《Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine》


 Chapter 1: Crossing

    Chapter 1 - CrossingYuanyuan sighed for the hundred and first time. What kind of luck did she have?


    She originally thought with her "biological father''s" care, she, as an unloved burden, would have a space where she could preserve and plant since she became sensible.


    But who would have thought that just when she finally found a lifestyle she enjoyed, she would be in a car accident? Couldn''t they have been a little gentler in caring for her?


    Now her only thought was, ''Are you kidding me?''


    The smell of decay made her feel extremely nauseous. Wasn''t the person who saved her too irresponsible?


    She stared at the ceiling for a while, her breath coming out as white mist. How low was the temperature? This "biological father" didn''t love her anymore, leaving her in such indescribable conditions?


    Her entire body ached terribly, and she took a glass of Spiritual Spring Water from her space. After drinking it, she belatedly realized these chicken-claw-like hands were definitely not her soft and delicate ones.


    Damn, what''s going on? Could it be time travel? She waved her disgusting, dirty little hands in front of her eyes. Yuanyuan closed her eyes in frustration.


    Perhaps this was some kind of command, for when she closed her eyes, she began to receive the original owner''s memories.


    The original owner was also named Su Yuanyuan, just eight years old. Her parents had taken her brother to work a thousand miles away last month, leaving her all alone without a penny, only a little grain. To say this was despairing was an understatement.


    In the little girl''s memory, this place was a small mountain village in T City, H Province, Z Country, with just over a hundred households. It seemed she had parallel traveled; she had never heard of this country before.


    This year, the village saw a total of ten couples leave, taking their children in response to the national call to work in Jiangbei. In plain terms, they went to open up wasteland. There was plenty of land there but a sparse population, so people were transferred from various provinces and cities, effectively settling there directly.


    The other nine families took all their children, but the Su Family left Yuanyuan behind because her Grandpa Su had passed away and there was no one left to support her.


    The little girl was born on the eighth, particularly on the eighth of the twelfth lunar month. In the countryside, if a girl is born on an eighth day, it''s considered inauspicious. An old saying goes that a girl born on the eighth will bring ill fortune to three families. So she grew up drinking rice soup, with her mother not caring for her at all, fearing she''d bring misfortune, leaving Grandpa Su to take care of her.


    The little girl''s memories were full of her grandpa, the hunchbacked old man in poor health who still cared for her daily. This was the young woman''s only warmth.


    The old man passed away this spring. Her parents completely neglected her, but she still had to do all the chores and wasn''t allowed to eat at the same table with them. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Once the recruitment notices came after the autumn harvest, all the rural people envied those who could become official employees. So the parents discussed and signed up without a thought of taking their daughter with them.


    They sold the house, sold the grain. But the village chief wouldn''t have it; leaving the child like that was a burden to the villagers, so they left the old house at the foot of the mountain to the young woman, along with one hundred pounds of corn kernels. Nothing else.


    The three members of the Su Family left without looking back or a trace of attachment. They headed for the better life and job they envisioned, leaving behind this little girl who was mostly ignored.


    All they left was a hundred pounds of corn kernels. Once milled into cornmeal, it certainly wouldn''t be a hundred pounds. The village chief had forced them to leave that much; otherwise, the little girl wouldn''t have gotten even that.


    Though young, the girl didn''t eat much, but through the three-plus months of winter until the thaw, she could only rely on this pitiful amount of grain to survive. It wasn''t enough at all, but who cared?


    So she cooked porridge daily with half a pound of cornmeal to last all day.


    Her parents left so suddenly that she had no time to prepare anything. All she could do was desperately dig for wild vegetables in the mountains, though by autumn they were too tough and stringy to eat. Still, it was better than nothing.


    An elderly woman from the village, feeling sorry for her, gave her some undergrown cabbage, radish leaves, and small radishes.


    She helped others with their work; her grandpa had taught her never to take advantage of others because there''s no such thing as a free lunch.


    Because she was so exhausted and hadn''t eaten properly these past few days, the girl hadn''t gotten up.


    Yuanyuan sighed. What kind of identity had this "biological father" found for her? What was all this?


    What''s more, in a few years it would be the famine years. That era was so hard, her grandmother would cry whenever it was mentioned. Back then, even if you hid some grain, you had to be wary of others eyeing it, and it wasn''t certain you could keep it safe.


    Thinking of this, Yuanyuan sat up quickly. No, she couldn''t live like this; she absolutely wouldn''t.


    Inside, she held a deep fear of this era. Her grandmother had mentioned hearing about people digging up the dead for food.


    At this thought, Yuanyuan got out of bed, standing barefoot on the ground. Not even wearing shoes. She took a piece of rope out of her space, a climbing protection rope she had bought. She stood on the only three-legged table in the room, looping the rope over the beam.


    If her "biological father" was going to set her up like this, then she wouldn''t live anymore. She''d had enough of life in her past existence and found it meaningless.


    After tying the knot, she slipped her neck into the noose. The broken table was kicked over with a bang.


    But she didn''t feel suffocated; instead, she crashed onto the floor, limbs splayed. The damned safety rope had snapped? This tiny body, weighing just over thirty pounds, snapped the rope?


    Though Yuanyuan had received a higher education, she had a space and firmly believed in the bizarre and supernatural. Yet this time she refused to believe, so she got up and tried again, unwilling to accept that she couldn''t die?


    But when she lay on the ground for the third time, Yuanyuan gave up. Okay, since this isn''t working, she''d think of another way? She wouldn''t let this defeat her.


    Her stomach had been grumbling for a long time. Even if she were to die, she didn''t want to be a hungry ghost. So, without even washing, she pulled out a prepared meal box from her space.


    It was something she randomly picked: Egg and pork stir-fry over rice with a sausage.


    Smelling the meat, her belly growled even louder. She didn''t care about hygiene anymore and squatted directly on the ground to eat.


    Her stomach was too small; she couldn''t finish more than half, so she put it back into space.


    This space had followed her soul here. Yuanyuan thought that even if she died, it would still follow her, so nothing would be wasted.

 Chapter 2 can鈥檛 go back

    Chapter 2 - 2 can''t go backSu Yuanyuan recalled the memories of the little girl and knew there was a newly built reservoir here. Anyway, she didn''t want to die a gruesome death. Her last life was probably too horrible to bear, right? So this time she decided to jump into the river. Yes, jump into the river, that way her death wouldn''t be too ugly.


    She was already full, and had the strength now. She really didn''t want to stay here any longer.


    Su Yuanyuan turned around carefreely and left this rundown home. Guided by her memories, she went straight to the riverbank, without stopping, and jumped directly into the river.


    Her first thought was how darn cold it was, shouldn''t this freeze over by morning and evening?


    Su Yuanyuan waited to be submerged, but why couldn''t she sink? Now she was really angry, pointing at the sky and cursing, "Damn it, are you toying with me? Can''t I even die if I don''t want to live?"


    But still she couldn''t sink. Su Yuanyuan was just too cold. She already looked sickly, although drinking Spiritual Spring Water cured her cold. But in this freezing water, she still felt she couldn''t bear it.


    She floated on the water for a couple of minutes. Before she could start cursing again, suddenly she heard footsteps approaching.


    Su Yuanyuan awkwardly turned around to see a group of people running toward her. From her memories, she knew it was the women''s director bringing five or six women.


    "Yuanyuan, what are you doing? Luckily we were not far from here."


    "Yuanyuan, get up quickly. It''s so cold."


    "Yes, come up quickly. If you catch a cold, where will you get the money for medicine?"


    Several people kept urging Su Yuanyuan from the riverside. They were quite anxious, as the Su Family only had this one little girl left. Normally she appeared meek and compliant, just knowing how to work hard. What made her suddenly be so troubled today?


    Who knew what she was thinking, only jumping into the river after the Su Family left a while later?


    Soaking in the water, Su Yuanyuan felt unbelievably cold. Seeing several anxious people on the shore, before she could climb up herself, a few more people came running.


    Village chief Yang Hongwen jumped down, grabbed her like he was picking up a chick, and hauled her onto the shore.


    Several women caught Su Yuanyuan, while the women''s director held her and ran towards that broken house.


    Su Yuanyuan jolted in the embrace of the others, looking at their tense faces, she suddenly felt that having someone care was actually quite comforting.


    The villagers here were just like the ones in her previous home village. Everyone had their thoughts, but they weren''t bad people.


    Back home, she was directly stripped of her clothes aggressively and stuffed into the bed.


    "Yuanyuan, wait for me to start a fire, it''ll be warm in a while."


    Outside, chaotic footsteps passed by under the directions of the women''s director, Hu Chunhua, going home to fetch ginger. After soaking in cold water for so long, if she didn''t drink some ginger sugar water and got sick, what could be done?


    Su Yuanyuan just kept staring at the ceiling. Her heart was madly complaining. Was it even a luxury for her to die?


    Thinking about dying now just gave her a headache. Was her mood not allowing her to die? But she really didn''t want to live these days.


    Isn''t there such a thing as this? Didn''t want to live in this environment. Couldn''t she find relief? Why should her life be arranged by her "real dad"? Couldn''t she follow her own will?


    Su Yuanyuan thought, since she couldn''t die, fine, let''s go with the flow. At least she wouldn''t starve or go thirsty


    What about famine? Find ways for everyone to store more food, wouldn''t that do? When the time comes, if she eats better, no one will be watching over her, right?


    Su Yuanyuan felt she figured it out. Suddenly, a cup of water appeared in her hand; she drank it in one go, finally closing her eyes thinking about how to live from now on.


    If she couldn''t even die, then just live. Her "real dad" sent her here, she shouldn''t "fail" his kindness, right?


    Although she feared this era, since she had guarantees, if she couldn''t live, then she was truly an idiot.


    Besides, this wasn''t the world she lived in, what''s there to panic about?


    Not worrying about food or clothes, what else to be concerned about? She didn''t have a strong heart in her past life, and wouldn''t suddenly reform and become a model young person. So just going with the flow and following nature was good too.


    Su Yuanyuan figured it out. She had no worries or attachments in her past life, everything had been arranged after her death. Coming here for an experience wasn''t bad either.


    The women''s director Hu Chunhua came in, sat on the bed head, beside Su Yuanyuan''s pillow. "Girl, it''s better to live poorly than die. People can overcome anything. Although those heartless sold the house, the land still belongs to you. S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    As long as there''s land, you can live. You''re young, but you can do any work. You can live.


    Don''t be troubled, it''s fine. Without them, you''ll live better." The women''s director was giving the little girl a pep talk, afraid to see this living little girl gone like this, she felt uneasy.


    Su Yuanyuan cleared her throat, "Aunt, would you believe if I said I didn''t want to die?"


    Hu Chunhua didn''t expect this little girl to talk to her. She was stunned for a moment.


    "Aunt, I just wanted to take a bath," Su Yuanyuan said, lying through her teeth. She really didn''t want others to say she wanted to die, that would be too humiliating.


    "Why are you taking a bath in the middle of winter?" Hu Chunhua couldn''t decide if the girl was lying or not. As an elder of the village, she had done what she ought to do. But in the future, she should take more care of this little girl.


    "Aunt, don''t worry. I won''t do it again. I got it wrong. I thought since the weather was cold, the water wouldn''t be that cold. But only when I got in did I realize, it was really cold.


    Aunt, thank you and the other aunts, and the village chief. I won''t act foolish again."


    "Fine, as long as you understand. But why do I feel you''re not the same as before?"


    Su Yuanyuan was taken aback, "Aunt, that''s because I think you''re a good person. What I said before, they didn''t like listening, so I didn''t talk. Now they''re all gone, no one''s bothering me anymore. Of course, I want to talk."


    Hu Chunhua looked at the girl with sympathy. Although people said girls had a tough fate, she was still their child. How could they be so heartless as to leave her? Just for that, Su Daqiang wouldn''t have it good outside.


    At this moment, those who went to get ginger and brown sugar came over. Since Su Yuanyuan was stripped and stuffed into the quilt, she didn''t get up.


    "Thanks to the two aunts."


    "What are you thanking for? As long as you don''t act foolish, just live well. Living isn''t easy. How can you easily go and die?"


    "Aunt, I didn''t want to die, just wanted to bathe. Now no one beats or scolds me, no one won''t give me food. As long as I work well, I can eat enough. Why would I be troubled and seek death?" Su Yuanyuan tried to show a very sincere expression while saying these lies to the three women.

 Chapter 3 Give up

    Chapter 3 - 3 Give upSu Yuanyuan wiped away the thoughts of seeking death; this was definitely not something she did. She couldn''t admit it even if beaten to death, even if others thought she was a fool, she couldn''t let others think she didn''t want to live.


    The three women exchanged glances, looking at the little girl''s serious, annoyed face, they had already believed her words in their hearts.


    "Girl, I''ll go make you a bowl of ginger soup. Drink it, but don''t get sick, okay?"


    "Aunt, it''s already late. You all should go back. Thank you for the brown sugar and ginger from the two aunts. I can make it myself later."


    The three nodded and left. They all had big families to take care of.


    Su Yuanyuan lay in bed, feeling itchy all over, knowing after about ten minutes that no one else would come. She thought about going into the space.


    She picked up scissors and cut her yellow, thin layer of hair. At this time, she didn''t need to go out, and it would be a few months until spring, by then her hair should have grown out.


    Lying in the bathtub, she inadvertently recalled her past life. When her parents divorced during her childhood, she became the unwanted burden, kicked around. She didn''t mind though; there was a lot of money thrown at her by her father every time he drank too much, plus the cold cuts she saved up in the space, she figured she could last a few years without issue. However, as she was too young, it was her ailing grandmother who raised her. So she grew up in the countryside.


    Her father claimed to be a proud, ambitious grassroots success story. He was terrified of others mentioning his background, hence he divorced her mother, who had only primary education, by any means necessary.


    Of course, she was another thing he refused to mention, as she didn''t resemble him in looks, being dark and sturdy like her own mother.


    So when her grandmother took her in, her father would send five thousand yuan a month for living expenses until Su Yuanyuan turned eighteen.


    Though it wasn''t much more than a meal to a big boss, for the grandparents in the countryside, it was enough for a comfortable life.


    Because she was an unwanted burden, Su Yuanyuan was quiet and honest since young.


    And because of the space, she was always solitary, rarely playing with other children.


    Her only hobby was collecting things, anything really. Though not to the extent of scavenging, she would certainly keep whatever she found useful for herself.


    Her grandmother''s health was poor, having nearly starved during the famine era, which caused lasting damage.


    The old woman was very frugal. Whatever vegetables could be sold were taken to the market, saving the five thousand yuan received each month and even saving an additional two hundred through penny-pinching. So the two lived having enough to eat, but had to forget about eating well. Still, Su Yuanyuan never complained.


    There was Spiritual Spring Water in her space. Don''t ask how she knew it was Spiritual Spring Water¡ªafter being accidentally hit on the head during her parents'' fight, drinking that water healed the wound in less than an hour. If that''s not Spiritual Spring Water, what is?


    So, the grandparents drank water diluted with Spiritual Spring Water daily, strengthening her grandmother considerably. And she was no longer dark-skinned, eventually becoming a pretty girl.


    The two depended on each other for survival; her grandmother loved to recount stories of her own childhood to Su Yuanyuan.


    Su Yuanyuan understood the old woman''s intent, which was to teach her how to live practically, to not envy the two neighboring girls who only knew how to spend money.


    Anyway, she had long known people in the famine era lived like the Long March, eating grass roots and gnawing tree bark. Her grandmother''s family originally had six children, but in the end, only two survived¡ªher grandmother and her grandaunt.


    Her grandaunt''s health wasn''t great either and she died unmarried.


    Her grandmother married her grandfather and only gave birth to her father. At that time, they nearly didn''t make it.


    So Su Yuanyuan was always filial to her grandmother, obedient without exception. When asked to go east, she would never go west, always rushing to do chores, and was known as a hard worker in the village. The elders were also willing to teach her farming tips, these were experiences accumulated over the years.


    From the age of six to sixteen, she grew up in her hometown. Misfortune struck out of the blue; just when she was going to enroll, her grandmother went to the township station to see her off, watching her board the bus. On her way home alone, she was hit by a drunk driver.


    The guy fled, and when she felt something was wrong and returned, she found her grandmother lying in a pool of blood. Even after giving her Spiritual Spring Water, it couldn''t save her from blood loss.


    Her big boss father came back, found the hit-and-run driver, but the other party offered fifty thousand yuan to settle privately.


    Su Yuanyuan refused, insisting the driver pay with his life, but the man was a distant relative of her father''s new wife.


    In tears, Su Yuanyuan accused him, and her unfilial father decided to give her fifty thousand yuan, plus an additional one hundred thousand, severing their relationship forevermore.


    She didn''t want the money and repeatedly appealed, stopped attending school, being so stubborn no one could dissuade her. However, the village elders were very satisfied with her, knowing she was a conscientious child.


    This, in turn, made the man feel very embarrassed, so he simply ignored it. In the end, the driver was sentenced to death.


    Of course, the fifty thousand was gone, and it was finally ruled to compensate her with five thousand yuan.


    The man she called father ultimately gave her one hundred thousand yuan, ceasing all contact from then on.


    Su Yuanyuan spent two years appealing, finally winning before laying her grandmother to rest. But by then, she couldn''t attend high school.


    Nonetheless, she was relentless, going to the school repeatedly until the principal was moved and gave her a chance.


    In three years of high school, she achieved excellent grades and got accepted into Hai City University.


    The village households all chipped in, hosting a graduation banquet for her. Everyone knew the girl had money, but still cared for her tenderly. Besides, what''s fifty or a hundred to anyone, since they were just eating together?


    That man inadvertently glanced at the newspaper and saw that the daughter he never acknowledged was actually the top-scoring Champion Scholar in the province, with excellent scores that earned her a place in Hai City University.


    This really surprised him, but now he had a wife and two children. Due to the incident with the elderly, the child bore deep resentment towards him, so what did it matter if she was capable?


    Su Yuanyuan left her hometown where she''d lived for over twenty years. Outside, the sky was the limit; still, during every New Year and festival, she would send a box of pastries to each of the over one hundred households in the village, as a small token of her appreciation.


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 Chapter 4 Memories

    Chapter 4 - 4 MemoriesFour years at Sea City University, due to accurate stock investments, more than one and a half million in her hand quickly turned into over thirty million.


    She had her own home, though it was only two rooms, it was truly her own home.


    With nothing to do since she didn''t have to hustle for a living, she stayed home every day. However, the space was never forgotten to be filled.


    Home and space were her greatest dependencies, especially the space, which made her feel secure.


    When that man failed in his investments and lost everything, Su Yuanyuan handed him three million, which truly severed their father-daughter relationship.


    Su Yuanyuan spent every day idly. She wasn''t ambitious or inflated, and didn''t attend any reunions. Every day was just shopping, filling her space.


    She didn''t have close girlfriends during school, nor good friends after graduation, always moving about alone. Naturally, she also had no boyfriend.


    Even though she was attractive, she didn''t speak a word. She was indifferent to everyone, seemingly unconcerned about anything.


    By the time she turned forty, news came from her hometown that her father had passed away. Her biological mother and that man''s wife got into a fight in the funeral hall, and both women passed away too.


    Upon hearing this news, Su Yuanyuan got goosebumps. What deep-seated hatred, indeed, to her biological mother, that woman was the mistress who ruined her family, an enemy who made her life difficult.


    She was used to being indifferent, never thinking of going back. But the old village chief called her, "Yuanyuan, even if they''re wrong, they''re still your parents. Now that they''re all gone, you should come back and see.


    We know you''ve been wronged, but once someone''s dead, it''s like a light extinguished. There''s no need to lose your reputation over this last bit."


    In the end, Su Yuanyuan booked a flight back, not for anything else but because of the kindness from the village people and the old village chief.


    Because the two fought and their children helped their mother, causing death, they did not even have the chance to send their parents off. The man was sentenced to ten years, the woman to eight years.


    She just coldly watched the funeral proceedings without shedding a tear.


    After they were buried, she ordered five thousand pounds of pork, delivering fifteen hundred pounds, ten pounds each, to each family in the village, a token of gratitude. The rest she stored in the space.


    Returning to Sea City, she continued her idle life, never thinking of starting a family. Though she liked children very much, she knew she would never be a qualified mother, so she would rather send supplies to orphanages every month but never thought of adopting a child. She feared not being able to educate them well.


    This life went on for ten years, still living alone, and she grew tired of it. She had enough of this life.


    So she made a will, deciding that after her death, all her assets would go into a relief fund dedicated to assisting problematic kids in orphanages.


    She felt like she was Heaven''s favored daughter, never having lost in stocks. Now her bank account held at least a hundred million. So she sold all her stocks, keeping everything in the bank, causing fluctuations in the stock market.


    With money in hand, though she did nothing now, the interest alone was enough. She never thought of changing cars or houses, keeping her grandmother''s frugal housekeeping habits.


    At fifty-five, she felt unwilling to live there anymore. So she packed simple luggage and went to the mountains in the northeast.


    Her solitary self lived alone in the mountains, starting farming again.


    Instead, Su Yuanyuan felt grounded, finding such a life to be the most suitable for her. No longer bored or feeling world-weary.


    But the good times didn''t last; her life in the mountains was discovered by forest rangers. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Her way of living was illegal, so she started processing documents without a break. One is often complacent when enthusiastic. Su Yuanyuan was just like this.


    Once all the paperwork was done, she drove alone up the mountain, humming an unknown song, thinking she was finally at peace living in the mountains, leading the life she wanted. Thinking of the land she cultivated, her face was full of smiles.


    Maybe her "biological father" didn''t like this, causing her to drive straight off a cliff, transitioning magically to here.


    Forget it, don''t think about it. But what''s troublesome is having no clothes for her current size; everything prepared was for adults.


    Right, there were clothes prepared for the orphanage, found during a sale on some website, believing not seizing cheap deals was foolish, she talked up a storm, got an even better deal, all sizes of padded jackets, down-inner cotton wear, sweaters, cotton leggings, and thermal underwear were all bought for herself.


    These hadn''t been delivered yet, planning to send them to the local orphanage when she''d settled down. Who would''ve thought she''d benefit from it herself.


    Now her body was only about 1.1 meters, weighing thirty pounds. Found a size 100, still loose, but it was the best option, size 95 was too short.


    Picked a cute pair of boxer shorts, put on thermal underwear, sweaters, cotton clothes and pants, also found a deep green fleece tracksuit to wear over it.


    Additionally found a furry fleece-lined watermelon-style hat, feeling comfortable even outside.


    Stepped out of the space, picking up clothes thrown on the ground, resolved to clean them later, they still needed wearing.


    Her stomach growled in hunger, taking out the remaining half-box of mu shu pork over rice. Unsatisfied, she found some braised beef and squatted down to eat.


    After eating, looking at the pitch-black room, Su Yuanyuan tried to comfort herself, what hasn''t she experienced? What does this count as?


    Found a set of rarely worn clothes with fewer patches to wear over her own, before starting to clean.


    The fire in the main room had died out. She had no choice but to light it again. It wasn''t that she didn''t want to stay in the space for long, it wasn''t allowed, at most she''d be softly sent out after two hours.


    Bedding and straw mats in the house were rolled up and placed in another room, planning to sort them out tomorrow, first setting up a place to stay for the night. Other things could wait.


    The space didn''t have straw mats, but there were bamboo mats used in the past. The newly built heated bed was swept once by Su Yuanyuan, fearing lice or fleas, so she simply sprayed insect repellent.


    The smell made staying inside unbearable, so she had to tidy up the main room.

 Chapter 5 Reality

    Chapter 5 - 5 RealityReturning to the room, she found a candle and lit it. This little girl was so frightened when night fell that she hid under the covers, and she didn''t have a kerosene lamp.


    In fact, there used to be one, but everything in the house had been sold off, and it had nothing to do with her anymore.


    The smell of insecticide in the room had also dissipated. She spread out a straw mat, which just barely fit.


    She took out a sponge from her space, something she had used in her rural hometown before. The bedding was also from before, and she didn''t take out new ones, not because there weren''t any, but because she didn''t want to attract attention.


    But under normal circumstances, no one would come looking for her. All her time was spent working, with no little playmates.


    Finally, she could lie down at ease. Without electricity, the heating equipment in her space was useless. Feeling a bit cold with just one quilt, she covered herself with another one.


    She originally thought she wouldn''t be able to sleep, but unexpectedly, when she opened her eyes, it was already broad daylight outside. Drowsily wanting to check the time, she remembered she had already crossed over.


    Even if she had a watch now, the time wouldn''t match, so she simply got up, but didn''t wear her sportswear; instead, she put on that set of clothes outside.


    Today''s task was to clean up this home where she would be living in the future, otherwise, her obsession with cleanliness would really make her want to die and return.


    Really, her "dear father" was exasperating. Just thinking of death gave her a headache. Living, can''t I just live well?


    Getting up to squat in the yard and brush her teeth, she suddenly realized that there might not be toothbrushes here now, so she had to be low-key in everything from now on.


    She hadn''t noticed yesterday, but there was a well in the yard. The kind with a pump handle, and this was the best news for Su Yuanyuan. She had been wondering if drinking river water meant drinking bathwater too?


    Now it was good; there was well water to drink. Her family in the past had their own well before 1990. She had used it too. This little yard was quite nice. It could be considered her place of security and stability.


    Returning to the room, she took out a bowl of beef noodles. Knowing she couldn''t finish such a big bowl, she took out a small bowl and divided it in half, along with a marinated egg.


    After a delightful breakfast, she continued working, checking the living quarters again, which were already clean. In fact, there wasn''t much to tidy up, just four bare corners.


    The room across had just a brick bed and two large water jars for storing grain. Once cleaned, she laid old kang mats on the bed and dismantled the bedding. She still had to wash the cotton clothes later.


    Pumping water, boiling water, and washing clothes took the whole morning.


    Being small and weak, she couldn''t wring out the cotton clothes, yet she was unwilling to use the spin dryer. Even if washed, the cotton clothes couldn''t get over her mental barrier.


    The clothesline in the yard displayed her morning''s work. Su Yuanyuan felt satisfied with it.


    The house was cleaned. Now, what she really needed to do was gather firewood. Upon checking while making a fire earlier, she estimated that according to her usage, there would be no firewood left after a month.


    After lunch, with a basket on her back and a rope, she headed up the mountain. Her house sat at the mountain''s foot, and she went up alone, unnoticed by anyone.


    In the little girl''s memory, Dashan was extremely dangerous, not allowing children near it at all. Adults would go in groups, but they only went as far as the mountainside before returning.


    Su Yuanyuan wasn''t afraid; she had her space and could hide in there if needed. The animals wouldn''t wait for two hours.


    The main goal this time was to cut wood; no one going up the mountain was to her advantage, making it cheaper for her.


    Things often seemed ideal, but the reality soon made one crash down.


    Along the way, there were only pine and cypress trees. These couldn''t be used for firewood as they were living, lush, and green. She couldn''t bear to cut them down.


    Unwilling to give up, Su Yuanyuan continued upwards, and got to the mountainside, discovering only a lot of dead grass. It could be burned but wasn''t long-lasting.


    Not willing to be defeated, she gritted her teeth and continued into the mountain. After about another hour, thank God, she finally discovered other trees, and quite a few dead ones at that.


    For others, getting them down would be troublesome, but for Su Yuanyuan, who had a space, it was a minor task.


    But when she tried to cut the trees with the safety axe, she realized she had been too naive.


    The trees couldn''t be cut down. She didn''t have a tool for cutting trees in her space. What to do? She saw the reality; even if she got those dead trees down, she wouldn''t have the strength to chop them into usable firewood.


    With her wild hopes dashed, Su Yuanyuan sat down and burst into tears. What could she do now?


    After a good cry, she resigned herself, stood up, and decided that if tree trunks were off the table, branches would have to do. People shouldn''t aim too high.


    Having wasted much time, it was getting late. But she still collected three big bundles of branches and stored them in her space.


    It was necessary to go back. Descending the mountain at night was quite dangerous.


    She also managed to gather two large bundles of dead grass and then ran all the way back home.


    Once it got dark, she placed the firewood directly in the shed in the yard.


    After dinner, she thought about heading up the mountain early tomorrow.


    Too tired, she soon fell asleep.


    That night, her dreams were filled with things the little girl had experienced. Scenes of her grandfather raising her with painstaking care, and of her parents abusing her after her grandfather passed.


    Su Yuanyuan was like an observer, experiencing the little girl''s harsh life.


    To live until the age of eight was truly not an easy feat; Su Yuanyuan suddenly felt that her father in her past life had been quite good.


    Back then, village elders had told her that when you have a child, you realize your parents'' love. She had no children now, but through the little girl''s days, she no longer resented the man who neglected her. Although he didn''t give her love, he did raise her in a real way.


    The next day, she got up, ate a meat bun, and drank a can of milk. She continued up the mountain.


    She had thought about borrowing an axe from the village, but that would require lots of explanations. She decided against it, resolving to buy one when she had money.


    Returning to the same place, she continued picking up branches, storing each bundle in her space, wary of being seen.


    She had lunch on the mountain. There weren''t particularly many branches on the ground, and she had already moved away from the mountainside without noticing.


    Today, she gathered five bundles of branches, but Su Yuanyuan knew it was not nearly enough.


    In the past, her family''s corn stalks had been sold off by the couple, not leaving any for her.


    Spending the whole day bent over working was exhausting, even for someone with a strong work ethic.


    Leaning against a tree, she took out a butter cake from her space and devoured it quickly. Then she drank a can of milk, wanting to rest for a while. sea??h th§× NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    But she always felt uneasy, deeply anxious. She abandoned her thoughts of resting, unable to shake off her anxiety.

 Chapter 6 climb the mountain

    Chapter 6 - 6 climb the mountainSu Yuanyuan gathered all the firewood. Thinking she should head back, or should she come again tomorrow?


    But if it snows today, what will she do?


    She had no choice but to reluctantly get up and continue working. She has no capital to enjoy life now.


    Finally, she saw a dead tree as thick as a bowl. She should be able to chop it down.


    Excitedly, she took out her trusty axe. Someday, when she has money, she''ll definitely get a sharp axe and knife.


    This tree had probably been dead for many years. Su Yuanyuan easily chopped it into several sections and waved to collect them.


    Perhaps "God" pitied her, she looked up and saw a few more trees like that ahead, although they were thicker.


    Su Yuanyuan excitedly ran over. Now she was neither tired nor uneasy and swung her axe to work.


    These few trees would be enough for her to burn for a while. The tight feeling in her chest eased a bit.


    She stored them all in her space, and the sun was almost setting. No, she had to go back immediately, or it would be dark by the time she got home.


    Suddenly, she noticed a section of dead tree with wood ear mushrooms. Su Yuanyuan was no fool; she had no time to pick them and instead stored them directly in her space.


    She ran the whole way, and by the time she got home, her back was soaked.


    Only when she entered this ramshackle house did she finally feel at ease.


    She immediately started a fire to boil water. Although she could bathe in her space, she also had to sleep at night. The bed was too cold. She couldn''t even use an electric blanket, truly frustrating.


    But she could use hot water bottles. For her habit of collecting junk, Su Yuanyuan considered it her virtue.


    After boiling the water, she took off her outer clothes to wash them; by the end of the day, they were covered in dirt.


    Once her clothes were clean and hung outside to dry, she thought about the firewood, branches, and hay in her space. It was better to put them in the woodshed. The space was quite large, so she put all the dead trees in one corner.


    Luckily, the space had a self-cleaning function; otherwise, it would have driven Su Yuanyuan crazy with its messiness.


    Wow, there really was a lot; it almost reached the roof. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Looking at all that firewood, Su Yuanyuan laughed, feeling a huge sense of accomplishment.


    She went back inside, and the water in the pot was hot again. From her space, she took out a large Winter Melon, cut it up, scooped out the seeds, and set it aside. Then, she placed the Winter Melon on the steamer and left it.


    These Winter Melon seeds could yield quite a lot, possibly producing thousands of pounds. She had checked the mountains and there were places suitable for planting. In those few years, she would go up the mountains to plant them.


    She couldn''t openly help the villagers, but she could let them pick for themselves. After all, her responsibility was just to plant them.


    She''s not a Holy Mother, but if others starve while she can eat well, it''s easy to invite trouble.


    Just as she was about to enter the space to bathe, she heard shouting outside.


    "Aunt."


    "Girl, what were you doing today?"


    "Aunt, come in and sit."


    Hu Chunhua had nothing to do today and came over to check on this girl. She hadn''t expected that after calling for a long time, no one answered. When it was dinner time, she sent her child once more, but there was still no one.


    As the women''s committee director, she took her work very seriously and responsibly. Now, this girl was like an orphan. No matter what, she couldn''t let this child have no means to live.


    "Aunt, I went to gather firewood. I''m afraid there won''t be firewood to burn in winter. It hasn''t snowed yet, but once it does, I really won''t be able to gather it anymore."


    "Sigh, those two heartless things. They didn''t take their own daughter and left no way to live. They''re really not human.


    Yuanyuan, did you go up the mountain? Be careful." There''s nowhere to gather firewood.


    "Yes, I went up the mountain. Only mountains have firewood.


    My luck was good, I brought back some dead trees."


    Su Yuanyuan originally thought she would be praised, but instead, she was scolded, "You stupid girl, did you go into the mountain?"


    "Aunt, no, I didn''t. I started by gathering hay and picking branches. Then I found several dead trees, so I brought them back."


    "Nonsense, only above the mountainside are there poplar and locust trees, where you can find dead trees."


    "Aunt, if I don''t gather firewood, I''ll freeze to death in winter. Don''t worry, I didn''t even see a single rabbit."


    Hu Chunhua sighed, yes, it''s better than freezing to death.


    "Tomorrow, let your Uncle go with you."


    "Aunt, that''s not necessary. I''ll just gather hay tomorrow." There''s no need to have someone else take the risk. Besides, I''m safer alone.


    "I''ll go home and get you a machete. You must be careful.


    Next year will be better; the corn stalks from your own land can be used as firewood."


    "Okay, thank you, Aunt."


    Hu Chunhua smelled the sweet scent of the Winter Melon, but she didn''t ask about it. She hurriedly went home to get the machete.


    Su Yuanyuan didn''t end up steaming the Winter Melon for Hu Chunhua, since every family here grows them anyway.


    After sending off this kind-hearted women''s committee director, Su Yuanyuan finally went into her space to bathe.


    She also dealt with her dinner there. When she came out, the Winter Melon was already cooked.


    She took out a basin and some white flour yeast from her space and used the Winter Melon to knead dough. She was planning to steam a pot of buns, which should be very delicious.


    Two hours later, she stored the buns in her space, hugging a hot water bottle comfortably as she slept.


    The next morning, she had a glass of milk, a bun made from Winter Melon flour, and a hot dog sausage before she shouldered a basket and headed up the mountain with a machete.


    Now with tools, Su Yuanyuan thought she''d give it a try. It definitely was sharper than the trusty axe, but for her small frame, it was still exhausting. Yet she stubbornly chopped down a tree.


    Now she didn''t have the strength to cut it into sections, so she stored it directly into her space.


    Sitting by the side, she drank water and sighed, still thinking about her lack of money. How nice it would be to buy coal to burn, but everyone knew her situation; she didn''t have a penny, so what could she buy?


    Thinking this, she couldn''t help but sigh again. This is a busy life; she had no leisure to rest now.


    She walked towards the second dead tree and finally chopped it down. Su Yuanyuan felt her hands were sticky; it turned out she had gripped the machete so hard that her hands blistered and the blister broke, releasing blood.


    It hurt, it really hurt. When she was working, her whole mind was on chopping the tree, so she didn''t notice. Now that the work was done, she felt the piercing pain.


    Su Yuanyuan sat on the ground, put away the dead tree, and began to weep.


    In her past life, she rarely cried because she knew that even if she cried, she wouldn''t get the happy family she wanted, and no one would feel sorry for her or comfort her.


    Now she was truly despairing. Life felt so difficult.


    The more Su Yuanyuan cried, the more wronged she felt, until eventually, she was sobbing uncontrollably.


    She was so tired, and her body was so weak, she cried herself to sleep.


    In her dreams, she saw the scene from her past life, kneeling at the gate of the prosecutor''s office, seeking justice for her grandmother. Each working day, she knelt at their gate.

 Chapter 7-Person Pig Battle

    Chapter 7 - 7-Person Pig BattleAt that time, she was also in despair, with no hope for the future. The only thing that motivated her was to avenge her grandmother.


    Actually, Su Yuanyuan was stubborn by nature. Once she decided on something, she wouldn''t care even if it cost her severe injury.


    Her actions scared the perpetrator, who sought people to threaten her, and even beat her up. Despite having a swollen face and a bloody nose, she still knelt in front of the prosecutor''s office the next day.


    Her actions caught the attention of a high-ranking official, and thus she finally avenged her grandmother.


    The perpetrator''s side called her a madwoman. Called her a fool.


    But no matter what, she could kneel in front of her grandmother''s grave with pride. She didn''t feel guilty.


    Su Yuanyuan suddenly woke up in shock, frightened awake.


    After sitting up, she felt her pores open wide, and then she saw a pitch-black Wild Boar glaring at her with fierce eyes. Its two big tusks were as thick as Su Yuanyuan''s arm.


    Oh god, is this a sign that she''s going back? Even death would be fine.


    This foolish girl grabbed the firewood knife from the ground, stood up with a swift motion, and provocatively waved it at the Wild Boar. How foolish she looked!


    Now she wasn''t even afraid. She just wondered if dying like this would be terrifying too?


    Although the Wild Boar was an animal, it understood the provocation just now. It wouldn''t stand for that. It pawed the ground with its left front hoof, preparing to charge.


    Su Yuanyuan continued to provoke. Thinking to herself, would this aunt be afraid of you? In two lifetimes, she''s had no ties or attachments. Today she would give it a try.


    Sometimes people really shouldn''t be too reckless, just like now.


    The Wild Boar charged, and Su Yuanyuan was sent flying like a kite with a broken string.


    Damn, the difference in Combat Power is too much! Before she even hit the ground, she very cowardly entered her space.


    Sitting on the ground, she shivered in fear, feeling a sharp pain in her chest. She was injured.


    Damn, this was bullying her. How could she let this go? She tore open her shirt to see that there was no external injury to her chest, but it hurt to breathe.


    She absolutely couldn''t accept this. No way, she was currently broke. This was delivered to her door, but how could she take down this big guy? She didn''t know how heavy it was, but the thought of a 300-pound piglet at a farm being half its size.


    Su Yuanyuan no longer cared about the pain. She stood up and paced around, thinking about what she could use to bring down this big guy.


    Cold weapons probably wouldn''t work. That thing looked tough and rough. Her strength wasn''t enough.


    Gun? She didn''t have one. Right, she had a stun baton; that was a good thing. When she made a big name for herself in the stock market, many people wanted to "cooperate" with her, so she prepared several.


    Yes, that''s it. She didn''t believe she couldn''t kill it. Now, she had already forgotten the idea of going back.


    Su Yuanyuan grabbed the most powerful stun baton, and with a thought, she exited the space. The time flow in there was different from outside; outside one hour, inside was five hours.


    The Wild Boar noticed that the little figure suddenly disappeared and was dumbfounded.


    But suddenly, she appeared again. This was a serious act of provocation. It couldn''t tolerate that.


    Su Yuanyuan turned on the stun baton, this time she charged forward.


    In a narrow road, the brave wins, but the brave must also have equipment.


    Su Yuanyuan saw the big creature twitching on the ground, took a few steps and rushed over, giving it several more shocks.


    She kept muttering, "You think you''re so tough. Get up and try again?"


    She also sat on the ground, panting heavily. Suddenly, an idea flashed in her mind, this stun baton probably wouldn''t kill it, she had to bleed it, otherwise, once it recovered, she wouldn''t be able to handle it.


    She took a plastic bucket from her space, and a dagger she spent over two thousand on. Since she bought it, she had never used it, not knowing if it was as sharp as they claimed, cutting through iron like mud?


    The Wild Boar was still twitching, and Su Yuanyuan, this bold fool, directly slashed at the pig''s neck.


    Then she finally knew it could indeed cut through iron like mud, and also knew the term blood gushing out profusely.


    She hurriedly used the bucket to catch the pig blood, watched for signs the Wild Boar was getting up, and immediately gave it another shock with the baton. Not so tough now, are you?


    After about a quarter of an hour, Su Yuanyuan collected two large buckets of pig blood. Now it was completely done for.


    A lot was spilled on the ground. What a waste. At that time, her grandmother was thrifty, and whenever she wanted to treat herself, she''d head to the market to buy pig blood, stir-fry it with chives, and pair it with pancakes and millet porridge. That was a taste Su Yuanyuan could never forget for a lifetime.


    She put away the pig blood with plans to make tofu blood at home and save it to eat slowly.


    How to handle this Wild Boar? Looking at the wound on its neck, she thought it really couldn''t be shown around.


    Why not stow it away? Tomorrow, find a chance to go out and find a place to sell it for money.


    But the origin of the money would then be unclear.


    Su Yuanyuan steeled her heart and vigorously slashed the Wild Boar''s neck a few times with the firewood knife.


    This Wild Boar had to have a legitimate path, otherwise, she still couldn''t openly spend the money.


    Looking at the already mangled neck of the Wild Boar, she then used a safety hatchet to vigorously crush its head. Then, using a safety rope she had previously used for hanging, she tied up the Wild Boar, worrying it might roll too far away; later she could retrieve the Wild Boar by finding the rope.


    She also found a small tree as thick as a wrist, chopped it down using Archimedes'' principle: give me a fulcrum, and I can move the world.


    But this dead thing wouldn''t listen, of course, and if it were alive, it would listen even less. Although it was a downhill road, it often went off course.


    Thank goodness for the space, or else, with just over thirty pounds of body weight, handling this several hundred-pound Wild Boar would have been impossible.


    After much difficulty, she finally reached the foot of the mountain, still about two hundred meters from home. No way she could move it anymore. But it was still daylight; leaving it out in the open like that wouldn''t do.


    Su Yuanyuan ran home, found a few dead tree trunks of similar thickness, and returned. She laid them side by side on the ground, then used her space to place the Wild Boar on them. Though it was still extremely cumbersome, at least it moved. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Those two hundred meters were troublesome for Su Yuanyuan, but she finally got it safely into the courtyard. Nevertheless, traces could still be seen along the way.


    Once in the yard, Su Yuanyuan ran to Hu Chunhua''s house. He was a relatively upright person, and she didn''t want to test human nature but had no other path to take.


    Su Yuanyuan looked quite battered now, and Hu Chunhua was scared upon seeing her.


    "Yuanyuan, what happened to you?"


    "Aunt, you need to go to my house. I''m going to find the village chief now."


    Finding two people might be safer than finding one, right?


    Hu Chunhua felt relieved as he watched the little girl running off, which meant nothing serious had happened. Nonetheless, he still put down his work and headed to her house.


    Village Chief Yang Hongwen was also startled upon seeing her but still followed Su Yuanyuan back to her house.

 Chapter 8 want money, don鈥檛 want life

    Chapter 8 - 8 want money, don''t want lifeWhen they arrived, Hu Chunhua was already in the yard. She looked at the large, black Wild Boar on the ground and was speechless.


    As Su Yuanyuan and her companion entered the yard, Yang Hongwen was also stunned. However, looking at the now unrecognizable Wild Boar, he stared at Su Yuanyuan in disbelief.


    "Girl?"


    "Village Chief, I took this down from the mountain." There was a hint of pride in her voice.


    "By yourself?" Yang Hongwen thought his question was silly. But he truly couldn''t comprehend.


    "Yes, I fell asleep on the mountain, and when I woke up, I saw this Wild Boar. Fortunately, Aunt lent me a machete yesterday; otherwise, I wouldn''t have survived to return."


    "Girl, you chopped it?" Yang Hongwen once again mentally scolded himself for asking such foolish questions.


    "Yes. Maybe it ate too much. It charged at me. I was scared and held up the knife, and it ran into it.


    Then it knocked me flying, and I thought I could go see my grandparents. Who knew the Wild Boar would also fall?


    It kept howling, and I was scared, so I slashed at its neck with the knife."


    The two of them looked at this girl in shock. Was she protected by something? Otherwise, it didn''t make sense. The villagers all believed in Great Immortals and Gods.


    "How did you get it down?" Hu Chunhua asked.


    "I just used this stick to pry it down. It could roll by itself. But at the foot of the mountain it couldn''t, and getting it home took a lot of effort."


    Yang Hongwen ran out, saw the traces along the road, and believed the girl''s words.


    He returned to the yard and looked at this young girl, who wasn''t even tall enough to reach his chest, with a complex gaze. Just a few days ago, he had saved her from the reservoir.


    "Girl, why did you call me here?"


    "Village Chief, I want you to help me sell this Wild Boar. I don''t have a penny, and I only have half a bag of corn kernels." Su Yuanyuan lowered her head and spoke softly, saddened.


    "Okay, I''ll drive there right away. Hu Chunhua, go call your husband, and we''ll both go to the county."


    "Alright, I''ll go now."


    Yang Hongwen looked at Su Yuanyuan, "Girl, don''t worry. Uncle will get you a good price and won''t take a penny from you. This is something you risked your life for."


    Su Yuanyuan felt a sourness in her nose. "Thank you, Uncle; this way, I can hold on until spring."


    "Alright, I''ll go drive the cart."


    On the way, Yang Hongwen thought about this matter. This girl truly was strange. Thinking back, when he dived to rescue her, she was floating on the water.


    She must have been protected by a Great Immortal; otherwise, how could this young girl have managed to take down this Wild Boar?


    People are deeply reverent of Immortals. So, unconsciously, they found excuses for Su Yuanyuan''s future unusual words and thoughts.


    Su Yuanyuan now realized she was exhausted to the point of collapse, her legs trembling.


    Slowly, she moved back into the house, sat down, and stoked the fire. She boiled a big pot of water. Otherwise, the bed wouldn''t get warm.


    As soon as she finished, she heard voices outside.


    Her house didn''t have a kerosene lamp, let alone candles.


    Hu Chunhua, not seeing the little girl, took the flashlight from her husband''s hand, went inside, and saw the small figure sitting by the stove, stoking the fire.


    "Aunt."


    "Girl, you got hit by the Wild Boar. Where did it hit you?"


    Su Yuanyuan found it inconvenient for others to see, mainly because of the clothes. It would be hard to explain. She forgot to change into the old cotton-padded jacket in the house earlier.


    "Chunhua, take the flashlight out."


    Seeing Hu Chunhua leave, Su Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief, rushed inside, changed into the worn-out cotton jacket, and put on the outer layer. Then she went out again. In this pitch black, she hoped Hu Chunhua wouldn''t discover anything.


    She also went to the yard, where five or six adults were struggling to load the Wild Boar onto the cart.


    "Uncle, is this pig six or seven hundred pounds?"


    "I think so. Just now, we all struggled with it."


    "Girl, you have such skills?"


    Su Yuanyuan was at a loss for what to say, her head full of dark lines.


    "Stop talking nonsense, we''ll discuss it when I get back."


    Three people went together, and Hu Chunhua still remembered to check Su Yuanyuan''s injury. They all came inside together.


    "Come, let me see, how can you be so brave, girl? Even strong laborers would be scared away by such a big Wild Boar."


    "Auntie, I was scared stiff at the time too. The Wild Boar ran into me on its own."


    Though Su Yuanyuan was thin, her skin was fair. After a few hours, her stomach was all bruised. sea??h th§× ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hu Chunhua looked at the large bruise with quite a bit of fear.


    "Girl, does your stomach hurt?"


    "It hurt at first. Now it doesn''t if I don''t touch it."


    "You''re really lucky."


    "Auntie, you should go back; your family is waiting for you."


    "Alright. I''ll come to see you again tomorrow morning." There were many people to take care of at home, and she couldn''t afford to delay.


    Now Su Yuanyuan felt at ease. She had already drunk the Spiritual Spring Water and drank another cup.


    She bathed, ate, and then lay down to sleep, with no time for wild thoughts.


    Early the next morning, she hadn''t gotten up yet when she heard voices outside.


    Quickly getting up, she put on her old cotton clothes and got out of bed.


    She saw the village leader and Hu Chunhua couple in the yard.


    She smiled sheepishly, feeling embarrassed for sleeping so soundly.


    "Girl, let''s go inside." Yang Hongwen carried a burlap sack and went inside.


    Seeing the tidy house, he nodded inwardly. This girl was so good, and Su Daqiang and his wife were just fools.


    "Girl, that Wild Boar weighed seven hundred pounds. We just got back this morning after waiting for the slaughterhouse. Knowing you risked your life to get it, they brought you back twenty pounds of meat.


    And they gave you a price of forty-five cents a pound, the same as a domestic pig.


    Seven hundred pounds at forty-five cents a pound is three hundred and fifteen yuan. Here you go, it''s all here."


    "Thank you, Village Chief."


    "No need to thank me." Yang Hongwen wanted to leave after speaking but was stopped by Su Yuanyuan.


    "Uncle, I know you care for me. Even if I gave you money, you wouldn''t accept it, but let''s share this pork with everyone. Last night, besides you three, there were three other people. Divide this piece of pork into seven portions. Although it''s not much, it''s a token of my appreciation."


    "I don''t want it."


    "Uncle, please take it. Otherwise, I won''t feel at ease.


    Aunt, can you help me divide it? My arm hurts, and I can''t lift it, but I don''t have a kitchen knife at home, so I''ll have to use your machete.


    Also, you mustn''t refuse. Otherwise, after you leave, I''ll have to find a way to send it to you. Just pity me; I''m really too tired to move. Uncle, please trouble you to bring it back to those three people."

 Chapter 9 help cover up

    Chapter 9 - 9 help cover upThe three people looked at the little girl with pity. Finally, they agreed.


    Hu Chunhua helped distribute the meat, leaving a third for Su Yuanyuan. The rest was divided into six parts, which was still more than two catties.


    Yang Hongwen carried the meat and said to Su Yuanyuan, "Girl, just tell people outside that you earned over sixty yuan, to avoid anyone getting ideas."


    "Okay. Thank you, Captain." This way, I saved myself from worrying.


    "Just say sixty-three yuan. All four of us should not say it wrong."


    The three adults nodded. The two men left, and Hu Chunhua took another look at Su Yuanyuan''s wound, still a large purple bruise, looking particularly frightening.


    "Yuanyuan, how about I take you to the clinic to have a look?"


    "Aunt, I really don''t feel any pain right now. Don''t worry, if it gets uncomfortable, I''ll come to you."


    "Alright, then go ahead and sleep. Do you know how to render lard?"


    Su Yuanyuan nodded, "Aunt, I know how to. I''ll render lard this afternoon."


    Hu Chunhua returned home and told her husband about Su Yuanyuan''s injuries, describing them even more horrifyingly, saying that the girl almost lost her life.


    Su Yuanyuan went to the woodshed, took out some firewood, and then carried some dry straw to make a fire.


    She intended to render lard in the afternoon, but she felt cold, so she decided to do it now. Luckily, the household''s hatchet was still here, otherwise, there would be no way to explain it.


    Keeping the extra pork fat for herself, she sliced it up into small pieces. This big iron pot had been used to boil water for a long time, full of water residue, only after a lot of effort did she manage to clean it, light a fire, and scrub it with pork skin; this made the pot significantly better.


    After scrubbing it twice, she put in a bowl full of water, then added the sliced pork fat and started the fire. S§×ar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After half an hour, a rich aroma of meat wafted through the air.


    Seizing the opportunity, Su Yuanyuan washed the remaining lean meat and put it aside, realizing it would be tough if stir-fried, so she decided to mince it.


    Before she could start working, Hu Chunhua arrived again, carrying a kitchen knife and a ceramic jar.


    "I knew you wouldn''t be able to stay idle, only you could wield this machete like that."


    "Aunt, I thought if I have to build a fire anyway, I might as well render the lard. Aunt, your kitchen knife came at the right time, I thought I''d chop this lean meat into stuffing, to save it and eat slowly."


    "Alright, I''ll go home and get you some ginger."


    "Aunt, there''s ginger at home."


    "Then let me chop it for you. Isn''t your arm still hurting? Also, this jar is for storing the oil, since you don''t have anything else."


    Su Yuanyuan didn''t stand on ceremony, noting that the jar was clean, she prepared to use a wooden spoon to scoop the oil into it.


    While chopping the meat, Hu Chunhua watched the girl work, and all she felt was a muted heartache. From this posture, it seemed like she had done this work before.


    The jar wasn''t small, but this time the lard was three or four catties. There was still plenty of oil in the pot.


    With nowhere else to put it, Su Yuanyuan simply poured it into the jar as well.


    "This will work. You can add a bit of flavor when stir-frying in the future. But why didn''t you save some to eat while it''s hot? It''s fragrant and quite satisfying."


    Su Yuanyuan wanted to say she forgot, but she couldn''t open her mouth, so she awkwardly smiled, "I''m saving it for later to eat slowly."


    This made Hu Chunhua feel even sorrier for the girl. Sometimes misunderstandings can be quite endearing.


    There was nowhere to put the minced meat either.


    Hu Chunhua sighed, "I''ll go get you a basin."


    "Okay, thank you, Aunt."


    Originally, Hu Chunhua didn''t intend to help her so much, but she just couldn''t help feeling sorrier as she watched.


    "Aunt, you should take the hatchet back, or else I can buy you a new one tomorrow?"


    "No need, it''s just a hatchet. You should really go buy some necessities, I don''t know how you''ve been living. Tomorrow is a market fair, go take a look."


    "Aunt, are you going to the fair? I don''t know where it is."


    "Yes, I''ll come to get you tomorrow."


    Hu Chunhua left, carrying the hatchet. Poor girl didn''t even know where the market fair was.


    After waiting a while and getting the basin, adding some salt, she finally sat down to eat a bowl of beef noodles.


    Eating too much, she felt uncomfortable, sighing inwardly, indeed a tiring life.


    Better head to the mountains again, the firewood still wasn''t enough. Others have corn stalks and cobs to burn; she had nothing.


    On the way up, she looked at the tracks left by the Wild Boar rolling down yesterday. This was good, at least there was evidence if someone didn''t believe and came to investigate.


    Back at the battleground from yesterday, the place was a mess. Annoyed by the sight, it was best to leave quickly.


    Walking further inside, she continued picking up branches, this was reassuring. Su Yuanyuan thought to herself, if the women''s director hadn''t lent her the machete, how could she explain the origin of the Wild Boar?


    Picked up three large bundles, put away two, carried one on her back down the mountain.


    She really did bump into a few young men halfway down the mountain. Su Yuanyuan kept her head down without plans to greet them, as she naturally wasn''t a talkative person. This demeanor avoided many troubles.


    The young men watched the little girl, head down, carrying a large bundle of branches down the mountain. They exchanged glances; on the way up, they had seen the trails left behind.


    Two of them were the captain''s sons, and another was a nephew. The three of them saw the Wild Boar last night.


    To be honest, they didn''t believe the little girl''s story, so today they came up the mountain together.


    When they reached the place where Su Yuanyuan killed the Wild Boar, they were convinced.


    Back home, Su Yuanyuan boiled water to prepare making blood tofu.


    This was something she could eat slowly; just not sure if Wild Boar''s blood tofu would taste like domestic pig''s?


    If not, she could sell them, go to a county farther away to sell.


    Two big barrels of steaming pig blood were placed by the stove.


    She took out some salt from the space, stirred it in. Once the water boiled, she poured in the pig blood.


    Made fifty pieces and stored them in the space; she wasn''t in the mood to eat now. Making and eating remained quite different.


    In the evening, she had a bowl of black rice porridge, which she cooked herself; it was especially delicious.


    While lying in bed, she thought about buying everything she lacked now tomorrow. At least knives, axes, basins, and bowls were a must.


    If possible, get two sets of clothes made. Counting it all, she really lacked many things.


    Speaking of which, those young men went down the mountain straight to the captain''s house afterward.


    "Dad, we went up the mountain, it looked pretty scary all the way up. And on the slope, there''s pig blood soaked into the ground."


    "You''d all better not go up the mountain next time. That girl is a bit strange. Just because she''s fine doesn''t mean you won''t be."


    "Are you saying we''re no match for a little girl?"


    "Indeed, you''re not. The day I pulled her from the water, she was floating on the surface."


    No one spoke after that. Which young man doesn''t know how to swim? And who floats when in water?

 Chapter 10 Wicked

    Chapter 10 - 10 Wicked"If any of you don''t listen, you''ll get a beating when I find out."


    "Uncle, we saw that little girl again today. She was carrying a bundle of branches and we ran into each other."


    "Don''t worry about her."


    The few young men fell silent, but surely they were not convinced.


    That night, Yang Hongwen and his wife were lying in bed. "Are you sure about what you said?"


    "Yes, indeed. I hadn''t paid much attention before, but after seeing that big wild boar, I thought that girl was strange. Then I remembered, when I got into the water back then, it was up to my chest, but that little girl couldn''t have been tall enough, yet she was just floating on the surface."


    "How is that possible? Honestly, I don''t believe such a small girl could kill a wild boar weighing hundreds of pounds, let alone do it all by herself. I even thought about going up the mountain to see.


    But now I finally believe it. Still, is it okay to give that little girl so much money?"


    "I think anyone who covets her money won''t meet a good end.


    Besides, I don''t want to be suspected. Three hundred yuan is a lot, but it''s blood money, so it''s not that much really."


    "Yes, after all, it was earned by risking her life. I heard from Chunhua that the girl''s stomach was bruised. It''s a miracle she''s okay. If something inside had been damaged, she''d have no chance of surviving."


    Next morning, Su Yuanyuan got up early. She couldn''t let herself get caught by someone again.


    After eating a bowl of fried rice with egg and a glass of milk, she felt truly happy to be full.


    Everything was ready, just waiting for Hu Chunhua to arrive.


    Su Yuanyuan knew she didn''t need any tickets now, so she could buy more things. But she couldn''t buy too much at once; anyway, there would be more opportunities in the future.


    Hu Chunhua arrived, accompanied by two women.


    Su Yuanyuan recognized them as the ones who had brought her brown sugar and ginger the other day. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aunties, Third Aunt." She greeted them with a smile.


    "Let''s go, we''re heading to the market. Girl, what do you want to buy?"


    Su Yuanyuan smiled, "Third Aunt, I don''t have anything, but I want to buy a kitchen knife, an axe, and there''s no basin either."


    "The blacksmith from the county will be here today. You should also buy a sickle, hoe, pickaxe, spade, flat shovel, crop knife, and a small hoe.


    All these are essential for spring planting. Your family used to farm for six people; now even though there''s only your plot left, you still have two acres. It will be tough for a little girl like you. At that time, you won''t be able to borrow them, everyone will need to use them."


    "Third Aunt, got it. You guys help me choose later. I don''t know much about these things."


    "Sure, we''ll help you choose and bargain. By the way, you should also buy a pair of scissors."


    The four of them walked along, discussing what they wanted to buy.


    Su Yuanyuan felt uncertain inside. Did she have enough money? It seemed she really needed to buy quite a lot of stuff. Wasn''t she thinking of buying some grains too?


    "Auntie, I only have half a bag of corn left at home. I want to buy some grain."


    "You don''t have to buy that at the market. You can get it in the village."


    Su Yuanyuan nodded. "Auntie, what can I buy?"


    "You can buy everything, but there isn''t much white flour."


    "Just a pound of white flour will do. I want to make dumplings for my grandpa during the New Year."


    "Alright, I''ll make arrangements for you. I don''t have much grain at home, nothing for sale."


    "I''ve got some at home. Girl, what do you need?"


    "Auntie, I''ll take one pound of white flour, two pounds of millet, fifty pounds of sorghum rice, and fifty pounds of corn."


    The little girl remembered that the village had a good harvest of sorghum this year.


    "Alright, I''ll deliver them to you when we get back."


    There were plenty of people heading to the market like them. Since it was the slack season for farming, everyone had been working hard for such a long time. Now they finally had a chance. Of course, everyone wanted to take a little stroll.


    "Auntie, is there any cloth for sale at the market? I want to make a set of clothes. It''d be great if there were some cotton.


    But first, I have to get the farming tools ready. I also have to set aside money for buying grains. If there''s any money left, only then will I consider buying cloth.


    Auntie, how much will the grain I just asked for cost?"


    "Sorghum rice is ten cents per pound, so fifty pounds is five yuan and fifty cents. White flour is fifty cents. Millet is twenty cents, and corn is also ten cents, so that''s another five yuan and fifty cents. You just give me twelve, and I''ll give you three pounds of millet."


    "Alright, thank you, Auntie," Su Yuanyuan said, handing over twelve yuan and fifty cents to Meng Xiangtian''s family. "Auntie, you take it first; I''m afraid I might not hold on to it later and want to buy everything I see.


    I actually know that nothing is more important than grain, without it one would starve. You decide on some vegetables for me with the remaining fifty cents." Meng Xiangtian''s wife, Zhao Guiying, didn''t refuse and accepted the money directly.


    She was also afraid that the child might spend it all. There was only sixty-three yuan in total; it sounded like a lot, but the girl lacked everything. She shouldn''t be left with no food.


    Hu Chunhua didn''t say anything either. She also thought the most important purchase was grain. It seemed that the girl understood well.


    Now Su Yuanyuan felt much more relaxed.


    After an hour, they reached town. This was the largest market.


    "Auntie, can you go with me to buy the tools first, then I''ll just wait for you nearby."


    "Sure. The tool seller is right outside." This way, they wouldn''t waste any time.


    Su Yuanyuan saw the iron tools laid out on the ground, and she really felt that she might not be able to return; she wanted everything.


    Kitchen knife, scissors, sickle, chopping knife, hoe, two iron shovels, large pickaxe, small pickaxe, small hoe, crop knife. A total of eleven items.


    "Old Yang, buying so much, how much should we pay?" Hu Chunhua asked.


    "For you buying, it''s surely cheaper. How about this; it''ll be eighteen yuan in total, how about that? Do you think this price is reasonable?"


    "Eighteen yuan is fine, but you have to include handles for the shovels and pickaxes, all equipped with handles."


    "That''s really not possible. You know those aren''t my goods. If you get everything equipped with handles, you''d give me two more yuan."


    "Then throw in this small knife. You can see this is for the little girl''s tools. Her cruel parents left her with nothing, have a little pity on the child."


    Su Yuanyuan cooperated with Zhao Guiying''s words, looking pitiful.


    "Alright, today I''ll take the loss." All the iron tools were directly packed into a frame, while the handles were tied together, so they had to be carried.


    Su Yuanyuan gave twenty yuan, now feeling at ease. The money was really well spent.


    "Auntie, you guys go shop now, I''ll wander around and get a few basins."


    "Let''s go. After we buy for you, we''ll continue."


    They mainly feared that the little girl''s money might get pocketed by someone else.


    Su Yuanyuan looked at the aluminum basins, honestly didn''t like them, but had no choice. Anyway, it was just for appearances.

 Chapter 11 Go to the market

    Chapter 11 - 11 Go to the marketBut these aluminum basins are quite expensive. Su Yuanyuan painfully bought two, one of which she had to return to Hu Chunhua.


    Looking at the large sea bowls nearby, these could actually be used like basins and are even healthier.


    "Uncle, do you have bigger versions of these large bowls?"


    "Yes, these are soup pots, and they come with lids, but they''re a bit pricey."


    Upon hearing that they were expensive, Su Yuanyuan felt a pang of concern; the word ''expensive'' made her anxious.


    "Uncle, how much for one of these soup pots?"


    "One yuan each."


    Su Yuanyuan''s expression eased; that wasn''t expensive at all, the price of one aluminum basin could buy three soup pots.


    "I say, how could you just blurt out such a price? A bowl is only ten cents, yet you want a whole yuan for this clay pot? Who are you trying to fool?"


    "It''s not like that, you can''t calculate it that way. I truly haven''t marked up the price of these soup pots much."


    "Uncle, how much for the clay pots?"


    "The large ones are eight cents, the medium six, and the small ones three."


    Su Yuanyuan didn''t hear any aunts objecting, which indicated that he hadn''t increased the price much.


    "Uncle, how much for these plates?"


    "Flat plates are two cents, soup plates two and a half, all are six-inch plates."


    "Uncle, I want two of each kind of pot, two large sea bowls, four eating bowls. Give me four flat plates, four soup plates, how much for the soup pots?"


    The seller looked at Su Yuanyuan, conflicted, and finally clenched his teeth, "At least a yuan, I''m telling you, I don''t earn a penny from this, there are losses involved."


    "I say, little boss, we''re buying so much, why don''t you throw in a few spoons? Don''t be too stingy."


    "Alright, I''ll throw in two spoons. If you didn''t buy so much, I wouldn''t have given you anything."


    Nowadays, porcelain is all coarse, not the immaculate, translucent bone china of later times.


    And quite heavy, very substantial.


    "Uncle, give me three soup pots for three yuan, four bowls for eight cents, four large sea bowls for one yuan sixty, four flat plates, two of each kind of clay pot, what''s the total?"


    Hu Chunhua was squatting on the ground, using a small stone to calculate. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The little boss did the same but was faster than Hu Chunhua.


    "In total, it''s eleven yuan. Just give me eleven, and I''ll throw in two spoons."


    "Girl, that''s too expensive, no way. Don''t buy so much," Meng Xiangtian''s family immediately objected.


    "My prices are absolutely the lowest. Little girl, you won''t lose out buying from me."


    The little boss looked at Su Yuanyuan''s hesitance. Finally, he made up his mind and took out two bowls from inside.


    "These two bowls have minor defects, just at the bottom, won''t affect use. If you buy them, I''ll throw these two in for free."


    "Alright, deal."


    The three women saw the girl had made up her mind and said no more. The three of them squatted down to help pick, the careful intensity of which made Su Yuanyuan find it amusing.


    But she was also touched. No matter what, they genuinely cared for her.


    After picking, they got straw from the bowl seller, laid it in the frame, and packed the purchases.


    Su Yuanyuan took out eleven yuan and handed it to the uncle.


    She suddenly saw long-handled soup ladles, "Uncle, how much for a ladle?"


    "Ten cents each."


    "Sell me one."


    "Two cents for three."


    "Alright."


    "Yuanyuan, why do you need so many ladles?"


    Su Yuanyuan couldn''t say it was just because they looked nice, like the one Sinnan had.


    The porcelain was placed in Hu Chunhua''s basket. Su Yuanyuan felt quite embarrassed.


    "Aunt, when you go to the market, just leave these here with the uncle, I''ll wait for you here."


    "Alright, don''t wander around, there are too many people. We might not find you later."


    "Mhm, I''ll wait right here."


    "Ladies, no worries, let this child wait here for you, I''m from Han Jia Sao, I sell bowls regularly."


    "I know you. Alright, Yuanyuan, stay put."


    The three melted into the crowd. This uncle was kindhearted, he placed both baskets behind the stall and gave Su Yuanyuan a small stool to sit on.


    "Uncle. There are so many people at this market."


    "Of course, this is the largest market around here."


    "Uncle, are there sheep for sale? I want to raise one."


    "The livestock market is on the other side; they have everything, even donkeys."


    Su Yuanyuan''s eyes lit up at the mention of donkeys. Back home, farming was mainly done with donkeys¡ªthey were faster than cattle and easier to manage than horses, with lower feed requirements.


    But her mother and she hadn''t raised one before. She didn''t know how to take care of one.


    With her small frame, managing two acres of land on her own was truly strenuous. If only she could have a donkey.


    "Uncle, how much for a donkey?"


    "I really don''t know, but I heard the best ones went for about a hundred and twenty."


    A hundred and twenty yuan? That''s not cheap at all. She had enough money but how to explain it?


    No way, she was too tempted. She''d wait for Hu Chunhua to come and discuss it.


    "Uncle, how much for a sheep?"


    "Lambs are cheap, five or six yuan each, but now it''s winter, not easy to raise them."


    "Not easy to raise yet not cheap?"


    "I don''t know. If you want to buy, you can inquire over there.


    Little girl, if you want to wander, feel free. I''ll watch over things, nothing will get lost."


    Su Yuanyuan shook her head, "I want to wait for Aunt and the others."


    Just then, an old lady came over to buy bowls.


    Su Yuanyuan shifted her gaze elsewhere.


    To be honest, there were more and more people, and with her small frame, squeezing in wasn''t safe.


    But she saw steamers for sale. Her current one was too shabby for cooking. Looking from a distance, the stall seemed well-stocked, she could make use of it. Su Yuanyuan was tempted. Lacking everything, if it weren''t for the wild boar contributions, she wouldn''t have been able to buy these in two years.


    Everything looked good, felt like she needed everything.


    Of course, there were hardly any vendors selling vegetables at this rural market. Everyone grew their own, who would waste money buying vegetables?


    But she did see walnuts and dates for sale, which were dry fruits, exactly what Su Yuanyuan needed right now.


    They weren''t far, but she still didn''t move because hardly anyone was buying. She decided she''d buy them before leaving.


    There was also cotton for sale. She needed that too, but a donkey was more important. She could forgo everything else, but she had to figure out a way to buy a donkey. Otherwise, those two acres would wear her out.


    She wondered if the women''s director was willing to take the blame for her.

 Chapter 12 go to the market

    Chapter 12 - 12 go to the marketStarting double updates today! Thank you all for your support! Bow!


    A few more people came over to buy bowls, looks like this business is doing quite well. Well, it''s not long until New Year, after all, it''s time to add some items to the household.


    Couldn''t see anything else, the crowd is just too large, but this lively scene feels very comforting to Su Yuanyuan.


    Listening and watching with great interest. It finally feels real.


    "Little girl, your folks are here."


    Su Yuanyuan stood up with a smile. Seeing the smiles on the three faces, they probably got everything they wanted.


    "Yuanyuan, is there anything else you want to buy?" Hu Chunhua asked.


    "Aunt, I want to take a look over there, can you come with me?"


    "You ladies can leave your things here if you like, I''ll watch over them."


    How could these women be so careless?


    Meng Xiangtian''s wife nodded with a smile, "The two of us need to borrow your space to rest for a while."


    "Sure, come in and have a seat, but there''s only one little bench."


    Hu Chunhua also left her purchases here, feeling at ease with someone she knows watching over them.


    The bowl seller smiled good-naturedly.


    Hu Chunhua held Su Yuanyuan''s hand as they headed towards the livestock market.


    "Aunt, I want to buy a little donkey."


    Hu Chunhua looked at Su Yuanyuan disapprovingly, "Families in our village with over ten acres don''t even use livestock. You only have two acres, what do you need a donkey for? A donkey costs over a hundred bucks.


    I know you have money, but aren''t you worried about someone targeting you at such a young age?


    Besides, you have to buy food for yourself, how are you going to feed a little donkey?"


    After Hu Chunhua''s rapid-fire comments, Su Yuanyuan felt she probably couldn''t buy the little donkey, but she wanted to make one last attempt.


    "Aunt, I can''t handle two acres on my own."


    Hu Chunhua sighed, "Yuanyuan, think about it, with your little frame, you couldn''t even manage a little donkey."


    Su Yuanyuan dejectedly lowered her head, realizing she really hadn''t considered her capabilities.


    "Aunt, then can I buy a sheep? I''m all alone at home, and I''m scared."


    Hu Chunhua looked at Su Yuanyuan with sympathy, "Alright, let''s go to the livestock market and have a look. But I''m no expert, either."


    "You''ll definitely pick better than me."


    Praise never gets old, as the saying goes. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The market truly has everything; there''s even someone selling soybean oil. Su Yuanyuan thought she could really buy some, but seeing Hu Chunhua beside her, she gave up the idea.


    "Aunt, I want to buy some dates and walnuts."


    "Sure, we''ll get some when we come back; you should indeed eat a bit."


    Also saw someone selling Sichuan pepper and chili. Su Yuanyuan had some in her space, so she wasn''t tempted.


    The two squeezed out, and the livestock market wasn''t as crowded anymore.


    Hu Chunhua led them around; there were quite a few people selling sheep.


    Su Yuanyuan took a liking to a big-bellied ewe, thinking she could get several in one go.


    Hu Chunhua also thought this sheep was a good deal. So the two of them, after asking around, went back to this stall.


    "Brother, how much for this ewe?"


    "Sister, I see you''ve already made a round, and you know the prices. I''m not trying to deceive you, this sheep is due to lamb in a month. If it weren''t for my son getting married and needing money, I''d never sell it.


    If you''re sincere about buying, it''s sixty-five bucks.


    To be honest, it''ll be several sheep in a month."


    "Brother, in a month, it''ll be so cold, who knows if the lambs will survive." The sheep seller, too, was probably worried the lambs wouldn''t survive the winter.


    "Sister, I''m being honest with you. If you like it, take it; otherwise, I won''t say more."


    Su Yuanyuan saw that the seller was genuine in his reluctance to part with the sheep, so he must be telling the truth.


    "Alright, I''ll take it, but you''ll have to give us a rope to lead it back."


    Su Yuanyuan handed sixty-five bucks to Hu Chunhua, and the sheep was as good as hers.


    Hu Chunhua led the sheep, and the two of them didn''t squeeze through the market, opting for another way out. She tied the sheep to a tree and instructed Su Yuanyuan, "I''ll go call your aunts to get the stuff, you just wait here."


    "Okay, I''ll wait here obediently."


    "Alright, I''ll bring you back some dates and walnuts."


    Su Yuanyuan quickly took out two bucks, "Aunt, get me a dollar''s worth of each."


    "Alright, just wait, we''ll be out soon.


    And just say that I lent you forty bucks."


    Su Yuanyuan nodded hurriedly, very grateful to Hu Chunhua.


    While waiting aside, she felt it must be around ten, and her stomach was a bit hungry, especially since she could smell deep-fried dough sticks.


    She didn''t dare buy snacks to eat, as that would seem wasteful to others. She decided to just stick to the rules.


    She secretly pulled out a handful of soybeans from her space and held them out to the ewe.


    With just a small handful, the ewe licked it up in two swipes and it was gone.


    Su Yuanyuan patted the ewe''s head and whispered, "I''ll give you more to eat once we''re home."


    Hu Chunhua bought a dollar''s worth of dates first. It was three pounds, quite a bit. Four pounds of walnuts.


    Without any container. They had no choice but to buy a basket, putting walnuts at the bottom and dates on the top.


    Their haul was substantial, but the three women were all strong, so it wasn''t much trouble.


    "What about the girl?"


    "Just borrowed money from me to buy a sheep."


    Though it was hard to believe, considering how thrifty Hu Chunhua was, how could she have money to lend? But you just went along with whatever they said.


    The group squeezed out, and Su Yuanyuan quickly tried to shoulder her own basket, but was refused.


    Hu Chunhua handed her a basket with dates and walnuts, "No need for you, just carry this new basket. You''re still too young; don''t want to stunt your growth."


    The four walked quite quickly, feeling the cold now that they weren''t hustling in the crowd like earlier.


    On the way, they met many returning from the market. Everyone was curious about why Hu Chunhua bought a sheep.


    "Oh, it''s just that the girl''s too young, needed a living creature for company."


    Back in the village, the three didn''t go home but helped carry Su Yuanyuan''s things back to her place.


    "Yuanyuan, where are you going to keep the sheep? It definitely won''t do outside; the weather''s too cold. The lambs wouldn''t survive if they''re born outside."


    "Aunt, I''ll keep it in the woodshed, there''s no other place."


    "Alright, tomorrow let''s have your uncle make a pen for the sheep. Don''t neglect the sheep. Also, if it births lambs, you''ll need to bring them inside; otherwise, they won''t survive. That''s why the previous owner sold it, afraid the lambs won''t live through winter."


    "I see, I understand. I''ll tidy up." Thinking about living in the same space with the sheep made Su Yuanyuan feel uncomfortable. But leaving it outside would really risk freezing it to death.


    We''ll talk then; there''s no point discussing more now.

 Chapter 13 Sheep Farming

    Chapter 13 - 13 Sheep FarmingHu Chunhua saw the firewood in the wood shed and thought the girl was really capable, how could there be so much firewood? She must not have been idle, right?


    After tethering the sheep, he then carried his belongings back.


    Now it was just Su Yuanyuan by herself. She patted the sheep''s head and took out a handful of soybeans to feed the sheep.


    Only then did she go inside to organize her things. There were really too many good things, she didn''t dare leave them at home for fear they would be stolen.


    Better to put them all into the space, just leave a kitchen knife, a wood knife, a plate, and a soup basin. These were needed for now.


    In the eyes of others, she was already someone in debt. But if she raised the sheep well, they would be profitable too.


    She hurried to build a fire and found a broken crock bottom, cleaned it, and kept it for the sheep to drink water.


    Thinking the sheep might give birth soon, she poured a cup of Spiritual Spring Water for it.


    "Drink up, this is good stuff. You better do well and give birth to the lambs safely. Don''t worry, I''ll take good care of you."


    Animals are particularly sensitive to things with Spiritual Energy. The water was quickly finished, and the sheep bleated at Su Yuanyuan.


    "Too greedy isn''t good. This is quite a bit already. I''ll give you more next time."


    Actually, Su Yuanyuan wasn''t lying. Having a living creature was like having someone to talk to. A normal person can''t live without speaking. But in this family, it was only her. There wasn''t even someone to talk to. But having sheep later would be better.


    At noon, she ate a bowl meal. It was the most prepared dish, convenient and quick to eat.


    After resting for a while, she took the wood knife up the mountain. Firewood never hurt to have more, she had no one to rely on, only herself.


    This time, she went up a bit further, where there were plenty of branches and many dead trees.


    Su Yuanyuan was delighted, not even bothering with the branches, she headed straight for the dead trees.


    As she chopped, she thought, if only she had a saw, it would probably be more useful than an axe or a wood knife.


    When it snows and going up the mountain becomes impossible, she''ll definitely head to the county and look for a saw, which should be available.


    Whole trees were stored in the space, to be sorted out later.


    Su Yuanyuan was like a happy little mouse, busy the entire afternoon, altogether chopping ten trees. This was a big haul; it should be enough to burn, right?


    On the way back, she also cut two big bundles of dry grass, both for the sheep to eat and to use as kindling.


    Back home, not having even had water, she hurried to give the sheep some grass. But it seemed like this fellow was unusually clever, bleating at her. Su Yuanyuan could see ingratiating expressions from its sheepish face.


    Resigned, she gave it a cup of Spiritual Spring Water, then brought out all the dried trees. Goodness, only seeing so many when they were all out. Certainly enough to burn.


    Su Yuanyuan was delighted, but remembering that Hu Chunhua and his wife might come over tomorrow, and having so many dead trees suddenly wasn''t easy to explain, she hurriedly stored them again, placing them in another room where they didn''t fit.


    Just leave them in the space for now. When she gets a saw, she''ll cut them into smaller pieces and bring them out.


    Lying under the covers, she initially thought about reflecting on the joys and sorrows of life but fell asleep shortly.


    Indeed, with such a frail body, going to the market in the morning and climbing the mountain in the afternoon was really exhausting.


    The next morning, she didn''t laze in bed and got up early. She had to, since that sheep was about to rebel, bleating constantly.


    She added hot water for it and gave it some cornmeal that the little girl had ground herself, still with skins in it, and Su Yuanyuan didn''t have the courage to eat. It was just right for the sheep, but it wasn''t much; she''d have to grind more herself. From memory, that stone mill was difficult to turn and very arduous.


    Just as she finished brushing her teeth, she heard Aunt from Meng Xiangtian''s family calling.


    "Yuanyuan, I came over yesterday afternoon. Where did you go?"


    "Aunt, I went up the mountain to gather firewood yesterday."


    She pushed a cart in, bringing over the grain Su Yuanyuan requested, along with twenty cabbages.


    "Thank you, Aunt. You even brought me so many cabbages."


    "There''s also half a sack of radishes, but they''re small, the big ones are buried in the radish pit. Can''t dig them up now, I''ll bring a few big ones for you in spring when we open the pit."


    "That would be wonderful."


    Su Yuanyuan wanted to help with lifting, but was refused by Meng Xiangtian''s family, "No need for such a small amount of grain."


    "Aunt, you''re really strong."


    "You''ll be strong too when you grow up."


    The grain was placed in a jar in the west room, and Meng Xiangtian''s family wheeled away the cart.


    Su Yuanyuan kept one cabbage, storing the rest in the space since they couldn''t stay outside. There really weren''t many vegetables in her space, mostly tomatoes, carrots, and bell peppers, nothing like cabbages.


    As a child, she ate cabbage every day, so ever since she lived on her own, she''d eaten very little cabbage.


    She didn''t know if Hu Chunhua''s family would come over today. She preferred going up the mountain; there were still many branches. Su Yuanyuan didn''t know she was now picking feathers from geese as they flew. But it couldn''t be helped, the girl had nothing at all, truly starting from zero.


    After waiting a while, no one came, so she carried a basket up the mountain. This time, just collecting branches without going further up, who knew what danger might lie ahead?


    People shouldn''t become complacent. The luckier you are, the more low-key you should be. Otherwise, your good fortune might just slip away.


    There were even more branches here, all bundled and stored in the space.


    She didn''t descend the mountain at noon, mainly because one trip up and down was very inconvenient.


    At noon, she just leaned against the branches and took a nap. Sleeping outside was mainly because of the nice sunshine. It was just for fifteen minutes; it''s not that she didn''t want to sleep more, she was afraid of danger. Besides, it was quite cold.


    By evening, all the branches from this area had been put in the space, and she was returning with a full basket of dry grass.


    Nearly reaching the foot of the mountain, she suddenly thought it better to take out two big bundles of branches.


    Sometimes Su Yuanyuan felt she was truly heaven''s "dear girl"; otherwise, how could she meet Hu Chunhua outside the courtyard just bringing back branches? S§×ar?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "You girl, how did you gather so much?"


    "Aunt, I''m always like this. I''m worried there won''t be any way to get firewood when it snows."


    Hu Chunhua sighed, cursing Su Daqiang''s family in her heart.


    She helped bring them into the woodshed, patting the sheep on the head, feeling this child was even more pitiful.


    "Yuanyuan, we came over this afternoon, and you weren''t home. Don''t go up the mountain tomorrow. While it''s not frozen yet, hurry and make the sheepfold."


    "Okay, I won''t go tomorrow. Besides, there''s no more cornmeal at home. I have to grind more. I wonder if my uncle has time in the morning or afternoon?"

 Chapter 14 excluded

    Chapter 14 - 14 excluded"Alright, I got it. Thank you, Aunt. And thanks to my Uncle for the trouble."


    "No need for thanks." The girl is quite pleasant to talk to.


    The next morning, Yuanyuan went to the village stone mill carrying half a sack of corn kernels.


    She came at the wrong time, coincidentally arriving when someone else was grinding corn.


    It seemed like there were quite a few people involved, definitely not a one-person job.


    No choice but to line up. She could go without eating, but the sheep were waiting.


    A few women saw the little girl waiting in line, but showed no sign of speaking to her. They continued chatting among themselves.


    Everyone knew the girl had caught a Wild Boar and sold it for over sixty yuan, but before anyone could ask for a loan, she had already borrowed money to buy a sheep.


    Some people were just bullying her for being a little girl, trying to take advantage.


    They didn''t get the benefit they wanted, so naturally they were unhappy.


    But now it''s all nonsense, as there''s no money left.


    "Changsheng''s wife, how''s your little pig doing?"


    "Doing okay, but nobody wants to buy it right now; they''re all waiting till after the year. Our pigsty''s too small to raise them, it''s really worrying."


    "How big is the little pig now?"


    "Around ten kilograms."


    Yuanyuan listened, considering maybe she could buy a little pig too.


    But it wasn''t the time to decide yet. With no pigsty available, and these people didn''t seem like good company. Better to stay out of it.


    She wanted to avoid them, but they needed to be willing too.


    "Su Yuanyuan, I heard you caught a Wild Boar?"


    Actually, they didn''t believe it. A skinny little girl like this¡ªlet alone a Wild Boar¡ªshe couldn''t even catch a wild rabbit.


    Yuanyuan kept her head down, not wanting to respond to them. She didn''t want to spoil her mood.


    "Are you deaf? I''m talking to you."


    Yuanyuan lowered her head even more, ignoring them, letting them say whatever they wanted.


    "Forget it, don''t bother with her. Her parents have given up on her, she''s definitely bad luck, don''t get involved."


    Yuanyuan coldly smiled to herself; if she had this kind of skill, she''d bring misfortune to them.


    As soon as she thought that, she saw the malicious woman suddenly get her hand stuck in the stone mill.


    Actually, it was quite a coincidence. She was cleaning up the milled cornmeal, but her hand got caught.


    Yuanyuan heard a scream more agonizing than a pig getting slaughtered.


    "Stop it, hurry and stop it."


    Several onlookers hurried over.


    "Don''t move, my hand''s broken. Quickly lift it up, lift up the stone mill."


    Yuanyuan stood dumbfounded, wondering if this was her new skill. Could this really be possible? Could her wishes come true?


    Yuanyuan grew more excited, thinking whether to try it again. But Xiang Jun''s wife was already quite miserable.


    The group worked together to lift the stone mill, freeing Xiang Jun''s wife''s hand.


    "I feel like my fingers are broken." Quite an age for such sobbing and sniffling; seeing this made Yuanyuan feel disgusted.


    No, she needed to leave. Today she wouldn''t be using the stone mill.


    "Xiang Jun''s wife, go home and wrap it with pot ash."


    "It''s so painful, the kind that pierces the heart."


    Yuanyuan picked up her sack and wanted to leave.


    "It''s that little bitch. It''s her fault."


    Yuanyuan coldly laughed to herself. Serves you right, she thought, pitying her earlier was a mistake.


    "Little bitch, you''ll pay for this." She charged at Yuanyuan, trying to grab her.


    Yuanyuan had no parents, everyone knew she was being bullied, but no one stood up for her.


    Not even bothering to turn around, Yuanyuan thought of testing her new skill again, hoping for her to break her front teeth out of spite.


    Just a few meters away, Xiang Jun''s wife barely got anywhere before she suddenly fell face-flat to the ground.


    An agonized scream echoing again, a few people rushed over to lift her up. S§×ar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    There was terror now, as everyone saw her face covered in blood, her lips flipped over, blood flowing from the corner of her mouth.


    She opened her mouth, and several teeth fell out.


    Everyone exchanged looks; the fall didn''t seem severe, so why was it so bad?


    Yuanyuan cheered inside, realizing this was really her new skill. Haha, served them right for bullying her.


    Yuanyuan turned around, coldly watching the commotion.


    An elder nearby figured it out. This was the mouth of Xiang Jun''s wife, the cause of such karma.


    Yuanyuan watched a few people still surrounding Xiang Jun''s wife, then turned away, carrying her sack.


    This had nothing to do with her. She''d seen enough of the drama and sorted out her new skill. Excellent, just didn''t know if there''d be any harm.


    Two people took Xiang Jun''s wife back, leaving only a few older villagers.


    "Do you think Su Family''s girl is up to some mischief? Xiang Jun''s wife only started having trouble after cursing her."


    "Yes, yes, now you mention it, it really seems that way."


    "We should watch our words in the future; the girl seems to harbor evil."


    Back home, Yuanyuan started arranging the wood shed, moving the thicker logs to the yard to chop with an axe, otherwise, they wouldn''t burn.


    Taking her time casually, she occasionally chatted with the sheep lounging in the sun in the yard.


    It was almost noon as the sun hung high, time for lunch. Just as she thought of carrying the chopped logs inside, she saw a group of people coming over.


    Disregarding them, she bent over to continue organizing.


    Yet, they directly barged in.


    Yuanyuan straightened up, squinting at the entering crowd, only then recognizing Xiang Jun''s family.


    Now Yuanyuan knew what was going on. They were here to cause trouble.


    Bending down, she grabbed the axe, staring at the intruders.


    "What are you doing at my place?"


    "Little bitch, you''ve broken Chunhong''s hand. Her front teeth are also broken. Of course, we''re here for compensation."


    "Leave my house immediately."


    "Little bitch, you''re quite a cocky one."


    "This is the second time."


    "What second time? I''m telling you, cough up fifty bucks, even a cent less and I''ll kill you, little bitch."


    No expression on Yuanyuan''s face, yet suddenly she moved, swinging the axe at Xiang Jun''s mother who had spoken.


    It struck her arm. She wore a padded jacket, otherwise, there''d be immediate blood.


    But it hurt nonetheless. Xiang Jun''s mother felt her arm almost snap.


    Yuanyuan remained silent, swung the axe again, targeting the same arm.


    Terrified, the old woman dodged backwards, narrowly escaping.

 Chapter 15 Intimidation

    Chapter 15: 15 IntimidationThe men who followed finally reacted. They all gathered around.


    "Today, if I can kill one, it¡¯s worth it. Even if I can¡¯t kill you all, even as a ghost, I won¡¯t let you go. Come on, I want to see if you have the guts to kill me," Su Yuanyuan said with a calm face. S§×ar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    This made it hard for the men to make a move. But they still surrounded her, not letting her move. Looking at this girl, they felt something sinister about her.


    "What? No one¡¯s moving now? Scared?" Actually, with just those two moves, Su Yuanyuan was already out of strength. She was just putting on a brave front, waiting for someone to come.


    "You little wretch, how dare you fight back? I¡¯ll beat you to death today."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t even look at her. She just held onto the axe, and Xiang Jun attempted to snatch it, almost getting chopped in the process.


    The sheep they bought kept struggling, bleating mournfully at Su Yuanyuan.


    Finally, Su Yuanyuan saw who she was waiting for. Hu Chunhua and Yang Hongwen were running over.


    Hu Chunhua ran into the courtyard, shoving Xiang Jun aside, and saw the little girl was fine, standing there with an axe.


    "A bunch of bastards, don¡¯t you have children? You¡¯re all inhuman. Aren¡¯t you afraid of divine retribution? A whole family bullying a child?"


    Hu Chunhua was in full force, cursing with hands on her hips.


    "You can¡¯t say it like that, we weren¡¯t bullying her. It was this girl who chopped at my arm."


    "Serves you right. What were you doing at someone else¡¯s house? What¡¯s with your scandalous woman, the whole village knows about it today. They didn¡¯t even meet, and you come to blackmail?"


    Yang Hongwen looked at the four men from the Liu Family. They were actually honest, hard-working people.


    "You don¡¯t know what happened?"


    Xiang Jun and his three brothers shook their heads. Xiang Jun just saw his wife return with a bloody face, and after his mother rubbed pot ash on her, she said it was the Su family¡¯s girl who did it.


    So their whole family came over.


    "You barged into someone else¡¯s house without knowing what happened?"


    "Xiang Jun, your kids are even older than this girl. Don¡¯t you feel ashamed? If you keep doing this, who will respect you in the village? Don¡¯t you know how your wife is?


    Just listening to her and coming to cause trouble without finding out the truth first?"


    "Third brother, I really didn¡¯t know what was happening."


    "You didn¡¯t know? Do you have no brains? Your wife¡¯s age versus this little girl¡¯s age? The little girl doesn¡¯t even have a scratch, do you think it was her? Was your brain kicked by a donkey?"


    "Third brother, in a panic, I forgot."


    Wang Laogen listened to Yang Hongwen scolding his son and was very dissatisfied. However, hearing the situation, they were clearly in the wrong.


    So he mumbled, not knowing what to say.


    "I say, village chief, why are you always siding with this ruinous girl from a different family?"


    "I call you aunt, but you have to act like one. We may not say to take care of her, but we definitely can¡¯t bully her either. What? Heard she¡¯s got some money and can¡¯t sit still anymore? Your family has so many people, how much can¡¯t you earn?


    Aunt, doing harm will come back to you. Today everything that happened with your daughter-in-law at the mill is all over, go ask about it. You still have two unmarried sons at home, if the reputation of your family being greedy and harmful gets out, how will they find wives?"


    "Alright, let this matter go, you should all return home."


    "She didn¡¯t touch Chunhong but did chop me twice. She¡¯s small, otherwise would my arm be alright?"


    "You know she¡¯s small. There¡¯s no such bullying in our village, don¡¯t tarnish our village¡¯s name."


    "Let¡¯s just leave it at that. But my arm is really in pain," she said while rolling up her sleeve. She was unhygienic, her arm was blackish, and you couldn¡¯t really see anything.


    Yang Hongwen held back his anger. "You barged into her house, knowing it was a little girl¡¯s family, what were you planning? I¡¯m covering for you, but if you don¡¯t want me to, then handle it yourself, it¡¯s up to you.


    If she decides to sue you, I won¡¯t care. Aren¡¯t you aware that being greedy for others¡¯ money is illegal?"


    Now, the four men from the Liu Family turned around and took the woman with them as they left.


    Now only three of them were left in the courtyard.


    "Thank you, Uncle, thank you, Aunt."


    "Girl, are you alright? You can¡¯t act so recklessly, or your reputation will be ruined."


    Su Yuanyuan chuckled bitterly. "Aunt, if I don¡¯t act this way, there will be others tomorrow. Living alone in the village, people always try to take advantage."


    Yang Hongwen sighed. "Yes, that¡¯s true. Alright, be careful in the future."


    "Hmm, I got it. Normally, I don¡¯t go out, but there was no food at home, so I wanted to grind some flour, didn¡¯t expect to run into them. Next time if anything like this happens, I¡¯ll just turn around and come back."


    The two both sighed. Yes, this girl is usually honest but was pushed to her limits.


    It was just around dinner time, and there must be no one grinding flour at the mill. So she hurried inside, taking out a meat bun and a glass of milk to deal with this meal.


    She carried the bag to the mill, although she had to push the mill and add corn kernels alone, it was peaceful without anyone saying offensive things around.


    This small half bag of corn kernels took Su Yuanyuan an hour to finish grinding. It was really exhausting. She felt that the meat bun she ate was already digested and she was hungry again.


    Returning home, she scooped a bowl of cornmeal for the sheep. She patted the sheep while it ate, "Were you trying to help me earlier? Haha, did you understand that?"


    The sheep eating cornmeal suddenly lifted its head and bleated at Su Yuanyuan.


    Su Yuanyuan laughed, "You really can understand, huh?"


    It bleated a few more times.


    "Okay, I know. I know. In the future, if something like that happens, I¡¯ll definitely ask for your help. But we¡¯ll wait until after you¡¯ve given birth to the lambs, alright?"


    She brought over more hay, then moved the chopped firewood into the woodshed.


    However, looking at the woodshed, it clearly couldn¡¯t fit everything. Whatever, let¡¯s store the firewood in the west room, so even if it snows it won¡¯t get wet.


    Thinking about snow, Su Yuanyuan suddenly remembered that the house was very flimsy. What if it collapsed when it snowed?


    Now Su Yuanyuan felt even more worried. No way, once Hu Chunhua and her spouse come, I must ask them. The most important thing now is the roof, if the house collapses in this big winter, what should I do?


    In a bad mood, not hungry anymore, she initially wanted to eat some snacks, but now she couldn¡¯t. She didn¡¯t have any appetite at all.


    Su Yuanyuan was someone with a short temper. She looked around, but realized she couldn¡¯t climb up to the roof, and it made her so anxious she paced around the courtyard.

 Chapter 16 sheepfold

    Chapter 16: 16 sheepfoldHu Chunhua and her husband, Yang Minggang, came over with tools.


    "Yuanyuan, what are you doing?"


    "Aunt, Uncle, you¡¯re here. I suddenly thought of the roof. What if there¡¯s a heavy snow?"


    "I¡¯ll get the ladder and take a look. If it¡¯s no good, we must reinforce the roof as soon as possible. This is urgent, and the weather looks fine. Who knows when it might snow?"


    Yang Minggang put down his tools and turned away.


    "Aunt, what do we need to fix the roof?"


    "Yellow earth, wheat straw."


    "Aunt, we don¡¯t have wheat straw at home. Can I use dry grass instead? I¡¯ve prepared a lot of dry grass."


    "I have wheat straw at home. Save the dry grass for the sheep to eat."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t hold back. When fleas are many, they don¡¯t bite; when debts are many, they don¡¯t worry. She knew Hu Chunhua¡¯s good intentions and would certainly repay in the future.


    Yang Minggang came over carrying a ladder. He climbed up but didn¡¯t dare to step onto the roof.


    "We¡¯ll need to find someone to fix the roof tomorrow, or we won¡¯t get through the winter this year. Actually, this roof was done by your grandpa himself last year."


    Su Yuanyuan bowed her head, feeling a little sad thinking about the only person who was kind to the little girl.


    "Alright, let your Uncle find some people tomorrow, and it¡¯ll be done in a day."


    Su Yuanyuan raised her head, "Uncle, why don¡¯t you go inside and see if the beams and trellis need changing? Since we¡¯re hiring people, we might as well replace them too, so they last longer."


    Yang Minggang went into the house and inspected all three rooms. "The beams and trellis are fine. How about we just remove all the mud tomorrow, and there¡¯ll be no problem."


    "Uncle, does hiring people cost money?"


    "No, just provide meals." After saying this, Yang Minggang paused, "Meals aren¡¯t needed either."


    "Uncle, how about giving some money to each person? That way we won¡¯t owe favors, and they¡¯ll feel good too."


    Hu Chunhua thought it over and agreed that giving money was the best option. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Fair enough. You can give each person fifty cents a day. Actually, with others, not giving money would be okay since everyone can trade work. But since you¡¯re alone and still young, people will come to work, but favors are hard to repay. So, it¡¯s better to pay them."


    Yang Minggang considered hiring five people in addition to himself. They could finish the job in half a day, and this girl would only spend two and a half yuan, leaving out his portion.


    It worked out quite well. In the past, if she didn¡¯t have money, even two cents would be unaffordable. But now, this problem was no longer a worry.


    "That works." Most people fear owing favors, which can sometimes be priceless.


    "Let¡¯s start by sorting out the sheep pen first.


    Yuanyuan, what do you want it to be like? Where do you want it?"


    "Aunt, I have no idea?"


    Yang Minggang pointed at the wall corner, "Let¡¯s do it there. Dig a ditch, enclose it with branches. That¡¯s it."


    Su Yuanyuan had no objections, actually thinking that if a lamb were born, they¡¯d have to bring the mother and baby inside to keep warm. This pen was meant for next year anyway.


    Two strong workers made quick progress, while Su Yuanyuan was responsible for fetching branches. Clearly, she would have to go to the mountains.


    "Uncle, don¡¯t we need to build a house for the sheep?"


    "Later I¡¯ll go home to get some earthen bricks."


    Yang Minggang went back, while Su Yuanyuan and Hu Chunhua went outside to dig earth. They cut dry grass with scissors and mixed it with water to make mud.


    "Aunt, will the roof also use this kind of mud tomorrow?"


    "Yes, it will be the same."


    Su Yuanyuan thought about sneaking home at night to fetch soil, to show everyone she was making an effort.


    The sheep pen took them four baskets of soil, but the roof would require much more. Even if she didn¡¯t bring it all in, at least some was needed, right?


    Yang Minggang pushed a cartload in. It was only about a meter high, just enough for the sheep to stand. It was about seven or eight hundred in width, but fairly long, roughly two meters.


    They placed some thick sticks on top, overlaid with branches, and covered the sides and branches with mud mixed with grass.


    Su Yuanyuan looked, actually wanting to ask why there was no door. But she decided to figure it out on her own, realizing it was a silly question.


    "Alright, pile some dry grass and drive the sheep in."


    Su Yuanyuan led the sheep into the pen, patting its head, "Are you happy? This is your new home. You see, you¡¯re treated better than I am. You even have a new house."


    Hu Chunhua watched the little girl¡¯s actions with a touch of sadness. At not even nine years old, she might have bought the sheep under the pretense, but she was really looking for a companion, wasn¡¯t she?


    Thanking the couple, she happily closed the door.


    Seeing the earthen bricks reminded her that next year she could prepare too, surrounding the yard for more safety.


    She got the sheep¡¯s food ready before starting to make a fire.


    The afternoon was exhausting, but it was work done for herself.


    After washing up, she ate a bowl of sweet porridge and two cakes. Then, taking a shovel and a basket, she headed outside.


    It wasn¡¯t completely dark yet, and she wanted to show others she was working hard.


    If she couldn¡¯t carry a whole basket, she¡¯d take half; it was all about showing effort.


    Trip after trip she carried the soil back. By dark, it felt like 7 p.m. She took another empty basket, filled it up, and stored it in the space; though it was slow work. Thinking it over, she wasn¡¯t in a hurry to go back. She dug a big pile of mud, waved her hand, and was surprised when it was actually stored away.


    Su Yuanyuan walked back joyously, thinking how this space was indeed a necessity for anyone traveling or staying home.


    On her second trip back, there were already three large piles in the courtyard.


    That should do it, giving the impression she¡¯d been up working all night.


    She returned home, entered the space to bathe, ate a meat bun, and then lay under the quilt to sleep.


    The next morning she got up early, fed the sheep and herself, and once more headed out to fetch soil. Actually, Su Yuanyuan thought that if she collected enough mud, she could plaster a layer over the exterior of the earth-brick house. That should make it sturdier and better insulated.


    When Hu Chunhua and the others arrived, they saw the little girl struggling to carry back yellow earth.


    The yard was already full, with more than enough.


    "Yuanyuan, haven¡¯t you slept all night? We have a cart; it¡¯s much faster than carrying it."


    Su Yuanyuan smiled, "Aunt, I¡¯m free anyway, so I thought I¡¯d work too. Besides, I saw the sheep pen¡¯s earthen bricks were plastered with yellow mud, and thought the house might be warmer if we did the same?"


    A few more people arrived gradually and their impression of the little girl improved a lot.


    Hu Chunhua went home to fetch the wheat straw, and Yang Minggang brought over a blade for cutting, so they wouldn¡¯t have to use scissors little by little.

 Chapter 17 change roof

    Chapter 17: 17 change roofSince the hardest work has been done, a group of people started working with the mud.


    Su Yuanyuan had nothing to do with it, so she and Hu Chunhua continued pushing the cart of loess back.


    The men knew the little girl still wanted to plaster the walls, so they let the two of them continue pushing.


    Yang Minggang brought in some hardworking people, and they all knew what to do. A platform was set up below.


    Someone below was responsible for transporting mud up to the platform, and those on the platform transported it to the rooftop.


    Su Yuanyuan watched. She really couldn¡¯t do this work. By noon, the rooftop was finished, and everyone needed to go back to eat.


    "Yuanyuan, do you want to come home with me to eat?"


    "Aunt, I won¡¯t go. My own meal is almost ready."


    After sending off the workers, Su Yuanyuan quickly started a fire and pretended to cook porridge in a big pot.


    However, she didn¡¯t eat it herself; she gave it all to the greedy little goat.


    With this little body, by the end of the morning, she really couldn¡¯t move her legs. Just as she lay down to rest, she heard noises outside.


    Going out, she saw people were already mixing mud again.


    Su Yuanyuan joined in to fetch water, the two of them worked in silence, but both were busy.


    In the afternoon, it was time to plaster the walls. Because there was a lot of mud prepared, the mud on the walls was plastered on thick.


    Before it got dark, the walls were finished. Some mud was left, but it wasn¡¯t needed anymore.


    Su Yuanyuan took out three dollars and fifty cents, handed it to Hu Chunhua, "Aunt, this is for you seven people. Don¡¯t refuse. If it was just me, I couldn¡¯t have done it. I¡¯m already very grateful."


    "It¡¯s not a big deal for you, but for me, it¡¯s a lifesaver. So thank you, uncles."


    Her words were well spoken, pleasing to hear, so Hu Chunhua did not refuse anymore.


    Su Yuanyuan stood in the courtyard, looking at the house. Maybe it was psychological, but she felt the house had become much sturdier.


    Even if there was heavy snow in winter, she wouldn¡¯t be afraid. At least this winter, she could live in peace. Tomorrow, she still had to go up the mountain. There was still too much firewood needed.


    In the evening, she treated herself to a bowl of braised pork on rice, a salted egg, and a cup of egg drop soup. Life wasn¡¯t lacking in any way.


    She was so tired from the day that when she opened her eyes, it was already daylight.


    The greedy goat was already bleating; there was no choice but to get up and take care of it.


    "You, watch the house well. I¡¯m going up the mountain. I still have to prepare your winter grass."


    Yesterday, she found the machete very useful and felt she wanted one again.


    After heading up the mountain, she continued collecting firewood. This time, she went further in and found many good things. There were lots of wood ear mushrooms. These wild wood ear mushrooms growing on trees were non-toxic and safe to eat. She thought about frying eggs with the mushrooms, which was a very good idea.


    She gathered two more withered trees, but chopped off all the branches. This way, she could bring them back and leave them in the courtyard, making it more straightforward to use.


    Tomorrow, she¡¯d collect firewood again, and the day after, she¡¯d start picking pine cones. Thinking about the oily pine nuts, they really were quite tasty. They could be eaten as a snack or given to the greedy goat.


    In the evening, as she descended the mountain, near the foot, she pulled out two withered trees and slowly dragged them home.


    The usually quiet courtyard saw the goat pacing back and forth in the pen as it saw Su Yuanyuan return.


    "Wait a bit, I¡¯m too tired right now. I¡¯ll come take care of you in a moment."


    The next day was the same. Several withered trees were already piled up in the courtyard, and she thought maybe she could ask Hu Chunhua if there was a saw tomorrow. Using an axe was too laborious.


    Lying on the kang, Su Yuanyuan thought about the things prepared for winter, realizing she was still missing cotton clothes.


    There¡¯s no rush for that; she had already asked around at the market last time. The market was every five days, and tomorrow was the market day. She could go to the market again. But since she couldn¡¯t make cotton clothes herself, she didn¡¯t know how much cotton and fabric to buy. She¡¯d still have to trouble others for help.


    There was no way around it; she still needed to learn. It¡¯s uncomfortable to ask others for help, but once learned, she wouldn¡¯t need to rely on anyone.


    Early the next day, she got ready and went looking for Hu Chunhua.


    "Aunt, I want to go to the market today and would like you to come with me. My current cotton clothes are still cold. I want to buy some cotton and fabric. I can¡¯t make them, and I need you to teach me."


    "Alright, I was actually thinking of calling you too. There¡¯s cotton available in the village."


    "Aunt, if someone is selling in the village, I¡¯d rather buy it here. It¡¯s better if familiar people earn the money."


    "Come on, I¡¯ll take you to ask. Their family has plenty of cotton and is thinking of selling it at the market."


    "That¡¯s great! Saves me from buying outside."


    Hu Chunhua gained a new impression of this little girl; she was sensible, able to maintain good relations in the village.


    Don¡¯t underestimate these connections. In village life, if no one interacts with you, it could be troublesome. It¡¯s not good to be so isolated, as people in the countryside say. If something happens, no one would lend a helping hand. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Yuanyuan followed Hu Chunhua to the southern end of the village.


    "Qiuju, are you home?"


    "Sister-in-law, what brings you here? Is there something you need? This is Yuanyuan, right?"


    "Auntie, it¡¯s me, Yuanyuan." In her memory, this was Yang Peilin¡¯s wife, Wang Qiuju.


    "You two come inside."


    "Qiuju, we came to ask if you¡¯re selling cotton. This girl has nothing. A few days ago, the heavens smiled upon her, and she has a bit of money now. She wants to make some cotton clothes."


    "Yes, our man has already gone to the market, but there are still some at home."


    "This girl heard you have cotton and decided not to buy at the market." Hu Chunhua was kind-hearted, wanting to help the girl buy something good.


    "Haha, Yuanyuan is sensible. Rest assured, Auntie will give you more."


    Su Yuanyuan just listened from behind, preparing to pay up.


    After Wang Qiuju went inside, she had them sit down, then went to get the cotton, bringing a whole bag straight over.


    "Sister-in-law, look at this cotton. It¡¯s of the best quality; the usual ones I used at home."


    "Wow, your cotton is really good."


    "Of course, we¡¯ve taken great care of it."


    "Qiuju, how much is the cotton per pound?"


    "Our man sells it at one yuan and sixty cents per pound at the market. But since it¡¯s for this girl, it¡¯s one yuan fifty-five cents per pound."


    "Alright. This girl will need two pounds to make a set of cotton clothes, right?"


    "Yes, two pounds will make it thicker. Since she¡¯s making it, she should make it thick and a bit larger, so she can wear it for a few more years."


    "Auntie, how much cotton is needed for quilts?"


    Hu Chunhua thought of the girl¡¯s bedding and sighed, feeling that Su Daqiang really neglected this girl.


    "Three pounds for a quilt, and one pound for a mattress is enough."


    Su Yuanyuan really had no concept, but since there was still quite a bit in her space, this was just to cover up. So she nodded obediently.


    "Auntie, I¡¯d like seven pounds of cotton. I also want to make a cotton hat and cotton gloves."

 Chapter 18 buy cotton

    Chapter 18: 18 buy cottonWang Qiuju didn¡¯t expect this girl could buy so much? She glanced at Hu Chunhua.


    "Alright, seven jin then. I can also make cotton hats and cotton gloves."


    "Sister-in-law, each cotton seed is about one tael, about eighteen for more, seventeen for less."


    "Then eighteen it is. You don¡¯t have a scale at home?"


    "No, I¡¯ll go get it from my mother-in-law¡¯s place."


    "Our Aunt no longer weaves fabric, otherwise there¡¯d be no need to buy it at the market."


    "My mother-in-law¡¯s eyes aren¡¯t good anymore, so she doesn¡¯t either. But my great aunt still weaves, and her weave is dense, though it¡¯s quite far away."


    Hu Chunhua urged Wang Qiuju to get a scale. "Yuanyuan, we¡¯ll head to the market in a bit. Buy the fabric, make it quickly, and don¡¯t catch a cold."


    "Aunt, if it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t know what to do." Su Yuanyuan truly thought so.


    "Sigh, you¡¯re still so young. I feel sorry for you."


    There were three kids at home as well, the youngest was about the same age as this girl, it was hard not to feel pity for her.


    "Aunt, meeting you is my luck, it¡¯s heaven¡¯s compensation for me."


    "Silly girl, what can I help you with? I¡¯ll certainly lend a hand where I can."


    Wang Qiuju returned, followed by an elderly lady.


    "Sister-in-law, this bag has fourteen cotton seeds, and this gunny sack weighs one tael."


    It ended up being seven jin and three tael, counted as seven jin and two tael. That¡¯s eleven yuan and one mao six, even less by one cent, which could buy several pieces of candy.


    "Aunt, Qiuju, I¡¯m heading back, still have to take this girl to the market."


    "Chunhua, I just came to tell you, my nephew is also selling fabric at the market, if you buy from him, just mention my family."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll definitely buy from him, need quite a bit, this girl¡¯s making quilts. For cotton clothes, buy her some patterned fabric, after all, she¡¯s a girl, isn¡¯t she?"


    "Isn¡¯t she? Go on, or there¡¯ll be too many people."


    The two of them directly brought the cotton to Hu Chunhua¡¯s home. It¡¯s safer this way, though no one seems to have noticed anyone going to the house, the two of them had just walked through the entire village with cotton sacks, better safe than sorry.


    Time was getting late. Those who usually went to the market with Hu Chunhua had already left. So it was just them, the mother and daughter, who went together.


    On the way, they saw many people, even saw the old lady from Wang Laogen¡¯s family, she snorted at them but didn¡¯t say anything. She cared about her reputation too.


    "Girl, what do you want to buy?"


    "Aunt, I feel like I lack everything, but I most want to buy a saw. I¡¯ve gathered a lot of dead wood, and using an axe or a machete is too hard, I can¡¯t manage it. I think if I had a saw, it would be easier, less effort."


    "Alright, let¡¯s look at the market, there should be one. I remember seeing a kind of hand saw, that would suit you."


    "Aunt, do you think I should get a small cart too?"


    "Actually, you should get one, you¡¯ll need it for moving manure to the fields later, but you don¡¯t have manure at home."


    Hu Chunhua silently cursed Su Daqiang and his wife again, they¡¯re really not humans, giving away manure for free without thinking, aren¡¯t they? Why don¡¯t they think about their daughter? They¡¯re truly not good people, with hearts like theirs, they¡¯d never lead a good life anywhere.


    "If there¡¯s one at the market, buy it. It can be used for autumn harvest as well, since you¡¯re alone, no one wants to team up with you, you¡¯ll have to do everything by yourself."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t think that far ahead, she just thought about buying a cart because she saw others with one.


    Now that she heard this, she realized she really couldn¡¯t do without the small cart.


    Hu Chunhua was right. In the future, she had to rely on herself for everything.


    "This small cart comes in wood and iron, the iron one costs thirty."


    "Aunt, I want the iron one. I¡¯m just afraid it¡¯s too much to say."


    "Yes, you can say I¡¯m lending you the money, my household is just like that, and no one believes what I say.


    If not, you could say you borrowed it from the village leader."


    "Aunt, do you think an iron cart would be too conspicuous for me?"


    "Indeed, you are still a child. But in the future, with two acres of land, without a good cart during autumn harvest, when would you get everything back?"


    "We¡¯ll discuss it later."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll lend you my cart when the time comes."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t refuse, it was indeed too conspicuous. They¡¯ll talk about it later.


    "Girl, you can still buy some small items."


    "Hmm, I know. Aunt, do you think when it warms up next year, I can make adobe bricks myself and let Uncle help me find people to enclose the yard during the idle time after autumn?


    Just by myself, I¡¯m scared at night, I can¡¯t even support myself, can¡¯t even have a dog for security."


    "That¡¯s too exhausting."


    Su Yuanyuan gave a bitter smile, "Aunt, who isn¡¯t tired?"


    "Yes, who isn¡¯t? My house has molds and trowels, you can take them when the time comes."


    "Hmm, I saw wheat straw mixed in your adobe bricks, wouldn¡¯t it be sturdier without it?"


    "Silly girl, without wheat straw, the adobe bricks would crack, you must add it."


    "So that¡¯s why? Then I can use dry grass too, right?"


    "There¡¯s a large stack of wheat straw at my place, you can use it as you need. Just load a few baskets back home yourself."


    "Aunt, can¡¯t make adobe bricks in winter, the wheat straw can wait until later, meantime I¡¯ll just move yellow soil into the yard when I¡¯m free. Doing some work isn¡¯t cold."


    "Girl, you can make adobe bricks outside, no one would take them. You don¡¯t need to waste your efforts."


    Su Yuanyuan nodded appreciatively. She was just afraid that her hard work would be taken by others.


    "Girl, in half a month, it¡¯ll be the twelfth lunar month. Many in our village will be slaughtering pigs."


    Su Yuanyuan understood Hu Chunhua¡¯s point. "Aunt, I should just buy the cheapest parts that nobody wants."


    "Yes, I just want to tell you to not draw attention. If you need anything, I¡¯ll help you buy it."


    "Aunt, what¡¯s the cheapest?"


    "Lean meat, offal."


    "Then I¡¯ll buy one jin of lean meat, and if offal is cheap, I¡¯ll buy it; if it¡¯s too expensive, I¡¯ll skip it."


    This kid is so sensible, Hu Chunhua sighed, she didn¡¯t know how Su Daqiang and his wife thought, to abandon such a good child.


    In the future, even if they want to reconcile, she would never do it, she¡¯d make sure they couldn¡¯t lift their heads in shame.


    The two met many people from the village, greeting them. Su Yuanyuan would follow from behind to greet, and that was it. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Everyone was quite curious about this girl. With Hu Chunhua taking such care of her, there were certainly rumors, but no one said anything openly.


    At the market, they finally had time to browse leisurely. Su Yuanyuan felt she lacked even more things now.


    But she couldn¡¯t buy too much at once. She knew her situation well. She was just afraid someone would covet her things.

 Chapter 19 go to the market

    Chapter 19: 19 go to the marketSu Yuanyuan was feeling very conflicted, so it showed on her face.


    Hu Chunhua wanted to ask Su Yuanyuan something, and just then she noticed her expression and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle.


    "Girl, if you need any little things, just buy them. I¡¯ll send them back for you later."


    "That would be great, Aunt. I feel like I¡¯m lacking in everything."


    "Haha. Alright, then let¡¯s buy them."


    "Aunt, do you think that flat board and cutting board are good?"


    The little girl used to use an old, beat-up black board, which she had already burnt because she simply couldn¡¯t muster the courage to use it anymore.


    "Let¡¯s go, ask how much it is. If it¡¯s too expensive, we¡¯ll have your uncle carve two for you."


    "Okay, my uncle takes care of everything for me."


    "It¡¯s nothing, it¡¯s just that what he makes isn¡¯t so great. He used to fool me by saying he was a carpenter, but he can¡¯t even smooth a board."


    Su Yuanyuan snickered a little, not expecting that usually serious Yang Minggang had done something like that.


    "Local fellow, how much are these boards?"


    "Two yuan each, take your pick."


    "Too expensive. You¡¯re selling this piece of wood for two yuan?"


    "Sister-in-law, it¡¯s not fair to say that. This board was made from a tree I chopped down and painstakingly carved."


    "Forget it, I won¡¯t buy it, it¡¯s too expensive. We have a planer at home, I¡¯ll carve one myself."


    "Sister-in-law, that takes a lot of effort too, right? If you sincerely want to buy it, I¡¯ll give you one for 1.9 yuan."


    "Two for 2.5 yuan."


    "Sister-in-law, that¡¯s too harsh. That means you¡¯re getting the second one for just five jiao."


    "Brother, just say if you¡¯re selling or not. After all, it¡¯s not a necessity; if it¡¯s suitable, I¡¯ll buy two. Honestly, it¡¯s just some effort on your part, and it¡¯s not like anyone else is buying two at once like me."


    "Sister-in-law, really, it can¡¯t be done. At that price, my wife would beat me at home."


    "Then forget it." Hu Chunhua truly thought it was optional. If it doesn¡¯t work out, she¡¯d just make one herself, even if it wasn¡¯t as smooth, it could still be used, couldn¡¯t it?


    "Sister-in-law, don¡¯t be like that. How about this, three yuan for two pieces, can¡¯t go any lower."


    Hu Chunhua shook her head, "I¡¯ll take it for 2.5 yuan, not a cent more."


    Su Yuanyuan looked at Hu Chunhua with admiration all over her face, truly amazed. Whether or not she ended up buying it, just the way she haggled was enough to admire.


    "Wait, wait, I¡¯ll sell it to you."


    Hu Chunhua turned around. "Tsk, I don¡¯t want it if you sell it to me."


    Then she squatted down and started picking, explaining to Su Yuanyuan about what kind of wood is good for a flat board, and which is good for a cutting board.


    "Sister-in-law, you really know your stuff, don¡¯t you?"


    "Of course, otherwise how could I dare say I¡¯ll carve it myself?"


    After picking two, Su Yuanyuan noticed the rolling pins, in several models.


    "Brother, how much for these rolling pins?" S§×ar?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sister-in-law, the biggest is five jiao, medium is three jiao, and the smallest is two jiao."


    "One big and one small. Here¡¯s five jiao, a total of three yuan."


    "Alright, alright, sister-in-law, you¡¯ve got me afraid of you now. But next time, you gotta introduce me to some business, okay?"


    "Definitely, you seem like an honest guy. Don¡¯t worry, when I see folks from our village, I¡¯ll spread the word for you. But don¡¯t sell them at a high price."


    "I definitely won¡¯t, definitely won¡¯t."


    Su Yuanyuan laughed as she handed over three yuan, and Hu Chunhua put the boards and rolling pins in the basket.


    "Let¡¯s go find your Uncle Pei Lin and leave these with him."


    "Aunt, you¡¯re really amazing."


    "What¡¯s amazing? I¡¯m telling you, you must haggle when buying things."


    "I know, I¡¯ll learn from you."


    They saw a stand selling bamboo covers.


    "Aunt, I want to buy two bamboo covers and a big winnow basket."


    "Just buy one winnow basket; you don¡¯t need to buy the bamboo covers. You¡¯ll have time, I can teach you how to weave them, it¡¯s simple."


    "Aunt, you¡¯ll also have to teach me how to use the big basket, cause I don¡¯t know how to winnow."


    "Alright, you¡¯re a good girl, eager to learn everything.


    But with your height, it¡¯s better to buy a small one. You wouldn¡¯t be able to handle a big one."


    "I¡¯ll listen to you, Aunt."


    "Old fellow, how much for these baskets?"


    "Five yuan for a big one, four yuan for a small one."


    "Old fellow, could you make it cheaper? Your baskets are expensive."


    "Miss, check the quality of these baskets, pick them up, they¡¯re made with good wood."


    "They are good, but the price is too high."


    "If you honestly want to buy, I¡¯ll give you ten jiao off."


    "Haha, then I¡¯ll look around, the vendor I used to buy from should be here today too."


    "Miss, name your price. For the sake of making the first sale."


    "Bro, I¡¯m not fooling around, I want a small basket, two yuan."


    "Really can¡¯t do it. You can look elsewhere; it takes my wife and me a whole day to make one, not to mention the materials. Your price won¡¯t cover it."


    "Bro, then tell me your lowest price. I¡¯ll listen."


    "Lowest is three yuan, not a cent less."


    "Uncle, how about you give us both a big and a small one for six yuan?"


    Hu Chunhua didn¡¯t say anything; if this price worked, it was definitely worth it, she had bought them for 4.5 yuan before.


    If you take care of a basket, it can last ten to twenty years.


    "Really buying two?"


    "Yes, if you¡¯ll sell both to us for six yuan, we¡¯ll take a big and a small one."


    "Alright, you¡¯ve got me, I¡¯ll sell them to you. I¡¯m telling you, my baskets won¡¯t last a lifetime, but they won¡¯t break in ten years with normal use."


    Hu Chunhua still did the picking. Su Yuanyuan paid.


    Although it only took a while to spend less than ten yuan, she bought a lot of essential stuff.


    "Young lady, aren¡¯t you buying the bamboo covers? See how sturdy they¡¯re woven?"


    "Bro, that¡¯s not necessary. You¡¯re an honest guy, let me tell you, you could try our village, I think at this price, you¡¯d sell quite a few. As far as I know, several families have been talking about wanting to buy big winnow baskets."


    "Miss. Which village are you from?"


    "We¡¯re from Jue Mountain."


    "Thank you, young lady, I¡¯ll go and try in the afternoon."


    "Aunt, you¡¯re really so kind-hearted."


    "Haha, I¡¯ve heard that helping others is helping yourself."


    "I¡¯ll remember that."


    Su Yuanyuan spotted some sweeping brooms and big brooms.


    "Have your uncle make them for you at home. It¡¯s no trouble, we¡¯ve got plenty of broomstick straw there."


    "Aunt. You¡¯ve given my uncle a lot of work in this short time."


    "Or else he¡¯d have nothing to do in winter; let him do these tasks instead of idling away doing nothing."


    There were quite a few vendors selling dried vegetables and grains. Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t want to buy any of those. But she noticed the vendors selling burlap sacks and hemp bags, and Hu Chunhua stopped.

 Chapter 20 go to the market

    Chapter 20: 20 go to the marketQueens, little fairies, cuties, happy holidays!


    "Girl, there are snake skin bags and burlap bags for sale in the market today. I need to buy some, we don¡¯t have many at home and they¡¯re running out.


    You should also prepare, you¡¯ll need them for the autumn harvest next year."


    "Alright, I really didn¡¯t think of that."


    The mother and daughter squeezed into the crowd, "Fellow villager, how much is one of these burlap bags?"


    "Ten cents, the snake skin bags are also ten cents."


    "Can it be cheaper if we buy more, fellow villager?"


    "How many do you want to buy?"


    "Thirty snake skin bags, thirty burlap bags."


    After Hu Chunhua spoke, Su Yuanyuan whispered beside her, "Aunt, isn¡¯t that too few? I think I need to buy the same amount."


    "Then how about fifty of each? What¡¯s the best price?"


    "Nine cents."


    "No way, that¡¯s too expensive. Seven cents, seven cents each."


    "No way. Seven cents is too little."


    "Others sell them for eight cents each. Besides, we¡¯re buying so many. You¡¯re selling a hundred, it¡¯ll take a long time to sell, sell more at once, earn the same."


    "Seven and a half cents."


    "Seven cents, I¡¯m really not giving you any less."


    The others picking bags nearby also stopped what they were doing.


    The seller saw this wasn¡¯t working. "Fine, seven then, but you must buy at least a hundred." It¡¯s rare for a single customer to buy a hundred at a market, it¡¯s profitable and saves trouble.


    Hu Chunhua didn¡¯t fuss, she straightforwardly took two bundles of burlap bags and one bundle of snake skin bags.


    Su Yuanyuan handed over seven yuan. Now both their baskets and hands were full.


    "Hey, bag seller. I¡¯m buying ten, can you sell them to me for seven cents each as well?"


    "No way, must buy a hundred. Fewer than that, the price can¡¯t work, still ten cents each.


    At seven cents each, I only earn twenty of a cent."


    In the end, a few people gathered together, he wanted ten, and another wanted twenty. They were still short by twenty, so the woman who haggled earlier found another woman, and finally, seven people gathered a hundred bags.


    After they all left, the seller laughed, this is good, otherwise, I¡¯d sell them for eight cents each. Even though I knew I made one cent less per bag, with two hundred bags, usually, I wouldn¡¯t sell this much. This way, I earned more than when I usually set up stall.


    "Girl, Aunt will give you the money later."


    "I¡¯m not in a hurry."


    "Let¡¯s go find Peilin first, he can watch our stuff."


    Su Yuanyuan saw someone selling wooden basins and buckets again. But she couldn¡¯t buy them now, her hands were full.


    Finally found Yang Peilin in the middle.


    "Peilin, these are the things I bought, too many, I¡¯m leaving them here with you, I¡¯m going to look around a bit more. I¡¯ll come back to get them."


    "No problem, I brought my cart, I can push it back."


    "We¡¯ll see later. By the way, how much have you sold?"


    "Just over ten pounds left to sell out."


    "Alright, I bought over seven pounds of cotton from your house this morning. My third aunt said your cousin is also here selling fabric, do you know where he is?"


    "Just ahead. Sister-in-law, are you buying fabric?"


    "Yes, this girl has nothing, and it¡¯s about to snow, need to make quilts. I¡¯m going to find your cousin."


    Only then did Su Yuanyuan address him as Uncle.


    Yang Peilin looked at the little girl, knowing she got the money, actually preparing these was the smartest thing.


    "Go ahead, just mention my name, today my cousin brought a lot of fabric. I even saw some dyed ones."


    Su Yuanyuan thought she definitely didn¡¯t want dyed fabric, just white cotton fabric, it would be comfortable to cover with.


    "Aunt, is that a millet pillow?"


    "Yes, you don¡¯t have a pillow yet, just buy a pound when we come back and it¡¯ll be enough."


    In her past life, Su Yuanyuan loved millet pillows, even after she had money, she still used millet ones. They felt comfortable.


    After walking a few meters, they saw someone selling fabric.


    Hu Chunhua approached, "Fellow villager, are you Peilin¡¯s cousin?"


    "I am, who are you?"


    "I¡¯m the sister-in-law from Peilin Village, here to buy fabric from you."


    "Sure, I¡¯ll definitely give sister-in-law a discount."


    Hearing this, Hu Chunhua found it hard to haggle.


    "Cousin, how much is this white cotton fabric per foot?"


    "Sister-in-law, it¡¯s thirty cents, the dyed ones are thirty-five cents per foot, I¡¯ll sell it to sister-in-law for twenty cents, and twenty-five cents."


    "Okay, cut a set of bedding for me. All in this white cotton fabric."


    "Okay, the width is all three feet, a quilt that¡¯s seven feet long is enough, but the width all needs five feet. You¡¯ll need two pieces. The mattress should be six feet, one piece wide is enough, and there¡¯s still over a foot for the quilt head.


    If you don¡¯t want the dyed quilt top, all in white cotton fabric, you¡¯ll need forty feet."


    "Okay, cut it for me then, the leftover fabric can make the pillows and quilt head."


    While they were talking, Su Yuanyuan was browsing on the side, seeing some old coarse cloth. It¡¯s the same pure cotton fabric that was used as summer mats in her past life.


    "Uncle, how much is this material?"


    "This is cheaper, I¡¯ll give it to you for ten cents a foot, it¡¯s three feet wide as well."


    "Aunt, I think I¡¯ll make a duvet cover, all white cotton fabric is too hard to keep clean, using this on the outside will be cleaner. I¡¯ll use this for mattress covers too."


    "That works, that way you don¡¯t have to wash the quilt so often."


    It also takes some time to cut forty feet of fabric, so the mother and daughter continued browsing.


    "Aunt, do you think this dyed fabric will fade? Look, this is coarse fabric, if it doesn¡¯t fade, I want to use it to make a cotton coat, also a set of outerwear."


    "It¡¯ll definitely fade. It can¡¯t compare to factory-made fabric, but if you soak it overnight it won¡¯t fade. But then it won¡¯t look good."


    "Aunt, I just need it to be durable."


    "Okay, let¡¯s get this. We¡¯ll ask him later which faded one still looks okay."


    Su Yuanyuan thought the ginger yellow one looked nice.


    Over here, actually, the forty feet were already measured, "Sister-in-law, this cotton fabric shrinks, I¡¯ll leave you an extra two feet for allowance."


    "Thank you so much, brother. Truly a sincere person."


    Over here, the old coarse fabric was measured to forty-two feet.


    "Brother, this kid wants to make cotton clothes, which dyed one still looks okay if it fades?"


    "Sister-in-law, let me tell you, our family¡¯s dye recipe is secret, the fade isn¡¯t serious, but this little girl should choose this ginger yellow, although it shows dirt easily."


    "Give me six feet of ginger yellow, and seven feet of blue." S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "This I¡¯ll leave you for fifteen cents a foot."


    Finally, for both types, he gave an extra foot to each but really didn¡¯t give less.


    "Sister-in-law, the two cents a foot is eight yuan, the one cent a foot is seven yuan. For these two dyed ones, give me a total of one ninety, making it thirteen eighty in total."


    "Alright, still cheaper."


    "You¡¯re from my aunt¡¯s village, it¡¯s no problem."


    Su Yuanyuan pulled out fourteen yuan, and the fellow gave back ten cents change.


    "Brother, leave the fabric here for now, we¡¯ll look around some more. I¡¯ll come back to get it."


    "Sure, don¡¯t worry. I have one piece of fabric to wrap it."


    Hu Chunhua thanked him again. The mother and daughter went back to the market with empty hands.

 Chapter 21 Going to the market

    Chapter 21: 21 Going to the marketThe mother and daughter continued walking inside. Su Yuanyuan still hadn¡¯t found the saw she needed most.


    Not paying attention to anything else, she just focused on quickly buying the saw.


    Finally, as they reached the other end of the market, they found someone selling tools.


    "Uncle, do you have a handsaw, the kind for sawing trees?"


    "Yes."


    "Right, that¡¯s the one. Uncle, how much is this?"


    "Three yuan, it¡¯s made of steel. Very sharp, you¡¯ll see once you use it. Here¡¯s some wood, you can try it yourself."


    Su Yuanyuan took the handsaw. She tried it on the side. It felt okay, not strenuous.


    "Uncle, can it be cheaper? This little girl is the only one left in her family."


    "Two yuan and eighty cents, I got it for two yuan and fifty cents, and I took the train to get the stock."


    Su Yuanyuan did not hesitate, taking out three yuan and handing it to him.


    When buying something, if it¡¯s from an elderly person, Su Yuanyuan will always choose them, and she never bargains. She always pays in cash, knowing it¡¯s not easy for them.


    Seeing them reminds her of her grandmother always going to the countryside to buy vegetables. Even though she only earns a few yuan each time, that¡¯s how the elderly are, frugally saving up for everyday life.


    "Is there anything else you need?"


    "Aunt, we still need a big jar at home."


    "At the front of the market, they must be selling them. Ask if they deliver, if not, we can¡¯t buy it today, the two of us can¡¯t bring it back. If we buy it, it¡¯ll just be wasted."


    "Hmm."


    They first saw someone selling small carts. They went over to inquire.


    The iron one cost thirty, and it came with a small trolley, and it¡¯s iron too. Thirty is really worth it. The wooden one also came with a trolley, twenty yuan.


    "Aunt, we should buy the iron one, it¡¯s sturdy. If the wooden one breaks, I won¡¯t know how to fix it."


    "This thing wouldn¡¯t break easily, maybe just the wheels or bearings.


    When the time comes, you can go to the countryside and find me, I have a shop there."


    "Uncle, we two women don¡¯t understand these things, can you pick a good one for me?"


    "There isn¡¯t a bad one here."


    Although he said so, he still crouched down to check the wheels and bearings and looked at the trolley, "This one."


    "Uncle, really can¡¯t you lower the price? We live off the land, we can¡¯t make thirty yuan in a year."


    "Really can¡¯t lower it, I¡¯m not overcharging. Look at the iron pipe, it¡¯s thick."


    "Uncle, I¡¯m helping this girl buy it, she¡¯s the only one at home, and she has to live. She needs to farm and harvest in autumn, so she has to borrow money from our village leader to buy a cart, otherwise, she can¡¯t handle manure spreading and autumn harvesting."


    "Yes, Old Liu, if you don¡¯t give others a discount, you should give this child one. I¡¯ve lent her this money, and who knows when she¡¯ll be able to pay me back."


    Hu Chunhua and Su Yuanyuan turned around and saw Yang Hongwen behind them.


    "Leader."


    "Old Yang, alright, let¡¯s take off one yuan, and I¡¯ll also add two bearings for you. If it breaks, bring it to me for replacement. Here¡¯s machine oil, if it feels awkward, just put some on the bearings."


    "That¡¯s generous, Old Liu is really generous today."


    "Alright, Old Yang, look, I¡¯ve picked the best cart."


    "Hmm, don¡¯t I trust you?" Yang Hongwen took out his small wallet, carefully counted out twenty-nine yuan, and handed it to Liu Dashan.


    This solved the problem they were worried about.


    Liu Dashan handed the girl two bearings wrapped in oiled paper, "Make sure you hold it properly, it can¡¯t get dirty."


    "Thank you, Uncle."


    Liu Dashan waved his hand. Seeing the little girl was indeed struggling, this was why he picked the best one for her just now.


    "Is there anything else to buy?"


    "Uncle, I still need a big jar."


    "The one selling big jars didn¡¯t come today, wait for me to go to the countryside one day and I¡¯ll bring it back for you."


    Now they managed to get everything they urgently needed on this market trip.


    Yang Hongwen let Hu Chunhua push the cart, "I have something to do, I¡¯m leaving first."


    "It¡¯s much easier for us to go back now. I¡¯ll push you back."


    "Aunt, I¡¯m not tired."


    Then pushed the cart back, quite strenuously, mainly because there were too many people.


    However, they still bought two pounds of red dates, two pounds of walnuts, and a pound of sesame.


    Arrived at the place selling millet hulls, bought two pounds. This stuff is light, these two pounds can make three pillows.


    Filled a large cloth bag, then found Yang Peilin.


    "Sister-in-law, your family bought a new cart again?"


    "What, this was just bought by the leader for Yuanyuan, this girl. Otherwise, harvesting in the autumn would be a problem."


    "The cart looks reinforced."


    "Yes, that seller is a good person, took one yuan less, and your cousin has indeed reduced a lot of money, you have to thank them properly."


    "Alright, I got it."


    Help them load up the planks and such onto the cart.


    "Peilin, I see there¡¯s a bit left here. Are you still waiting?"


    "Hmm, I¡¯m free at home anyway, might as well watch a bit more."


    "Then we¡¯re leaving."


    The two walked to the market entrance and saw the place selling sewing supplies.


    Su Yuanyuan bought a lot of threads, buttons, thimbles, and two packets of needles.


    Seeing needle awls and coarse strings for shoe soles. She bought them too.


    If cotton shoes are necessary too, now from head to toe they¡¯re all equipped.


    "Yuanyuan, if you¡¯re tired, get on the cart, I¡¯ll push you, this cart pushes easily." S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Aunt, I¡¯m not tired."


    At this time, Su Yuanyuan was hungry, but she couldn¡¯t eat now. She could only endure.


    This little girl¡¯s health is not good. So she felt dizzy.


    "Girl, what¡¯s wrong?"


    "Just hungry, feeling dizzy."


    "Eat some dates quickly, or when we go back, want to buy two twists?"


    "No need, I¡¯ll just eat a couple of dates."


    Secretly ate a piece of chocolate behind Hu Chunhua¡¯s back, this is anemia.


    Feeling a sense of guilt, treating those who sincerely care for her this way, feeling bad.


    Didn¡¯t walk far, then heard someone calling them from behind.


    "It¡¯s your Aunt Guiying."


    "I heard your family bought another cart?"


    "No, we have a cart, this was bought by the leader just now on the market for this girl."


    "Sigh. Girl, you must remember your aunt and the leader¡¯s kindness."


    "Aunt, I know, here are some dates for you."


    Zhao Guiying shook her head, "You eat yourself, such cold weather, it¡¯s just your face hasn¡¯t reddened from the coldness, it¡¯s not that you¡¯re not cold, but you have little blood. You must replenish well."


    "Hmm, I understand."


    She knows her complexion must be very bad.


    But she¡¯s been supplementing these past few days, feels less dizzy than when she just woke up. She must continue to gradually replenish.


    "Yuanyuan, when your family¡¯s sheep give birth and you have milk, you can drink it every day. Don¡¯t mind the smell or taste, it¡¯s really nutritious, make sure you boil it before drinking."

 Chapter 22 Spirit-Awakened Sheep

    Chapter 22: 22 Spirit-Awakened SheepZhao Guiying¡¯s basket was also placed on the small cart, and she and Hu Chunhua took turns pushing it.


    Halfway there, they ran into a few people, and the heavy items were all placed on the small cart.


    Everyone knew that the small iron cart was bought for Yuanyuan by the captain.


    "Yuanyuan, you see how well the captain and the women¡¯s director treat you, you must remember their kindness."


    "Yes, I will definitely remember." How could I forget this kindness? It¡¯s easy to add flowers to the brocade, but difficult to send charcoal in snowy weather.


    After meeting people in the village, everyone was talking about the small cart.


    Some people were puzzled, thinking that the money for the cart might just be wasted. It was already good enough if this girl could support herself, so how could she repay them?


    Anyway, regardless of what happens, it¡¯s settled that the small cart was bought for Yuanyuan by the captain.


    A few people took their things off the small cart. Hu Chunhua didn¡¯t return to his own home; after sending Yuanyuan home, he carried his basket to his own house.


    The first thing Yuanyuan did after closing the door was to eat two pieces of chocolate. She really endured it all the way back.


    The house was icy cold, and she resignedly sat down to make a fire. She hadn¡¯t even had time to tidy up today¡¯s purchases.


    The water heated up. She used a wooden basin to wash her face and took out a portion of braised beef rice for a meal.


    Why did it taste so fragrant? Only those who have experienced hunger can truly appreciate the sanctity and preciousness of having a meal.


    She could now eat a portion of rice with a topping, which was actually just a small bowl of rice with a small bowl of vegetables.


    After eating, the water boiled, and not wanting to go inside, she stayed by the stove, soaking her feet while adding a bit of firewood.


    Hu Chunhua would definitely come over to make her a cotton coat this afternoon, so the bed must be warmed up a bit.


    The sheep were very obedient, but Yuanyuan still went to give it a scoop of hot water.


    Seeing it bleat softly at her, she had no choice but to give it a cup of Spiritual Spring Water.


    "I originally didn¡¯t want to buy you, but because I couldn¡¯t buy a donkey, I chose you. You better live up to it. I wanted a donkey to help me plow fields and pull a cart in autumn, but you can¡¯t do either."


    The sheep looked up at Yuanyuan and bleated.


    "You can too?"


    Yuanyuan saw this sheep nodding. It really felt fantastical.


    But upon thinking about it, it wasn¡¯t impossible. The sheep had drunk Spiritual Spring Water, so maybe its intelligence had awakened, and it wasn¡¯t impossible for it to understand speech.


    "Alright, that¡¯s what you said. I¡¯ll have to go see how others have their animals plow fields with a harness.


    I know it¡¯s necessary to harness them, and I need to make a set. I¡¯ll leave it to you next year."


    Yuanyuan cheerfully went inside, tidied up the house again, placed the cotton cloth and cotton on the bed, and put the scissors and sewing kit beside. Just waiting for the people to come over.


    Around one o¡¯clock, Hu Chunhua, Zhao Guiying, and Wang Qiuju came over.


    Seeing the neatly arranged yard, the three women were quite satisfied. It was much better than before.


    Yuanyuan came out to greet them. She didn¡¯t expect three of them to come together, meaning they were going to work together.


    But she was wrong, they weren¡¯t there to make cotton clothes and quilts.


    "Girl, this fabric needs to be washed before you make anything, so it won¡¯t shrink afterward, and the cotton cloth is all starched, so it needs washing."


    "Aunts, I can wash it myself. There¡¯s still hot water in the pot."


    "Let¡¯s sort it out first and help you wash it. It should be dry the day after tomorrow, and the three of us will make it together then."


    "Thank you, Aunt. I¡¯ll learn a bit too." Only by doing it yourself can you have enough clothes and food.


    All the fabric was torn out, and nothing was added, just washed with clean water.


    It was all done by two people, wringing out most of the water, and then hanging it up,


    When leaving, Hu Chunhua and the others reminded Yuanyuan, "It will probably be frozen by night. Just fold it and put it on the bed, then hang it out again in the morning. The freeze-thaw cycle will dry it by tomorrow."


    Yuanyuan nodded, feeling taught. She knew this method. The laboring people indeed have endless wisdom. At this time, going back up the mountain was obviously impossible. Being busy all day, she was used to it. Suddenly having nothing to do felt quite boring.


    There were no neighbors around, the nearest ones being two miles away, so Yuanyuan was very relieved to release the withered tree from her space.


    This was when the handsaw was useful. Even if you haven¡¯t eaten pork, you¡¯ve seen pigs walk, so another section was placed under the withered tree for convenience in sawing.


    The length was one meter, and for the first tree, the speed was quite fast. It was also a new saw, quite sharp, so it was faster.


    By the second tree, she felt her arms aching, lacking strength.


    In the end, she still managed to saw two trees. After that, they were split into strips, making it easier to burn.


    It was already dark, and she had no energy left to stack them in the firewood room, so she stored them in her space and then put them in the woodshed.


    Again, boiled water so that the bed wouldn¡¯t be cold, allowing her to sleep soundly until morning.


    She folded all the cotton cloths drying outside and brought them inside.


    At night, she was so tired she fell asleep as soon as she hit the bed. Fortunately, she drank a cup of Spiritual Spring Water before going to bed, otherwise, her arms wouldn¡¯t lift the next day. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was thanks to Spiritual Spring Water nurturing her body. Without this "dear father¡¯s" treasure, she¡¯d probably be contemplating how to end it all by now.


    The next day, she put the cotton cloth out to dry. Once the wind blew, it should be dry by noon.


    With the cotton cloth drying in the yard, she couldn¡¯t go out, afraid someone might take a piece, which would be troublesome.


    She still needed a lock. The yard couldn¡¯t be locked, but the house door could, guarding against the honorable, not the petty.


    She needed to go up the mountain a few times, and then find time to visit the county.


    She was still sawing trees in the yard; in the morning, it was two trees. And both were split open.


    Looking at the neatly arranged firewood, Yuanyuan smiled.


    Yuanyuan was sleeping when she heard someone calling her from outside; she groggily got up.


    "Yuanyuan, the cloth has dried. Do you want to make a quilt or cotton clothing?"


    "Aunt, I¡¯m okay with either."


    "Then let¡¯s make the quilt first. It¡¯s quick, and the three of us can finish it in no time."


    Yuanyuan just helped out on the side. Making quilts seemed quite simple, and she was sure she could do it herself one day.


    It really was very quick. Even before dark, the quilt cover was put on, and the quilt sheet was stretched.


    With some fabric leftover, Yuanyuan thought of making two pillows herself.


    She had a habit of hugging something while sleeping. It was a habit developed from childhood, probably due to a lack of security?


    "We¡¯ll come over tomorrow to make you a cotton coat, a jacket, and cotton shoes."


    "Aunt, aren¡¯t I delaying your business?"


    "Delay what? It¡¯s nothing, now we¡¯re just idling around anyway."


    Yuanyuan knew they were being polite, and she made a note of it in her heart, determined to repay their kindness with interest someday. Their actions were the greatest goodwill towards her.

 Chapter 23 go to the county town

    Chapter 23: 23 go to the county townSu Yuanyuan sat on the heated brick bed, cutting the fabric for the pillows, which was quite simple. By the time it got dark and she couldn¡¯t see anymore, two pillows were already filled, just without pillowcases.


    Once the clothes are made, the leftover fabric can be used to make a pair of pillowcases.


    The next morning, the three of them came over. They started with making the cotton-padded clothes.


    Su Yuanyuan was taking notes on how to do it. She couldn¡¯t tell they were making padded clothes at first, not until they added cotton, stitched it together, and folded it over, did she realize it was a padded jacket.


    "Girl, have you learned it?"


    Su Yuanyuan nodded, "Yes, I think I can make a coat by myself now, don¡¯t want to take up more of your time. We¡¯re all family."


    "Then I¡¯ll come over this afternoon and watch you do it," said Hu Chunhua.


    After sending off the three, Su Yuanyuan had lunch and went into the space, took out the scissors to try on her own. It went well; it looked like a real piece of clothing.


    In the afternoon, Hu Chunhua brought over some shoe patterns. She also brought her some soles that had already been prepared.


    She directed from one side. Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t feel burdened, so she managed to cut out the top.


    "Haha, you¡¯re quite bold, daring to cut the fabric with scissors."


    Su Yuanyuan smiled shyly. The trousers were much simpler. The whole afternoon was spent just sewing a pair of trousers.


    "Your needlework is not bad, just like that. I won¡¯t come over tomorrow; I¡¯ll make the cotton shoes for you."


    "Aunt, without you, I may not even be able to survive."


    "Silly girl, nothing is more important than being alive."


    That evening, Su Yuanyuan went into the space to sew the top, but she was too sleepy. She came out to sleep without finishing it.


    The next day, since no one came, she decided to go up the mountain.


    She needed to prepare more hay. After all, the sheep needed to eat too.


    Today was a bit overcast; she was worried it might snow. Going up the mountain would be unsafe then. She¡¯s not afraid of dying, but being half-dead is quite unlucky.


    Su Yuanyuan thought she¡¯d venture a bit further this time. There must be something good out there.


    And indeed, she found something good. There were wild pear trees; she hadn¡¯t seen any fruit for sale at the market before.


    Although small, when she plucked and tasted one, they were sour, but still edible.


    So the wild pears on this tree were a treat for Su Yuanyuan. She thought of giving some to those three families and the village leader¡¯s family. Although not something fancy, it was a token of her goodwill, wasn¡¯t it?


    Su Yuanyuan thought since there were wild pears, there must be other good things too. It¡¯s lucky that no one else comes up the mountain.


    The wish was beautiful, but reality was quite harsh. After walking for half an hour, she found nothing else.


    However, there was plenty of grass here. Fine, just treat it as a grass-cutting trip.


    Once she calmed down, she started cutting grass.


    When it was enough for a bundle, she put it into the space. Only after she finished cutting all the grass in this area did Su Yuanyuan decide to take a break.


    She sat down to drink some water and eat a little, lying on the hay, but it wasn¡¯t comfortable. There was no sun today, indicating it might really snow soon.


    She still needed to make a trip to the county, mainly to the train station, to check the time. Having to guess the time was truly too hard on her. Looking at the sky didn¡¯t help.


    After lying there for a while, feeling the wind picking up, she decided to head back. She wouldn¡¯t come up tomorrow, and if needed, she¡¯d conserve on the burning later.


    Hay wasn¡¯t necessary either. If things got tough, she could just feed the sheep cornmeal. Anyway, she could scrape through this winter somehow.


    Carrying a simple sickle down the mountain, she picked up branches along the way and collected a dead tree, which wasn¡¯t an empty trip at all.


    She had come up so many times. Why was it only that once she encountered a Wild Boar, when usually she didn¡¯t even see a rabbit?


    She had already spent half of her money; it sure went fast. But she had to be thankful, right? That little girl didn¡¯t have a penny. Now, at least she had more than a hundred bucks in her hand.


    After getting home, she fed the sheep that kept bleating at her, then released all the hay.


    Being alone was too lonely; it was like this in the past life, and still like this in this life. How come she¡¯s so solitary?


    Early the next morning, Su Yuanyuan set off by herself. She had already inquired indirectly about where the county was and how long it would take to walk there.


    Until she reached the town, she hadn¡¯t encountered a single person. Walking along, she ate some cookies. It was too boring.


    After walking for about two hours, she finally reached the county, and it was just as she had imagined. This must have been a county from the previous dynasty, lots of ancient buildings, though they seemed quite dilapidated. Still, it gave off an old-fashioned vibe.


    She didn¡¯t know the time, but there were plenty of people, and it seemed quite bustling. She saw many people holding basins; were they going to sell breakfast?


    Su Yuanyuan patted her belly, deciding to eat something herself.


    The life here was quite colorful; there were several breakfast vendors.


    Su Yuanyuan was delighted. The first vendor she saw was selling steamed buns. Although they looked gray, the smell was indeed very fragrant.


    "Auntie, how much are the steamed buns?"


    "Five cents each, ten cents for three."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t know the prices, but she saw someone buy six buns for twenty cents, which meant they didn¡¯t charge her more just because she was a poorly-dressed little kid. "Auntie, I want a dollar¡¯s worth of buns, but I don¡¯t have anything to carry them in."


    "How are you going to carry them without a container? A dollar can get you thirty buns."


    At this moment, a big man at the back brought out a steamer.


    "Wife, this little girl wants to buy thirty buns but doesn¡¯t have a container."


    "Give her a flour bag."


    Su Yuanyuan carried the bag of buns, feeling quite pleased. There was a lot of flour in her space, almost ten tons, if not more. But she didn¡¯t want to make them now, these could be eaten at regular times.


    Actually, she just had the itch to spend money. The items in the space could feed her for two lifetimes with surplus.


    Seeing the pancake seller, it was really nice; the owner should have mixed in five-spice powder, as it had a particularly special aroma.


    "Sister, how much for the pancakes?"


    "Twenty cents each, let me tell you. This has more flour than those buns you just bought, costing the same."


    The vendor had probably seen her buying buns earlier.


    "Sister, can you give me a flour bag too? I¡¯ll buy two dollars¡¯ worth of pancakes."


    "Sure, I¡¯ll give you one. Why are you buying so much food?"


    "To take home for my family to eat."


    Looking at the girl, who just barely reaches above the stall, the vendor believed her words.


    "Sister, where¡¯s the train station?"


    "Train station? You see that tall building that looks like a hat? That¡¯s it."


    Su Yuanyuan went to a stall selling fried dough sticks and sat down, ordering two sticks and a bowl of tofu pudding.


    So honest, giving so much. And the dough sticks were only five cents each, bigger than the ones that cost a dollar each nowadays.


    No way. She needed to buy some to eat slowly. But these couldn¡¯t be put in a flour bag.


    S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

 Chapter 24: Buy and sell 24

    Chapter 24: Buy and sell 24People usually come here with bamboo baskets to buy things.


    Never mind, I¡¯ll ask when they close later. If they¡¯re still selling when I¡¯m heading back, I¡¯ll buy some more.


    She forced herself to eat the two fried dough sticks and a bowl of tofu pudding. She thought to herself, I really can¡¯t afford to let it all out now, it would be too embarrassing.


    She felt like she couldn¡¯t walk straight anymore. Carrying two bags of flour, she headed towards the train station. The most important thing now was to align with the time, as it felt unbearable not knowing it.


    Although it looked close, it was actually quite far when walking. It took about fifteen minutes to get there. Along the way, she saw a general store, a grain store, a fabric shop, a blacksmith shop, and a post office.


    It was quite comprehensive indeed, perhaps I could really window-shop later.


    At the train station, Su Yuanyuan realized how silly she was. She could have checked the time at the post office instead of having to come to the train station. How could she be so single-minded?


    It felt like my IQ ceased to exist since I arrived here.


    Her appearance drew the attention of many people. A small and thin girl dressed in shabby clothes, carrying a bag in each hand.


    She arrived just as the train was pulling in. So there were many people around.


    "Little girl, how much for a flatbread?"


    Su Yuanyuan was taken aback for a moment, looking puzzled at the middle-aged man who just asked her.


    "Uncle, these flatbreads are eight cents each. They¡¯re just out of the pan and smell wonderful, it¡¯s a craft passed down through generations."


    "Eight cents? That¡¯s too expensive, isn¡¯t it?"


    "Uncle, it¡¯s really not expensive, that¡¯s the usual price. I guarantee you won¡¯t think it¡¯s expensive at all after you¡¯ve had one."


    "Alright, give me two then."


    "Uncle, I don¡¯t have any wrapping paper here."


    "No worries, I have a lunchbox."


    Su Yuanyuan placed the two bags on the bench and didn¡¯t directly grab the flatbreads with her hands. Instead, she used the edges of the bags to pick up two flatbreads and place them into the man¡¯s lunchbox.


    The middle-aged man was briefly surprised. This little girl, although shabbily dressed, had clean clothes. Watching her actions, he knew she was truly a clean person. He took out twenty cents and handed it to her.


    "Uncle, these buns are five cents each. I don¡¯t have small change; how about I give you a bun for the remaining four cents?" S§×arch* The N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Sure, give me a bun then."


    The actions here attracted many onlookers, both those intending to board the train and those who had just disembarked. Drawn by the aroma of the food, quite a few gathered around.


    She had forty flatbreads worth two dollars, and thirty buns; all were sold out in less than half an hour.


    Su Yuanyuan was all smiles, not expecting to make money this way. Though she only earned a dollar and fifty cents, the time was short, and there was no investment needed. Even if they didn¡¯t sell, she could still eat them herself. It was truly a good business.


    All this time, no one came over to stop her, so it must be okay. It¡¯s a pity home is so far from the county town. Otherwise, she would definitely come here every day to do business, as the money was quite easy to earn.


    Feeling much lighter now, she folded her two bags of flour neatly and put them in her pocket. The waiting hall of the train station was bustling with people coming and going, really lively.


    Seeing all sorts of people, the colors of their clothes were mostly black, gray, and blue, with some wearing octagonal hats and others wrapped in scarves. Men and women, young and old.


    Listening to the loudspeaker urging people to board the train, it felt as if she had returned to the trains of the past.


    Finally, she found the large clock, and just as a woman passed by, she asked, "Sister, what time is it now?"


    "Little girl, can¡¯t you read it?"


    Su Yuanyuan nodded, "Yes, I can¡¯t read it."


    "It¡¯s just past ten o¡¯clock," she raised her wrist, "The train station¡¯s time is quite accurate."


    "Thank you, sister."


    "You¡¯re welcome."


    Su Yuanyuan found a corner to squat down, took out a piece of watch, adjusted the time, and finally felt relieved.


    The purpose of this trip to the county town was accomplished. Now she could go out and stroll around.


    Walking down the street happily, she resolved to spend the one dollar and fifty cents she earned today.


    So she went to the general store, bought ten candles at two cents each, and found kerosene lamps priced at a dollar and fifty cents, but she didn¡¯t have a bottle to hold the diesel. So she let it go. Matches were one cent a box, and she bought ten boxes. She bought a pound of salt for twenty cents. Baking soda was also twenty cents a pound. The shopkeeper wrapped everything up in parcel paper. Brown sugar was eighty cents a pound. She also noticed soybean oil, but had no container for it.


    "Little girl, I have cans and plastic buckets here, but these buckets are too expensive, costing two dollars each."


    Su Yuanyuan shook her head and decided not to buy them, as she had a lot of vegetable oil in her space. There was no need to spend money like this.


    She saw soap, made from pig pancreas and lye. She could buy this, so she spent fifty cents on three pieces.


    "Little girl, there are honeyed rice sticks here, want some?" What child doesn¡¯t like these?


    Su Yuanyuan shook her head. Although snacks now had no additives, she had too much in her space and still needed many things. She chose to spend less on food. She forgot that she had just spent three dollars on food before.


    "Boss, I want to ask if there are any yoke sets for animals pulling plows?"


    "I don¡¯t have them here, but if you need one, do you see that house? They sell animals and make sets for them."


    "Thank you, boss. Do you have cotton shoes here? Ones I can wear, and waterproof ones."


    "Yes, let me show you. These are made of cowhide, no problem for snow."


    Su Yuanyuan took them and inspected them. They seemed okay, quite sturdy, and had high tops that reached the ankles. The soles were rubber. Nowadays, there¡¯s no such thing as using shoddy cotton. Touching it felt like new cotton.


    "Boss, how much are these shoes?"


    "Six dollars. You¡¯ve bought a lot from me; I can give you a discount of ten cents."


    Su Yuanyuan shook her head, "Too expensive, I can¡¯t afford them."


    "I also have ordinary cotton cloth shoes, two dollars a pair. Just think, a properly made sole alone costs fifty cents. Together with the upper and cotton, the cost itself is one dollar sixty-seven. Two dollars is really not expensive."


    "Boss, I still think they¡¯re too expensive. Forget it, I don¡¯t have that much money."


    Currently, Su Yuanyuan was thinking about getting a yoke for the smart sheep. By spring next year, the little sheep would be two or three months old. It would make farming easier if it could pull a set.


    However, this should be custom-made, right? Ready-made ones might not fit.


    An old man answered the door, "What do you need?"


    "Sir, I wanted to ask if you can custom-make yoke sets for animals?"


    "We can, and we have ready-made ones."


    "Sir, ready-made ones won¡¯t do. I want to make a set for a sheep. I¡¯m the only one at home; the village gave me two acres of land, and I only have one sheep at home, so I want to try it."

 Chapter 25 set濂戒簡

    Chapter 25: 25 setºÃÁËOld Wu had been a livestock trader for many years, but it was the first time he had heard of someone using sheep to pull a furrow.


    "Little girl, you¡¯re oversimplifying things. Sheep don¡¯t have that much strength. You¡¯ve seen a furrow before, right? And if the fields are too shallow, it won¡¯t work. The crops won¡¯t take root, and the seedlings won¡¯t grow well."


    Su Yuanyuan had also seen livestock being used to pull furrows in her past life, and it was indeed quite laborious. But she couldn¡¯t afford to buy large livestock. Even if she forced herself to buy one, she wouldn¡¯t be able to use it effectively.


    "Uncle, could we maybe give it a try? What if I order a smaller furrow?"


    "Girl, I¡¯ve already said that too shallow won¡¯t do."


    Su Yuanyuan understood that he meant well. But she was not discouraged¡ªthe sheep that had drunk several cups of her Spiritual Spring Water was going to go through thick and thin with her.


    "Uncle, I just want to try. I¡¯m the only one at home, and I¡¯m hoping to cultivate the land with a hoe by myself. It¡¯s a glimmer of hope.


    If it really doesn¡¯t work, then I¡¯ll give up."


    "Girl, a set costs three yuan, but I¡¯ll give it to you for two yuan this time. The furrow needs to be custom-made, though. Come, I¡¯ll take you there. I¡¯ll talk to the blacksmith."


    Old Wu had seen many people and things outside, yet for some reason, he felt a pang of sympathy this time.


    "Thank you, Uncle."


    Old Wu shook his head, and the two of them headed to the blacksmith¡¯s shop.


    "Old Yang."


    "How do you have time to come over?" They were both neighbors, having done business together for many years. Naturally, they had a good relationship.


    "This little girl is looking for you."


    "Uncle, I want to order a furrow, specifically for sheep."


    "Making a sheep pull a furrow?"


    "Yes."


    "I¡¯ve never heard of such a thing. Girl, come over and look. These are the furrows I¡¯ve made; they¡¯re all standard size. Even without the handles, they weigh over ten pounds. With everything set, they¡¯ll weigh more than twenty pounds. Can one sheep pull that?"


    "Uncles, I¡¯m only this tall, so the handle could be smaller as well, right? And the furrow could be made smaller, too. That way, I can use it. I¡¯m thinking it has to be better than using a large hoe for planting, right?"


    "Old Yang, I recall that in the Northwest, the cattle are smaller, so their furrows are smaller than ours in the North. The design is also different. I¡¯ll draw it for you."


    The two old men squatted down and drew on the ground.


    "Alright, I get it now. Little girl, the furrow I usually make costs seven yuan, and fully equipped, it costs eight and a half. For yours, I¡¯ll have it all done for you for six and a half yuan."


    "Thank you, Uncle, thanks so much."


    This world still has more good people. No matter what she does, there¡¯s always someone willing to help. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    It was finally settled that she would pick it up in ten days. Su Yuanyuan paid, feeling reassured.


    Then she picked out a vegetable knife from the blacksmith¡¯s shop. The large iron pot looked good, but she decided to buy it later.


    If this place was like her previous world, then large iron pots would definitely be in short supply in the future.


    She also bought two sickles, a large hoe, and a small hoe.


    "Girl, how do you have so much money?"


    Su Yuanyuan shyly smiled. "When I went up the mountain, I managed to kill a large wild boar. Our team leader helped me sell it and exchanged it for money." The two old men exchanged glances. They had both bought wild boar meat a while ago and didn¡¯t expect it was this girl who had caught it.


    "Girl, wait a moment. I¡¯ll sell you this machete. Since you¡¯re by yourself, be careful with it. It¡¯s steel-forged and extremely sharp, so take care of yourself."


    This little girl dared to venture into the mountains on her own. If life weren¡¯t so tough, who would take such risks?


    Su Yuanyuan nodded with a smile. "Thank you, Uncle. I really need these things. My parents left me with nothing when they left."


    The two old men thought she meant her parents had passed away, so they didn¡¯t say much more to avoid making the little girl sad.


    Su Yuanyuan ended up buying so many things. They even lent her a basket and finally gave her a hoe handle. That saved her both money and hassle.


    She carried the basket, with the large iron pot on top. Next time, she¡¯d definitely buy a kettle, along with a small-diameter iron pot.


    There wasn¡¯t much else to buy, so next time she¡¯d come with a small cart. Carrying all these items back herself would be too much, though smuggling would work.


    She went to buy food, where they still had pancakes and steamed buns. She only bought two yuan worth of pancakes and one yuan of steamed buns. She ate a fried dough stick and a bowl of tofu pudding and bought three yuan of fried dough sticks, for which they gave her a basket made of twigs.


    From a distance, one could barely see her since all the stuff was moving.


    In fact, she had already put all the iron tools away. It looked like a lot, but it wasn¡¯t actually that heavy.


    Feeling full and energized, with candy in her mouth, she was in a great mood. When she got back, she would have a serious talk with the sheep. It¡¯d better be able to work, after all, it cost quite a few yuan.


    On the way, she only encountered a few scattered people. So when she sat to rest and observed for about ten minutes without anyone coming by, she packed everything up. She waited another ten minutes before heading home empty-handed.


    Upon reaching the town, she saw a general store and went in to have a look. Since she couldn¡¯t buy soy sauce, she didn¡¯t waste money; she already had some in her space.


    However, she did visit the scrapyard and bought several glass bottles, costing five cents, a large copper basin perfect for washing clothes, a lock, and door handles that would make locking the door easier.


    She got back to the village a little past four in the afternoon. She encountered a few people but kept her head down and didn¡¯t greet them.


    On returning home, she checked around and was sure no one had been by.


    The first thing she did was light a fire.


    Once the water was hot, she added warm water for the sheep.


    "I¡¯m telling you, I spent a lot of money today to specially order a set and a furrow for you. If you can¡¯t work come spring, I¡¯ll sell you."


    The sheep bleated at Su Yuanyuan as it drank water.


    Once the water boiled, she scalded the cornmeal with the old aluminum basin that Hu Chunhua had given her and cooked it thoroughly, preparing it for the sheep later on. It should be giving birth soon, so it needed some good food.


    In the evening, she entered her space to bathe, setting her digital watch to ensure better timing.


    Tomorrow was the start of the twelfth lunar month, and today¡¯s weather wasn¡¯t good. It seemed like it was about to snow.


    If tomorrow¡¯s weather was okay, she¡¯d head to the mountain again. Otherwise, with nothing much to do now, she¡¯d stay home once it became too cold and refuse to go out no matter what.


    The wish was a good one; however, she was woken by the cold in the middle of the night and slipped into her space. When she came around and stepped outside, snowflakes as large as goose feathers were falling.

 Chapter 26 Snow

    Chapter 26: 26 SnowSeeing the sheep in the pen, only then did she go into the house to start the fire.


    I wonder which family in the village has a lot of red sweet potatoes. I¡¯ll buy some.


    After all, it¡¯s all about eating, and thinking about the sweet aroma of baked sweet potatoes makes me crave them so much.


    Sitting in front of the stove, it¡¯s much warmer now, but once the snow stops, I still have to shovel it. I really have no ability to handle the roof. I think if there are suitable trees, I¡¯d definitely cut down a couple, then I could ask someone to help and tie a ladder.


    Thankfully, this broom was bought, and I¡¯ll be able to use it to shovel snow later.


    The kang is probably warm now too. Su Yuanyuan once again snuggled into the quilt.


    This nap is really the best, and before sleeping, she thought she¡¯d get up and check in a bit.


    Who knew, she slept until it was already past nine in the morning.


    After getting dressed, she saw that it was still snowing outside.


    Moreover, the snowflakes were large, and it was already a vast expanse of white outside.


    "Is it going to snow heavily?" Might as well keep the fire going. I also need to get some hot water for the sheep.


    It wasn¡¯t until eleven in the morning, and it showed no sign of stopping.


    Su Yuanyuan was worried the snow would get too thick, and there was no way around it. She folded a hat-like shape out of the bottom of a burlap sack, put it on her head, and went outside. Walking on the thick snow, it crunched beneath her. She took out her shovel and first cleared a path.


    The path she shoveled was only about a meter wide. When she reached the sheep pen, she looked back and saw it was covered in white again.


    Looking at the roof, Su Yuanyuan was distressed. What should I do? This is a newly replaced roof, but I¡¯m afraid it can¡¯t withstand this.


    She gave the sheep some food and turned around to the eaves.


    She pulled out two withered trees and stuck them under the eaves, simply tying split firewood with ropes, which could also make a ladder. This adobe house wasn¡¯t very tall anyway, just two meters, so Su Yuanyuan tied four pieces.


    This makeshift ladder could indeed be used to climb the roof.


    Carefully stepping onto the roof, she was afraid of suddenly falling through.


    Now the snow had become lighter, thank goodness.


    Bit by bit, she shoveled all the snow down with an iron shovel, then used the broom to sweep it again.


    The snow had stopped, and Su Yuanyuan¡¯s most worrying task was done.


    She slowly climbed down, not dismantling the ladder. Just leave it as it is; although it¡¯s neither sturdy nor pretty, it¡¯s fine for her own use.


    She went back indoors and lit the fire.


    After having lunch, she began to clear the snow from the sheep pen.


    "You say I¡¯m raising you, and I still have to serve you."


    Despite the complaint, Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t slow down at all.


    Once the sheep pen was tidied, she brewed some cornmeal for the sheep before continuing to clear the snow outside.


    Clearing a path to the toilet, a path to the main door, and one to the woodshed.


    There¡¯s no need for anything else; when spring comes and the snow melts, I won¡¯t need to water the ground.


    It¡¯s all done now, and I¡¯ve worked up quite a sweat. I might as well stay inside for a while.


    I found a novel, and while eating some snacks, I comfortably leaned back on the kang.


    Actually, this is essentially the life I lived in a previous life.


    Then I heard Hu Chunhua¡¯s voice outside. Su Yuanyuan hurriedly put away things that shouldn¡¯t be seen and then went out.


    "Aunt."


    "Oh dear. You¡¯re quite capable, girl. Great, as long as you¡¯ve shoveled the snow off your roof."


    "Aunt, have you finished shoveling yours?"


    "Finished. Hurry up and get inside; it¡¯s too cold outside. And here¡¯s a pair of cotton shoes for you, try not to go out often; these shoes get wet with just a few steps outside."


    "Alright, I understand."


    In the evening, after eating wonton pancakes, she lay comfortably in the warm quilt.


    Days of eating and drinking like this are quite enjoyable.


    On the third day of snow, Yang Hongwen came carrying half a bag of corn kernels.


    "Uncle, I have food, really. I bought a bag of grain at Uncle Meng Xiangtian¡¯s house, enough to eat."


    In the end, Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t keep the half bag of corn kernels.


    Every household has its difficulties; if they give it to me, it¡¯s like they¡¯re eating less themselves. I¡¯m not short of it, so there¡¯s no need to take advantage.


    Yang Hongwen suddenly thought of this girl and worried that with the heavy snow and ice, if she was alone, anything could happen.


    It¡¯s a real life, after all. If he can, he¡¯ll definitely look out for her.


    If she says she has food, then let it be.


    "Are you going to grind flour? Shall I get your Aunt to go with you?"


    "Uncle, there¡¯s no need these few days. I still have quite a lot; I ground half a bag last time, and it¡¯s still enough."


    After seeing off Yang Hongwen, Su Yuanyuan decided to visit Meng Xiangtian¡¯s house.


    "Girl, why are you here?"


    "Aunt, do you have sweet potatoes? Sell me fifty pounds, please?"


    "Yes, come inside and wait."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t go inside; she waited outside for a while and saw Aunt carrying a basket out.


    The sweet potatoes were stored really well, and they looked delicious.


    "Aunt, how much per pound for these sweet potatoes? Let me pay you."


    "Just give me two dollars." Times are tough at home; it¡¯s hard to say not to charge at all.


    "Aunt, do you have a lot of sweet potatoes?"


    "Still quite a bit."


    "Can you give me two hundred pounds more?"


    "What do you need so many for?"


    "For myself, and I also want to feed some to the sheep." Actually, she was thinking that in a few days, she¡¯d go to the county, steam them at home, and sell them at the train station. Surely, they would sell.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll get your Uncle to bring them over for you."


    "Aunt, how much in total for these two hundred pounds of sweet potatoes?" S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Eight dollars will do." Selling these sweet potatoes to this girl leaves not much at home. But having some money is good; if needed, we can ask my in-laws or my mom¡¯s side for some.


    Su Yuanyuan carried this basket home. It was fine to just wait at home.


    The first thing back home was to throw a couple of sweet potatoes into the hearth. Cover them with ember-laden ash, and then put some of the sawdust from cutting dead trees on top.


    Put the sweet potatoes directly in the house as it¡¯s also freezing outside.


    Both Meng Xiangtian and his wife came over with a basket on their back, "Girl, that¡¯s all there was at home, and here¡¯s a dollar back for you."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t refuse. This is also why she likes buying things from Zhao Guiying. It¡¯s straightforward, clear, and allows for long-lasting friendly interactions.


    "Aunt, I don¡¯t have enough baskets to store so many sweet potatoes at home; I¡¯m just going to put them directly into bags. You can take your baskets back."


    Su Yuanyuan actually felt that boiling water in a big pot always wastes fuel; this way, steaming sweet potatoes and storing them in space means they stay hot anytime.


    Another week passed, and she was dressed, with snow boots from her space. There was no choice; wearing the old cotton shoes made at home would have soaked through before reaching the county. This little girl¡¯s hands and feet had all been frostbitten before.


    Fortunately, there was frostbite ointment prepared for the orphanage in the space. Otherwise, who knows how bad the itch would be?


    Inside, she wore an ultra-light down jacket, with a cotton coat outside, a Lei Feng hat, and a gray scarf. There was no choice; in this kind of weather, going out without staying warm enough would definitely lead to illness.

 Chapter 27: Buy 27 sweet potatoes

    Chapter 27: Buy 27 sweet potatoesThe two items she carried with her were both old. They were things she used as a child.


    This time, it took her an hour longer than last time to reach the county, but there¡¯s no help for it¡ªthe snow was too thick, and with her short legs, she couldn¡¯t go any faster.


    She pushed her cart to the entrance of Old Wu¡¯s house.


    Old Wu was momentarily stunned to see her, surprised that the child had come in such heavy snow.


    "Uncle, I¡¯m leaving the small cart here with you. I¡¯ll be back in a while."


    "Go ahead."


    Su Yuanyuan headed straight to the train station, carrying a basket filled with sweet potatoes in a clean burlap bag. Once she opened it in the waiting hall, the aroma and steam wafted out.


    "Selling sweet potatoes, freshly steamed sweet potatoes. Five cents for one piece, ten cents for two pieces."


    This attracted many people. Sweet potatoes weren¡¯t unusual, but the freshly steamed ones were. The sweet fragrance slowly spread.


    There was no heating in the train station hall at this time, so people were waiting in the cold.


    Once the first person came to buy, a second followed. This basket of sweet potatoes quickly sold out.


    "All gone? How did it sell so fast?"


    "There are more, I¡¯ll go get them, I¡¯ll be back in ten minutes."


    The sweet potatoes from Meng Xiangtian¡¯s home were well-maintained, dry after steaming yet still sweet.


    In the cold weather, everyone was willing to eat something warm like sweet potatoes.


    Su Yuanyuan hurried out, having already scoped out a suitable spot along the way.


    So she headed straight for the tidier entrance.


    This time, Su Yuanyuan was carrying two bags of sweet potatoes, weighing sixty-seven pounds¡ªequivalent to twice her own weight.


    Sometimes, people¡¯s strength is limitless; she managed to carry them for five or six minutes.


    Those waiting to buy sweet potatoes at the train station watched the small girl struggle with the basket, and someone stepped in to help her unload it.


    "Thank you, uncle."


    In this biting cold, the little girl¡¯s nose was sweaty. Those with children felt a pang of sympathy and compared her to their own kids.


    These two bags of sweet potatoes also sold very quickly, mainly because they were cheap.


    Finally, after selling all the sweet potatoes, Su Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief. She still had some raw sweet potatoes in her space, which she planned to roast slowly for herself.


    No time to waste, she headed back, thinking she could get something to eat with the money she made, like some pastries.


    First, she went to the Wu Family¡¯s house.


    They had already placed the harness on the small cart for her.


    "Thank you, uncle."


    "What¡¯s the trouble? Have you eaten? Come in for some food."


    "Uncle, I won¡¯t eat. I need to hurry back."


    Old Wu nodded, "Take care on the road." Watching this small girl pushing a cart looked quite awkward, as her arms were nearly level with the cart¡¯s handles. This girl was truly tough, managing to push it all the way here from so far.


    At the blacksmith¡¯s, seeing the bright metal edge, Su Yuanyuan felt it would work very well.


    "Girl, I¡¯ve also added steel to the knife edge here. The sheep won¡¯t need much strength; if the edge is sharp, it¡¯ll be easier."


    "Thank you so much, uncle."


    "Off you go, won¡¯t keep you, otherwise it¡¯ll be dark before you get home."


    Su Yuanyuan pushed her cart to where they sold pastries, where people were still eating.


    The hot tofu pudding was garnished with a bit of minced garlic, very delicious. After filling up, she bought ten dough sticks.


    Once she left the county and reached the fields, she finally put away the small cart. She was exhausted; her arms dangled. If she didn¡¯t grow taller by the next spring, she probably couldn¡¯t manage the cart for work.


    Stepping one foot deep, the other shallow, she got home just before dark.


    Just as she started to light a fire, Hu Chunhua came over.


    "Yuanyuan, where did you go?"


    "Aunt, sit here, it¡¯s warm, I¡¯ll tell you."


    "Look, this is the harness and iron I had custom-made in the county.


    I can¡¯t use large animals, just by myself, how can I cultivate this two-acre plot? So I thought, let the sheep pull the iron, it might be quicker."


    Hu Chunhua pulled the metal edge on the small cart¡¯s trough and sighed. Their land was too much for their family¡¯s mule alone. They couldn¡¯t help her either.


    "You¡¯re resourceful."


    "It¡¯s alright. Aunt, I heard you can even open up wasteland? Can I do it too?"


    "If you finish planting your two-acre plot, go to the village chief. Otherwise, you won¡¯t manage either."


    "It¡¯s two mu per person?"


    "Yeah, actually, you can open some land near your home. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Very few people come over here, so just open it for growing vegetables, it¡¯ll be enough for you to eat."


    "Got it. Aunt, I went to the train station in the county today, lots of people."


    Hu Chunhua patted Su Yuanyuan¡¯s head, "Don¡¯t go to places like that often. If you come across human traffickers, wouldn¡¯t a small girl like you get taken away?"


    "I understand now. I fetched the harness and iron; I won¡¯t need anything else. Aunt, I¡¯m thinking of planting some sweet potatoes next year, which is why I want the vegetable plot."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll give you sweet potato vines. It¡¯s good for a child to be ambitious."


    "Aunt, what did you need me for?"


    "It¡¯s not me, Aunt Guiying is looking for you. She¡¯s asking if you still want more sweet potatoes."


    "Oh, her sweet potatoes are really delicious. Yes, today at the train station, I sold steamed sweet potatoes, and lots of people bought them."


    "How do you have such courage, child?"


    "Aunt, five cents for one, ten cents for two, a lot of people bought them. If it wasn¡¯t so far away, you could really sell food at the train station, many would buy."


    Hu Chunhua shook her head, "It¡¯s not as easy as you think. The train station¡¯s occupied by people; it¡¯s just that you went that one time, no one bothered you."


    Su Yuanyuan was shocked, having only heard of such things in her past life but never expected it here too.


    Looks like there¡¯s no way to make money that way. For now, she had to focus on taking care of her small self.


    "Okay, just stay at home obediently now. It¡¯s almost the end of the lunar year, don¡¯t keep going out."


    "Alright, I got it." She originally intended to give Hu Chunhua a few dough sticks, but they were still warm in her space; how could she present them? Never mind, she¡¯ll find a chance next time.


    She mixed cornmeal with hot water for the sheep and sneakily gave it half a cabbage.


    "Let me tell you, I brought the iron back today, just waiting for spring to see how you perform."


    The sheep, eating, lifted its head and bleated toward Su Yuanyuan, as if saying "no big deal." Anyway, she had made the effort, and as for what happens, that wasn¡¯t solely hers to decide.

 Chapter 28 Wild Boars Entered

    Chapter 28: 28 Wild Boars EnteredThe days that followed were spent lounging at home all day. Since the walls had been plastered with mud again, the house was quite warm.


    With nothing to do, Su Yuanyuan stayed at home sewing shoe soles, which Hu Chunhua had brought over. After giving her some simple instructions, Hu Chunhua let her try it on her own.


    In truth, Su Yuanyuan was not patient, but she was so bored that a person will do some baffling things out of boredom.


    It wasn¡¯t until the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month, which was this girl¡¯s birthday.


    Su Yuanyuan recalled that she, this little girl, had never celebrated a birthday. Even though the family couldn¡¯t afford it before, the day was taboo for her family, so they simply didn¡¯t celebrate.


    But Su Yuanyuan thought differently; what does the day of birth have to do with it? A birthday is a birthday. So early in the morning, she boiled eggs and made noodles for herself.


    It was simple noodle soup made with walnut oil, sour and spicy, and tasted quite good.


    Enjoying a lovely meal, today being her birthday, she wanted to do nothing, so she lay on the kang reading a book, thinking that when she has money next year, she would definitely buy an iron stove and the house would be warm.


    She wasn¡¯t worried about carbon monoxide poisoning; this type of house wasn¡¯t airtight, so that situation wouldn¡¯t occur.


    She was wrapped warmly, with a hot water bottle tucked in her arms, not cold, but her hands and feet were still icy.


    The midday meal was even more extravagant. She ate dumplings with a trio of fillings, consuming a whole large bowl.


    Suddenly it seemed that this life was much happier than the previous one; at least now the food tasted delicious.


    She went to sleep early in the evening. She was sleeping soundly when she heard a sheep¡¯s heart-wrenching cry.


    Su Yuanyuan was startled, what¡¯s so terrifying about that sound?


    So she hastily dressed and got up, thinking maybe it was about to give birth?


    She didn¡¯t dare use a flashlight, going out in the dark.


    As soon as she opened the hall door, she heard noises by the main entrance. What¡¯s going on? Su Yuanyuan tiptoed over, mentally bolstering her courage.


    She heard grunting noises, pig sounds. How could there be pigs? Whose pigs had come to her doorstep?


    And it didn¡¯t sound like just one. Su Yuanyuan helplessly approached the door, peering outside, locking eyes with something in the dark, giving her a jolt.


    The fence gate could hardly stop a wild boar. Realizing this, Su Yuanyuan quickly retreated. In the blackness, she couldn¡¯t see clearly, but she wasn¡¯t so kind-hearted either. Regardless of whose they were, in this situation, she had to protect herself first, right?


    Su Yuanyuan guessed correctly; the fence was breached, and three pigs¡ªtwo big and one small¡ªhad come in. With the snow and moonlight, Su Yuanyuan could clearly see they weren¡¯t domesticated pigs, but wild boars from the mountains. Her house was at the mountain¡¯s foot, so they¡¯d come over.


    The sheep were still bleating desperately, and Su Yuanyuan turned her head and said, "Shut up, stop calling."


    The sheep¡¯s cries stopped immediately. Satisfied, Su Yuanyuan thought, she was just worrying about not having any money, and here it was.


    Three wild boars¡ªshe was no match for them physically, but she had to use the electric prod.


    Su Yuanyuan was actually excited at this moment. People risk their lives for wealth, birds for food. She wasn¡¯t about to let this prime opportunity slip past.


    However, this time she planned on making it public with the small one. She¡¯d figure out the other two herself.


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t know her face now bore an excited smile. The sheep had noticed this; it must have been too frightening for them, so they just watched wordlessly.


    The wild boars, of course, noticed Su Yuanyuan too. They started circling her, all three of them.


    Su Yuanyuan realized she couldn¡¯t stun all three at once. So she tossed a few cooked corn cobs from the space, the sweet fruit corn with their particularly fragrant aroma. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Being animals, they were immediately drawn to the smell and started munching on the corn.


    Now was the time. Su Yuanyuan rushed toward the largest one, setting the electric prod to maximum, zapping it directly on the big wild boar¡¯s head. With a thud, it fell, still twitching.


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t have the chance for a second strike as another large wild boar came charging.


    She managed to bring it down just the same, and the small one tried to escape. How could she allow that? So Su Yuanyuan threw another corn cob, and as it lowered its head to eat, she took it down as well. From the first one, she made two rounds, and it was unlikely they¡¯d recover within half an hour.


    Still holding the electric prod, she fetched a bucket and a chopping knife to start bleeding the largest one.


    This time she was more practiced than last, though some blood was spilled; it wasn¡¯t much. While dealing with the first, she gave the second boar another zap with the electric prod.


    The first was dead completely, only then did she wave her hand to store it away.


    Next was the second, handled the same way. Both were stored away, leaving four buckets of blood on the ground, also stored. The little one¡¯s blood went into the wooden bucket for gifting tomorrow.


    Finished bleeding them, she didn¡¯t take it in. Instead, she cleaned up and made some cover-up.


    Since it was in the snow, you could tell it wasn¡¯t a single wild boar, but so what? There were no footprints in her yard, so she¡¯d call it just one.


    She approached the sheep pen, and saw the sheep took a step back. Su Yuanyuan squinted her eyes, "What? Scared?"


    The sheep bleated softly and took two steps forward.


    "That¡¯s better. That¡¯s how it should be." She patted the sheep¡¯s head, turned, and left the yard.


    She still went to Hu Chunhua¡¯s house. How should she put it? You could feel Hu Chunhua didn¡¯t mean any harm, so she was willing to trust her instincts.


    Yang Minggang came out to open the door, having just heard that little girl¡¯s voice. Getting up in the middle of the night would annoy anyone.


    "Uncle, a wild boar broke into my house. I¡¯ve already killed it."


    "You killed it?" Yang Minggang asked incredulously.


    "Yes."


    Then Hu Chunhua came out as well, "Yuanyuan, what¡¯s this about?"


    "Aunt, a wild boar broke into my yard in the middle of the night. I¡¯ve already killed it."


    The couple didn¡¯t know what to say, so they went with Su Yuanyuan to her house.


    Seeing the three to four hundred-pound wild boar on the ground, the couple was even more speechless.


    "Aunt, what do we do with this wild boar? Do you think the villagers might try to take it?" Su Yuanyuan asked quietly.


    "You and your uncle should hurry and take it to the county to sell. Let¡¯s not wake the village head now; what¡¯s the point now?"


    That was exactly what Su Yuanyuan intended.


    Yang Minggang looked at the big wild boar, "I should make a snow sled, otherwise we can¡¯t get it over."


    With this weather, this road; even an ox cart wouldn¡¯t make it. A snow sled would be more practical.

 Chapter 29: Go to the county on the 29th

    Chapter 29: Go to the county on the 29thWhile waiting, Su Yuanyuan asked Hu Chunhua to take the pig¡¯s blood back home. "Aunt, you can make blood tofu with it."


    "Alright, I¡¯ll do that after you and your father leave."


    After Yang Minggang finished making the makeshift sled, the three of them struggled to get the wild boar onto it.


    "Chunhua, I still think you should go see the village head."


    Su Yuanyuan was indifferent, but Yang Minggang thought it was too much trouble to drag it to the county by himself.


    "Alright, you call for him, it¡¯s not appropriate for me to go at this time." S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    The two of them went inside. "Aunt, you should go back, it¡¯s too cold outside. Can you carry the pig¡¯s blood by yourself? Do you need my help to carry it back?"


    "No need, I¡¯ll wait for the village head to come before I leave."


    Yang Hongwen heard the knocking and then Yang Minggang¡¯s voice, so he hurried to open the door.


    "What¡¯s going on? So late?"


    "A wild boar ran into Su Yuanyuan¡¯s yard. That girl has already killed it. I was thinking we should take it to the county now. The ox cart isn¡¯t usable, so I just made a sled."


    "The wild boar came down from the mountain? And it went into the yard?"


    "Yes, although it doesn¡¯t seem as big as last time, it¡¯s still about 400 pounds."


    "Alright. Let¡¯s go now." Yang Hongwen mainly feared trouble. If those opportunistic villagers knew about this, wouldn¡¯t it cause chaos? It¡¯s better to sell it, less hassle.


    The two of them soon gathered at Su Yuanyuan¡¯s home again.


    "Uncle. Should I go with you?"


    "If you can manage the walk and want to come along, then come along."


    Su Yuanyuan decided to go with them, or else she¡¯d feel embarrassed. Before leaving, she gave the sheep some hay. It would have to do for now.


    Seeing the young girl dressed warmly, the three of them set off, while Hu Chunhua went home.


    Along the way, Su Yuanyuan tied a rope to the sled and helped pull. Although they stopped for breaks, it was still useful.


    Yang Hongwen and the others were quite satisfied with this.


    Honestly, being woken up for such work in the night was unwelcome.


    But seeing the young girl not shy away from the task, the little resentment faded away.


    The three of them arrived in the county, and Su Yuanyuan invited the two of them for fried dough sticks and tofu pudding.


    "Uncles, don¡¯t decline, I already feel very guilty."


    "Girl, you¡¯ve been here more than once, right?" Yang Minggang joked.


    Everyone else who had finished eating looked at the big wild boar on the ground.


    "Yes, I¡¯ve been here twice, and the trap and groove have already been retrieved."


    "Your aunt told me. I think your efforts were in vain; the sheep aren¡¯t strong enough to pull this at all."


    "Uncle, I don¡¯t have the strength either, just giving it a try. If it works, I won¡¯t have to worry about the spring planting."


    Old Yang came daily for breakfast. The first thing he noticed was the large wild boar on the ground.


    "Girl?"


    "Uncle? Here for breakfast?"


    "Yes, is this wild boar yours?"


    "Yeah. It ran into my yard yesterday, so I took care of it."


    "Give it to me, I¡¯ll find some people to divvy it up because some folks especially like this kind of meat."


    Su Yuanyuan looked at Yang Hongwen without responding to Old Yang¡¯s words.


    "Hmm, Old Yang, if you can handle it, that would be great."


    "Ha, I didn¡¯t even notice it was you from behind before.


    Hurry and eat, then let¡¯s head over to my place."


    Turns out they knew each other. Su Yuanyuan felt relieved.


    She felt besides her ability to curse, she could sense others¡¯ intentions toward her.


    Old Yang, the blacksmith, had no ill will toward her whatsoever.


    He ate quickly. The four of them finished eating together, then they dragged the sled to Old Yang¡¯s place.


    "This wild boar isn¡¯t as big as the last one." Old Yang called his apprentice to gather some people.


    Uncle Wu was the first to arrive.


    "Uncle Wu."


    "Little girl, is this wild boar yours?"


    "Yeah, it ran into my yard last night."


    "Girl, you¡¯re quite bold to actually take action."


    "If I hadn¡¯t struck it, I would¡¯ve been the unfortunate one."


    Uncle Wu nodded, agreeing, "This one¡¯s not as large as the last one."


    Old Yang invited the three of them to sit by the iron stove in the house as their cotton shoes were wet, so they took them off to dry.


    After a short while, a few more people came, and Uncle Wu wielded the knife.


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t go outside to watch since she wasn¡¯t interested in the spectacle.


    However, Yang Hongwen went outside, leaving only Yang Minggang and her.


    "Girl, were you scared at the time?"


    "Honestly, no. I was startled awake by the sheep¡¯s cries. I went out to hear what was happening. At first, I thought it was someone¡¯s pig that had gotten out. Who knew it pushed the door open? That¡¯s when I realized it was a wild boar.


    I immediately ran back inside, took out the hatchet Master Yang had sold me with a steel blade tip last time."


    "You sure have guts."


    "Uncle, can I say I¡¯m scared now?" Su Yuanyuan gave a bitter smile. If not for the electric baton, she would¡¯ve had to run.


    I wonder how much power is left in this electric baton? Most of the county doesn¡¯t have electricity, so recharging it is troublesome, considering even if there is electricity, there might not be sockets.


    I did study electrical engineering and practice it. But after all these years, I wonder if I can still manage?


    Yang Minggang saw Su Yuanyuan in a daze and guessed she was frightened.


    "Alright, the wild boar is dead now."


    "Yes, I know. Uncle. Next year, I¡¯ll definitely raise the mud walls and fix the yard. If this happens a few more times, I probably wouldn¡¯t be able to sleep at night."


    "I have the molds at my house."


    "Hmm."


    The wild boar in the yard was already dealt with. The people who came were all competent folks from the county.


    "This boar is about 41 pounds of net meat. Seventy cents per pound, not easy work in the snow," said Uncle Wu.


    "Alright. I¡¯ll take 100 pounds."


    "With so many people, taking 100 pounds for yourself isn¡¯t very fair. Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do: eight people came today, fifty pounds each. The rest goes to Old Wu and Old Yang, can¡¯t let them work for nothing."


    "Alright then. Uncle Wu, it¡¯s up to you. Just give me the ribs."


    "You¡¯re sly, huh? Old Wu, divide it equally into eight shares."


    When the noise outside subsided, Yang Hongwen came in with money and handed it to Su Yuanyuan. "Today¡¯s rate is seventy cents a pound. Here¡¯s 280 yuan. Take the viscera back with you."


    Uncle Wu came in, gave ten yuan to Su Yuanyuan, and said, "Here you go, little girl, it wasn¡¯t easy. Take the pig¡¯s viscera back with you."


    Su Yuanyuan nodded with a smile and didn¡¯t refuse. Still, she expressed her gratitude many times.


    The three of them pulled the empty sled back home this time.


    They walked back in silence, even letting Su Yuanyuan ride, wishing to pull her, but she refused.


    "Uncles, please come to my house."


    "No, I¡¯ll go back to rest." Yang Hongwen shook his head, declining.


    "Uncle, I still need to visit your house. I don¡¯t like going to others¡¯ homes. In this harsh winter, I don¡¯t want anyone to feel uncomfortable."

 Chapter 30 cents

    Chapter 30: 30 centsWith no other options, the two arrived at Su Yuanyuan¡¯s home.


    "Uncle, this is my token of appreciation. If you find it too little, please don¡¯t refuse."


    The words effectively blocked any attempts they might make to refuse.


    "Girl, you keep it for yourself."


    "Uncle, the money I earned these two times, I can honestly say, without you, I wouldn¡¯t have gotten a penny. You care about me. You are straightforward. That¡¯s why I¡¯m able to get by.


    I¡¯m giving you each thirty yuan as a token of appreciation for your hard work. I¡¯ve been through a lot along the way too."


    Both of them tried to decline. They didn¡¯t want it.


    "Uncle, do you think it¡¯s too little? How about this, I¡¯ll give you each another thirty?"


    It was Yang Hongwen who spoke up, "Minggang, just accept it."


    "Thank you both for being so good to me."


    They left with the money, feeling a bit uncomfortable, as if the money was burning a hole in their hands. However, the girl had a point. They had indeed worked for it.


    But earning thirty in just one night was equivalent to a month¡¯s salary for a worker.


    Yang Hongwen thought far more about it. Over the years, he¡¯d never heard of a Wild Boar coming down the mountain, let alone entering a yard. He believed more and more that Su Yuanyuan was truly extraordinary, as if she had something protecting her. Otherwise, things that shouldn¡¯t happen just wouldn¡¯t happen.


    He got home just in time for lunch. "Are you going to soak your feet?"


    "Sure, let¡¯s eat first, then I¡¯ll soak my feet."


    The children watched their dad curiously. At fifteen or sixteen, their curiosity was especially strong. However, they ate obediently and didn¡¯t ask any questions.


    After lunch, he sent them out. Yang Hongwen soaked his feet.


    "Here¡¯s thirty yuan, keep it."


    "Where did it come from?"


    "That girl caught another Wild Boar last night. She gave Minggang and me thirty each."


    "Another one?"


    "Yes, the more I think about it, the more mysterious it seems."


    "Stop thinking about it. You¡¯ve been good to her, and even if she¡¯s unusual, she will be good to you in return."


    Yang Minggang secretly gave the money to Hu Chunhua. They hadn¡¯t split the family yet, so the money shouldn¡¯t be leaked out, or it would be hard to explain. After all, there were several brothers.


    "That girl..."


    "Alright, keep it safe. I¡¯m tired and want to sleep now. Find the earthen mold we have and take it to that girl. Maybe she¡¯s scared and says she definitely needs a wall."


    "Got it. Oh, the pig¡¯s blood is still in the house. I haven¡¯t made blood tofu yet."


    "You might as well make it at her house. It¡¯ll save a lot of hassle."


    Hu Chunhua discreetly took a large bowl of pig¡¯s blood back to Su Yuanyuan¡¯s house.


    "Aunt, I was just about to find you, you handle the pig¡¯s intestines, I don¡¯t know how."


    "Girl, it¡¯s not that Aunt doesn¡¯t want to help you, but I¡¯ve brought the pig¡¯s blood back again. We haven¡¯t split the family yet, and with so many people, it¡¯s hard to say anything."


    Su Yuanyuan nodded in understanding. "Then let¡¯s do it at my house, and have my Uncle and siblings come over to eat?"


    "No need, you eat it yourself. I¡¯ll prepare it for you."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t refuse. She thought once it cooled down, she would take it back for the family to eat secretly.


    Hu Chunhua was quick with her hands. Once the water boiled, the blood tofu was done, cut into tofu pieces placed in the bowl. Then she started cleaning the pig¡¯s intestines.


    "Aunt, this pig head has so much hair, why don¡¯t we leave the pig skin?"


    "What would pig head meat be without skin? Just stand aside."


    Su Yuanyuan watched as Hu Chunhua burned the hair off the pig¡¯s head and trotters cleanly with fire.


    Then she had Su Yuanyuan sit to the side, using a vegetable knife to scrape and wash.


    Once done, it was quite clean.


    After splitting the pig¡¯s head, the tongue and other parts were removed.


    The pig¡¯s head, trotters, and tail were all cooked in a big pot.


    "Girl, it¡¯s getting late. I need to go back. Here¡¯s the earthen mold. Once the pig head meat and the like are tender, take them out and add the pig heart, lungs, ears, and tongue. Once those are done, remove them and add the intestines."


    "Aunt, I understand. Please take some of this blood tofu back with you. Even if everyone eats, brothers and sisters will have tasted it."


    Finally, Hu Chunhua left with a bowl of blood tofu. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In the pot, the pig head was being braised on low heat. Along the way, Su Yuanyuan added some sugar and spices like bay leaves and cardamom.


    By the evening, Su Yuanyuan thought it was done. Before she could take it out, Hu Chunhua arrived.


    She helped to take it out, then while it was hot, she pulled the meat off the bones. Surprisingly, it was quite a complete piece of pig head meat.


    "Aunt, this half pig head face is for you and the team leader¡¯s family, half for each. Which part do you like? You don¡¯t need to worry; once it cools, take it back for the brothers and sisters to eat secretly." In her memory, their family was not harmonious, with frequent fights among the sisters-in-law, and the elders were biased towards the younger ones.


    "Alright, Aunt won¡¯t be polite with you. Then I¡¯ll take the pig¡¯s nose piece."


    Hu Chunhua washed her hands clean and left. In the pot, the organs were being braised, with the liver added last.


    Su Yuanyuan fell in love with it after just one bite. It was really delicious, far better than anything she¡¯d had before.


    She decided to keep half of the pig head meat, four pig trotters, a pig ear, and a small piece of pig liver. The rest would be divided between the two families.


    All the pig¡¯s blood was sent to the team leader¡¯s home. It was done openly, so there was no worry about anything.


    The house was warm now. The kang was too hot, and Su Yuanyuan had a comfortable sleep.


    The next day, she separated all the entrails. Each family got a large bowl of it.


    Su Yuanyuan thought it would be better to send them to the team leader at night; otherwise, it would be too conspicuous.


    As for Hu Chunhua¡¯s portion, she could take some home each day.


    She also took the braising soup out and asked Hu Chunhua if she wanted it. If not, it would go to the team leader¡¯s family.


    She put the pig bones in the pot, added water, and slowly boiled the soup, as it was the best for calcium.


    There were no spare ribs left for herself, so she made soup with this, determined to make the best of this winter, unlike her grandmother, who suffered long-term injuries.


    She didn¡¯t lack anything herself. If she couldn¡¯t take care of herself, it would really be a shame.


    Hu Chunhua came over in the afternoon. Seeing the large bowl of meat allocated to her family, she didn¡¯t know what to say.


    "Aunt, leave these with me. When you want to give some to the brothers and sisters, you can come take it. It¡¯ll allow them to eat more."


    "Girl, Aunt thanks you."


    "Aunt, I¡¯ve never been really formal with you, so you don¡¯t need to do this."


    "Alright. Aunt won¡¯t be polite anymore."


    In the evening, Su Yuanyuan put a large bowl of meat and a large bowl of pig intestines for the team leader¡¯s family on a small cart. She brought it to his house, along with twenty-nine yuan for the cart.


    Yang Hongwen looked at the things covered with a snakeskin bag, quite unsure what to say.


    "Uncle, here¡¯s twenty-nine, for the cart, and these are pig intestines, my Aunt helped me braise them yesterday."

 Chapter 31 Returning a Favor

    Chapter 31: 31 Returning a Favor"I¡¯ll accept the money, but you take back the pig offal. Our family will slaughter a pig for the New Year."


    "Uncle, I won¡¯t take it back. I¡¯ve already kept some for myself. Just accept it."


    Yuanyuan said as she pushed the cart into the yard.


    "Girl, it¡¯s not easy for you to live on your own; our family can¡¯t accept this." Yang Hongwen really didn¡¯t know what to say.


    Actually, under normal circumstances, having already received the money, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to take more.


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t bother listening to him and went straight into the yard.


    She put down the small cart, uncovered the burlap sack, and carried the bucket of pig¡¯s blood down.


    At this moment, the people inside the house heard the commotion and came out.


    "Yuanyuan¡¯s here," Xu Chunjiao said with a smile.


    "Aunt, this is wild boar blood, I brought it for you to try."


    "That won¡¯t do. Take it back quickly. Even having a little something is not easy for you; keep it and enjoy it slowly to nourish yourself."


    Su Yuanyuan spoke as well, thinking how giving gifts could be so challenging.


    After putting down the bucket, she struggled to bring down the basin too.


    "Uncle and Aunt, I¡¯m heading back. This is my heartfelt gesture; I know who treats me well."


    After saying this, she pushed the cart away.


    Xu Chunjiao wanted to catch up with Su Yuanyuan, but Yang Hongwen stopped her.


    "Let¡¯s just accept it; in the future, take good care of her."


    Su Yuanyuan felt a burden lifted when she got home, thinking the favor had been returned.


    He really didn¡¯t like offal, has disliked it since childhood, even if it was pig¡¯s blood, he was unwilling to eat pig offal.


    At night, she made meat stuffed buns, dozens of them, using up all the pig head meat. Whenever she wanted to eat, she could just take some out.


    Early the next morning before dawn, she fed the sheep, "I need to make a trip to the city. I¡¯ve prepared a lot of food for you. Even if I can¡¯t make it back today, it should be enough for you."


    Arriving in the county, after inquiring around, she realized it was nearly impossible to walk there; it was too far, and she didn¡¯t know the way.


    "Auntie, how do I get to the city?" Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "There¡¯s a carriage; you can check by the train station. It should still be there."


    Taking a carriage was doable; it was better than walking, though she was worried about the thick snow¡ªwould the roads be passable?


    Nonetheless, she didn¡¯t hesitate and ran straight over.


    Sure enough, she saw a large carriage. Thick layers of wheat straw covered it with three people already aboard¡ªa couple and a young man.


    Su Yuanyuan approached and looked at the old man squatting there smoking.


    "Grandpa, is this carriage going to the city?"


    "Yes, to the city. Fifty cents per person."


    "Grandpa, how long to reach the city, and when will you return?"


    "I don¡¯t know the exact time, but we¡¯ll get there by lunchtime. Also, we¡¯re not coming back today, so wait by the station this time tomorrow."


    This discouraged Su Yuanyuan; she really didn¡¯t want to spend the night out. Being in the spotlight was an inconvenience. If she didn¡¯t return overnight, it would be very problematic. Forget it, those two wild boars will just stay in the space; she¡¯ll deal with them later.


    She didn¡¯t dare sell them in the county; it would still be those few buyers, so how could she explain it? She definitely needed to go out of town.


    If she had an excuse, she could take a train to another city, which would be safer. Yet, her small frame really drew too much underestimation; if not, she could butcher the pig and come sell it at the train station during New Year.


    But frequenting the county like this wasn¡¯t the best course of action. Ever since she found out the train station was monitored, she felt even less certain.


    Forget it, just leave them in the space; maybe an opportunity to sell them will arise later.


    "Little girl, are you going to the city?"


    "Grandpa, I¡¯m not going this time; coming back tomorrow doesn¡¯t work."


    "Alright."


    Too few people going doesn¡¯t make a trip worthwhile. The old man was quite anxious too.


    Su Yuanyuan walked back home dejectedly; this exertion was for nothing. She didn¡¯t want to buy anything either, so back she went.


    On the way, she ate a bowl of beef noodles and felt a bit better.


    Once home, she patted the sheep¡¯s head and went to start a fire. She still didn¡¯t know what to do if the sheep gave birth to lambs. It was too cold outside, but letting it inside was also unacceptable to her. What a troublesome thing.


    If not, she¡¯d have to make a straw mat as a door for it using dry hay; that¡¯s all she could do.


    The water hadn¡¯t boiled yet when she heard Hu Chunhua¡¯s voice outside.


    "Yuanyuan, where did you go?"


    "Just wandered around. Nothing to do at home."


    "Don¡¯t go out aimlessly. What if you catch a cold?


    If there¡¯s nothing else, go fishing with your uncle tomorrow."


    "Tomorrow? It just got cold; can the ice hold people?"


    "Your uncle checked today and said it¡¯s okay."


    "You all going tomorrow?"


    "Yes, plus your uncle¡¯s two younger brothers."


    "Aunt, I¡¯m not going. I¡¯ll go on my own in a couple of days."


    She knew they hadn¡¯t divided the family yet. There was no need to solicit trouble.


    "It¡¯s alright."


    Su Yuanyuan still shook her head, not wanting to make others feel she was taking advantage.


    Hu Chunhua didn¡¯t persuade further. Everyone knows their family¡¯s situation; she knew well what her younger brothers-in-law were like.


    If the girl went, what kind of gossip might crop up?


    The next day, Su Yuanyuan still walked around the reservoir and saw over ten people on the ice, then returned home.


    The weather was great today. Su Yuanyuan thought they likely wouldn¡¯t catch any fish.


    There used to be fish farming in the village. Su Yuanyuan knew that when the weather was bad, the fish would have less oxygen, and chopping an ice hole would yield more fish then.


    She was idle but didn¡¯t wish to wander around outside either; there were ignorant people in the village. They were afraid of associating with Su Yuanyuan, fearing bad luck.


    So, even though he lived alone, only the Wang Family had visited once.


    No, she needed to find something to do. Even now, running a business was an option. She must make her money appear legitimate. Spending would be easier this way.


    But what could she do? Home again, pondering what could make money and what she could actually do.


    These days, people barely get by; nobody is buying unnecessary goods. Focusing on food was still the best approach.


    What could sell in such cold weather? There were plenty of food sellers in town, and the prices weren¡¯t high. Occasionally buying and reselling was okay, but doing it long-term or making money would surely attract attention, which wasn¡¯t good for her.


    Alright, after thinking it through, there¡¯s nothing to do. So she¡¯d stay home reading books.


    The recent wild boars had made Su Yuanyuan a bit overconfident; she decided to stay put.


    Lighting the fire, she took a book from the space. She calmed herself to read. Though these were all stock trading books, they would have to suffice; she hadn¡¯t prepared any mental nourishment, only some usual books she read in the space.

 Chapter 32 fishing

    Chapter 32: 32 fishingSu Yuanyuan stayed at home all day and didn¡¯t go out. On her birthday, she felt she should celebrate a little.


    She didn¡¯t believe in that thing about women¡¯s numerology affecting three families, but since nobody around her was educated, and had such beliefs, she couldn¡¯t change their minds, so she also avoided going out on this day.


    She prepared herself a sumptuous lunch with fish, meat, drinks, and rice. Although there was no birthday cake, she could use any other cake as a substitute; the thought was what counted.


    Honestly, being alone was really quite lonely, but given her situation, she couldn¡¯t have friends. Others avoided her as much as possible.


    Two days later, Su Yuanyuan used the evening to go to the reservoir. She was bored anyway, having taken a nap during the day, and was full of energy. She also didn¡¯t want to run into people during the day, and this was more convenient for her plans.


    In the space, there was a professional angler¡¯s ice chisel, which made it easier and faster to cut through the ice.


    But there were no fishing tools in the space. Su Yuanyuan thought she could just use a basket to scoop them up, or maybe she could use the space to gather them.


    While working, she let her imagination run wild. After all, whatever happens, it¡¯s fun, right?


    Since she planned to use the space, the ice hole needed to be big. After more than an hour, she finally made a two-meter diameter ice hole.


    It wasn¡¯t easy at all. Fortunately, her body had been recuperating for almost a month and was much better now. Otherwise, she couldn¡¯t have managed it.


    She took a drop of water from the space and poured it directly into the water.


    Smiling happily, she prepared the basket, imagining it full of fish, and couldn¡¯t help but grin.


    And sure enough, she was right. In no time, the two-meter ice hole was crowded with fish.


    Now Su Yuanyuan was happy. She squatted down and reached her hand into the water, able to touch the fish directly.


    "Collect all the fish."


    And just like that, the fish on this side were gone in an instant.


    Su Yuanyuan excitedly went into the space, seeing the fish she just gathered on the ground, her eyes sparkling. There were at least two hundred large fish weighing five or six pounds each. This was all money; although she couldn¡¯t sell the Wild Boar now, the fish were sellable.


    Upon leaving the space, more fish gathered at the ice hole, and Su Yuanyuan collected them just the same.


    The space really was a good thing. The fish were taken in without even a drop of water; this was perfect.


    After waiting a while, another batch came, though there were definitely fewer than the last batch.


    This time she still used the space to collect them. Since they came, there¡¯s no letting them go. They all ended up with her.


    After this batch was collected, no more fish came. At least, none could be seen on the surface.


    Happily, she pushed the cart home. She took out half of the space¡¯s fish and placed them directly on the snow. By tomorrow morning, they¡¯d be frozen.


    It was already around ten. Once she warmed up in the space, she snuggled into her quilt to sleep.


    The first thing she did the next morning was check on the fish outside, and sure enough, they were frozen in shape, which was pretty good.


    She found some mesh bags and the small sled she made last time; it took twenty mesh bags to fit everything.


    She fed the sheep hay, patting its head, "You keep watch over the house, I¡¯m going to make money."


    Su Yuanyuan felt that only making money could make her happy now. Everything else was just fleeting clouds!


    It was actually quite tiring to drag the sled through the snow. But it couldn¡¯t be helped.


    She specifically chose paths with more snow to save some energy. Three hours later, she reached the county. On the way, she had already taken out five bags from the space.


    She went straight to Old Yang¡¯s doorstep, now nearly out of breath.


    Seeing the sweaty little girl at the door, Old Yang was quite surprised.


    "Girl, what¡¯s up with you?"


    "Uncle, I caught a lot of fish last night and came to the county to exchange them for money. I¡¯m here to ask you; these are all big fish."


    Old Yang squatted down and untied a mesh bag. Wow, the fish were indeed huge.


    "Girl, come, let¡¯s move them into the courtyard." Old Yang called out his apprentices to help, not letting the little girl do it. His two apprentices moved everything inside.


    Then Old Yang instructed them to call people over, leading Su Yuanyuan inside.


    "Girl, hurry and warm up by the fire, so you don¡¯t catch a cold.


    You sure are capable; each bag of fish weighs more than you. How did you manage to get so many?"


    "Uncle, it¡¯s actually not that hard to drag them over the snow. I¡¯ve done this before and know the best paths."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t hold back either, sitting right by the stove, taking off her cotton shoes, which were soaked with melted snow, still very wet.


    "Girl, let me get you something to eat."


    "Uncle, I can¡¯t eat anything now, too tired. I need to rest for a bit."


    "Why push yourself like this?"


    "Uncle, I have bad luck, being born on the eighth of the twelfth month. Everyone shuns me, so I¡¯m embarrassed to always trouble the few people who treat me well.


    I¡¯m all alone. Just relying on farming, I figure I can at least scrape by and not starve.


    Since my luck is good now, finding such valuable things, I need to turn them into money as quickly as possible. Otherwise, how can I survive?"


    "People are too ignorant."


    Su Yuanyuan just smiled. The reason she came to Old Yang¡¯s was because he ran a business. He met all kinds of people, and wasn¡¯t so ignorant.


    "You¡¯re quite smart, but with your small stature, you can¡¯t keep this up."


    "Uncle, when people are poor, ambitions wane; when horses are thin, their coats lengthen. For survival, I can and will do anything."


    "This little girl with her tricks."


    The two sat by the stove for about twenty minutes. Now Su Yuanyuan felt the chill leaving her. Old Yang quickly brewed her a bowl of brown sugar water.


    With the first sip, she felt warmth from her throat all the way to her stomach.


    Su Yuanyuan sighed contently, finishing the bowl of brown sugar water without pause.


    "How is it? Feeling better?"


    "Thank you, Uncle."


    "No need to be so polite." At this moment, voices could be heard from the courtyard. Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t move, and Old Yang went out by himself.


    There was hustle and bustle outside, but she paid no attention, just warming herself by the stove. This was an opportunity for Old Yang to make money, ensuring they could work together long-term.


    Not sure how things were going outside, her clothes had dried by the time Old Yang came back in. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Girl, these fish are about the same size and will be sold by the head. One fish is one and a half, with sixty fish in total, making it ninety dollars in total."


    "Thank you, Uncle." Su Yuanyuan said, counting ten dollars and handing it over to Old Yang, "I can¡¯t let you do this for free."


    "Take it back. If you do this, don¡¯t come here next time."


    "Uncle, I¡¯d feel guilty if I didn¡¯t."


    "No worries, don¡¯t make such a fuss."

 Chapter 33 selling fish

    Chapter 33: 33 selling fishOld Yang understood the girl¡¯s intention, but he truly didn¡¯t want the money.


    At his age, he had seen a lot and experienced a lot, and didn¡¯t have much sympathy to spare.


    The reason he treated this little girl so well was because he was moved by her sincerity and her approach to life.


    This little girl was only eight years old, yet she was already thinking about her future, which was not easy.


    "Sir, you¡¯re making me embarrassed."


    "It¡¯s fine, just bring over good stuff in the future. I can tell you¡¯re a lucky girl. Not everyone has wild boars walking into their doors, yet you do, and these fish seem like they¡¯re handpicked, all of them are so big."


    "You trust me that much?"


    "Of course! We just love good food."


    Su Yuanyuan smiled and nodded, "Alright. I¡¯ll go catch more fish in the next few days."


    "Girl, it¡¯s getting late, why don¡¯t you stay for dinner and taste the fish I cooked?"


    "Sir, do you have chili and Sichuan peppercorns here?"


    "Yes, why? Should I pack some for you to take home?" believing this girl didn¡¯t have these spices.


    "Sir, let me show you a trick today. I¡¯ll tell you, this is my grandpa¡¯s technique. I guarantee you¡¯ll want a second serving after the first one.


    I have two unfrozen fish in my basket."


    "You have such a skill?"


    "You¡¯ll know when you try it, won¡¯t you?"


    "Alright, I definitely want to taste it."


    Old Yang only had three apprentices here, and his wife had gone to look after their grandchild, so all the cooking was done by the men, whose skills were quite average.


    Old Yang¡¯s apprentice cleaned the fish, while Su Yuanyuan had already prepared the ingredients. Green onions, ginger, and garlic were essential.


    She directed an apprentice who was good with knives to slice the fish.


    There were no vegetables, but there were tofu sheets, which they cut into strips.


    Old Yang¡¯s corn pancakes were already steaming.


    So when the water-boiled fish was finished, a spoonful of hot oil was poured over it, releasing the aromas of Sichuan peppercorns, chili, and minced garlic.


    "It smells amazing! This girl¡¯s skills are truly remarkable."


    The small kitchen was filled with this special aroma, making the mouths of all four men water.


    The two big fish weighed over ten pounds, with just the meat being five pounds, and there were tofu sheets too. Yet, even the soup was finished.


    "Girl, what amazing skills!" the men all praised her.


    Su Yuanyuan thought about their compliments for her water-boiled fish along the way and found it quite amusing. Knowing how much someone like Old Yang, who enjoyed life (or rather, loved to eat), appreciated good food, he would definitely try to make it himself.


    This time, she had another ninety yuan in her hands. Her little savings were really starting to build up bit by bit.


    When she got home, it was already evening. She quickly lit a fire; the house was cold, barely warmer than outside.


    Today was quite exhausting, so she planned to rest tomorrow. The day after, she¡¯d continue to the county and also inquire at the train station, considering it might be more assuring to turn the wild boar into cash. It sat in her space, unused and inedible. Selling it would save her worry.


    However, a single trip would take at least two days, so what about the sheep? It¡¯s not that she couldn¡¯t bring it into her space, but there was no way to explain it to others, and she still had to live here.


    The next day, Hu Chunhua came by. She dropped by every couple of days, bringing some meat back for the kids to eat, ensuring it wasn¡¯t too conspicuous.


    "Aunt, I caught some fish too. Do you want to take one back?" sea??h th§× n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Hu Chunhua looked at the big fish in the large water tank outside with envy but still shook her head. Her family didn¡¯t even give fish to this girl, so how could she accept it?


    "So many?"


    "Aunt, I¡¯m thinking of going to the city to see if I can sell the fish."


    "Going to the city is not safe. What if someone abducts you?"


    "Aunt, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine."


    Hu Chunhua knew how determined this girl was. "Do you even know the way to the city? Are you planning on walking?"


    "Aunt, I went to the county yesterday to buy fish. I¡¯ve already asked around; there¡¯s a carriage going to the city, so I don¡¯t have to walk."


    "This girl didn¡¯t even step outside the village before, and now she wants to go everywhere. Too wild."


    "Anyway, I have nothing else to do. I didn¡¯t get the chance to go out before, and now that no one is controlling me, I just want to go and take a look."


    "Yuanyuan, I¡¯m just worried someone might trick you."


    "How could they? No one notices me. I should seize the moment to save some money."


    Hu Chunhua fell silent.


    "Aunt, don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll be fine. Honestly, even if someone wanted to abduct me, they¡¯d probably ignore me."


    "Fine, I know that even if I don¡¯t agree, you¡¯ll still go. Be careful. I¡¯ll feed the sheep for you."


    Su Yuanyuan felt reassured. She could go catch more fish tonight.


    "Girl, are you just going for a one-time trip?"


    "Yes, just going once, then preparing for New Year at home."


    Hu Chunhua left with some stewed meat and a key, while Su Yuanyuan spent the afternoon sleeping.


    In the evening, she used her old tricks again, but this time the fish caught were of varying sizes, slightly fewer than last time.


    She was already very content. She stored all the fish outside in the snow, planning to sell both the fish and the wild boar on this trip.


    At around five o¡¯clock, she got up to find the fish were frozen. With a wave of her hand, she collected them all into her space.


    Since this trip would take a while, she gave the sheep some Spiritual Spring Water, "I¡¯m going out to earn money. You¡¯ll stay home and someone will come to feed you. Be good."


    Traveling alone this time meant she moved much faster.


    She still ate fried dough sticks and bought a few more, wrapped them in packing paper, and headed straight to the train station.


    She wasn¡¯t familiar with the place names here at all, so she found someone who seemed particularly composed and friendly-looking.


    "Uncle, may I ask which city near ours is the closest and wealthiest?"


    "Oh, why is a little girl asking this?"


    "I just want to take a look."


    "Where are your family members?"


    "No family."


    The man thought this little girl was struggling to survive here and wanted to move to a wealthy city.


    Su Yuanyuan got the answer she wanted. She suddenly realized that with her small stature, she didn¡¯t even need to buy a train ticket. This instantly pleased her. It¡¯s just human nature to relish in such small wins.


    She was lucky, as a train to T City was departing in just fifteen minutes. Perfect!


    She followed a man onto the train, and nobody stopped her.


    The train wasn¡¯t very full, so Su Yuanyuan got a seat.


    It took six hours to get from here to T City. That¡¯s as long as it would take to travel from the south to the north in later generations, but she was content. At least she had a train ride.


    Although her clothes were worn, they were clean, so no one was annoyed by her presence. However, because she was young, no one interacted with her, which suited Su Yuanyuan just fine.

 Chapter 34 on the train

    Chapter 34: 34 on the trainSu Yuanyuan was leaning there with her eyes closed, pondering what to do. Would it work to directly contact the buyer? But she didn¡¯t want to cooperate with those people either.


    She couldn¡¯t reveal her accent, luckily she knew Mandarin.


    Swaying a bit, she fell asleep quickly. The speed of trains nowadays really isn¡¯t commendable.


    Even without opening her eyes, she smelled food and felt hungry. She pulled out some deep-fried dough sticks wrapped in greaseproof paper and cling film, as she didn¡¯t have a kettle or a thermos, she took out a plain porcelain cup from her space. She needed to drink water.


    As fate would have it, the attendant came just then to deliver hot water.


    She held out her cup, and they gave her a cup of hot water. This was one upside to train travel.


    She ate her dough sticks and drank hot water. Her meal was better than most others around her.


    She didn¡¯t care much, just ate her own food. After two dough sticks, she sipped her hot water slowly.


    The announcements indicated the train would stop in ten minutes and stay there for half an hour.


    Su Yuanyuan felt that someone nearby harbored malice toward her. So she thought it wise to get off the train and look for a new seat afterward.


    She packed her cup, left her seat, and wandered to the train door.


    Turning casually, she noticed a woman heading toward her. Was she one of the kidnappers?


    "You¡¯re unlucky to have run into me," Su Yuanyuan muttered quietly, thinking about how she could expose this trafficker.


    Though her mind wasn¡¯t very complex, she couldn¡¯t think of a solution, and she didn¡¯t want to risk herself.


    Deciding to evade her for now, and deal with it later if she couldn¡¯t avoid her.


    She went to the restroom. The smell inside was unbearable, so she came out in less than a minute. She smiled at the woman standing outside the door and then headed toward another door.


    Her plan was to avoid this woman. But while her ideas were great, reality was that the woman continued to follow her.


    Was she treating her like some pushover?


    Su Yuanyuan was small, and since many people were preparing to get off, she walked through two carriages and actually shook off the woman.


    She didn¡¯t stop and went directly towards the front of the train.


    She saw a train police officer. "Brother, there¡¯s someone following me."


    Initially, she hesitated to cause trouble, but Su Yuanyuan was genuinely upset. She wasn¡¯t heroic enough to catch a trafficker just to prevent other children from being kidnapped.


    It was just that she had been troubled. Why was this woman always following her?


    "Where is she?"


    "I just shook her off, but she won¡¯t give up and will definitely follow me.


    Brother, if she says I¡¯m her child later, you just say I¡¯m your sister. Let¡¯s see what she says?"


    Su Yuanyuan had seen traffickers¡¯ tricks on TV many times, so she reminded the young train officer.


    "Okay, I¡¯ll say that," Wang Xiaodong said with a smile.


    Su Yuanyuan nodded. She didn¡¯t realize how amusing her adult-like act was.


    "Brother, you better hide somewhere. I bet she¡¯ll be here soon."


    "Sure, where are you planning to lure her?"


    "How would I know? Also, my name is Su Yuanyuan, don¡¯t be fooled by her. She doesn¡¯t even know my name. Here she comes."


    Su Yuanyuan and Wang Xiaodong passed each other, walking in opposite directions.


    The trafficker hesitated upon seeing the train police, making Wang Xiaodong sure the little girl hadn¡¯t lied.


    They also passed each other, with Wang Xiaodong leaving directly.


    Su Yuanyuan continued to walk leisurely forward. She knew the woman was following her.


    After passing through several carriages, Su Yuanyuan stopped at a place with fewer people. It seemed like a sleeper carriage, and she stood there bored, looking down.


    Finally, the woman caught up with the girl.


    "Auntie, why are you following me?"


    "I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll get lost."


    "Oh, thank you, but I don¡¯t know you. Are you a kidnapper? Are you trying to steal and sell me?"


    Su Yuanyuan looked at the woman in fear.


    Wang Xiaodong, hiding in the sleeper carriage, almost laughed. This little girl was indeed funny.


    "What nonsense are you saying? Aren¡¯t you my daughter? Don¡¯t be upset with me," the woman stepped forward and grabbed Su Yuanyuan¡¯s arm tightly, causing it to hurt. She couldn¡¯t break free.


    "You¡¯re lying. I don¡¯t know you. Help! Someone, help! There¡¯s a kidnapper."


    The little girl¡¯s voice was sharp, and within a minute, several compartment doors opened.


    Wang Xiaodong also came out with them.


    "Brother, she¡¯s the kidnapper." S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Daya, don¡¯t be mad at me. I¡¯ll make you new clothes when we get back, so don¡¯t be upset."


    "Oh, I see, the child is just upset," people from two carriages retreated.


    "You¡¯re lying. My name isn¡¯t Daya. I don¡¯t know you at all."


    "Stop it, we¡¯re about to get off. Be good, and I¡¯ll buy you something to eat afterward."


    This trafficker was frustrated. Why was this girl so difficult? It was a mistake not to have drugged her, which would have avoided all this noise.


    At this point, Su Yuanyuan began to cry loudly. Initially, she was pretending, but then she recalled her own rebirth in this era, feeling wronged, and she cried genuinely.


    Seeing the little girl cry for real, Wang Xiaodong stepped forward and pressed down the woman¡¯s arm.


    "What are you doing? Let go of me."


    "We¡¯ll talk this out at the security office."


    "I¡¯m not going. Let go of me."


    Wang Xiaodong paid no heed to her plea, and forcibly escorted her to the security office.


    She had already released Su Yuanyuan.


    Wang Xiaodong didn¡¯t turn back. "Girl, follow."


    She stopped crying, still sniffling, but followed closely behind them.


    The trafficker wanted to flee, but she was no match for a recently discharged train officer, not knowing where she could even run to.


    Reaching the security office, Wang Xiaodong found a rope to tie her up.


    "Brother, you¡¯re really good at tying knots. Can you teach me?"


    Wang Xiaodong looked speechlessly at this big-hearted girl.


    Just then, the door was pushed open by two older train officers.


    "Xiao Wang, what¡¯s going on?"


    "Captain, she¡¯s a trafficker."


    "Nonsense, she¡¯s my daughter, how could I be a trafficker?"


    Su Yuanyuan gave the woman a disdainful look, "Dare you call me your daughter? I¡¯m an orphan without parents. Do you really want to be my mother?"


    "Daya, stop talking. I¡¯ll definitely make new clothes for you and buy you something good to eat," the woman stubbornly insisted on her lie.

 Chapter 35 on the train

    Chapter 35: 35 on the trainThis is still just a little girl, and what she says may not be believed by anyone.


    "Brother, tell her my name." After saying this, Yuanyuan even winked at Wang Xiaodong.


    Wang Xiaodong also winked, "Wang Hong, you stay put."


    "Yes, yes, my daughter is called Wang Hong."


    Yuanyuan gave Wang Xiaodong a thumbs up, his reaction was really quick.


    "You¡¯re really persistent, aren¡¯t you? I see you won¡¯t cry until you see the coffin, this girl definitely isn¡¯t called Wang Hong."


    At this point, the human trafficker was deflated, today was really a failure for him.


    Now there was nothing more for Yuanyuan to do, she said a word and then left.


    Because of this incident, her mood wasn¡¯t great. Women often at this time, choose to let themselves go, spending money is the quickest way to joy.


    Even though she was now just an eight-year-old child, deep down she was an auntie.


    After getting off the train, seeing many people on the platform, travelers rushing with luggage, and vendors selling their goods.


    Yuanyuan felt the actual scene was much more vibrant than what she had seen in pictures before.


    She became interested and directly headed for the small stalls.


    Mostly food items, peanuts, sunflower seeds, cigarettes, boiled eggs, steamed buns, pancakes, and crispy fried dough twists.


    Yuanyuan bought five dough twists and two pieces of fried cake, watching as they were wrapped in reed leaves and handed to her, she took them awkwardly.


    But smelling them, they seemed quite good and worth the price of fifteen cents each.


    She walked and ate at the same time. When in a bad mood, eating something sweet can quickly adjust one¡¯s spirits.


    She browsed the small stalls, but didn¡¯t find anything she needed, these were all things she could usually buy at the market, no need to purchase here. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    After eating the two pieces of fried cake, she pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her hands. Seeing fewer people boarding the train, she quickly got back on. She couldn¡¯t stay here; she still had serious matters to attend to.


    Once she squeezed onto the carriage, there were no seats left and it was particularly crowded, being small, Yuanyuan was afraid of being knocked over and then stepped on, which would be troublesome. So she cautiously made her way to the sleeper car.


    It took her a ton of effort to finally reach the sleeper car, though it wasn¡¯t allowed to linger here.


    Forget it, this will have to do, wait a bit and see what happens when the attendant arrives.


    She found a corner to sit down, there was still some time left before reaching the city. It was just right for her, and maybe if she was lucky enough, she could head home at night. Though she wasn¡¯t sure if there was a train going in that direction.


    With all her thoughts jumbled, she dozed off in no time.


    She heard someone calling her, and only then did she drowsily open her eyes, staring blankly at the woman in front of her.


    "Little girl, why are you here all by yourself?"


    "Auntie, there¡¯s no room to stay in the seating carriages. So I came over to this side." Not the train attendant.


    "Well, why don¡¯t you come with me into the sleeper carriage, there¡¯s still two spots inside. Where are you planning to go?"


    "Thank you, Auntie, but I¡¯m getting off tomorrow morning, I¡¯ll just stay here, or else my family won¡¯t find me later."


    Yuanyuan couldn¡¯t feel any malice from the woman, but she still didn¡¯t want to interact with her.


    The woman smiled and left. Yuanyuan continued to sleep, it was already past eleven o¡¯clock in the evening.


    Feeling a bit hungry, she took out some fried dough sticks from her space and began eating. Once full, she drank a glass of water before adjusting her position to continue dozing with eyes half-closed, awaiting the arrival of tomorrow morning.


    Feeling disoriented as the train came to a stop, a chilly breeze suddenly blew in, Yuanyuan shivered, the door here had been opened.


    She got up to make a trip to the restroom, to avoid being thrown out by an attendant upon being spotted.


    The train stopped three times throughout the night, and for the last stop, Yuanyuan didn¡¯t go back to sleep, waiting to get off.


    The carriage was dimly lit, making Yuanyuan feel lonely. Ever since her grandmother passed away, she had always been alone, rarely having such moments.


    Curled up, hugging her knees, she deeply regretted traveling to this parallel world, wishing she had landed in one where her grandmother lived, she¡¯d take good care of her, never letting her suffer.


    She was lost in her own thoughts for quite a while until she heard the station announcement, then she got up to stretch, waiting here to disembark.


    This was a major stop, with a half-hour halt. So there was no rush, even if this door didn¡¯t open, she could still get off from another carriage on time.


    Finally, at seven in the morning she disembarked, feeling grounded as she looked at the bustling platform.


    She exited the station directly. Without rushing to leave, she instead went to the ticket window to inquire.


    After getting the information, she felt a bit disappointed, as there wouldn¡¯t be any passing trains for the whole day, the earliest train she could catch would be at four o¡¯clock in the afternoon tomorrow, but it would head directly to the county. That was the best option.


    She was worried about where to stay tonight.


    However, eating was the priority, nothing outvalued this.


    The two cities weren¡¯t far apart, so their tastes weren¡¯t vastly different. But there were meat buns for sale, which was a delightful surprise.


    She ate two fist-sized meat buns and bought five more to pack in her bag, technically into her space. These meat buns tasted great.


    She worried about whom she could sell this big Wild Boar to.


    Forget it, she¡¯d just stay here, and ask around if someone seemed right. Of course, they needed to look affluent, as a six to seven hundred pound Wild Boar wasn¡¯t something an average person could afford.


    She strolled alone through the streets. She chose a place for the trade later, an unused restaurant or teahouse, already in disrepair. The rear wall of the courtyard had been knocked down, fitting her needs perfectly.


    Suddenly, she saw an elegant middle-aged man ahead. So she approached him, speaking in fluent Mandarin.


    "Uncle, do you want a Wild Boar?"


    "Hmm? Little girl, what did you say? Wild Boar?"


    "Yes. A big Wild Boar, my family said it¡¯s over seven hundred pounds, do you want it?"


    "Little girl, why did you come to me?"


    "My family told me to ask capable-looking people if I saw any."


    The middle-aged man was amused by Yuanyuan¡¯s praise. It was much more pleasing than empty flattery from others.


    "Where¡¯s your family? I want to see the Wild Boar."


    "Uncle, I¡¯ll take you there." The two arrived at the place.


    "Uncle, wait outside for a moment, I¡¯ll go see, my family isn¡¯t here."


    She said and went inside, finding a hidden spot, taking out two big Wild Boars. After waiting a few minutes, she came back out.


    "Uncle, my family has left. But the Wild Boar is still here, come inside and take a look."


    The middle-aged man followed her into the courtyard, seeing two big Wild Boars in the hidden spot.

 Chapter 36 shots

    Chapter 36: 36 shots"Wow, they¡¯re really not small, and there are two of them?"


    "Because we were stopped by someone on our way to the city, they offered us two hundred yuan for the wild boars. We didn¡¯t agree, so we chose this secluded place.


    Uncle, do you want them?"


    You can see the big gold watch on his wrist. If he can¡¯t afford it, it probably won¡¯t sell well.


    "Can a little girl like you make the decision?"


    "I was told the wild boar is sixty cents a pound, even if one weighs seven hundred pounds."


    "Well, sixty cents isn¡¯t cheap at all."


    Yuanyuan stopped talking. She thought to herself, even if it¡¯s cheap, I wouldn¡¯t sell it.


    Is it easy? We even left the city. If I really were just a kid, I¡¯d honestly have no way to do it.


    "Little girl, how about this, I¡¯ll give you four hundred for one. I¡¯ll take both."


    Yuanyuan frowned in distress, thinking, you have money, and you¡¯re still bargaining?


    "Uncle, you seem like a rich person. These wild boars really took a lot of effort. Uncle, please be kind and don¡¯t cut the price. Forty yuan is a drop in the bucket for you, but for us, it¡¯s money we can¡¯t earn in a year."


    Chai Dongsheng looked at the pitiful little girl and suddenly felt compassion. He appeared refined and approachable, but actually, everything underground here was his.


    "Fine, I won¡¯t cut the price. I¡¯ll give you eight hundred forty."


    Yuanyuan spoke sweet words in a torrent.


    Chai Dongsheng generously took out the money, counted out sixteen bills directly, and handed the rest to Yuanyuan, "Little girl, count them."


    "I trust you, uncle."


    "Uncle, do I have to stay here and watch over you?"


    "No need for you, you hurry home."


    "Okay, uncle, goodbye then."


    After speaking, Yuanyuan waved with a smile and turned to leave.


    Actually, her heart was beating like a drum, just worried that someone might come and snatch her money.


    Finally leaving, walking on the street, Yuanyuan felt at ease. No, she needed to leave here quickly.


    Planning to head directly towards the nearest county town she had heard about.


    Once she left the city and reached the countryside, Yuanyuan felt relieved.


    Actually, along the way, she had been observing, and there was no one following her. That guy was quite reliable. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Without stopping along the way, an hour later she entered the county town. It¡¯s pretty nice here, looking old-fashioned, with a flavor of the times.


    The main thing here was to sell all the fish. But now, she should go eat.


    Fortunately, the snow rake was in the space, so it wouldn¡¯t stand out too much. The wild boar thing earlier was really dangerous.


    She had no idea, people like Chai Dongsheng had no suspicions, which was why she was blessed.


    She inquired a bit and thought she should sell at the biggest factory gate, otherwise, with so much, she really couldn¡¯t sell it all.


    She found out the biggest factory here was the textile factory. It used to belong to a famous merchant who later donated it. It became state-owned after that.


    That¡¯s the place. She had a few hours, and she could prepare by packing everything into burlap sacks. Pulling them along would also work.


    There wasn¡¯t much snow on the road, and she was worried the snow rake wouldn¡¯t be able to pull it.


    No way, she¡¯d better go buy a cart first.


    Yuanyuan was small but had a sweet tongue, and in no time, she found out where the carts were sold. But these carts reached up to her chest. She tried one, and it was manageable. So, she spent forty yuan to buy one.


    She pulled it away. When it got to around one in the afternoon, there wasn¡¯t anyone outside. So she found a hidden spot, put all the fish on the cart, but it wouldn¡¯t move at all.


    She sat on the handlebars, troubled. Her tiny frame really wasn¡¯t powerful enough.


    She thought she¡¯d look for help later.


    People who are blessed never have to worry too much. Here came a naive-looking guy, honest and straightforward.


    "Brother, yes, I¡¯m calling you."


    "Little sis, what do you need?"


    "Big brother, could you help me move this cart to the gate of the textile factory? I really can¡¯t manage it."


    "Sure, no problem, but where are your family members?"


    "They went off on some business, but they¡¯ll meet me at the textile factory gate by five o¡¯clock."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll help you get it there."


    "Big brother, you¡¯re really a good person, thank you so much, otherwise I wouldn¡¯t know what to do."


    "No problem, just keep up."


    Yuanyuan jogged along behind him, and in just ten minutes, she was at the gate of the textile factory.


    "Alright, this is the gate of the textile factory, wait here."


    "Big brother, wait a moment," Yuanyuan said as she untied the bag, took out a big fish, and handed it over.


    "Big brother, please don¡¯t refuse. These are the fish our family plans to sell here. You must take one."


    "Then I won¡¯t be polite. Are all these fish for sale?"


    "Yes, they are."


    "Are they all this big?"


    "Yes, they¡¯re all about the same size."


    "Alright, if anyone asks, I¡¯ll tell them to come here to buy fish."


    Believe it or not, as he walked along with a big fish, quite a few people asked where it came from. Knowing the big fish were being sold at the textile factory gate, many people came over.


    Yuanyuan was pouring the fish onto the ground, thinking about displaying them clearly, right?


    She was going to price each fish at four yuan. Selling for less felt like a loss.


    From afar, she saw many people coming over. Those who wanted to buy fish saw Yuanyuan, so they quickly gathered around.


    "Little girl, how much are the fish?"


    "Four yuan each. They¡¯re all this big. Miss this chance and there won¡¯t be another. Hurry up, if this large fish is on the New Year¡¯s Eve dinner table, next year will be prosperous, with plenty to spare."


    "Wow, little girl, you really know how to talk. I¡¯ll take this one."


    "I want this one."


    "Folks, pay and take one yourself."


    About seven or eight people came, each taking a fish, and more continued to come.


    In less than half an hour, she sold five sacks of fish. Each sack had seven or eight fish, about forty in total, which was really not bad.


    Taking advantage of the lull, she crouched down and brought out everything from the space, and now they were truly gone.


    Sitting on the handlebars, she smiled at the fish. Nothing was as thrilling as making money.


    A group of people came over, business was back.


    This time, they bought fifty more fish altogether, a hundred fish or so left, and today, she could definitely sell them all.


    After this group left, the textile factory finished work. People riding their bikes out after work saw the big fish set close to the gate, and many gathered around again.


    Yuanyuan started to shout, "Everyone, come take a look, fresh big fish, four yuan each. These big fish are a rare find, children eating them become smart, old folks become healthy."


    "Haha, little girl, you really know how to talk. What about if I eat it?" said a middle-aged woman.


    "Auntie, you will become even more beautiful after eating it."

 Chapter 37 relaxed

    Chapter 37: 37 relaxed"Haha, just because this little girl knows how to talk, give me two."


    "Auntie, you really have great taste. How about this, you pick for yourself, choose the ones you like. This is a convenience just for you." Su Yuanyuan said and then blinked, looking all cute.


    In the twenty minutes after work, all the fish were sold out. Su Yuanyuan sighed, workers really are willing to spend money, buying two or three each time.


    This made Su Yuanyuan happy, it was worth coming out.


    She cheerfully pulled the cart away. Now it was already dark, she went to a secluded place and entered the space.


    Anyway, she could stay in the space for two hours. She also took a rest, then planned to go check out the train station.


    She was a bit afraid to go back to the city. The issue with the wild boar was making her somewhat scared now.


    In the space, she took a bath, ate, lay down for a while, prepared some necessities, and then went out.


    Upon arriving at the train station, she inquired with the ticket seller and found out that there wouldn¡¯t be a train until the following night, which means the train passing through the city would pass by here too.


    Oh well, she might as well settle down and wait patiently.


    Given the current temperature, the train station was especially cold. She really didn¡¯t want to put herself in a difficult spot, but at this time and her age, going to a motel wasn¡¯t realistic, was it?


    Resigned, she nested in a wind-sheltered corner, curled up there, thinking that it¡¯s just for one night, she could endure it.


    Luckily, she was full, with food in her belly, she felt much more at ease.


    In a daze, Su Yuanyuan suddenly felt a wave of malice directed towards her, and she instantly woke up. However, she didn¡¯t move immediately; with her small build, staying anywhere wouldn¡¯t be enough.


    But waiting to die like this was unacceptable. So she slowly sat up, stretched lazily, glanced around, then stood up and hopped in place a few times.


    Then she left the spot and sat on a crowded bench. This felt much safer.


    The person in the shadows cursed their bad luck and turned to leave.


    Su Yuanyuan, no longer sensing any malice, finally breathed a sigh of relief. It¡¯s really tough, feeling mentally exhausted.


    She was sitting on that kind of wooden slat long bench, very uncomfortable, but there was no choice because she didn¡¯t dare go to a less populated place.


    If she couldn¡¯t sleep, then eating was the only option. It¡¯s the best way to pass the time.


    The train station sold peanuts and sunflower seeds. So she bought a cup of each, spending two dimes, and asked for an extra piece of paper to fold into a simple paper basket, as she¡¯d developed the habit of not littering.


    She ate slowly and leisurely, as the night was still long. The people around her were all asleep. Now, Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t feel sleepy at all, scared wide awake.


    Eventually, Su Yuanyuan felt she couldn¡¯t eat anymore. But she still didn¡¯t dare to sleep, so she quietly took out a piece of gum.


    Anyway, it wasn¡¯t until dawn that she felt safe, and she still had an entire day to kill, no longer planning to return to the city. She would just wait at the train station to board.


    Given that, she decided to spend some money, stroll around, and see if there were things she couldn¡¯t find back home.


    She secretly drank a cup of Spiritual Spring Water. All her fatigue and exhaustion disappeared.


    She happily went out for a meal. The hot noodle soup here really was tasty, not to mention the lamb giblets.


    In the future, everything is filled with various seasonings, but pure and authentic stuff like this was really rare to come by.


    After eating her fill, she started browsing through the shops one by one.


    Actually, they were just two neighboring cities, not much of a difference. After wandering for a long time, if she encountered a good-tempered shopkeeper, she would be ignored, but with a bad-tempered one, she¡¯d be kicked out.


    Because she was dressed too shabbily, at first glance, people thought she was begging.


    After wandering for more than two hours, she didn¡¯t buy anything.


    She really didn¡¯t know what to buy. Su Yuanyuan was a bit unconventional; she wanted her money to go to familiar people or those nearby. For the same items, she planned to buy them after going back. Strolling leisurely, she suddenly heard a sharp scream, and curiously walked over to find an old woman sitting at the door, slapping her thigh and wailing.


    Beside her were a few onlookers, Su Yuanyuan squeezed in, as it was truly too boring.


    She listened to the old woman, sounding like she was singing opera, a real eye-opener, crying and cursing with rhythm and tone.


    After listening for a while, she learned that the old woman¡¯s son gambled away the family¡¯s only savings.


    "Third Aunt, stop fussing. Even if you cry yourself to death, the money won¡¯t come back. You knew Erbao played cards, why did you give him money?"


    "It wasn¡¯t me who gave it to him, you know. Didn¡¯t he just take it himself?"


    Seeing nothing new, Su Yuanyuan was about to leave when she suddenly saw a group of people approaching.


    Judging by their looks, they weren¡¯t good people, each one carrying a malicious aura.


    Surrounding a hunched man in the middle.


    "Sun Erbao, I¡¯m telling you. You have three days. If you don¡¯t pay back the two hundred bucks, we¡¯ll show you what happens when you owe us."


    At this point, no one dared say a word. They all stuck to the walls, just afraid of getting embroiled.


    As they left, a few of them gave Sun Erbao a couple of kicks. S§×arch* The ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Truly a prodigal son, seeing this house, they must have been quite wealthy before. What a tragedy.


    "You good-for-nothing, how am I supposed to live now, you¡¯ve gambled away all the household money. What do we have to pay off your debts?" The old woman almost fainted from anger.


    "Mom, you can¡¯t just leave me. You don¡¯t have any grandchildren yet."


    "Heavens, why don¡¯t you just take me." She cried dramatically again.


    "Mom, give me our family¡¯s stuff, I¡¯ll sell it, or else they¡¯ll surely cripple me and sell our house too. Where will we live then?"


    Mom, I swear I¡¯ll never gamble again. Really, mom, you have to believe me."


    Hearing this, Su Yuanyuan froze in her steps.


    There were good things, she had to take a look.


    The onlookers didn¡¯t mind the trouble and stood watching; everyone knew the Sun family was rich before. Although everyone was neighbors, no one had ever been wealthier than the Sun family.


    Everyone coveted the Sun family¡¯s things, and it¡¯s just these mother and son who were foolish. People were targeting the Sun family¡¯s belongings, that¡¯s why they lured Sun Erbao into gambling.


    "You good-for-nothing, what¡¯s still at home?"


    Not only did Sun Erbao not believe it, the spectators didn¡¯t believe it either.


    "Mom, I¡¯m your son, your only son. If you don¡¯t help me, who will look after you in your old age?"


    The crying grew louder. The old woman was truly heartbroken. There was only this descendant left in the family. How could she watch him really get into trouble? But her late husband had once said they¡¯d never touch those things.


    Besides, even if they were taken out, they wouldn¡¯t fetch much money. No one would buy them. What could be done?

 Chapter 38 Opportunities

    Chapter 38: 38 OpportunitiesThe heavens really won¡¯t give them a way to live¡ªwhat should they do now?


    "Mom, where are the things?"


    "What your dad left behind are just some paintings and ornaments. Who wants them now?"


    The old lady was truly heartbroken. Would she really not see her grandson?


    "Is there nothing else?"


    "Haven¡¯t you seen it before? You don¡¯t know what there is?"


    "I didn¡¯t pay attention."


    The bystanders also noticed the situation. The Sun Family truly didn¡¯t have anything, and how much could these paintings sell for?


    It was already late; everyone went back to cook dinner. Only Su Yuanyuan was left alone, standing awkwardly to the side.


    Actually, she was trying to mentally prepare herself. Paintings might not be worth much now, but in the future they could be valuable. Although this family probably didn¡¯t have works by famous artists.


    Finally, she decided to take a look at them, "Aunt, can I see those paintings?"


    Because Su Yuanyuan really didn¡¯t have much presence, when she spoke, the mother and daughter finally looked at her.


    "Shoo, shoo, what does a little girl like you know?"


    "I just know that you¡¯re a squanderer."


    "You little brat, asking for a beating?"


    Su Yuanyuan gave Sun Erbao a contemptuous glance, turned around and asked the old lady, "Aunt, can I take a look? My family likes these; if it¡¯s suitable, I can buy them."


    The old lady sighed and stood up. She thought she might as well let her have a look; even if they were sold to a recycling station, they wouldn¡¯t fetch much money.


    The old lady wiped away her tears, "Come in with me."


    Su Yuanyuan followed behind her.


    "Mom, she¡¯s just a little beggar, and you trust her?"


    Hmph, what a temperamental person. Su Yuanyuan turned around, "I¡¯m a little beggar, so what are you? You¡¯re about to be a beggar too; at such an age and not learning to behave, you got cheated, didn¡¯t you? Serves you right."


    Earlier, she overheard two women saying that someone had harmed their family.


    The old lady walked ahead without looking back, not believing a little beggar could buy anything, though it would be sold soon; she might as well let her see it.


    Su Yuanyuan followed her into the yard; the house was really nice, but it looked even more burdened.


    "Aunt, I just heard someone wants to harm your family¡ªwants something from your house. That¡¯s why they lured your son to play cards. Be careful."


    The old lady turned her head, staring at Su Yuanyuan in astonishment.


    Su Yuanyuan read the astonishment and fear from her face. Ultimately, it was a look of hopelessness.


    "Girl, do you still want to look?"


    "Aunt, I really have money; if there¡¯s anything good that I like, I¡¯ll definitely buy it."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll show you."


    Sun Erbao followed them angrily.


    "Erbao, go buy some steamed buns; we didn¡¯t have lunch yet."


    The old lady spoke while taking out fifty cents from her pocket and handed it to her son, "If you go gambling again, don¡¯t come back."


    Sun Erbao grinned awkwardly, "Mom, I¡¯m really done with gambling; I¡¯m really scared now. Don¡¯t worry; I¡¯m just buying buns." He took the money and ran.


    The old lady went to close the gate, "Girl, follow me; sigh, what kind of life is this?"


    Following the old lady, they entered her room, where she moved a dressing table to reveal another door.


    Su Yuanyuan wasn¡¯t afraid and followed her in since she felt no malice.


    Right then, she strongly believed in her intuition.


    The old lady went in with a candle, and Su Yuanyuan saw two lonely boxes inside.


    "Girl, could you help me move these two boxes out?"


    "Sure." In such a dark place, she couldn¡¯t see what it was anyway. Although she knew nothing about antiques, she had to check them out, right?


    The candle was placed aside, and the two struggled to push the boxes. It was hard to lift them. The old lady climbed up and pulled with a rope.


    It took about ten minutes to finally get them up.


    "Why hasn¡¯t Sun Erbao come back yet?" Su Yuanyuan muttered softly.


    The old lady let out a plaintive laugh while Su Yuanyuan quickly understood. Indeed, some habits never change.


    "Girl, I know what you mean. They have their eyes on this house. I¡¯m selling all these things today, find someone to sell the house too, then go back to my old rural home. There, even if Erbao wants to play cards, there¡¯s no place to go."


    Su Yuanyuan gave a thumbs up. That¡¯s a good plan.


    "Girl, look, I planned to leave these things to Erbao after I die, but I can¡¯t keep them anymore. Forget it; see for yourself. If you think it¡¯s suitable, give me some money."


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t hold back and opened the first box they got up, which was heavy.


    Upon opening, she saw they were wrapped in cotton cloth. After taking out a look, there were two vases, those red ones, with a particularly good sheen. She placed them aside and continued to take out more.


    Below was a paperweight; Su Yuanyuan couldn¡¯t tell what it was made of, but it was carefully wrapped in several layers, indicating it was something good. Below were some jade pieces, not made into ornaments, but they were cut and polished. There were four pieces, each about the size of a head, and they looked like good things.


    Su Yuanyuan put them back one by one, closed the lid, and went to see the second box.


    Opening it, she caught the scent of ink.


    She pretended to understand, opening three scrolls. They were all landscape paintings and looked quite good.


    Below were some thread-bound books. She flipped through them, then closed the box.


    "Aunt, these things, if you sell them, they wouldn¡¯t fetch much. I¡¯ll give you two hundred for all of them. I can¡¯t bear to see these good things go to waste."


    The old lady shed tears again but this time silently.


    "Fine. They¡¯re yours. Thank you, girl." She knew these wouldn¡¯t sell for much either, and she was grateful for the two hundred.


    "Aunt, I¡¯ll go get a cart, wait for me; don¡¯t worry, I¡¯ll definitely take them."


    "Okay, I trust you."


    Su Yuanyuan came out around noon, and there was no one outside. At this time, most people were having lunch.


    About ten minutes later, she returned, notably noting that Sun Erbao still hadn¡¯t returned. Truly a squanderer.


    The old lady removed the threshold, and the small cart was promptly brought into the house. S§×ar?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Su Yuanyuan, a prudent person, checked everything once more; there were no mistakes. Then she took out a wad of money from her pocket.


    "Aunt, count it."


    When the counting was done, Su Yuanyuan left with the cart. She had to hurry before the streets filled with people.


    She pushed the cart directly out of town, then headed toward the city. Initially, she intended to stay here, but after acquiring these good things, she figured she¡¯d hide in the city instead. Arriving in the fields and looking around to make sure no one was there, she folded up the cart and headed toward the city at a trot.

 Chapter 39 lambs

    Chapter 39: 39 lambsThe plans never seem to keep up with changes. I originally thought I wouldn¡¯t go back to the city.


    I feel like a rabbit, ready to run at the first sign of danger.


    Su Yuanyuan laughed as she ran, thinking that with this situation, she could train to be an athlete.


    Once in the city, she dashed into the train station. After checking the situation, she saw there were nearly two hours before her train. The place was bustling with people.


    Now that she had some downtime, she felt hungry, so she took a meat bun out of her bag, well, actually from her space, and squatted in a corner to eat it.


    Finally, after boarding the train, she felt settled. Nothing happened during the journey, and she reached the county. This time, it was afternoon when she got off, so she went straight home without delay.


    As she walked closer to home, Su Yuanyuan felt a little thrill. She was going home. Yes, this was home.


    Even though she wasn¡¯t warmly welcomed, she still felt a sense of belonging.


    When she stepped into the courtyard, she finally felt at ease.


    Seeing the sheep bleating at her, Su Yuanyuan quickly walked over and took out a big piece of pumpkin from her space, offering it to its mouth.


    "I¡¯m back. How¡¯s everything at home?"


    The sheep was too engrossed in eating to pay her any mind.


    After opening the door, she immediately started a fire. It was too cold in the house. The water in the tank had frozen into ice.


    After a lot of effort, she finally broke through it, allowing her to boil some water.


    It took an hour before the kang got a bit warm. She had to keep working on it.


    Suddenly, she heard a different bleating from outside. She immediately ran out and saw a sheep lying in the snow, its belly moving.


    "Is it about to give birth?"


    At this point, Su Yuanyuan was scared. She had never seen such a thing.


    No, she couldn¡¯t handle it alone. "Wait here, I¡¯ll find someone."


    In a panic, Su Yuanyuan ran to Hu Chunhua¡¯s doorstep and shouted from outside.


    "Yuanyuan, you¡¯re back?"


    "Aunt, my sheep is about to give birth."


    Hu Chunhua looked at the frightened young girl, "Go home and boil some water, I¡¯ll call your Uncle, we¡¯ll be right there."


    By the time Su Yuanyuan got home, she immediately gathered dry grass and branches, starting a fire in the sheep pen.


    Seeing the sheep¡¯s painful expression, she was anxious too; this was the only living creature here she could talk to.


    "You have to keep going. I believe in you."


    Su Yuanyuan finished speaking and patted her forehead, wondering what she was saying.


    Just then, Hu Chunhua and her husband arrived. Yang Minggang squatted down to feel the sheep¡¯s belly.


    "It¡¯s okay. It shouldn¡¯t take long.


    But girl, it¡¯s not suitable for the lambs to stay outside after they¡¯re born."


    This was why the owner had sold the pregnant ewe; winter lambs are tough to raise.


    "Uncle, should I bring them into the house?"


    "Yes, where else is warm enough?"


    Su Yuanyuan bit her lip, "Okay, fine." Even if she hesitated, she couldn¡¯t let the lambs freeze to death, right?


    Hu Chunhua helped her carry the dry grass to the house to make a bed for the sheep.


    In no time, the first lamb was born. Hu Chunhua quickly brought it inside.


    Within an hour, both lambs were born.


    By then, the ewe stood up, and Yang Minggang led her into the house too.


    "Alright, it¡¯s all good. You don¡¯t have to do much, just give the sheep some warm water and some grains."


    "Got it, Uncle Auntie, thank you both."


    The couple returned home, and Su Yuanyuan continued to tend the fire next to the stove. The room was still cold, which wouldn¡¯t do.


    When she went inside, the lambs were already nursing. Su Yuanyuan breathed a sigh of relief, took out a cup of water from her space, poured it into an aluminum basin, and felt reassured seeing them drink it all.


    She took the basin out again to brew some cornmeal for the sheep. They needed something good to eat, especially now that there were two more living creatures in the house.


    At night, Su Yuanyuan lay in bed, looking at the ewe and her two lambs under the kang, feeling speechless at the idea of sharing a room with sheep now.


    "I tell you, you better not relieve yourself indoors, or else... or else..."


    Su Yuanyuan couldn¡¯t summon any threats.


    The clever sheep immediately bleated at Su Yuanyuan.


    She seemed to hear a promise in the sound, anyway, she huffed, "Make sure to teach your little ones well too."


    It was already after nine o¡¯clock. Su Yuanyuan went into her space to bathe and change. She stayed there for almost two hours, eating her fill before coming out.


    The bed was already very warm, and she sighed in comfort. Time to sleep.


    She had been tense for the past few days. Only now that she was home could she relax.


    She slept dreamlessly through the night. The next morning, she was awakened by the bleating of sheep downstairs.


    She could see the sheep¡¯s urgency even without getting dressed, immediately running to open the door, watching as the sheep rushed outside, the two lambs shakily following.


    Su Yuanyuan saw it dash into the sheep pen, then promptly relieve itself.


    When the ewe led the two lambs back inside, Su Yuanyuan happily patted its head, "Good job, you deserve praise."


    After tidying up the house, she made sure to prop the windows open a bit before starting a fire to cook.


    Of course, she first served the sheep a meal since it had done such a great job.


    Once everything was sorted at home, she washed up and had breakfast herself.


    Sometime after eight, Hu Chunhua arrived to return the keys to Su Yuanyuan.


    "Girl, how was your trip outside?"


    "Hmm, I feel more secure being at home."


    "Oh, by the way, there¡¯s a big market tomorrow, are you going?"


    "Yes, Aunt, I¡¯ll go with you all." Sear?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "Alright, I¡¯ll call you tomorrow. No one knew you went away these past few days."


    Su Yuanyuan was grateful to Hu Chunhua and thought of repaying her. "Aunt, I¡¯m going fishing tomorrow night. Will Uncle come too? It¡¯s a chance to earn some money."


    Hu Chunhua bit her lip, "Alright, your Uncle and I will go with you."


    Hu Chunhua had noticed this girl¡¯s luck was terrific; maybe they¡¯d catch some big fish too.


    Her family hadn¡¯t yet split up the household, and with five people, they hadn¡¯t seen any money at all.


    Her husband was honest and not talkative, and who knew what the future held? If there was an opportunity, she had to start planning.


    Last time, just because she said she lent the girl money, her mother-in-law was giving her attitude until the village head explained things. Otherwise, the holidays for the five of them would have been unpleasant.


    "Aunt, why is the drainage at home so slow? Give more food to my siblings!"


    "I couldn¡¯t bear to yet."


    "Aunt, if food sits for too long, it spoils. Let the kids have it; who knows, there might be better stuff down the line."


    This time, Hu Chunhua brought back a lot of food without expecting more. She figured eating it now or later didn¡¯t matter, as long as it was consumed. So, she planned to give it to her children over the next few days.

 Chapter 40 daily

    Chapter 40: 40 dailyEarly the next morning, as Su Yuanyuan had just finished tidying up, Hu Chunhua came over. "Yuanyuan, let¡¯s go."


    "Okay, Aunt, there¡¯ll surely be a lot of people at the marketplace today. If we get separated, don¡¯t worry about me, I can find my way home on my own."


    "Alright, I have too many things to buy this time. I¡¯ll stick with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law."


    "Then let me help you carry some bags."


    "No need, there are many of us, we can¡¯t look after you today."


    "Okay, I don¡¯t have much to buy, just planning on getting two pounds of meat to make dumplings on the thirtieth night."


    "On the twenty-fifth, the Lin Family is slaughtering a pig. You should buy from them; I heard the meat hasn¡¯t all been reserved, and they have plenty left."


    "Alright, then I¡¯ll just buy it in the village."


    When they bumped into Hu Chunhua¡¯s mother-in-law, Su Yuanyuan greeted people one by one, to which they merely grunted in response.


    She didn¡¯t feel embarrassed; after all, getting along with others depends on fate.


    She ran into Zhao Guiying again, and this time Su Yuanyuan felt less awkward.


    Once they reached the marketplace, everyone dispersed.


    Su Yuanyuan went about by herself, feeling quite at ease. She bought some mushrooms, thinking of stewing them with chicken and swallowing her saliva at the thought.


    She also bought some wood ear mushrooms. Since there weren¡¯t plastic bags available at this time, everything was strung with twine. She placed them directly into her basket.


    She bought some dried chili peppers and a bit of Sichuan peppercorn and star anise.


    After a round, she saw some vermicelli for sale and thought she could buy some. She also bought some starch there, but since there was no proper container for it, the seller reluctantly gave her a small cloth bag.


    Su Yuanyuan, being thick-skinned, said many nice things.


    She also wanted to buy some of the golden millet, but again ran into the issue of having no proper container.


    "Girl, why not buy everything together, and then this bag will be yours."


    In the end, there was an additional seven and a half pounds of millet in her basket.


    She also passed by sellers offering chicken, duck, fish, and meat. Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t plan on buying them¡ªit was too flashy. However, she squatted down to chat a bit and learned they would be selling chicks, ducklings, and goslings next spring.


    This put her at ease, as she definitely wanted to raise some next year. Especially the ducks and geese, which could go to the reservoir to find their own food. How great would that be?


    When she met some people from the village, she greeted them but didn¡¯t care how they responded.


    Stopping at a snack stall, she spotted candied gourds and peanut brittles, buying some of each, which were wrapped in reed leaves.


    Now that suited the image of a child. She headed home with her basket on her back.


    Her favorite used to be the peanut brittles, but since they were too sweet and she feared diabetes, she restrained herself from eating them.


    Now with this body, eating more sugar wasn¡¯t a problem.


    When she got home, the clever goat was still going about its business.


    With those two little goats, they couldn¡¯t keep up with the goat milk.


    So Su Yuanyuan found a basin to milk the goats, which she had no idea how to do, but the goats were willing to cooperate with her and she eventually got the hang of it.


    In her space, she had two large pots purchased just for this, cleanly scrubbed, and she poured the goat milk directly into them. She could drink it or make milk candy, just thinking about it made her drool. sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    "I¡¯ll make sure to feed you well. Do your best and produce more milk, I want to make milk candy."


    Having resources for her whims.


    Life carried on like this, the little goats were already very energetic. However, Su Yuanyuan noticed the goat wouldn¡¯t relieve itself indoors, although there was still a slight odor, she tolerated it. She didn¡¯t chase it out.


    On the twenty-fifth of the twelfth lunar month, Su Yuanyuan heard the cries of pigs, broadcasting through the entire village.


    After about two hours, Su Yuanyuan went to Yang Peilin¡¯s house.


    The pig wasn¡¯t being slaughtered in the yard, so there was no need to go inside and offend people with taboos. There were quite a few buyers; Su Yuanyuan queued up at the back.


    Anyway, she didn¡¯t want fatty meat, as lean meat would suffice.


    She was also just looking to make dumplings to enjoy the New Year¡¯s Eve festival atmosphere.


    No one paid her any mind, although they were all quite curious.


    Everyone in the village knew about her wild boar incident, but they also knew she was out of money, and here she was buying meat? The village women felt a bit peeved.


    But they also knew it was her business. It¡¯s better to avoid trouble, and some feared interacting with her might bring bad luck.


    There was a quarrel upfront due to the shortage of fatty meat. Su Yuanyuan, with her head low, truly felt helpless, regretting her decision to buy meat.


    She waited another half an hour before it was her turn.


    "Girl, you¡¯re here to buy meat? Which piece do you want?" Yang Peilin asked with a smile.


    "Uncle, just give me this piece," indicating a strip of tenderloin, prime meat.


    "This is all lean meat," Yang Peilin hesitated, reluctant to hoodwink the small girl.


    "Uncle, it¡¯s alright, just give me this piece."


    "Peilin, give her whichever piece she requests."


    "Yeah, the little girl prefers lean meat."


    Yang Peilin weighed the piece, totaling one pound eight ounces.


    "Uncle, also include this piece for me," it was shoulder clod, exceptionally tender.


    The two pieces together weighed three pounds six ounces.


    "Girl, this pork is eighty cents a pound. Since it¡¯s all lean, just give me two dollars and eighty cents, saving you eight cents."


    Su Yuanyuan thanked Yang Peilin with a smile, handed over the money, carried the pieces home, one in each hand.


    After she left, the person behind her started an argument with Yang Peilin.


    "Why give that girl a discount and not me?"


    "Fifth Sister-in-law, these are good fatty meats, and that girl got lean meat, charging her eighty cents a pound already feels embarrassing."


    "How dare you, Yang Peilin, who¡¯s looking down on whom?"


    Yang Peilin, his face flushed with anger, sighed at the unreasonable stubbornness. Ultimately, he refused to give even a penny off. He¡¯d rather hold on to it, deciding that if it didn¡¯t sell today, he¡¯d take it to town the next day, saving himself the headache. He resolved never to sell pork in the village again after such frustration.


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t witness the ensuing commotion; she preferred avoiding potential gossip around the village.


    Once home, she stored the meat in her space. Lying on the kang reading, though they say lying down ruins the eyes, sitting all day seemed even more uncomfortable.


    Suddenly getting up, she recalled she hadn¡¯t finished the shoe soles Hu Chunhua had given her; even though she bought rubber shoes, they wouldn¡¯t be comfortable in the heat. Anyway, she was free now, slowly working, having bought a thimble, awl, and thread last time.


    She had watched her grandmother make shoe soles before, and although she hadn¡¯t done it herself, she knew the basics.


    Surprisingly, by noon she had completed half a shoe sole.


    The next day, she planned to stitch together the shoe uppers, saving herself from boredom.

 Chapter 41 Cooperation

    Chapter 41: 41 CooperationHaving things to do made time pass much faster. When she went out to get firewood, she realized it had started snowing again. They were going fishing tonight, but the snow shouldn¡¯t affect that.


    After dinner, Hu Chunhua and her husband came over with their baskets.


    The couple believed this girl had good luck, seeing as she had encountered two wild boars and caught so many fish recently.


    Yuanyuan quickly got dressed. The snow outside was getting heavier, likely to fall all night.


    "Aunt, let¡¯s go."


    "Yuanyuan, we are bringing a pickaxe and fishing nets. Is there anything else we should bring?"


    "No need, last time I just broke open some ice holes, and lots of fish came through."


    The couple didn¡¯t know what to say. It¡¯s not that they didn¡¯t believe the young girl¡¯s words, but it all sounded quite miraculous to them.


    Yuanyuan also carried a basket, along with a specially made ice chisel.


    "Yuanyuan, this ice chisel must be really useful." Yang Minggang could see the cleverness of this tool.


    Yuanyuan wrapped a piece of cloth around her head like a scarf to prevent her hair from getting wet.


    In these times, getting sick is really unaffordable.


    "Yuanyuan, where should we break the ice?"


    Yang Minggang felt he should listen to this girl¡¯s advice on this matter.


    "Uncle, let¡¯s walk a little further in."


    When they reached nearly the center, Yuanyuan stopped.


    "Yuanyuan, let me handle this."


    Yang Minggang wanted to try out the ice chisel.


    Men work quickly; it took him less than an hour to carve out an ice hole over two meters wide.


    While Yuanyuan was scooping out ice, she added a drop of Spiritual Spring Water. Just as Yang Minggang stopped, catching his breath, he noticed the ice hole already teeming with fish.


    "Quick, look at all these fish, and they¡¯re all large ones."


    Even a grown man shouted excitedly.


    In just a few words¡¯ time, the hole was packed with fish, and the couple quickly responded by using nets to scoop the fish onto the ice.


    Yuanyuan stood aside; there wasn¡¯t much for her to do now. But after ten minutes, the number of fish noticeably decreased and couldn¡¯t be scooped up anymore.


    Yuanyuan squatted down, "Are there no more? I feel like there should be plenty left." S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    Sure enough, after a short while, more came, filling the ice hole.


    The couple stopped talking and started a new round of scooping.


    Now they were convinced. What kind of luck was this? Who said this girl¡¯s fate wasn¡¯t good? What does good luck even look like?


    Yuanyuan thought two rounds were enough. More would make it less special.


    Standing around doing nothing in this icy world was just too cold.


    After this round of scooping, the couple stared at the ice hole for a while, a bit disappointed to find no more fish.


    Yuanyuan didn¡¯t care about them and started loading fish into their baskets.


    Thankfully, Yuanyuan had brought a snakeskin bag. The couple ended up carrying full baskets plus a bag each back home.


    Even so, they made four trips.


    Yuanyuan only carried one basket back the first time, and then the couple didn¡¯t need her after that.


    When they returned, delighted by the big fish in the snowy courtyard, the couple didn¡¯t even feel the cold.


    "Uncle, let¡¯s sell the fish in town tomorrow."


    "Sure, they¡¯re already frozen overnight. I¡¯ll come early tomorrow morning.


    And if any cats or dogs come to steal a bite, don¡¯t worry about it."


    Yang Minggang actually worried about unsavory people coming around, but he didn¡¯t dare say that, fearing it would scare the girl.


    "Uncle, no one comes here. You two should go rest and come early tomorrow, so no one sees."


    "Okay."


    After seeing the couple off, Yuanyuan went back inside, entered the space to take a bath, and warmed herself up. Only then did she go to sleep.


    She felt like she had just fallen asleep when she heard voices.


    She got up immediately, tidied up a bit, and saw the couple loading fish in the courtyard. They didn¡¯t need her help, so she took the opportunity to feed the sheep.


    "I¡¯m going out to earn some money." She said, smiling, patting the sheep¡¯s head.


    Hu Chunhua wanted to go with them, seeing as there were so many fish that two people would struggle.


    Yuanyuan leaned in and whispered, "Aunt, won¡¯t my grandaunt be angry if neither of you are home?"


    "Humph, let her be mad, I¡¯ll get scolded when I get back anyway."


    It was just past four in the morning, but since everything was ready, they left.


    Yuanyuan thought about buying a flashlight today, isn¡¯t that a household appliance too?


    The three of them moved quickly. They reached the county town before dawn.


    But the breakfast vendors had already started cooking.


    "Uncle, Aunt, let¡¯s eat first."


    "Okay, it¡¯s a bit early."


    Yuanyuan loved the deep-fried dough sticks here, so she went straight over. The vendor, seeing their large fish, bought two.


    The sky was just getting light. By this time, other people were coming for breakfast. Seeing the big fish, none could pass it up. After all, the New Year¡¯s Eve was around the corner.


    Over a hundred big fish, and they sold thirty at the breakfast stall alone. They were all about the same size, so they didn¡¯t bother weighing them. Each was two yuan.


    Hu Chunhua¡¯s smile couldn¡¯t be hidden.


    "Aunt, last time I went directly to the blacksmith, should we go there again? Master Yang is really nice."


    "Okay, whatever you say."


    When they arrived at Old Yang¡¯s place, they received a warm welcome.


    Old Yang sent his apprentice to call people.


    "Girl, no more wild boars?"


    "Uncle, do you expect me to invite wild boars to roam around my doorstep?"


    Old Yang laughed heartily, "Quite a few people are waiting for wild boars."


    "Uncle, isn¡¯t the wild boar worse than home-raised pork?"


    "That¡¯s because you don¡¯t know how to eat it. They might not be good at other things, but they¡¯re definitely food experts.


    The fish recipe from last time made them so happy that they often wander around hoping to buy fish again."


    "Haha, didn¡¯t we bring some over this time?"


    "Indeed?"


    In a short while, a large crowd had gathered. Without much ado, everything sold out in an hour.


    Yang Minggang and his wife collected so much money that their hands were sore.


    "Uncle, we¡¯re heading back. My sheep are about to give birth, can¡¯t leave home unattended."


    "Alright, take care. People buy fish even in the first month of the lunar year."


    Yuanyuan nodded with a smile, "Got it."


    The three went straight home. It was only ten o¡¯clock when they arrived, but they were really tired.


    A half-day round trip to the county.


    Yuanyuan sat down to light a fire.


    Yang Minggang and his wife counted money in the main room.


    They totaled three hundred and sixteen yuan, more than the couple could earn in a year.


    They directly gave Yuanyuan two hundred yuan.


    But she only took one hundred fifty-eight, splitting it evenly and saying she wouldn¡¯t take advantage of them.


    "Aunt, let¡¯s stick to what was agreed. I won¡¯t keep you any longer, hurry home."


    Hu Chunhua wanted to decline, but in the end, she didn¡¯t say anything, having a sense of the girl¡¯s temperament by now.

 Chapter 42 Spring Planting

    Chapter 42: 42 Spring PlantingThis time Su Yuanyuan felt a bit more at ease. Could it be that she¡¯s repaid Hu Chunhua¡¯s favor? The debt of gratitude is the biggest.


    But judging from the couple¡¯s behavior, it seems more or less settled.


    In the afternoon, she didn¡¯t do anything, just lay down to rest because the morning had been exhausting enough.


    Time slipped by, and it was now the thirtieth day of the twelfth lunar month. In the past few days, Su Yuanyuan had made two pairs of shoe soles.


    They were all given to her by Hu Chunhua. She didn¡¯t refuse them.


    Hu Chunhua told her not to work during the Spring Festival. He mentioned it was a tradition, saying that if you work during the Spring Festival, you¡¯d be tired for the whole year.


    Although Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t care about these things, she agreed readily. The shoe uppers were already in hand, so she decided to make two pairs of shoes while she could.


    On the night of the thirtieth, the village was still setting off firecrackers. It looked quite festive.


    However, Su Yuanyuan wasn¡¯t interested, so she made dumplings outside by herself and ate alone. She made quite a few, saving them for later when she felt like eating, as once she got busy, it was uncertain when she would have the time to cook.


    In her previous life, when she was a child, she used to weed the fields with her grandmother all day. There was no pesticide, and the weeds grew very vigorously.


    There wasn¡¯t any chemical fertilizer; most of it was dung used as fertilizer. Since the livestock would eat grass, naturally there would be grass seeds too, which created a cycle where it seemed impossible to eradicate the weeds in the field.


    She stayed home, not going out. The little lamb was very energetic. The mother sheep would take them out, so Su Yuanyuan endured it for a month before finally letting them go to the sheep pen.


    Given her cleanliness obsession, enduring for a month was already her limit.


    However, because she drank milk every day and washed her hair with goat milk every three to five days, the changes were quite significant, although she didn¡¯t notice it herself.


    But Hu Chunhua, who hadn¡¯t visited for over ten days, noticed.


    "Girl, you¡¯ve gained weight, grown taller, and your skin has become fairer."


    "Being at home by myself, I don¡¯t have to serve anyone else. I have enough food and drink."


    "That¡¯s great! I now think it¡¯s a good thing Su Daqiang and his wife didn¡¯t take you away."


    "Isn¡¯t it? I don¡¯t have to be a servant to them, nor do I have to take daily beatings, scolding, going hungry, or being cold. Aunt, I¡¯m actually lucky, aren¡¯t I?"


    "Yes, leaving their family has been your fortune. It¡¯s Su Daqiang and his wife who are the real downfall."


    Su Yuanyuan nodded heavily. Even though inside she was an old aunt, some things were still important to her.


    She felt very pleased to gain Hu Chunhua¡¯s approval.


    "Girl, I couldn¡¯t make the sticky sorghum flour at home, so go buy a little yourself. We need to eat dumplings during the Lantern Festival."


    "Okay, I¡¯ll go buy some."


    The Lantern Festival is a very important holiday in the eyes of the common folks. There are still many firecrackers being set off at night.


    Su Yuanyuan stood in the courtyard. Although there weren¡¯t any pretty fireworks, the sound of the firecrackers shooting into the sky was bright enough.


    She shook her head with a smile and went back inside. She still found herself having moments of sadness.


    In the space, she had some sticky rice dumplings. Hopefully, when cooking, she could mostly use the outdoor stove; the iron pot became encrusted with water deposits from constant boiling.


    This year saw two snowfalls; hopefully, there won¡¯t be a drought this year.


    After the Lantern Festival, daytime temperatures rose above freezing, and the snow would melt during the day.


    Once the thawing starts, the busy days begin.


    In fact, Su Yuanyuan really felt a bit apprehensive. She hadn¡¯t done heavy farm work for many years; she didn¡¯t quite know how it would go. Looking at the sheep in the pen, she hoped it could come through for her. Otherwise, she was ready to plant more Winter Melon.


    After all, she truly wasn¡¯t capable. It was quite worrisome.


    However, regardless of her worries, the days kept getting warmer. The snow in the yard melted as well.


    Su Yuanyuan thought she should try it out in the yard since she¡¯d be planting vegetables soon anyway. So, on the second day after the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon raises its head, she made plans with the mother sheep to conduct some tests in the yard.


    The ridges they made weren¡¯t long; they experimented two to three times before getting the hang of it.


    The sheep knew how to walk a straight line, and this hoe blade had steel added to it, and it was new, so it worked pretty fast.


    Su Yuanyuan felt relieved. Although it didn¡¯t plow as deep as oxen or horses, it was definitely enough.


    The ground was still muddy, and no one had started spring planting yet. So Su Yuanyuan decided to wait until everyone else started.


    In the afternoon, she went to the county and bought corn and soybean seeds at the seed station. She only had two acres of land, so she planned to interplant. As for sorghum and such, she¡¯d wait until she had time to clear some land beside the house¡ªthose tasks could wait until the main fields were planted.


    She was preparing every day and had already chosen her spot at the edge of the field.


    About five days later, every household in the village started planting. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    In fact, there weren¡¯t many livestock; most people tilled the soil by hand.


    Su Yuanyuan took the sheep to the field, but she attracted everyone¡¯s attention.


    When they saw that she was actually using sheep to plow, everyone was stunned.


    The elderly even went to her field to check, and the depth was acceptable.


    While everyone was working, they kept an eye on her.


    This girl was smart. After a round trip, she¡¯d let the sheep rest while she did the planting.


    By noon, this little girl had planted half an acre of land all by herself.


    Su Yuanyuan did not cover the seeds with soil; she planned to do that in the afternoon, which was quite efficient.


    By the end of the day, she had planted seven-tenths of an acre.


    Everyone was surprised. Although they didn¡¯t like this girl, they didn¡¯t wish her any harm. So seeing her do this, most people were just amazed.


    That day, Su Yuanyuan was utterly exhausted and didn¡¯t want to move at all at night, but she still had to tend to the sheep since it had work to do the next day.


    Judging by today¡¯s progress, she could finish planting in two more days.


    That would leave her time to clear more land; the more she could plant, the better.


    In fact, everyone in the village was discussing this girl. She hadn¡¯t come out during the whole winter and had grown taller. She was now like any other kid her age, maybe even a bit chubbier, and she looked fair and clean.


    Most importantly, the elderly noticed she was interplanting. Four ridges of corn and four ridges of soybeans.


    They were lifelong farmers, and it didn¡¯t take much for them to understand the situation. Both crops are tall, so they worried about poor ventilation. Some thought that the soybeans might get overshadowed by the corn.


    Currently, soybean prices weren¡¯t as high as corn, so the villagers didn¡¯t follow suit.


    The next day, one person and one sheep marched boldly to the field. They followed the same process, but did even more than the first day.


    By the third day, at four o¡¯clock, she finished planting the two acres. She saw many children her age were rolling the field, a task she had done before. It helped pack the soil and allow the seeds to germinate better.


    She didn¡¯t have a roller, so instead of asking Hu Chunhua, she went to the team leader.

 Chapter 43 Spring Planting

    Chapter 43: 43 Spring PlantingYang Hongwen heard about the girl using a sheep to pull a plow these past two days.


    Last year, he did hear that she had set a hole. Didn¡¯t expect it would actually work?


    "There are two rollers at home, go pull them yourself."


    "Uncle, can you lend them all to me? That sheep should be capable, I¡¯ll finish using them early, and your family can use them too."


    "Alright, go pull them."


    "Uncle, I want to open up wasteland near my house, is that okay?"


    "Go ahead."


    Su Yuanyuan happily went to the team leader¡¯s house. Only the elderly were at home, and upon hearing she wanted to borrow rollers, they readily lent them to her.


    One person and one sheep pulling the roller, which was actually made of stone, Su Yuanyuan thought of buying two when she had time and also preparing a small stone mill. This way, she wouldn¡¯t have to go to the village¡¯s stone mill to grind grain, saving a lot of trouble.


    Now every family in the village had over twenty mu of land. Everyone, old and young, was working in the fields, even those who couldn¡¯t labor, cooked and cleaned at home.


    Su Yuanyuan worked until after eight in the evening, with only a third left. It was really too late, so she decided to continue tomorrow and went back.


    After feeding the three sheep to fullness, she entered the space to take a bath and eat.


    If there wasn¡¯t the space, she really didn¡¯t know what to do.


    Lying on the kang, there wasn¡¯t even time for random thoughts, she fell asleep in seconds. She was too tired.


    The next day, she still pulled one roller, and the sheep pulled another. The two went to the fields.


    Actually, it was quite early, just past six, but many people were already working in the fields.


    It was really too arduous. The input and income were simply not proportional. But there was no other way.


    Everyone watched a little girl and a sheep working.


    Today, a few families wanted to try, but how could those sheep walk a straight line? They all ended in failure. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.


    By nine in the morning, Su Yuanyuan finished working the two mu of land. She didn¡¯t stay but returned the roller to Yang Hongwen¡¯s house and went straight home.


    Now was the time to open up wasteland herself. Honestly, Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t want to work like this, it was too exhausting.


    But if there really were natural disasters in a few years, then in these years, she must grow more grain.


    If the two mu of corn could yield a thousand jin, it would be good enough.


    Su Yuanyuan sighed in resignation but continued to work. She would plant sorghum and sweet potatoes; if she couldn¡¯t use them in the future, she could exchange them for goods or money.


    In her previous life, having more money in hand allowed her to live freely.


    She intended to do the same in this life. Without money, one feels uneasy. Back home, one person and three sheep ate.


    She had already informed the village chief, so the wasteland near her home could be opened up.


    Su Yuanyuan drank the last sip of milk, endured the soreness all over her body, and stood up. The two little lambs were no longer small, but Su Yuanyuan never gave them Spiritual Spring Water. The mother sheep was enough.


    This place was at the foot of the mountain, so opening up wasteland meant encountering many stones.


    This was really too strenuous. Still, the sheep pulled the plow, but there were too many stones. Pulling up a ridge meant picking out the stones.


    It wasn¡¯t until noon that Su Yuanyuan rested. Looking at the stone piles at the field¡¯s edge, she felt like crying. How long would it take to open up this wasteland?


    Luckily, the plowhead had been reinforced with steel; otherwise, it would have broken by now.


    Go home, go home, sleep and talk later, too tired. No one around, not even a person to talk to, just her, all alone.


    After feeding the sheep, she returned indoors, sat on the kang, got out a chicken leg meal, too tired to even find it appetizing.


    After eating, she lay straight back; she no longer minded cleanliness.


    After two hours, one person and one sheep started again. This half-day hadn¡¯t opened even a fen of land.


    Su Yuanyuan stood at the field¡¯s edge, sighed. At this rate, when could she open a whole mu? Luckily, sweet potatoes could be planted later.


    She used the space to store the stones on the ground, preparing to pave a path; otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t want to go out when it rained.


    The next day, it was the same routine. But she was noticeably more skilled than yesterday.


    After five days of busy work, she finally opened a mu of land.


    The next day, she didn¡¯t open more land but planted sorghum.


    After ten days of busy work, she had planted two mu of sorghum.


    Seeing the remaining sorghum seeds should still be enough for a mu. So, she continued.


    However, the two mu of corn and soybeans had already broken ground. Su Yuanyuan took a special walk around. The germination rate seemed pretty good.


    All the good land in the village had been planted. Every household was busy planting sorghum, soybeans, cotton, peanuts, and other grains.


    Su Yuanyuan thought she should also plant some cotton. After all, it would be needed in the future.


    After another ten days, a mu of sorghum was planted. For the remaining mu, Su Yuanyuan planned to plant cotton.


    But eventually, she discarded this idea and planted sweet potatoes instead, as she still had time to buy cotton.


    She knew how to plant sweet potato slips. So, she busily made a ridge for the sweet potatoes on this mu.


    In the evening, she deliberately went to Hu Chunhua¡¯s house and spent one yuan to buy three hundred sweet potato slips.


    Returning home in the evening, she intentionally soaked the sweet potato slips¡¯ roots in diluted Spiritual Spring Water.


    Because she found that the corn and soybean seeds she soaked in water were sturdier than those of the two neighboring families.


    The next day, she planted sweet potatoes. Fortunately, the sweet potatoes were planted at the doorstep; otherwise, even supplying water would be tough.


    The sorghum had already sprouted. It looked quite good. However, it had been too dry these days, and Su Yuanyuan sat crying at the field¡¯s edge.


    Really, she needed to water them, but the reservoir was far away. The well in the yard couldn¡¯t be relied on.


    After crying enough, she got up and continued working, finishing planting the three hundred slips of sweet potatoes and then immediately resumed opening wasteland.


    It was already mid-May now. Others had already finished planting sweet potatoes.


    Su Yuanyuan bought another three hundred sweet potato slips, and the last mu of land she opened was planted too.


    By then, it was almost June. She didn¡¯t have wheat fields, which was somewhat better. But soon it would be time for thinning seedlings, and weeds were appearing. She wouldn¡¯t open more wasteland. Taking care of these five mu was enough.


    It¡¯s truly the most tiring work. Always squatting or bending over.


    Su Yuanyuan arrived at the fields at five. She squatted down and started using a small hoe to weed and thin out the excess corn seedlings.


    "If I could get a heavy rain after I finish weeding, that would be great. The crops would grow better."


    In the nearby fields, many people were doing the same work. However, they were families working together, while she was by herself.


    It wasn¡¯t until past eleven that Su Yuanyuan dragged her heavy legs home.


    She didn¡¯t even attend to the three sheep tied outside in the morning. She didn¡¯t even want to eat, lying on the kang, she fell asleep in no time.


    Su Yuanyuan didn¡¯t know her actions were witnessed by everyone, and their views of the orphan who wasn¡¯t an orphan changed significantly.