Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 40 You Agreed Because You Had Your Eyes on Our Food

"Haha. Everyone arrived so early, and here I am late again," the Shopkeeper from Haozailai Grain Store strode into the courtyard in his bow-legged walk, seeing a yard full of people, he said familiarly.

"Hahaha, not late at all, just in time. Please have a seat. Us country folks don’t have tea, so I’m afraid you’ll have to slum it with a cup of hot water," Zhang Hui said, rubbing his hands, a little embarrassed.

"Last time, I was the one who delivered your grain. We’re so well acquainted; why still call me Shopkeeper? My surname is Feng, styled Yaobang, and I reckon I’m a few years older than you. If you don’t mind, just call me Brother Feng," Shopkeeper Feng introduced himself to Zhang Hui.

"Then I’ve indeed reached quite high, Brother Feng," Zhang Hui went along with the suggestion, mutual humility between them as if they were good brothers.

"Shopkeeper uncle, please sit. You’ve traveled so far, have a cup of hot water first to quench your thirst and rest your legs. I’ll settle the account with you later," Feng Xuxu brought over a bowl of hot water, warmly inviting Shopkeeper Feng to sit.

"Girl, I’m not in a hurry to settle accounts. I heard that you’re transplanting rice seedlings today, so I rushed over to see if there’s anything I can help with," Shopkeeper Feng stood up quickly, eager to explain his reason for coming so as not to be misunderstood by Feng Xuxu.

"Look how anxious you are, Shopkeeper uncle. I know you’re not worried about that little bit of silver, but things should be done properly so that I can have peace of mind, right?" Feng Xuxu said reassuringly with a smile, persuading Shopkeeper Feng to sit down again. 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"You sly girl, always calling me shopkeeper. My surname is Feng; from now on, you can just call me Uncle Feng. So what do you say, girl?" Shopkeeper Feng was very fond of Feng Xuxu. He had two sons, but no daughter, so he was taken with how endearing Feng Xuxu was and wanted to consider her like a daughter, although he was unsure what the girl herself thought. Not hearing Feng Xuxu’s answer left him feeling anxious.

Upon hearing Shopkeeper Feng’s words, Feng Xuxu’s eyes crinkled into crescent moons with delight, "Of course that’s great. If I ever can’t get a meal, I’ll just go to your house, since you run a grain store. What do you think? Not a bad idea, right?"

"Hahaha, you girl, thinking that with my grain store you won’t starve, that’s why you agreed, huh?" Shopkeeper Feng laughed heartily after hearing this, shaking his head. Quite the clever girl, what an idea she had!

"Hehe, that’s not it at all. I said yes because Uncle Feng feels like family to me. I was just teasing you just now. Laughter makes one ten years younger – the more you laugh, the younger you look," Feng Xuxu teased Shopkeeper Feng with a giggle.

"Shopkeeper, the grain is all unloaded," the cart driver who doubled as an assistant reported to the shopkeeper after offloading the grain into the kitchen.

"Oh, good. Park the cart to the side, and see if there’s any work you can help with," Shopkeeper Feng made up his mind to stay and watch the rice transplanting. After giving the assistant his instructions, he turned back to continue talking with Feng Xuxu.

"Xuxu girl, I’ve written everything down. Take a look at the list." Auntie Hui pulled up a stool and promptly sat down, taking out a paper covered with writing and handing it to Feng Xuxu. She took the kettle from the table, poured herself a bowl of water, and gulped it down in one breath, finally quenching her thirst. She exhaled a sigh of relief as she put down the bowl.

Feng Xuxu looked at the list with its recorded quantities: two hundred catties of brown rice flour at five wen per catty for a total of one thousand wen, two hundred catties of white flour at fifteen wen per catty for a total of three thousand wen, one hundred catties of rice at twenty-three wen per catty for a total of two thousand three hundred wen, and two hundred catties of corn flour at ten wen per catty for a total of two thousand wen. The grand total was eight thousand three hundred wen. Converted to silver, that amounted to eight taels and three hundred wen, less than nine taels. Feng Xuxu nodded; the figures on the account sheet were clear and straightforward, befitting a businessperson.

"Uncle Feng, from now on, please deliver the grain each day according to today’s quantities. Also, please include the vegetables in your daily deliveries," Feng Xuxu calculated that with the number of people working over the next few days, including both groups involved in the building, it would be about one hundred and eighty people in total. Considering the laborers’ food requirements as one catty per person per meal, approximately six hundred catties per day, delivering seven hundred catties per day should feed all the strong workers. Moreover, with a half pig worth of meat every day, there would be plenty of nourishment to ensure high working efficiency.

"Uncle Feng, as for the silver, how about having it brought back each morning by the delivery assistant?" Feng Xuxu pocketed the account sheet and looked up at Uncle Feng.

"You little rascal, then I shall humbly comply and follow Xuxu’s arrangements," Feng Bo said with a smile as he tapped Feng Xuxu’s forehead.

The yard was bustling with activity, some kneading dough, some washing vegetables, some cutting meat, and some simmering porridge. The kitchen was abuzz with people coming and going, as white steam continuously billowed out.

Just after Mao Time, over ten horse-drawn carriages arrived in the village, heading straight for Zhang Hui’s house. The early-rising villagers saw this and were stunned, watching in amazement until the horse-drawn carriages had gone far away. Dropping the basins in their hands, they ran to the village chief’s house to report that some strangers had arrived in the village.

The leading carriage stopped in front of Zhang Hui’s house. The others followed suit, and as the carriages steadied, the occupants started coming out one by one with their bundles, like dumplings being dropped in water. The commotion outside startled the neighbors, some of whom threw on clothing and came out, standing at their doorways to peer over.

When Feng Xuxu heard the noise, she stepped out of the courtyard and saw a line of carriages and over a hundred people outside, whispering to each other in hushed tones.

Di An, seeing a young girl emerge who matched the Shopkeeper’s description, stepped forward with a clasped fist and asked, "May I inquire if you are Miss Feng Xuxu, Feng Xuxu?"

Feng Xuxu looked at the man before her, clad in black fitting clothes, with a pair of dense, dark eyebrows, and large, expressive eyes beneath the brows, staring blankly at her.

Feng Xuxu, looking puzzled at the man, said, "I am Feng Xuxu, and you are..."

"I am Di An, an attendant by Young Master Xiao’s side. My master instructed me to bring these people here." Having said that, he gestured backward, and a man around the age of forty approached Di An’s side. "Miss Feng, my name is Du Fu, and I will be in charge of the construction of your courtyard."

Upon hearing Du Fu’s brief introduction and his name, the corners of Feng Xuxu’s mouth twitched. If she hadn’t been aware that this era was fictitious, she might have thought she’d traveled back to the Tang dynasty.

"Uncle Du, hello, I am Feng Xuxu. I’ll leave the courtyard in your hands," Feng Xuxu said with a sweet smile.

"Don’t mention it. In the future, if it’s about building a house, just come to me. I won’t boast about other things, but when it comes to building houses, this group of brothers is second to none," Du Fu puffed out his chest and assured Feng Xuxu, praising himself.

"Miss Feng, if there’s nothing else, then I shall take my leave," Di An said after introducing Du Fu and having completed the task his master had assigned him, turning to leave in order to report back.

"Hold on, Mr. Di, why didn’t the Shopkeeper come?" Feng Xuxu recalled that on the day of her departure, Uncle Ma had promised to bring people over today. Why hadn’t he come? Perhaps he was ill.

"The Shopkeeper has gone to take care of other matters."

"Oh! Could you please relay a message to Uncle Ma for me?"

"Go ahead!"