Jiang Sheng has been very happy these past few days.
Although he spent lavishly, it was only a minor loss compared to the huge sum of twenty-eight taels of silver.
The chicken and duck meat she bought were transformed into delicious pots of food by her older brother, Xu Mo, who thoroughly enjoyed them.
If it weren't for the cost, Jiang Sheng would even like to eat a chicken every day.
Of course, it's just a thought.
It's cold now, and business is tough. Some families are even hibernating all the time.
A few diligent individuals, such as Zheng Ruqian, braved the cold wind to go out and harvest vegetables.
It's been three days, and he hasn't received a single vegetable.
I returned empty-handed again today.
Jiang Sheng held a bowl of hot water to greet her second brother, who was covered in frost. "Is it because it's cold and everyone is short of food that we can't sell to you?"
Zheng Ruqian took the drink and downed it in one gulp. "Impossible. Although the eggplants and green beans are gone, there's no shortage of cabbage and radishes. We were able to get them a few days ago. How come there's nothing left all of a sudden?"
It's not that one household doesn't have it; it's that every single household doesn't have it.
It's like we made a pact.
Zheng Ruqian muttered to himself.
Chang Yan, who was standing to the side, looked up and said, "Second Brother, why don't you tell me when it started that we stopped receiving vegetables?"
Zheng Ruqian racked his brains, "From...the second day after selling tiger skins."
Jiang Sheng was startled.
The next day was nothing unusual, except that on the day they sold the tiger skin, they offended a yamen runner.
Although the yamen runners were defeated by the eldest son of the Jiang family, it doesn't mean he didn't hold a grudge.
Since he couldn't afford to offend You Ran Ju, he could only pick on the weak.
Jiang Sheng and his sister are like easy targets.
Zheng Ruqian also thought of this and hesitated before speaking, "No way... I've been harvesting vegetables with the villagers for so long, they wouldn't do this..."
Whether it works or not, we'll find out once we try.
Jiang Sheng found a beggar she knew well, picked out a clean coat that belonged to her brothers for him, gave him two coins, and told him to go to the village to collect some cabbages.
Not long after, the little beggar returned to the dilapidated temple with two cabbages in his arms.
Zheng Ruqian froze.
He never expected that all the affectionate calls he made to his aunts and grandmas over the past few months would ultimately be overshadowed by just a few words from someone else.
They clearly have vegetables but won't sell them to him. What will he give to Youranju ten days later?
Is a perfectly good, profitable business just going to be ruined like this?
Zheng Ruqian was unwilling to accept this.
Jiang Sheng comforted him, "Second brother, don't be sad. We can do other businesses. We can even hunt tigers. Hunting tigers can earn a lot of money."
“There are quite a few, but how many days does it take to encounter a tiger? If we don’t encounter one, won’t we starve to death?” Zheng Ruqian held his head. “Besides, this business was doing just fine.”
Delivering vegetables to Youranju is not only a profitable business, but also a way for Zheng Ruqian to prove himself.
This proves that he is capable of earning money and is not a useless person who needs to be supported by others.
But now, this proof has been easily shattered by someone else.
The entire village betrayed Zheng Ruqian, which saddened him and left him unsure how to face them.
Jiang Sheng sighed deeply.
She understood her second brother, but she couldn't think of any good solutions, so she could only share his sorrow.
For a time, the entire dilapidated temple was filled with sighs and lamentations.
The little beggar, now dressed in clean clothes, was confused and shouted, "Jiang Sheng, what are you sad about? Can't you get food? If you can't get it here, can't you go somewhere else?"
Jiang Sheng suddenly raised her head.
Having lived a life of self-reliance for so long, she had forgotten that when she used to beg for food, she would take a bite from one neighbor and steal two bites from another.
If one family won't give you food, go to the next one; someone will eventually give you food.
If we can't get enough vegetables from this village, we'll go to other villages to get them; we'll eventually get enough.
Jiang Sheng became happy and gave the beggar five more copper coins, telling him to buy some food and drink, and also gave him clothes.
But when he turned around, Zheng Ruqian still looked dejected.
Jiang Sheng was bewildered. "Second brother, what's wrong now?"
"Do you think I didn't go to the next village?" Zheng Ruqian said with tears in his eyes. "Don't even mention the next village, I even went to the next town."
In the end, we didn't receive a single penny.
It's clear that the hand behind this is incredibly powerful, covering the entire county.
Jiang Sheng's expression fell again.
What should we do?
Seeing that the brother and sister were about to look at each other and shed tears again, Chang Yan, who was in the corner, shook his head.
"Since we can't get it from this county, why not try the neighboring county?"
I've already thought of going to the next village or town, why can't we go to another county?
It's simply because their thinking is too rigid.
It's simply because the furthest they've ever been is the county, and they've never been to any other places.
When people broaden their horizons, they can develop a larger perspective and a more open mind.
It's always good to see more of the world.
Zheng Ruqian was somewhat dazed. In fact, it wasn't that he hadn't thought about going to the neighboring county, but humans always have a deep-seated fear of the unknown.
He was afraid that the people in the neighboring county would be difficult to talk to.
They feared that the dark hand behind their backs had also spread to the neighboring county.
I'm afraid something might happen on the way there and back.
What I fear most is that I can't do it.
Zheng Ruqian felt a deep sense of inner turmoil.
He was afraid of this and he was afraid of that, but after thinking it over, he was most afraid of becoming a useless person.
Especially compared to his older and younger brothers, he didn't want to be ordinary, much less mediocre.
What a grand event!
Zheng Ruqian clenched his fist and stood up. "I'll go."
"Let's go now."
After saying that, he grabbed his coat, took two taels of silver from Jiang Sheng, and rushed onto the donkey cart without hesitation.
Fang Heng quickly caught up and helped carry the donkey cart.
They were tearing and struggling just a moment ago, but in the blink of an eye, they've run away.
Jiang Sheng was stunned and stared blankly as the donkey cart disappeared.
After a long while, she slapped her thigh and exclaimed, "Second Brother, Third Brother, you've taken the donkey cart away! What will our eldest brother do now?"
Besides, it's almost Chinese New Year.
By evening, Jiang Sheng knew what to do.
Zheng Ruqian actually asked a friend he met while collecting vegetables to pick up and drop off Xu Mo every day for only two coins a day.
This isn't a lot of money for them now; it's acceptable.
It's just that it's unfair to Brother Xu Mo, who has to run back and forth with a bunch of dishes every time.
And so, Zheng Ruqian and Fang Heng disappeared for seven or eight days.
The whole town was filled with the festive atmosphere of the New Year. Every household was slaughtering pigs and chickens, frying meatballs and vegetables, and the children were all wearing new clothes and shoes.
Only the dilapidated temple remained eerily quiet all day long.
Every day after eating, Jiang Sheng would plan when her two older brothers would come back and how much food they would bring back.
By the end, she no longer dared to hope that her brothers would bring any food.
Xiao Jiang Sheng sincerely made a wish to Buddha, saying that she would ask for nothing more than for her brothers to return safely.
This time, Buddha appeared to him.
Fang Heng and Zheng Ruqian, who had been away for ten days, returned slowly one evening, their truck loaded with goods and bathed in the cold winter sunset.
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