Mu Shuangshuang closed the "Ritual" in her hands and looked at Lu Yuanfeng in confusion.
"Didn’t we agree to split it equally? You should take your share, otherwise, I won’t dare earn money with you again."
According to Lu Yuanfeng’s explanation, Mu Shuangshuang ntally calculated the silver earned from the wild boar, totaling four taels of silver plus two hundred and fifty-eight wen.
Divided, it’s two taels of silver and a hundred and twenty-nine wen each for her and Lu Yuanfeng.
In ancient tis, this was indeed a considerable inco.
"The wild vegetables are yours, the thod to catch the wild boar was your idea, and even the suggestion to sell at rolls was yours; I didn’t do anything and don’t deserve so much money," Lu Yuanfeng shook his head, refusing.
"Just because you say you don’t deserve it doesn’t make it so. If you don’t deserve it, how did our wild boar get down from the mountain? How did these things co from the village to the town? And who built the treehouse for Little Black on your back?"
A string of questions rendered Lu Yuanfeng speechless.
Yet, in his heart, Lu Yuanfeng was delighted, as Shuangshuang’s words made him feel like a useful person.
"Shuangshuang, let’s first take Little Black to the market and ask others how to sell it; we can discuss it further when we return."
"Alright, anyway, we stick to the original splitting agreent no matter what."
After returning all the rented items, Mu Shuangshuang and Lu Yuanfeng went to the marketplace.
It was already past midday, but the sun’s heat hadn’t decreased at all; Mu Shuangshuang carried a water jug, drank several mouthfuls, and turned to find Lu Yuanfeng had brought nothing but a wheelbarrow and a few buckets.
"Didn’t you bring water? Are you thirsty?"
"No... not thirsty!" Lu Yuanfeng shook his head.
"Stop lying, I’ll go buy you a bowl of tea to drink, and let Little Black out for so air."
"How about over there?" Mu Shuangshuang pointed to a nearby shed where an old woman with grey hair stood with two large wooden buckets in front of her, probably filled with brewed herbal tea or sothing similar.
"Never mind, Shuangshuang, I’ll drink when I get back; honestly, I’m not thirsty."
A bowl of herbal tea costs one wen, the sa as two buns.
"Why don’t you drink from mine?" Mu Shuangshuang extended the jug to Lu Yuanfeng, startling him into shaking his head quickly.
"You’re not going to say that n and won shouldn’t exchange things even now, are you?"
From a modern perspective, the original host was only thirteen, hadn’t even had her period, and in modern tis would be considered a middle schooler. Letting a boy drink so water shouldn’t be a big deal, right?
Besides, during her previous training, she didn’t have water, and it was the boys in her class who shared their water with her, which didn’t result in "pregnancy."
"No... I..." Once again, Lu Yuanfeng blushed from Mu Shuangshuang’s words, and after so thought, he said solemnly.
"Let’s go buy a bowl of tea; keep your water for yourself because there’s still a long way back and you’ll need it."
With a journey of over twenty li back, walking would be hot and tiring, and water would be necessary.
Shuangshuang was a girl after all, and Lu Yuanfeng really didn’t have the courage to drink her water.
At the tea shed, Lu Yuanfeng ordered two bowls of herbal tea, one for himself and one for Shuangshuang.
Taking advantage of the mont, Lu Yuanfeng brought Little Black out.
Little Black was the na Mu Shuangshuang casually gave to the Black Mink, simple and easy to rember.
Once out of the treehouse, Little Black clucked with its pointed head bobbing happily.
"Oh, that’s a mink, isn’t it?" The tea vendor, an old woman, handed the two bowls of warm herbal tea to them and asked.
"Yes, we just caught it," Mu Shuangshuang replied.
"That’s a valuable thing; black minks aren’t common; they’re worth quite a bit,"
"We’re indeed planning to sell it at the market. But, Grandma, how do you know about this?"
Mu Shuangshuang was curious. When Lu Yuanfeng brought out the Black Mink in the morning, even Aunt Wang thought it was just a strange-colored weasel.
"Ah, my son is in the fur business, so I naturally know a bit."
When the old woman spoke, Mu Shuangshuang began to take a closer look at her.
The person before her wore a brown-green outfit, the neckline tightly fastened, and the sleeves fully covering her wrists.
Unlike the villagers who imdiately rolled up their collars and sleeves in hot weather.
The person before her had grey hair, but it was ticulously grood, with not a single stray hair.
She certainly didn’t look like she was from a poor household setting up a stall here. Could she be a wealthy person here to experience life?
Just as the thought crossed her mind, a man in a fine outfit ca running over from not far away, probably around twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. His forehead was full of sweat, and his steps were unsteady.
Upon seeing the old woman, his expression imdiately showed so color.
"Mother, I knew you’d be here. Why do you keep coming to this broken shed every day? Do you really think you can make money with a few bowls of herbal tea?"
The man shook his sleeve, his expression a bit displeased.
"Yi, don’t say that. Back in the day, your father and I started out by selling herbal tea; now that he’s gone, can’t I have the right to co and reminisce?"
Saying this, tears began to well up in the old woman’s eyes, and she looked so pitiful.
"Oh, why are you doing this? No one said anything, stop crying. I’m not stopping you, stay as long as you like."
The old woman continued to cry, and Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t bear it; she handed over a cotton handkerchief she always carried to the old woman.
"The dead cannot be brought back to life, Grandma. You should focus on happy things and live freely.
If the old gentleman knows you’re feeling so upset for him, he wouldn’t be comfortable either."
The man glanced at Mu Shuangshuang, initially intending to reject the handkerchief she was offering, but his mother unexpectedly took it.
"Young girl, I’m thinking of my old man. He never lived a good life; just when our son and daughter were successful, he left..."
Parting life and death is the most bitter; Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t imagine the pain of losing a companion who was with you for most of your life.
She tightly held the old woman’s hand, chanting, "It’s all in the past, it’s all in the past. When the old gentleman departed, he had no regrets. Moreover, if you believe in souls, I imagine he’s by your side, accompanying you."
"Really?" The old woman’s eyes widened, seeking confirmation from Shuangshuang’s words.
"Yes, don’t you feel it? When you smile, the breath you feel is sweet, proving he’s right beside you. Try it; you’ll see."
Listening to Shuangshuang, the old woman sniffed.
"There’s nothing." She replied.
"Nothing is right because you’re not in a good mood now."
Lu Yuanfeng held Little Black, watching Shuangshuang explain to the person before her; he took a breath, feeling the air he inhaled was sweet.
Mother, Shuangshuang wasn’t lying... You’re... beside , aren’t you?
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