Chapter 234 – Silver at Home

Madam Cui was crying so hard her face was a mess of tears and snot.

She didn’t even need Li Xuemei to ask; she just sobbed and hiccupped while chattering on and on.

Her maiden family was from Da’an Village—a large village well-connected by marriage to the surrounding areas. Madam Cui was naturally sociable and chatty, well-liked both before and after her marriage. Plus, Physician Cui was the only folk doctor for miles around, often visiting nearby villages, so their household was always the first to hear news.

From her babble, Li Xuemei learned that before setting out, they had sent word to their relatives in the Qi family. But whether the message was heeded, no one could say for sure. Only Madam Cui was certain—swearing up and down that her maiden family would definitely come to Guanzhou.

No one could say for sure whether their relatives had gone to the prefectural city of Qishan or elsewhere—or maybe they’d followed them to Guanzhou.

Back then, they themselves had been hesitant, unsure what Guanzhou would be like, and had only vaguely mentioned it in passing.

It seemed the village wives kept up a fair amount of private communication, and Madam Cui’s home had become a veritable news hub. Just by listening, Li Xuemei was able to piece together much of the kinship ties between the village and their extended family.

When she got home, Li Xuemei climbed straight onto the kang bed, lay on her side, and started massaging her sore back.

She’d been so engrossed listening that she hadn’t noticed how long she’d been sitting.

Yan Yu came running in after her, kicked off her shoes, and climbed onto the kang. Her tiny hands gently rubbed her mother’s back, waist, and legs.

She was stronger now and knew not to press too hard.

Just those gentle strokes made Li Xuemei feel much better.

“Ma, why’d you go to the Cui family’s place?”

“Just to chat with your aunt. Oh right, there’s a basin in the kitchen with black starberries that Da Gouzi and Xiao Gouzi picked. Later, divide them up and send some to your Big Brother and Eldest Sister.”

“Black starberries!” Yan Yu’s eyes lit up. She’d had them before—when she was little and went with her dad back to their hometown, she’d occasionally find a few by the roadside. Her father would feed them to her, but if she wasn’t careful, the juice would stain her clothes…

She didn’t wait a second longer and dashed outside. She divided the washed berries into three portions, grabbed her share, and started snacking as she walked.

“Better save some for Dad.” After eating a few, she stopped and set them aside, then climbed back onto the kang to continue massaging her mother.

Li Xuemei rolled over to let the heated side of the kang warm her other side, while tracing out the village’s web of family ties for her daughter.

“…Your eldest uncle’s wife doesn’t have much family left, just a few distant relatives they barely see anymore.

On my side, there’s an uncle who remarried. His new wife had a son and a daughter from her previous marriage. The son took his stepfather’s surname and now has a wife and kids of his own. I heard the daughter married back into her mother’s family. I also have a blood sister—it was her who arranged the match between your father and me. She’s married in the next town over…

Your eldest uncle was thoughtful—he sent word to both those families.”

Yan Yu said, “Since we’ve got relatives, we should try to find them. At the very least, let them know we’re safe and sound, and that we plan to settle here in Guanzhou.”

Li Xuemei nodded. “That’s what I think too. Even if we never meet them again, word should get through. Your father and your uncle should keep bringing it up—when someone from Crouching Tiger City comes to Guanzhou, they can help us and the other villagers look for people.”

As mother and daughter were talking, Yan Lao’er came home.

Since the Yan family courtyard didn’t yet have a gate, Sanbao drove the cart right in.

Yan Yu peeked out and saw that her father had brought back charcoal—so she knew exactly where he’d been.

She threw on her shoes and ran out.

“Dad, you went to deliver charcoal?”

“Mm. I figured the brickworks should be running low, so I went over. Also arranged to go pick up bricks tomorrow.”

He handed her a small bundle. “Put this away.”

Yan Yu: …

“Dad, you didn’t sell again? Was the price still not good enough?”

“It was a little better than last time. But I thought—what if we go to Linhai Prefecture in the future? Maybe the prices there will be higher.”

He didn’t have to explain—Yan Yu already understood. Since Ma had finalized their household’s scented soap output, Dad was now all thrifty and calculating, hoping to get the best deal for everything.

Knowing the reason, Yan Yu obediently tucked the ginseng away.

Neither father nor daughter brought up the idea of letting Maomao search for more. Even a fool could guess the head of the household wouldn’t allow it.

“I’m heading to Crouching Tiger City later—don’t follow me this time,” Yan Lao’er said.

Yan Yu pouted. “I wasn’t planning to. We Young Scouts are going up the mountain later.”

“That’s fine, but keep an eye on the kids. Don’t let them wander too deep into the forest,” he reminded.

“You underestimate us! Our orders are ironclad—if we say we won’t go deep, we won’t,” Yan Yu declared, tossing her head with authority.

Yan Lao’er chuckled, then added, “You worked out the scented soap accounts? Once I get back, we’ll take them to the Qi family.”

Yan Yu nodded without a word.

“Dad, don’t forget our mini sickles and hoes.”

“Don’t worry—I’ve got them all remembered,” Yan Lao’er assured.

Only then was Yan Yu satisfied. She slung on her little backpack and skipped out the door.

At the big stone, a few Young Scouts hadn’t arrived yet, but many of the kids who applied to join yesterday had shown up.

Yan Yu did a quick headcount and had a general idea.

She first paid the village elders for the money earned from collecting qian in their baskets.

At first the old men refused the coins, but after Village Chief Luo made the final call for them to accept it, they finally smiled and took the kids’ offered copper.

Not much—three wen per basket.

A bit of a family discount was clearly included.

Once Yan Yu’s team had assembled, and the new recruits had been sorted into squads, they prepared to head into the mountains.

At the same time, Yan Lao’er and Qi Si stacked bags of medicinal herbs high, tied them tightly, and wheeled them out of the village.

Yan Yu watched the ox cart disappear into the distance, then tapped her long staff on the ground.

“Move out!”

…

Yan Huaiwen hadn’t expected a visitor yesterday—and now there was another one today!

He followed the constable outside, and when he saw the familiar figure, he couldn’t hide his surprise.

“Tian You!”

“Big Brother! I’m back!” Yan Lao’er’s grin was brighter than the sun overhead.

“Look! A full cart—should last you a while, right?”

Yan Huaiwen said gently, “The journey must’ve been rough.”

“Haha, not too bad! This time I went all the way to Longxing—it’s a bit far, so I figured I’d stock up while I could. Ended up dipping quite a bit into the family’s silver,” Yan Lao’er said, throwing his brother a series of meaningful looks.

Yan Huaiwen: …

He gave his brother a reassuring pat. “I’ll go write up the warehouse intake form now. You wait here for someone to come inspect the herbs.”

Yan Lao’er nodded eagerly, eyes full of anticipation.

Before long, Doctor An, having heard the news, came rushing out. The moment he saw the towering stacks of herb-filled sacks, his eyes lit up.

He didn’t even spare a glance for the person who’d delivered them—just made a beeline for the medicine bags.

Yan Lao’er had just lifted his face into a smile, ready to greet him—

“Um, Doctor An, I’ve got a bundle here—the shopkeeper of Huimin Hall asked me to bring it to you.”

He set the bundle down just inside the fence.

Doctor An paused for a beat, but still went straight to the sacks, plunging his hands into the herbs, pulling some out to look at and sniff. His face beamed with satisfaction.

He opened several more bags in quick succession, then finally walked over with a smile and picked up the bundle from the ground.

He gave Yan Lao’er a deep bow.

“Brother Yan—many thanks!”

Caught off guard, Yan Lao’er returned the bow, hasty and awkward.

“No, no, Doctor An, there’s no need for that!”

(End of Chapter)