Wu Shiliu continued, "I shamelessly asked the madam's maid if we could exchange our wages for grain, cloth, and other things. To my surprise, the madam agreed without hesitation and even gave us all these things. Tell me, can less than two months' wages buy so many good things?"

The mountain people immediately shook their heads and shouted, "Don't dream about it! Who can earn so much good stuff in two months of work?"

Many women stared intently at the bolts of linen, their eyes almost shining. "Look at this cloth! You can tell it's woven very tightly. It'll definitely be durable and comfortable to wear!"

Wu Shiliu's wife, Chunniang, was beaming with joy. She saw that the cart not only contained grain and cloth, but also several small jars. When she opened them, she found they were full of fine salt!

She had never seen such pure white and fine salt before in all her life.

The three things that are most lacking in the mountains are all here. No wonder even her own husband says that Madam Pei is a living bodhisattva!

Chunniang smiled and said to Wu Shiliu, "Don't stand outside talking anymore, please come inside and sit down. This young man has been driving the carriage all day, he must be tired. Why don't you invite him in for some tea?"

Wu Shiliu then realized that he had been so engrossed in chatting and laughing that he had neglected the coachman who had brought them back. He quickly said to the young man driving the carriage, "I'm so sorry, look at me, I just couldn't stop talking once I started. Please come in and sit down, stay at my house tonight, don't be shy!"

Chunniang hurriedly brought a kettle into the main room to make tea. She said, "This is mountain tea that we picked ourselves. It's not worth much. Please don't mind it, young man. Just try it out! If you're not in a hurry to go back, why don't you stay here for a couple more days? Don't be fooled by the difficult road here. The soil and water in the mountains are quite good!"

Chunniang spoke in the local dialect, and seeing that the young man was confused, Wu Shiliu quickly explained it to him in Mandarin.

Wu Shiliu's trip was very fruitful. He not only had plenty of food and drink, but also brought back many things. Even his previously rusty Mandarin became much more fluent.

The young man driving the carriage was named Jingcheng. Hearing the woman, who was about the same age as his mother, calling him "little brother" repeatedly, he suddenly felt a little embarrassed.

“Auntie, you can call me Ah Cheng. Madam asked me to stay here for two days, and then I will take Wu Yiyi back with me.”

When Wu Shiliu relayed Acheng's words to Chunniang, Wu Yiyi's family arrived. Their home was at the farthest end of the village, which is why they had only just arrived.

Wu Yiyi's father could understand Mandarin, but he couldn't speak it. As soon as he entered the door, he heard Jingcheng's words, and he quickly said to Wu Yiyi, "Yiyi, quickly tell this young man to come back and stay with us!"

Wu Shiliu said with a stern face, "Brother, why are you trying to steal my customers?"

Dongshan Village has a small population, with only twenty or thirty households in total. Most of them are related by blood or marriage, and the relationships between each household are very good.

People like Wu Yiyi's father and Wu Shiliu, who are of similar age, are close friends who grew up together and speak to each other very casually.

Wu Yiyi's father, Wu Mu, chuckled when he heard Wu Shiliu's words. "Shiliu, what are you saying? It's just that Brother Cheng has to trouble himself to take Yiyi back. How could I not let him entertain her for a couple of days?"

Wu Shiliu naturally knew Wu Mu's personality. Wu Mu had been a kind and honest person since childhood, and he was always very grateful. Moreover, he was always straightforward and had no hidden agendas.

Wu Shiliu then conceded, saying, "Well then, Brother Cheng can stay at my house for now, and then go to your house the day before we have to go back."

Chunniang also advised, "Brother Wumu, it's so late today, it wouldn't be good to trouble Brother Cheng to make another trip. Let's just do as Sixteen said."

Wu Mu was not good with words, and although he had a lot to say, he couldn't express it. He secretly regretted not bringing his wife Tao Niang with him, so he had no choice but to agree.

Before leaving, Wu Mu made sure to have Wu Yi convey his message to Jing Cheng again and again: "Brother Cheng, come to my house tomorrow. I will bring Yi Yi to welcome you tomorrow."

Wu Yiyi was already quite familiar with Jingcheng, since they saw each other frequently in the courtyard. He said to Jingcheng, "Brother Cheng, I'll come to see you with Dad tomorrow."

Jingcheng suddenly remembered something and said to Wu Yiyi, "Yiyi, don't rush to take your grain. Tomorrow I will drive the carriage directly to your house, so you won't have to carry it all by yourself."

The cloth and salt were relatively light and easy to carry home, but the large bag of grain was quite heavy.

After hearing Wu Yiyi's account, Wu Mu thought to himself: "To complain about the weight of the grain is truly ungrateful." But knowing that Acheng meant well, he didn't insist on carrying the grain home.

Wu Yi ran all the way and finally returned to the home he had been longing for. He pushed open the gate of his courtyard, carrying the salt jar, and saw his mother sitting in the main room with his three aunts, sewing a small garment, which should be his eldest brother's child's clothes.

"Mother, I'm back!" Wu Yi shouted and ran towards Tao Niang.

Tao Niang was startled by the shout. When she came to her senses, she realized that it was her youngest son who had returned. She hugged Wu Yiyi and looked him over, asking in surprise, "Yiyi, how did you get back? Did you walk back by yourself?"

Wu Yiyi quickly waved her hand and replied, "No, Mother, it was Madam who sent a carriage to bring me and Uncle Sixteen back together."

Tao Niang first recited a Buddhist prayer, then asked, "Don't you need to take care of the cows anymore? Does Lord Pei's family no longer need milk?"

Upon hearing this, the three aunts also looked nervously at Wu Yiyi, waiting for his answer.

Wu Yiyi quickly replied, "No, Lord Pei still has work for me. It's just that Uncle Sixteen and the others are coming back after they finish their work, so Madam kindly allowed me to come back and rest for a couple of days. The carriage that Madam sent and Brother Cheng are still at Uncle Sixteen's house. Brother Cheng will take me back with him in a couple of days."

Tao Niang and Wu Yiyi's three aunts breathed a sigh of relief. Their family was large and had not separated, with four generations living together. Although they raised some livestock, they were still struggling financially.

If Wu Yiyi can keep this job, that would be best. Even if it doesn't bring much profit to the family, at least it will save them a mouth to feed.

A teenager like Wu Yiyi has a very large appetite, and if he stays at home, he will be half-starved, which Tao Niang can't bear.

Just then, Wu Mu, who had been left behind by Wu Yiyi, returned. As soon as he entered the room, he was met with four pairs of bright eyes.

Of course, none of the four pairs of fierce eyes were on Wu Mu, but rather on the cloth he was holding.

Tao Niang quickly stepped forward and took the cloth from Wu Mu's arms. Her sisters-in-law followed closely behind. The three of them approached to examine it closely, and then touched it with their hands. They exclaimed in surprise, "It's top-quality linen. Clothes made from this kind of cloth are very durable!"

Tao Niang was equally captivated by the fabric. She asked Wu Yiyi in astonishment, "Yiyi, did you bring this back?"