long as it is useful."
At this response, You Zhu stopped talking. Anyway, in her eyes, Eldest Sister had her own reasons for what she does. She just needs to obediently comply.
In fact, You Jin wasn't sure if she could grow sansho pepper in Luohe Prefecture. Recalling her past life, it seemed that the tropical temperate zone could grow it. So she wanted to try it out. If it did, it would be a good thing, right?
It had been nearly a month since they moved to Luohe Prefecture. Due to the sharp improvement in the food at home, the faces of the children of Su Family had gottne rounder. Even the two babies too; Mrs. Su 's circumstance had improve and their milk supply was sufficient. A great difference from when they were born. The one and a half month old baby didn't need to be constantly held by anyone. Just put them on the kang and someone can watch from the side.
After Su Family moved to Wuliqiao, nothing strange happened. The villagers dared to go up and down the mountain from that side. The wild boys in the village dared to go to Su's door and look around. When they saw someone coming out, they made up a song: "Skirt wearer, haunted house stayer, and sleep with a female ghost at night!"
Before the people in the yard could respond, You Jin and the others who came back from the market ran over first. You Zhu picked up the pebble on the ground and hurled it at the four or five teen boys. As she hurled, she scolded, "Taking nonsense! Come on, talk nonsense and see how I'll smash you to death!"
When the mischievous teens see incoming people, they all dispersed in a swoosh. After reaching the place where You Zhu couldn't reach them, they made a cheeky expression at them before running away in laughter.
You Zhu was so angry that she wanted to chase after them and give them some attitude. But You Jin firmly grabbed the back of the basket: "Why are you chasing!"
Slightly aggrieved You Zhu have slightly red eyes: "Eldest Sister!"
"Don't mess around! Everyone go back!" She dragged You Zhu directly into the courtyard gate. It seem You Bao came out to open the door to pick vegetables in the field when she got frightened by the teens.
It suddenly dawned on You Jin. Right now, the family was all little girls. Although she was already practicing some fighting moves. If people come in groups of three or five to look for trouble, even she can't win! She sighed and comforted You Zhu: "Eldest Sister didn't let you chase for your own good. Do you remember what Eldest Sister told you before. Hitting a stone with an egg is the stupidest move. You are an eight-year-old girl! How are you going to fight four or five eleven- or twelve-year-old teen boys?"
After listening to Eldest Sister's words, You Zhu calmed down and fear set in. Still, she was displeased: "So we let people bully us like this?"
"Be obedient, I'll go to He Lizheng to talk about it later." You Jin sighed. Then she took out the snacks given by Second Master Huang from the back basket. One of the packets was distributed to the sisters. The other unopened packet was taken to the village.
The teen boys ran to the east of the river. Seeing that Su Family hadn't chased after them, they joked around by the river. From a distance, a person can be seen coming out from Su Family's place at the west side of the river. As she approached closer, they discovered it was the oldest girly from Su Family. The few boys defensively eyed her, thinking that she was coming to them to settle accounts.
But You Jin walked past the group without looking sideways. After entering the village, she directly went to He Hao's house.
It wasn't farming peak season now. Still, the villagers can't remain idle. So He Hao, who came back from the field with a hoe, saw You Jin coming. He jollily told his wife to bring out two bowls of white sugar water: "You Jin, what bring you here?"
This little girl wasn't simple. No one in Wuliqiao thought about digging bamboo shoots to sell for so many years. And this foreign household was the first to take the lead in selling bamboo shoots. Many others followed and made some money.
You Jin smiled and put the snacks on the table and spoke: "Today, I delivered some veg to the nobles in the city and got a few packet of snacks. It's been more than a month since our family moved to Wuliqiao. It's all thanks to your care. That's why, I'm sending some for your family to try."
He Hao's wife, Zhao Chun Hua, jollily served sugar water. Hearing that she said that it was snacks rewarded by the nobles in the city, she grinned like a Cheshire cat: "Oh! You are too polite!"
"Auntie, what are you talking about? Our family consist of orphans and a widow. If it wasn't for you and Uncle Lizheng's care, how could we live so comfortably!"
He Hao waved his hand: "Since I am Lizheng, I should take care of the villagers! If you have any difficulties, just tell me. I will help if I can!"
Only then did You Jin show a hesitant expression as she looked at He Hao and his wife, "About difficulties, there is something. Just now there were a few teens playing around in front of our house. I understand children got big mouth. But my third younger sister is wild. She threw people with small stones. I didn't see it clearly at the time. Plus those boys ran fast. I don't know if anyone was hit. If any family said they got hit, could Uncle Lizheng help mediate a bit."
Before He Hao repsond, Zhao Chun Hua slapped her thigh first. She knew who she was talking about: "Hey! It's those brats from old Third Chen's family at the back! When I just came back, I found it strange; those few hooligan boys were running over the west of the river like a ghost!"
When Mrs. Zhao said this, He Hao understood. He sighed: "Those hooligan boys' parents are hooligans too and wander around the village all day. Since they all ran away, they weren't hurt. If they go to your house to make trouble again, you can tell me. I have my way to sort those hooligan boys."
This was the result You Jin desired. She nodded with a slight smile and chatted with Lizheng couple for a while. Then she smilingly declined Zhao's meal invite and went back to the west of the river.
He Hao closed the courtyard door. Returning to the main room, he discovered Mrs. Zhao had unwrapped the snacks wrapped in oil paper. After drinking the remaining white sugar water in the bowl, he sighed: "This eldest girly from Su Family isn't simple! If she is a man, her future is limitless!"
"You got lots of know-how. It's just getting good things and sharing them with you?" Mrs. Zhao grumpily glanced at him and quickly put away the snacks. Once the few children come back, they can eat it. Mrs. Zhao was a straightforward and friendly woman from a peasant family. After getting somethings from Su Family, it went without saying she felt a little closer to Su Family. She spoke for You Jin "She is so caring. A family of orphans and widow. Don't let those hooligan boys bully them!"
He Hao laid on the kang sideway and jollily sighed: "What do you with long hair and short knowledge understand?"
"I don't understand anything. You understand!" Mrs. Zhao disgruntledly rolled her eyes at He Hao. After putting away the snacks, she went to prepare lunch.