Chapter 88: Dusty
When Lin Shuang and Jiang Huaizhen arrived home with the medicinal herb seeds, it was already dark.
At this hour, the seedlings could only be planted the next day.
Fortunately, they had gone to Yinzhou in a carriage. On their way back, the seedlings were in the carriage, their roots with mud, and wrapped in wet cloth strips. They could be kept for three to five days.
Of course, not all seedlings could be kept for so long. For medicinal herbs with more delicate root systems, such as ginseng and sanqi, Lin Shuang had not chosen seedlings, but seeds.
Seeing the two of them looking dusty, Old Madam Jiang’s heart ached. She urged them to go and wash up, while she prepared dinner.
Ping’er hadn’t seen them for a few days and was very clingy, calling out “Auntie” one after another, very affectionately.
Even when Lin Shuang went in to take a bath, she had to stay outside the door and talk to her.
“Auntie, how far is Yinzhou? Do you have to travel by carriage at night?”
“Is Yinzhou bigger than our village?”
“Are there delicious flatbreads in Yinzhou? Are there candied haws? Are there taro cakes?”
Lin Shuang hadn’t seen her for many days. Hearing her milky voice and clingy appearance, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of pity. She patiently answered her one by one through the door.
“Your big sister also brought you a bracelet. I’ll give it to you after Auntie has finished her bath.”
She had bought two bracelets, one for the old woman, which was made of sandalwood and could refresh the mind. And Ping’er’s was made of cypress, which could soothe the nerves and resist germs.
Hearing that there was a gift, Ping’er was overjoyed and jumped up and down outside the bathroom.
She still didn’t forget to take credit. “I’ve been helping Grandma with the work. I’ve cut a lot of pig grass every day. I’ve fed the chickens and the rabbits. When Grandma was cooking, I also helped her get firewood.”
Lin Shuang had just finished her bath and came out with her wet hair. She picked her up and kissed her. “Our Ping’er is so good and so capable. Which family has such a good little girl—”
Being tickled by her, Ping’er giggled and struggled to get down.
Jiang Huaizhen was at the door, sorting out the medicine seedlings. These seedlings had been stuffy in the carriage, and if they were not dealt with in time, the tender seedlings would be burned. She took them out and placed them in a cool place, then sprayed some water, waiting to plant them the next day.
She had not known how to do these things before, but after Lin Shuang had told her once, she had understood. After that, she had never needed to be taught a second time and would handle things in an orderly manner.
Lin Shuang was most at ease when she was doing things with her. Even when they were making sauce flatbreads before, she was in charge of seasoning and making the sauce, and Jiang Huaizhen would prepare the things she needed in advance, wash the pots and jars, and light the fire. And later, Lin Shuang didn’t even have to knead the dough.
Such a person was not only a good partner in life, but also a partner in work.
The longer she was with her, the more Lin Shuang felt that she had found a treasure.
“Go and take a bath after you’re done. Grandma is almost done with dinner.”
Jiang Huaizhen said, “I’ll wash after dinner. Otherwise, I’ll be sweating again in a while.”
Lin Shuang let her be and went back to her room to get a string of beads for Ping’er.
Old Madam Jiang and Ping’er had already eaten early. This meal was specially made for Lin Shuang and Jiang Huaizhen. After the two of them sat down to eat, Ping’er also took a small bowl and joined them for an extra meal.
The old woman had steamed a piece of cured meat, and had also stir-fried a dish of cucumber and duck eggs, plus a vegetable soup. The combination of meat and vegetables looked very delicious.
The two of them had been on the road for several days and were exhausted. The food on the road was not as good as at home. Now they were starving, and each of them ate a large bowl of rice.
They had bought half a pig from Butcher Zhang for the new year to make cured meat, and there was not much left. The old woman had not been willing to eat it when she was at home and had just made an egg for herself and Ping’er at every meal. Now, Ping’er was eating the cured meat, her mouth greasy.
Seeing her little greedy appearance, how could Lin Shuang not guess the family’s food situation? She said to Old Madam Jiang, “Grandma, Butcher Zhang comes to the village to sell meat every morning. When we’re not at home, you should also buy some meat to nourish your body. We’re not short on silver now.”
Old Madam Jiang snorted. “Aren’t eggs and duck eggs meat? Which family can have an egg at every meal?”
Lin Shuang didn’t argue with her. Anyway, she and Jiang Huaizhen would not be going out for long in the future. She couldn’t count on the old woman. They would just buy it themselves.
Halfway through the meal, Matron Yan came to play with Dongzhi.
The two of them had been away for four days. Worried about the old and the young at home, she had asked Matron Yan to come to the valley every day to take a look.
Matron Yan was now eager to have a relationship with them and readily agreed. She would go to the valley with Dongzhi every day after dinner. It made the village chief laugh at her, saying that she used to dislike the West Mountain Valley so much, but now she was so fawning. She was so angry that she hadn’t spoken to her old man for a long time.
Lin Shuang greeted them to eat, but Matron Yan had just finished eating and couldn’t eat any more. She moved a small stool and sat to one side to chat.
Dongzhi couldn’t help but share, “We had stir-fried pig’s head meat for dinner tonight. It was so delicious.”
Jiang Huaizhen smiled, got up, and took out a box of pastries she had brought back from Yinzhou. “I brought this specially for you.”
Dongzhi was a little surprised and also a little moved. She liked Jiang Huaizhen, but she also knew that this sister was very cold. She hadn’t expected her to bring her a gift this time.
Seeing her stunned, Matron Yan tugged on her sleeve. “If she gives it to you, just take it. You’re so silly.”
Only then did Dongzhi take it with a flattered expression. She eagerly opened the seal and, not wanting to eat it alone, she brought it to the few of them for everyone to take.
But only Matron Yan and Ping’er each took a piece. The rest were all hers, which made her so happy.
Only then did Matron Yan ask about their trip.
She had now made up her mind that any business that Lin Shuang was involved in was bound to be profitable. She was thinking of seeing if there was a chance to plant medicinal herbs with them.
These two little girls had bought a large house in the city. She was also envious. If she followed them for a few years, maybe her family could also afford one.
Lin Shuang didn’t hide it from her and said, “I told Huaizhen before that since we’re planting ourselves, we might as well bring everyone along. If the villagers are willing, that’s not impossible. But this is our first time planting, and we don’t know how it will turn out. If there’s really a harvest next year, we can plant together then.”
Hearing this, Matron Yan said excitedly, “You’re a capable person. It will definitely work out. Then you can bring our family along next year. Our family has a lot of land, and we can set aside ten mu for planting medicinal herbs.”
Lin Shuang smiled. “Alright. Then I have a rough idea.”
Seeing that the matter was settled, Matron Yan changed the subject. “Ma Guihua and Lin Mancang have been arguing at home every day these few days, and they’ve even started to fight. Sigh, they even have a grandson, and they’re becoming more and more impatient as they get older.”
Old Madam Jiang, who was next to her, looked at Lin Shuang and suddenly interjected, “It’s not for you to see, is it?”
Lin Shuang said grumpily, “I have nothing to do with them anymore. How can it be for me to see?”
After her parents had died, she had never had a full meal. Ping’er’s situation at that time was about the same. Not to mention that they had later arranged for her to go for a chongxi marriage, and when that failed, they had planned to sell her into a brothel.
It could be said that her tragedy at the Qin residence in her past life was inseparable from the couple’s pushing.
Don’t look at Lin Mancang’s silence. His mind was deeper than anyone else’s. It was just because he had a wife who showed her personality that some things he hadn’t had a chance to say or was afraid to do because of his face were brought up by Ma Guihua first.
It was fine if things didn’t go wrong. If they did, he would just blame it on Ma Guihua, and he could perfectly hide himself and pretend to be an honest and simple farmer.
Matron Yan said, “You say you have no connection, but they don’t think so. Now that you’ve just bought a large house in the city, who in the village is not envious? Lin Mancang used to be so closely related to you. He must be even more upset now, and he’s probably trying to find a way to get you to recognize him again.”
Before Lin Shuang could speak, Old Madam Jiang was unhappy. “What, is Lin Mancang the Jade Emperor? Can he just recognize her if he wants to?”
Lin Shuang hugged her arm and smiled. “Don’t worry, Grandma. I’ve decided on the Jiang family in this life.”
With that, her eyes glanced at the woman who was drinking her soup with her head down and added, “From now on, wherever you and Huaizhen are, I’ll be there.”
Jiang Huaizhen raised her head slightly and looked over.
Lin Shuang had already looked away at this time and said with a smile, “They’re just clowns. Let’s not bother with them and just live our own lives.”
