Chapter 39 – Tossing and Turning

Xia Daohua might have a scatterbrained personality, but when it came to catching pheasants and wild rabbits, she moved fast.

From this latest hunt, Jiang-shi kept one rabbit for the children, offered one wild pheasant to the elderly couple as a sign of respect, and used the fattest marmot along with some radish and potatoes to stew a big pot of meat. Each household received a bowl to enjoy.

The remaining game was given to Xia Youtian to take to town and sell.

Xia Youtian wasn’t as talkative in front of strangers as he was at home. He wasn’t glib-tongued, but his honest, down-to-earth face naturally inspired trust.

The prices he quoted weren’t high—he just slightly increased the rates he’d heard Old Lu and Butcher Hu mention in the past.

To their surprise, everything sold smoothly.

Two marmots brought in 1 tael and 6 coins of silver. Two wild pheasants sold for 1 tael and 8 coins. Four rabbits fetched 4 taels and 8 coins. The mushrooms—carefully selected for size and appearance—earned another 200 copper coins.

In one trip, he’d made a total of 8 taels and 4 coins of silver!

Xia Youtian didn’t even dare stay in town. He ran all the way home on an empty stomach.

When he placed the silver and coins in Jiang-shi’s hands, they were still warm and damp with his body heat and sweat.

Jiang-shi carefully counted everything—twice, then a third time.

She separated the silver into one pile and strung the scattered copper coins into strings of one hundred. Ten strings made one bundle.

Then she placed the silver and full strings of coins into the same money chest where they had stored the silver they’d received when the family split, tucking it carefully into the deepest part of the clothing trunk.

The leftover 400 copper coins were put into a smaller money box for daily use. With a satisfied sigh, Jiang-shi finally relaxed.

She and Xia Youtian exchanged a meaningful glance—both silently agreeing to keep this “wild game windfall” to themselves. They wouldn’t tell anyone.

Not even the children.

Kids were still young, and one careless word could easily be coaxed out of them.

The couple grinned at each other like fools. They’d made nearly as much silver in this one outing as they had from the entire family division. It didn’t even feel real.

And when they thought about Old Lu the drunkard, always staggering around with wine—why?

Because of his hunting skills, of course!

Whenever he ran short on money, he’d head into the mountains, snag some wild game, and sell it for liquor money.

Hunting really was profitable!

Xia Youtian couldn’t help being tempted. He thought it might be better than farming.

“Wife, what do you think about me heading into the mountains more often to hunt?

I mean, how come Daohua and Lihua—two little girls—can come back with so much game, and I, a grown man, can’t do the same?”

Jiang-shi frowned and thought for a moment, then shook her head firmly.

“Hunting’s uncertain. It depends on luck.

Sometimes you can spend a whole day and get nothing. Sometimes, you might run into wild boars, wolves, bears, or even tigers… Farming is different—put in the effort, and you’ll get results.”

“That’s true. Unless heaven decides to take someone’s life, we can always count on the fields to feed the family.”

“There’s no such thing as a constant windfall. You’d better stick to farming.

When things settle down, I’ll pick up embroidery again. During my free time, I can make handkerchiefs, sachets, headbands, shoe tops—sell them to the embroidery shop in town.

Lihua’s almost fully trained. Daohua and Linghua can start learning too.

When the three of us are home, we’ll buy good fabric and thread, sit comfortably on the kang, and stitch larger pieces like bed screens. Those fetch even better prices!

Isn’t that more dependable than hunting?”

But Xia Youtian disagreed.

“Embroidery’s steadier, sure, but it takes too much mental focus. I don’t think it’s worth it.

Better if I keep an eye out when I go gather firewood in the mountains. If I come across fresh game, I’ll bring it back to sell.

We’re not greedy. If there’s something, great. If not, no big deal.

As long as I don’t go deep into the forest, I shouldn’t run into dangerous beasts.”

Jiang-shi felt warm hearing that, but it only made her more determined to do more embroidery to support the household.

…

Xia Daohua’s hair had finally grown out. After two or three months, not only had the wound on her scalp healed nicely, but even the scar had faded significantly. Covered by her longer hair, it was now barely visible.

However, the people around her had started noticing changes in her.

Still, since they all knew she had suffered a serious head injury, they figured it was already a blessing she survived. A few changes in personality, forgetfulness, or different behavior didn’t seem like a big deal.

Later, Xia Daohua went hunting again, using her trips to dig wild greens with Lihua or gather firewood with Wulang as cover.

Every time she came back with game, Jiang-shi would first offer some to the elderly couple, then divide a portion for the other branches to taste, and only then keep the remainder for the household or sell it.

Even so, the family gradually began to accumulate some savings. The money box where Jiang-shi stored full strings of coins was already more than halfway filled with silver and copper.

The fourth branch was smiling more and more. After the Double Third Festival, they even started discussing sending Wulang to the village school.

However, Wulang himself was opposed.

Of course, he wanted to study—but he felt the timing wasn’t right.

If he enrolled now, others might suspect that the fourth branch had secretly hidden away money before the family divided.

Xia Daohua didn’t think much of such concerns, but Jiang-shi and Xia Youtian took it seriously.

So, they postponed Wulang’s schooling until autumn.

By then, even if people still noticed, after nearly a year of frugal living and a recent grain sale, sending a child to the village school to learn a few characters wouldn’t seem suspicious.

After that, it would be easy to borrow a little silver from the grandparents or relatives to support Wulang’s continued education—completely reasonable and proper.

At the same time, Xia Youtian began making willow baskets and bamboo hampers, while Jiang-shi worked on her embroidery.

Once they’d made a few dozen, they would go to the market.

The willow baskets and bamboo hampers were practical tools, used by every household for daily chores and farming. Willow baskets sold for 8 copper coins, and bamboo hampers went for 15. The latter cost more due to rare materials and finer craftsmanship.

Unfortunately, demand wasn’t very high—there weren’t many buyers.

But Jiang-shi’s embroidery had no trouble selling. Even if she couldn’t move it all herself, embroidery shops in town were happy to buy.

Though sales were slow and profits modest, the couple enjoyed it. They worked diligently—farming, raising chickens and pigs, and crafting little goods on the side.

(End of Chapter 39)