Chapter 165 – Encounter with Robbers
Yan Xiaosi was thinking about buying materials. She didn’t know where to buy building materials in Xize County, nor did she know which store offered cheap and good quality materials. However, Wang Sanbao should be well aware of this.
“Uncle Sanbao, there’s another thing I’d like to discuss with you.”
“What is it? Just tell me.”
“Uncle Sanbao, you often build houses for others, so you must be very familiar with bricks, tiles, and timber, right?”
“Of course.”
“Since you’re so knowledgeable, Uncle Sanbao, could you help me purchase the materials? I’ll pay you an extra tael of silver for your labor once the house is built.”
For Wang Sanbao, a contractor who earns at most a tael of silver after building a brick-tiled house with his team, buying materials for Yan Xiaosi and earning an additional tael was an excellent deal.
“I can do that. There are several shops in Xize County that sell bricks, tiles, and timber. I will pick the best quality for the lowest price. After placing the order, the shop will deliver the materials to Shaoyao Village. You can inspect the goods and pay the delivery person.”
It was best to pay the shop directly for the materials, bypassing Wang Sanbao – after all, it’s hard to fully trust someone.
“Now that everything is settled, I’ll see you in Shaoyao Village the day after tomorrow, Uncle Sanbao.”
At this moment, Gao Xiaocui brought out a few dishes she had cooked. Yan Xiaosi was about to leave.
Seeing Yan Xiaosi getting up, Tian Dazhuang and Yan Shuxue also stood up.
Gao Xiaocui put the dishes on the table and hurriedly said, “Dazhuang, young man, miss, the food is ready. Please eat something before you go.”
Seeing Gao Xiaocui’s enthusiasm, Yan Xiaosi couldn’t refuse, especially since she was a bit hungry.
…
She was very satisfied with the home-cooked dishes. “Aunt Sanbao, your cooking skills are really good.”
Gao Xiaocui smiled modestly, “My cooking skills aren’t anything special. I just made a few simple dishes. Usually, when your Uncle Sanbao is building houses for others and the homeowners can’t provide meals, I go to the site to cook for them.”
Thinking about the issue of providing meals, Yan Xiaosi felt it would be inconvenient for her family too. They were currently living in a cave on Big Sister Peak, and it was impossible to have her mother and sisters travel back and forth to the building site to cook. It would be too tiring and time-consuming, but traditionally, the homeowner was supposed to provide three meals a day for the craftsmen.
“Aunt Sanbao, when the homeowner can’t provide meals, and you go to the site to cook for Uncle Sanbao and the others, does the homeowner provide a subsidy?”
“Of course,” Gao Xiaocui replied.
Yan Xiaosi was curious. “Aunt Sanbao, could you tell me how the subsidy works?”
“Usually, the homeowner pays a subsidy of five taels of silver, and they don’t have to worry about anything else related to meals. I take care of everything.”
Five taels of silver was quite a lot for Yan Xiaosi at the moment, but she felt it was worth it to save Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuxue from the trouble. The moment Gao Xiaocui finished speaking, Yan Xiaosi immediately took out five taels of silver from her pocket.
She had brought some small change with her for today’s errands in the city. “Aunt Sanbao, please take care of Uncle Sanbao and the craftsmen’s meals from now on.”
Gao Xiaocui happily accepted the bright silver coins. With a dozen craftsmen and the time it took to build a brick-tiled house, she could save and spend wisely and earn a tael for herself from these five taels.
“Please rest assured, young man. Having received your silver, I will definitely take good care of the craftsmen’s needs.”
After staying at Wang Sanbao’s house for nearly an hour, Yan Xiaosi, worried about Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuxue, decided to leave with Tian Dazhuang and Yan Shuxue.
The three left Wang Sanbao’s house, full from the meal, and took the ox cart straight out of the county town, heading towards Daxing Town.
When they were returning to Shaoyao Village, the sun was already setting in the west.
“Xiaosi, do you want me to escort you up the mountain?”
Yan Xiaosi jumped off the ox cart and pulled Yan Shuxue down with her. “Brother Dazhuang, you should go back yourself. We’re familiar with the route up to Big Sister Peak; there’s no need for you to escort us. If you don’t go back now, Aunt Tian will twist your ear again.”
Tian Dazhuang’s ear ached at the thought. “Then be careful, both of you.”
After parting ways with Tian Dazhuang, the sisters hurried towards the Four Sisters Mountain, both anxious about Ms. Zhong and Yan Shuxue.
Entering the dense forest, still some distance from the cave on Big Sister Peak, Yan Xiaosi suddenly stopped, her brows tightening. She grabbed Yan Shuxue’s hand and shielded her with her small body.
Yan Shuxue felt her tension and also tensed up, asking, “Xiaosi, what’s wrong?”
Rustle, rustle, rustle!
Due to her practice in mental strength, Yan Xiaosi could hear even the slightest movement around her. There were rustling footsteps approaching them.
“Sister, no matter what happens, don’t be afraid. I’ll protect you.”
“What’s going on, Xiaosi?”
Before Yan Shuxue could finish her sentence, five masked men rushed out from the bushes and surrounded Yan Xiaosi and Yan Shuxue.
It was evident that their intentions were not good.
The path up the mountain was completely blocked.
Yan Shuxue’s face suddenly changed, and she quickly moved in front of Yan Xiaosi, pushing her forcefully. “Xiaosi, run quickly, go down the mountain and find Brother Dazhuang.”
Although the path down the mountain was not blocked, Yan Xiaosi, with her short arms and legs, couldn’t possibly outrun the five burly men. Yet at this critical moment, Yan Shuxue was selflessly protecting her, which deeply moved Yan Xiaosi.
Yan Xiaosi staggered from the push, steadied herself, and bent down to pick up a few stones from the ground.
Seeing her standing still, Yan Shuxue stamped her foot in frustration and bit her lip, “Xiaosi, why aren’t you running? You silly kid.”
Yan Xiaosi held the stones in her hand and gave a faint smile. “Sister, if I run, what will happen to you?”
Yan Shuxue was so anxious she felt like crying, “Staying here won’t do any good.”
“Who says so?”
Yan Xiaosi raised her eyebrows, quickly swung her arm, and threw the first stone. After practicing her mental strength, her physical condition had improved significantly. The stone, infused with power, flew like a swallow towards the nearest masked man.
The man, unprepared for this move, was struck in the knee by the stone. “Ah!” A scream echoed through the forest as the man collapsed to the ground, feeling as if his knee had shattered.
The other four men, seeing their companion writhing in pain on the ground, holding his knee, finally came to their senses and looked at Yan Xiaosi with newfound wariness.
