Chapter 265 – Precious Horse
Yan Xiaosi patted her stomach, which felt uncomfortably full from all the food.
If she were to die young in this life, it would surely be from overeating.
Seeing her furrowed brows and pained expression, Bai Mingyue suggested, “Why don’t you dismount and walk around a bit to digest?”
“It’s getting late. I need to hurry back.”
She needed to buy some things, visit the Tian family, and then return to Tongluo Plain military camp.
“Master Bai, you may go about your business. There’s no need to accompany me. You treated me today, I’ll return the favor next time we meet.”
Bai Mingyue watched as she rode away on her chestnut horse, unconsciously curling his lips, deep down looking forward to their next meeting.
By sunset, Yan Xiaosi had returned to Shaoyao Village.
“Big Sister, Second Sister, Third Sister, come help carry these things!”
The three Yan sisters came to the door and were stunned by the large and small packages hanging from the chestnut horse’s back.
A large piece of pork, a big bag of white rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, vegetables, sweet cakes, and three rolls of fabric in different colors.
Yan Shuqin asked in surprise, “Xiaosi, didn’t you give all the money to Mother? Where did you get the silver to buy so many things?”
These items must have cost more than ten taels of silver.
“I earned it selling medicinal herbs.”
Yan Xiaosi took a roll of light purple floral fabric from the horse and placed it in Yan Shuyun’s arms.
“This floral fabric is suitable for young women, for you all to make winter clothes.”
“This orange-brown roll is more suitable for middle-aged women, for Mother and Auntie Tian.”
“This half roll of cyan is more suitable for Brother Dazhuang. Use it to make clothes for him, and if there’s any left over, make a set for me.”
Yan Xiaosi took down two more rolls of fabric and handed them all to Yan Shuyun.
“In our family, Third Sister, you have the best skills. I’ll have to trouble you to make the clothes.”
Yan Shuyun happily hugged the fabric.
“I’ll work on them during my time off. There’s still some time before winter. I should be able to make several sets of clothes in time.”
Yan Shuqin and Yan Shuxue carried the pork and rice while asking, “Xiaosi, what kind of medicinal herb did you sell that’s so valuable?”
Yan Xiaosi carried two carrots toward the kitchen.
“Heshouwu, human-shaped heshouwu. Today when I was returning from Tongluo Plain, I accidentally discovered them while passing by the mountains. I was afraid the appearance of the heshouwu would frighten you, so I didn’t bring them home. I dug up three plants and sold them to Jiren Hall, earning a total of one thousand five hundred taels.”
Hearing the figure of one thousand five hundred taels, the three sisters stood frozen in shock.
One thousand five hundred taels! An ordinary family couldn’t earn that much in a lifetime.
Their little Xiaosi was truly remarkable.
After the initial shock, the three sisters were overjoyed.
Now they wouldn’t have to worry about not having money to build a house or buy furniture.
Ms. Wang and Ms. Zhong were busy cooking in the kitchen when they saw their future daughter-in-law and her siblings carrying in large pieces of pork and bags of rice. Their eyes grew warm with emotion.
They couldn’t help but feel that this marriage arrangement was truly fortunate.
Yan Shuqin found a wooden basin for the pork while telling Ms. Zhong and Ms. Wang, “Mother, Auntie Tian, Xiaosi sold some medicinal herbs today and earned some money. She purchased some goods with the money.”
Yan Shuxue added, “Xiaosi also bought a lot of fabric. She gave them to Third Sister. Xiaosi said that as the weather gets colder, Auntie Tian and Brother Dazhuang, and all of us should each have a new set of winter clothes.”
“For me and Dazhuang too?” Ms. Wang exclaimed in surprise.
Mooching food off the Yan family’s third branch was already good enough; she never expected they would provide clothes as well.
Yan Xiaosi entered, huffing and puffing while carrying two large carrots. She happened to overhear Ms. Wang and Second Sister talking.
She casually replied, “Yes, Third Sister has good skills. Let Third Sister make a new set of clothes for everyone.”
Ms. Wang felt somewhat uncomfortable.
“How could I accept this?”
The third branch of the Yan family was staying here, but she had collected rent from them.
Ms. Zhong said, “Dazhuang’s mother, don’t stand on ceremony. In the past, Dazhuang helped my Xiaosi quite a bit. Xiaosi is just returning the favor.”
Only then did Ms. Wang stop fretting and continued preparing dinner with Ms. Zhong.
Yan Xiaosi yawned, looking somewhat exhausted.
“I’ve already had dinner. I’ll take a short nap on your bed, Mother. Don’t call me for dinner.”
Ms. Zhong watched as she put down the carrots and turned away, her figure showing signs of fatigue, and felt deeply concerned.
The entire family relied on her young daughter for support. She felt useless as a mother.
Yan Xiaosi remembered she needed to return to Tongluo Plain military camp, so she didn’t dare sleep too long. When she woke up and opened her eyes, Ms. Zhong and the others had just finished dinner. After asking Yan Shuqin, she learned that Ms. Zhong was washing dishes in the kitchen.
She entered the kitchen, went to Ms. Zhong’s side, and took out a stack of banknotes.
“Mother, these are what I earned today selling medicinal herbs. Keep them safe.”
The stack of banknotes was worth at least several hundred taels of silver.
Ms. Zhong glanced at them and, like the three Yan sisters, wore an expression of shock.
“Xiaosi, what kind of medicinal herb is worth so much?”
Still in shock, she didn’t reach out to take the banknotes.
“Human-shaped heshouwu. I was lucky to dig some up.”
“Xiaosi, you should keep such a large sum. I’m afraid I can’t manage it properly.”
Except for when she was very young, Ms. Zhong had never seen so much money. Later in life, they had been so poor that she barely had a few copper coins. Suddenly holding such a large sum made her inevitably anxious.
Yan Xiaosi forcefully placed the banknotes in her hands.
“Here’s six hundred taels of silver, Mother. Take it. I spend most of my time at the military camp in Tongluo Plain and can’t oversee the construction of the new house. I’ve told Uncle San Bao that if anything comes up, he should find you, so you must have money.”
With this explanation, Ms. Zhong carefully tucked the six hundred taels of silver notes into her undergarment.
Yan Xiaosi noticed it was getting late.
“Mother, it’s almost dark. I need to return to Tongluo Plain military camp now. When I have the chance, I’ll come back to see you all.”
Ms. Zhong stopped her and handed her an oil-stained paper package.
“Inside are some pan-fried small potatoes. Take them to eat on the way.”
Yan Xiaosi loved pan-fried small potatoes—potatoes boiled, peeled, and then slowly fried in oil until crispy, sprinkled with pepper salt powder, aromatic and crunchy when bitten into.
“Mother is the best to me.”
She took the paper package and happily left.
By the time she returned to Tongluo Plain, darkness had fallen. A multitude of lamps illuminated the military grounds, lighting Yan Xiaosi’s way.
“Military Doctor Yan has returned.”
The guards at the gate, seeing her on the chestnut horse, let her in without question.
The chestnut horse that Long Yu had selected for her appeared ordinary and docile, but it was actually a precious steed only slightly inferior to Lightning, possessing two remarkable traits: it could travel a thousand li in a day and run like the wind—qualities that Yan Xiaosi had not yet discovered.
“Hmm.”
Yan Xiaosi was surprised but rode the chestnut horse inside with confidence.
She had thought that returning so late, the gate guards would have changed shifts, and she would have to waste words explaining herself to enter. Unexpectedly, the result was quite different.
