Chapter 90: Winter. Going to the County Town

In early October, all twenty-two villagers from Shili Village were led by Zhou Cunzheng to serve their conscription.

In this small village, where there were already few able-bodied men, the remaining residents were mostly elderly, weak, women, and children.

But miraculously, aside from being quieter, with fewer smiles and more worries on people’s faces, occasionally, when they gathered together to worry about whether the men, sons, and mothers would suffer greatly during their conscription and whether they would be whipped by the government, life seemed no different from before.

In short, in the small world that Sang Luo perceived, if it were to be described as a lake, the surface of the lake would still be calm.

Sang Luo’s livelihood remained the same, but the person who delivered goods to women every morning changed from Chen Youtian to Old Man Chen.

During this time, Sang Luo made four trips to the county, exchanging copper coins for grain and cotton yarn as usual. With the surplus, along with the goods from Yongfeng Restaurant, she exchanged them for silver and saved them in the broken jar under her bed.

If there was anything different, Shen Jin’s brothers hadn’t come by for quite some time.

This was unavoidable. Shen An and Shen Ning occasionally felt a bit melancholic, but they quickly adjusted. They were grateful for Shen Jin’s reminder. Of course, they also understood why Shen Jin no longer came over. When their parents were fine, it was okay, but if they saw their father being sentenced to hard labor and heard their mother complaining about the bad situation in the family every day, it would be uncomfortable for them to be around.

However, the siblings quickly had no time to think about these things, because in mid-October, the jujube harvest was nearing its end, and more sour jujubes were falling every day.

Sang Luo borrowed a backpack from the Chen family and took her two children to the mountains several times a day. With the geese and locks, especially now that the geese could be released from the bamboo fence, and with Shen San’s current situation serving as a warning to the villagers, Sang Luo could confidently take her two children out, even farther to other villages near the mountains to pick sour jujubes, twist jujubes, and dig up konjac.

The basket was filled with wild vegetables, and it wasn’t strange to meet people occasionally. After all, life was difficult for everyone, and many people were collecting wild vegetables to dry for the winter.

Sang Luo was even busier. As soon as October began, winter arrived overnight. Every day, apart from dealing with mountain products and making food, her time was spent making winter clothes and shoes for herself and her two children. She even made a thick quilt weighing seven catties.

When all eight jars in the house were full, Sang Luo planned to go to the county again. Of course, this time, she didn’t forget a promise she had made to the two siblings a long time ago—to take them to the county to play when she wasn’t so busy.

With the five coins she had given to the soothsayer back then, it was no longer difficult for Sang Luo to come up with the money, and the house didn’t need someone to watch over it anymore. She had planned to fulfill her promise a few days earlier.

She specially brought a few eggs and asked Zhou Lizheng to arrange for the two children to go through the county registration.

When they received their registration, it was October 19th. On the morning of the 21st, the two siblings put on the new clothes, pants, and shoes made by their sister-in-law. Shen An was meticulous, helping Shen Ning tidy up her little bun.

The mornings were already very cold, especially now that it wasn’t even dawn yet, and the cold wind was blowing straight into people’s necks.

Old Man Chen and Qin Fangniang, who had come to collect the goods, had also changed into winter clothes early. When they saw the two siblings walking together, they even took a shoulder pole and carried it themselves, leaving space on the cart for the two siblings to sit. Sang Luo also used an old thin quilt to wrap the two siblings up.

Although the weather was cold, Shen An and Shen Ning didn’t feel cold at all. They were so excited that their hearts were burning. They walked with torches, and the light of one torch couldn’t illuminate the road very far, but Shen An and Shen Ning were especially excited. Even though it was dark all around, they still found everything novel.

Feng Liuniang laughed and said, “You two must have accumulated great blessings in your past lives to have Ah Luo as your sister-in-law.”

Taking the children to the county to play was extremely rare in the countryside.

Shen An and Shen Ning smiled with their eyes squinting, “Auntie, if you make more money in the future, bring Ah Xu along too. Ah Xu will definitely be happy.”

Feng Liuniang imagined that if her son could go to the county town with Shen An and Shen Ning, he would probably be just as excited. She smiled and said, “Yes, Auntie has to work hard. In the future, I’ll make sure Ah Xu and you all get to go to the county town together and see the sights.”

Gan and her family smiled as they watched. It had been less than two months since Gan and Feng Liuniang went to the county to sell tofu, but Feng Liuniang’s temperament had become much brighter, and she often had a smile on her face.

When it was a bit brighter outside, Shen An and Shen Ning refused to sit in the cart anymore and walked on their own. After walking a short distance, they didn’t even feel tired. They were especially excited when they lined up at the city gate.

Both of them were small in stature, so they stood on tiptoes to look into the county town.

“I see a two-story building!” Shen An was very excited. He didn’t realize that a two-story building could be so tall, and that houses could be built like that.

He felt envious and hopeful, leaning close to Shen Ning and whispered, “When our family has money in the future, can we also build a house like that?”

“Living in such a house must be comfortable, right?”

“It must be very comfortable.”

As they chatted, the siblings had already walked a short distance with the group. Shen An leaned out of the line to see how the people in front were entering the city.

Shen Ning, who had experience waiting at the city gate before, whispered to Shen An, “You have to hand over the registration first to the guards for verification, then give them a coin before you can enter.”

Shen An confirmed it and turned to ask Sang Luo with a smile, “Big sister-in-law, can we hold onto the registration and money ourselves?”

Entering the city gate was also a fun thing for them, and they were eager to try it themselves.

Sang Luo naturally agreed and took out three wooden tokens from her pocket, keeping one for herself and giving the other two to Shen An.

By now, Shen An and Shen Ning had learned quite a few words, such as the names of their family members, Qiyang County, Qingpu Township, and Shili Village.

After receiving the wooden tokens, the siblings huddled together to look at them. Shen Ning reached out and took one of them, saying, “My name is written on this one, so it’s mine.”

“This one has my name written on it, so it’s mine.”

They didn’t need to ask Sang Luo. They divided the tokens themselves.

Gan, who was behind Sang Luo, was surprised to see this scene and asked Sang Luo, “Have Little An and An Ning learned to read?”

Sang Luo nodded with a smile, “I know some words, and I’ve been teaching them at home.”

Gan was momentarily stunned but quickly remembered that Sang Luo was literate.

A thought that had never crossed her mind before now arose. Could Sang Luo also teach their four children to recognize a few words?

Once this thought arose, it was hard to suppress.

Being able to read and write was a big skill. In their village, only Zhou Cunzheng and his family’s children knew how to read. Knowing how to read was different from not knowing. Although Zhou’s children also had to work and serve, Gan believed that when Zhou Cunzheng stepped down from his position as village head, the next village head would most likely come from Zhou’s family, as only Zhou’s children knew how to read.

Because only Zhou’s children knew how to read.

Whenever there was a need to sign a contract or write something, they would go to Zhou’s house. Even if they were just putting their thumbprint, they wouldn’t dare to do so without a reliable person helping them read it. Nowadays, illiteracy could lead to one’s family or land being mortgaged away.

But Gan quickly remembered that Sang Luo was very busy, hardly ever taking a break.

Moreover, her eldest son was twelve years old, similar in age to Sang Luo. It wasn’t appropriate, and Qiao’er was too young, only five years old. Sang Luo couldn’t possibly have the energy to teach her children.

Her gaze fell on Shen An and Shen Ning, and after a few thoughts, she asked Sang Luo, “Could you also teach my eldest son, Brother Erniu, Brother Sanniu, and Qiao’er to recognize a few words when they have free time? It doesn’t have to be much, just their own names and a few common words. That way, they won’t be deceived when they see a contract or note in the future.”

Sang Luo was taken aback for a moment, then smiled, “Of course, as long as the children themselves are willing.”

Gan hurried to ask Shen An and Shen Ning.

The siblings obviously heard Gan’s words, and Shen An smiled, “Of course, I can teach them everything I know. Let’s wait a few more days. When we’re not so busy, Auntie can help them make a practice sand tray.”

They still had to go to the mountains to pick up some more twist jujubes in the next few days, as they could find some.

Gan was overjoyed, “Thank you on behalf of your eldest son, Brother Erniu, Brother Sanniu, and Qiao’er.”

Qin Fangniang and Feng Liuniang were also interested and turned to ask.

Shen An didn’t refuse, and Shen Ning smiled, saying, “Little Sister is already learning from me. She can write her own name. Auntie didn’t know that, did you?”

Qin Fangniang really didn’t know, and upon hearing this, her face lit up with joy. “Thank you, An Ning.”

As they spoke, the line had reached them. Everyone handed over their registrations and entrance fees to enter the city. When the guards verified Shen An and Shen Ning’s registration, they were somewhat surprised. After checking and receiving the money according to the procedure, they waved their hands to let the two children in.

The siblings were excited as if they had passed through a formidable barrier. As soon as they entered, they stood still and waited for their sister-in-law. When Sang Luo entered, they smiled and handed her the registration to keep.

When they arrived at the county town, Sang Luo, as usual, had to personally

 deliver the suet tripe. Not for anything else, but to maintain a good relationship with Shopkeeper Xu.

The siblings had never been to such a large restaurant before. Shen An was relatively restrained, knowing to discreetly observe, but Shen Ning didn’t have as much restraint and kept turning her head around, her eyes not enough to take everything in.

In her heart, she marveled at the size and beauty of the two-story building.

Shopkeeper Xu, had heard from his assistant that Sang Luo had two eight- or nine-year-old children at home. Today was the first time he had seen them. Although the two children were dressed plainly and had tanned skin, their features were very good, and they were extremely cute.

Seeing the siblings, Shopkeeper Xu, was reminded of his own two youngest children back in Qiyang County, who were about the same age as Shen An and Shen Ning.

He might not have been back for a long time, not seeing his children for several months, and suddenly he remembered, feeling quite nostalgic.

Shopkeeper Xu thought to himself that perhaps one day he should find time to go back, even if it’s just for a day or two.

There was some emotional influence at play, so Shopkeeper Xu treated Shen An and Shen Ning with extra warmth. This time, Sang Luo didn’t refuse. Instead, she directly instructed the assistant to prepare some early snacks from the restaurant’s kitchen and send them to the private room. She said, “After walking more than ten miles, you must be tired and hungry. You can manage on your own, but the two children are still young. Have something to eat to replenish your energy before wandering around the county. Let the children taste the food from our Dongfu Restaurant.”

Sang Luo smiled upon hearing this. Indeed, coming to the county and having a meal at the largest restaurant in the county town would not be a wasted trip.

She didn’t refuse anymore and smiled, “Then I’ll accept your kind offer.”

She and Shopkeeper Xu usually greeted each other with a gesture commonly used by men. The two children followed suit and also greeted in the same manner, “Thank you, Uncle.”

They didn’t know much about socializing, so they just said the safest four words.

Even so, Shopkeeper Xu burst into laughter, “Good, good. Go to the private room with your sister-in-law. Uncle has chosen a room where you can see the street view.”

Upon hearing that they could see the street view, the siblings’ eyes lit up. This time, they didn’t bow but smiled brightly and said thank you.

Feeling quite pleased, Shopkeeper Xu didn’t bother them and let the assistant lead Sang Luo and the children away.

This time, Shen An not only saw the two-story building but also went up to the second floor of the building, standing by the window of the private room to look down.

What a novel perspective this was, an experience they had never had before.

Both siblings were very excited, calling out “sister-in-law” left and right, wanting Sang Luo to join them in looking out the window.

Sang Luo chuckled, thinking to herself that in the future, there would be countless multi-story buildings like this. A two-story building wasn’t really that special.

But Sang Luo realized that for two children who had never been to the county town before, a two-story building was indeed rare. She smiled and followed along, answering their questions as they pointed out unfamiliar things to her.

When the two children had asked enough questions, she returned to the table and sat down, letting the siblings continue to enjoy the view from the window. They really thought the county town was great, everything was great. They were excitedly pointing out passersby, carts, and even cows and horses, exclaiming with excitement.

If it weren’t for the assistant starting to bring snacks to the private room, the siblings wouldn’t have wanted to leave the window.

The snacks and porridge were brought up one after another. There were only three of them, but Shopkeeper Xu had the assistant prepare eight dishes. The dishes at the restaurant were delicate, and while the portions were not large, eight dishes were quite a lot.

Sang Luo was someone who stopped eating when she was seven-tenths full, but the two children ate until they were a little full. There was still a lot left on the table. After asking Sang Luo, Shen An asked the assistant to help pack them up in oil-paper bags.

They had already packed up, but when they left the private room to bid farewell to Shopkeeper Xu at the counter, Shopkeeper Xu had also prepared two boxes of snacks.

“These can be stored for a long time. Take them back for the children as snacks.”

Even though Sang Luo was not used to being overly polite, she felt a little embarrassed now, “Taking both to eat and to go, I’m really thick-skinned today.”

Shopkeeper Xu smiled and bowed, “Madam Sang’s tofu and suet tripe have really brought a lot of fame to our Dongfu Restaurant this year. There’s usually no chance to express gratitude, so it’s rare for Madam Sang to bring the two children here. I only have this chance to treat you to a meal.”

He even deliberately lowered his voice when saying this, as the family opposite had been glaring at him every day, trying to find out where the suet tripe came from.

Sang Luo smiled and the two exchanged a few more words. During this time, customers kept coming in, and Shopkeeper Xu had to go and greet them. Sang Luo didn’t delay him further and carried the bags, bidding farewell to Shopkeeper Xu and leaving the restaurant with the two children.