CHAPTER 221: CHAPTER 220: BUYING A STONE MILL (ELEVENTH UPDATE)

Mu Shuangshuang finally wrapped things up, having sold most of the fish, with only five remaining unsold, seemingly unlikely to attract any buyers.

She discussed with Lu Yuanfeng and decided to give the fish to the Xue Family, allowing Old Mrs. Xue to have a taste.

However, since the fish was handed over through the Xue Family’s servants, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t meet with Old Mrs. Mu.

The hour was still early, and Mu Shuangshuang had planned to invite some acquaintances over for dinner last night. But since it was late and there was no meat, it didn’t come to fruition.

Today, she felt it was time to buy some supplies and invite Xiao Yun and the others over for a meal.

After talking it over with Lu Yuanfeng, they decided to buy two pounds of five-flavor pork and make braised pork at noon. She had left a dozen fish at home; although the fish weren’t large, their meat was tender.

Kept in water, they could be eaten for a few days, so that was feasible.

These days, the market was growing increasingly lively; Mu Shuangshuang knew it was a sign of the double harvest ending. Once the slowest batch of farm households finished planting their fields, the market would become bustling.

By then, the mountain goods should emerge.

This season marks the ripening of peaches, watermelons, and melons, and upon passing by several spots, she saw people selling these items.

Mu Shuangshuang recalled that the raspberries in the mountains were past their season, so tomorrow’s juice definitely couldn’t use raspberry juice.

While contemplating whether to wait and buy some watermelons to make watermelon juice, a man selling glutinous rice cakes by the roadside caught her attention.

The man’s business was especially good, not for anything else but because his glutinous rice was ground on the market premises. His millstone was several times smaller than others’, and it was harder to push, but Mu Shuangshuang found it intriguing and joined in.

"Uncle, did you make this millstone yourself?"

Lu Yuanfeng followed behind Mu Shuangshuang, knowing she had something in mind, thus paying more attention to the millstone.

The bows and arrows in Lu Yuanfeng’s house were all self-made; plus, before going to the military camp, he had learned some blacksmithing from Uncle Da Niu in town, so his hands-on skills were quite strong.

"Yes, this thing, you pick a stone and chisel it out yourself, but it takes time. Little girl, are you interested in my millstone?"

Of course, Mu Shuangshuang nodded. With this millstone, she could make cold noodles at home instead of constantly going to Aunt Zhao Yun’s house. After all, she always went in the evenings to grind mung beans, which could disturb others’ rest.

"But mind you, this millstone isn’t cheap, and it’s quite hard work. You, little girl, may not be able to push it."

The uncle before her was incredibly kind, and although Mu Shuangshuang had been standing for a while, he didn’t hurry her away. Instead, he chatted intimately with her while working.

"Uncle, it’s alright, I can help her push. I’m strong. How much is your millstone?"

Only now did the uncle notice Lu Yuanfeng. The young man’s tall and strong build, with a straight back and clear eyes, evident that he wasn’t up to anything nefarious. Together with the little girl before him, they complemented each other.

"Three hundred and fifty wen if you want it."

Three hundred and fifty wen indeed wasn’t cheap; Mu Shuangshuang’s fish sales totaled only three hundred and twenty wen. But thinking about the future convenience, she gritted her teeth and decided to buy this millstone.

"But Uncle, I also need to transport it home, and my house isn’t close. Could you cut the price a bit, just treating it as transportation fees, and sell it for three hundred and twenty wen?"

Mu Shuangshuang didn’t know the ins and outs of this millstone, but managing to haggle even one wen saved a chicken egg for the household.

Come to think of it, the price of eggs had dropped, which her grandma probably didn’t know. If she did, she’d inevitably throw a fit at home.

"You little girl, with your sharp tongue, I made just twenty wen profit from you, and you bargained it back. Without knowing you, I’d truly think you were an expert." The uncle shook his head helplessly, but in his eyes, he had even more goodwill towards Mu Shuangshuang.

He’d encountered plenty of people haggling, but hearing someone factoring in transportation fees into the bargain was a first. Although this transportation fee was somewhat steep, he was quite willing to sell to this little girl.

"How about this, follow me home, and I’ll give you my new millstone, how about that?"

Mu Shuangshuang naturally shook her head, "Uncle, I don’t have that much time; there’s still work to be done in the fields... Even if it’s the one in your hands, that’s alright. When you have time, find a place to put it, and I’ll come back to get it."

"Okay, how about this, you wait for a while. I have two pounds of glutinous rice to grind; once finished, you can take the millstone directly."

The person before her was indeed reasonable, and given Mu Shuangshuang had a handcart today, it was convenient, so she agreed to this suggestion.

Meanwhile, Mu Shuangshuang didn’t stay idle. She pulled Lu Yuanfeng to the meat stall and carved out two pounds of meat, buying four watermelons on the way back.

Two wen per pound of watermelon, each weighing three pounds, totaling twenty-four wen.

Carrying two big ones, Mu Shuangshuang couldn’t help but sigh. "Lu Yuanfeng, when will we reach the end of this making money cycle? Everything requires money, everything needs to be bought."

Mu Shuangshuang realized that every time she went out, she ended up spending money on things and carrying a bunch back. Fortunately, the cold noodles sold well at Jiu Si Xuan lately; otherwise, she’d truly be left with just northwest wind.

Thinking of her money-making journey, Mu Shuangshuang still felt a headache.

"How about we grow these ourselves?"

Lu Yuanfeng now shared the same sentiment; cultivating land and growing vegetables themselves, though tiresome, resulted in a taste distinctly marked by their own efforts.

"That’s true; we can grow all the produce ourselves, but it’s beyond watermelon season now. Otherwise, we could’ve planted some."

Packing up the purchased items, Mu Shuangshuang finally collected the millstone.

Once back in the village, Lu Yuanfeng took Shuangshuang home and then left, saying he’d head up the mountain to check the traps for possible prey.

If there was any, they would catch it and cook it for lunch, especially since there would be about a dozen people for noontime meal.

When Mu Shuangshuang reached home, it was quiet, with only Mu Dashan busily weaving straw fans, while Little Zhi and Xiao Han were nowhere to be seen.

Mu Shuangshuang inquired and found out her mother had taken the two kids to the fields to plant rice seedlings.

Mr. Mu had stopped coming according to the agreement, preventing the third branch from continuing their work, but Old Mrs. Mu wasn’t quite willing to let it go; she cussed all morning, mostly scolding the third branch, and hadn’t stopped even now.

Mu Shuangshuang observed the time wasn’t early, so she began preparing for the midday meal.

The firewood used to cook yesterday’s meal was now almost gone, so Mu Shuangshuang donned gloves and headed into the mountains to gather a few sturdier logs. Starting a fire, she promptly began cooking.