CHAPTER 61: CHAPTER 61: TOO MANY THINGS TO BUY

Yun Jiao mentioned the future arrangements again, "Mom, don’t we need to clear out a side room to make a kitchen? We also need to hire someone to make a stove."

"Right, we don’t have any pots, pans, or bowls. I’ll go to the county town to buy them tomorrow."

Mrs. Chen nodded, "I was just going to discuss with you. From the family’s division, we got these fifteen tails of silver. I need to first repay Mrs. Sun next door five taels, and there’s over three taels owed to the pharmacy. Take it with you tomorrow and pay it back."

"I’ll give you three taels of silver to buy things."

Yun Jiao agreed, "Okay."

Although she had silver, she wouldn’t take charge of everything. The household wasn’t just hers. For the household to prosper, everyone needed to take responsibility and contribute together.

Yun Jiao suddenly remembered something, "Mom, we don’t have a vegetable garden. I noticed Guihua’s sister-in-law’s house has many vegetables in her backyard. There’s more than enough for her and her daughter to eat. How about we go over there to pick some vegetables every day, and to give her a little copper coin each month?"

"If Mom agrees, I’ll talk to her tomorrow."

Mrs. Chen nodded, "Sure, just talk to her. Later on, let Sanya go over to pick vegetables."

After eating, Yun Jiao wrote the shopping list while Mrs. Chen took Sanya to the kitchen to wash dishes.

Mrs. Yang was also washing dishes. Seeing her come in, she sneered, "This water is from my house, fetched by my husband this morning. If you want to use it, go fetch it yourself."

Mrs. Chen ignored her and scooped water from the water tank to wash dishes, with Sanya helping beside her.

Mrs. Yang continued mockingly, "Spendthrift, you just divided the family and you’re already eating meat. Let’s see how long that little silver lasts you."

Sanya retorted indignantly, "Big Sister-in-law said, as long as I behave, I can eat meat every day."

Mrs. Yang sneered, clearly thinking it was just a placating story for kids, and only kids would believe it.

After washing the dishes, Mrs. Chen returned and saw Yun Jiao still using Jiang Youzhi’s pen and ink to write the list in his room.

Mrs. Chen went over to take a look. She couldn’t recognize many words but reminded, "We also need to buy a water tank, a water bucket, and a bathing tub. Did you write those down?"

With that, she sighed, "I should have fought for more family property. No wonder people say a broken family is worth ten thousand; buying everything sure costs a lot of silver."

"Three taels of silver surely won’t be enough."

"By the way, did you write a kitchen knife and chopping board?"

Yun Jiao nodded, "I wrote them."

Just then, Jiang Youzhi, lying on the bed, suddenly said, "Mom, my luggage is still at the academy. Find a time to bring it back."

"My sword was left to me by my mentor. It’s a good sword. If you pawn it, it should fetch a few dozen taels of silver."

Mrs. Chen was delighted at first, "Ah, now we won’t worry about the silver for medicine."

Then she added, "But after all, it is Mr. Cheng’s relic..."

Jiang Youzhi shook his head, "Pawn it first, and I’ll find a way to redeem it later."

He had never thought about silver money before.

He felt that scholars should solely focus on studying and not be tainted by the stench of money.

In books, there are storehouses of gold. Once you’ve read enough, naturally, there’ll be everything you need.

However, this time, after being troubled for silver money, he also realized the importance of silver. He had to think carefully about how to earn it in the future.

Yun Jiao suddenly looked up, "Then I’ll go to the county town tomorrow, retrieve your luggage, and also pawn the sword."

Jiang Youzhi nodded, "Thank you for your hard work."

Yun Jiao suddenly slapped her forehead, "Right, I also need to buy a small stove for boiling medicine, and some charcoal. We do have a medicine pot."

At this moment, Liu Lang squeezed next to Yun Jiao, "Big Sister-in-law, how come you can write?"