PNB Chapter 27 is ultimately not a society governed by the rule of law.
Chapter 27 is ultimately not a society governed by the rule of law.
After agreeing on the delivery address with the shop assistant, I left the shop.
Looking at the pastry shop next to the cloth pile, Song Jiaojiao thought that she still needed to buy a land foundation when she got back, and it wouldn't be good to go there empty-handed, so she headed towards the pastry shop.
As soon as I entered the pastry shop, the waiter greeted me, "What would you like, sir?"
Song Jiaojiao looked around the shop and, not knowing what kind of pastries they had, asked, "What kind of pastries do you sell?"
Upon hearing this, the waiter knew it was a new customer. Usually, if someone asks what they want, the waiter wouldn't leave empty-handed. So, he spoke even more respectfully, "We have red date cake, osmanthus cake, mung bean cake, crispy walnut shortbread, and soft, fragrant layered cake. Our best-selling item is our signature lotus shortbread. We happen to have a pound left. If you come any later, you'll have to wait until tomorrow."
Listening to the waiter's introduction, Song Jiaojiao figured none of them had tried it before. "Then give me two jin of each, and wrap up the lotus flower pastry for me too. Can you calculate the price for me?"
"Alright, sir, please wait a moment. Red dates, osmanthus, and mung bean cakes are all the same price, eighty coins per catty, six catties in total, 480 coins. Walnut shortbread and layered cake are the same price, 120 coins per catty, four catties in total, 480 coins. Lotus shortbread is 200 coins per catty, a total of one tael and one mace, sixty coins. You can give me one tael and one mace, fifty coins." The waiter packed the pastries and handed them to Song Jiaojiao.
These pastries are indeed expensive; just this little bit cost more than an ounce of silver. It's definitely not something a poor person can afford. Song Jiaojiao paid the silver and took the pastries, putting them in her basket.
When we arrived at the butcher's stall, there was indeed very little left, just a piece of fatty meat and two pieces of lean meat, along with a few bones and offal.
"What would you like to order, sir?" the butcher asked with a smile.
"Is this all there is? Then let's wrap it all up," Song Jiaojiao said, looking at the little bit of meat on the cutting board.
The butcher happily weighed the meat, thinking he would have to take it all home again today, but to his surprise, it was all bought up.
"Sir, two catties of fatty meat, three catties of lean meat, ten coins for a set of offal, and those bones are free, that's all for you, 129 coins in total."
Song Jiaojiao handed over the money, took the meat, put it into the basket, and carried the offal, asking Wang Hefan to buy a bucket to hold the offal.
Seeing that it was getting late, and that it would be dark by the time they got home, and having already bought everything they needed, they led the group toward the town gate. As soon as they arrived, they saw Uncle Yu holding a machete, carefully guarding the oxcart.
Song Jiaojiao took out half a pound of red date cake and gave it to Uncle Yu, saying thank you, "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Uncle Yu, please take this red date cake."
When Uncle Yu saw Song Jiaojiao and the others arrive, he quickly urged, "Don't worry about anything else for now, get in the car and let's go."
Looking at the cart full of goods, and considering the large number of elderly and young people on her side, Song Jiaojiao felt they were easy targets. Without hesitation, she and her companions sat down and Uncle Yu drove the cart away. He drove the cart incredibly fast, and despite being fully loaded, it took about the same amount of time as when they arrived that morning.
Uncle Yu breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the village was almost there. Then he said to Song Jiaojiao, "Jiaojiao, I'm not trying to be mean, but you've bought so many things that it's too conspicuous. We don't have much manpower here. If we run into some stupid thing, we might not be able to protect it."
"Uncle Yu, I'm sorry to have troubled you. It was my oversight. I was thinking about repairing the house later, so I bought a lot at once, forgetting about my own financial situation." Song Jiaojiao said apologetically. She had really forgotten that this wasn't the rule-of-law society of her previous life; in this era, it was possible to be robbed. It seemed she would have to do it herself next time. It would be safer to keep the things in her spatial storage. It looked like she needed to get a horse.
Why a horse? It's because Song Jiaojiao's family doesn't own any land. Oxen are too slow. Since they don't have land, they might as well spend more money to buy a horse and add a carriage so that no one can see what's inside, which is convenient for Song Jiaojiao.
Uncle Yu was taken aback when he heard Song Jiaojiao's words and said, "You're planning to build a house? That's no small sum of money."
"Yes, the children at home are all grown up, and it's not good to keep living in the house provided by the village. A few days ago, I went into the mountains to dig up some medicinal herbs, which is just enough to build a small house." Song Jiaojiao said calmly, revealing how she got her money. As for the rest of the questions, she would talk about them later.
Hearing this, Uncle Yu suddenly realized why they had so much money to buy so many things; this cartload must have cost at least ten taels of silver. But then again, those who know about herbs can still make money; after all, a few years ago someone dug up some He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) in Qingshui Mountain and reportedly sold it for a considerable sum.
“That’s true. It’s always more reassuring to have your own place. You don’t have to worry about being kicked out one day. Jiaojiao, let me just say this: He Fan is getting older, so we should buy some land and grow some grain. With grain at home, we won’t feel anxious.”
"Yes, we'll buy it later." Song Jiaojiao knew that Uncle Yu was good to her. Farmers value their small plot of land the most, and if the year is bad, they might not be able to buy grain outside.
Before they knew it, they had arrived at the village. Luckily, everyone had gone home to cook, and there was no one in the village, otherwise they would have been bombarded with questions. Uncle Yu looked at Song Jiaojiao's cart full of things and drove straight to the gate of Song Jiaojiao's courtyard.
After unloading the goods, Song Jiaojiao took out the red date cake again and handed it to Uncle Yu, along with the money for the chartered car. "Uncle Yu, thank you so much for today. Please take this cake back and try it. This is the money for the car."
Uncle Yu quickly waved his hand and said, "What are you doing? I can't accept this. It's just for your little ones to eat. I'll take it from the cart. You can take the pastries back." He then turned to drive away.
Song Jiaojiao quickly pulled the oxcart and said, "Uncle Yu, listen to me, this isn't worth much. You know I need to build a house later, and I'll inevitably have to trouble you again. If you don't accept this little thing, I'll be too ashamed to come looking for you later."
Seeing that he couldn't refuse, Uncle Yu had no choice but to accept it. "Alright, I'll accept it this time, but don't do it again next time. It's getting late, so I'll head back now. If you need anything, just let me know next time."
"Okay, I'll definitely call you for help if I need anything. Uncle Yu, take care on your way back." Song Jiaojiao said with a smile, and only entered the courtyard after Uncle Yu had walked away.
Looking at all the things in the yard, I had a real headache. This house was too small. After putting all these things in, there wouldn't even be room to step. I had to hurry up and finalize the house. Tomorrow morning... no, after breakfast, I'd go find the village chief. I couldn't worry about anything else now.
Song Jiaojiao hadn't planned on cooking today, so she asked Mu Qing to make something simple to eat. She divided the pastries she'd bought into portions, knowing she wouldn't go to the village chief empty-handed. She divided the ten pounds of pastries into three parts: one to take from the village chief's house later, and another to Aunt Lin's tomorrow. There was so much to prepare this time, so she'd have to trouble Aunt Lin again.
Song Jiaojiao and Wang Hefan carried the things into the house. Sure enough, the inner and outer rooms were filled with things. Only the spot where Wang Hefan usually slept on the floor was left in the main room. Just as they finished, Mu Qing had finished cooking.