The Lucky Farmgirl-Chapter 2102 - 2077: New Year’s Celebration (Part 2)

Chapter 2102: Chapter 2077: New Year’s Celebration (Part 2)

Manbao agreed and asked, "Fourth brother, how much did you earn today?"

"Not much," he shook the cloth bag and smiled, "We made more by selling to other families in the courtyard."

Zhou SiLang set a high price when selling to various families and maintained it when bringing the meat to the market. But with the whole market being sparse, there weren’t even two people selling meat. Those who wanted to buy meat only hovered around, and most of them asked the price but didn’t buy.

Zhou SiLang wasn’t sure what got into him, but he suddenly decided to lower the price.

He said, "Luckily, the half I sold in the morning made some profit; otherwise, I’d be losing money this trip. In all my years of doing business, it’s the first time I’ve made such an evident loss."

Manbao then smiled until her eyes were squinted and said, "It’s the New Year, as long as you’re happy inside, it’s not a loss."

Zhou SiLang thought about it and realized it was true, "Although I felt a bit stingy, at least I feel better inside and won’t dwell on it, so I can sleep well at night."

He said, "Previously, a lot of medicinal herbs were donated to the County Governmental Office, so what’s half a cow?"

Manbao agreed deeply.

The siblings leisurely made their way back to the courtyard they rented. There were few people on the street; occasionally, there were some who hurried by, most with masks similar to those worn by Zhou Man and Zhou SiLang.

This thing has become a necessity just like clothes on a person. In the cold winter, wearing a mask helps keep the cold wind off the face and blocks the epidemic, so people adapted to it easily.

The mask on Manbao’s face was newly made by Ms.Cui, using the finest cotton, with several layers. She embroidered a cluster of orchids on the outside, making it especially beautiful. The inside was also very skin-friendly; once it got dirty, a wash and dry were enough for it to be reused.

As they walked along, most households had white hemp hanging at their doors. Entering the alley where they rented, the amount of white hemp decreased. 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

This area mainly rents to visiting merchants, but this time, many passing merchants had died here too.

Xiazhou City has been unsealed; those who were checked and found free of fever or rashes could leave the city. Thus, many merchants were packing up, planning to head home after celebrating New Year’s Eve and the following couple of days.

Survivors still had to take their companions’ ashes back home, and the remaining money needed to be accounted for to family members of the deceased.

Thus, Manbao could still faintly hear cries as she walked, all mourning their companions.

Zhou SiLang was already accustomed to it, holding Manbao’s hand as they briskly walked, reaching their door in a few steps. He pushed open the door and went in. A large pot was set up in the courtyard, steaming away with the aroma of meat wafting out.

He laughed and scolded, "No wonder the alley is filled with the smell of meat, turns out you all are cooking here."

Sanzi laughed and said, "They needed the kitchen to cook dishes and complained that the soup pot was too big, so they moved it out to the courtyard to cook. Fourth brother, why don’t you try if it’s seasoned well?"

"Seasond well or not, the bones are so big, they need to stew longer for better flavor. Don’t open the lid too often; the aroma will escape otherwise."

Bai Shan and the others hadn’t returned yet. These past days, they were busy sorting materials at the County Governmental Office.

Although many rooms were in this courtyard, there were also many people. Manbao and others didn’t live here but at the place arranged by the governmental office.

But the food in the courtyard was better, so Manbao and they returned every few days for meals.

Liu Sanniang and Zhou Lijun were busy in the kitchen. Manbao took off her cloak and slipped in, immediately handed a large bowl filled with meat, "Ribs stewed since morning, try it and see how it tastes."

The freshly cooked stewed ribs were still hot. Manbao carefully took a bite, her eyes brightening, "Did Sanniang make this?"

Zhou Lijun immediately replied, "I kept the fire going."

Zhou Liru opened her mouth, only to say, "I added the water."

Manbao burst out laughing and nodded, "I know, you’ve all worked hard."

Knowing there was good food in the courtyard today, Bai Shan, when done with work, called upon his cousin and Yin Huo. The four sneaked back for a good meal.

Zhou SiLang shared the table with them, serving soup as he said, "Better fill up before heading home. You’ve all lost so much weight, whereas we’ve gained some. When we return home, we’ll be chided to death."

Zhou Lijun wholeheartedly agreed, giving her little aunt a bone with lots of meat.

Manbao, however, was staring at a white radish in the soup, "I want to eat radish..."

Zhou SiLang took a radish for himself and generously said, "I’ll eat the radish, you guys eat the meat."

Manbao: ...

Bai Shan stifled a laugh, handed her a radish, and said, "Fourth brother, the radish in the soup tastes better than the meat."

"Is that so? I think the meat tastes better."

Zhou Lijun thought so too.

Everyone joyfully enjoyed the meal. Bai Shan then asked Zhou SiLang and Xiang Mingxue, "When do you two plan to return to the capital?"

They could leave anytime. In fact, had it not been for Manbao and the others being in Xiazhou City, he would have left when the governmental office officially opened the city gates yesterday.

Even though it was the New Year, he thought, what’s the difference between celebrating in or outside Xiazhou City if you can’t go home anyway?

Might as well return earlier; maybe he’d catch the seventh day of the lunar new year.

But with Manbao and such a large group still here, Zhou SiLang stayed behind. He asked, "When are you all leaving?"

Bai Shan calculated the time and said, "At the earliest, after the Lantern Festival, if news from the capital city is slow, it might be after the lunar first month before returning."

Zhou SiLang frowned as it could be another month or longer, not to mention the many business opportunities missed, but also the cost of not working.

Bai Shan knew supporting such a large group wasn’t easy for him. So he said, "Fourth brother, you should head back after the New Year and send a letter of peace to the family, putting their minds at ease. We are here on orders, and naturally, we have to return on orders too."

Zhou SiLang understood they couldn’t go together, so he sighed and said to Xiang Mingxue, "We’ll inform the landlord and vacate the courtyard on the third day. We’ll pack up and leave."

Xiang Mingxue nodded, couldn’t help but inquire about the situation outside Xiazhou, "...I wonder how the situation is in other states and counties?"

Bai Shan replied, "The information we’ve received indicates everything is under control. Most smallpox patients in the capital are also recovering, so there should be no significant issues. Once you have the documents, you can return home with peace of mind."

Zhou SiLang said, "It’s New Year tomorrow, remember to come here for the New Year’s meal."

Manbao said, "I don’t think that’s possible, Imperial Doctor Lu is hosting all the doctors for a meal, including the students from the Imperial Medical College."

Liu Sanniang and Zhou Liru also expressed they couldn’t return.