Chapter 155: Settling In
Wen Mingqian arrived at Wu Qiu Nunnery. Sang Er had already made arrangements beforehand, speaking with the abbess to borrow two guest rooms.
Naturally, the stay was not without cost; incense fees were offered as per custom.
A young nun led them to the arranged rooms: “My Master said that although these two rooms are small, they face the sun and are very quiet.”
“It is indeed very tranquil here. Thank you for your trouble, Abbess.” The main reason Wen Mingqian chose this place was that most of the people at Wu Qiu Nunnery had quiet and indifferent dispositions.
Few people came here to burn incense, so there was no need to worry about noise. Furthermore, the spirit tablets of A Shou and A Hui were placed here, making it convenient for remembrance.
“The rooms have been cleaned and simple furniture has been provided. The nunnery offers vegetarian meals daily, which benefactors can share or prepare themselves. This young nun’s dharma name is Hui Ming; she is only twelve or thirteen years old. She is an orphan who was abandoned outside the nunnery gate as an infant and was taken in by the abbess, who had her tonsured and become a nun at a young age.”
“Thank you, little master, for the reminder. If we have any further questions, we will ask at any time,” Sang Er said with a smile.
Hui Ming helped them move their belongings in and then left.
“Mother, please rest first! I’ll sort out these things,” Sang Er said, rolling up her sleeves.
“I’ll help you tidy up. There are quite a few things, so you can’t do it all by yourself. Since we are staying here, everything should be kept simple,” Wen Mingqian said. “It’s just a bit hard on you.”
“What are you saying, Mother? I have no complaints as long as I’m with you,” Sang Er said, picking up a rattan chest. “I actually enjoy the peace and freedom.”
Wen Mingqian and Sang Er tidied things up simply together and then got the tea stove ready.
“It’s still early. I’ll go to the street to buy some good charcoal,” Sang Er said, glancing at the sky outside. “Although we paid the incense fee, the charcoal here is really poor quality and produces too much smoke. We need to buy some better charcoal. Besides, the wooden walls of this room are thin, and it wouldn’t be good to catch a cold.”
The rooms in the nunnery were certainly not comparable to the deep courtyards of Ru Yang Bo Mansion, but they were still better than those in Shuangxi.
“Actually, it would be better to hire another person, otherwise, you’ll be too busy. But since we’ve just arrived and don’t know anyone, it’s not good to hire randomly,” Wen Mingqian said. “We’ll have to wait.”
“That’s true. Hiring someone is easy, but sending them away is difficult,” Sang Er said. “We’re not entertaining guests right now, and I can manage by myself. We can talk about it when we meet someone suitable; there’s no need to rush.”
Although Wen Mingqian had left Ru Yang Bo Mansion and hadn’t taken much from their household, she was not short of money herself.
If nothing else, the rouge and powder, and scented pastes and sachets she made herself were worth a considerable amount.
“Take these two hairpins and sell them!” Wen Mingqian opened a jewelry box and took out two relatively ordinary gold hairpins. “Exchange them for some cash; it’s more convenient to use.”
Sang Er took them and examined them closely. “These two hairpins can be sold directly to a jewelry shop. They aren’t top-tier items here, but they are still rare for some people.”
Sang Er had followed her uncle in business since she was young and was very knowledgeable about trade, so she wouldn’t be cheated.
“I wonder where Chang An and the others are now,” Wen Mingqian sighed. “I hope they encounter little rain and snow on their journey and more sunny days.”
“Don’t worry, Mother. As they travel south, it will only get warmer,” Sang Er quickly reassured her. “It will take at most half a month, or twenty days at most, but they will surely arrive.”
“Yes, I am worrying too much. With Zhang Ma accompanying him and the tutor looking after him, nothing will happen,” Wen Mingqian said with a wry smile.
“Then, Mother, you rest for a while. I’m going to the street to take care of some business,” Sang Er said.
“The days are short now, so try to go and come back quickly,” Wen Mingqian instructed her. “I’ll give you some small change; hire a cart.”
After Sang Er left, Wen Mingqian didn’t rest either. She tidied up the room again.
Feeling slightly tired, she sat down to read.
Just before lunch, Sang Er returned, having bought many things.
She specifically found a stout woman who carried them in on a carrying pole.
“This window paper is a bit thin; let’s paste another layer,” Sang Er said as she took things out. “The charcoal basket and such are in the outer room. I also bought some dim sum; if Mother gets hungry while studying at night, you can have a bite.”
“Madam, Eldest Young Lady,” the stout woman said with a fawning smile, requesting of Wen Mingqian and Sang Er, “I’m skilled at pasting window paper. Why don’t you let me do this job? A few copper coins will suffice.”
“Then you do it! Be careful,” Wen Mingqian said. She didn’t want Sang Er to do such rough work.
“Yes! Yes!” The stout woman was overjoyed and carefully took the window paper, cutting it to the size of the window.
She then used the tea stove to boil paste in a clay pot.
“I wouldn’t have thought it, but this Eldest Sister-in-law, though she looks rough and clumsy, is quite meticulous when working,” Sang Er said, looking at the woman’s craftsmanship, which was indeed not bad.
“I was born with a poor fate, so I have to do all sorts of work. Ever since I lost my mother at the age of three, I’ve been helping my father with his boat.
I only came ashore at eight years old and was so unsteady I could barely stand. Then I worked as a helper at the dock. Because I looked clumsy, I could do the same work as men,” the woman said, laughing as she worked. “Now, with this carrying pole, I can somehow support eight mouths in my family. I’m not worse than a man.”
“If you do such tiring work, what does your husband do?” Sang Er asked curiously.
“Alas! He was capable before. A few years ago, in winter, he was lifting timber and caught a cold from sweating. Ever since then, his health has been poor, and he can’t do heavy work,” the woman’s tone became a little dejected. “He also needs to take medicine from time to time.”
But then she raised her voice again: “Fortunately, I still have some strength. Unlike some families, where the husband falls, the family falls apart.”
“Eldest Sister-in-law, what should I call you?” Wen Mingqian asked her.
“Everyone calls me Wang San’s wife; my husband is the third son,” the woman said.
“I mean your own name,” Wen Mingqian asked again.
“I don’t have a name. My maiden name is Zhao. My father didn’t like girls. My mother had me as her fourth child, and my father was so angry he kicked a basket in the courtyard, breaking it. So he named me Po Kuang. I suppose it’s true; look at me now, my life is like a broken basket, always full but never satisfied,” the woman said with a laugh.
“Then I’ll call you Sister Zhao. You work hard to support your family; you are the pillar of your home,” Wen Mingqian said. She greatly admired Zhao Po Kuang’s self-reliance and lack of complaint. “From now on, if I have any heavy lifting or carrying work, I’ll use you, and I’ll pay you the market rate.”
