The two returned to the group, told them to stay with the main group and not to get separated, and then hurried forward.
"Little sister, where are you going?" An Shuzhen, who was driving the oxcart, asked hurriedly when he saw her running ahead.
"Brother, I'm going to town to buy some things first. If you need to buy anything, you can stop and buy it before you set off, but don't fall behind." After saying that, he hurriedly ran off.
An Shu-jun wanted to say more, but the girl had already run far away. When did she get here? Why was she in such a hurry?
"Sister-in-law, where are you going?" Village Chief Lin led the way and asked as he saw the two approaching. Hadn't he already sent the second brother over to tell them? Was there anything else he wanted to say?
An Shuyi and her companion stopped. "Village chief, we were thinking of going to the county town first to see if we could buy a cow. Otherwise, our children are too young and too sick. How can we travel such a long distance? We can't let the eldest and second eldest pull the cart all the time. It's okay for a short time, but it won't last long."
She stopped and said that besides saying it, she wanted to see if she could ask the old man to talk to other people and let those with money buy a cow or something. Otherwise, this famine wouldn't be a matter of just one or two days; it could take several months or even longer.
Village Chief Lin nodded, "Sister-in-law, that's a good idea. You guys go ahead, we'll meet up in the county town, and I'll go ask if anyone wants to buy it."
Having achieved her goal, An Shuyi and Hua Hua hurriedly ran into the county town. The county town was somewhat different from what the original owner remembered; it wasn't as lively as before, probably because some people had already left.
The two of them asked the roadside vendors where the dental clinic was, and when they learned that there was one nearby, they hurried there.
As soon as they entered the brokerage, the manager came over and asked, "Are you two ladies here to look at horses or cattle? We have mules too."
“Take us to see the horses!” An Shuyi said directly.
Even without using the original owner's money, she still has more than four hundred taels, enough to buy a horse. If possible, she would also like to buy a cow, as there are too many children at home, all of whom are sick and weak.
The shopkeeper clapped his hands with delight, "Alright, ladies, please come with me." He was leaving in a few days, but he still had more horses and oxen than he could take with him, so he thought he would sell them for a few more days. He never expected that two ladies would come to see the horses today. If he could sell even one, he could lose less money.
"Ladies, look, these are the best horses I have here, just coming of age, not the old or sick ones. You can buy with confidence!"
An Shuyi looked at the horses and said, "How much is each horse? Shopkeeper, just tell me the price. Don't overcharge. We'll buy two horses and a carriage."
The shopkeeper thought for a moment, "Since you two ladies are so kind, I won't ask for too much. The horse and carriage will cost 180 taels, and I'll provide the best carriage frame for you two. How about that?"
This is already the lowest price he can offer; he's just hoping to sell it now, even if he earns a little less money!
An Shuyi and Xia Hua exchanged glances. "Okay, we want the red and the black ones. Have the workers install the carriages for us, and then you can take us to see the cattle."
"Xiao Tu, quickly set up the carriage frame for those two horses," the shopkeeper said, then turned to the side. "This way, ladies."
"These are oxen that are only a little over a year old. They're more than capable of pulling carts and plowing fields. Ladies, are you going to buy two this time?"
This is a really big customer! He not only buys horses but also cattle. He looks like he's dressed in very simple clothes, just coarse cloth. You really can't judge a book by its cover.
"Huahua, do you want to buy it?" An Shuyi asked.
Xia Hua nodded, "Buy it. If there's not enough room for you, there's room for me. Shopkeeper, how much is one cow?"
"Twenty taels. I'll also get some fodder for the two ladies. Don't worry, I'm not asking for more."
An Shuyi looked at the shopkeeper and said, "Okay, shopkeeper, it's still two. Pick out two good ones for us and we'll pay you. But we might need the shop assistant to help deliver them outside the city."
They can ride horses, but they can't drive a carriage. They can pull the oxen, but they don't have their hands free.
"Don't worry, ladies, I'll have my servants drive the carriage out of the city for you right away." The shopkeeper went into the cattle pen himself, tied two oxen out with ropes, and picked out the best ones. In the past, he might have cheated a little, but now that they couldn't be sold, he had to choose the best!
After the two paid the money, two brokers drove the horse-drawn carriage ahead, while the two women followed behind with the ox. When they came out, they encountered some tribesmen who had come to buy oxen. Although they were surprised that the two women were buying not only horses but also oxen, they did not ask any questions and hurriedly went inside to buy the oxen.
When they arrived outside the county town, the clansmen were already waiting there, but many were missing. It seemed they had gone to the county town to buy things. Their arrival caused quite a stir, after all, they had bought two horses. They kept asking each other questions, and if the village chief hadn't stopped them, they would have continued to make a fuss for a while.
Seeing that they didn't ask any more questions, An Shuyi turned her head and instructed, "Eldest brother, go ask your uncle how to drive the horse-drawn carriage. You'll be in charge of driving it later. Second brother, pull the ox over and harness the cart. You'll be in charge of that later. Fourth brother, get a basket out and come with me to buy some things."
Although the eldest brother and the others didn't know how their mother had money to buy horses and oxen again, they didn't dare to ask too many questions and could only follow orders. However, the eldest brother was very happy, because these were horses, and his mother had actually entrusted him with such an important task.
The second son was a little unhappy. After all, his older brother could drive the carriage, but he couldn't. Sure enough, his mother loved his older brother the most.
The other children were also very happy. Now the family not only had cows but also horses, and they would have a carriage to ride in later. It wasn't their maternal grandfather's carriage, but theirs.
Seeing that Hua Hua was also arranging things for her sons, An Shuyi walked to the side and asked, "Dad, did Mom and Sister-in-law go to the county town to buy things?"
Father An nodded, "They went. They got off the carriage in the county town with their baskets on their backs. Xiao Jin went with them."
“Then my daughter is leaving too. She still needs to go into the county town to buy some more things.” An Shuyi said, about to leave, but was stopped by her father.
"You just bought a horse and a cow, do you have any money left? I have some here, take it and go buy some more." Father An said, taking out some money from his pocket, but was refused.
"Father, your daughter still has more, otherwise she wouldn't have bought horses and oxen. Keep yours for yourself, there weren't many to begin with." After saying that, she pulled Xia Hua away, and each of them was followed by a son, who was carrying a basket on his back.
After she left, she didn't know that her father looked constipated. He had earned five taels of silver, which he earned writing books for the bookstore, yet his daughter complained that it wasn't enough.
"Huahua, I need to go buy some thread first. I don't have much here. We'll buy more later." She didn't have much thread when she was making clothes last night. She originally planned to sew until the end and borrow some from her clansmen if she didn't have enough. But now that she's in the county town, she needs to buy some.
Xia Hua nodded, "Okay, then we'll go with you first. Look, there's one up ahead."
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