Chapter 5: Plans

Liu Shi pondered repeatedly, wondering if it was because on that day Yu Shi mentioned arranging a marriage proposal for Lin Qiuran, and Lin Qiuran didn’t want to go, so she claimed she wanted to stay with the Xiao family. If that was the case, they could have proposed other matches for her; it didn’t have to be that widower!

Lin Qiuran said earnestly, “Mother, I truly want to have the child.”

Liu Shi pointed at Lin Qiuran’s head anxiously, “Are you crazy? Xiao Xun is already dead, and you still want to have his child? What will you do in the future? How can you remarry with a child?”

Lin Qiuran took a deep breath. “We’ll deal with the future when it comes; first, let’s just get through the present.”

Liu Shi was so distressed she almost fainted, her eyes wide open. “You’ll regret this sooner or later! Why was I born with such stubbornness?”

Lin Qiuran patted her hand gently. “Mother, if you’re really worried about me, next time someone in Linjia Village holds a banquet, you can ask around if they need a cook. How did I do at Xiao Xun’s funeral feast? Wasn’t it alright?”

Liu Shi nearly lost her breath, stomping her foot. “You really want to drive me crazy.”

Liu Shi stuffed the gift money into Lin Qiuran’s hands and left, clearly very upset. Lin Qiuran could feel that her mother truly cared, fearing she would have no future. But with a sister-in-law at home, everything had to listen to Yu Shi, and no one knew who she would be married off to next.

Most of the guests had left, and Sun Shi began tidying up the bowls and chopsticks. Some utensils were borrowed from neighbors and would need to be returned after washing. Lin Qiuran wanted to help, but Sun Shi refused. “You’ve been busy all morning; let me handle this. You should rest.”

Lin Qiuran nodded and sat down to rest, chatting with Sun Shi. “Mother, is the county town crowded? Are there many people buying things?”

Sun Shi replied, “In the morning, yes, quite a few people.”

Lin Qiuran asked, “What do the street vendors sell?”

Sun Shi thought for a moment. “Meat, vegetables, breakfast... but they don’t sell chicks. I’ll ask around the village to see if anyone raises them; maybe we can get a few.”

Lin Qiuran considered this and said, “Mother, I want to cook the remaining fish and have you and Father take them to the town to sell. How did the fish taste at lunch? If it’s good, we can give it a try.”

Since the banquet business was uncertain, she needed another way to make money. Selling fish seemed promising.

She looked at Sun Shi with hopeful eyes. Sun Shi hadn’t eaten much at noon, but when she looked at her empty plate, there was nothing left—everything was cleanly eaten, even the soup soaked into the rice. Although the village usually had little good food, Lin Qiuran’s fish was genuinely delicious—tender and flavorful, and the fish hadn’t fallen apart. Before, Sun Shi’s fish dishes were always broken and had a muddy smell.

Sun Shi said, “It tastes good, Qiuran. You’re in charge of things at home now. If you say cook it, then cook it, just don’t tire yourself out.”

Lin Qiuran was pleased inside. As long as Sun Shi was willing to go to the county town, it was good. “It’s nothing. I don’t feel anything yet. If I get tired, I’ll stop.”

After washing the dishes, Sun Shi handed her all the money collected—a few coins from each family, totaling just over one hundred copper coins.

Lin Qiuran accepted the money and counted the remaining fish. Yesterday morning, they’d stewed one; today they’d eaten five; there were still fifteen left.

The fish swam happily in the wooden barrel. She asked Sun Shi and learned that carp sold for four wen per jin in the town market, and each of these weighed about five jin. Lin Qiuran planned to cook the fish and sell it at twice the market price, offering extra soup for free.

Selling fish was the simplest way to earn money now. First, there was too much fish to eat, and catching fish cost nothing, so no initial capital was needed. Second, since banquets were uncertain, selling prepared goods in town might attract customers who liked her cooking and hired her to cook.

Though she had been transmigrated into a village, she didn’t want to stay there her whole life. Since she decided to have the child, she had to make long-term plans.

Surely, the child wouldn’t just be left playing in the mud in the village. Lin Qiuran intended to send the child to school. But the money she had saved so far wasn’t enough to buy a house in the town.

She wanted to earn silver coins. The Xiao family had land but not much, and farming didn’t make money. If Xiao Xun were still alive, he could hunt, but now she had to rely on herself.

Early the next morning, Lin Qiuran had Sun Shi kill the fish and carefully cleaned them again, especially the black membrane inside the fish belly, which, if removed, would prevent a fishy smell.

She cooked six fish, then placed them back in the wooden barrel, letting Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi push the cart to the county town.

Before leaving, Lin Qiuran reminded them, “Mother, I stewed some vegetables inside with the fish, the same flavor. You can let the customers taste them. If they really don’t sell, come back early. Don’t just wait around; it’s hot, and the food can spoil. If it doesn’t sell, we’ll eat it at home.”

Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi nodded and pushed the cart toward the county town.

Lin Qiuran stayed home, thinking about what else she could do. She was pregnant now and although she didn’t feel much, she also couldn’t overexert herself. It was best to work at home and have Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi sell the goods.

Fortunately, they listened to her. She just didn’t know how well the fish would sell today, or if they would make money.

By mid-afternoon, they still hadn’t returned. Lin Qiuran grew anxious, worrying they had waited too long trying to sell everything; if she had known, she would have gone with them.

After sitting by the door for a while, she saw someone pushing a cart from afar—it was Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi.

Lin Qiuran quickly stood and opened the door for them to bring the cart inside. She didn’t ask immediately because Sun Shi’s happy expression told her that even if they hadn’t sold all the fish, they must have sold some.

Once the door was closed, Lin Qiuran whispered, “Mother, how did it go?”

Sun Shi smiled. “All sold. Eight wen per jin, total two hundred fifty-four wen! I also bought a chicken to stew for your nourishment. I wanted to buy breakfast for you, but we came back too late and didn’t want it to spoil. But Mother bought other things—grapes and watermelon. You can eat some later.”

At first, Sun Shi had little hope, thinking the price was too high and that every family could cook fish at home. Villagers tended to think this way—no matter how bad their own cooking was, they wouldn’t buy from outside.

She had intended to comfort Lin Qiuran by bringing the leftovers home, but surprisingly, sales went smoothly.

They hurried to town, and the fish was still warm when sold. As the morning passed, the smell attracted customers. Sun Shi told them, “This is homemade braised fish. Just heat it up for lunch, and it’s ready to eat.”

Though twice as expensive as live fish, it saved buyers the trouble of cleaning the fish, which would have included paying for the innards and scales, plus the cost of seasoning and cooking.

Tasting a piece of the cooked dish was delicious, and the first person to inquire bought one fish.

One after another, they sold so many, earning over two hundred wen—far better than picking wild herbs for ten taels of silver. It was Lin Qiuran’s cooking and the help of Xiao Dashi.

The fish sold quickly, though they lost time on the road. Also, Sun Shi bought a chicken and fruit, so it was a bit late.

Lin Qiuran said, “There are nine left. Cook them for me tomorrow, and you two can go to town again.”

Sun Shi nodded. “Alright. Or maybe your father can check the river tomorrow morning for more fish?”

Lin Qiuran agreed but had little hope. Fish weren’t caught every day.

Sun Shi chuckled, “You’re anxious, huh? I’ll stew the chicken for you... Or you can cook it; you’re better at it.”

Sun Shi wanted to help but feared she might waste the chicken since her cooking wasn’t as good.

Lin Qiuran said, “Cook it tonight. I saved some rice for you. Have you eaten?”

Xiao Dashi said nothing. Sun Shi laughed awkwardly, “We just got back. No need to spend money on food.”

Lin Qiuran saw all the things on the cart were for her, but Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi hadn’t eaten. “Go buy something to eat tomorrow when you go out. Don’t wear yourselves out; otherwise, you won’t be able to go again.”

Sun Shi nodded. “It’s fine. We’re not hungry. Here’s the money. The chicken cost thirty-one wen, other things six wen, so two hundred seventeen wen left.”

Lin Qiuran counted out seventeen wen. “I’ll keep the main part. You keep the rest for meals. It’s no good to be out without money.”

Currently, all the family money was with her, but Lin Qiuran hadn’t spent a single coin. She kept this money separate as family earnings. The rest she planned to save carefully, to be returned if anything happened.

Of course, if they all lived together again and money was needed, Lin Qiuran wouldn’t hesitate to use it, no matter whose silver it was.

Sun Shi nodded. “Alright. If your father and I can’t come back, we’ll eat outside.”

Xiao Dashi smiled. He was in good spirits today. Although Xiao Xun was dead, the child still lived, and life had to go on. Sometimes he couldn’t help but wish Xiao Xun were still here.

He told himself Xiao Xun was away at war and hadn’t returned yet.

In the evening, Sun Shi slaughtered the chicken, cleaned it, and handed it to Lin Qiuran.

Lin Qiuran looked at the chicken, pondering how to cook it. She was tired of plain stews and braised dishes, having just eaten braised fish. They didn’t have many spices at home, so making something like yellow-braised chicken or spicy chicken stew was impossible.

She also didn’t want overly greasy food. She recalled that day in the village, there was a river with lotus flowers.

Lin Qiuran said, “Father, Mother, get me some lotus leaves and yellow earth. I want to make lotus leaf chicken tonight.”

First, she would marinate the chicken, then stuff some vegetables inside. Lotus leaf chicken was light and fragrant; slow-cooked for a long time, the skin would turn yellow, and the meat would be more tender than stewing or roasting, with a subtle lotus leaf aroma—surely delicious.

Sun Shi had never heard of this method but agreed, “Alright, your father and I will go now.”

Sun Shi sent Xiao Dashi to pick lotus leaves and dug for the yellow earth herself. Xiao Dashi doubted whether it was edible.

Sun Shi said, “Why do you care if it’s edible? It’s not for you. Hurry and pick the leaves.”

Though grumbling, Xiao Dashi quickly went to the riverbank. While they worked, Lin Qiuran marinated the chicken and dug a small pit in the yard, stacking some stones to make an oven for roasting the chicken.

When they returned together, Sun Shi asked if she wanted help. Lin Qiuran shook her head and wrapped the chicken with lotus leaves, then coated it with yellow earth—good enough.

The roasting couldn’t use an open fire but charcoal, so they first burned wood in the pit. When the fire died down, they placed the chicken inside, making sure the charcoal didn’t burn out.

Lin Qiuran worked outside while Sun Shi prepared dinner inside. She divided the rice porridge in two for Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi and made plain rice separately for herself.

Lin Qiuran had mentioned this a few times, but without result. Since she was cooking for herself, that was enough—it was a gesture of care.

As the sun set, the lotus leaf chicken was cooked. Lin Qiuran carefully took it out, waiting a while for it to cool so she wouldn’t burn her hands. She then cracked open the outer layer of earth.

The rich aroma of chicken meat wafted out. She peeled away the lotus leaves to reveal the chicken skin, browned from roasting.

Lin Qiuran tore the chicken apart and placed it on the table. But Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi didn’t take a bite. Since the chicken was bought for Lin Qiuran, and they didn’t need nourishing food, they refrained.

Lin Qiuran picked a chicken leg. The meat was tender, flavorful, and carried a fresh lotus leaf fragrance. “Father, Mother, you should eat some too. It’s hot and won’t keep long. Just save a leg for me to eat tomorrow morning.”

Sun Shi nodded and finally started picking at the meat, mostly eating the head and bones, refusing to eat more no matter how much Lin Qiuran urged.

Someday, when times were better, they’d eat properly.

After a full dinner, Lin Qiuran strolled around nearby. The next morning, she didn’t rush to get up. The fish just needed to be ready before noon to be taken to the town, and she also had to wait for Xiao Dashi to return from fishing.

Lin Qiuran hadn’t heard Sun Shi mention that they used to rely on fishing for a living. She thought Xiao Dashi wouldn’t catch any more fish.

“Father, how was it today?” she asked gently.