Chapter 13

Su Li had planted things in the front and back of the He family’s house. They didn’t have a field, so there was no place to plant them after planting them there.

How could farmers not have farmland? Su Li felt that they urgently needed to buy some fertile land. At the very least, their family’s rations did not need to be bought from the grain stores outside.

However, according to the family’s current conditions, it was already not bad to be able to eat their fill, let alone buy fertile land!

In the blink of an eye, it was the first day of the new year. Today was the day they were going to pay for Wang Chunhua’s retirement fee.

Su Li had just woken up when Wang Chunhua arrived with He Jinbao.

“Where’s the silver?” Wang Chunhua didn’t even look at Su Li.

Su Li shouted into the house, “He Yufeng, your mother is here to get the silver.”

He Yufeng heard Su Li’s words and took out the silver from the house.

“This is seven taels of silver.” He Yufeng handed the silver to Wang Chunhua.

There were several deep and shallow scars on He Yufeng’s hand. Some of them had just formed scars and looked so shocking.

Wang Chunhua did not feel any heartache when she saw this. She even felt a little disdainful. She counted the money He Yufeng handed over. It was just right.

“Grandma, can we eat meat now?” He Jinbao’s eyes lit up when she saw the silver in Wang Chunhua’s hand.

Wang Chunhua patted He Jinbao’s head dotingly. “That’s right. I will cut your meat for you later. Let’s eat braised pork tonight.”

“Yay, yay. Braised pork tonight.”

“I’ll make you two new sets of clothes,” Wang Chunhua said generously.

“I have new clothes, I have new clothes!”

He Jinbao’s voice was very loud, as if she was deliberately saying it for He Dahu and his brother to hear.

Su Li looked at He Jinbao and frowned. This brat was really asking for a beating. She immediately chased Wang Chunhua out.

“You’ve also taken the silver. Can you leave my house now?”

Wang Chunhua spat at Su Li. “Pfft, do you think I want to stay here?”

“I thought you cared. Otherwise, why would you come here every other day?” Su Li’s tone was very calm.

“Jinbao, let’s go. It’s unlucky to stay in such a place for too long.”

Wang Chunhua put the silver into the bag and looked at Su Li in disdain before pulling He Jinbao away.

After Wang Chunhua and He Jinbao left, Su Li felt that He Dahu and He Erhu’s moods had clearly plummeted.

“Let’s eat meat tonight too.”

There was still enough wild boar meat left behind by He Yufeng for a meal. She wanted to keep it for tomorrow, but when she saw He Dahu and his brother’s pitiful expressions, she couldn’t bear it.

“Will we have new clothes for the new year?” He Erhu looked at Su Li carefully.

“There will be. Besides, you don’t have to wait until the new year. I’ll buy it for you in a while.”

Su Li patted his head and made a promise to them.

“Really?”

“Of course, I never lie!”

Su Li’s words dispelled the two little fellows’ emotions. He Yufeng, who was outside, heard the conversation between the mother and sons clearly, and his heart stirred.

It seemed that he had to work hard this month and catch more prey. The sleeves of the clothes on the two children had become much shorter, and the clothes on their bodies were covered in patches. As a father, he was too incompetent!

Where would the money come from? Su Li thought about it and felt that the idea of making soap was feasible. After all, no one had made soap yet.

However, Su Li did not have any ingredients in her hands. Coincidentally, it was the day of the market, so she planned to go to town to take a look.

She needed money to buy raw materials, but her pockets were cleaner than her face.

Ask He Yufeng for money?

This was impossible. Su Li directly dismissed this thought. He Yufeng was already guarding her like she was a thief. If she spoke now, who knew what he would think!

Moreover, her personality was not like someone who wanted money from others. She still had to rely on herself for everything.

It was not realistic to go to the mountain to pick herbs now. After all, herbs that had not been concocted were not worth much. There might not be valuable herbs for her to pick on the mountain.

Su Li thought for a moment. She remembered that the host seemed to have a place to hide money, but she didn’t know if there was any more money inside.

Relying on her memory, Su Li finally found the jar that the original owner had hidden under the bed. She counted and found a total of 200 copper coins in the jar. Although this number was not much, it should be enough to buy raw materials.

Before Su Li left, He Yufeng was not at home.

No one was looking at the two little guys at home. Su Li was a little worried, so she knocked on Chen Xiang’s door.

“Sister, I’m busy!”

Chen Xiang was holding her waist and feeding the chickens when Su Li’s sudden voice shocked her.

“Sister, what’s the matter?” Chen Xiang scattered all the wild vegetables in her hand into the chicken trough.

“I have something to do in town. Can you help me keep an eye on Dahu and Erhu?” Su Li directly explained her intentions.

Chen Xiang was not used to Su Li being so polite, but she still nodded and said, “Alright, go do your own things. I’ll help you look after the children and let them play with Shanny.”

Shanny was Chen Xiang’s child, He Mingshan. He Mingshan was two years older than He Dahu and his brother.

“Thank you, Sister. When I come back, I’ll help you pick herbs on the mountain to treat your waist,” Su Li said.

If Chen Xiang’s waist was not treated, it would become increasingly serious. The last time she asked Chen Xiang to get the medicine, she refused to go. She probably could not bear to part with the money.

Since that was the case, she could only go to the mountain to see if she could pick some herbs.

Su Li didn’t expect that one of the reasons why Chen Xiang couldn’t bear to part with the money was because she didn’t believe her!

“You’re welcome. It’s only right for neighbors to help each other.” Chen Xiang waved her hand nonchalantly.

The last time Su Li helped her carry water, she was worried about how to thank her!

Besides, He Dahu and Erhu were already old. There was no need to carry them in her arms. The children could just play together. She didn’t have to worry. It was a piece of cake.

After Su Li gave the two boys some instructions, she carried her basket and left.

He Erhu looked at Su Li’s back view and felt a little sad. He said to He Dahu, “Brother, do you think she would end up not coming back?”

He Erhu was very worried. He was afraid that Su Li would leave. After all, she often said that she wanted to leave this house in the past.

He Dahu had no idea either. He pretended to be calm and said, “That won’t happen. If she doesn’t come back, where can she go? There’s no one in our family who can bully her. She can’t bear to leave!”

Hearing his words, He Erhu felt slightly relieved.

When Su Li reached the village entrance, the ox cart was about to set off. The cart was not full.

It was ten miles from the He family village to town. If she relied on her legs, who knew how long it would take her to walk? It cost five copper coins to ride an ox cart. Su Li thought for a moment and decided to take a car.

Wang Jinxue happened to be in the car too. When she saw Su Li in the car, she turned her head and twitched her lips.