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Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life] 63


Chapter 63

Lin Jiangshan quickly returned after delivering the charcoal, and Ye Xi went to tend his own stall, neatly arranging the cabbages and radishes, and then brought out the basket of candied winter melon.

The candied winter melon, covered in sugar frosting and having sat overnight, was even more flavorful.

Soon, a woman carrying a child came to buy cabbage. The cabbages Ye Xi grew were large and tender, the outer leaves removed, looking fresh and crisp.

“Young Master, how much is your cabbage?”

Ye Xi quickly replied, “Three wen per catty.”

“I’ll buy a few, can you give me a discount?” The women who came to the market were all frugal, carefully spending every penny, and bargaining was inevitable.

Ye Xi knew his cabbages were good quality, more tender and fresh than most cabbages in town. Lin Jiangshan had covered them with straw mats during the snow and fertilized them with wood ash and poultry manure, so they had grown exceptionally well, their leaves free from frostbite.

“Vegetables are more expensive this year, but my cabbages are not more expensive than others, it’s the market price,” Ye Xi said with a smile.

The woman knew that finding such good cabbages was not easy, so she picked three and asked Ye Xi to weigh them.

He weighed them generously. “Ten catties and two taels.”

The woman, seeing that he was generous with the weight, nodded with satisfaction, then took out her money bag and counted the coins. She had a child with her, about two years old, wearing a tiger hat, looking round and adorable.

Ye Xi took a piece of candied winter melon from the basket and offered it to the child.

The child, drooling, reached out with a gummy smile, took the candy, and stuffed it into his mouth. Tasting the sweetness, he became even happier.

The woman picked up her child lovingly. “You little glutton, you love sweet things so much.”

Ye Xi smiled. “This is candied winter melon I made myself, it’s not worth much, just a treat for the child.”

The woman thanked him repeatedly, then licked the sugar frosting from her finger, finding it delicious. “How much is this candied winter melon?”

“Three wen for two pieces, fragrant, sweet, and melt-in-your-mouth, a child can enjoy it for a long time.”

The woman thought the price was reasonable, a good treat for her child, so she took out another three wen and bought two pieces.

Ye Xi hadn’t expected his candied winter melon to sell, and he smiled at Lin Jiangshan, holding the three copper coins. “I’ve made my first sale!”

Lin Jiangshan smiled. “The candied winter melon you made is delicious, even better than the ones from the shops, it will definitely sell well.”

Encouraged by his words, Ye Xi started calling out, “Cabbages, radishes, candied winter melon, delicious candied winter melon, not expensive, three wen for two pieces, a good deal for a sweet treat!”

As the New Year approached, many people came to the market with their children. The market was lively, with food and drink stalls everywhere, and monkey shows and acrobatic performances, a dazzling sight. Children were naturally excited, looking around as their parents dragged them along. If their parents refused to buy them something, they would cry and throw tantrums.

The food at the market was more expensive than usual, and even though adults were more willing to spend money with the New Year approaching, seeing the higher prices, they were still reluctant to buy, only coaxing their children, “Let’s look at other things first, Mother will buy it for you later, there are better things ahead!”

They hoped that by walking around for a while, the market would end by noon, and their children would stop fussing.

So, many children were crying on the street, craving the sweet treats they rarely had, their hearts itching, insisting on having something sweet.

Hearing Ye Xi selling candied winter melon, three wen for two pieces, the women and grannies with children naturally thought this was a good deal. They had just inquired about the price of candied hawthorns, five wen per stick, and rice cakes, five wen for two pieces, and other pastries, all costing six or seven wen.

Seeing people with children approaching, Ye Xi took a piece of candied winter melon from the basket, broke off a small piece, and offered it to the woman. “Try it, it’s sweet and delicious, try before you buy.”

The woman tasted it, found it delicious, and gave it to her child. “Do you want this candied winter melon? Mother will buy it for you.”

The child, tasting the sweetness, nodded eagerly. “Yes, yes, yes, Mother, buy it!”

The woman, having successfully appeased her child, readily paid for two pieces, happy that these two pieces would probably last them all the way home.

Once the first sale was made, it became easier to sell. Some came specifically to buy candied winter melon, others bought cabbages and radishes and bought candied winter melon for their children. Ye Xi gave a few scallions to those who bought vegetables, it wasn’t worth much, but it made them happy.

By the time Ye Xi had almost sold out of vegetables and candied winter melon, Lin Jiangshan had also sold all but two baskets of charcoal.

“Has Brother sold out of cured meat and sausages?” Ye Xi looked around.

Lin Jiangshan looked over. “His stall is empty, your brother’s business is good too.”

Ye Xi happily held the heavy money bag, the coins clinking inside. “That’s great, then let’s pack up and go home early.”

They started packing up, carefully sweeping the vegetable leaves and charcoal dust. If the market officials saw it, they would be fined. Vendors had to pay five wen as a management fee, and they would be fined further if they violated the market rules.

Ye Xi noticed a pile of small charcoal pieces at the bottom of Lin Jiangshan’s basket, not as large as the regular charcoal, only the size of pears, but they could still be used for heating.

“Why are there so many small pieces left?” Ye Xi asked. The small pieces could also be sold, just at a lower price, a pile for a few copper coins, and poorer families would still want them.

Lin Jiangshan shook the basket, estimating there were over two catties. “Didn’t you say that elderly couple was pitiful? These small pieces aren’t worth much, you can give them to them for their stove and boiling water.”

His husband was kind-hearted, and he naturally wanted to make him happy by letting him do a good deed.

Ye Xi’s eyes curved into a smile. “My husband is such a good person!”

He took the small charcoal pieces back to the radish and lamb offal soup stall. The elderly couple, hearing that it was a gift for them, were very grateful and insisted Ye Xi have another bowl of soup.

This was their livelihood, and they were even reluctant to have a bowl themselves, so Ye Xi naturally refused, exchanged a few more words with them, and left with a smile.

Lin Jiangshan, carrying the baskets, saw the smile on his husband’s face, and his mood also brightened. He asked, “Is there anything else we need at home? Let’s buy everything today, so we can just stay home for the New Year.”

Ye Xi counted on his fingers. “We need to buy some couplets and window decorations to make the house festive, and also some firecrackers to set off on New Year’s Eve, to ward off evil spirits and celebrate the New Year.”

“We also need to buy salt and spices, we’re making fried meatballs and other snacks for the New Year, and also some dried fruits and nuts from the shop, we need some snacks at home during the New Year.”

Lin Jiangshan agreed, following his husband and carrying the things.

“Let’s buy some sugar too, so I can make more snacks. We need to have something to offer the children who come to visit, so we won’t be seen as stingy.”

They discussed their shopping list as they walked through the bustling streets, stopping to watch street performances and giving a copper coin to those asking for tips, knowing that life wasn’t easy for these traveling performers.

By noon, they had bought everything they needed, and Lin Jiangshan’s basket was filled with packages wrapped in oilpaper. They turned to go back to their stall to find Ye Shan.

Lin Jiangshan suddenly stopped, and Ye Xi looked back at him. “What’s wrong? Did you forget something?”

“Sir, what are you buying?” A vendor called out, trying to attract customers.

It was a stall selling metalware, with braziers, charcoal stoves, and bed warmers on display.

Lin Jiangshan said, “Please show me a small and delicate bed warmer, I want to buy one for my husband.”

The vendor quickly agreed, praising him, “Your husband is fortunate to have such a caring husband. Our bed warmers are made of brass, they won’t break or dent even after ten years of use.”

Ye Xi, hearing that he was buying a bed warmer for him, quickly intervened. “That’s too expensive, I’m not cold with the kang at home, don’t waste the money.”

Bed warmers weren’t cheap, brass was expensive, plus the craftsman’s fee, it was considered a luxury item, and most farming families couldn’t afford them.

But Lin Jiangshan was determined to buy one. His husband’s feet were always icy cold at night, and even after he warmed them up, they wouldn’t get warm until midnight. With a bed warmer filled with hot water, he could place it by Ye Xi’s feet, and he could also use it to warm his hands during the day.

“It’s a useful item for the house, and you can use it, it’s not a waste of money.”

Ye Xi, knowing his husband’s love and care, didn’t stop him.

“Sir, look at this one, slightly larger than a palm, made entirely of brass, it can keep warm for several hours after being filled with water, and it has a handle, so you can carry it around,” the vendor said, handing him a delicate bed warmer.

Ye Xi took it and examined it, finding it to be well-made, heavy, and even engraved with patterns.

Seeing that Ye Xi liked it, Lin Jiangshan asked, “How much is it?”

“Ninety-five wen.”

The price was a bit high, but within expectations. Lin Jiangshan bargained with the vendor, got a ten-wen discount, and then bought it.

Ye Xi, holding the bed warmer, felt a pang of guilt about the money as they walked back.

When they returned to their stall, Ye Shan had already packed up and was waiting for them in the ox cart. Seeing the bed warmer in Ye Xi’s arms, he smiled. “My brother is so lucky, buying such nice things, your husband really dotes on you.”

Lin Jiangshan smiled.

Ye Shan looked at the bed warmer again, secretly planning to buy one for his wife after selling more cured meat and sausages.

“Brother, did the cured meat and sausages sell well today?” Ye Xi asked with concern.

“Yes, they did. I can sell for a few more days, until the end of the New Year’s market. When I was packing up, some customers even asked if I would come back and set up a stall again, and I said I would, so I took some more orders,” Ye Shan said happily.

Lin Jiangshan said, “Then I’ll stay for a few more days with Brother, to sell the remaining charcoal, and also keep him company.”

It was almost past noon, and they didn’t have time for a proper meal. Since the sun was out today, and the snow would probably melt in the afternoon, they quickly bought a few steamed buns to eat on the road and hurried back to Shanxiu Village in the ox cart.


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Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]

Farming for Three Meals a Day [Farming Life]

農野三餐[種田]
Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Chinese
Ye Xi, a young man from Shanxiu Village, scalded his face with boiling water. The wealthy family from the neighboring village, who had arranged a marriage with him since childhood, broke off the engagement overnight. The villagers all laughed at Ye Xi. Even the young men who were once uglier than him mocked him, whispering behind his back that he would never be able to marry. After a while, a stranger came to Shanxiu Village. This man was tall and strong, with dark skin. He only carried a tattered bundle, bought a dilapidated thatched hut at the edge of the mountain, and settled down there. The villagers didn't dare approach him, fearing he was engaged in shady business. Ye Xi had encountered him at the foot of the mountain and by the river. He knew that the man not only farmed well but also hunted and fished, and didn't engage in gambling, drinking, or other vices. He felt that this man was a truly good and dependable man. One day, with half his face scarred from the burn, he pushed open the man's door and, standing at the entrance, blushed and asked, "Will you marry me?" The man finished the rice in his bowl, lifted his eyes to gaze at him, looked intently for a long moment, and...

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