CHAPTER 110: 110 BUYS A DONKEY

Su Yuanyuan saw Tan Shaoting nod, "Thank you. I’ll go home and bring you some corn grits."

Su Yuanyuan quickly refused, "No need, no need."

If I take his food, it’ll be troublesome if he keeps coming over for meals in the future. I don’t want to deal with that.

"Mr. Tan, can we buy sheet metal stoves and honeycomb briquettes, coal balls, and such around here?"

"Yes, they’re available in the city."

"We still have to go to the city to buy them, huh."

"Yeah, do you want them? But they’re quite expensive, you know?"

"I have money; it’s just too far."

"If you really want them, I can make a trip for you."

Su Yuanyuan felt embarrassed. A trip to the city would take two days.

After thinking it over, "Mr. Tan, I’ll go myself. I’m also thinking about buying a donkey. And this car, after all, it’ll be needed as soon as spring comes.

But could you teach me how to drive the cart?"

"Sure, I’ll go with you tomorrow and teach you along the way.

When we return, you can drive the cart back yourself."

What a joke, I’m building good relations now. It’ll be easy to come over for meals in the future, don’t you think?

"Thank you so much, Mr. Tan. I might as well buy more coal; it’ll be more convenient."

Tonight’s dinner was sorghum porridge. Although it uses a lot of fuel, it’s the one thing we can’t skimp on right now. So, after two hours, they finally had sorghum and winter melon porridge to eat.

There were pickled vegetables mixed with vinegar and chili oil, and brown sugar was also placed on the table.

Su Yuanyuan ate sweet porridge, while Tan Shaoting particularly enjoyed the mixed pickled vegetables. The porridge itself was sweet because it included winter melon.

They both planned that they would set off at five in the morning, so they could arrive in the city early, and perhaps even catch the stove and coal purchases.

"I know someone who sells livestock and carts, so we’ll go directly to him."

"Sure, but sorry to trouble you, Mr. Tan. I really don’t know much about livestock."

"You’ll get used to it eventually." In the past, a mere gesture would turn the soil, now it’s all physical labor. Back then, I was completely unaccustomed when I first arrived, but in this life, I’m used to it now.

In fact, Tan Shaoting suspected that Su Yuanyuan, like him, had some sort of storage space. Otherwise, why did she have everything? Time would reveal more.

Tan Shaoting went home. Su Yuanyuan tidied up her home and then went into her space to rest.

While lying under the covers, she still thought about trying to reduce her dependence on the space, but if she could stay in the space long-term, she wouldn’t even want to come out. Why reduce her reliance?

In the middle of the night, Su Yuanyuan started making radish and vermicelli buns for breakfast. She also steamed over a dozen mantou, keeping them for the journey.

It’s genuinely not easy to make a trip out, but with a donkey cart in the future, it’ll surely be faster than going on foot, right?

By four o’clock, Tan Shaoting came over. Su Yuanyuan invited him for breakfast.

"Little girl, if I could have meals like this, I’d work for you every day."

Su Yuanyuan just smiled without responding to Tan Shaoting’s comment. She primarily didn’t want to get too close to anyone.

The two of them left. Along the way, Tan Shaoting taught Su Yuanyuan how to drive the cart, which was actually quite simple. Su Yuanyuan felt she learned it quickly. Besides, she had made up her mind to give the little donkey Spiritual Spring Water once she bought it. Not too much, though. But even then, it could work according to her intentions, right?

Halfway through, they fed the donkey, and they also needed to eat and drink water.

Su Yuanyuan was used to it now, so she had a mantou and a cup of hot water, while the rest went into Tan Shaoting’s stomach.

They reached the city by three in the afternoon. Su Yuanyuan followed Tan Shaoting’s instructions and stopped in front of a house.

A sturdy middle-aged man opened the door.

"Xiao Tan, why are you here at this time? Come inside quickly; stay the night at home."

"Uncle Bai, I’m here to buy a donkey and a cart."

Bai Lisheng opened the big gate, and they drove the donkey cart directly inside.

It seemed Tan Shaoting was very familiar here; he found feed to feed the donkey and gave it hot water, and only then did the three of them enter the house.

It was a family inside, but there were only two grown-up women. They had a sheet metal stove burning, and the house was really warm.

Bai Lisheng invited them to sit down. "Xiao Tan, what’s the matter? No one would be wandering around at this time without a reason, right?"

"Uncle Bai, I’m here to buy a donkey and a cart."

"Alright, I have a few at home, been keeping them. There are two good ones. You can take a look yourself."

"Uncle Bai, there’s no rush. I’m thinking of buying a sheet metal stove and honeycomb briquettes first."

"That’s easy to buy too."

Su Yuanyuan felt relieved sitting on the side. This was the best scenario.

"Uncle Bai, let’s hurry and pick a donkey first, then buy the coal. We’ll set off early tomorrow morning."

"What’s the hurry? Stay for two days."

"It’s not possible, though. These two days have been comfortable, but what about after going back home? Two days’ warmth won’t last."

Su Yuanyuan followed behind the two of them to the backyard. Wow, there were several little donkeys.

In the end, Bai Lisheng chose one. The cart, the harness, and everything else needed were there.

Su Yuanyuan also saw a rake and bought it, and also bought the sideboards for the cart, making it possible to carry more goods. Making a trip wasn’t easy, so she bought everything she could.

It was already nearly dark by now. In a hurry, the three of them took the cart outside. Su Yuanyuan approached the building and saw that the doors were not yet closed.

"Mr. Tan, you go buy coal, and I’ll go to the building." After Su Yuanyuan finished speaking, she handed Tan Shaoting two hundred yuan, "Here’s two hundred yuan. If it’s not enough, please cover it for me; I’ll pay you back when we return."

"Sure. Just wait for me here." Tan Shaoting did not refuse the money she handed over. This made it easier for the girl to relax.

Su Yuanyuan nodded and quickly ran towards the building. There were so many things she needed.

Actually, it was just two floors, with the first floor being a general store. It was precisely what Su Yuanyuan needed.

She bought two hot water bottles, one sheet metal stove, several sections of sheet metal flue pipe, two small iron pots, one stainless-steel pot for steaming rice, iron spoons, spatulas, steamer baskets, pot covers, and two thermos bottles. This finally seemed enough.

Then came the supplies. She bought twenty candles, matches, and toilet paper.

This was the end. It seemed enough, but she couldn’t carry them all by herself. People were about to get off work, and they wouldn’t let her stay there.

So a middle-aged woman who seemed particularly easygoing came out to help her carry the items outside.

Su Yuanyuan was waiting outside. She had no idea how long it would take.

It was unbearably cold. With no other choice, she leaned against the building’s entrance to wait; at least she was shielded from the wind. She kept moving to prevent getting colder.