Pampered Consort of the Fragrant Orchard c1-234

by N/A

  "Still about another two hours." Qiao Mai replied as he whipped the ox's behind.

  "There's still that much longer?!" Du Xiao Li was somewhat shocked. Didn't they already travel a good while?

  "Ha ha, actually, this ox carriage's speed isn't much faster than a person's. If you want fast, then you can only ride the horse carriage! However, normally, only those wealthy families in the city would have a horse carriage." Qiao Mai replied with a laugh.

  Learning that there was still this much longer, Du Xiao Li had the flat cakes she made last night taken out. She handed one to Qiao Mai and said, "Uncle Mai Ya, eat a flat cake."

  Qiao Mai had gotten up at dawn to load the goods onto the carriage and hadn't eaten breakfast yet. Right now, he was indeed a bit hungry. He frankly accepted Du Xiao Li's flat cake and took a bite, saying: "Xiao Li, is this flat cake you made? The taste's not bad!"

  "En en, there wasn't husked rice at home, so I used sweet potatoes to make some flat cakes." Du Xiao Li gave one to Du Xiu Heng and nibbled on one herself.

  Two hours later, just as Du Xiao Li felt that she was about to be shaken dizzy, they finally arrived at the county seat.

  "So lively!" Du Xiao Li watched the people coming and going on the streets and gasped in surprise.

  The houses here were all houses made from wood, very much like the houses of those old towns she visited in her past life. The street was very wide, and aside those doing business with open shops, there were also those selling things in baskets on a carrying pole.

  Arriving in town, Qiao Mai had the two of them brought down and said, "I'm going to go over to the marketplace to unload. From beginning to end, probably need about two hours. How about this, at the first quarter of noon, I'll set out from the marketplace, and come pick you two up here. Afterwards, we can all go home together."

  After Qiao Mai finished saying this, he drove off with the ox carriage.

  Du Xiao Li calculated for a moment. Right now, it should be about nine in the morning. First quarter of noon, that is 11am. They have two hours to sell the firewood and buy things.

  (T/N: In the two-hour subdivision system used in ancient times, noon or Wu time, was 11am-1pm)

  "Big brother, with time this tight, will we make it in time?" Du Xiao Li asked.

  "Don't worry, we firewood sellers usually all have set buyers. We can just directly go to the Li Manor." Du Xiu Heng finished saying this, carried the firewood on his back, and pulled Du Xiao Li along turning down a street. After twisting and turning down multiple alleyways, they arrived outside a wealthy family's rear court.

  "We're here." Du Xiu Heng let go of Du Xiao Li's hand and went forward to knock on the door.

  A thirty some year old aunty opened the door, saw Du Xiu Heng, and said, "Why didn't you deliver firewood in the last few days?"

  It was very obvious that she recognized Du Xiu Heng.

  "Aunty Cao, two days ago I accidentally injured my leg. As soon as I got better, I came to deliver wood for you." Du Xiu Heng replied.

  Aunty Cao waved her hand and said, "Why do you hurry up and carry the firewood in. This must be your younger sister right?"

  Du Xiao Li sweetly smiled at aunty Cao and called out, "Aunty Cao."

  "Ei, really a good child. Carry it in and then rest a while in the courtyard." Aunty Cao felt sweetened by Du Xiao Li's voice, and said with a laugh.

  "Thank you aunty Cao!" Du Xiao Li, with the firewood carried on her back, followed into the rear courtyard. In a corner of the rear courtyard, she saw a bucket placed there with discarded food inside, and unconsciously furrowed her brows.

  As the proverb say, 'the vermillion gates stink with rotten meat and wine, the roads have bones frozen to death.' In this time period, how many commoners can't afford to eat, yet these wealthy families still have lavish meals. The things they throw away were all better than what many people ate.

  (T/N: The vermillion gates refer to the red gates of a wealthy family's residence.)

  After aunty Cao waited for the two to place down the firewood, she gave Du Xiu Heng ten copper coins. In this era, it was just roughly 10 RMB. Seeing Du Xiu Heng carefully put away the copper coins, Du Xiao Li couldn't help sighing.

  (T/N: RMB is the chinese currency; 10 RMB is roughly 1.5 USD)

  Right now, they were really poor!

  However, fortunately, the prices right now were also low. If this was in her past life, going out with a single dollar wasn't even enough to ride the public bus!

  Du Xiu Heng painstakingly chopped an entire day of wood, only to sell for this bit of copper coin. It wasn't enough for the living expenses of the two. Furthermore, it was also under the circumstance where the other party pitied the two siblings and gave a bit extra.

  Manual labor really is too cheaply priced! She narrowed her eyes. Rather than like this, might as well let him stay at home and properly study. Of course, the premise being they have a steady income.

  Since she's decided, Du Xiao Li thus began to think of a way to make money, so that the two of them can live without having to worry about food and clothing, and also be able to let Du Xiu Heng continue to study. She herself for better or worse was someone who's at least lived in modern society before, should always be able to find a away!

  While she was absentmindedly contemplating, Du Xiu Heng had already said goodbye to aunty Cao, took her hand and lead her out. Arriving at the door, she finally returned to her senses and turned around to wave her hand goodbye at aunty Cao.

  "Younger sister, what are you thinking about?" Du Xiu Heng saw Du Xiao Li with her head lowered again thinking about something, and asked.

  Du Xiao Li lifted her head and looked to Du Xiu Heng's thin but firm shoulders and asked, "Big brother, do you want to continue studying?"

  Du Xiu Heng's body stiffened; his two eyes held an unconcealable yearning and sorrow. Seeing Du Xiao Li's inquiring gaze, he said, "I won't study anymore. I promised mother, to have younger sister you properly raised up."

  "I understand." Du Xiao Li saw Du Xiu Heng's gaze and thus understood his desire, saying with a smile, "Big brother, let's go buy things then. Else, in a bit, we won't have enough time."

  The brother and sister pair, soon after, bought some daily life necessities, bought a bag of husked rice and a bag of flour, and also bought some seasonal vegetable seeds. Although they didn't have their fields anymore, the areas in the mountains could still be used to plant some vegetables.

  "Big brother, does our county seat have a place to forge ironware?" When they'd pretty much finished buying everything, Du Xiao Li asked.

  "There is, there's one two street behind the place where uncle Mai Ya is waiting for us. What do you want to buy?" Du Xiu Heng asked.

  "En, let's move our things over, then go see." Du Xiao Li said.

  The two of them very quickly had their things moved to the place where they parted ways with Qiao Mai. And not long after, Qiao Mai arrived with the ox carriage and helped the siblings have the things moved onto the carriage.

  "Uncle Mai Ya, we want to go to the blacksmith shop. Can you wait for us for a while?" Du Xiu Heng asked.

  "Okay, then I'll wait for you two at the city gates. Be quick you two!" Qiao Mai got on the carriage and urged the ox forward.

  Du Xiu Heng brought Du Xiao Li to the blacksmith shop. When they entered, she didn't see any ironware, but instead saw three familiar figures.

  "How come it's you guys?" Du Xiao Li pursed her lips and asked.

  Ch. 014 – A Contest Between Ox and Horse Carriage

  A Contest Between Ox and Horse Carriage

  Currently, the ones standing in the ironworks shop were precisely Han Ming Yi, along with Leng Yi and Leng Er.

  Han Ming Yi stood inside the shop, and upon seeing Du Xiao Li's look, knew that she was still angry at him for kicking her last time. Thinking back to how last time she'd saved him after all, collected his cloak and said, "We came to fetch some things."

  "You actually replied to me?!" Du Xiao Li said in shock.
This guy has never said anything directly to her before. Today, he actually replied to her, truly a rare sight.

  Han Ming Yi saw Du Xiao Li's reaction, and his gaze sunk. He coldly turned around. This kind of uncivilived peasant, he should've just ignored!

  At this moment, the blacksmith came out from inside, holding a case in his hand. After opening it, inside laid a long sword.

  "Young master, this is the thing you requested a few days ago." The blacksmith handed the long sword over to Leng Yi and said.

  Leng Yi took the long sword, and only drew two three inches of it from the sheath. He sensed the sharpness of the sword's blade, and nodded his head in satisfaction, following which he had the sword placed back and said, "Many thanks blacksmith Wang."

  "You all spend money, we make the goods, there's nothing to thanks." Blacksmith Wang neither coldly nor warmly replied. Afterwards, he shifted his attention towards Du Xiu Heng and Du Xiao Li and asked, "What do you want to forge?"

  "I want to forge a set of needles." Du Xiao Li said.

  "Embroidery needles?" Blacksmith Wang asked.

  "No, the needles I want are long and short, thick and thin, not embroidery needles." Du Xiao Li explained.

  "How many do you want of each kind?" Blacksmith Wang asked.

  Du Xiao Li described once over what she wanted. Then, afraid that blacksmith Wang would get confused, also asked him for some paper. Afterwards, she found a piece of thin charcoal, sharpened it, and wrote on he paper.

  "What material do you want it made from?" Blacksmith Wang roughly glanced at what Du Xiao Li wrote and asked.

  "Right now, I want silver ones, but don't have that much money, so can just use something that won't rust. In addition, I also want one more thing." Du Xiao Li said, and afterwards drew a dagger. This dagger was different from ordinary ones. A barb was designed on the rear section, and afterwards, the barb was linked to a groove. Once stabbed in, thus can let loose the blood.

  Unfortunately, when she transmigrated, her two needle sets weren't brought over. In the future, when she has money, she can switch to a better set.

  "Alright. One tael of silver. Come pick up in three days." Blacksmith Wang looked to the silver needles and dagger, calculated for a moment, and said.

  One tael of silver!

  Du Xiao Li looked to Du Xiu Heng. Right now, they only have a few taels in total. If this needed one tael of silver, don't know if he will agree or not.

  Du Xiu Heng had brought some silver with him when they came out this time. Originally, he'd intended to get some clothes made for Du Xiao Li. Seeing Du Xiao Li gazing to himself, he laughed and said, "As long as you like it." Afterwards, he handed the bank note to blacksmith Wang.

  "Ahaha, big brother, you're the best! You're the best big brother in the world!" This time, Du Xiao Li really was happy. She excitedly hugged Du Xiu Heng and kissed him on the face, exclaiming in joy.

  "Offensive to public morals!" Han Ming Yi watched Du Xiao Li's indecent behavior and said.

  "What does it have to do with you!" Du Xiao Li heard Han Ming Yi's words and shot a glare at him. Afterwards, she turned and said to blacksmith Wang, "I'll come fetch it in three days. If I discover something unsatisfactory, I will request altercations."

  "I will make it according to what you just said. If it's not made well, you can request altercations. If it's because you didn't explain clearly, it'll cost more." Blacksmith Wang said.

  "Deal!" Du Xiao Li said with a smile. Afterwards, she left together with Du Xiu Heng.

  Leng Er watched the two of them leave, then poked Leng Yi, saying: "What is that girl forging such a set of needles for?"

  "How would I know!?" Leng Yi rolled his eyes at him.

  Han Ming Yi picked up the drawing on the table, looked at it, and then placed it back down, saying to blacksmith Wang who was preparing to start working, "Someone as skilled as you, holed up in this kind of tiny town, don't you feel it's a bit of a waste? Are you interested in coming to the major cities to develop?"

  Blacksmith Wang's hands paused and said, "Wishes of the clan's deceased, one is not allowed to travel far from home. Won't be sending you off."

  Han Ming Yi looked to blacksmith Wang, and then turned to leave. Leng Yi and Leng Er tightly followed after him.

  "Young Master, didn't we precisely come for his skills? How come you just gave up?" Leng Er asked.

  "Let someone go investigate what happened with his ancestors. Afterwards, have him recruited to our side as much as possible." Han Ming Yi said.

  "Yes." Leng Er turned and left to go carry out his orders just now.

  Du Xiao Li and her brother came out of the city gates and saw Qiao Mai. After reuniting with him, they got on the ox carriage and headed back to the village. Along the way, they saw a horse carriage brush past by their side and sped ahead in front of them.

  Qiao Mai waved his whip and said, "Li girl, look, that's a horse carriage, that speed, tsk tsk."

  When the horse carriage was passing by, Du Xiao Li had saw Leng Yi, who was driving the carriage, and knew that was Han Ming Yi's horse carriage. Hearing Qiao Mai's words, she muttered in her heart, "When I have money, I'll also get a horse carriage! Isn't it just a horse carriage, what's so impressive about that!"

  However, looking at the current scorching sun overhead, then looking again at this unbearably slow ox carriage, she had to admit, having a horse carriage was indeed impressive!

  By the time they got home, it was already after noon. Du Xiao Li randomly made something to eat, then afterwards, her entire body collapsed in exhaustion.

  "No good, this body is too weak. Need to quickly start training. Else, later on, whatever I do will all be tiring to death."

  The next day, the two of them ascended the mountain together. Du Xiu Heng chopped for wood, and Du Xiao Li looked for medical herbs everywhere. After digging up some commonly seen medical herbs, she also looked for some things they can eat. Among these, fungus and the like were the most abundant. However, she only picked ones without poison. And while she was far away from Du Xiu Heng, she also did some simple exercises in the mountains, beginning to slowly train her own body.

  After returning home, Du Xiu Heng had the firewood properly set aside, drank a bowl of water, then entered the house. Du Xiao Li had the medical herbs she'd just dug up placed in a bamboo basket, preparing to bring them to Niu Jing when she has a bit more. Just as she finished, she heard Du Xiu Heng cry out from inside the house, following which sounds of things falling to the ground. She quickly ran into Du Xiu Heng's room, and saw him collapsed on the ground with a stiffened leg. A snake was currently entrenched nearby. Seeing Du Xiao Li appear, it flicked its tongue at her.

  Venomous snake!

  Judging from Du Xiu Heng's appearance, he must have been bitten by the snake. Thinking to here, she emitted a burst of cold air all over her body. Actually dared to touch someone she cared about, damn it!

  This snake she'd seen before in her past life. It wasn't considered very venomous, but still can't afford to delay. She saw a small rock by the doorway and attempted to slowly crouch down. The venomous snake moved its head, but didn't attack her.

  Got it!

  Du Xiao Li grabbed the small rock, and slight relaxed a breath inside. Afterwards, she stood up. When she standing up, the venomous snake swiftly charged towards her.

  Now!

  As the venomous snake charged at her, Du Xiao Li threw the rock in hand, perfectly hitting the snake in the stomach. The venomous snake struggled for a moment on the ground, and very soon, stopped moving.

  She walked over, and after confirming that the snake wasn't dead, only having fainted, she had it thrown out the door. Afterwards, she went over to Du Xiu Heng's side. She rolled up his trousers, and saw his entire leg swollen into a steamed bun. On his little leg were two teeth marks. She couldn't help but furrow her brows. It was already very serious, if it's not dealt with immediately, not only would his entire leg waste away, he might even lose his life.

&nbs
p; "Right now, there isn't any other ways." Du Xiao Li said and ran out. When she came back, she was holding a knife in her hand. She had Du Xiu Heng moved to the bed, grabbed a stool, and had his leg propped up, saying: "Big brother, endure for a bit."

  With that said, she raised the knife in her hand......

  Ch. 015 – Truly a Money Hungry Girl!

  Truly a Money Hungry Girl!

  Du Xiu Heng was already about to pass out from the pain. He didn't even react when he saw Du Xiao Li raising the knife. By the time he thought whether she was about to chop of his leg or not, the knife had already landed on his little leg.

  A knife that was just polished was very sharp. With a light streak, the area that was bitten was cut open. Afterwards, she had the knife thrown to the ground. Then she leaned over, placed her mouth on the cut, and began to suck out the venom.

  "Younger sister, you......." Du Xiu Heng wanted to stop her, but unfortunately, he didn't have any strength on him.

  She suck a mouthful, spat a mouthful. At first, the blood was black, but afterwards, slowly lightening, until it turned red. Only then did Du Xiao Li finally stop. Seeing that his leg was already half as swollen, she finally relaxed and said, "Big brother, it's already fine now. Later, apply on some medical herbs for you, and you'll be fine."

  She remembered that today, she'd just happened to dig up some medicine for snake venom. Thus she got up and went out. Taking a piece of cloth, she wrapped it on a rather thick piece of branch, found the medical herbs, and after she washed them clean enough, placed them in a bowl, and used the branch to grind them down. Then she took it into the room, and spread it on Du Xiu Heng's wound.

  "Sss...." When the medicine was being applied, Du Xiu Heng sucked in a cold breath from the pain.

  "This medicine is a bit painful at first, but it's very effective towards this. Very soon, your leg will be able to reduce in swelling." Du Xiao Li saw Du Xiu Heng's look and subconsciously treated him as her own patient, consoling him.

  She used a piece of cloth and had the wound with the medicine applied wrapped up, saying: "Stay in the house and rest. I'm gonna go outside for a bit."