Chapter 7: Sister-in-law Astonished—So Many Purchases?

Li Su first went to the grain shop to buy rice. A pound of rice cost ten coins, so he bought fifty pounds, spending five hundred coins. Then he bought twenty pounds of flour, which could be used to make steamed buns and the like, spending another one hundred sixty coins.

“Boss, please keep these things here for now. I’ll come back to pick them up shortly,” Li Su said, realizing he still needed to buy other items and carrying seventy pounds all at once would be inconvenient.

“All right, I’ll keep them here for you,” the shopkeeper replied warmly. Many customers did the same, returning to collect their rice and flour after finishing their shopping. The shopkeeper found Li Su easy to talk to.

Li Su spoke with grace and courtesy, leaving a good impression on the grain shop owner.

He then bought a few pounds of pork, spending ninety coins; pork was pricier than rice, at eighteen coins a pound.

Li Su spent his money without hesitation. On one hand, he believed he could earn it back; on the other, he felt that money was meant to be spent.

Honeyed sweets were even more expensive—two pounds cost one hundred coins. Li Su quietly noted that sugar was a lucrative venture.

Beside the sweet shop was a bakery. Li Su also bought some water chestnut cakes and glutinous rice cakes, spending sixty-five coins.

As Li Su was about to return to the grain shop for his rice and flour, he passed a fish stall run by a young boy. The fish were lively and fresh, so Li Su stepped forward and asked, “Little one, how much are your fish?”

The boy looked up in surprise, “Big brother, fifteen coins for one fish. I can help you pick the biggest and best!”

Li Su didn’t answer immediately; he was considering which fish to choose.

The boy seemed to misunderstand and glanced at Li Su timidly, “If fifteen is too much, twelve coins is fine.”

Li Su was puzzled—why was the boy lowering the price on his own?

“The lowest I can go is ten coins, big brother. I really can’t go any lower,” the boy looked close to tears.

“Let’s settle at twelve coins. Pack up this one for me,” Li Su pointed to the grass carp he had his eye on. He didn’t know why the boy was so eager to drop the price, but based on his shopping experience that day, twelve coins seemed fair.

The boy froze for a moment before joyfully fumbling to wrap the fish. He was relieved; now he had money to buy medicine for his grandfather.

“Big brother, here’s your fish!” The boy wiped his hands on his clothes before handing the fish to Li Su.

Li Su counted out twelve copper coins and the boy took them with both hands.

After buying the fish, Li Su had quite a load to carry. He went to the grain shop to collect his rice and flour, then headed to catch a bull cart home.

Traveling by bull cart now meant he’d arrive before lunch, so his family could have meat for their midday meal, and he could finally enjoy something hearty. Ever since arriving here, he’d only had rice porridge, never any meat.

He was a true meat lover; before crossing over, every meal had to include meat.

If even he, after only a few days, felt such cravings, surely his family longed for meat even more. They hadn’t even had rice, let alone meat; it was likely that out of nine meals in three days, they hadn’t eaten their fill once.

The old man driving the bull cart noticed Li Su’s haul and came over to help. “Su boy, why did you buy so much?”

Wasn’t the Li family supposed to be poor? It didn’t look like it to him—this much must have cost at least five hundred coins, with fish and meat included. What kind of household was this?

Li Su replied politely, “You’re joking, sir. Our pantry was empty, so I bought extra.”

With Li Su’s gentle demeanor, the old man felt it inappropriate to probe further.

Though Li Su appeared calm, he was secretly exhausted. Just carrying everything from the grain shop to here left him gasping for breath. This strengthened his resolve to train his body.

His current physique matched the stereotype of a frail scholar.

But Li Su aspired to be a scholar unlike any other: slim in clothes, muscular beneath, able to fell a youth with a single punch.

Upon arriving at the village, Li Su paid the driver a coin for the fare. He glanced at his purchases and couldn’t help but smile.

Today, it was Jiang Yu’s turn to cook. As she approached the house, she spotted her youngest brother-in-law, usually unable to carry much, now laden with goods in both hands.

Jiang Yu quickened her pace, and when she saw what Li Su was carrying, she exclaimed in shock, “Fourth, did you buy all this?”

Li Su nodded. “Sister-in-law, take the honeyed sweets and cakes.”

“You even bought sweets and cakes? Are you…?” Jiang Yu was alarmed, wondering if Li Su had gotten up to something dubious.

“Sister-in-law, don’t worry. The money was earned honestly.”

Jiang Yu took the sweets and cakes from Li Su, hesitating as she said, “Maybe you should carry the sweets and cakes, and leave the rest to me?” She worried the load might be too heavy for her brother-in-law.

Li Su felt embarrassed and quickened his pace with the goods.

Jiang Yu couldn’t help but chuckle softly behind him. Fourth really had changed—previously, he’d pass everything to others, never choosing to carry the heavier portion himself.

Li Su returned and saw Li Ziru playing alone in the courtyard. At this age, shouldn’t she be running wild with friends outside?

When Li Ziru saw Li Su, her eyes lit up. “Uncle, you’re back! Did you buy honeyed sweets?”

As soon as she spoke, Li Ziru covered her mouth, a little regretful.

“Ziru, did you ask your uncle to buy sweets?” Jiang Yu’s expression soured, torn between pity for her daughter and frustration at her being spoiled. Honeyed sweets were expensive—a pound could buy so much millet.

Li Ziru fiddled with her fingers. “Mother, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have asked uncle to buy sweets for me.”

Jiang Yu sighed helplessly. “Fourth, do you think these sweets can be returned? Ziru was being foolish.” She weighed the sweets—there must be two pounds.

Her feelings were mixed: on one hand, she felt her brother-in-law was spending too freely, oblivious to the family’s hardship; on the other, she was surprised he would buy sweets for Ziru.

“Return them? Why bother? There are three children in the family—what harm is there in letting them have a bit of sugar?” Li Su rejected Jiang Yu’s suggestion without a second thought.

Li Ziru, small and earnest, looked up at Li Su as if he were a deity descended from heaven.

She was determined to be the best of friends with her uncle!

Li Su straightened his back under her gaze, a smile curling at his lips.

Jiang Yu watched the two and realized she’d become the villain here.

“Sister-in-law, start cooking. Father, Mother, and my brother will be back soon for lunch,” Li Su said, turning to Jiang Yu.

She nodded slightly. “All right.”

Li Su put all his purchases in the kitchen. “Sister-in-law, let’s use this rice for the meal today, and cook the meat as well. The fish is still alive, so we can keep it for a couple more days.”

He actually wanted to suggest cooking the fish too, but seeing Jiang Yu’s expression, he quietly changed his mind.

Jiang Yu was stunned—cook the rice? And the meat? It wasn’t a festival; how could they live so extravagantly?

If they really did so, Li Su might escape criticism when the family returned for lunch, but she certainly wouldn’t.

Li Su reconsidered; perhaps his sister-in-law just didn’t dare. With that thought, he rolled up his sleeves. Let his family taste his culinary skills, then.