Hearing a group of women chattering on and on about their concerns, Luo Huan's heart, as calm as still water, was stirred by a pebble, creating ripples. Although she was still looking down and munching on her sesame cake, the taste of her mother filled her mouth.
He Yingyuan looked at Luo Huan calmly, pondering how to settle things for him.
Although Luo Huan was loyal, he was initially unwilling to become a slave. He came from a good family and had studied some books and practiced martial arts when his family was well-off. Perhaps he once dreamed of traveling the world with a sword or winning the imperial examination. However, a fire extinguished all his hopes. The people who sold him were not his biological parents. He was just someone that family picked up along the way!
Come to think of it, unless they were truly desperate for money, what family would give away their precious, half-grown son just to feed their little one a bite of bread?
He Yingyuan didn't know Luo Huan's background, not because he couldn't find out, but even when he was at the height of his power, he never considered investigating Luo Huan. However, Luo Huan always refused. So he simply stopped worrying about it. Trusting people was his principle. Therefore, he didn't know where Luo Huan came from, only that he was shrewd and reserved, and a good candidate for a steward.
Then let's keep them at home for now. They'll leave when they want to. In this life, he hopes they can all be themselves and live for themselves.
In the afternoon, after taking a short nap, Qin San Niang quickly got up and went to Wang Gui Xiang's house, as she hadn't forgotten about collecting the yams.
Since taking on the job from the landlord, Cheng Shi has become even busier. His blacksmithing skills are a family tradition passed down through generations, and they are quite good! At least in Qin San Niang's opinion, he can easily outshine most blacksmiths.
Wang Guixiang was washing the bed sheets in the backyard. The New Year was just around the corner, and even though she didn't have money to buy new ones, she still wanted to wash the old ones to give things a fresh start!
Niu Niu was still being carried on her back. It was cold, and she was afraid Niu Niu would get cold. From a distance, it looked like she was carrying a round, chubby ball.
"Guixiang, you need to let Niu Niu walk around more and get more sunshine so that her legs will be strong. You can also make some bone broth for her to drink. It has calcium in it, which will help the child grow taller and help the elderly to have better legs. It's a very good tonic."
Seeing Niu Niu's soft and limp appearance, and the sparse hair around the back of her head, Qin San Niang thought that the child was probably calcium deficient.
Although she didn't know what calcium was, Wang Guixiang perked up immediately when she heard that bone broth could improve leg mobility.
"Really? If that's the case, I'll ask my husband to buy more so that Niu Niu can have some every now and then! I've been taking her out to sunbathe these past few days and helping her walk, but this child is a bit lazy. She really doesn't want to walk at all. I'm afraid she'll fall when I'm working, so I have to carry her on my back."
Wang Guixiang had no doubt what Qin Sanniang said!
She's a woman who's seen the world; even the village head has to give her some respect. Besides, her children are all educated! How could they, mere peasants, compare?
Pork bones aren't expensive. The head of the household has earned some money these past few days, so I'll have him go to the county to buy some tomorrow!
They only have one child, and neither of them is sexist!
“That’s alright. I know something called a baby walker. I’ll have someone make one for you. You can put Niu Niu in it and not worry about her falling. It can also help her practice walking.” Qin San Niang suddenly remembered the baby walker in her space. It was made of bamboo, so she could definitely use it for Niu Niu. Besides, it might be a business opportunity.
Wang Guixiang was overjoyed. Other village women all called her daughter a money-losing burden, but only she and Cheng Shi were foolish enough to treat her like a treasure! See, isn't Madam Qin even more capable than you?! She loves her daughter just as much!
"I'm so sorry, thank you so much!"
"No need for thanks, Niu Niu is so cute, I adore her too. Unlike my two little monkeys, they're practically leaping off the mountain!" She was quite lively when talking about her second child!
Remembering the purpose of her trip, Qin Sanniang said, "Speaking of which, I also have something to ask you this time. Last time I went to He County, I got a deal, and this deal is related to you."
Hearing her say that, Wang Guixiang became somewhat suspicious.
Qin San Niang didn't keep her in suspense and told her about her plan to buy yams. However, she didn't reveal Si Ji's name; one should always be cautious. Even if Wang Guixiang was trustworthy, she couldn't guarantee the safety of the others. Although the profit from buying yams wasn't large, she didn't want to work for someone else's benefit!
Wang Guixiang was so surprised to learn that they were buying yams that her jaw dropped. She couldn't help but ask, "Third Aunt, are you serious? Those yams look really ugly. They don't taste good at all either. Why would anyone buy them?!"
In her memory, yams used to grow all over the mountains, but in recent years, due to natural disasters and man-made calamities, people hadn't had enough to eat, so the villagers transplanted them from the mountains. The resulting yam roots were malnourished, making them neither attractive nor tasty! And if you accidentally got your hands on the yam's slimy sap, it would itch terribly! She had suffered from it herself! She never imagined anyone would actually buy them?
"Well, how could we possibly know how the wealthy eat? But since they want to buy it, and considering our close relationship, I came to find you right away. I wonder how much your family has left? Do you want to sell it? If you do, the owner is offering one coin per pound!" Qin San Niang thought to herself, she couldn't work for free! Earning half wasn't being a shrewd merchant, it was just earning a hard-earned living.
What?! One penny a pound?! Just that dark, murky stalk?
Wang Guixiang was both happy and frustrated. She was happy because her family had a lot of land, and although the yams were mostly planted on the edges or in corners, her mother was hardworking and must have planted quite a lot; otherwise, her two half-sisters-in-law wouldn't have allowed her to take a basket. She was frustrated because if she had known yams could be sold for money, she would have planted some herself! Now, she could only watch her family make money!
But that doesn't matter. Only when her family is doing well can she do well. Besides, if she can facilitate this deal, her status in her family will rise significantly! The thought of those two cheap, sharp-tongued sisters-in-law having to fawn over her makes her incredibly excited!
"Alright, I'll go to my parents' house right now and see how much they have. Just wait for my news!"
After seeing off Qin Sanniang, Wang Guixiang briefly explained the situation to Cheng Shi and then rushed off to Wangwu Village, not even bothering to say goodbye to Cheng Shi's instructions to be careful.
Cheng Shi, who was forging iron, hadn't even processed the news yet. What? That dark, mushy yam stalk, which only lasts a few bites and is considered useless, can actually be sold for money? And for one coin a pound?! Is Madam Qin joking?!
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