The Farm Girl and the Executioner (Rebirth) 31

Chapter 31: Experiencing the Heated Kang

The three of them had just left the Everlasting Peace Apothecary when a horse came galloping toward them, the rider shouting Jiang Huaizhen’s name.

The newcomer was Hu Guiying. She jumped off her horse and said angrily, “I just found out you came to the city to sell flatbreads, and you didn’t even tell me. I just chased away those people surnamed Ma. If I find out they dare to bother you again, I’ll make sure they regret it.”

Jiang Huaizhen said, “It’s alright. We’re not going there anymore.”

Old Madam Jiang didn’t know what had happened at the flatbread stall. Hearing Hu Guiying’s words, she quickly asked, “Did someone cause trouble for you just now?”

Only then did Lin Shuang say, “It was my aunt and a few of her sisters-in-law from her parents’ village. They revealed Sister Jiang’s identity.”

Old Madam Jiang knew what it meant for her granddaughter’s identity to be revealed. Thinking that what she had worried about had happened, she was so angry she began to curse, “That bitch surnamed Ma! She just sold her niece, and she’s still not satisfied with the money. How dare she meddle in our affairs! Why didn’t you bring me over this morning? I would have cursed her ancestors out of their coffins.”

Lin Shuang quickly comforted her, “Then Grandma, you must take good care of your health. Sister Jiang is a fool and doesn’t know how to curse. She’s waiting for you to have the strength to stand up for us.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Jiang’s withered hand clenched into a fist, wanting to punch something to vent her anger. But she was lying on Jiang Huaizhen’s back and couldn’t hit anyone. She could only say, “When I can get out of bed and leave the valley, I’ll curse her for three days and three nights.”

Look at that, was this still the old woman who used to talk about death all day?

Lin Shuang couldn’t help but exchange a glance with Jiang Huaizhen.

Hu Guiying, who was next to them, asked, “Huaizhen just said you’re not going to sell there anymore. Then where are you going?”

Jiang Huaizhen said, “Doctor Xue just gave us an idea. He suggested we sell on the official road to the passing merchants. Those people are in a hurry and won’t care about our identity. We just need to focus on the food.”

Hu Guiying was stunned for a moment, then burst out laughing. “Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant! Those traveling merchants are starving on the road and are willing to spend money. They can eat half a flatbread or a whole one at a time. Even if it’s not delicious, it’s a one-time deal. But Sister Shuang’s sauce flatbreads are so delicious, I’m afraid these merchants will still be thinking about them after they go back.”

Once her mind was opened, the originally heavy atmosphere became light and cheerful again.

But the old woman said, “It’s a long way to the official road. Just relying on two legs to push a wheelbarrow will use up half your energy on the road. By the time you get there, you’ll be tired. How can you make flatbreads?”

Hu Guiying quickly suggested, “Hire a cart to take you there first. When you earn money in the future, you can buy a horse-drawn carriage, and it will be convenient.”

Lin Shuang asked her, “How much did your horse cost?”

Hu Guiying patted the old horse with its mottled scars. “This is my old uncle’s horse. It’s really inconvenient to catch criminals without a horse, and the yamen doesn’t provide one, so we have to find our own way. But these are all retired from the battlefield. This horse cost six taels back then, and it should be able to be ridden for another ten years without a problem.”

“If it were a good horse, it wouldn’t be this price. Don’t even think about it for less than twenty taels.”

Hearing her say six taels of silver, Lin Shuang silently calculated the money they had earned these past few days.

Obviously, it wasn’t enough to buy a horse.

“Let’s find an ox-cart for now.”

If they could earn two or three hundred copper coins a day, they could afford to spend ten on an ox-cart.

“But we have to get to the main road first to hail a cart.”

Hu Guiying quickly said, “There’s a man in my village who drives an ox-cart. Do you want me to ask him to take you? But he has to take the first group of people to the city in the morning before he can come to your place.”

Lin Shuang said, “That’s alright. The merchants on the official road mostly pass by Changping in the afternoon, so we don’t need to be early. But is he willing to come into the valley?”

When they hailed a cart outside, those cart drivers didn’t know their identity, so nothing happened. But if they asked someone to come directly to their door, they would know Jiang Huaizhen’s identity as an executioner and might have reservations.

Hu Guiying, of course, knew what she was worried about and smiled. “Don’t worry. His motto is to earn money whenever there’s money to be earned. As long as you pay enough, he’ll even transport the dead.”

Hearing her say this, the two of them were relieved.

Hu Guiying was still on duty and couldn’t see them off. Lin Shuang hailed an ox-cart, and they got on with the wheelbarrow, heading for the village.

After returning and eating, Lin Shuang went to bed for a short nap. When she woke up in the afternoon, Jiang Huaizhen asked her what her plans were for tomorrow.

“Since Old Madam Xue and the others are coming the day after tomorrow, let’s not go out tomorrow. How about we tidy up the house? Or do you have other plans?”

It was just over a month and a half until the new year. Since they had time, they could mend the damaged parts of the roof and replace the wood that had been eaten by insects.

Jiang Huaizhen shook her head. “I… before you came, I was thinking about how to earn money every day but couldn’t find a way. After you came, I don’t have to think about anything. From now on, you’ll be in charge of the family’s affairs. Just tell me what to do, and I’ll do it.”

Lin Shuang’s eyes curved into a smile. “Alright then. I’ll be in charge of the small matters at home and earning money, and you’ll be in charge of the big matters outside.”

Jiang Huaizhen said, “Alright.”

Having decided to repair the house, the two of them didn’t sleep in the next day and got up early.

After breakfast, they first went halfway up the mountain to cut a few large bundles of thatch to have in reserve.

Other than the main hall and the two bedrooms in the front, which were tiled, the kitchen and the storage room in the back were all covered with thatch. There were already a few leaks, which needed to be replaced.

When they returned, Jiang Huaizhen set up a ladder and went up to the roof to check the leaks.

The purlins and wooden panels in two or three places had been corroded by the rain. They had to remove the tiles, replace the wooden boards, and then put the tiles and thatch back to finish the job.

Lin Shuang was below, telling her where the leaks were and helping her pass up the boards and tiles.

Jiang Huaizhen was skilled in carpentry. She squatted on the roof, hammering away for half a day, and finally fixed the beams. After lunch, she went up again to put the tiles back.

While she was busy on the roof, Lin Shuang was not idle below. She sorted the thatch into bundles and tied them together with thin hemp rope, making bundles of thatch.

Seeing them busy, the old woman couldn’t sit still either. She asked Lin Shuang to bring her a stool and wanted to help tie the thatch.

Although she couldn’t do much, Lin Shuang, seeing her vitality, didn’t try to dissuade her.

After Jiang Huaizhen had removed the old thatch, she just had to fix the newly tied bundles on top.

After finishing the top, they then worked on the corners of the house, removing the broken parts, repairing and mending, and then cleaning the inside and outside of the house.

By the time they were done, it was dark. Lin Shuang made some porridge and a dish to go with the flatbreads, and the day was over.

Unexpectedly, it rained the next day, just after they had finished repairing the roof. The originally crisp autumn weather became a little cooler and more desolate.

Lin Shuang didn’t know if Doctor Xue would come in this weather, but she still got up early and heated the kang. The old woman’s room was warm and cozy.

Jiang Huaizhen was busy repairing the furniture at home. She would remove the broken legs and replace them with new ones. If they were beyond repair, she would use them as firewood.

She also removed the shaky window and replaced it with a new one.

Seeing her busy at home, the old woman complained that she was noisy, but her eyes were clearly very happy.

Only those who had hope for the future would pay attention to their present life, notice the small things around them, and carefully repair and clean their living space.

Doctor Xue and his party arrived at the first quarter of the Hour of the Snake(9:00 AM to 11:00 AM) in the morning.

It wasn’t raining heavily, just a fine drizzle, so they could walk without an umbrella.

The white-haired Old Madam Xue was helped out of the carriage by Doctor Xue and his wife. After getting out, the old lady looked around the valley. “It’s a quiet place. The road in is paved with stone slabs, so you don’t get muddy. It’s much better than the yellow mud road outside.”

Doctor Xue said, “This is my second time here. I heard that these stone slab roads were built by Miss Jiang when she was twelve.”

“She really is an extraordinary girl,” Mrs. Xue smiled.

“Sigh, it gets cold as soon as it rains. I’ve only been out for a little while, and I already feel a chill. I don’t know if this kang will be of any use,” Old Madam Xue was indeed afraid of the cold. It wasn’t even winter yet, and she was already wrapped in thick cotton clothes.

Doctor Xue said, “I told you not to come, but you insisted. Now you’re suffering.”

Old Madam Xue said, “It’s not tiring to sit in a carriage for a while. I sit at home all day, and my old bones are getting rusty. I usually just walk around the city, and I’m tired of seeing it. It’s good to come out to the countryside and get some fresh air.”

Their eldest daughter, Xue Luan, and two young servants followed behind, carrying large and small bags of gifts.

As they were talking, they saw Jiang Huaizhen and Lin Shuang come out with an umbrella to greet them.

They entered the house together and were led directly to Old Madam Jiang’s room.

Xue Luan was thirteen or fourteen, an age when she was most concerned with good looks. Yesterday, when she had gone to the stall to buy sauce flatbreads, it was her little sisters who had egged her on. Now, seeing the Little Sister Jiang that her group of friends had been secretly discussing standing by the door, her eyes held a hint of a smile, not as cold as she had seemed outside. When she almost slipped, Jiang Huaizhen had even reached out and grabbed her arm, making her little face flush red and her heart beat wildly.

It was raining and windy outside, and Old Madam Xue was very cold. As soon as she entered the room, a wave of warm air washed over her, and her whole body instantly felt comfortable.

“Oh, it’s so warm.”

Old Madam Jiang stood with her cane, supporting herself against the wall. Seeing them enter, she smiled. “This kang has been heating for an hour. It’s nice and warm. If you’re cold, come and sit on the kang.”

Mrs. Xue smiled. “We’re imposing on you. This is the first time we’ve heard of this heated kang. We’re all so curious, and my mother-in-law and the children all wanted to come and see it.”

Xue Luan couldn’t help but ask, “Isn’t this a bed? Why is the table on it?”

Lin Shuang explained, “The kangs in northern families have many uses. During the day, they are used for needlework, keeping warm, and eating. At night, the things on top are removed, and it’s used as a bed.”

“Then I’ll go up and sit on it and see how warm it is,” Xue Luan said excitedly.

Mrs. Xue also squatted down to help her mother-in-law take off her shoes and socks and helped her onto the kang.

When the old lady’s ice-cold legs touched the warm surface of the kang, she cried out in comfort. She turned to Old Madam Jiang and said, “Old sister, you should come up too. This kang is so big. Don’t let us take over your nest and leave you standing there.”

Old Madam Jiang said, “This kang has been in the room for over ten days. I can lie on it any day. It’s rare for you to come. Sit for a while longer.”

Old Madam Xue beckoned to her. “There’s still room. Come on up.”

Old Madam Jiang couldn’t refuse and had to get on the kang as well.

Old Madam Xue turned and, not seeing her son, called out, “Shanwen, we can’t delay this kang. We have to build it as soon as we get back. I can’t wait a moment longer.”

The room was full of women. When Doctor Xue had entered, he hadn’t gone directly into Old Madam Jiang’s room but had instead looked at the herbs that Lin Shuang and Jiang Huaizhen had gathered in the main hall. Seeing how carefully they had processed them and how good the quality was, he couldn’t help but praise them.

He asked Jiang Huaizhen, “I didn’t know you knew how to identify medicinal herbs. You’re no worse than the apprentices in the hall.”

Jiang Huaizhen replied honestly, “It wasn’t me who identified them. Lin Shuang taught me. We went up the mountain together to gather them… Someone in her maternal grandfather’s family knows about medicine, and they taught her.”

Doctor Xue: “She’s a clever child.”

Just as he was speaking, he heard his old mother calling him from the other room. He quickly turned and walked toward the kang room.

After entering the room, he felt the surface of the kang and looked at the general structure of the heated kang. He stroked his beard. “So this is the structure.”

“Shanwen, let’s build it tonight when we get back,” Old Madam Xue said.

Doctor Xue was at a loss for words. “Mother, you’re still the same. It’s raining today, and I haven’t even asked Little Jiang and the others when they’re free.”

“Just the two of them built this kang?”

Old Madam Jiang said proudly, “Yes, just the two of them. They can finish it in one morning.”

She had completely forgotten how disgusted she had been when the two of them had started building the kang.

Only then did Doctor Xue look at Jiang Huaizhen and ask, “Little Jiang… when are you convenient?”

Jiang Huaizhen and Lin Shuang had already discussed this. She replied, “We’re free tomorrow. We’ll set off early in the morning.”

Hearing this, Old Madam Xue’s face lit up with a smile, and she said “good” several times.

After experiencing the kang, the Xue family proposed to leave. Lin Shuang had already gone to the kitchen to cook when they had entered, and she asked them to stay for a meal.

Just for Doctor Xue’s advice to sell flatbreads on the official road, she had to thank him properly.

The Xue family couldn’t refuse and had to stay for the meal.

There were still three of the large, fat rabbits they had caught before. She killed one and braised it with chili, then made a fresh bamboo shoot and chicken stew, steamed egg with yam, and a cold vegetable salad. She also made a few large flatbreads.

Her cooking skills were good. Some of the dishes were heavy in flavor, while others were light, suitable for everyone. The Xue family of four, along with the two young apprentices, ate with relish, praising her endlessly.

Xue Luan even belittled her mother’s cooking, which made Mrs. Xue want to hit her on the head with her chopsticks. The room was full of life.

Since she had entered the valley in her youth, Old Madam Jiang had never experienced such an atmosphere at home. For a moment, she was filled with mixed emotions.

It wasn’t until after she had seen them off that she stared at her granddaughter and said, “When can our family be as lively as theirs?”

Jiang Huaizhen knew what she was implying and pretended to be deaf and dumb. “If you really want it to be lively, I’ll go and pick up a few from outside to raise.”

The old woman said unhappily, “Those outside are not your children. What do I want them for?”

Jiang Huaizhen suddenly smiled. “I’m not Father’s flesh and blood either, but don’t you still dote on me?”

Hearing this, Old Madam Jiang couldn’t keep a straight face and felt embarrassed. She cursed, “Who dotes on you? If I hadn’t seen how pitiful you were back then, I wouldn’t have even bothered to give you a bite to eat—”

With that, she grumbled and hobbled back to her room with her cane.