After foraging, the two still hadn’t found a suitable place to sell their vegetables.
What’s more, the market was completely deserted—many stalls were shuttered, and there wasn’t a single person around.
They had no choice but to head back the same way they came, though now carrying a bit more foraged goods.
Xiao Gu wore a long, gloomy face. “You don’t think we won’t be able to sell the wild vegetables for money, do you?”
“Probably not. Maybe we did something wrong. Tomorrow, we’ll bring a smaller amount and try again.”
Lin Xiaohe figured that since someone had wanted them yesterday, there must still be a way to sell at least some. No matter how little they sold, it would still be a win.
As long as they could sell even a bit, they could buy rice. If they could sell half a kilogram every two or three days, the family wouldn’t have to worry about running out of rice.
Right now, they had about ten kilograms of rice at home. If they could get some cash, she wanted to buy salt.
Going without salt for too long just wasn’t sustainable.
…
“Ugh, I didn’t even ask those two kids for their address. I don’t know where they’re from.”
Chen Fang was really regretting it now. The wild vegetables they’d gotten yesterday—she’d even shared half with someone else. Thinking about it now, she was kicking herself.
Wild vegetables shrink to almost nothing after blanching.
Her family had just over a kilogram. She’d blanched and dressed the whole batch last night.
Even her picky eater of a child had grabbed several bites and asked what it was, saying they wanted more tonight. But there was none left—she’d made it all.
“Those two probably live nearby since they showed up at the market. Our shop is pretty close to the entrance—if they come back, we’ll definitely see them.”
The owner, Yuan Zhiqiang, lounged in a rocking chair, scrolling through his phone at a leisurely pace.
“Stop thinking about it. Get some rest. There’s no business from noon to afternoon anyway. Let’s just close up and take a good nap.
We’ll open again around three or four and catch the evening crowd.”
In a market like theirs, business only really happened in the morning and during the evening rush. Other times, it was dead.
His grain and oil shop was mostly wholesale, with a little retail on the side.
Business was already slow—no point burning out. Might as well sleep.
“Fine, fine. Let’s sleep. We’ll have to pick up the kids from school later anyway.”
Chen Fang stopped dwelling on it, put down her phone, and got ready for a nap. She had no idea that the fresh, crisp wild vegetables she’d been craving had just passed right by her shop door.
…
“Sis, shouldn’t we pretend to go out and dig for roots? Otherwise, people will get suspicious.”
Xiao Gu was quick-witted and caught on right away.
“Yeah. Let’s go out, dig up some roots, and gather some firewood too. We’re running low on firewood.”
Before heading out, Lin Xiaohe ladled out the fish soup for their parents to drink and rinsed out the pot.
She boiled half of the potatoes they’d foraged today—about eight or nine of them.
Hooking a basket over her arm and strapping on her backpack, she headed out.
Who knew when the next rain would come? It wasn’t the worst of times yet—there was still some green on the hills.
They could still dig roots by the river.
But if the rain didn’t come and the river dried up, then it would truly be over. No way out at all.
“Let me check on Xiaoman. Xiao Gu, wait for me at the door.”
Xiaoman was still young and slept most of the day.
She couldn’t walk steadily yet and needed help going to the bathroom.
Lin Xiaohe woke the little one up to take her out to relieve herself.
The family now had only this one bed—if it got wet from urine, they wouldn’t even have a place to sleep.
They were truly destitute now—no proper pot for cooking, no proper bed for sleeping.
The current bed was pieced together from two long wooden benches and planks of wood.
A few mud bricks were stacked in the middle for support; otherwise, it would have collapsed long ago.
After getting the little one settled and checking on her parents, she finally headed out.
Everyone in the village who could still move was digging for roots by the riverbank.
The mud along the river was dug up in total disarray.
“Sis, why is she here?” Xiao Gu’s lips twisted in disgust, her face clearly unhappy.
Lin Xiaohe looked over and saw Qian Sancao.
Even just thinking the word “grandma” made her feel sick.
“Ignore her. Let’s go to the other side.”
Qian Sancao spotted them too, and her sharp, venomous gaze immediately slanted their way. “Hmph, let’s see how long they last.”
Er Ya pressed her lips together, wanting to say something, but in the end, she didn’t dare.
“What are you staring at? Hurry up and dig! You came out early this morning and you’re still digging the same amount as usual. Looks like your skin’s itching for a good beating.
Today, I’ll be watching you work. Let’s see what’s slowing you down, you lazy good-for-nothing! How did I end up raising such a worthless piece of trash!”
Qian Sancao hadn’t done any real work in years, so of course she wasn’t about to start now.
She plopped down on a rock and tried to drag nearby folks into gossip.
But no one wanted to chat with her. “Hey, Lin family woman, heaven sees what people do. I wouldn’t dare sit next to you—what if the sky strikes you with lightning and hits me too?”
Qian Sancao was so furious her nostrils flared, and she jabbed right where it hurt: “Pfft, you old hen who can’t even birth a son, and you look down on me?
Look at how many children I’ve had in this life—every single one of them is successful.”
“Hahahaha, everyone, come over here and hear this—the joke of the century! Come listen to the joke! Qian Sancao says her kids are all successful! Has anyone ever heard anything funnier than that?”
The other woman wasn’t someone to be trifled with either. She immediately raised her voice, calling everyone over to gawk. If she wanted to jab at sore spots, who was afraid of whom?
Lin Xiaohe and Lin Xiaogu perked up their ears, the smiles on their faces impossible to suppress.
Er Ya bit her lower lip hard to keep herself from laughing out loud.
The others didn’t have to hold back—they burst into unrestrained laughter.
“Hahaha, Qian Sancao, you really have the nerve to say that! Everyone for miles around knows your fourth son was spoiled rotten and doesn’t know his place.
On his very first day, he could barely earn two or three work points—can’t even support himself. And the wife he married followed suit.
Your two youngest are even worse—their noses stuck up in the air, full of themselves, yet utterly useless.
Your fifth son has taken the middle school entrance exam several times and still can’t pass.
And your sixth? A young girl who clings to that educated youth day in and day out. Those educated youths might as well put up a sign saying ‘No girls from your family or dogs allowed,’ and even that can’t stop her from running over to their compound every day.”
Qian Sancao was so enraged her vision went black.
She slapped Er Ya hard on the back, sending her stumbling forward so hard she couldn’t even keep her crouch.
“Are you dead? Can’t you see they’re mocking me? Are you mute?
Even a dog knows to protect its master! I’ve wasted years feeding you for nothing! When you were born, I should’ve drowned you in the bedpan—saved all that rice you’ve eaten over the years.”
Er Ya was long used to being scolded and barely took it to heart. In fact, she was secretly pleased—the old hag hadn’t come out on top today either and had been cursed out pretty badly herself.
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