Chapter 21. Going to the market (part 1)
Knowing that old Mrs. Chen and others were going to the market on the 26th, You Jin will naturally go over. But she has to go before old Mrs. Chen and others and return back before them too. Taking advantage of the two days of pigweed gathering trip in the mountain, You Jin had went to the usually inaccessible place in the Cuifeng Mountain alone and had laid down a lot of ropes. She held a large a bag that was sewn together from Mrs. Su's old broken coarse clothes for smoking rabbits.
Carrying an empty bamboo basket on her back, she cleared the path with a long bamboo pole in her hand. One by one, she searched the ropes she set on the path. She found a good bunch of wild chicken's nest and a lot of eggs. It was a abundant harvest.
Before reaching the end of the knot that was laid down yesterday, she heard a fluttering sound. You Jin instantly became energetic: Caught something! After walking around a towering tree the size of a three-person embrace, she saw a wild chicken with colorful feathers fluttering its wings and trying to break free from the knot that tightly bound its left foot. The knot remained unbroken. You Jin arrived.
Seeing that it turned out to be a large rooster, surprise flashed in You Jin's eyes. She hurried over to grab the wild chicken that was about to break free. Then she pulled a vine and tightly tied the wild chicken's feet to stop it from escaping. Afterward, the large wild chicken around three or four jins was casually thrown into the basket. She continued to look for the next knot that was placed yesterday.
You Jin's harvest today was quite good. She laid thirteen nooses yesterday. Today she collected a total of four wild chickens and two hares. It can be said to be quite fruitful. Carrying a basket full of pheasants and rabbits, You Jin hummed a little song and found a small cave which can only fit two people.
Standing on the edge of the small cave, she put all the pheasants and hares in the simple bag that Mrs. Su sewed for her and then put them in the small cave. Finally, she broke a lot of branches and leaves to cover the small cave. Strictly, after checking that there was no trace of hiding such things could be seen from the outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. Clapping her hands, she then gathered pigweed before heading home.
You Jin's desire to take everyone away from Yue family had became a common secret among the sisters. Everyone knew that Third Elder Sister was going up the mountain today to hunt stuff to exchange for money. So everyone lined up to sit at the door of the west wing with their heads raised as they looked forward. As soon as they heard the courtyard door sound out, they all swarmed over: "Third Elder Sister!"
You Zhu ushered to speak, "Third Elder Sister, how is it?"
Although her mouth was quick, she knew what to say and what not to say. Especially since the grandparents were in the main room and Eldest Aunt and Eldest Sister were also watching from the east wing.
You Jin first smiled and stretched her hand into the basket behind her and took out a leaf-wrapped bundle. After opening it, a cluster of ripe goat's milk fruit. She distributed a few to each sister and merrily replied: "Don't worry. there are more!"
After listening to You Jin's words, You Yin, You Zhu, and You Bao, who knew the inside story, jumped up happily. While clueless You Ling, You Luo, and You Chou ate the delicious goat's milk fruit and laughed with joy. However, the happy atmosphere in the second branch didn't last long. Yue You Ting, who came back from the toilet hut in the backyard, frowned lightly. She was copying the city girls. She was dressed in fine cotton clothes, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and sashayed over.
Seeing the few lowly girls from second branch making a fuss, she thought there was something fun. Unexpectedly, it was just a few goat milk fruit. She rolled my eyes slightly and pouted: "It's really some lowly bugs who has never seen the world. A few goat's milk fruits is worth being happy like this? Don't say that you are from our Yue Family when you go out, lest that to lose our family's face!"
The sisters, who were initially high-spirited about eating goat's milk fruit, bowed their heads and didn't dare to speak after being disdained by Eldest Sister's shooting remark. When You Jin saw it was her, the smile on her face faded about seventy percent. She stared at her coldly and said, "We are all country girls who have never seen the world. Eldest Sister, you, the eldest miss of a scholarly family, better not talk to us. And prevent your mouth from getting dirty, right?"
Then the smile on her face gained a slight malicious edge: "Eldest Sister is prettily dressed. Unlike us who are dressed in rags. If you get close in a while, a flea or itchy bug will jump to you, don't blame us for this!"
After listening to You Jin's words, Yue You Ting took a few steps back as if she had encountered something dirty. Afterward, she grumpily scolded 'lowly girl'. Only then, she regained her senses. Imitating You Jin's cold-eyed glance, she replied: "I'm too lazy to bother with you lowly girls!"
With a light "hmph", she sashayed her hips and went back to the east wing.
Seeing her act like a defeated cockfight persisting to hold her head high with a stern look, You Jin couldn't help but want to laugh. This Yue You Ting really thinks of herself as an official family's young miss. She hasn't become an official family's miss yet and her music score are filled to the max. If her two brothers are really lucky in the future and gain a rank, then won't her tail be raised to the sky?
Taking her younger sisters back to the west wing, You Jin whispered to Mrs. Su about today's situation. Then she instructed the younger sisters: "I will go to the town the day after tomorrow to sell the wild chickens and hares I caught. They can definitely exchange for some money. You guys stay at home. If Grandmother and Eldest Aunt come back early, You Zhu wait for me at the old elm tree at the foot of Cuifeng Mountain, understand?"
Everything was properly arranged. The next day, You Jin went up the mountain to catch a lot of pheasants and hares. Perhaps due to having no hunters in Cuifeng Village these years, these wild animals on the mountain weren't very afraid of people. The traps set up by You Jin was very easy to use. She placed the ones caught today and hide them with the pheasants and hares from yesterday. Only need to wait until tomorrow morning to carry them all to the market and sell them for money.
***
In the early morning of the second day, You Jin first put on the clothes Mrs. Su changed for her underneath. Then she put on her usual clothes outside. Although she looked a little bloated, it was almost late autumn. Since the weather was cold, nobody would find it strange.
You Jin passed by in front of old Mrs. Chen and others and went straight up the mountain. Old Mrs. Chen and the others were busy packing up the goods they were going to sell in the market. They didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with You Jin.
After going to Cuifeng Mountain, You Jin made way to the small cave where she stored her prey. First, adjust the clothes she was wearing inside to outside. Then put the wild chickens and hares that had been here for a day or two into a specially prepared big backpack and carried the heavy backpack on her back. She have to passed over the Cuifeng Mountain from the side and then walk to the other end of the Cuifeng Mountain before she can take the official road.
In the mountain forest in the early autumn morning, the branches were covered with transparent dewdrops. With a heavy bag on her back, You Jin struggled to climb over Cuifeng Mountain along a narrow, winding trail. She had traveled on this path before when she was being adventurous. She knew that this road eventually led to the south of Cuifeng Mountain. Then walk for another half an hour, she'll reacg the official road on the edge of a small village. There, there were many ox carts sending customers around market days. They can take people to Liutun Town for a penny.
You Jin went out early today. When dawn reached the east side, she left Cuifeng Village. When she got to the edge of the official road, the red round sun was already half exposed. It seemed to be shyly peeking on the top of the east hill as it watched the world that had gradually become lively.
After You Jin reached the official road for a moment, an ox cart slowly came over. You Jin hurriedly reached out and flagged: "Uncle! I want to catch a ride!"
The uncle, who was driving the ox cart, hurriedly stopped the slow ox cart when he heard someone called him to halt. When he saw that it was a half-growth boy, he merrily said: "Boy, sitting on an ox cart require money. Do you have money?"
You Jin hurriedly digged around her body. Finally, a penny was taken out and handed to the uncle: "Uncle, I have money!"
The ox cart uncle saw that she had the money, so he jollily let her get in the cart. At this time, there were already two women in the cart who were also going to Liutun Town for the market. Seeing that You Jin was getting on, they politely moved over and made room for her.
You Jin smilingly thanked and then sat down quietly. The ox cart staggered to Liutun Town.
One of the women looked You Jin up and down a few times and noticed that the big basket on her back was covered with a sackcloth. She smilingly asked, "What the adults in your family, kid? How can they be rest assured enough to let a half-grown boy like you go to the market alone?"
"My father is a hunter on the Cuifeng Mountain. He got some mountain goods and told me to take them to the town to sell them and then get my mother some medicine back!"
You Jin made up a nonsense without blinking her eyelids: "Auntie, don't judge by by my size. I'm twelve! My father said I'm already a man!"
You Jin's words made the two women laugh out loud: "You hairless half-grown boy dare to call yourself a man!"
You Jin let out an embarrassedly grin and then inquired with the two: "Auntie, this is my first time going to the market in Liutun Town. I don't know where this mountain goods should be sold!"
One of the biggest characteristics of the villagers was their friendliness. Seeing You Jin ask this question, the two women told what they knew: "In Liutun Town, we usually go to the west side's market on the market day to sell. If you want to sell it at a good price, I'm afraid you have to go to the restaurants' back kitchen and ask the chefs if they want mountain goods."
The uncle at front also heard it. While driving, he spoke: "In our town, the place that buy a lot of mountain goods is Umami Room. Anyone who has some money in our town likes to eat there. I had taken a hunter to town before and he sent the games to Umami Room. If you want, you can try there.”
Hearing this, she hurriedly thanked: "Thank you uncle for the advice. I'll ask there when I get to the town later."
Although You Jin traveled from the ox cart on the official road in the south of Cuifeng Mountain, it took half an hour to reach the gate of the town. The speed of the ox cart was much faster than that of human legs. After the ox cart stopped, You Jin got out of the cart with a heavy basket on her back. She thanked the man who was driving the cart before walking into the town.
This was You Jin's third time to the town. Liutun town wasn't very big. So it was easy for You Jin to find the back door of Umami Room.
The author has something to say: Well, let me explain to little cuties: You Jin is just a little girl in her early teens with a relatively determined mind. Her strength is only a little bigger than that of normal children. No natural supernatural power. Lastly, she and a few younger sisters belonged to the disadvantaged group in Yue Family. Many things could only be endured. After all, if they went face on, they would be the ones who would suffer...
Qingshan knows it's hard to watch now. I've been scolded by Ji You more than 800 times.
Knowing that old Mrs. Chen and others were going to the market on the 26th, You Jin will naturally go over. But she has to go before old Mrs. Chen and others and return back before them too. Taking advantage of the two days of pigweed gathering trip in the mountain, You Jin had went to the usually inaccessible place in the Cuifeng Mountain alone and had laid down a lot of ropes. She held a large a bag that was sewn together from Mrs. Su's old broken coarse clothes for smoking rabbits.
Carrying an empty bamboo basket on her back, she cleared the path with a long bamboo pole in her hand. One by one, she searched the ropes she set on the path. She found a good bunch of wild chicken's nest and a lot of eggs. It was a abundant harvest.
Before reaching the end of the knot that was laid down yesterday, she heard a fluttering sound. You Jin instantly became energetic: Caught something! After walking around a towering tree the size of a three-person embrace, she saw a wild chicken with colorful feathers fluttering its wings and trying to break free from the knot that tightly bound its left foot. The knot remained unbroken. You Jin arrived.
Seeing that it turned out to be a large rooster, surprise flashed in You Jin's eyes. She hurried over to grab the wild chicken that was about to break free. Then she pulled a vine and tightly tied the wild chicken's feet to stop it from escaping. Afterward, the large wild chicken around three or four jins was casually thrown into the basket. She continued to look for the next knot that was placed yesterday.
You Jin's harvest today was quite good. She laid thirteen nooses yesterday. Today she collected a total of four wild chickens and two hares. It can be said to be quite fruitful. Carrying a basket full of pheasants and rabbits, You Jin hummed a little song and found a small cave which can only fit two people.
Standing on the edge of the small cave, she put all the pheasants and hares in the simple bag that Mrs. Su sewed for her and then put them in the small cave. Finally, she broke a lot of branches and leaves to cover the small cave. Strictly, after checking that there was no trace of hiding such things could be seen from the outside, she breathed a sigh of relief. Clapping her hands, she then gathered pigweed before heading home.
You Jin's desire to take everyone away from Yue family had became a common secret among the sisters. Everyone knew that Third Elder Sister was going up the mountain today to hunt stuff to exchange for money. So everyone lined up to sit at the door of the west wing with their heads raised as they looked forward. As soon as they heard the courtyard door sound out, they all swarmed over: "Third Elder Sister!"
You Zhu ushered to speak, "Third Elder Sister, how is it?"
Although her mouth was quick, she knew what to say and what not to say. Especially since the grandparents were in the main room and Eldest Aunt and Eldest Sister were also watching from the east wing.
You Jin first smiled and stretched her hand into the basket behind her and took out a leaf-wrapped bundle. After opening it, a cluster of ripe goat's milk fruit. She distributed a few to each sister and merrily replied: "Don't worry. there are more!"
After listening to You Jin's words, You Yin, You Zhu, and You Bao, who knew the inside story, jumped up happily. While clueless You Ling, You Luo, and You Chou ate the delicious goat's milk fruit and laughed with joy. However, the happy atmosphere in the second branch didn't last long. Yue You Ting, who came back from the toilet hut in the backyard, frowned lightly. She was copying the city girls. She was dressed in fine cotton clothes, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and sashayed over.
Seeing the few lowly girls from second branch making a fuss, she thought there was something fun. Unexpectedly, it was just a few goat milk fruit. She rolled my eyes slightly and pouted: "It's really some lowly bugs who has never seen the world. A few goat's milk fruits is worth being happy like this? Don't say that you are from our Yue Family when you go out, lest that to lose our family's face!"
The sisters, who were initially high-spirited about eating goat's milk fruit, bowed their heads and didn't dare to speak after being disdained by Eldest Sister's shooting remark. When You Jin saw it was her, the smile on her face faded about seventy percent. She stared at her coldly and said, "We are all country girls who have never seen the world. Eldest Sister, you, the eldest miss of a scholarly family, better not talk to us. And prevent your mouth from getting dirty, right?"
Then the smile on her face gained a slight malicious edge: "Eldest Sister is prettily dressed. Unlike us who are dressed in rags. If you get close in a while, a flea or itchy bug will jump to you, don't blame us for this!"
After listening to You Jin's words, Yue You Ting took a few steps back as if she had encountered something dirty. Afterward, she grumpily scolded 'lowly girl'. Only then, she regained her senses. Imitating You Jin's cold-eyed glance, she replied: "I'm too lazy to bother with you lowly girls!"
With a light "hmph", she sashayed her hips and went back to the east wing.
Seeing her act like a defeated cockfight persisting to hold her head high with a stern look, You Jin couldn't help but want to laugh. This Yue You Ting really thinks of herself as an official family's young miss. She hasn't become an official family's miss yet and her music score are filled to the max. If her two brothers are really lucky in the future and gain a rank, then won't her tail be raised to the sky?
Taking her younger sisters back to the west wing, You Jin whispered to Mrs. Su about today's situation. Then she instructed the younger sisters: "I will go to the town the day after tomorrow to sell the wild chickens and hares I caught. They can definitely exchange for some money. You guys stay at home. If Grandmother and Eldest Aunt come back early, You Zhu wait for me at the old elm tree at the foot of Cuifeng Mountain, understand?"
Everything was properly arranged. The next day, You Jin went up the mountain to catch a lot of pheasants and hares. Perhaps due to having no hunters in Cuifeng Village these years, these wild animals on the mountain weren't very afraid of people. The traps set up by You Jin was very easy to use. She placed the ones caught today and hide them with the pheasants and hares from yesterday. Only need to wait until tomorrow morning to carry them all to the market and sell them for money.
***
In the early morning of the second day, You Jin first put on the clothes Mrs. Su changed for her underneath. Then she put on her usual clothes outside. Although she looked a little bloated, it was almost late autumn. Since the weather was cold, nobody would find it strange.
You Jin passed by in front of old Mrs. Chen and others and went straight up the mountain. Old Mrs. Chen and the others were busy packing up the goods they were going to sell in the market. They didn't notice anything out of the ordinary with You Jin.
After going to Cuifeng Mountain, You Jin made way to the small cave where she stored her prey. First, adjust the clothes she was wearing inside to outside. Then put the wild chickens and hares that had been here for a day or two into a specially prepared big backpack and carried the heavy backpack on her back. She have to passed over the Cuifeng Mountain from the side and then walk to the other end of the Cuifeng Mountain before she can take the official road.
In the mountain forest in the early autumn morning, the branches were covered with transparent dewdrops. With a heavy bag on her back, You Jin struggled to climb over Cuifeng Mountain along a narrow, winding trail. She had traveled on this path before when she was being adventurous. She knew that this road eventually led to the south of Cuifeng Mountain. Then walk for another half an hour, she'll reacg the official road on the edge of a small village. There, there were many ox carts sending customers around market days. They can take people to Liutun Town for a penny.
You Jin went out early today. When dawn reached the east side, she left Cuifeng Village. When she got to the edge of the official road, the red round sun was already half exposed. It seemed to be shyly peeking on the top of the east hill as it watched the world that had gradually become lively.
After You Jin reached the official road for a moment, an ox cart slowly came over. You Jin hurriedly reached out and flagged: "Uncle! I want to catch a ride!"
The uncle, who was driving the ox cart, hurriedly stopped the slow ox cart when he heard someone called him to halt. When he saw that it was a half-growth boy, he merrily said: "Boy, sitting on an ox cart require money. Do you have money?"
You Jin hurriedly digged around her body. Finally, a penny was taken out and handed to the uncle: "Uncle, I have money!"
The ox cart uncle saw that she had the money, so he jollily let her get in the cart. At this time, there were already two women in the cart who were also going to Liutun Town for the market. Seeing that You Jin was getting on, they politely moved over and made room for her.
You Jin smilingly thanked and then sat down quietly. The ox cart staggered to Liutun Town.
One of the women looked You Jin up and down a few times and noticed that the big basket on her back was covered with a sackcloth. She smilingly asked, "What the adults in your family, kid? How can they be rest assured enough to let a half-grown boy like you go to the market alone?"
"My father is a hunter on the Cuifeng Mountain. He got some mountain goods and told me to take them to the town to sell them and then get my mother some medicine back!"
You Jin made up a nonsense without blinking her eyelids: "Auntie, don't judge by by my size. I'm twelve! My father said I'm already a man!"
You Jin's words made the two women laugh out loud: "You hairless half-grown boy dare to call yourself a man!"
You Jin let out an embarrassedly grin and then inquired with the two: "Auntie, this is my first time going to the market in Liutun Town. I don't know where this mountain goods should be sold!"
One of the biggest characteristics of the villagers was their friendliness. Seeing You Jin ask this question, the two women told what they knew: "In Liutun Town, we usually go to the west side's market on the market day to sell. If you want to sell it at a good price, I'm afraid you have to go to the restaurants' back kitchen and ask the chefs if they want mountain goods."
The uncle at front also heard it. While driving, he spoke: "In our town, the place that buy a lot of mountain goods is Umami Room. Anyone who has some money in our town likes to eat there. I had taken a hunter to town before and he sent the games to Umami Room. If you want, you can try there.”
Hearing this, she hurriedly thanked: "Thank you uncle for the advice. I'll ask there when I get to the town later."
Although You Jin traveled from the ox cart on the official road in the south of Cuifeng Mountain, it took half an hour to reach the gate of the town. The speed of the ox cart was much faster than that of human legs. After the ox cart stopped, You Jin got out of the cart with a heavy basket on her back. She thanked the man who was driving the cart before walking into the town.
This was You Jin's third time to the town. Liutun town wasn't very big. So it was easy for You Jin to find the back door of Umami Room.
The author has something to say: Well, let me explain to little cuties: You Jin is just a little girl in her early teens with a relatively determined mind. Her strength is only a little bigger than that of normal children. No natural supernatural power. Lastly, she and a few younger sisters belonged to the disadvantaged group in Yue Family. Many things could only be endured. After all, if they went face on, they would be the ones who would suffer...
Qingshan knows it's hard to watch now. I've been scolded by Ji You more than 800 times.
thanks for update
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting for the day when they can live away from that horrible family. Thank you for the chapter!
ReplyDeleteI really waiting for what it's is to happen, please more update. Thanks
ReplyDeleteI really like how realistic this all feels except the whole transmigration/reincarnation thing every thing feels very down to earth
ReplyDeleteThe usual historical type Chinese novels are usually set in cut throat imperial courts so having this layman's type stuff is really nice