Chapter 14 Foodstuff

Old father Lin and the rest did not arrive with any money or valaubles as they were either lost or used to buy food when passing by a village. The only things remaining are some pieces of Yang shi’s dowry jewelry which she carries on her person, the rest being lost.

Their group was quite large but they had to avoid the bandits as well as refugees in their travel south. It was impossible to bring too many things. It was old father Lin who bit his teeth and decided to throw the rest away. After all, life is more important than money.

Si Niang went to make dough drop soup in the kitchen. The dish is quite easy to make, just add water to white noodles, stir it for awhile before pouring it into boiling water slowly. Put some soy sauce and vinegar in a bowl, add some sesame oil and the dough lumps, and then a spoonful of the white noodle soup. Si Niang also added some vegetable leaves into the broth, in all it could be considered rather savory.

Old father Lin in the past would never eat this kind of food. But now just seeing the white noodles, he will unconciously start salivating.

Lin Yuan also dare not speak with him at this time, afraid that he would bite his tongue the way he ate so fast and fiercely.

Yang shi however, ate in small bites. On the way south she came down with an ailment from starving for too long. Now even if she sees food she would still not have much of an appetite.

The little girl is called Guo er. She was born in the autumn when the trees are hanging fruits so she was given this nickname. It has quite a good meaning.

Other than the three of them, the servants ate out in the yard. They do not have white dough drops and noodles instead they have mixed grain buns made in large sizes with a bowl of porridge. Though the porridge is slightly thin but at least there is white rice which is very filling.

“We have finally made it alive.” The servants could finally feel they have left the gates of hell intact, feeling more relaxed. After eating two big buns they finally begin to smile and chat with each other.

“I thought I would die on the way here.” Another person said, “I’ve never seen so many dead people before.”

“Thank goodness Master has the foresight.” A servant said, “predicting what will happen, fortunately, having young master go south, otherwise….we would be like the refugees outside Wu city.”

“This winter will definitely see the death of many people.”

“I just looked at the rooms, the bed has a hay mattress and cotton blanket.” A servant said excitedly.

Their treatment back at the Lin family farmstead was similar. They had thought taking shelter with young master the conditions would become inferior.

Old father Lin is currently complaining to Lin Yuan, exaggerating the hardships they went through. It was already quite terrible but with old father Lin’s exaggeration it became even worse. The death of his two daughters had been a blow to him. In total he has four children but the current times believe in the more children the more fortune one has. Old father Lin also spoils his daughters, but now he lost two of them. Only he knows how painful it is.

Er Liang carries hot water in, Old father Lin seeing him, calls him over.

“Where is Tie Dan (TN: literally translates to ‘steel balls’ =.= I thought it would sound better using the Chinese pinyin version…?)?” Old father Lin asks about the driver that left with Lin Yuan and Er Liang.

Er Liang sniffles, answering honestly:”On the way here, we encountered refugees and they stole our carriage and the things in them. Brother Chen had us run first while he stays behind. We haven’t seen him again.”

Old father Lin paused, after awhile he let out a sigh.

“Then where do you have the money to buy property?” Old father Lin asks suddenly.

Lin Yuan responds:”Mama hid 200 taels underneath the soles of my shoes.”

Yang shi takes a sip of soup, expression indifferent:”Preparedness averts peril.”

Old father Lin took a white bun to chew on. On the side there are pickled vegetables made from soaking cowpeas and white radish in saltwater, very appropriate as a side dish.

Yang shi lost quite a lot of weight. She originally was not as plump as old father Lin so once she loses weight she appears as skinny as a skeleton. Her neck is especially thin and makes people worry that it can not hold the weight of her head, maybe breaking in the next moment.

Lin Yuan recalls how original owner treats Yang shi then says to her:”Mama, rest well, leave everything else to me.”

Hearing this, Yang shi’s eyes reddened and look wet. She immediately closes them, saying softly:”Yuan er, set up a headstone for your sisters so on holidays they can also eat some incense.”

Old father Lin:”That’s not possible, their ages are too young, considered to be dying prematurely. They cannot have a headstone or a memorial tablet.”

Yang shi sits there without saying anything.

This couple will never understand each other their whole lives.

Old father Lin is an uneducated person, a roughneck of the landowning class. As a result he doesn’t mind Yang shi’s age and insisted on marrying her due to her scholarly family background.

But after marriage, old father Lin discovers that he cannot understand anything Yang shi says.

As for Yang shi, she discovers that she married a man she cannot even have decent conversation with.

The early days of marriage still had a bit of newlywed honeymoon feel.

But once that phase passed, the both of them discovers the other to not be suitable.

But what can they do? In the end they just had to make do and spend the rest of their lives together. Yang shi no longer desires to share the same room with old father Lin and is indifferent towards old father Lin sleeping with servant girls. Although the children will be living with her but she does not stop their birth mothers from coming to see them.

These days, although masters cannot beat and kill servants according to the law, but selling them away is very simple. Just one word and they would be sold far away to never come back.

Yang shi is an extremely kind female master, otherwise she would not have treated Lin Yuan that well.

The three daughters all have burth mothers still living, only Lin Yuan’s birth mother died at childbirth. It can be said that Lin Yuan and Yang shi, though they are not blood related, are truly mother and son.

Lin Yuan agrees immediately:”Fine, I will set up a memorial tablet.”

Yang shi nods:”I am tired.”

Er Liang immediately moves forward:”Lady, the servant girls are still setting things up, I will serve you in cleaning up.”

Er Liang is still young so it is still acceptable that he serves in place of servant girls.

Yang shi nods and walked into the inner chamber.

Old father Lin sees Yang shi has left before he says quietly:”Dad also brought some money with me, most are ample weight.”

Lin Yuan:”……Where do you hide them?”

Old father Lin:”In the undetgarments. I had the servant girls sew a pouch, when leaving I filled it with quite a lot, now only 300 taels remain.”

“Take them all.” Old father Lin digs the money out and put it on the table.

Lin Yuan says:”Dad, you keep it.”

Old father Lin shakes his head however:”I only just arrived, even if I have money there is no place for me to spend it. You use this money to buy some more food, just buy old grain is fine, it’s cheap and cannot kill people.”

Lin Yuan did not refuse:”Alright.”

It is not that he wants to be a blackhearted master but because when the food is not enough, the larger amount of old grains will be more useful than the fewer amount of new grains. Between staying alive and taste, no one would choose taste.

This year’s early harvest is not bad but that is only when compared to other farm fields. But if compared with modern rice paddies it will definitely look meager. But crops that have high output is too little. Lin Yuan even especially asked Yang Zi’an who says soy beans are easy to plant and the harveat is not bad either.

As a result, Lin Yuan had them open up all the surrounding lands that can be opened and use it to plant soy beans.

In any case, Wu city will not send anyone to come and check.

Lin Yuan thinks, if by the first cannon of rebellion sounds his foodstuffs have not stocked up enough, then that is basically game over.

TN: Woohoo, more things going on in the last two chapters with addition of Lin family members. Glad to have passed by the slow chapters. Look forward to the next chapter when action finally happens and people rebelling left and right.