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墨書 Inktalez
"Dad, money is just an external thing; family is the most precious in this world."
As the sky gradually darkened, Xia Muxin couldn't afford to delay. While comforting her father, she organized the medicine and the Bamboo Basket, then raised her chin and gestured toward Su Yan-Chu, who was standing nearby in a daze.
"Here, how can I contact you next time if I need your help?" Su Yan-Chu asked with a smile, feeling quite pleased as he handed two ten-tael silver notes to Xia Muxin.
"Daimiao Village, Xia Muxin. But it won't be this cheap next time," Xia Muxin replied as she carefully accepted the silver notes and placed them away, sounding somewhat indifferent.
"Muxin, we should head back; they'll worry at home," Summer Forest said, glancing at the cart full of medicine with a pang of pain in his heart. He scolded himself for being useless and urged Xia Muxin as he looked at the darkening sky.
Xia Muxin acknowledged him but stood still, stretching her neck to glance toward the entrance of the tavern. Finally, with a hint of disappointment, she said, "Um... please thank him for me."
After saying that, she bowed to Su Yan-Chu and hurried to catch up with her father's pace.
Xia Muxin didn't rush home; instead, she had Summer Forest take her to Li Dazhong's place. She asked him to add a few herbs to the prescription for her mother and brother and also requested some prenatal medicine. After paying, they left and bought a clay pot for boiling medicine along with oil, rice, and salt before heading home.
On the way back, Summer Forest pulled the cart using the reins while Xia Muxin supported it from behind with a thick tree branch. Since they didn't have the heavy firewood they had brought earlier and had eaten some scallion pancakes as a base, walking was much easier this time, allowing them to move faster than before.
"Woo woo woo... Grandpa, I'm hungry; I can't walk anymore."
Under the twilight, the setting sun stretched the shadows of an old man and a young boy long across the ground. The elderly man, with a head full of white hair, wore a tattered summer shirt and hunched over, carrying a deformed pole across his shoulder. At each end of the pole hung two discolored bamboo baskets, as he staggered forward.
Beside him walked a three-year-old boy, his small face dark and dirty. He was dressed in clothes that seemed to have been altered from an adult's. One hand rested on his shriveled belly, and he looked up at the old man with understanding eyes, his voice tinged with grievance.
"Little One, we’re just a few miles from home. Grandma must have made Corn Cake; there will be food when we get back," the old man said, wiping the sweat from his forehead. His voice was aged and filled with a hint of helplessness as his calloused hand affectionately patted the boy's head, offering breathless comfort.
"Grandpa, why is no one buying our Fava Beans?" The little boy asked innocently, not crying or throwing a tantrum but genuinely puzzled by the situation.
The old man sighed deeply and remained silent for a long moment.
Xia Muxin felt an unexpected warmth in her eyes and lowered her head to wipe away the tears that had welled up. She jogged over to look into the old man's basket filled with Fava Beans and asked, "Sir, how much are you selling your Fava Beans for?"
"Ah, six coins per pound... Miss, do you want to buy Fava Beans?" The old man’s face lit up with joy at the prospect of a sale but hesitated upon seeing Xia Muxin's attire.
"Yes, sir! I’ll take all your Fava Beans." Xia Muxin understood his hesitation and smiled brightly in response.
- End of Chapter -
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