Shen Xuanqing had gone to deliver rabbits again. Unlike in winter, there was little rain or snow now, making the roads firm and easy to travel. Back then, whenever it snowed, the melting slush turned the paths muddy, requiring both him and Shen Yaoqing to drive the cart together—if the wheels got stuck, an extra pair of hands was needed to push.
He had left early in the morning and only learned of Wu's old grandmother’s passing upon returning after noon. Digging a grave was just manual labor to him, no big deal. As for missing out on a decent vegetarian feast, it didn’t matter to him. He wasn’t lacking for a meal.
Before heading to the Wu family, he stopped by his old home for lunch. Since he’d be digging the grave, he couldn’t sleep with Lu Gu and the child these two nights, he’d have to stay at the new house.
The others, including Wei Lanxiang, had already eaten. Shen Xuanqing was late today. As soon as he entered the yard, Lu Gu handed little Lingjun to Shen Yan and went to the kitchen to fetch his meal.
"You and Eldest Brother will stay there these two nights. I’ve already found the red waistband, I’ll change you into it when you come back," Lu Gu said, sitting beside him as he ate.
Shen Xuanqing smiled. "Alright. Today, I went to Jixing Town. Master happened to be at the tavern, and I originally wanted to ask him and Brother Yang Xian to keep an eye out for any shops for sale. Turns out, there’s one available. It used to sell sundries, like needles, thread, pots, and bowls, sometimes even vegetables and fruit. Since it was just a small goods store, the space isn’t as big as other shops."
Hearing this, Lu Gu’s eyes lit up. Shen Xuanqing had mentioned Lingjun’s schooling before—only towns had schools shuang’er could attend. But if they rented a place in town, they’d be far from home. During busy farming seasons, they’d naturally return, but otherwise, they wouldn’t be able to help with the fields or livestock. They couldn’t just sit idle and live off savings, they’d need work to earn some money.
Being a shop assistant or doing odd jobs wouldn’t earn as much as running their own shop.
Shen Xuanqing continued, "Master said the shopkeeper, despite running a small business, earned enough to live comfortably year-round. Unfortunately, he loved to drink. Sometimes he’d get drunk at night and sleep until noon. His wife was meek and didn’t dare scold him much, if she did, she’d get beaten."
He took a sip of rice porridge, swallowed, and went on, "Last winter, the man drank even more. When drunk, he’d even gamble. Somehow, he fell into a trap set by scoundrels and lost heavily. Thankfully, he didn’t lose everything, just the shop. When debt collectors stormed in, they cleared the place out. If not for his relatives stepping in, he might’ve lost the deed too."
"Now, the family’s in dire straits, not a single copper coin left. His mother had to beg for credit to buy rice and vegetables. With no capital to restock, they’ve decided to sell the shop to pay off the remaining debts and keep a bit of seed money. They plan to start over as traveling peddlers."
"So that’s how it is," Lu Gu murmured, taking a sip of water to wet his throat. No one had ever taught him proper morals, but after hearing this, he understood the dangers of gambling. Thankfully, neither of the men in their family indulged, they only drank lightly and never gambled.
Shen Xuanqing took a few bites of vegetables and a big mouthful of steamed bun. Ever since they had enough grain at home, they alternated between fine white flour and coarse flour. But since fine flour was more popular, whether for buns or noodles, they often ended up eating white flour out of preference.
He shoveled half a bowl of food into his mouth, chewed, and said, "I’ve asked Master to inquire about the price. In a couple of days, I’ll go take a look at the shop. If it’s suitable, we’ll buy it. We can start the business slowly. Lingjun’s schooling is still years away, so there’s no rush. Once we’re settled there, we can expand later."
The thought of really buying a shop made Lu Gu’s eyes crinkle with joy, though he also felt a flicker of unease. After all, town was different from the countryside.
He added two thin sticks of firewood to the clay stove and sat back down. "So we’ll still sell meat?"
They had discussed this on New Year’s Eve. If they were going into business, they needed a plan.
Shen Xuanqing finished the last of his porridge, set the bowl down, and grinned. "All I know is hunting. I’m clueless about other businesses, just the dirty work of skinning and gutting animals. I’m used to slaughtering sheep and pigs. Other than being a hunter, the only other thing I can do is be a butcher."
"Our family has rabbits, chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep. Selling meat would be perfect. It’s less profitable than hunting, but if I go up the mountain for a few days every month or two and have Eldest Brother mind the shop, I can still hunt deer and sheep. That way, we earn both incomes. Even if hunting only brings in eighty or a hundred taels a year, it’s enough."
Their family was small and had once been dirt-poor. Tilling the land gave them security, none of them dreamed of great wealth. Earning eighty or a hundred taels a year, if spent frugally, could last them years.
"I can make handkerchiefs and knots. It won’t earn much, maybe a few dozen to a hundred copper coins a month. That’ll be enough for Lingjun’s snacks later," Lu Gu said, his earlier nervousness fading as he grew excited about their future. He trusted Shen Xuanqing completely.
"And with chicken and duck eggs, once spring comes and they start laying, we can save some for Lingjun when he’s older and sell the rest. Even if it’s not much, it’ll still bring in a hundred or two hundred copper coins."
"Mhm. That’s the plan. You can earn a little extra for your snacks, buy whatever you want," Shen Xuanqing said, listening intently before nodding firmly. He loved hearing Lu Gu talk about their future, it filled him with joy.
But there was still work to be done these two days. Before he could finish eating, Shen Yaoqing came looking for him. With only these few days to dig the grave, Lin Shouyi urged them to finish quickly, they couldn’t delay the old grandmother’s burial.
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