Chapter 26
They had only one pot which was inconvenient for her to cook so she planned to buy one from the blacksmith. Asking around she found her way to the black smith shop and entered inside. The black smith was forging a weapon as the fire burned producing heat. Seeing her enter he dropped what he was doing to attend to her.
"Miss what would you look to be forged for you?"
Looking at the burly man who seemed to be in his twenties she replied
"I want a wok for cooking"
Sizing her up he replied
"What size do you want"
"Preferably two. A wok and a pot enough for steaming and frying.
"Sure"
"How much and when should I expect to come get it?"
Iron ore was controlled by the officials which made it quite expensive. Any Iron mine discovered was handed over to the officials for charge. As expected he replied
"You can come collect it next weekend but the price is 1,000 wen".
Su Ying didn't give him the copper coins but paid in silver notes before agreeing on a date and she left for the next shop which is the butcher shop. She bought two pounds of pork belly which she could get lard from and a pound of lean meat which was thirty copper coins. As she was about to leave she saw the butcher about to throw away the pig offal and hurriedly stopped him
"Are you throwing those away?"
"Obviously. It's smelly and no one buys them. Do you want it?"
"Give it to me for two copper coins all of them. And add those bones making it five copper coins".
Glancing strangely at her, the honest butcher put the pig offal and bones together and gave it to her while she handed him his money. Su Ying smiled as she had landed a good deal with the pig offal and bones which were good stuff if prepared properly. Looking around she discreetly put it into her space before going to the next shop.
She entered the embroidery shop and bought needles and thread for making the cloth. She also went and bought more candles to use at night before going to the grain shop. White rice was divided into categories like superior, medium and inferior rice with huge difference in price ranging between them. Considering the kids at home she went for medium grade rice and spent two tables of silver to buy three pounds of it. Medium grade rice was slightly expensive but not as good as superior grade rice but could be eaten more than low grade rice.
After the shopping she felt hungry so she went to a stall that sold white buns and bought three and ate. She had come out very early without eating so her appetite was good. The white bun was large but unsavoury for her taste and also hard making her lose Interest and appetite so she paid for it and continued strolling around. She saw some selling hawthorn candies and bought three sticks for the kids before entering the flour store. She bought flour enough to last for two months and the seller was smiling so widely that he gave her a discount asking her to come again. Putting it all into her space at the alley she continued looking around for anything else lacking at home.
She bought three plates and spoons with a spatula for eating then cups for drinking water before going back. Su Ying concluded her shopping and headed to the east street to find Qui Fei to go home together. After some left and right turns she arrived at sister Fei store to find her just standing idly with no customer coming buy her stuffs. Approaching her she called out to her
"Sister Fei I'm already done buying things"
She had put the pickles she bought on her way coming to her stall on her basket with the seeds and needles and thread making it seem like she only went to buy common things while hiding the other in her space. She didn't want to gather attention from anyone before she had a source of income to avoid raising suspicions.
Qui Fei looked at her basket and saw common things before replying
"Since you're done then let's head back as I haven't made any sales since morning".
With that she started packing to go home. Su Ying picked up one of her embroided handkerchief and examined the fine stitches and neat work before putting it back and asking.
"Sister Fei since you're not doing anything now can I give you clothes to sew for me and pay you after it's done?".
Shocked, Qui Fei almost dropped the things in her hand. She knew Su Ying was changing but wanting to pay her for embroidering clothes for her was unexpected.
"Su Ying there is no need to pay me after all we're neighbors. Just bring the fabric to my house and I will help you sew it".
Su Ying could certainly do it on her own but she was very busy so she planned to sew her on later and have her sew the kids own first because of the winter period approaching. She certainly didn't like owning people favors she was going to pay her for her labour after showing her the patterns she wanted the clothes to be.
"Sister Fei I insist on it. If I don't pay you how can I have the face to come ask for your help again so please accept my request".
"Alright. Since you insist so much".
They packed together and headed to the county gate where the ox cart was already waiting for them. Seeing her come back with things in her hand they looked curiously peeked but looked away disappointedly. Su Ying paid no attention to the little episode and got on the ox cart to go home. After a few hours they had come back and it was already evening. She paid for herself and Qui before alighting and hurrying home to check on her kids.