Chapter 175: Breaking the Agreement
Editor: Atlas Studios
Mu Yangling got out of bed and looked outside. Seeing that the sky was still dark, she fell asleep again. After lying down for a while, she heard the bell from the county.
It was time to open the city gate.
Mu Yangling opened her eyes with difficulty and got up to wash up. Since she was going to the prefectural capital, she had to set off quickly if she wanted to rush back before night.
Mu Yangling tied the still unconscious wild boar to the cart. When Great-aunt saw that she had also tied up the five little wild boars, she quickly stopped her and said, “Such small wild boars aren’t even enough to fill the gaps between your teeth. It’s better to keep it. I’ll raise it later.”
“Don’t.” Mu Yangling tied up the wild boar and said, “How can it be so easy to raise these wild boars? They’re very independent. If you want to raise pigs, I’ll go to the county and bring back two piglets for you. We should sell these few. Don’t worry, the people in the city like to eat these. They might be worth more than that big wild boar.”
Mu Yangling tied up the things and wrapped the embroidery in oil paper before carefully placing it in her bag and carrying it on her chest.
Shu Wanniang was already making her pancakes in the kitchen. Seeing that Mu Yangling was about to get up, she quickly wrapped seven to eight pancakes in oil paper and stuffed them into her arms. “Take them to eat on the way. There’s also a bamboo tube on the cart filled with rice soup. Drink it if you’re thirsty. Be careful on the way. Don’t cause trouble when you reach the prefectural capital. If the price isn’t right, just come back and don’t argue with others.”
“Mother, don’t worry. When have I ever been bullied?” Mu Yangling waved at them, lifted the cart, and pushed it away.
Shu Wanniang stood at the door and watched her disappear before turning around.
As Great-aunt didn’t have to go to the county to set up a stall today, she pounded her waist and said, “I’ll rest for a while today. When the sun comes out, I’ll bring Xiuhong to remove the weeds from the cornfields.”
After thinking for a moment, Shu Wanniang said, “Aunt, I’ll bring the children and go with you.”
Stunned, Madam Ma-Liu shook her head with a smile. “Why are you going? Aren’t the two children enough to keep you busy? You won’t be able to do any work even if you bring them along. You might as well stay at home and teach Xiulan how to embroider.”
“We’ve used up all the embroidery threads at home. There’s only enough for Xiulan to practice with now. Let’s talk about it when Ah Ling buys it tonight.” Shu Wanniang said, “Bosi and Kejia are very obedient. We can put them on the fields where we can see them when we work in the fields. Aunt, I don’t know how to do other farm work, but I know how to weed.”
Madam Ma-Liu patted her hand and said, “I’m not saying you don’t know how to do farm work, but it’s already hard enough to take care of the children. Furthermore, it’s two children. Other than taking care of the children and doing housework, you also have to take time out to embroider. Previously, we were busy with farm work at home and really couldn’t find anyone to help you. Since you’re free now, rest for two more days. Otherwise, when Ah Ling comes back from the prefectural capital, you’ll have to start embroidering again. Also, we’ll have to start plowing the wheat fields, weeding the cornfields, and fertilizing the wheat. We’ll be even more busy by then. Considering you’re still young, you shouldn’t tire yourself out…”
Madam Ma-Liu persuaded Shu Wanniang in a low voice. Meanwhile, Mu Yangling had also arrived at the county entrance and directly passed through Mingshui County to get to the prefectural capital.
Because she was in a hurry, she walked very quickly. The cart creaked as she moved.
Mu Yangling was the only one on the entire road. After walking for a long time, she saw a few people intermittently. Everyone was carrying goods and there were some on a donkey cart. Clearly, they were all going to the prefectural capital to do business.
Seeing that Mu Yangling had caught up, a donkey cart driver glanced at the things on her cart and raised his whip. “Young lady, this thing isn’t light, right? Do you want to take the donkey cart? I can throw a rope over and pull it for you. How about 20 copper coins to get to the prefectural capital?”
Mu Yangling shook her head. “Thank you, Uncle. I can pull it myself.”
That person looked at the things in her car and then at her body. Shaking his head, he said, “When will you be able to walk to the prefectural capital like this? You might wreck your petite body this way.”
Mu Yangling stopped in her tracks and sped up to overtake the donkey cart. She even took the time to turn around and shout at him, “Uncle, you have to speed up too. If you can’t make it to the morning market, you have to arrive before lunch at the very least.” With that, she laughed and sped up to leave.
That person watched Mu Yangling leave with his mouth agape and only came back to his senses after a while.
Mu Yangling arrived at the prefectural capital before ten o’clock. She directly pulled the wild boar to the largest restaurant in the prefectural capital, Prosperity Restaurant.
Mu Yangling knocked on the side door and said to the assistant shopkeeper who came to open the door, “My family has just obtained fresh wild boar meat. I wonder if you guys will accept it?”
The assistant shopkeeper looked at Mu Yangling from head to toe and asked, “Are you from Uncle Mu’s family?”
Mu Yangling nodded and took out five copper coins for him. “My father’s name is Mu Shi. He said that he had an agreement with your shopkeeper previously. Please inform him.”
The assistant shopkeeper took a look at the things on her cart and shook his head. “I’m afraid you won’t be able to sell this thing of yours. Our restaurant has a fixed supplier. My shopkeeper only agreed to your father’s request because he came to eat with Little General last time. Our shopkeeper only said yes on account of Little General.”
Mu Yangling said, “Regardless of whether the shopkeeper was faking it or sincerely wanted to buy my family’s prey, I have to ask him. If he doesn’t want to buy it, I’ll go to another restaurant. I’m not afraid that no one will buy the prey I hunted. Little Brother, help me ask.”
After thinking for a moment, the assistant shopkeeper nodded. “Alright, I’ll help you ask. Whether it succeeds or not will depend on your luck.”
Prosperity Restaurant was a restaurant that Minister He had set up with Minister Sun and Magistrate Wu. It was considered the largest restaurant in Xingzhou Prefecture. Other than purchasing from the He and Sun families’ manors, they also had fixed suppliers for the rest of their items. Therefore, when the shopkeeper heard that someone from the Mu family had sent prey over, he frowned slightly.
Previously, he was unwilling to reject them in front of Qi Haoran. During this period of time, when he saw that no one had delivered the goods, he’d thought that the Mu family was tactful. He did not expect them to still deliver it.
Thinking that there was no need to offend Qi Haoran over such a small matter, he called the second shopkeeper over and said, “Go and see what she sent over. Just give her some money and dismiss her. If she asks about the next delivery, just say that we already have a supplier and give her some reward money to dismiss her.”
The second shopkeeper agreed, but when he was halfway there, he was stopped by an assistant shopkeeper. “Shopkeeper, there’s something wrong with the pork that was just sent into the kitchen. The head chef is angry.”
The second shopkeeper frowned and waved at the assistant shopkeeper. “Go to the side door and send the delivery person away. Tell him that we don’t lack ingredients today. Make it sound nice and don’t offend anyone. I’ll go to the kitchen to take a look.”
The assistant shopkeeper agreed and ran to the side door. Mu Yangling was resting on the cart. When she saw the assistant shopkeeper coming over, she quickly stood up.
“Miss Mu? I’m really sorry. We have enough ingredients today. I’m afraid we won’t be able to purchase the prey that you sent over. Do you see the Red Taste Restaurant diagonally opposite? Why don’t you try over there?”