Five days later, Li Laoshi led his mule up the mountain to pick up the people.
This trip was also to explore the route.
The mountain road is rugged and steep. In some places, people can walk, but large livestock cannot. The road needs to be repaired.
Halfway there, the old mule refused to move and instead kicked up its heels and ran away. Li Laoshi chased after it several times until he was exhausted.
Seeing the old mule's terrified expression, Li Laoshi finally realized that it was Peiqi who was behind it all, and he was so angry that he went to chase the hiding wild boar again.
Finally, they had to call on Xiaoman and Errui for help, and they managed to coax and trick the old mule into going up the mountain.
After being kept at the foot of the mountain for five days, Xu Genyou combed the old mule's hair and fed it good feed for a few days. It looked a little better than when it was with the cattle dealer, but it was still skinny.
In the past, when carrying heavy loads, there were several pits and bumps on its back from the wear and tear caused by the wooden frame.
Grandpa Xiaoman stroked the old mule's back and sighed, "You're an old man too, you still have to risk your life one more time."
Don't worry, if you work hard for two years, I'll give you a place to retire in the future.
He was talking about mules, but it also seemed like he was talking about himself.
They didn't have many years left to live, but they risked their lives again, and life has gradually become easier.
Before, the old mule was still doing heavy work every day. When it collapsed, it would be eaten.
Now that it's in the hands of our own people, we can at least have an easier time in the last few years.
Li Laoshi was actually suing Page.
"Sister Jiang, Peiqi scared me again on the road. Not only did she scare me, but she also scared the mule. The mountains are high and the slopes are steep. What if she throws the mule off?"
Ever since Xu Changshou's family stole the "iron bell" from the mountain last year, the wild boars have stopped guarding the house and only like to guard the road, and incidentally take care of picking up and dropping off their family members.
When Li Laoshi came up the mountain last time, he was terrified by Peiqi and kept demanding compensation.
He said that if he hadn't known that Paige liked to pick people up on the street, he would have almost turned and run away.
Come to think of it, anyone would be afraid if they were stopped by a big wild boar. With it around, it would be difficult for outsiders to come to Laoyun Cliff.
But what if the old mule is also afraid of being startled?
Wild boars have now become a stumbling block on the road to wealth!
Solving the problem isn't difficult. Jiang Zhi doesn't need the wild boar and the mule to develop a friendship; all she needs is for them to interact more and gradually become familiar with each other's presence.
In the woods, the old mule gradually calmed down under Xiaoman's comforting caresses, and began to eat heartily the tender, juicy grass, as well as soybean cakes and wheat bran.
Not far away, Peppa was lying in the big hole she had dug herself, peeking out furtively.
It felt its territory was becoming increasingly lively and threatening.
There are two little creatures in the wooden shed who eat well every day, not only fine bran flour but also tender vegetable porridge.
Now another tall one has arrived, and it's feeding on tender grass.
Thinking of this, Peppa quickly ran back to the hilltop and started banging her food bowl hard... Clang! Clang!
………………………
Before dawn, a thin mist and thick clouds shrouded the mountains and forests. By the light of the stars on the horizon, an old mule, its body glistening with dew, carried two large baskets of mosquito coils down the mountain.
By this time, two or three households in the village were already bustling with activity. The old mule paused briefly in front of the hut before embarking on the official road leading to Pingchuan County.
Errui and Wuyang followed behind, pushing a wheelbarrow that Xu Genyou had bought a couple of days ago in Lihua Town.
Jiang Zhi and Xiao Man sat on either side of the wheelbarrow.
Apart from Jiang Zhi, the three young people took turns pushing the cart. They knew the route well, and since it was cool in the early morning, they could keep walking without stopping to rest.
When driving in mountainous areas, the wheelbarrow reigns supreme. It is not limited by terrain conditions; it can travel on muddy, gravelly, and narrow mountain paths without causing unbearable bumps.
Among the pedestrians traveling on the official road, there were actually very few two-wheeled or four-wheeled vehicles; the vast majority were pushing their carts.
At this time, in addition to the person sitting on the wheelbarrow, there was also a large bag containing wood ear fungus and hemp straw sandals that Chunfeng had dried.
There were also oak mushrooms, wood ear fungus, bamboo shoots saved from between teeth, pheasants and rabbits, and embroidered handkerchiefs made by the scholar's wife that the villagers had picked up. They asked Jiang Zhi to help them take these to the city to exchange for money.
As noon approached and the sun grew stronger, the wooden cart and the old mule entered Pingchuan County.
After traveling dozens of miles, both people and animals were exhausted. Jiang Zhi picked up a bamboo tube, took a sip of cool boiled water, and said to Er Rui, who was leading the mule, "Let's go to the Huo family first."
He then said to Xiaoman and Wuyang, "Take these things on the cart to a general store. If they won't take the pheasants and rabbits, find another restaurant to sell them to."
Xiaoman said with a smile, "Don't worry, Auntie, Brother Xiang and the others have already told us what to do."
By now, Xiaoman has sold goods in the city several times and has a pretty good grasp of the city's rules.
Especially when they almost got into trouble selling tender corn, Xiang Dejin and the others specifically pointed out several grocery stores that specialized in purchasing corn.
They said that if I need to exchange anything for money in the future, I can just send it there and give them my name so I won't be cheated.
Jiang Zhi nodded: "Okay, after you've sold your things, go eat. Er Rui and I have other things to take care of. Remember to wait for us at the city gate when you go back this afternoon."
In summer, the journey only takes place in the early morning and late at night, and by the time you get back it's already midnight.
Xiaoman nodded repeatedly.
He knew that Aunt Jiang was going to deliver mosquito coils and also had to report the oxen to the county government. He was also feeling frustrated by going along with her, so he thought it would be a good opportunity to spend half a day having fun with Brother Wu and Brother Xiang: "Okay, we'll wait at the city gate."
Jiang Zhi arrived at the Huo family's pharmacy with her mule and happened to run into Miss Huo the Second.
"Madam Jiang, you've finally arrived! I was just about to send you a message," the second young lady said cheerfully.
Jiang Zhi pretended to rub her forehead: "No wonder my ears were burning the other day. It seems people can't stand being nagged."
"Hahaha! Yes, I just read Madam Jiang's name. How many mosquito coils were delivered today?" Miss Huo changed the subject and asked about the basket that had been unloaded from the mule's back by the shop assistant.
Jiang Zhi smiled wryly: "There was a heavy rain a while ago, and we ran out of herbs. It took us these past few days to finish a thousand plates."
Miss Huo stopped just as she was about to step out: "Mrs. Jiang, I was just about to say that! Mosquito coils are selling very well right now, you should make more!"
Ah, look how impatient I am! You should rest and eat something first!
Jiang Zhi had the same idea and needed to discuss it in detail with the second young lady: "Then I'll trouble you to wait a while, second young lady. I'll find a roadside inn to feed the mule first and then come back."
The journey here has been alright, people are fine.
The three of them took turns pushing the cart along the way. While sitting in the cart, they could eat and drink as they pleased and even rest for a while. Now they were neither tired nor hungry.
The old mule has had a tough time.
Although a thousand mosquito coils only weigh a few dozen kilograms, traveling sixty li (approximately 30 kilometers) would exhaust even a strong, old mule to its limit.
The old mule, which is already quite old, certainly can't handle it.
So Jiang Zhi unloaded the baskets along the way to let the mule rest several times, and the old mule was also very experienced in traveling.
When they encounter a downhill slope, they walk a few steps faster, then rest against the cliff or tree trunk, and eat some grass along the way.
Despite stopping and starting, they managed to travel sixty li, no less than a strong young mule. Xiaoman was so happy that she kept praising, "The cattle dealer didn't wrong us. These ten taels of silver were well spent."
Jiang Zhi looked at the old mule, but then remembered what Xiao Manye had said before they went down the mountain: "Although animals don't speak, they understand everything. Don't beat this old mule; it will know how to work on its own."
Those who are still alive are all hardworking; those who are lazy and shirk their responsibilities would be dead long ago!
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