Crossing the Mountains

Chapter 24 Self-sufficiency
Tan Huaike really wanted to set up his own business, but judging from the current situation, he couldn't completely separate from the Shentu family. He still had to listen to Madam Shentu in everything. After all, she was the queen of the family.

She had previously allowed Old Lady Liao to withhold the side courtyard's food, feigning cowardice and tolerating it until she was about to leave for Hongsha Village, when she specifically mentioned it to Old Lady Liao, precisely to catch Old Lady Liao off guard. She then went to the countryside to farm for half a month, leaving Old Lady Liao no chance to make amends.

Now that she has acquired five acres of land and has food and vegetables, she can take this opportunity to separate the kitchen in the side yard, and she will no longer have to depend on others for food.

Unfortunately, this also has drawbacks.

It was obvious that during the days when she was away from home, Aunt Liao was not idle either. She vented her anger openly and secretly, causing everyone to criticize her as a widow.

Tan Huaike was not in a hurry. These people were not to be feared. It was more important for her to live her own life first.

So as soon as she came back, she started cleaning up every corner of the side yard.

After all, it is the residence of the eldest son. In fact, this side courtyard is very spacious and well-equipped. It’s just that Shen Tu Heng is not at home all year round, so no one takes care of the courtyard.

Tan Huaike took Pei'er with him and personally threw away the damp and rotten firewood in the woodshed, cleaned the flue and stove in the kitchen, and was busy washing pots and dishes.

When Shen Tuzhuo came to look for her, he saw that Tan Huaike's skirt, hair, and face were all stained with black dust, leaving only her clear eyes sparkling. At first glance, she was unrecognizable. He was dressed like a young man and stood by and teased: "Oh, I thought there was a beggar in the house, but it turned out to be my sister-in-law. Look at you, you don't look like a lady at all."

Tan Huaike, with his sleeves gathered up at his waistband, was washing a porcelain plate with his hands dripping with water. Hearing this, he stood up and retorted, "Uncle, if you have time to talk nonsense here, you might as well help me wash a couple of plates."

"I can't do this kind of rough work." Looking at the porcelain plate handed to him, Shen Tu Zhuo threw two copper coins into it. "Tsk tsk, little beggar who can't even get enough to eat, come here, this young master will give you some money."

"Have you ever seen a beggar begging with a porcelain plate?" Seeing that he refused to help, Tan Huaike squatted back to his own work. "The Shentu family was once a wealthy family. This is the first time I've seen such exquisite porcelain plates. They are just sitting there gathering dust. The Tan family only uses pottery for meals nowadays. The beautiful porcelain is used for offerings."

"It's just a porcelain plate. You are also a member of the Shentu family. You will have plenty of opportunities to see the world in the future."

"That's great." Tan Huaike said happily, and put the two copper coins into his purse.

"If you are not a beggar, why do you feel so comfortable accepting my money?"

"Isn't this a reward from the young master?" Tan Huaike didn't care at all. "Everyone knows that I can't even get enough to eat in the mansion. I'm really pitiful. Young master, please be kind."

"..." Shen Tu Zhuo suppressed his laughter, "Wasn't that the plan you set up yourself?"

"What kind of game?" Tan Huaike pretended to be innocent.

"Speaking of which, I came to inform you." Shen Tu Zhuo thought of the important matter. "As you instructed, Uncle Ge has come to deliver food and meat to you. He didn't recognize the side courtyard and didn't dare to knock on the main gate, so I caught him. Ah Hui is showing him the way outside, and he should be leading them around to the side door by now."

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" Tan Huaike called out quickly, "Pei'er, go open the door and welcome them."
-
The food Uncle Ge sent was enough for Tan Huaike and Pei'er to eat for half a year. The meat and vegetables were sent along with it, and were only enough for a few days. They would have to buy them themselves in the future.

Shentu Zhuo instructed Ah Hui to help carry the grain, and personally inspected the results of Tan Huaike's work. He sighed, "Brother, your courtyard is finally a little lively. It used to be so deserted."

Tan Huaike wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, "Yeah, it feels really good to be self-sufficient."

"But sister-in-law, have you forgotten something?"

"what's up?"

"You now have a kitchen in your yard, with food, meat and vegetables, but if you want to make a fire and cook, you still need one thing."

"Still missing..." Tan Huaike was stunned, "firewood."

"Exactly. I see your woodshed is empty. What are you looking for to heat the stove?" Shen Tuzhuo reminded. "The woodshed over there in the main house is quite full, but are they willing to give it to you?"

Of course she wouldn't agree to that. She had spent so much effort dividing the food, and Old Lady Liao was fanning the flames behind the scenes. She couldn't just go back and ask for help halfway through.

Firewood itself is not a valuable commodity, but it is difficult to obtain it on a sustainable basis.

Shentu Mansion wasn't a mountain village, and Tan Huaike couldn't possibly collect and chop firewood himself. Woodcutters typically didn't sell firewood piecemeal; instead, they agreed on a price with each household and delivered a sufficient supply on a specific day. Of course, there were also some branches left over from their employers, which the woodcutters would sell. However, these branches were often of poor quality and limited in quantity, and wouldn't last more than a few days. Furthermore, they couldn't be purchased whenever they wanted. If a family urgently needed to light a fire and found they were out of firewood, they wouldn't know where to buy more because they were unfamiliar with the area.

In short, Tan Huaike would eventually have to find a woodcutter to provide him with firewood on a long-term basis, but...

Shentu Zhuo guessed her dilemma and said, "I know you don't want to ask the mansion's hired woodcutter for your supplies, and I don't recommend using his firewood. That woodcutter is a relative of Old Lady Liao, and even if you give him enough money, he might not necessarily provide you with good firewood. Furthermore, there are many people in the mansion, and the stove uses pine branches, which are not only expensive, but also too strong and smoky, making them unsuitable for a small kitchen like yours."

Hearing his clear reasoning, Tan Huaike said with a smile, "My uncle never does this kind of rough work, does he? I didn't expect him to know so much about a small piece of firewood. Did he specifically inquire about it for me?"

"..." Shen Tu Zhuo was speechless for a moment, turned his head and snorted coldly, "Good intentions are really not rewarded, good firewood burns bad stove."

"Okay, okay, thank you for reminding me, uncle. I will find a way to solve this problem, but I can't make a fire and cook today. Pei'er, come with me to buy something to eat."

"Madam, please wait a moment. I'll be there after I've cleared the dishes." Pei'er replied.

"Wait, I..." Shen Tuzhuo winked at Ah Hui, who was silent beside him. "Ah Hui seems to know a woodcutter. His firewood is pretty good, right?"

Ah Hui: “…” Didn’t you find out about it yourself, Second Young Master?

"Ahui, what was the woodcutter's name?"

"Oh, his name is Zhali, a Hu person." Ah Hui took over the conversation obediently, "He often sells firewood on Xiangling Street."

Shentu Zhuo winked at him again.

Ah Hui: “???”

Shentu Zhuo had no choice but to say, "That Zhali is a cripple with a bad temper, but his firewood is good and the price is fair. You can go and ask him."

Tan Huaike nodded: "Thank you for your concern, uncle. I remember it."

Pei'er followed after she finished her work and helped Tan Huaike take off the straps of his sleeves. The wet cloth rope left a white mark on his face, which was covered in black ash.

Shentu Zhuo subconsciously stretched out his hand, his fingertips brushed across Tan Huaike's cheek, then he suddenly woke up and retracted his hand.

Tan Huaike looked at him: "What's wrong?"

He pointed randomly in embarrassment: "You look like this... you two should freshen up before going out. This is simply a disgrace to the Shentu family."
-
Shen Tu Zhuo was going to Yunhe Xiangjie to meet Chi Fanyu. He kept scolding Ah Hui as he walked: "You, you are a fool! I gave you a look, and you will die if you say a few more words!"

Ah Hui: “…” Who knows what that look of yours means.

Shen Tu Zhuo: "Are you wondering why I went to so much trouble to find her a reliable woodcutter?"

Ah Hui: “…” I didn’t find it strange.

Shentu Zhuo: "She wants to start her own business, and I'm willing to help her. Although this will damage my mother's prestige, it's a good thing for the Shentu Mansion right now. Firewood is just a trivial problem. She could have solved it herself if I hadn't mentioned it, but I mentioned it, so she owes me a favor."

Ah Hui: “Yeah.”

"Are you asking why I want her to owe me a favor?"

“…” I didn’t want to ask.

"I will not tell you."

"……"Fine.
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　Next chapter: The boss shows off his power.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)