Chapter 268: Shopping
Editor: Atlas Studios
After Mu Yangling and Xiuhong finished selling the rabbit skins, they set down the cart in an alley. Holding hands, they ran to look for Mu Shi and the others.
Seeing all kinds of snacks on the stall, Xiuhong drooled. She pointed at a stall selling lamb skewers and said, “Cousin, I want to eat that.”
“Let’s go, I’ll buy it for you.” Mu Yangling pulled her in and said to the vendor, “Give us 20 skewers.”
Xiuhong tugged at her sleeve and whispered, “I can’t eat so much.”
“I can.”
The vendor quickly placed the 20 lamb skewers on the grill, as if he was afraid that they would go back on their word.
In this era, there weren’t as many seasonings for roasted mutton skewers. However, the sheep here were raised on the grassland and did not have a gamey flavor. They only needed to apply a little seasoning to roast them and they would turn out delicious with a strong mutton flavor. Unlike in the future, where one could only taste the barbecue flavor, and chili and cumin.
Mu Yangling looked at the sizzling mutton and couldn’t help but drool. From time to time, she would point out, “Just make it 80% cooked.”
When the vendor heard this, he smiled and said, “Miss, you’re an expert at eating mutton. This is my first time setting up a stall. Don’t blame me if I don’t do well.”
“No, no. I saw that you flipped through it quite quickly.” Mu Yangling looked up at him and saw that he was a standard Han Chinese. Smiling, she asked, “Did you raise the sheep yourself? The citizens of our Great Zhou rarely raise such sheep.”
The vendor smiled bitterly. “How could we have raised them by choice? We were forced. Previously, the Hus didn’t let us farm and insisted that we raise sheep and cows. Furthermore, those cows aren’t even plowing oxen that can farm? Since we don’t drink the milk that they produce, and considering cows are expensive, we had no choice but to raise sheep. Then, before we could slaughter them, our Great Zhou fought back.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Xiuhong asked.
“Sure, why not? Firstly, this winter’s taxes are waived. Secondly, we can keep all the sheep. Most importantly, we can remove the grass in the fields next year and switch to farming. It’s just that the people south of Hanzhong Prefecture are not used to eating mutton. We have too much mutton and can’t sell them all. That’s why I decided to set up a stall at the temple fair to sell some mutton skewers, to try to earn as much money as I can.”
Mu Yangling looked at the fresh mutton hanging beside her and drooled. “You can’t even sell such good mutton? What a waste.”
Xiuhong’s heart skipped a beat. She tugged at Mu Yangling’s sleeve and whispered, “Cousin, do you think it’s because Little General and the others are still sealing the city gate that they can’t sell it? Why don’t we buy it and sell it back home?”
Since people ate mutton in winter, as long as they were willing to go south, they would definitely be able to sell it. Mu Yangling stroked her chin and lowered her voice as well. “But how much can we buy considering we only have more than a hundred taels of silver on us? Even if we include the money we have at home, it’s only about 600 taels of silver. However, I don’t mind doing the business on a smaller scale. We’ll revisit this after we’re done shopping at the temple fair.”
While they were talking, the vendor had finished roasting the lamb skewers. Mu Yangling handed him the money and walked forward with Xiuhong while eating half each. Suddenly, a hand reached for her chest. Mu Yangling merely gently slapped it, and that person screamed. He covered his hand and looked at her with a pale face. Mu Yangling bared her white teeth at him and said, “I’m a hunter.”
That person covered his hand and turned to run. Mu Yangling snorted and didn’t chase after him. Only then did Xiuhong realize that they had almost been robbed just now. She said indignantly, “Cousin, why didn’t you catch him and send him to the officials?”
“I wanted to, but I don’t want to fight now.” As she spoke, she gestured for her to look at the corner of the street. There was a group of people standing there. The oldest was in his thirties, and the youngest was 12 or 13 years old. All of them glared at Mu Yangling unkindly.
They thought that they had spotted an easy target, but who knew that they had encountered a difficult opponent?
After the leader glared at Mu Yangling, he waved his hand and said, “Let’s go elsewhere.”
Seeing that they had left, Mu Yangling dragged Xiuhong along and continued shopping. They saw their families halfway.
With the twins in his arms, Mu Shi said, “I was just about to go back and look for you. Since it’s lunchtime, let’s find a place to eat.”
Shu Wanniang asked, “How did the sale of the leather goods go?”
“They’ve all been sold.” Mu Yangling held Xiulan’s hand with one hand and Bowen’s hand with the other as they walked forward. Only then did the two children let go of Shu Wanniang’s clothes. There were so many people, and they were so afraid of getting lost.
The family found a good eatery and went to the second floor. Bowen said excitedly, “Sister, they said that there will be a lantern festival here tomorrow night. Let’s come and take a look too.”
Mu Yangling stroked his head and agreed. “Alright, I’ll bring you out when the time comes.”
“Considering it’s easy to get lost in such a crowded place, and there are beggars, it’s better to stay in the residence.”
Mu Yangling said, “What are you afraid of? When the time comes, get Qi Haoran to send a few guards to follow us closely. Nothing will happen.”
“Whatever for?” Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin, who had been searching all the way here, happened to hear the last sentence.
Mu Yangling told him about the lantern festival that Bowen wanted to check out. Qi Haoran said nonchalantly, “When the time comes, I’ll come out too. Let’s go together.”
When Mu Shi saw Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin coming over, he hurriedly stood up to give them a seat. Fan Zijin said with a smile, “Uncle Mu, don’t get up. We’ll just sit at the adjacent table.”
Seeing that it was a little crowded, Mu Yangling said, “Let’s get two tables. One table is too crowded.”
Xiuhong and the others couldn’t ask for more. They were always a little restrained when eating with adults, so they felt much more at ease eating by themselves.
Mu Yangling immediately stood up and occupied the adjacent table. She waved at the waiter, who was about to object, and said, “Give me another serving of the dishes from that table just now.” Then, she said to Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin, “Order whatever else you want to eat.”
“I just drank a pot of tea and am about to starve to death. I need to order more dishes.”
Upon hearing this, the waiter immediately went forward happily and reported the names of the dishes. He also told them about the dishes that Mu Yangling and the others had ordered just now. Qi Haoran added two dishes, and Fan Zijin also added two. This way, there were many dishes on their table, filling the table.
However, they finished it all. When the waiter came up to settle the bill, he couldn’t help but click his tongue. Fan Zijin looked at Qi Haoran and then at Mu Yangling. He felt that with the two of them around, he wouldn’t have to be afraid of wasting food when he ordered dishes in the future.
He gestured for Yanmo to settle the bill. Mu Shi had already settled the bill first. Carrying the two sleepy little fellows in his arms, he said to Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin, “Little General, Young Master Fan, my wife and I will bring the children back to sleep first. Go play by yourselves.” Then, he looked at Mu Yangling and instructed, “Keep an eye on your younger siblings.”
Bowen and Xiulan cheered softly. Without the adults restraining them, they could have more fun.
Mu Yangling responded. Since Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin had brought many guards with them, Mu Yangling only had to keep an eye on them from afar. The guards would naturally watch over the children.
Seeing that Xiuhong was also excited, she patted her shoulder and said, “Go play with Bowen and Xiulan. I have something to say to Brother Haoran and the others.”