I have been farming since I crossed over.

After breakfast, everyone went about their duties and got busy. Yang Mingxi followed her mother back to the fifth room and asked about her second sister's dowry.

"Your grandparents were very open-minded. Only farming, chopping wood in the mountains, and doing odd jobs were counted as labor based on the number of people eating. As long as they provided enough labor, each family was free to arrange the rest. One person performing labor service was responsible for the food supply of five people. All the produce from the land and the income from doing odd jobs belonged to the public. The elders could keep half of their own earnings and hand over half." Wu smiled and continued, "As for marriage, the public will pay the bride price, but it will only be the usual bride price of the year. If the bride you like asks for a higher bride price, each family will make up the remaining amount. If the bride price is lower than the usual bride price, each family can keep the remaining amount. The bride price will be used as a dowry or as a savings, with an extra one or two taels of silver added for the bride to take away. This was the arrangement for your four older sisters who married off before, your second sister, and your three aunts."

After listening to this, Yang Mingxi nodded and murmured, "Grandpa and grandma are so kind. I am lucky to have such a family."

"Xier, what did you say?" Mrs. Wu didn't hear clearly and asked again.

Yang Mingxi shook her head and said with a smile, "Mother, I still have more than seven taels of silver. What do you think I should buy for my second sister?"

When Yang Mingmo heard this, he glanced at Yang Mingxi and said while busying himself with the things in his hands, "Keep it for yourself. Buy some cloth and ask mother to make you some clothes. I looked in your bag and there's only one set of clothes in it. The other three sets are men's clothes that have been washed white. Did your master forget them?"

Yang Mingxi suddenly remembered that she'd been so busy reminiscing about the past that she'd forgotten to pack up her belongings. From her sparse memories of her original self, she realized she'd always been traveling with her master. Whenever they needed to stay, they usually stayed directly with people or in houses provided by the village. So, their cart contained only blankets and a few sets of clothes for two, along with two teacups and a teapot. While traveling, they ate mostly dry food, occasionally getting a warm meal at a restaurant. When they stayed, they didn't cook, just eating from one place to another. Therefore, their oxcart contained very little. The day after she arrived, her master took her home. They ate mostly dry food, sleeping mostly in the oxcart. Yang Mingxi slept in the cart, with two quilts, while her master slept on the floor next to the old ox, also with two quilts. They lived like this for almost three months, occasionally staying overnight with someone they happened to meet.

Besides, she had always dressed as a boy before. When staying at other people's homes, her master would often use his own bedding under the pretext of sharing it with her, with Yang Mingxi sleeping on the bed and her sleeping on the floor. She only had two sets of clothes, all men's. The one she was wearing was the women's outfit from the ox cart, which she had bought back in Qingshui County.

"Xier, what's wrong? Why aren't you talking?" Yang Mingmo saw that Yang Mingxi didn't answer for a long time after he asked his question, so he asked again.

Mrs. Wu also raised her head, looked at Yang Mingxi, and asked, "Xi'er, what's wrong? Are you tired? Why don't you sleep for a while?"

Yang Mingxi withdrew her thoughts, blinked her eyes, and said, "Maybe. Master doesn't want it anymore, so I'll wash it and keep it for wearing when I go up the mountain. I have enough clothes and don't need to buy more." Yang Mingxi didn't want her family to know that she was dressing like a tomboy outside, so she lied.

"No, Xier, wash your master's clothes and keep them for him! After your sister's matter is over, I will go buy some cloth and make you two more sets of clothes to wear in the mountains. You can keep these two sets of cotton clothes for daily wear." Mrs. Wu made the decision.

"Mom, I know what to add to my second sister's makeup. When my third uncle comes back tomorrow, he and I will go to the county again to buy some cloth for my second sister." Yang Mingxi clapped her hands and said with a smile, "Also, I will buy a piece of cloth for everyone, including my four married sisters. That's right, it's a happy decision. I'm so smart!" After saying that, she laughed.