Chapter 16 The shopkeeper is truly kind!
"However, given the current famine, this blue and white porcelain vase is of average quality, and pawnshops probably won't accept it."
"The pawnshop closest to the village is owned by Zhou Bapi. If you pawn your goods there, you'll lose everything!"
Jiang Ling looked at her and said, "Big sister, I'm sorry, I can't help you either."
The light in Da Shan Niang's eyes dimmed, and she slowly wrapped up the vase with trembling hands.
Just as she was clutching the vase, dejected and about to leave, she suddenly turned back, her eyes filled with a desperate, pleading look:
"Shopkeeper... then... could I... use this bottle... to exchange for some food?"
Her voice was low, "My parents haven't eaten for two days... The porridge provided by the military for disaster relief was all given to my pregnant sister-in-law..."
Seeing the anxiety in her eyes, Jiang Ling agreed.
"Can."
What kind of food would you like to change to?
The old woman was at a loss. What could she eat? Now her family didn't even have a house anymore, and their pots and pans had been washed away by the flood.
Judging from the exquisite packaging in this store, the prices must be quite high.
But she had already said it, how could she take it back?
She sighed, "What can I exchange it for? I'll leave that to the shopkeeper."
Jiang Ling thought for a moment.
Floods, destroyed houses, my younger brother's serious illness...
"Please wait a moment."
Jiang Ling walked to the counter and pulled out a red plastic bag.
I went to the shelf and bought some cookies, bread, candy, and some instant noodles that could be eaten dry. A few bottles of drinks.
After thinking for a moment, I walked to the rice bucket, took out a white bag, scooped up five or six pounds of glistening rice, and poured it into the bag!
Thinking of rice.
She turned and went back to the kitchen. She had just finished lunch and still had three boxes of rice left, which were a gift from the vendor.
Jiang Ling herself was having a hard time carrying the heavy bag, so she placed it in front of Da Shan Niang.
"These breads and biscuits can be torn open and eaten immediately, quickly filling your stomach and restoring your energy. They can be stored for over a month without opening the packaging. These three boxes of rice are leftovers from today's meal, but they are all clean, so please don't mind."
Grandma Dashan touched the still-steaming rice with both hands, her eyes filled with disbelief.
Polished rice! Steaming hot polished rice!
This white rice is all high-quality refined rice!
Before the autumn harvest, grain prices soared, and ordinary farming families could only afford to eat fine rice during the New Year holidays.
Even during the autumn harvest, each member of their family only dared to eat a small bowl.
These three boxes of steaming white rice were just handed over like that?!
She vaguely heard what the shopkeeper said, and almost instinctively shook her head, "No problem, no problem!"
She had just watched the shopkeeper frantically stuffing things into a bag, and she couldn't believe that all of these were for her.
These cookies and snacks were something she wouldn't even dare to dream of normally.
She was stunned and stood there dumbfounded when she saw the shopkeeper hand her a large bag of what looked like five or six pounds of polished rice.
"...Shopkeeper, did I get all of these by exchanging vases?" Her voice trembled.
"certainly."
All of these together don't exceed one hundred yuan.
The villagers outside the door were in an uproar:
"Good heavens! So many?!"
"That bag of pure white rice alone is enough to cover the price of a vase."
"Those pastries look even more exquisite than those from Fu Rui Zhai in town! They must be expensive!"
"That bottle isn't worth that much! Is this shopkeeper some kind of bodhisattva reincarnated?!"
"The shop owner is doing charity!"
The old woman was so surprised she didn't know what to say. Having been a head of the household, she naturally knew the value of these things.
Before she could speak, Jiang Ling ran back to the back warehouse and found a bottle of ibuprofen. She unscrewed the cap, carefully poured out three white pills, and wrapped them in paper.
It was solemnly placed in the hands of the mountain woman.
"This is a fever reducer. Take one pill at a time, dissolved in water. I don't know your brother's current condition, but this medicine can quickly reduce fever, so I hope it helps. Remember, only one pill at a time! If the high fever recurs, take another pill, with at least two hours between doses!"
The old woman was already in tears. She put the things on the ground.
thump--
With a thud, he knelt heavily on both knees.
“Thank you so much, young lady! I, Zhang Daniu, will never forget your kindness! If I cannot repay you in this life, I will be your servant in the next, even if it means repaying your life-saving grace!”
People in this era value promises and vows.
Since it has been issued, it must be obeyed even at the cost of death.
Jiang Ling was startled and quickly helped her up.
"Big sister, get up! You can't do this! I'm just doing my bit, and I don't even know if this medicine will work for your brother. Take it and try it! Saving his life is the most important thing!"
There are many causes of fever. Ibuprofen can only reduce fever; other causes require further treatment.
Whether they can be saved is still uncertain.
Hopefully, we can pull through.
With her help, Da Shan Niang stood up, sobbing uncontrollably, and bowed deeply to Jiang Ling again and again.
Only after Jiang Ling urged her repeatedly did she finally turn back every few steps, carrying the heavy red bag full of life, and stagger but determinedly run towards the Korean water village.
"The shop owner is so kind!"
"Yeah yeah."
"The shopkeeper's compassion will surely be rewarded!"
"Yeah yeah."
"We'll definitely patronize the shop more often from now on!"
"Yes! Just because of the shop owner's kindness!"
The villagers all knew that the vase wasn't worth much money. The shopkeeper gave so many things simply because he pitied Da Shan's family.
————
In the military camps stationed downstream.
Cheng Fang had just returned from lighting the fire in the kitchen when he arrived at the Crown Prince's tent with a bottle of milk and several packets of pastries.
"Captain Cheng Fang greets Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Behind the desk, Crown Prince Qin Zhao was reviewing reports on post-disaster relief. Hearing the sound, he looked up, the seriousness between his brows dissipating, and a smile appearing on his face.
"Cousin is here! No need for formalities."
Cheng Fang didn't stand on ceremony and walked straight over.
“Your cousin was away from Beijing this year, and your mother still often thinks of you.”
"How is your health lately, my aunt, the Empress? I have been away for over a year and have not been able to be by your side to fulfill my filial duties."
"Your mother is in good health, and your aunt often comes to the palace to keep you company. The two elders often think of you. Your aunt also said that you are still young and should not be sent out so early. She has complained to your father several times, fearing that something bad might happen to you."
Cheng Fang chuckled, "Mother is always like this. I'm just following the army, escorting supplies to the Anxi Protectorate. What danger could there be? My older brother was already fighting on the battlefield at my age."
"In these peaceful and prosperous times, your aunt naturally hopes you will be safe and sound. Before I left the palace, I heard that your aunt was already looking for a marriage for you, is that..."
Cheng Fangjun blushed slightly and interrupted, "Your Highness, I brought you some delicious food this time, you must try it!"
As he spoke, he opened the red plastic bag on the table and took out the milk, sandwich cookies, mung bean cakes, and butter and honey bread rolls one by one.
Qin Zhao's gaze was drawn to it.
I stared in surprise at the strange things on the table. Each one had a transparent package with small words printed on it.
The shapes of the pastries inside are clearly visible.
What is this?
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