Chapter 45: Shopping

Chen Feng nodded and accepted the silver, then took out one ten-tael silver ingot and said, “Mr. Yang, could you help me exchange this for ten one-tael silver ingots?”

Yang Mingyuan then exchanged the smaller silver ingots for her.

Having made another profit, Chen Feng was elated and said to Dabao, “Dabao, it’s time for us to leave.”

Upon hearing that they were leaving, Yang Chao and Yang Qian felt reluctant, especially Yang Qian, who teared up, saying, “Could you stay a little longer? We love Gray and can’t bear to part with it.”

These well-educated children neither looked down on Dabao and Chen Feng, who were dressed in worn-out clothes, nor insisted on keeping Gray. Chen Feng was very impressed with them and also formed a good impression of the wise Yang family. Those who could educate their children in such a manner should have good character. If she thought of good food in the future, she could continue to collaborate.

Yang Mingyuan got up, lifted his daughter, and coaxed her, “Qian, be good. If Chen’s brother and Gray don’t return home soon, it’ll be late, and they won’t be able to leave through the city gate.”

Although Yang Qian didn’t insist on keeping Gray, tears welled up in her eyes.

Feeling sorry, Dabao quickly said, “Qian, come to my house another day to play. In addition to Gray, we also have Golden Treasure and Qiqi at home. Golden Treasure has a beautiful singing voice and is very talented. Qiqi is as beautiful as you, and can speak a lot and even recite poetry.”

Upon hearing this, Yang Chao and Yang Qian looked very eager.

Yang Chao even widened his eyes and said, “To be as beautiful as my sister, it must be very beautiful.”

Dabao glanced at Yang Qian and emphatically nodded, “Yes, as beautiful as Qian, very beautiful.” He added, “Our home is in Xiangluo Village, not far from the county, just half an hour by donkey cart.”

Yang Chao happily accepted the invitation and said, “Dabao, bring Gray and the others to play in the county when nothing’s going on. Our home is just two streets away from here. If my father and we aren’t at the restaurant, let Master Xu take you to our house.” He then turned to Master Xu and said, “Master Xu, did you hear that?”

Master Xu quickly smiled and said, “Alright, I heard Young Master’s instructions.”

With the friendship between the children reaching this level, the two adults had to agree.

Because of Dabao and Gray’s successful interaction, Yang Mingyuan even had Master Xu send a crispy duck from the restaurant to them.

Chen Feng and her son left the restaurant and headed towards the south gate. As they passed a small fabric shop, she went in and bought several pieces of fine cloth, over twenty feet of coarse cloth, and two beds’ worth of well-fluffed cotton. She planned to make a set of clothes for each family member, as well as bedcovers and mattresses for herself and Dabao. This expenditure amounted to over one tael and two hundred wen.

It was quite expensive, which explained why many families in the countryside who lived comfortably still wore patched clothes.

She also spent fifty wen on some fabric scraps to make dolls, which could be used for Dabao’s entertainment and possibly sold for some money.

After that, she hailed a donkey cart by the roadside and loaded the items onto it. She then bought a large and a small pot, a kettle, a set of tableware, a set of teacups, and other household items to take to their new home. This cost over two taels of silver.

After being in Dachun Dynasty for so long, she had indulged in a shopping spree for the first time.

It felt really good!

As they left the city, the sun was setting, and Dabao closed his open mouth. Although he knew that his mother had earned so much silver again, he was still surprised by her spending speed.

He whispered to Chen Feng, “Mother, we don’t even have an acre of land. We can’t spend all the money.”

Chen Feng gently squeezed his hand and whispered, “I know.”

Upon their return, Chen Ming was extremely anxious, but upon seeing Chen Feng and her son return safely, he felt relieved.

Upon seeing the cart driver help unload so many things, he felt a bit dizzy. He guessed that A’Feng had sold the recipe, but he didn’t expect her to spend the money in this way. Upon hearing that the recipe had been sold for fifty-five taels of silver, he finally smiled.

Chen Feng wanted to give him twenty taels of silver, but he firmly refused, saying, “You’re still young, and Dabao is still small. You need to save more money to buy land.”

Chen Feng thought that what was hers was also theirs, and they would prosper together in the future. Besides, keeping it in her space was safer, so she put it away.

Chen Ming noticed that only Gray had returned and asked where the Golden Swallow and Qiqi were, listening to Dabao’s account. He was astonished, “Could Golden Treasure really bring Qiqi back?”

Chen Feng had full confidence in the Golden Swallow and smiled, saying, “They’ve been brought back by Golden Treasure even from deeper mountains. It’s easier here in the county.”

Before dinner, Chen Ming had Dabao take half of the crispy duck to the Chen family.

When Dabao returned, his face was red with anger as he said, “Grandpa, I took the crispy duck over to the main house, and old Grandma Hu said we somehow got money, and now we’re eating and drinking extravagantly all day long. It’s either braised meat, big meat dumplings, or crispy duck. We’re wasting all the money, and she said that we didn’t even express gratitude for her and old Grandpa Ye’s nurturing, and even said that Grandpa should learn from Third Grandpa Shi. I told her that the crispy duck wasn’t bought, it was a gift, but she didn’t believe it.”

Chen Ming’s expression turned serious, and he said, “Just pretend you didn’t hear you’re your Grandma Hu said. She’s an elder, and they once helped us. We have to remember these things.”

Chen Feng inwardly cursed, this Aunt Hu was truly despicable, to the point of being utterly shameless and audacious in asking for things from others.

She overheard Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang talking and learned that the new courtyard in the main house was demanded by Mrs. Hu behind Chen Ye’s and Grandma Chen’s back. Chen Shi appreciated the help of his older brother provided to him and knew that Chen Ye cared about his dignity, so he couldn’t bring to tell him about what his wife demanded to him. Chen Shi only gritted his teeth and had the courtyard renovated. He hasn’t been back to the village since then, not even for the New Year. Chen Shi didn’t dare to come back. This was something Chen Shi told Chen Ming before leaving.

During dinner, Chen Feng saw that Chen Ming was still angry and advised, “Dad, don’t be angry. No matter what she says, we’ve already made our decision not to give in. We can’t indulge her faults. I also know that you and Uncle Ye are close. When we become stronger, we won’t be afraid of Mrs. Hu’s schemes, and we’ll properly honor and thank them. Also, older cousin Gui, and all those who have helped us, we’ll remember them all.”

At night, without Qiqi’s company, Gray was uncomfortable, squawking and refusing to sleep. Chen Feng initially tried to calm it down, but as it continued to squawk loudly, she was afraid of disturbing Chen Ming, so she had to close all the doors and windows of its room.

Dabao, lying in bed, also asked, “Mother, it’s already dark. Why hasn’t Golden Treasure brought Qiqi back yet?”

Chen Feng reassured him, “Go to sleep. When you wake up tomorrow, Qiqi will be back.”

***Completed short Novel “Doomsday Camp (Base Construction)”. Please read this novel, it is short but good. Thank You Readers***