The crowing of roosters echoed, and Dahe Village awoke.
It was just dawn, and Cheng Loanloan was already sitting up in bed.
As she stirred, her three sons, who were sleeping in the same bed, also opened their eyes. Zhao Sidan mumbled, "Mother, I also want to go to the town."
Zhao Sanniu also spoke up, "Mother, I'm strong, let me go with you."
Of these four children, only the eldest had been to town a few times to sell firewood for salt and do other errands. The remaining three sons had never been to town; they were all children who had never seen the outside world.
Cheng Loanloan made up her mind and said, "Today we only have one hundred and thirty bowls of ice jelly. Only two people are needed, but we might buy a few other things, so we'll need someone to help. Dashan, Sanniu, you two come with me."
Zhao Ergou's eyes widened. "Mother, shouldn't it be me and Eldest Brother?"
If it were according to order, no matter how you looked at it, he should be the one to go, right?
He glared and huffed, glancing at Sanniu.
Zhao Sanniu chuckled, "Because I'm strong, hehe."
Cheng Loanloan smiled and nodded. "Sanniu is strong. Buying food and other things will be entrusted to you to carry back."
Actually, this child Sanniu was honest and kind, unlike the second child who had sharp eyes. If she took advantage of the situation to buy a few things from her space, the eldest and third children probably wouldn't notice.
Zhao Sanniu had no idea that he was chosen to go along simply because his intelligence was low. He happily got out of bed to wash his face.
Zhao Da's ox cart was parked at the village entrance, empty, with no one in sight. It made sense; in this era, every household lacked food, and they didn't even have a single *wen* to buy a little food, so how could they afford an ox cart? It only took about an hour to get there. Walking from before dawn until the sun appeared would get them to town, saving two *wen*, enough to buy a large steamed bun.
The mother and her two sons sat in the cart, carrying two carrying poles and four buckets. One bucket held ice jelly, two buckets held water for washing bowls, and the last bucket was for holding bowls.
The bowls at home were all chipped at the rim, unsuitable for guests. When they reached town, the first thing they had to do was buy bowls and spoons. They would start by buying ten sets. If that wasn't enough, it was good, meaning the place had business potential.
Zhao Da drove the ox cart and casually asked, "Dashan's mother, what are you going to do?"
Cheng Loanloan replied, "Try making some snacks and take them to town to see if they can be sold."
She earned money honestly and openly, and she would build a house honestly and openly, and even more so, live a comfortable and relaxed life honestly and openly.
So, for her business, she didn't intend to hide it from everyone in the village.
Of course, she wouldn't be foolish enough to reveal how much money she ultimately made.
Zhao Da didn't ask for details. People in the village often took various things to town to sell. The most common were chicken eggs and firewood. Skillful women would embroider handkerchiefs, and some made mung bean cakes and other things. In short, everyone worked to make a living, and each family had its own way of life.
The ox cart steadily traveled to Ping'an Town.
Not long after they set off, something by the roadside suddenly flew down and landed on Cheng Loanloan's arm.
She had seen this thing before when she took the ox cart last time; it was a locust.
Zhao Sanniu grabbed the locust, squeezed it to death, and wiped the sticky fluid from its body onto his trousers.
Cheng Loanloan's head was about to explode. They were about to go sell food, and this brat was being so unhygienic. If customers saw this, they wouldn't be able to sell even a single bowl of ice jelly.
She quickly took out a gourd flask and poured out some water. "Sanniu, wash your hands."
Zhao Sanniu's face turned red. "Mother, I'll never do it again... never again... What is this!"
A locust landed on his face. He slapped it, making his face even dirtier.
Cheng Loanloan's eyebrow twitched.
Zhao Sanniu quickly admitted his mistake. "Mother, I was wrong..."
He hurriedly washed his face with water, afraid of being kicked off the cart.