A rooster’s crow awakened Dahe Village.

As dawn’s first light crept across the sky, Cheng Wanwan sat up in bed.

The moment she moved, the three boys sharing the same bed also opened their eyes.

Zhao Sidan mumbled sleepily, “Mom, I want to go to town too.”

Zhao Sanniu quickly added, “Mom, I’m strong! Let me go with you!”

Among the four children, only the eldest had been to town a few times to sell firewood for salt or other necessities.

The other three had never set foot in town and were brimming with curiosity, as if they had never seen the world before.

Cheng Wanwan made up her mind and said firmly, “I only prepared 130 bowls of ice jelly today. Two people will be enough. But we might need to buy some things and carry them back, so Dashan and Sanniu, you will come with me.”

Zhao Ergou widened his eyes in protest. “Mom, shouldn’t it be my turn to go with big brother?”

By birth order, it should be him!

He glared angrily at Zhao Sanniu.

Zhao Sanniu grinned cheekily. “Because I’m stronger! Hehe!”

Cheng Wanwan nodded with a smile. “Sanniu is stronger, so he’ll carry the grain and other goods back.”

The real reason, however, was that Sanniu was simple and honest, unlike the more cunning second child.

This way, when she discreetly took things from her secret stash and pretended to have bought them, the eldest and Sanniu were less likely to notice.

Zhao Sanniu had no idea he had been chosen for his lack of sharpness.

Delighted, he got up and rushed to wash his face.

At the village entrance, Zhao Da’s ox cart stood empty. It was no surprise—these days, every household was struggling for food.

Why spend money on an ox cart ride when you could walk to town in just an hour?

Leaving before sunrise meant reaching town before the sun was up, saving two copper coins—enough to buy a big steamed bun.

The mother and sons got onto the cart, bringing along two carrying poles and four buckets.

One held the ice jelly, two carried water for washing utensils, and the last was for storing used dishes.

Their home’s bowls were chipped and unsuitable for serving customers, so their first task in town was to buy new bowls and spoons—just ten sets to start.

If they ran out, it would be a good problem to have—it meant business was booming.

As Zhao Da steered the ox cart, he casually asked, “Dashan’s mother, what are you heading to town for?”

Cheng Wanwan replied, “I made some food and want to see if I can sell it.”

She wanted to earn money openly, build a house openly, and live comfortably in this era—without hiding anything.

She had no intention of keeping her business a secret from the villagers.

Of course, she wasn’t foolish enough to reveal exactly how much she made.

Zhao Da didn’t press further.

Many villagers sold things in town—firewood and eggs were the most common.

Some women embroidered handkerchiefs, while others made mung bean cakes.

Everyone had their own way of making a living.

The ox cart rumbled steadily toward Ping’an Town.

Just as they were getting into a rhythm, something suddenly flew down from a roadside tree and landed on Cheng Wanwan’s arm.

Last time she rode an ox cart, she had encountered the same thing—a locust.

Zhao Sanniu grabbed it and crushed it with his bare hands, wiping the bug’s fluids onto his pants.

Cheng Wanwan felt a headache coming on.

They were about to sell food, and yet this boy was still so unhygienic! If customers saw this, they wouldn’t sell a single bowl of ice jelly.

She quickly scooped out some clean water. “Sanniu, wash your hands.”

Zhao Sanniu, his dark face turning red, stammered, “Mom, I won’t do it again… Ah! What was that?!”

Another locust smacked into his face.

He swatted it, leaving his face dirty.

Cheng Wanwan’s brow twitched in frustration.

Zhao Sanniu quickly admitted his mistake. “Mom, I was wrong…”

He hurried to wash his hands and face, afraid of being kicked off the cart.

Cheng Wanwan looked up at the sky.

There were quite a few locusts flying overhead—not a swarm, but not a comforting number either.

Zhao Da frowned. “These things came last year. If they come again, Dahe Village—no, all of Ping’an Town—will be finished…”

“Uncle Da, that won’t happen!” Zhao Dahan shook his head firmly. “The village elder said that once the locusts fly away, they don’t come back. The ones left behind are just stragglers from last year—not hard to deal with.”

Zhao Da remained silent, steering the cart in deep thought.

Cheng Wanwan also stayed quiet, counting the locusts overhead.

Just in a casual glance, there were nearly a hundred.

If the locusts really came in full force, all the hard-earned ripening crops would be devoured.

She vaguely recalled something from her previous life—news reports about armies of ducks wiping out locust swarms.

Thousands of ducks had been sent into rice fields, eating every last locust.

But they only had three chickens at home—not nearly enough.

Even if they started hatching chicks now, they wouldn’t be ready in time. If only she could find baby chicks for sale in town…

Lost in thought, she didn’t realize they had already reached Ping’an Town.

The sun had just risen above the horizon. It was the peak of the morning market rush, with people bustling about and stalls lining the streets.

“Fresh meat buns for sale! Four copper coins each!”

“Sweet candied hawthorn! Delicious and tangy!”

“Eggs for sale! Selling cheap!”

The street was filled with loud hawking, and every spot was taken.

Dahe Village was too far from town.

Even leaving this early, they still couldn’t find an empty stall.

At the very end of the street, Cheng Wanwan found a small empty space.

She put down their four buckets and instructed, “Sanniu, stay here and guard our things. Dashan, go borrow two tables from that restaurant. Offer two copper coins per table—no more than that. I’ll go buy utensils.”

The three split up to complete their tasks.

Cheng Wanwan entered the only general store in town. The shop was well-stocked, with a selection of ceramic bowls that looked quite nice.

She asked, “Shopkeeper, how much for one?”

The shopkeeper glanced at her patched-up clothes and answered indifferently, “Thirty-five copper coins.”

Cheng Wanwan: “…”

That was way too expensive!

Ten bowls and spoons would cost nearly half a tael of silver, raising their costs significantly.

She compromised. “Do you have anything cheaper?”

The shopkeeper impatiently pointed. “That row over there is the cheapest—one copper coin each. Take your pick.”

Cheng Wanwan looked down.

The bowls were all defective—chipped, misshapen, or ugly.

They were only slightly better than the broken bowls at home.

Shaking her head, she left the store.

Behind her, the shopkeeper rolled his eyes. “Hmph. Dressed like a beggar and still picky about cheap bowls.”

But Cheng Wanwan had her own confidence.

She ducked into an alley, opened her secret shopping interface, and browsed through a virtual selection of elegant tableware.

She picked a set of white porcelain bowls with delicate pink plum blossoms, priced at just two copper coins each. Ten bowls plus spoons cost only thirty copper coins in total.

Carrying the bowls, she returned to their stall, just in time to see Zhao Dahan and Zhao Sanniu setting down two borrowed tables.

Cheng Wanwan was pleasantly surprised. She hadn’t expected the usually tongue-tied Zhao Dashan to successfully borrow tables.

This was a good omen!