Chapter 25: A Stirring of the Heart

Ning Xin walked with a straight back and a clear conscience; she had nothing to fear. She nodded promptly.

The blacksmith’s wife smiled as she looked at her. "How about this? The price remains the same, but I’ll throw in two chisels for you. How does that sound?"

"Two chisels are worth four hundred copper coins, and you can even use them to forge kitchen knives later on..."

Ning Xin was satisfied. "Could I trade them for kitchen knives instead?"

Since the iron used for kitchen knives was similar to that of chisels, but required more labor to hammer into shape, they were more expensive. The blacksmith’s wife asked Ning Xin to add one hundred copper coins for a pair of kitchen knives.

Ning Xin nodded without hesitation. She took out ten taels of silver, had the blacksmith’s wife weigh them, and watched as she cut the silver to verify its authenticity, returning the extra one tael and six hundred coins as change.

This was Ning Xin’s first time riding in a mule cart, and she found it quite novel. As they left the alleyway of the blacksmith’s shop, she asked the elderly man driving the cart, "How much silver does it cost to set up a mule cart like this?"

"It’s not cheap, girl. The mule alone costs fifteen taels, and with the carriage added on, it comes to about twenty taels." Seeing Ning Xin’s interest, the old man, struck by her kind face and curious, dark, sparkling eyes, added, "Since you’ve bought quite a lot at the shop, let me tell you—do you know why mules are so expensive?"

Ning Xin shook her head. Twenty taels—actually, that wasn't too bad; she could afford it if she made a few more trips into the mountains. Still, it was a significant sum; it would be enough to keep her family well-fed for a year or two.

"Mules are sturdy, good at pulling heavy loads, and run quite well. When armies go to battle, they use warhorses, but hauling military supplies—that’s the work of a mule."

Ning Xin listened, half-understanding. Her mind couldn't quite grasp such long-term prospects yet. She only thought that if she had a mule, she could bring her mother and siblings to the county town to see the hustle and bustle. It would be a proud way to travel, unique in the entire Ning Village, letting the villagers know that her family had means and was not to be bullied.

As they passed the Zuixian Restaurant, Ning Xin asked the old man to wait a moment and walked to the entrance. Manager Yuan greeted her with a smile, "The young miss is here."

"Manager, I will bring you the deer tomorrow. Five taels per deer. I’ll only catch the largest ones, and we can trade the deer for the money on the spot."

"Yes, yes, that is the way."

Ning Xin added, "If you need any other game, just draw me a picture. If I spot them in the mountains, I’ll bring them for you."

Manager Yuan was overjoyed. "That’s easily done, easily done." He ordered a waiter to quickly pack a roasted chicken. "This is a specialty of our restaurant’s head chef. Take it home and have a taste."

Ning Xin hesitated, wanting to refuse yet desiring it all the same. Finally, she accepted it with a blushing face, deciding to bring an extra pheasant tomorrow.

On the way home, the old man asked Ning Xin if she had a close relationship with the manager of Zuixian Restaurant.

"No, I only just started talking to him today."

To receive a roasted chicken after only speaking once—that was truly generous. Back at the Zuixian Restaurant, the waiter asked Manager Yuan in confusion, "Uncle, why did you give her a roasted chicken?"

"What do you know? She is no ordinary person." Manager Yuan looked at his nephew. If the boy understood why, he wouldn't be a waiter—he would be the manager.

***

In Ning Village, at the Ning household, Ning Dalang had been busy hauling water since early morning. He had invited his cousin, who was skilled at butchering, to help with the pig, and had specifically visited the village chief and the headman to insist they come over for lunch. He even asked the village chief to bring his brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Country folk were illiterate, and such precious items were not found in their homes.

Ning Dalang was truly busy; buying wasteland and building a house were major affairs, and he could not afford to be careless, running back and forth constantly. Madam Meng was just as busy, hardly stopping to catch her breath. This lunch was not merely a meal; it involved whether or not they could secure the land deed sooner.

"Ning Kui, go to the village entrance and see if your eldest sister is back yet."

"Ning Zhuang, you go too. See if anyone from the county office is coming. If you see them, find out if they are headed for our house, and if they are, bring them home immediately."