CHAPTER 54: 54 FIND A WAY

"You’ve shed quite a bit, haven’t you?"

"Yes, I plan to build up a wall once I’ve stored enough earth blocks. This way, I won’t have to worry about wild boars breaking in."

Hearing that, Hu Chunhua felt even more compassion for this girl. She squatted down, wanting to help.

"Aunt, you don’t need to. You finally get a day off, and I have nothing else to do, so I’ll take my time. Besides, once this bit of mud is taken care of, I’ll stop. I have a hygrometer, and it’s been too humid these days, might rain, and then it’ll all be for nothing."

"Then I’ll stick with you until we finish this bit; after all, it’s not too tiring."

How could it not be tiring? Both sisters-in-law are always trying to shirk their duties. I can’t stand them, but I can’t bring myself to be like them either, so I’ve always thought about splitting the household. But the mother-in-law disagrees. It’s really tying our family down.

The two of them worked really fast. It didn’t take even an hour to finish the mud Yuanyuan had prepared in the morning.

They washed their hands. "Girl, take a rest when you’re done too."

"It’s fine, I’m not tired. Aunt, look at the little pig I’ve been raising, isn’t it good?"

Hu Chunhua had already noticed the little pig in the sty, looking clean and tidy.

"You’ve raised it well. But it must take quite a bit of grain?"

"I bought 500 pounds of cornmeal from the village head’s house. I’ll buy some more next month, should be enough to last until the autumn harvest."

"Okay, I’ll ask around to see who has more corn. You can’t just feed it corn though."

"Yes, I’m also feeding it with wild greens."

"You can also feed it with bran, especially after you harvest soybeans, the finely beaten leaves can be mixed in for the pigs."

"I know. Actually, I was thinking about collecting some water plants from the river, drying and crushing them; they might be better than bran."

"Is that possible?"

"I think it could work. But I don’t have the ability to collect water plants. Aunt, does anyone in the village have a boat?"

"No."

Yuanyuan felt disappointed. She was just asking; she had never seen a boat near the water.

"It’s okay, during summer, let’s have Uncle go down and get some for you."

"Aunt, there’s no need. My uncle works hard enough, plus it might not even work."

Hu Chunhua stayed awhile longer, seeing the girl doing well, and then went home.

Su Yuanyuan is someone who, once she has an idea, will find a way to achieve it. So she was mulling over what she had in her space, to see if she could collect the water plants.

But the space only had food items, no tools at all. There were some life rings, but they were those nice plastic ones from the future that wouldn’t last.

Suddenly she remembered seeing someone use an inflated truck inner tube tied with a rope to sit on the water for fishing as a child in her past life.

However, in this era, those rubber inner tubes would probably be hard to find. No, she would have to make a trip to the county and ask Master Yang, the blacksmith. He had connections and might have a way, even if it costs more money.

Once Yuanyuan thought of this solution, she couldn’t sit still and decided she must go to the county the next day. She had to inquire about it.

She didn’t care about the mud bricks anymore. The next morning, she gathered up the nets quickly, sorted out the green shrimp, but didn’t store them in her space, planning to take them to Master Yang.

After feeding the pigs and sheep and having her own meal, she set off with her basket.

She now walked very quickly. In an hour and a half, she arrived at the county and went directly to Old Yang’s blacksmith shop.

"Hey, why are you here, girl?" Old Yang asked with a smile.

"Master Yang, I’ve come to ask a favor!" Su Yuanyuan replied with a grin.

"What favor? Tell me and see if I can do it."

"Master Yang, I want to buy two truck inner tubes."

"What do you need those for?"

Su Yuanyuan didn’t answer but instead unloaded her basket and presented a small bowl of green shrimp.

"Master Yang, I caught these green shrimp. I was thinking of using the rubber inner tubes, inflating them, so I can sit on them to go into the water.

But don’t worry, I won’t go into deep waters."

Old Yang took the shrimp, noticing they were the large pincered kind, really good stuff.

"Alright, but you must be careful about safety. If something happened to you because I helped you get the tubes, I’d regret it for my whole life."

"Don’t worry, Master Yang. I haven’t had enough of life yet. Back then, even when I wanted to die, I didn’t succeed. Now that I’m finally living a meaningful life, I won’t seek death."

"Alright, you don’t need to pay. I’ll get you two, but they’ll be used ones."

"Thank you, Master Yang. Could you also get me two new ones? I’m afraid the old ones won’t last as long."

"Wait here. Are you going to have lunch here?"

"Master Yang, if you can get them quickly for me, I won’t have lunch. I still have three sheep and three little pigs at home. I’m afraid if I go back late, the little pigs will be hungry."

"You’re quite the tough girl, with your small frame, raising so many livestock?

By the way, can sheep pull plows?"

Su Yuanyuan laughed happily, "Of course, and they do a great job. In a few days, it’s time to harvest the green crops. The sheep will help with that."

"The plow I made for you works well, right?"

"Yes, Master Yang, you’re amazing. Now please go get the inner tubes."

"Alright, wait here. I’ll go to the transport team. But in the future, you have to sell me a pig."

Yuanyuan nodded eagerly, "No problem. The pigs I raise will definitely be extra fat."

Old Yang got on his bike and left. To show her gratitude, Su Yuanyuan went to the kitchen, washed the shrimp clean, and marinated them with salt.

Old Yang’s apprentice was there, showing her where all the materials were.

"Shall I fry the shrimp?"

"That would be great. I’ll get you some oil and light a fire for you."

Before Old Yang got back to the yard, he smelled the aroma, thinking this girl was really considerate.

The shrimp had been fried, and she’d been waiting a while.

Seeing Old Yang come in, she immediately went over to greet him.

"Here are the two old ones, no charge, but the two new ones are ten bucks each."

"Thank you so much, Master Yang. I couldn’t have bought them by myself."

Su Yuanyuan handed over twenty yuan to Old Yang and packed the inner tubes into her basket.

"Master Yang, I’m heading back. Next time I come to the county, I’ll bring you some more shrimp."

Old Yang nodded with a smile, "Chengzi, go and give this girl a ride on your bike."

Su Yuanyuan quickly refused, "No need. I’m familiar with the way, I can get home quickly."

By the time she got home, it was already past one in the afternoon. It was a sweaty journey. She didn’t even stop to eat, rushing to feed the pigs. It’s quite a hassle going out; how will I feed the pigs in the future?