"I thought it was something serious!" Madam Su Bai visibly breathed a sigh of relief and pulled out two taels of silver from under the bed. "Tomorrow your second brother is going to town to sell rabbits, and I'll have him take you with him. This is the two taels of silver that Green Bean Eyes lost. Buy whatever you like tomorrow; we're not short of money!"
Su Hua looked at the small box and felt a tightness in her chest as she saw less than three taels of silver left.
In the countryside, people can only save up two taels of silver a year at most, let alone the Su family who have always been unlucky. But she gave it to me without even frowning.
The money the Su family had earned from selling land over the years had almost all been spent on buying food and clothes for the original owner.
If it weren't for the Feng family paying another two taels and seven mace, the family's savings would have amounted to only a few dozen copper coins.
"Thank you, Mother." Su Hua's lips curled slightly.
In Shanghe Village, spices such as bay leaves, cinnamon, and star anise have never been seen before. Farmers usually cook with just oil, salt, and chili peppers. Tomorrow, I'll have to try my luck in town. If I can find these spices, then I can definitely enjoy the delicious snails.
Now that she has accepted this body, she should naturally remember the good deeds of the past years and do her best to ensure that the Su family lives a good life.
"Oh, there's no need to thank me." Madam Su smiled gently. "You're my precious daughter. If I don't give you this money, who else should I give it to? It's getting late. Go to bed early. You can't sleep in when you go to town tomorrow."
Su Hua nodded, stopped flipping the pancakes over and over, and soon drifted off to sleep.
Until a rooster crowed.
When she opened her eyes, the blankets beside her were already ice cold.
Looking out the window, she saw a wisp of gray smoke rising. The morning air was a bit chilly, and Su Hua had put on an outer garment over her long dress.
"Oh, Hua'er got up really early today!" Zhao was busy in the kitchen when she looked at Su Hua at the door with some surprise and asked, "Is Hua'er hungry? The porridge in this pot will be ready in a little while."
In the Su family, the two daughters-in-law always take turns cooking.
Zhao was a very gentle person, and she always got up very early whenever it was her turn.
"Sister-in-law, I'm not hungry, there's no rush to eat." Su Hua smiled, filled her mouthwash cup with water, and brushed her teeth in the yard.
It was called brushing teeth, but it was really just dipping willow twigs in water and rubbing them in the mouth. It was certainly not comparable to the toothbrushes and tooth powder used by wealthy people, but it was still somewhat effective. At least, no one in the Su family had yellow teeth.
Just as she finished washing up, she saw Su Baishi leading Su Erhu back to the courtyard.
"Erhu, you and Hua'er hurry up and eat breakfast, then go to town together," Su Baishi instructed. "Remember to take good care of Hua'er, don't let her out of your sight, and don't let anyone bully her even a little bit, understand?"
"Yes, son knows," Su Erhu quickly replied.
Su Hua's eyes warmed slightly. In Su Bai's eyes, she seemed to be a little girl who never grew up.
Even though she's not stupid anymore.
Shanghe Village is located in a remote area, surrounded by mountains. It is more than 20 miles away from the nearest town, Cangwu. It would take the Su siblings at least an hour to walk there. With Su Hua's imposing physique, it would take even less than an hour.
Just as the two stepped out of the village, the sound of clattering hooves echoed behind them.
A blue cloth carriage brushed past the two of them from behind.
"This horse is quite handsome!" Su Hua clicked her tongue as she looked at the large hooves that were gradually shrinking.
Su Erhu spat fiercely, "This horse is handsome, but its owner is a heartless bastard! He gave birth to a daughter who steals other people's husbands and flaunts her every day. He's truly shameless!"
Su Hua's lips twitched, finally realizing who her second brother was cursing.
Meng Yun'er of the Meng family.
"Don't worry, Second Brother, when we make money in the future, we'll buy four tall horses to pull our cart!" Su Hua chuckled. "Then we'll be the most impressive family in the entire Cangwu Town, even the Meng family can't catch up with us!"
"Four, four horses?" Su Erhu's eyes widened in surprise. "One horse costs at least twenty taels of silver. If it's a good-looking horse, it might cost thirty taels. If we buy four, it will cost at least one hundred and twenty taels of silver. Our family can't afford that."
Su Hua was slightly surprised. In her memory, the entire Su family was completely illiterate.
How come my second brother is so quick to start making plans?
The two chatted and laughed all the way to Cangwu Town. By then, it was already bright daylight, and the rising sun had already peeked out.
"Second brother, where should we sell these rabbits?" Su Hua looked at the entrance of Cangwu Town, which was built with bluestone, and wiped away her sweat. Her body was heavy, and walking was a hardship. In just one hour, she looked like she had been pulled out of a sweat.
Su Erhu glanced at his younger sister, a hint of heartache flashing in his eyes. "Let's go to Fugui Restaurant. I have some connections with the staff there. After we sell the rabbit, we can at least get a bowl of tea."
“Okay!” Su Hua nodded.
Fugui Restaurant is located in the east of the town. To walk from the town gate, you need to pass through the town's morning market.
At the market, vendors were calling out their wares at the top of their lungs. As far as the eye could see, there were plump, white meat buns, steaming hot mutton soup, noodles topped with meat broth and scallions, bright red and glistening candied hawthorns, and sweet and soft green rice cakes and dumplings—all exuding the flavor of everyday life.
Su Hua couldn't help but lick her lips. Once she lost weight, she would definitely buy two of each and eat her fill.
It was just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), and only one door of the Fu Gui Restaurant was open. A waiter was sweeping fallen leaves in front of the restaurant with a broom. He looked up and saw Su Erhu, his eyes lighting up slightly. "Erhu is here today! Oh, and who is this young lady behind you...?"
"Brother Li, this is my little sister." Su Erhu's face was beaming with smiles. "Hua'er, this is Brother Li, my buddy Su Erhu."
"Hello." Su Hua habitually reached out her hand, but quickly withdrew it, pretending to scratch her head and laugh.
Li Shan was taken aback and then smiled, "Hello, I often hear Erhu mention his younger sister. Today, I can confirm that Miss Su is indeed very fortunate."
Su Hua's smile remained unchanged; she would take it as a compliment for now.
Su Erhu asked Li Shan for a large bowl of water and handed it to Su Hua. Then he took out a large gray rabbit from the basket on his back. "Brother Li, is the manager at the restaurant? Does your manager want this rabbit? We just caught it from the mountains yesterday, it's still alive."
"Wow, this rabbit is really fat!" Li Shan's eyes lit up. "Erhu, wait a moment, I'll go call the manager."
A short while later, Li Shan led out a middle-aged man dressed in a dark blue brocade robe.
Upon seeing the rabbit, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, and he immediately made a decision: "Young man, a dead rabbit from an ordinary hunter costs twenty coins a pound, but your rabbit is not only fresh but also well-shaped. I'll give you twenty-five coins a pound, is that acceptable?"
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