Reborn with a Space: Building a Fortune Amidst Famine

Chapter 10 - 10 Wicked

”If any of you donʼt listen, youʼll get a beating when I find out.”

”Uncle, we saw that little girl again today. She was carrying a bundle of branches and we ran into each other.”

”Donʼt worry about her.”

The few young men fell silent, but surely they were not convinced.

That night, Yang Hongwen and his wife were lying in bed. ”Are you sure about what you said?”

”Yes, indeed. I hadnʼt paid much attention before, but after seeing that big wild boar, I thought that girl was strange. Then I remembered, when I got into the water back then, it was up to my chest, but that little girl couldnʼt have been tall enough, yet she was just floating on the surface.”

”How is that possible? Honestly, I donʼt believe such a small girl could kill a wild boar weighing hundreds of pounds, let alone do it all by herself. I even thought about going up the mountain to see.

But now I finally believe it. Still, is it okay to give that little girl so much money?”

”I think anyone who covets her money wonʼt meet a good end.

Besides, I donʼt want to be suspected. Three hundred yuan is a lot, but itʼs blood money, so itʼs not that much really.”

”Yes, after all, it was earned by risking her life. I heard from Chunhua that the girlʼs stomach was bruised. Itʼs a miracle sheʼs okay. If something inside had been damaged, sheʼd have no chance of surviving.”

Next morning, Su Yuanyuan got up early. She couldnʼt let herself get caught by someone again.

After eating a bowl of fried rice with egg and a glass of milk, she felt truly happy to be full.

Everything was ready, just waiting for Hu Chunhua to arrive.

Su Yuanyuan knew she didnʼt need any tickets now, so she could buy more things. But she couldnʼt buy too much at once; anyway, there would be more opportunities in the future.

Hu Chunhua arrived, accompanied by two women.

Su Yuanyuan recognized them as the ones who had brought her brown sugar and ginger the other day.

”Aunties, Third Aunt.” She greeted them with a smile.

”Letʼs go, weʼre heading to the market. Girl, what do you want to buy?”

Su Yuanyuan smiled, ”Third Aunt, I donʼt have anything, but I want to buy a kitchen knife, an axe, and thereʼs no basin either.”

”The blacksmith from the county will be here today. You should also buy a sickle, hoe, pickaxe, spade, flat shovel, crop knife, and a small hoe.

All these are essential for spring planting. Your family used to farm for six people; now even though thereʼs only your plot left, you still have two acres. It will be tough for a little girl like you. At that time, you wonʼt be able to borrow them, everyone will need to use them.”

”Third Aunt, got it. You guys help me choose later. I donʼt know much about these things.”

”Sure, weʼll help you choose and bargain. By the way, you should also buy a pair of scissors.”

The four of them walked along, discussing what they wanted to buy.

Su Yuanyuan felt uncertain inside. Did she have enough money? It seemed she really needed to buy quite a lot of stuff. Wasnʼt she thinking of buying some grains too?

”Auntie, I only have half a bag of corn left at home. I want to buy some grain.”

”You donʼt have to buy that at the market. You can get it in the village.”

Su Yuanyuan nodded. ”Auntie, what can I buy?”

”You can buy everything, but there isnʼt much white flour.”

”Just a pound of white flour will do. I want to make dumplings for my grandpa during the New Year.”

”Alright, Iʼll make arrangements for you. I donʼt have much grain at home, nothing for sale.”

”Iʼve got some at home. Girl, what do you need?”

”Auntie, Iʼll take one pound of white flour, two pounds of millet, fifty pounds of sorghum rice, and fifty pounds of corn.”

The little girl remembered that the village had a good harvest of sorghum this year.

”Alright, Iʼll deliver them to you when we get back.”

There were plenty of people heading to the market like them. Since it was the slack season for farming, everyone had been working hard for such a long time. Now they finally had a chance. Of course, everyone wanted to take a little stroll.

”Auntie, is there any cloth for sale at the market? I want to make a set of clothes. Itʼd be great if there were some cotton.

But first, I have to get the farming tools ready. I also have to set aside money for buying grains. If thereʼs any money left, only then will I consider buying cloth.

Auntie, how much will the grain I just asked for cost?”

”Sorghum rice is ten cents per pound, so fifty pounds is five yuan and fifty cents. White flour is fifty cents. Millet is twenty cents, and corn is also ten cents, so thatʼs another five yuan and fifty cents. You just give me twelve, and Iʼll give you three pounds of millet.”

”Alright, thank you, Auntie,” Su Yuanyuan said, handing over twelve yuan and fifty cents to Meng Xiangtianʼs family. ”Auntie, you take it first; Iʼm afraid I might not hold on to it later and want to buy everything I see.

I actually know that nothing is more important than grain, without it one would starve. You decide on some vegetables for me with the remaining fifty cents.” Meng Xiangtianʼs wife, Zhao Guiying, didnʼt refuse and accepted the money directly.

She was also afraid that the child might spend it all. There was only sixty-three yuan in total; it sounded like a lot, but the girl lacked everything. She shouldnʼt be left with no food.

Hu Chunhua didnʼt say anything either. She also thought the most important purchase was grain. It seemed that the girl understood well.

Now Su Yuanyuan felt much more relaxed.

After an hour, they reached town. This was the largest market.

”Auntie, can you go with me to buy the tools first, then Iʼll just wait for you nearby.”

”Sure. The tool seller is right outside.” This way, they wouldnʼt waste any time.

Su Yuanyuan saw the iron tools laid out on the ground, and she really felt that she might not be able to return; she wanted everything.

Kitchen knife, scissors, sickle, chopping knife, hoe, two iron shovels, large pickaxe, small pickaxe, small hoe, crop knife. A total of eleven items.

”Old Yang, buying so much, how much should we pay?” Hu Chunhua asked.

”For you buying, itʼs surely cheaper. How about this; itʼll be eighteen yuan in total, how about that? Do you think this price is reasonable?”

”Eighteen yuan is fine, but you have to include handles for the shovels and pickaxes, all equipped with handles.”

”Thatʼs really not possible. You know those arenʼt my goods. If you get everything equipped with handles, youʼd give me two more yuan.”

”Then throw in this small knife. You can see this is for the little girlʼs tools. Her cruel parents left her with nothing, have a little pity on the child.”

Su Yuanyuan cooperated with Zhao Guiyingʼs words, looking pitiful.

”Alright, today Iʼll take the loss.” All the iron tools were directly packed into a frame, while the handles were tied together, so they had to be carried.

Su Yuanyuan gave twenty yuan, now feeling at ease. The money was really well spent.

”Auntie, you guys go shop now, Iʼll wander around and get a few basins.”

”Letʼs go. After we buy for you, weʼll continue.”

They mainly feared that the little girlʼs money might get pocketed by someone else.

Su Yuanyuan looked at the aluminum basins, honestly didnʼt like them, but had no choice. Anyway, it was just for appearances.