In the evening, Liu Yingying cooked a dish of smoked bamboo shoots and cured pork, a large bowl of white jade soup, and a plate of stir-fried bean sprouts. Although the meal was simple, the taste was excellent.
"Xianglian, eat more, look how thin you are..." Liu Yingying took the initiative to put a lot of food into her bowl.
"Thank you... thank you... Sister Liu!" Xianglian's eyes welled up with tears.
Looking at the food in my bowl, I felt a lot of emotions.
Even in the theater, a newly debuted actress like her couldn't possibly eat meat every meal.
After finishing her meal, Liu Yingying tidied up briefly, turned around and went into the kitchen. When she came out, she was carrying a basket covered with a white cloth.
There were three bowls inside, each containing a small portion of the dish they were eating that night, which had been portioned out as soon as it came out of the pot.
"Zhaodi, you stay with Xianglian, I'm going to deliver some vegetables to your Aunt Jiang!"
At the Xue family's house, Jiang Suyu and her son were also having dinner.
Their dinner was simple: two bowls of brown rice with a small dish of pickled vegetables.
Although Xue Ye often went into the mountains to hunt, at this critical time when every household was running out of food, he and his mother were actually doing better than others.
At least they don't have to work for those rich people in exchange for food.
However, Jiang Suyu had been living alone with her son for many years and was terrified of poverty, so even if she had some money, she was reluctant to spend it on luxury.
Halfway through the meal, Xue Ye suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?" Jiang Suyu asked.
Xue Ye put down his chopsticks; "Someone's here!"
Liu Yingying's voice came from outside: "Sister Jiang, are you home?"
Upon hearing Liu Yingying's voice, Jiang Suyu hurriedly went out to greet her, "Yingying, it's almost dark, why are you still coming?"
"I went to the county town today and bought some vegetables. This is for you and Xue Ye," Liu Yingying said, handing her the basket.
Jiang Suyu felt embarrassed; "How can I do this? You always help us like this, I really feel bad..."
“We’re supposed to be sworn sisters, so it’s too formal for us to say such things!” Liu Yingying said, feigning anger.
Knowing that she was kind-hearted, Jiang Suyu had no choice but to take the basket and pull her into the house.
"Have a seat for a while!"
"Ah Ye, since your aunt sent these, please eat more and don't waste her kindness..."
When Xue Ye heard the word "aunt" again, he couldn't help but frown.
Jiang Su felt sorry for her son and served him food.
She wasn't a good cook; she only started learning to cook after escaping to Peach Blossom Village with Xue Ye.
Even now, the food she cooks is still just barely edible...
Liu Yingying glanced at the cold-faced young man and said, "Sister Jiang, actually I came here because there's something I'd like to discuss with you and Xue Ye..."
"What's up?"
The mother and son both looked at her with serious expressions, giving off a sense of being ready for battle.
Liu Yingying: "I plan to go to the border area of the three counties upstream of the Luo River tomorrow. Firstly, I want to find out about the situation regarding the river's drying up upstream. Secondly, I heard that many people there have sold their farmland at low prices, and I happen to have some spare money, so I plan to buy some more land..."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Suyu was somewhat puzzled; "Oh! That place is quite far from our Qiushui Town. How will you manage the farmland you bought so far away?"
Liu Yingying explained with a smile, "It's not a problem. We can just hire someone to manage it when the time comes."
Knowing that she was a very opinionated person, Jiang Suyu turned to Xue Ye with a serious expression and said.
"Ah Ye, did you hear that? Your aunt has been very kind to us, mother and son. Tomorrow you'll go with her, but make sure she doesn't get bullied..."
Jiang Suyu was still rambling on and on.
Hearing this, Xue Ye couldn't help but want to complain, "Does she need my protection?"
He has never forgotten how fierce this woman was back in Qiaoyun Mountain!
The next morning, Liu Yingying took a few roasted sweet potatoes and set off with Xue Ye.
The two traveled by oxcart to Furong County, and then spent twenty coins to rent a horse-drawn carriage to go to Baotian Town.
Baotian Town belongs to Furong County, but it is located right in the middle of three counties and is also the first town on the lower reaches of the Luo River.
The carriage traveled smoothly without any obstacles, and the two of them remained mostly silent throughout the journey.
However, Liu Yingying still acted like an elder, asking him from time to time if he was hungry or thirsty, and whether he wanted to stop and eat something at a roadside stall.
Xue Ye rejected them all.
More than two hours later, the carriage finally arrived at Baotian Town.
In the sweltering summer heat, the blazing sun illuminated the earth, making it almost white!
Liu Yingying and Xue Ye climbed up a hillside near the town.
Standing in this position, you can take in the entire geographical environment of Baotian Town.
The Luo River meanders downstream like a giant snake, and even after the basin leaves Baotian Town, its end is nowhere in sight!
However, the riverbed, which used to be able to accommodate large cargo ships, is now only up to knee level.
On both sides of the Luo River basin are vast expanses of farmland.
However, due to the severe drought this year, all of these fertile fields have been abandoned.
Land that cannot grow crops is considered wasteland, so landowners are eager to sell it, since the sooner they get rid of it, the less they will lose.
Liu Yingying crossed her arms over her chest, raised her right hand and touched her chin, looking thoughtful.
Xue Ye glanced at her sideways, wondering what this woman was thinking...
At this moment, Liu Yingying suddenly asked him, "Xue Ye, how much silver do you think it would cost to buy all these fields?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Ye frowned and made a simple estimate: "All the farmland in this area adds up to at least two or three thousand acres, and the location is different from Qiushui Town. Even if it's sold at a low price, it will probably still fetch around two thousand taels of silver!"
Liu Yingying couldn't help but look at him with even greater admiration; "I really didn't expect you to be so good at math... You don't seem like someone who can't read..."
Although Xue Ye didn't quite understand what she was saying, he couldn't help but refute her last sentence.
"Who told you I can't read?"
Liu Yingying; ?
Xue Ye explained, "Before I was eight years old, I had a tutor who taught me to read. My mother was also from a scholarly family, and she continued to teach me. She would use the money she saved to buy me books..."
When his mother was mentioned, Xue Ye's gaze hardened.
He made a silent vow in his heart.
One day, one day he will make sure his mother has a peaceful life!
"I see..." Liu Yingying nodded in understanding.
Jiang Suyu was truly a great mother. Even during the long years of displacement and hunger, she never neglected her son's education.
She became curious again about the identities of the mother and child...
"Let's go, let's go see the village head of Baotian Town!" Liu Yingying said, walking slowly down the mountain with her hands behind her back...
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