After a while, the waiter came out with a bag of rice weighing about 50 kilograms. He was so careful, as if he was protecting some precious treasure.
When they opened the bag, they were almost blinded by what they saw: a bag of yellowed broken rice.
Is this rice?
The shopkeeper smiled and said:
"This rice isn't the best we have in northern Xinjiang, but it's the only kind. Don't despise it. Even at my 80-cent price, people still rush to buy this rice."
What? Wen Xi's ears nearly rang. You know, pork here is only a little over 20 wen per jin. Even the best rice in the capital is only around 10 wen per jin.
Oh my god! It seems that I will have to give up rice from now on.
Aunt Mao was also a little confused. She asked about the price of other flours in a daze. She wondered if the price of food here was going to go through the roof? How could she and her family survive?
"Flour is cheap here. White flour is the best, six cents a pound. Corn flour is four cents, brown flour is two cents, and mixed grain flour is the cheapest, only one cent a pound."
Everyone couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. Fortunately, these prices are normal.
Everyone bought white flour and cornmeal. As for dark flour and other things, only Xiuli, who didn't have much savings, bought some.
Multi-grain flour is actually flour made from the skins of various grains, and is usually used to feed pigs. But since people here are poor, only those who can barely make ends meet will buy it.
As for rice, everyone was afraid. Except for Gu Nan who was clamoring for rice, Mrs. Bai had to buy ten kilograms. Mrs. Miao, who was not short of money, also bought ten kilograms.
Originally, Gu Shengjian was making a fuss about wanting to eat, but ended up getting beaten up by his own mother, and finally he behaved himself.
Bai turned around again and asked doubtfully:
"Hey, boss, where's your cooking oil?"
"Oh, unfortunately, we don't have any vegetable oil here. It's too expensive. Only the high-ranking officials in Kyoto can afford it. We can't afford it here."
Well, everyone was completely disappointed. They could only pay the money, leave their address, and leave.
Wen Xi grabbed a few soybeans and looked at them; they were quite plump.
The shopkeeper saw it and came over to ask:
"How about some soybeans? Not many people eat them here, so we usually just buy them and fry them for the kids. They're not expensive, why not buy some and try them?"
"How much silver is this?"
The shopkeeper held up three fingers:
"Only three cents a pound. Two pounds?"
Wen Xi shook her head.
"No, I want ten pounds."
The shopkeeper thought he'd failed again! And yet this prodigal child suddenly wanted to buy ten pounds. Wasn't he afraid of breaking his teeth? Then he looked uncertainly at the adults who had the final say.
Aunt Mao nodded with a forced smile:
"Well, ten pounds, whatever she says is fine!"
"Okay, I'll weigh it for you. By the way, do you want to send it back with the flour?"
"Yes, please, boss."
After paying the bill and leaving the house, Wen Xi stuck out her tongue at Aunt Mao. Her mischievous expression made people feel helpless.
I went to the butcher's and bought five pounds of fat-less pork at twenty-three cents a pound, and two pounds of pork belly at eighteen cents a pound. The owner then added three large ribs.
I originally wanted to buy mutton, but there were too many things to carry and it was difficult to pick them up, so I could only stare at them with envy.
But at least I know there's plenty of mutton here, and it's not expensive, with bone-in mutton only costing 15 coins per pound. This is something you can't get in the capital!
After returning with a full load, it was time to go back, but when he reached the inn, Wen Xi thought of Ye Erniang and wondered if her illness had recovered.
In ancient times, colds were life-threatening, but nowadays, they're not considered a serious illness. But I can't help her, as I don't know how to heal. Then I thought, at least if I could talk to her, she wouldn't be so lonely.
"Auntie, I want to go see Madam Ye."
Aunt Mao thought for a moment and replied:
"We should go. She looks a little scary, but she's a good person and helped us a lot in the past. But we won't go over there. You can go up and say hello, and then come down to the door to wait for us. Auntie, buy some dried vegetables before dark. I don't know if they can sell them in the middle of winter."
"Okay, then go slow. I'll wait here obediently."
After entering the inn, I asked the waiter and found out that Ye Erniang was still living there, so I went straight upstairs to look for her.
"Knock, knock, knock."
"Enter."
When I pushed the door open with a "creak", I saw Ye Erniang sitting on the bed covered with a quilt, in a daze.
His complexion seemed to be much better.
Wen Xi hesitated and walked to the bed and sat down.
Ye Erniang looked at her like this, with a hint of smile in her eyes:
"I didn't expect you to come see me."
"What are you talking about? How could I not come to see you? After all, we are close friends who have been through thick and thin together..."
Wen Xi suddenly realized that what he said was a bit casual, so his voice became weaker and weaker as he spoke.
"Pfft... What kind of friendship can there be between a little girl like you and me?"
Wen Xi was stunned and said with her mouth open:
"You actually laughed? Laughed?"
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