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One afternoon, Chen Feng, having tidied up, took Dabao to the home of Wu the carpenter. Unwilling to move the old cabinet and table to the new house, she intended to buy some new furniture.
As they walked through the village, they attracted a lot of attention.
Several middle-aged women particularly disapproved of her, but given her tough demeanor, they dared not provoke her openly, only whispering among themselves, “Just like us, a country bumpkin, yet she insists on putting on airs as if she’s a city person.”
Chen Feng didn’t hear this remark, otherwise, she would have surely protested. Where had she put on airs? She was still trying hard to fit in with the villagers of Xiangluo. She had a patched spot on her right shoulder, her deep green skirt had been washed so many times it was turning white, and she walked with her head slightly bowed, even wearing a bamboo hat.
Wu the carpenter was the most skilled craftsman in the area, and many families from neighboring towns came to buy furniture from him. His family was the second wealthiest in Xiangluo Village, after Gao Lizheng’s family.
The Wu family had a compound with two courtyards, the first of which was a workshop, with furniture and tubs and basins placed all around. The forty-something Wu the carpenter was busy with his two sons, the eldest being Wu Changgen, the father of Shitou, and the second son Wu Chanshen, the admirer of Chen Jue.
Although only seventeen, Wu Chanshen, despite being quite tanned, was tall and well-featured, and had a skill. It was said that he had won the hearts of many girls. However, because of his high standards, vowing to find a particularly lively girl, he hadn’t found a wife yet, causing great distress to his elderly parents.
As soon as they entered, Dabao called out, “Master Wu, Uncle Wu, Second Uncle Wu, our new house is ready, and we want to buy some nice furniture.”
The Wu family father and sons were very familiar with Dabao, and they liked him, so they all stood up and greeted him with smiles. Wu the carpenter said, “Whatever Dabao likes, I’ll give you a good price.”
Dabao laughed and said, “That’s great! Thanks, Master Wu, I appreciate your kindness.”
This remark made Wu the carpenter burst into laughter. He patted Dabao’s head and said, “Good boy, my son Shitou has become very close to you, and he’s become much sweeter.”
Wu Chanshen greeted Chen Feng with a smile, “Feng, take a look at what you like.”
Despite his dark complexion, his teeth looked even whiter. With single eyelids, his eyes formed crescents when he smiled. Although covered in wood shavings, his clothes still looked very clean.
This man was probably the cleanest ancient peasant that Chen Feng had encountered since crossing over. Furthermore, he had an open and straightforward demeanor.
Chen Feng’s impression of him improved a little. She took off her bamboo hat, smiled, and listed the items she needed for her home – a kang cabinet, a kang table, a regular table, a chest, a cupboard, six tall stools, two small stools, a large wooden basin, three small wooden basins, and two buckets.
Although she didn’t plan to stay in the small thatched house for long, she would at least be there for a year. Therefore, she needed everything but didn’t want to overdo it.
Wu Chanshen enthusiastically showed her around the furniture. They had furniture of different grades – some made of good wood, smoothly polished, and painted with carved designs, while others were made from leftover materials, unpainted and unfinished. The former was too expensive for her, and the latter was too poorly made. She settled on items of medium quality, made from average wood, not intricately carved, but painted. Except for the cupboards and the kang cabinet, the rest were readily available, and the two items would be delivered to her house once they were ready.
The total cost of these items came to sixty-two taels of silver. Wu Chanshen, with a grin, said, “You and Shitou are great friends, and since you’re buying a lot, I’ll round it down to an even amount, just fifty taels of silver.”
Dabao quickly expressed his gratitude.
Originally, Wu the carpenter was going to wipe off twenty wen from the bill due to their acquaintance, but seeing his son reduce the price so much, he glared at him and couldn’t bring himself to mention it.
Wu Changgen didn’t expect his younger brother to bypass their father and set the price, let alone reduce it so much. He glanced at him but remained silent.
Feeling embarrassed, Chen Feng said, “You shouldn’t have reduced the price so much. Whatever the price should be, it should be.”
Wu Chanshen quickly explained, “It’s not much of a reduction. Other customers are also given the same discount when they buy a lot.”
Chen Feng thanked him and paid a deposit of three hundred wen. Dabao wanted to stay and play at the Wu’s, but Chen Feng disagreed, saying she wanted to go to Guqiao Village to see if there was any meat left to buy. As soon as Dabao heard about buying meat, he followed his mother.
Chen Feng planned to visit the restaurant in the county town the next day to see if she could sell her braised meat recipe. With only thirty taels of silver and a few hundred wen, she didn’t want to break a large silver ingot for change at the Wu’s.
She also didn’t want to rely on selling braised meat for a living. Running a small food stall was too hard, especially without any extra help at home. If the braised meat in the county town was similar to red-cooked pork, she might as well sell the recipe for whatever it could fetch.
Guqiao Village was to the west of Xiangluo Village and was only a short walk away. There was only a pair of pig intestines, a small piece of lean meat, and two pork bones left at the meat stall. Ancient people didn’t like eating lean meat, but braised lean meat was also very fragrant.
Chen Feng bought the pig intestines and lean meat, spending thirty-six wen.
Seeing so much meat being bought, Dabao asked, “Mom, are we having guests?”
Chen Feng smiled and replied, “Can’t we eat meat without having guests?”
Dabao said, “No, I meant, I want to wait until Grandma and Little Uncle come back, and then we can buy so much delicious food.”
Chen Feng pinched his little hand and said, “You’re such a good boy. There’s a purpose for me buying so much meat.”
Upon returning home, she saw the golden swallow leading Qiqi and Gray into the yard, making “ga-ga” sounds, while Chen Ming was smiling as he weaved a mat.
The golden swallow clung to Chen Feng and said, “Our new house is ready. I’ll take them to live in the new house tonight, so they won’t disturb Grandpa.”
Chen Feng smiled and said to the birds, “Welcome.”
Qiqi and Gray happily called out to her, “Mom, Mom,” and if she turned her back, she would have thought it was Dabao calling.
Then, they called out to Dabao, “Dabao, Dabao,” sounding just like Chen Lu.
Seeing the amount of meat in Chen Feng’s hands, Chen Ming disapproved, “Why buy so much for just the three of us? We should spend money slowly.”
Chen Feng smiled and said, “I’m going to braise these, take them to the county town tomorrow, and see if I can sell the braised meat recipe.”
While she went to wash the large intestine, she had Dabao take the three little ones to play in the new yard. She noticed people passing by her house looking into the yard and worried that someone might have ill intentions toward the little ones. If Gray kept quiet, nobody paid attention to it, the main concern was Qiqi, who was too beautiful. The new yard had high walls, so no one could see in, but she can’t help but worry.
The golden swallow chirped, “Mommy is too worried. If anyone has ill intentions, they’ll fly away. Besides, they’re the smartest birds in the woods. Even if they were captured, they would find their way back home.”
Chen Feng whispered, “What if they were kept locked up?”
The golden swallow said, “I’ll find a way to get them back.”
Upon hearing this, Chen Feng decided not to bother about them.