Chapter 49: Eat delicious food and drink spicy drinks
She had a plan for each of her daughters. The indigo blue one was for the eldest and second daughters; it was dirt-resistant and convenient for work. The sable fur one was for the third daughter, complementing her quiet temperament. And the gentle autumn fragrance color was for the two youngest daughters, made into cute little jackets.
The shopkeeper didn't expect that she would ask for three pieces of cloth right away. He immediately became enthusiastic and took the cloth down with swift hands and feet for her to look at.
Feng Lan carefully felt the texture of the fabric and calculated the size, confirming that it was enough to make a new set of clothes for each of her five daughters, with some scraps left over to make shoe uppers. Only then did she nod with satisfaction.
"Just these three, help me pack them up."
When paying, the shopkeeper kindly reminded me, "Madam, I see you know how to manage life. Although this cloth is not expensive, three pieces will cost several taels of silver, which is not a small amount. Winter is coming soon, so it's better to stock up on some food."
Feng Lan smiled and said, "The child is grown up now. He can't always wear old clothes."
She didn't explain much, but as she carried the packed cloth in her pocket, her heart felt filled with something. These weren't just a few bolts of cloth; they were her compensation as a mother, over a decade late. They were also her silent promise to her daughters: from now on, I will ensure you have enough food and clothing, and live like human beings.
After buying the cloth, she went to the seed shop.
The owner of the seed shop was an old acquaintance, so he was not surprised to see her come to buy radish and cabbage seeds. However, when she specifically asked for a large bag of sweet potato vines, the owner looked confused.
"Mrs. Chen, you're...planting sweet potatoes now? This isn't the right season. Even if you plant them, they'll freeze before they grow, and then they'll all rot in the ground. It'll be a waste of effort."
Feng Lan had already prepared an explanation. She lowered her voice, feigning mystery. "Shopkeeper Wang, to be honest, I didn't grow these potatoes myself. Mr. Zhang, a wealthy family in town, built a new greenhouse and wanted to have fresh sweet potatoes even in the winter, so he asked me to buy them for him. As you know, we can't fathom the intentions of wealthy families. He offered a high price, so I'm just running errands to earn some hard-earned money."
Zhang Dahu was a well-known wealthy man in the town, and he loved to tinker with new gadgets. Feng Lan's words were reasonable, and the boss immediately believed her to about 70%. He stopped asking questions and quickly prepared the seeds for her.
Carrying the seeds and cloth, Feng Lan went to the butcher's shop and bought three pounds of pork belly and some seasonings. Only then did she set out on her way home with satisfaction.
When she got home, the sun was already setting.
Chen Kangbo was returning from the mountain with his daughters, who were covered in mud. They were exhausted, but their faces were filled with excitement.
"Lan'er, it's done!" Chen Kangbo said as if he was presenting a treasure when he saw her. "The spring is still there! We've been digging for an entire afternoon and have already dug out the outline of a canal! In two days, we'll be able to bring water to the fields!"
Feng Lan smiled and nodded, taking out the things in her hand one by one.
When the three rolls of brand new cloth were unfurled under the dim light, the five girls' eyes lit up instantly. They cautiously reached out their hands and gently touched the smooth surface of the cloth, their faces filled with incredible surprise.
"Mom... this is... for us?" Erya's voice trembled. She was a practical person, knowing that the family had just split up and was in need of money. How could her mother be willing to buy such a nice thing?
"Yes, it's for you." Feng Lan compared the cloth to their bodies, "One set for each of you, from inside to outside. In a few days, mother will make it for you. From now on, the girls in our family will never wear patched clothes again."
That night, the daughters were so excited that they couldn't sleep for half the night. They folded the new cloth neatly and placed it next to their pillows, touching it from time to time, as if to make sure it wasn't a dream.
The next day, before dawn, several maids quietly got up.
They dressed neatly and loaded their small backpacks. Daya walked over to Feng Lan's bed, who was still soundly asleep. After a long pause, she couldn't bring herself to wake her. She knew her parents had been extremely tired these past few days.
"Erya, Sanya, let's go." She lowered her voice and went out with her sisters.
The new clothes gave them courage and dignity, and also instilled in them a strong sense of responsibility. Their parents were busy working for the family, so they couldn't sit idle. They agreed to go to the mountains to dig up some wild vegetables and pick some autumn mushrooms, then take them to town to sell them for a few copper coins to help share some of the family burden.
Wearing their new clothes, the girls straightened their backs considerably. They climbed the hillside with familiarity and soon found a patch of thriving wild mushrooms. As their backpacks gradually filled, their spirits soared.
Just as they were about to go down the mountain, a burst of laughter and scolding came from the woods not far away.
"Sixth brother, your archery skills are getting more and more accurate! This rabbit is really fat!"
"That's right! Don't you see who I am? When I pass the imperial examination and become an official next year, I'll treat you to delicious food and drinks every day!"
It’s Chen Kangnian!
Daya and Erya looked at each other and immediately pulled their sisters to hide behind a big rock.
In the clearing in the forest, a fire was burning, with a sizzling rabbit on the fire. Chen Kangnian was sitting by the fire, looking very proud, and beside him were two young men of the same age.
The two men were dressed in silk clothes, with slicked-back hair and powdered faces. It was obvious that they were not from respectable families. There was a frivolous and arrogant look between their brows.
"Brother Kangnian, you're really living a carefree life." One of the young men, with a pointed chin and monkey cheeks, tore off a rabbit leg and said as he ate it, "Unlike us, we're forced to study every day by our old man at home. It's a headache for us."
"That's right!" Another fatter young man echoed, "Brother Kangnian is quite capable. He has food at home and can still afford to eat outside. By the way, when are you going to pay back the two taels of silver you lost to us last time?"
The smug look on Chen Kangnian's face froze for a moment, then he forced a smile and said, "Brother Qian, Brother Li, a mere two taels of silver is nothing to worry about. Wait... wait until I get home, and I'll definitely return it double."
"Wait until next time again?" The young man surnamed Qian curled his lips, obviously not believing it.
At this moment, Si Ya, who was hiding behind a rock, accidentally knocked off a small stone, making a slight "gurgle" sound.
"who?!"
Chen Kangnian stood up alertly and looked towards the stone.
Daya knew she couldn't hide, so she had to bite the bullet and walk out with her sisters.
"It's... it's us."
When Chen Kangnian saw them, he was stunned for a moment, then a hint of disgust flashed across his eyes. But when his gaze fell on Daya and Erya, that disgust turned into a different kind of scrutiny.
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