Their own family’s fortunes had improved, and while the villagers maintained polite appearances, there were always envious types who’d invent rumors over nothing. Better to be cautious. Wei Lanxiang hadn’t even told her own family, secretly aiding the Wu family’s grandmother twice before the New Year.
But charity wasn’t a permanent solution. She had done what she could, and that was enough to ease her conscience.
The Wu family barely scraped by, managing to feed themselves but utterly incapable of affording medicine when illness struck. Where would they get the money to treat an old woman?
Wei Lanxiang sighed repeatedly. Ji Qiuyue poured her tea and offered a few words of comfort. Zhao’er, oblivious to the adults’ conversation, drooled as he reached for the osmanthus cakes on the nearby table, nearly toppling over in his eagerness. Afraid he might fall, Wei Lanxiang quickly steadied him. She hadn’t held her eldest grandson properly these past few days, and now she finally smiled, using her handkerchief to wipe his drool.
As she chatted with Ji Qiuyue, waiting for Lu Gu and Shen Yan to finish cooking, her mind drifted to thoughts of saving for her own coffin.
People often said young men saved money for bethoral gifts, but preparing for death was just as important. In old age, one had to set aside funeral provisions money to buy coffin with good wood and burial items—lest they end up with nothing but a thin coffin or a straw mat after a lifetime of hard work.
Both of her sons were filial and gave her money every year. By now, she had saved enough to afford a decent coffin by rural standards. She kept the money tucked away, waiting patiently, thinking that if she came across good wood, she could put it to use.
But for now, with her eldest grandson in her arms and the younger one still asleep in the room, Wei Lanxiang hadn’t had her fill of holding them yet. Though she didn’t shy away from the topic of buying a coffin, she still wanted to live a few more years. Besides, her body was still strong and in good health, so death seemed a long way off. So she kept these thoughts to herself.
With just one dish to stir-fry, the meal was ready quickly. Lu Gu served Wei Lanxiang first. Before long, he spotted men carrying hoes passing by the gate and knew Shen Xuanqing and Shen Yaoqing would be back soon. He stoked the brazier in the yard and peered out the gate—sure enough, there they were.
Men attending feasts outside the home were mindful of manners and wouldn’t gorge themselves. True enough, Shen Xuanqing and Shen Yaoqing hadn’t eaten their fill. Lu Gu brought them the cabbage and buns.
With the village affairs settled and no further disruptions, Shen Xuanqing hitched the mule cart early the next morning and set off for Jixing Town with Shen Yaoqing. Having extra family along made decisions easier. Lu Gu stayed behind to take care of the children. Besides, he didn’t understand the intricacies of such matters anyway.
"Brother Guzi, if we really open a shop there, I want to go see it!" Shen Yan was thrilled at the prospect of their family buying a shop. In all her life, the farthest she’d been was Fenggu Town. Jixing Town was even more distant, and she’d heard that just beyond it lay Yuqing Prefecture’s city - a place she’d never visited.
Lu Gu was holding little Lingjun, playing with him. Their little shuang'er had such a lovely smile that he couldn’t resist kissing his soft little cheek. Hearing Shen Yan, he smiled and said, "Of course! But we’ll have to wait for Erqing to come back first to know for sure."
Though he spoke calmly while busy with the child, his heart was full of hopeful tension, wondering whether they would actually go through with the purchase.
On the road, Shen Yaoqing took the reins today while Shen Xuanqing sat beside him. The two brothers went straight to Lao Yangtou’s house upon arriving in Jixing Town. Buying a shop was a big matter, so Lao Yangtou led them toward the sundry goods store, stopping by a tavern on the way to fetch Yang Xian.
The four of them walked together. Yang Xian said, "I’ve asked around about this shop. It’s small, just enough space for a counter, three shelves, a table, and four stools. I know the owner, and he’s asking for sixty taels. But if you really like it, I reckon you could bargain it down to forty or fifty."
He glanced at the shops along the street and added, "Places like these, in good locations and slightly bigger, go for seventy or eighty taels at most, with all deeds included. The highest might be ninety or a hundred. That shop’s location isn’t bad, but it’s cramped. Sixty taels is too much."
Shen Xuanqing had never bought a shop before, but he’d once asked Luo Biao about it, and Yang Xian’s words matched what he’d heard. Aside from spacious establishments like taverns, restaurants, or larger inns in prime locations - which could cost hundreds of taels, ordinary shops didn’t fetch exorbitant prices. Still, even fifty or sixty taels was a considerable sum. For small businesses, breaking even in a year was already good. If business was slow, it might take even longer.
Jixing Town was half again as large as Fenggu Town, being closer to the prefectural city. With no wars or disasters in the past decade or so, the region had enjoyed favorable weather, and the population had grown steadily. Jixing Town now had three or four more long streets than it had twenty years ago, becoming increasingly prosperous.
Shen Xuanqing observed everything as they walked. After passing two streets, they arrived at Xixing Street. Near the middle, toward the end of the street, stood the sundry goods shop for sale. Inside, it had been completely emptied—not a single stool, table, or even a rag remained. The barrenness was so stark it was almost laughable. The debt collectors had truly lived up to the word emptied, no exaggeration.
The shop faced the street, its half-open door revealing everything at a glance from outside. With nothing left inside, even a thief would find nothing to steal—unless they decided to haul off the door planks or window frames.
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