Chapter 33: Stealing Chickens

Seeing the situation, Zhang Jinlan patted the dust off her backside and stood up.

“Many thanks to everyone for helping this old woman today. You are all good people!”

The onlookers—newly anointed good people—
left in satisfaction.

Inside, Jiang Fubao quietly gave her grandma a thumbs-up.

They hadn’t managed to buy a hen. She’d thought of buying chicks instead, but the other sellers in the street only had grown roosters and hens. From their inner voices, she knew none of the hens carried eggs inside.

So she lost interest in shopping further.

Two quarters of an hour later, the grandmother and granddaughter left that street.

They went to the butcher and bought two jin of pork.

Since it was already afternoon, the meat wasn’t as fresh as in the morning, and there was more lean than fat.

But the townsfolk here preferred fatty meat.

So the butcher sold it a few copper coins cheaper per jin.

Zhang Jinlan splurged and bought two full jin.

Passing a candied-haw seller,
she even bought her granddaughter a skewer of tanghulu.

“Fubao, you eat four, and take the other four home for your brothers. Let them have something sweet, too.”

Zhang Jinlan wasn’t someone who doted only on her granddaughter—she loved her grandsons as well.
It was just that with too many grandsons, and only a single granddaughter, the little girl naturally felt more precious.

Of course, in her heart, the granddaughter’s share was heavier.

Jiang Fubao understood this well.

She shook her head, unwilling to eat so many alone.

There were eight hawthorns on the skewer.

With seven older brothers at home, each could have one.

She decided to save it and share together after returning.

So, the skewer of candied haws remained intact, wrapped in a green leaf, and tucked into the basket.

By now, it was getting late.

Originally, Zhang Jinlan planned to walk home.

But fearing her granddaughter would be too tired, she generously spent two copper coins to let them ride a kind of ancient “carpool.”

It was an ox cart from the neighboring Zhou Family Village.

It happened to be waiting at the six-way crossroads when Zhang Jinlan spotted it.

If she had rented a cart alone, it would cost at least eight coins.

Far too expensive.

But one coin per person for the shared cart was very cost-effective.

At first, Zhang Jinlan wanted to pay only one coin, counting just herself. After all, her granddaughter was only three—she could carry her on her lap.

But since the driver was from Zhou Village and unfamiliar with them, he refused.

So she had no choice but to pay an extra coin.

On the ox cart, Jiang Fubao was squeezed into a corner.

Including them, there were six people total.

Once filled, the cart departed.

At the city gate, guards stopped them to check for fugitives or contraband.

Everyone had to get down.

While waiting, Jiang Fubao suddenly spotted a familiar figure—

that foul-mouthed chicken seller.

He was speaking furtively with a scar-faced man in a corner.

“Wang Da, have you sold your chickens yet? Damn my luck, rotten as dog shit today. Ran into some shrewish old hag—almost got dragged off by the constables. These chickens we stole three, four days ago—still a few cages left unsold. And the chicks are dying one a day. Big loss!”

“I sold mine all already. Let them go cheap—better than losing everything. Tell you what, bring that cage of chicks. I’ll take you to that house across the street. I sold mine there earlier. Lower your price a little and she’ll definitely buy.”

“Alright, I’ll bring the cart too. If the chickens get stolen, we’re screwed.”

“This is the city gate—constables everywhere. Who’d dare steal here? Quit dawdling. The alley’s too narrow for the cart anyway. Just leave it here. Sell quickly and let’s get out.”

The man called Wang Da led the chicken seller across the street.

And there, left behind, was a cart with two cages of chickens.

Jiang Fubao’s eyes lit up.

While no one was looking, and her grandma was chatting with people from Zhou Village, she slipped over, stretched out her hand, and in less than a second—

both cages of chickens vanished into her space.

That bastard dared curse her?

And from their talk, these chickens had been stolen in the first place.

Then let him taste what being stolen from felt like!

That was the price of having a foul mouth!

Too young to hurl insults back, Jiang Fubao felt utterly refreshed.

Like sweet revenge.

Holding her grandma’s hand, she got back on the ox cart.

They rolled out through the city gate, heading home.

Behind them, chaos broke out.

“My chickens! Where are my chickens?!”

“Who stole my chickens?!”

“I only went to sell a cage of chicks, and someone stole all my hens and roosters?! Damn thief—who dares steal right under the constables’ noses?! Bastard!!”

Fifty meters down the road, their ox cart was still moving steadily as angry shouts echoed behind.

Jiang Fubao curved her lips into a smile, rested her head on her grandma’s lap, and closed her eyes for a nap.

The paved road with gravel was fairly smooth.

But once they reached country paths, the ox cart jolted so much her insides felt shaken loose.

Forget napping—it was like riding a bumper car.

By now, the sun was sinking.

Zhou Village wasn’t far from Jiang Village, yet not near either.

Walking would take at least two quarters of an hour.

Since this was a shared ride, the ox cart only stopped in Zhou Village.

From there, the grandmother and granddaughter still had to walk the rest of the way.

At that moment, Zhang Jinlan was profoundly grateful she had taken the cart.

If they hadn’t returned before dark, it would’ve been dangerous.

If clouds covered the moon, it would be pitch black—no different from walking blind.

At best, you might miss a step and fall into the river.

At worst, dragged into the bushes by some thug, and no one would ever know who the culprit was.

Especially with her granddaughter in tow.

After quite a while, the sun tilted westward.

In about a quarter hour, it would set completely.

Growing anxious, Zhang Jinlan quickened her pace, tugging her granddaughter’s hand.

The two figures stretched long shadows on the country path.

At last, they reached the village before darkness fell.

Under the big tree at the village entrance, women were already gathered, chatting as usual.

Some even brought their bowls, eating while gossiping.

“Zhang-shi, just coming back from town? With a child too? No wonder you’re so late. Hurry home, or you’ll be eating in the dark!”

An older woman, even a few years older than Zhang Jinlan, called out.

“Yes, we’re heading home. Got delayed in town. You ladies carry on.”

Zhang Jinlan didn’t stop.

She had two jin of pork in her basket.

Best get home and cook it quickly.

At the far end of the village, in front of the Jiang family’s gate, several people were waiting.

Jiang Fubao looked closely—

her mother, father, uncle, and grandfather.

All with anxious faces, clearly waiting outside for a while now.

“Grandpa, Dad, Mom, Uncle—we’re back!”

Jiang Fubao called out one by one, her childish voice ringing across the foot of the hill at the village edge.

“Mother, you’re finally back! It’s nearly dark. We were so worried—your father wanted to go search with your brothers.”

Zhang Yanzi, upon seeing her daughter and mother-in-law, let out a sigh of relief.

She rushed up, scooped her daughter into her arms, and said gently,

“Mother, Grandma earned so much silver today! Eldest Brother can afford a wife now!”

Before Grandma could explain, Jiang Fubao blurted out the secret.