Chapter 7: Buy Buy Buy
The old man was overjoyed and darted into the inner room at a speed utterly at odds with his age. When he came back out, he held a stack of silver notes, several silver ingots, and a money bag, all piled in front of Lin Xin.
Lin Xin checked them one by one. Fortunately, the writing in this world was similar to the traditional characters from the world where she had lived in her previous life, so she could barely make out that the silver notes were worth one hundred taels each. She counted eleven in total, amounting to one thousand one hundred taels. There were five silver ingots: four of twenty taels and one of ten taels, totaling ninety taels. The money bag contained several pieces of loose silver and one thousand copper coins, totaling ten taels.
It was both loose change and whole amounts, considering her needs very thoughtfully.
“For the sake of these excellent medicinal herbs, old man here will remind you: hide this money well. If someone finds it, you might lose your life over it. Got it?”
“Thanks for the reminder. Next time I have good medicinal herbs, I’ll come find you again.” Lin Xin tucked the silver notes into her bosom, wrapped the silver ingots in the ragged cloth that had held the ginseng and put them in the back basket, thanked the old man while holding the money bag in her hand—but in reality, the silver notes and ingots had already been tossed into the space.
“Alright, we’ll talk about next time when it comes. Get going!” The old man cradled his treasured ginseng and waved his hand to shoo Lin Xin away.
Lin Xin didn’t mind. She picked up Lin Nan, slung the back basket on her back, and turned to leave.
“Sis, we have money now, right?” After walking a long way, Lin Nan sidled up to her ear like a thief and whispered.
“Yeah! We have money now, Nan Nan. We can buy whatever you want.” With money in hand, she felt secure. Lin Xin’s mood lightened, and she ruffled Lin Nan’s head cheerfully. “Come on, sis will take Nan Nan to eat something delicious first, then we’ll go shopping.”
“Mm!” Lin Nan nodded vigorously.
After the experience at Yong An Tang, Lin Xin felt that she and Lin Nan’s current attire wasn’t suitable for eating at a restaurant, so she picked a wonton stall run by an elderly couple by the roadside. Even this had Lin Nan beside himself with excitement. Sitting on the stool, his big eyes were fixed intently on the bubbling pot.
Fat white wontons floated in the scalding soup. As soon as a bowl was served, it captured all of Lin Nan’s attention, the aroma making him swallow several mouthfuls of saliva in a row.
Lin Xin asked the stall owner for an empty bowl, transferred the wontons into it to cool, then let Lin Nan hold the spoon and eat by himself.
The dough wrapper encased savory filling. The moment it entered his mouth, Lin Nan’s eyes widened involuntarily. So delicious!
Seeing him like this, Lin Xin felt an inexplicable pang of sadness—for him, and for the original owner. Since their father and mother had passed away, these two children really hadn’t eaten anything good. The original owner had it a bit better, at least having spent a few years with parents. By comparison, Lin Nan was even more pitiable.
“Nan Nan, no rush. Eat slowly.”
“Mm mm, these wontons are so tasty. Sis, you eat too.”
“Okay, sis will eat too.”
After finishing the loving bowl of wontons, Lin Xin learned when paying that such a large bowl only cost six copper coins, or six wen. And one tael of silver was one thousand wen. By that calculation, the ginseng really hadn’t been sold short!
Now Lin Xin truly felt secure. One thousand two hundred taels of silver would last her and her brother a long time. When it ran out, she’d just sell another plant. No more worrying about life ahead—they could coast.
She had no grand ambitions like those transmigrated heroines, no interest in doing business or making big money. Right now, she just wanted to raise Lin Nan properly, send him to study in a couple years, have him take the top scholar exam, and once he became an official, she could comfortably mooch off her younger brother. Mm, perfect!
Women all have this trait: when in a bad mood, they like to shop to vent; when in too good a mood, they like to shop to vent. Take Lin Xin right now—for years in the apocalypse living “zero-yuan purchase” black-on-black days, now she could finally spend money freely, and she suddenly couldn’t hold back.
The key was that there was nothing at home—everything needed buying.
Rice, flour, grains, oil, needles, thread, cloth, clothes, bedding—these were just the basics. Plus various seasonings. Winter was coming, so they needed thick clothes and thick quilts too.
And snacks and pastries for the little kid. Anyway, now that they could afford it, everything would be arranged.
So when they headed back, besides the stuffed back basket, Lin Xin had several bundles hanging off her, and even Lin Nan was carrying two small packages in his hands, filled with candies and little pastries that he had picked himself.
When they returned to the village at dusk, the siblings loaded with big and small packages immediately drew the attention of all the villagers. Some aunties and elder aunts crowded around, chattering questions.
“Yo, bought so many good things—Xin Yatou, have you struck it rich?”
“Whoa, Xin Yatou and Nan Xiaozi are both wearing new clothes! That fine cotton cloth isn’t cheap!”
“You know, once they change into these clothes, the siblings look totally different—much better looking!”
“What are you saying? Lin Erge and his wife were top-notch in looks—their kids couldn’t be bad!”
“Then why didn’t we notice how good-looking Xin Yatou and her brother were before?”
“Need you ask? With the life these two kids lived before, even the best looks would be worn away.”
“Speaking of which, Old Uncle Lin and his wife—Lin Erge wasn’t their son? Why pick on that couple so much? Look at Lin Laoda and Old Three, then look at their daughters-in-law and kids.”
“Exactly, these two kids are so pitiful!”
“Hey, now that Xin Yatou has money, will she honor the old house side?”
“What kind of question is that? Would you?”
“But those are still her grandfather and grandmother. It wouldn’t sound good if she doesn’t show filial respect!”
“What’s the use of sounding good? You didn’t see it a few days ago—Xin Yatou had a raging fever and passed out, Nan Xiaozi knelt at the old house gate begging Grandmother to save his sister, but that family made the kid kneel half the day without even anyone coming out to look. If Xin Yatou didn’t have a strong life force, she might’ve died. Who wouldn’t have hard feelings after that?”
“Sigh!”
Everyone gossiped animatedly. Some nosy ones had already run off to the Lin Family Old House.
Just as the siblings who had finally shaken off the villagers returned to their rundown house, they were met by Old Madam Lin leading the Lin family members. Those greedy eyes never left the things Lin Xin hadn’t yet put away.
“Eldest, your Yang Ge’er studies so hard. Take these fine grains back to nourish him. And these bolts of fine cotton cloth—make him some proper clothes later, so he won’t be looked down on at the school.” The moment Old Madam Lin entered, she started ordering about the things Lin Xin had bought.
“Got it, I’ll get right to it. Mom, you really dote on Yang Ge’er. When he places high and becomes an official someday, he’ll make sure you enjoy glory and fortune together.” Lin Laoda rubbed his hands greedily and flattered Old Madam Lin.
“Mom, you’re only thinking of Yang Ge’er. Jing Ge’er is your grandson too!” Xu Shi doted most on her youngest son and was immediately displeased to hear all the good stuff going to the eldest.
She had borne two sons in total. The eldest was taken by Grandfather and Grandmother right after birth to raise, so he wasn’t close to her at all. Later she had a youngest son whom she kept fiercely by her side. Fortunately, the little one was ambitious and loved his biological mother most.
