Chapter 29.2

Li Hehua was quite satisfied with the style of the garment. She nodded and said, “Then please make it just like this one. But could you prioritize the child’s outfit? I’d like to pick it up tomorrow if possible.” She planned to visit Shulin while things were still relatively calm. Once her snack stall opened, she knew she wouldn’t have time to see him for a while.

The shopkeeper agreed readily. “Certainly. I’ll have the needlework lady focus on the child’s outfit first. You can pick it up by noon tomorrow.”

With the arrangements settled, Li Hehua paid half the cost as a deposit. The shopkeeper gave her a receipt to use when picking up the clothes.

…….

The next morning, Li Hehua had just finished washing up and eating breakfast when Cao Simei knocked on the courtyard gate.

“Cao jie, you’re here!” Li Hehua greeted her warmly.

“Am I late? We can’t afford to delay selling the pastries.”

“Not at all. It’s still early. Most people haven’t arrived at the market yet. There’s no rush.” Li Hehua poured her a cup of water. “Have you had breakfast ?”

“I’ve already eaten. Don’t bother with me. Let’s head to the market now—it’ll get busy soon.”

Seeing Cao Simei’s eagerness, Li Hehua didn’t press the matter. She brought out the prepared pastries, handed her two baskets, and they set off for the market together.

After selling all the pastries, Li Hehua’s thoughts turned to Shulin. She headed toward the butcher’s stall.

Previously, she hadn’t been able to afford proper meals for him, relying on pastries and snacks. While tasty, they lacked the nutrition a growing child needed. Now that she had money and a stable home, she could finally prepare something nourishing and take it to him in Shangshui Village.

After some thought, Li Hehua decided on Chinese yam, goji berry, and pork rib soup—known for clearing deficiency heat, strengthening digestion, and nourishing the spleen and stomach. It was especially suitable for the elderly and children, and ideal for the Shulin, who had a weak stomach.

She went to the butcher shop and bought a pound of pork ribs, then headed to the market for yams and wolfberries. On her way back, she stopped by the tailor shop to pick up the child’s new outfit.

The table and chairs she had commissioned from Carpenter Qian should also be ready by now. She planned to visit her son first, then head to Lianhua Village to collect the furniture. But she’d need help transporting the goods.

Li Hehua vaguely recalled seeing carters near the western crossroads who hauled goods for hire. She made her way west along the main street and soon spotted several carts parked by the roadside. Unsure whether they carried people or cargo, she was about to inquire when a distinctive donkey cart caught her eye. A sign hanging on it read: “Passengers and Cargo.”

Unlike the simple flatbed donkey carts she’d seen before, this one had a proper carriage, similar to a small horse-drawn cart. It looked clean and comfortable—an appealing option.

Li Hehua made up her mind and approached the owner to negotiate.

The cart owner, a man in his mid-twenties, wasn’t particularly handsome, but he had a steady, dependable air about him.

“Excuse me,” she asked, “can this cart haul goods?”

He nodded. “Yes. When do you need it? I’m taking some villagers back to Lianhua Village right now, so I won’t be free to haul goods until later. Will that work for you?”

Since she didn’t need the cart until the afternoon, Li Hehua readily agreed. “That’s fine. I need to go to Lianhua Village to pick up some tables and chairs. Is that a problem?”

“No problem,” he said. “What time exactly? And whose house should I go to?”

She estimated she’d be ready around 2 p.m. Converting to the traditional time system, she said, “Head to Carpenter Qian’s house in Lianhua Village around mid-wei time this afternoon.”

Then she asked, “I have four tables and sixteen chairs. How much will you charge?”

The man thought for a moment. “Sixty wen for the trip. Ten wen deposit up front, and I’ll set off on time.”

Li Hehua found the price reasonable. “Alright, I’ll trouble you then.” She handed over ten wen.

Just then, a young woman’s voice called out, “Dashan, are you taking on a haul?”

The cart owner looked up, and his previously calm eyes softened instantly. “Yes, this lady needs goods hauled to Lianhua Village. We’ve already agreed.”

The woman nodded politely and offered Li Hehua a warm smile.

Li Hehua found the woman’s demeanor charming and returned the smile before bidding farewell and leaving.

…….

Li Hehua brought her purchases to Cao Simei, who had just finished selling pastries.

“Cao jie, why don’t you come back with me and rest before heading home?”

Cao Simei shook her head quickly. “No, I must hurry home. The children and my husband are waiting for dinner.”

Li Hehua agreed that made sense and didn’t insist. She took the empty basket from her and said goodbye.

Back home, she carried the groceries to the kitchen. First, she peeled the yams, soaked them in cold water, and set them aside. Then, she lit the stove, poured water into a pot, and while waiting for it to boil, chopped the pork ribs into bite-sized pieces. Once the water boiled, she blanched the ribs briefly, then rinsed them under cold water to remove the scum.

Next, she placed the ribs and yams into the pot, brought them to a boil again, and then simmered the soup for an hour. Finally, she added the washed goji berries and let them cook for another fifteen minutes.

When the yam and pork rib soup was ready, Li Hehua—conscious of her diet—refrained from eating the meat. She ladled out a bowl of broth for her own lunch and stored the rest in a ceramic jar. Covering the jar with a bowl and wrapping it in thick cloth, she placed it into a basket to keep warm. By the time she reached Shangshui Village, the temperature would be just right.

With time pressing, she quickly gathered the soup, pastries, and the new clothes for the little one, then headed out the door toward Shangshui Village.