Xu Ning returned from the city, planning to prepare a hearty meal to nourish everyone.

After more than a month of autumn harvest, both adults and children had lost a lot of weight, especially her father and Uncle Lu, who had become quite emaciated.

She took out a duck to make ginger duck, prepared braised pork, tossed some shredded radishes, and steamed rice.

Xu Ning and Xu An brought a bowl of ginger duck and a bowl of braised pork to the cow shed. At the entrance, they handed the dishes to their father and Uncle Lu, then hurried back to eat.

The siblings savored their meal, their mouths greasy from the delicious food, and afterward, each one held their belly and relaxed at the door to digest.

The next day, Xu Ning began to gather firewood, as the days were getting colder.

Xu An had to go to school, leaving only her and Xu Mo to head up the mountain. Xu Mo was still too young to chop wood, so she let him gather some wild goods and mushrooms instead.

After school, Xu An also went up the mountain to help out. With so many people chopping wood in the area, Xu Ning didn’t dare to cheat using her space abilities.

Thus, the siblings worked hard for about ten days, filling the wood shed to the brim and stacking a pile at the entrance of the small door.

Xu Ning planned to take a two-day break from going up the mountain to harvest the cabbages from her private plot and pickle them for sauerkraut. She thought that if it snowed, the cabbages would spoil easily.

After harvesting the cabbages, she could also store the firewood in the plot, making it convenient to use when needed.

Once her firewood supply was nearly complete, she decided it was time to head into the city. She worried that if she stayed away too long, people might think she had run off with her little yellow croaker.

This time, she brought two sets of cotton clothing, two cotton hats, and two pairs of gloves for the elderly couple, along with some grains. She wasn’t sure how much a little yellow croaker could buy, but she guessed these items might not be enough.

When Xu Ning arrived at their home, the old man had just returned from sweeping outside. Upon seeing her at the door, he opened it wide and invited her in.

As Xu Ning stepped into the yard, she saw the old woman washing clothes and called out cheerfully, “Young lady, come in and have a seat.”

Xu Ning placed her backpack on the table in the main room and set the large bundle she was carrying beside it. She turned to the couple and said, “Grandpa Wang, Grandma Wang, here are two sets of cotton clothing, two pairs of gloves, and two hats.”

Inside her backpack were 20 jin of rice, 20 jin of flour, 30 eggs, and two pieces of the cured meat she had made.

“The cured meat can be sliced and steamed on top of the rice, as it won’t be too overpowering. Next time I come, I’ll bring some dried vegetables for you,” she added.

She then taught them how to use their old clothes to make a beggar’s outfit to wear over the cotton clothing and suggested wrapping the hats and gloves in old cloth.

The couple looked down at the items on the table in silence. Xu Ning hurried to reassure them, “I know this isn’t enough. I was worried about bringing too much all at once, so I wanted to deliver things slowly.”

The old man diverted his gaze and said, “Child, it’s not that we think it’s not enough; it’s just that this is too much. A single little yellow croaker can’t buy all these things. You’re a good child.”

After saying this, he walked into the inner room and soon returned with a large yellow croaker for Xu Ning.

Seeing this, Xu Ning quickly waved her hands. “Grandpa Wang, this is too much. I can’t accept this; it’s worth far more than what I brought.”

The old man insisted, “Take it. If you have anything in the future, just bring some over. If not, that’s fine too.”

Xu Ning thought to herself, Oh wow, that’s a big yellow croaker! How much can that buy? If I accept it, I might have to keep bringing them things in the future, or else I won’t feel right!

The old woman beside her placed the large yellow croaker in Xu Ning’s hands and said, “Child, just take it! Don’t feel awkward. If you have something, bring a little over; if not, it’s no problem.”

After thinking it over, Xu Ning accepted the gold and said to the couple, “Grandpa Wang, Grandma Wang, I’ll take it for now. If you need anything in the future, let me know, and I’ll do my best to help you get it.”

As she rode her bike to the supply store, she still felt a bit dazed. That yellow croaker was really heavy—at least a full kilogram! She had never seen so much gold in her two lives!

When Su Hongying saw her arriving, she quickly rushed over with a smile. “Xiao Ning, you’re here! Come with me to the back,” she said, pulling Xu Ning toward the warehouse.

Once they reached the warehouse, she said, “Look what I saved for you! You asked about Maotai liquor last time, right? We received a batch at the supply store, and I set aside four bottles for you.”

Xu An, hearing this, excitedly exclaimed to Su Hongying, “Sister Hongying, you’re truly like my real sister!” She then handed over the money and tickets to Su Hongying.

The liquor tickets were sent by Lu Xiaotang, and although Xu Ning hadn’t originally planned to buy Maotai, seeing the tickets reminded her of a news report she had once seen about how a bottle of Maotai from the 60s and 70s was being traded for hundreds of thousands in modern times.

“Sister, if you get more in the future, please save some for me. My friend is coming over in a few days, and I’ll bring you some sheets then,” she said.

Su Hongying replied happily, “Alright, sister! I’ll be waiting for your good news!”

After chatting warmly for a while longer, Xu Ning rode her bike back home.

As she passed by the black market, she heard a lot of commotion inside, with many people rushing out.

Remembering what Su Hongmei had told her about how the black market was heavily monitored after the autumn harvest, Xu Ning pedaled her bike even harder to get away.