Allure of a Country Maiden-Chapter 33 - 32 Sister’s Whereabouts

Chapter 33: Chapter 32 Sister’s Whereabouts

Chapter 33 -32 Sister’s Whereabouts

After dinner, the family sat around the kang table counting the money they earned that day.

When Xiao’er brought out a ten taels silver ingot, Mrs.

Liu’s eyes widened: “This ten taels came from selling goods?”

“Yes, a man with the surname Zhou bought our fruits today.”

“So much for the fruit?” Mrs.

Liu was doubtful, even though the fruits that Xiao’er picked from the mountain were indeed delicious and she had never seen such tasty, good-looking fruit.

But ten taels seemed to be too much.

“Really, Xiao’er let that man decide how much to pay and he gave us ten taels.

He even gave us an extra ten coins for the candied chestnuts.”

“How could you take an additional ten coins from others?” Mrs.

Liu didn’t agree.

“He took our basket.

So we decided to take those ten coins as payment for the basket,” explained Xiao’er.

After hearing this, Mrs.

Liu finally relaxed.

She was afraid that the child would develop a bad habit of taking advantage of others.

The rest were all copper plates, which everyone counted and strung together with a rope as they chatted.

Xiao’er thought that she needed to go to town to buy some ink, paper, and inkstone tomorrow.

She needed to keep an account book to record the income and expenses of the family.

They sold a total of thirty-two catties of candied chestnuts today, gave away eight catties, earned 384 coins, adding the 100 coins from the middle-aged uncle, they earned 484 coins just from selling chestnuts.

They also sold herbs for 1138 coins.

Adding the ten taels silver from the fruit, and deducting the cost of the sugar used in making candied chestnuts and the two coins for entering the city, they made a net profit of eleven taels and 610 coins.

“I never imagined that selling herbs and chestnuts could earn over a thousand coins,” Mrs.

Liu said, filled with amazement as she looked at the pile of strung-up copper plates.

If they went to sell at the market every time, then Jingrui and Jinghao would have money for schooling.

“Father should also diligently go to the mountains to gather herbs.

And when we make enough money, we will send you brothers to school and buy beautiful clothes for Xiao’er and little sister.” Shen Chengyao felt that the future was looking bright.

Xiao’er calculated all the wealth at home now, “The last time we went to town to buy things, we spent a total of 2,320 coins, a couple hundred coins were spent on buying rice, flour and oil during the harvest season, plus other various expenses totalling 50 coins, we spent 2,570 coins in total recently.

This means we have seven taels four hundred thirty coins left from the ten taels we received when we divided the family assets.

Add the eleven taels six hundred ten coins we earned today, we now have a total of nineteen taels forty coins.”

“We still have so much.” Mrs.

Liu felt very satisfied.

“It’s not enough, far from enough.

I plan to earn more money.

I plan to send brother and little brother to school next spring.”

“Let’s send Hao’er.

I will stay at home to help make money.” Jingrui knew that schooling was expensive.

The money at home wouldn’t be enough for two people.

He also wanted to study, but he knew Jinghao was smarter than him, and as the older brother, he should let his younger brother have the chance.

Shen Chengyao and his wife fell silent.

Of course, they wanted both children to go to school.

But with this little money, it was nowhere near enough to afford schooling, yet they didn’t dare to dampen their children’s enthusiasm.

“We can’t leave anyone out, all of you will go.

I have thought of a way to make money, just wait.” After speaking, Xiao’er got off the kang bed, returned to her room, and brought out the silk flowers, head flowers, and rag dolls she had made before to show them.

“Where did you get these, Xiao’er?

They are so beautiful.” Mrs.

Liu fell in love with these things as soon as she saw them.

The two brothers were also very interested in the little rag dolls.

Shen Chengyao, apart from finding them novel, didn’t feel much else.

“I made these, using the scraps of fabric I bought last time.

If we make more and sell them in the county, do you think it will make money?”

“Definitely.

The rag dolls can be made in different sizes.

There are many wealthy young masters and young ladies in the city.

I’m sure we can sell a lot.” Jingrui couldn’t bear to let go of the little tiger he was holding.

“Such cute rag dolls, if no one buys them then there’s no justice in the world.” Jinghao was examining the Mickey Mouse from all angles.

“Xiao’er, teach your mother how to make them.

Make them quickly and plenty.

The New Year is barely two months away.

When you go to the market to sell, many women will definitely buy.” At New Year’s time, many people were willing to spend money.

After all, they had worked hard all year just for this holiday.

This year, she had money of her own and was thinking about getting the children some new clothes.

Now she worked every day, using a piece of white cotton cloth Xiao’er bought last time to make shirts for the family.

The cotton clothes would be made a little later, as the newly picked cotton was outrageous expensive at the moment.

Xiao’er felt that Mrs.

Liu had a bit of a business mind and could be nurtured.

“Then father will go to the mountains to hunt and gather herbs.”

“I’ll go with dad.”

“I’m going too.” The two little men hurriedly chimed in.

“You can go, but you must not venture into the deep mountains, understand?” Mrs.

Liu said with a smile as she watched them.

Thinking of the incident last time, all three of them nodded in agreement.

Mrs.

Liu, remembering that Shen Chengyao always asked about Yun’er’s news when he went into the town, asked, “Father, any news from the government office?”

Hearing this, Shen Chengyao shook his head in disappointment.

Mrs.

Liu remained silent, causing the atmosphere to turn gloomy.

Seeing that the topic was brought up, Xiao’er took the opportunity to inquire about Shen Yun’er.

“Mother, did father go to the government office to ask about sister Yun’er?” she asked.

Mrs.

Liu caressed Xiao’er’s head.

“Yes, you still remember that your sister’s name is Yun’er.” She wondered where her daughter was now, if she was suffering, if she was being beaten or going hungry.

Upon thinking of this, her eyes welled up with tears again.

“I remember.

I think with the government taking so long to find any news, they might be looking in the wrong direction or maybe Yun’er wasn’t abducted by the kidnappers?”

“If she wasn’t abducted, then what happened?” The thought distracted Mrs.

Liu from her grief.

It suddenly dawned on her that she knew nothing about Mrs.

Li selling Xiao’er until it had already happened.

Her face drained of color as she put the pieces together.

The government had arrested a kidnapper two years ago, and several missing children had been found as a result, but there was no sign of Yun’er.

The realization hit her like a wall of water, and she burst into tears.

“Yun’er, I’m sorry.

My Yun’er…”

With this realization, both fear and anger caused Shen Chengyao’s hands to tremble.

“No, it can’t be…

”

“Father, mother, let’s not grieve yet.

It’s just a guess.

Can you tell me the circumstances about how Yun’er went missing?”

“That day Yun’er went missing was market day.

We had had some trouble with the shop recently, so for two market days, we didn’t have much business.

Your aunt came to stay for a few days, and you two used to pester her in her room for treats.

On market day, Yun’er insisted on accompanying your aunt into town.

I gave in, and your aunt said she would be careful since there wasn’t much happening at the shop.

We let her go, but who knew, she came back in the evening, said she was too busy to look after Yun’er and lost her.

We spent the whole afternoon looking for her, but we couldn’t find her.”

“Did father go to help that day?”

Shen Chengyao shook his head.

If only he had gone, Yun’er definitely wouldn’t have gone missing.

“They didn’t go because the shop wasn’t doing well last market day.”

“What happened to the shop that made business so poor?

If business had been poor for some time, why did it suddenly pick up to the point where they couldn’t look after the child?

I suspect that the incident at the shop has something to do with it.”

“They were selling a new kind of bean called a sword bean at the shop.

That bean was poisonous.

One family bought it for their daughter who died from the poisoning.

That family would come to the shop and make a fuss every few days, naturally business wasn’t good.”

A matter of life and death, obviously, was a big deal.

“So how was the problem eventually solved?”

Shen Chengyao and Mrs.

Liu looked at each other, neither of them knowing the answer.

“Your grandfather mentioned something about money being paid as compensation.

Also, there was speculation that some misunderstanding had occurred, since other people ate the beans too and nothing happened to them.

We’re not clear.”

Xiao’er understood why it was the case.

Sword beans were also known as green beans.

They had to be thoroughly cooked or else they’d be toxic.

She felt that the two incidents were unrelated, but there was something about this situation that felt off.

Could they have paid the compensation with the silver obtained from selling Yun’er?

Recalling the case, Shen Chengyao also felt pity for the family.

“That family was also unfortunate.

I heard that they were childless for many years and were almost forty when they adopted a pair of weak and sick twins.

The children constantly needed medication, which put a strain on their finances.

Now that they’ve lost their daughter on top of that…”

“The couple can’t have children?” She had a suspicion developing in her mind.

“Father, where is the couple now?”

“I’m not sure, why are you asking?” Shen Chengyao was surprised at Xiao’er’s excitement.

“I believe Yun’er is with them!”