town.
There were not many people in the afternoon. There were various vendors and stalls on both sides of the street selling various items. At the entrances of restaurants and teahouses, waiters with smiles on their faces and warm attitudes greet guests coming and going.
Ji Huai was carrying a bamboo basket on his back and holding several bamboo hats in his hands, which he had knitted during this period. Tang Xiuer also carried a basket with embroidery in it.
The two of them went to the hospital first.
There are three medical clinics in the town, and Ji Huai went to the most famous one - Yonghe Tang.
After entering the door, the doctor was sitting and treating patients, while the apprentice was busy taking medicine. Seeing Ji Huai and the others coming in, he glanced up and continued to grab medicine.
Ji Huai walked to the counter and asked the apprentice, "Do you accept medicinal materials here?"
When the apprentice saw that he was neither seeing a doctor nor getting medicine, his attitude was quite casual. Without even raising his head, he asked casually, "What medicine? Take it out."
Their medical clinic is large, so many people will bring prepared medicinal materials, and they can just weigh them and pay.
"Ginseng dug in the mountains." Ji Huai replied.
Hearing this, the apprentice stopped his busy hands and looked at him several times. Wild ginseng is very valuable. If it is of good quality, you can make a fortune if you dig up one.
The man standing in front of the counter was wearing coarse cloth clothes, with a strong body and strong features. He was carrying several bamboo baskets and bamboo hats on his back. At first glance, he looked like a rough guy from the countryside, coming to town to sell knitting products. Most of the medicinal materials they sent were wild in the mountains and were of better quality.
"There are some Ganoderma lucidum." Ji Huai took it out from the bamboo basket.
The apprentice glanced twice, his eyes fixed on the ginseng he took out. This wild ginseng is not big and its shape is not beautiful, but it is the most expensive and has the highest medicinal value. He immediately put down the scale in his hand, and his tone became a bit better, "Wait a moment, I'll call Doctor Zhang."
The medical clinic is opened by Dr. Zhang. There is no way to weigh and pay for such precious medicinal materials. Dr. Zhang needs to come and see it in person.
After the apprentice left, Ji Huai and Tang Xiuer were left behind. She looked at the medical clinic, her behavior was a bit restrained, she came over and asked in a low voice, "I heard that ginseng is very expensive, you can't be deceived."
Although this ginseng looks small and ugly, it is still a ginseng after all, and it might be sold for several hundred coins.
As soon as she finished speaking, before Ji Huai could reply, Doctor Zhang came out. He had a round appearance and a pair of small eyes. He looked at the ginseng on the counter. He narrowed his eyes and looked at the two of them, "This is dug from the mountain." of?"
Ji Huai nodded, "I dug it today."
Doctor Zhang: "I have to look at the lines and roughly guess the age. Even if we collect wild ginseng in our store, we have to send it to major mansions. If we can't sell it at a high price, we'll lose money."
"Although the ginseng head is small, the reed bowl is densely high, and the years must be a lot. The quality is okay. You can't lose." Ji Huai asked him to see, mentioning it, and revealing that he also knew how much he knew.
Ginseng reeds usually grow one reed bowl per year. The higher the density, the longer the life span.
When Dr. Zhang saw what he said, in order to avoid damaging the sign, he would not fool him, so he carefully picked it up and looked at it.
Tang Xiuer also moved forward slightly, keeping her eyes on Doctor Zhang, for fear of being deceived.
After a while, Doctor Zhang looked at Ji Huai, "You are indeed not small, and I have been thinking about it for decades, but the appearance is not superior. .”
The Li family is the richest family in the town, and their son is an official in the capital.
Without the words, he saw that the young woman who was pregnant next to the other party widened her eyes, as if he heard it wrong, and felt that I was stable in my heart. arts."
For an ordinary family, three or four taels is a year's expenses. I dug up a ginseng stick and sold it for thirty taels, which was my expenses in recent years. Normal people would be very excited. That was a huge windfall.
Before Tang Xiuer could react, the money was too much. Ji Huai was indifferent, "This ginseng has deep and tight horizontal stripes. It will take decades if not a hundred years. I just went to Chengrentang, and the price they offered was... It’s higher than yours. If it’s thirty taels, I won’t sell it.”
After he finished speaking, he tried to put it away, but Tang Xiuer's reaction just now, in Doctor Zhang's eyes, was no longer one of surprise, but anger at why there was so little.
"Are they confuseding you? No matter how high the price is, it is lost." Dr. Zhang said, stopping his movements, "How can there be a hundred years? This price is really high, thirty -two, you see how to see you, you see how Really? The highest price is this."
He would lower the price when faced with someone who didn't know the goods, but at first he didn't treat Ji Huai as someone who didn't know the goods, and the price he said was quite high.
Ji Huai did not continue to argue with him, but his attitude was tough, "Thirty-five taels."
"You..." Doctor Zhang looked at the ginseng carefully again and gritted his teeth, "Okay, thirty-five taels is thirty-five taels!"
Tang Xiuer saw the two of them bargaining, and the amount they said shocked her. She didn't recover until Ji Huai got the money and took her out.
A total of thirty-six taels and two hundred coins were sold. How could it be sold for so much money? She had never seen so much money.
"What do you want to eat or buy?" Ji Huai turned his head and asked her.
"Ah?" Tang Xiuer has not yet reacted.
"We have money now. I buy what you want to eat and want to buy it." He didn't finish it. A carriage had to pass through the road. He grabbed her arm and dragged her aside gently.
Tang Xiuer leaned slightly towards him, getting very close to him. Her eyes stirred up, but she still subconsciously refused, "I don't want anything."
"Aren't you hungry? Can I give you a pastry? Mung bean cake?" Ji Huai ignored it and continued to ask. Before she could answer, he gently grabbed her arm and pulled her to the other side of the road, "I still want to sell it." Bamboo basket, I’ll buy you some food first, if you don’t want to eat, you can eat on the way.”
Tang Xiuer still couldn't bear the money, but the mung bean cake was so delicious. The pastry seller was very warm and friendly. He only said a few words to Ji Huai and then started to pretend.
"Enough is enough," she kept saying. But the man only listened to Ji Huai's words and finally bought a pound.
The mung bean cake had just been made and was still warm. The faint fragrance made her swallow her saliva unconsciously.
Ji Huai took her to the market, found a place, and put down the bamboo basket and bamboo hat. Tang Xiuer stood beside him, looking at the people coming and going, holding mung bean cake in her hand.
"Don't you want to try it? If it doesn't taste good, I'll buy you something else later." Ji Huai glanced at the pastries and his eyes fell on her petite face.
"...Okay." Tang Xiuer hesitated for a moment and then responded.
I don’t know if it tastes good or not, but she is really greedy.
Where could we eat pastries before? There will be rice cakes during the Chinese New Year, but making rice cakes requires brown sugar. Brown sugar is very expensive, and Ji’s mother is very reluctant to part with it. The Ji family made very few rice cakes, and there were only so many pastries she could eat.
When she was just pregnant, Ji's mother told her that when she gave birth to the baby, she would buy brown sugar and boil brown sugar eggs for her, and give her a few more to eat. But before she could give birth, Ji's mother fell ill and died, and all the family's money was spent on treatment.
She carefully picked up a piece of mung bean cake and handed it to Ji Huai without eating it herself.
The other party shook his head and said, "You can eat it."
Pastry is a rare good thing for their family, and he bought it for her. She was naturally embarrassed to eat it by herself, but somehow she was bold enough to stretch the pastry forward and put it to his mouth.
The watery eyes looked at him, cool and bright. Ji Huai turned his eyes and looked at her.
At that moment, his eyes were startled, and his eyes flickered slightly, as if he didn't expect it.
Tang Xiuer didn't expect that she would be so bold and unreserved. She hurriedly put the pastry in his hand and said in a hurry, "You can try it too."
After saying this, he turned his back and lowered his head. He also picked up a piece of pastry and nibbled on it, his cheeks turning red.
Fortunately there was no one around, but she would have been laughed at if she had acted in such a frivolous manner.
"We are a couple, we don't have to be so shy."
His words came from the side. Tang Xiuer looked over and saw him looking ahead, putting the pastry into his mouth, and the corners of his mouth seemed to be raised.
The words spoken by the wives in the morning echoed in her ears again.
Others are not as shy as her, and they do outrageous and bold things, but she is so shy that she can even feed him a cake. How can she have such a good relationship with him? No man would pity her if she was so tasteless.
Tang Xiuer sighed inwardly and fell into deep thought while holding the pastry that melted in her mouth.
Ji Huai looked at the people coming and going, but he didn't drink. Today I have made a lot of money from selling ginseng. When I sell bamboo baskets and bamboo hats, I often make concessions when bargaining with the other party.
In less than an hour, it was sold out. There are also embroideries embroidered by Tang Xiuer on the ground, but this street is not easy to sell, and only one purse was sold.
While Tang Xiuer was waiting, she unknowingly ate most of the mung bean cake. Just when she was trying her best to hold back and not be too greedy, Ji Huai reminded her, "There are only a few pieces left, what are you doing with them?" Eat quickly."
She looked at it and handed him the pastry.
Ji Huai ate two of the remaining five pieces and left three pieces for her. Moreover, he was still waiting for her to finish eating before leaving.
Tang Xiuer ate the cakes faster, her cheeks bulging.
"I'm not rushing you, why are you in such a hurry?" He chuckled, opened the bamboo tube, and handed the water to her, "Drink some water, be careful not to choke."
Tang Xiuer felt that she had lost her composure and did not dare to speak. She raised her little hand to cover her mouth, and took the bamboo tube with the other hand, turning away so that he would not see her.
"What are you afraid of in front of me? I won't laugh at you. Eat slowly and rest for a while before leaving." Ji Huai watched her speak, his expression did not change, and he didn't seem to care.
This made Tang Xiuer's nervous heart slowly calm down, she slowed down her chewing movements, and after swallowing, she took a few more sips of water.
Ji Huai: "That pastry is pretty good. I'll buy some more when I go back later."
She was about to refuse, but then she thought that he had eaten too, maybe because he liked it, so she didn't say anything.
After a while, Ji Huai walked forward, with Tang Xiuer following him in small steps.
"There are many people. You walk in front of me. I'll watch you so you don't get hit." Ji Huai said to her.
Tang Xiuer quickened her pace again and walked in front of him. He was very close to her, carrying a bamboo basket on his back and holding her basket in his hand.
After walking for a while, she asked, "Are we going back now?"
"The rice at home is gone, go sell some rice." Ji Huai's voice came from not far behind him.
"good."
The two went to a rice store to buy rice. The rice in the rice store includes brown rice and polished rice. Brown rice only costs thirty-five cents per dou, while polished rice is different and more expensive, costing fifty cents per dou.
Ji Huai bought polished rice and flour, and also bought a small bag of each.
Tang Xiuer's heart aches, but he made a lot of money today. This amount of money is nothing to him. She was in no position to speak. And in the Ji family, she never expresses her opinion.
After buying polished rice and flour, there was a cloth shop on the way out. Ji Huai took Tang Xiuer inside, and she followed him.
"Your clothes are too short. Winter is coming soon. Choose some pieces of cloth to make clothes." Ji Huai suddenly said to her.
Tang Xiuer was stunned and followed his line of sight to look at her clothes.
Her belly is slightly protruding, and her originally loose clothes have become shorter. The clothes she was wearing were given to her because Aunt Niu's eldest daughter-in-law couldn't fit them in after giving birth.
This was also her best piece of clothing, and she changed into it because she was going to town today. Her other clothes were all patched, and some of the ones Ji's mother had worn in the past were also given to her. She had to modify them and mend them, but the clothes never fit.
"Make me some clothes when the time comes. What kind of fabric do you want? Bought them all together." He chose the fabric he liked without asking her if she agreed. Then he asked her what color she wanted.
When Tang Xiuer was still hesitating, he said, "If you don't choose, I will choose for you."
She looked at the cloth and really didn't know what kind to choose. They all looked good.
Ji Huai picked two pieces for her, both in plain colors, light green and light blue. She was a little anxious and said, "I don't want this color, change it to another color."
She is already a woman and will soon be the mother of a child. How can she wear this
"I see they are wearing it, doesn't it look pretty?" Ji Huai said and asked her to look aside.
Tang Xiuer also looked over. There were several young women nearby who were laughing and chatting. They were wearing similar cloth and were still discussing.
She lowered her eyes and said in a low voice, "That's different."
"Why are they different? It looks like they're not much different in age. I'll wear them after you give birth." Ji Huai didn't think there was any problem. Instead, he looked at her and asked, "Don't you look good?"
Tang Xiuer lowered her head and said nothing.
She is good-looking, but she is married, why is she wearing such nice clothes
"I just bought this. It looks good." Without saying much, he asked the clerk to measure the cloth with a ruler.
She said no more and looked up at the cloth. If he says it looks good, will he like it if she wears it? Thinking of this, she didn't refuse anymore, which was regarded as acquiescence.
Before leaving, she took a closer look at the women covering their mouths and laughing, and her eyes fell on their clothes.
"Watch the road."
His voice brought her back from her thoughts, and before she could react, someone took her hand again and led her forward. He let go after walking out of the door.
After that, the two went to buy pastries. After buying the pastries, he looked at the butcher's stall again, then turned to look at her, "Want to eat pork?"
She could shake her head.
Pork is so luxurious, she won't eat it.
"I want to eat." He didn't hesitate and went to buy a pound.
Tang Xiuer: "..."
In this case, why ask her? The money is all his.
After buying pork, he put it in a bamboo basket. He put all the heavy things into the bamboo basket, and she carried her own basket.
After walking for a while, Ji Huai saw others selling candied haws, "Do you want to eat it?"
She looked at the candied haws. Before she could say anything, he took out the money and said, "I want a bunch."
"Okay." The merchant took it off quickly.
Tang Xiuer thought he was buying it for herself, but she saw him handing the candied haws to her, "Eat it."
She slowly raised her hand, took it, and said, "I'm not a child. Only children eat candied haws."
This is true. The children who passed by just now ate the candied haws, but the adults didn't.
"You're not old, you're my little sister." Ji Huai said it funny, as if he said it casually.
Tang Xiuer looked at his back, her white teeth sunk deeply into her full lips. Before he could think about it, he turned back and said in a slightly raised voice, "Follow me quickly, or you'll be lost in a moment."
She held the candied haws on a stick and Xiao chased after her.
During this period, I passed by a place selling hairpins. The hairpins were carved from wood or made of silver. Tang Xiuer was actually a child, so she couldn't help but take a second look.
"Choose." He said generously.
She shook her head again.
Ji Huai: "It doesn't cost much, just a few dozen coins each. You won't have any jewelry when you get married. I'll give you a few, and you can keep them even if you don't wear them."
When Tang Xiuer saw him talking about getting married, her thoughts started to fluctuate.
Where are they getting married? She is a child bride raised in Ji's family, so there is no betrothal gift, so the marriage process can be as simple as possible.
She didn't have a bright red wedding dress, the only thing she had was the red hijab on her head. It's shabby and shabby, everything is confused.
In the morning, several wives said that if a man wants to buy something for himself, he cannot refuse. Women can't live too shabbily and humblely, otherwise men won't take her seriously, so how can they look at her more
Tang Xiuer looked at Ji Huai, "Did I choose?"
He replied: "Choose."
She smiled like a little girl and was dazzled by the various hairpins.
The woman who bought the hairpins also helped her try them on and praised them one after another. They all looked good. How has Tang Xiuer been praised so much? I was cautious at first, but later I became more relaxed.
"Does it look good?" She put one on and looked at him expectantly.
"Good-looking." He didn't express much, but he approved it.
In the end, she was worried about money and only bought two wooden hairpins.
"Really like it so much?" Ji Huai asked her after paying the money.
Tang Xiuer was still in a state of joy, her eyebrows were curved and she nodded vigorously, "Yes!"
Even if it is made of wood, it is still jewelry, and the workmanship is exquisite, and it looks good to her.
Unexpectedly, after she said this, Ji Huai took her to the gold shop.
Tang Xiuer didn't dare to enter here, she was stuck at the door. The people who came out were wearing gorgeous robes, some of the ladies were accompanied by maids, and some came in carriages.
She shrank her neck and wanted to pull Ji Huai away.
"If you like it, I'll buy it for you." He was always strong and straightforward, so he walked in first.
Tang Xiuer looked anxious and could only follow.
The clothes of the two people were indeed a little inconsistent with this place, but they were carrying a lot of things, as well as cloth, and they didn't look like washable people at first glance.
In addition, although Tang Xiuer was guilty and timid, Ji Huai was generous and asked the waiter to try on the jewelry for her when she entered.
Tang Xiuer was confused throughout the whole process and wanted to resist, but Ji Huai was extremely persistent.
He bought her a pair of earrings and a small bracelet. The gold was so shiny that it almost blinded her.
Tang Xiuer didn't dare to wear it, so she hid it in her arms on the way back. She was a little nervous and panicked, "I have to find a place to hide it, I can't wear it."
"If you don't wear it after you buy it, why hide it? Everyone in the town wears it." He was puzzled.
Tang Xiuer: "That's in the town. Only people in the village don't wear it. How ostentatious."
"Then we will also live in the town from now on?" He didn't even want to say it.
She just thought he was talking nonsense. How could they live in the town? She had no choice but to change the subject, "You have spent all the money, what should I do?"
"How much is this? There is still a lot of money left from selling ginseng. You can buy whatever you want." Ji Huai's words were neither salty nor bland, but she choked.
The two of them had just ridden in a bullock cart for a part of the way, and they had to walk the rest of the way back. Tang Xiuer's feet were a little sore after walking around for too long today. Although she didn't carry anything heavy, she walked slower and slower.
Seeing that Ji Huai was not slowing down, she couldn't help but said, "Why don't you wait for me?"
Her tone was soft, with a drawl at the end, and the words she spoke were a little bit complaining and coquettish. She was shocked, and she was at a loss.
"Waiting for you." He didn't seem to notice anything, but stopped and stood there, stretching his hand back, "Even your short legs can't catch up, so hold on."
She blinked, with a smile in her eyes, she mustered up her courage, reached up and took his big hand.
Ji Huai's petite and soft little hand was held by the big hand, and Ji Huai stepped forward. His faint voice seemed to contain imperceptible concern, "Eat more meat, otherwise it will be difficult."
"Yeah!" She was very obedient.
"Eat more soon."
"...Okay." She couldn't hide the smile on her lips.