Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Business Knocking at the Door (1)_1 Chapter 41: Chapter 41 Business Knocking at the Door (1)_1 “”I’ll try to go to the city when I get the chance,” said Lin Changshu. In reality, the Capital City wasn’t too far from Shili Village, only about fifteen or sixteen miles away. However, since the bustling market at the foot of Ding’an Temple was established, villagers preferred to do their business there. After all, compared to dealing with the contemptuous looks from city dwellers, they preferred doing business at the market.
Besides, with the presence of Ding’an Temple, there was a considerable amount of merchants traveling from north to south. The goods they brought, to be honest, were no worse than those available in the city.
In this lifetime, not to mention Lin Changshu, even the old patriarch had never set foot in the city.
They neither wanted nor preferred to go to the city. In their view, the difference between city people and their farming lifestyle was as wide as the difference between the earth and the sky.
Lin Ziyin bore no notions of social class, she enjoyed implementing her own ideas, gradually realizing her dream of improving the family’s condition.
Shuanzhu was pleased, though he wasn’t aware of what business the patriarch was talking about. Still, noticing the improved living conditions of the Lin Family, he was quite supportive.
“I must get going now,” said Shuanzhu. The Guo Family village was more than ten miles away from Shili Village, so after his meal, Shuanzhu was anxious to return.
“You’re leaving just as the seat is getting warm?” Guo Huiniang felt somewhat reluctant. Due to her busy schedule, she hadn’t visited her parent’s home in a long time.
“I’ll find some work at the scholar’s residence after I go back,” Shuanzhu replied rather sheepishly.
“Fair enough,” agreed Guo Huiniang hesitantly.
She had brought gifts from her parent’s house and likewise, she intended to take back a few things. But the goods at home were earned by her younger sister Ziyin, she didn’t have the authority to arbitrarily decide to give things to Shuanzhu to take back.
“Sister-in-law, we have plenty of cold cuts left at home. Let brother Shuanzhu take them back, so my mother can enjoy them,” volunteered Lin Ziyin, “we sold out of tofu today, what a pity!”
“This?” Guo Huiniang was hesitant and more than that, she was rather embarrassed.
“I can’t accept this,” Shuanzhu shook his head stubbornly.
“Why can’t you? Haven’t you seen what we have plenty of now is the meat?” replied Lin Ziyin with conviction. Meanwhile, Lin Zige silently filled a basket with cold cuts and added the leftover lean meat from lunch for him to take back.
“Take it,” said the old patriarch.
Scratching his head, Shuanzhu agreed reluctantly under the teary gaze of Guo Huiniang.
After sending off Shuanzhu, the Lin family members began their next set of tasks.
“Brother Wu, I’d like to ask if you and my brother could help deliver tofu for a few days. I can give you twenty coins a day, would that be acceptable?” asked Lin Ziyin with a smile.
The old patriarch was growing old, and for Zige and Guo Huiniang to carry loads for ten-something miles was quite strenuous. She didn’t want her family members to suffer.
“I can deliver tofu or meat, but I’m not doing it for the money. Are you looking down on me?” Wu Dayou said coldly, “Just let me eat with you guys every day, and don’t bring up money again. I’d be upset if you did.”
“There’ll be no shortage of food for you,” replied Lin Zige before Lin Ziyin had a chance to, staring at him in admonishment.
Her tone suggested more of playful annoyance than genuine anger.
Lin Ziyin couldn’t help but smile.
“You’re on your own…” Lin Changshu, seeing how difficult life was for his friend, wanted to give him some wages to help him out.
“What are you worried about when it’s just me?” interrupted Wu Dayou, giving him a look of discontent.
“Alright, you can count on us for your three meals a day,” said Lin Ziyin, grinning, “You can see that Wu Dayou is an honest and straightforward man. As for the favor, we will have an opportunity to repay it in the future.”