Daily life of farming and supporting a family on the ancient Loess Plateau

Jin Hehua chuckled and said, "It's just for show. A couple of days ago, in the village where we held the ceremony, an old woman brought back half a bowl of it."

"Half a bowl?" Huang Daopo repeated, then revealed a confident smile.

Jin Hehua asked in surprise, "Master, you have an idea?"

Huang Daopo nodded and smiled confidently, "Lotus, go and invite that Ji Yinqiao over."

Without asking why, Jin Hehua stood up, clasped her hands in a fist and said, "Yes, Master."

With her bottom still on the chair, Yin Qiuju was almost pressed against Huang Daopo as she asked obsequiously, "Master, what are you planning to do?"

Huang Daopo smiled and said, "No rush, let Ji Yinqiao try it first."

Before long, Ji Yinqiao entered, bowed and said, "Greetings, Fairy Huang. May I ask what brings you here?"

Granny Huang stood up, helped Ji Yinqiao up, and said, "There is a very important matter that needs to be done by you, Madam."

When Ji Yinqiao heard Huang Daopo call her "Madam," she immediately straightened up and said happily, "Oh, I couldn't be happier to be able to do things for the fairy."

Huang Daopo smiled and said, "I remember that Madam's family is the Ji family of Niujiazhuang, and that she has some kind of kinship with the Ji family, the second son of the Ji family?"

Ji Yinqiao, confused, said, "My family is the Ji family of Niujiazhuang. Ji Lao Er is my cousin. His family still owes my family..." Ji Yinqiao quickly stopped herself. She wanted to say that Ji Lao Er also owed his family a life, but then she thought better of it. So many years had passed, and it wouldn't be appropriate to mention it in front of outsiders.

Huang Daopo nodded knowingly and said, "A nobleman in the city asked me to buy ten packets of your second brother's deworming medicine. Try to get some for me. I'll give you two taels of silver after you do it."

Ji Yinqiao hesitated for a moment. Her second brother's family sold deworming medicine? Was the deworming medicine that some of the old women and wives in the village were talking about from her second brother's family?

Seeing Ji Yinqiao hesitate, Huang Daopo assumed she thought the money was too little. She gritted her teeth and said, "The Ji family sells this medicine for two coins a serving. Giving you two taels for ten servings is already quite a lot. How about this, I'll pay another tael myself, three taels. If it works, great; if not, forget it!" With that, she flicked her sleeve and turned her back to Ji Yinqiao.

Ji Yinqiao immediately said respectfully, "I really don't know what kind of insecticide they sell. I only heard about it from the villagers these past two days. As you know, my house is built on a plateau, far away from those who live in cave dwellings, so some news doesn't reach me. Besides, I haven't been back to my parents' home since that incident, so I really don't know anything about it."

Granny Huang turned around with a long face and looked at Ji Yinqiao, saying, "Alright, alright, I don't blame you. This matter is entrusted to you, you must do your best to handle it well."

Ji Yinqiao patted her chest and said confidently, "Don't worry, leave it to me. I'll get it done perfectly for you."

After seeing Ji Yinqiao off, Jin Hehua asked, "Master, why did you ask her to buy so much deworming medicine?"

Yin Qiuju also came closer, her face full of curiosity.

Granny Huang smiled slightly and said mysteriously, "Of course it will be of great use. In a few days, let's go to the prefectural city for a stroll."

Golden Lotus and Silver Chrysanthemum exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with excitement and anticipation. They knew that once Granny Huang had an idea, things would usually proceed smoothly according to her plan. They only needed to wait patiently, and soon money and food would be delivered to their door.

Just like this Guanyin Temple, it used to be dilapidated, with a leaky roof and drafty walls. Now look at it, the roof has been renovated, the Guanyin statue has been restored to its original golden form, and the three of them can eat their fill of dry rice every day. They're almost tired of the white flour buns that they used to drool over.

Huang Daopo ignored her two disciples' thoughts and simply sat quietly, planning her next move.

Having received Huang Daopo's instructions, Ji Yinqiao returned home with a joyful heart.

Although she didn't know why Huang Daopo needed so much insecticide, she believed that as long as she could satisfy Huang Daopo, she would surely be able to get what she asked for in the future.

……

Today was market day in Ningping County. Before dawn, Hu Xirong leaned over Ji Yongling's window and whispered, "Ling'er, Ling'er, get up! Didn't you say you were going to sell thread with your aunt today? Get up quickly!"

Ji Yongling struggled to sit up on the kang (a heated brick bed), her head hanging low, clearly not wanting to get off.

"Ling'er, Ling'er, can you hear me?"

Hu Xirong's voice rang out again.

Ji Yongling scratched his head helplessly, opened his sticky eyes, took a deep breath, got off the kang (a heated brick bed), and opened the door latch.

"Oh dear, why are you only just waking up? You're such a sleepy little thing," Hu Xirong said, bringing in a basin of water.

Ji Yongling glanced at the pitch-black sky outside, estimating it to be around five in the morning. Helplessly, she lit the lamp and sighed, "Fourth Aunt, you really don't need to get up so early. My father and the others haven't gotten up yet. If they do, they'll have to pack the medicinal herbs."

Hu Xirong carefully placed the basin on the wooden washbasin stand, turned around and said, "They'll be up soon. I just got off the kang (heated brick bed), and I already woke up your fourth uncle by kicking him."

Ji Yongling had underestimated Hu Xirong's enthusiasm for selling thread, and could only helplessly brush her teeth and wash her face.

Yes, it's brushing your teeth.

In Ningping County, people have long been using "toothbrushes" with pig bristles embedded in wooden handles to brush their teeth. Every household also makes their own tooth powder, which is made from grinding Chinese herbs such as *Eclipta prostrata* and *Cimicifuga foetida*. However, it is enough for the villagers and is better than using salt, which costs money.

What Ji Yongling didn't know was that Hu Xirong barely slept last night. In Ji Manqing's words, she tossed and turned on the kang (a heated brick bed) all night, like a pancake being baked.

While Ji Yongling was washing her face, Hu Xirong hurriedly went to take apart her hair, wanting to help her comb it.

Ji Yongling jumped back, dodging Hu Xirong's hand.

But Hu Xirong was too fast; she had already grabbed a tuft of hair in her hand, so Ji Yongling was in excruciating pain and could only hiss and gasp for breath.

Hu Xirong said, puzzled, "You child, why is it so difficult for your aunt to comb your hair? I have to have a good talk with your mother. Such a well-behaved little girl, yet you always have messy hair, like a spiky little hen."

Ji Yongling covered her scalp with her hands and said helplessly, "I'll comb it myself. Auntie, you can go and torture Uncle Si."

She really disliked Hu Xirong and Yang Shi combing her hair. The two of them liked to use a fine-toothed comb to comb her hair, and they would spit on the comb before combing it, saying that this would make her hair shiny and smooth, and not afraid of it being blown away by the wind.

Just thinking about the pain level when combing her hair makes Ji Yongling feel a sharp pain in her scalp. She would rather have messy hair every day than suffer the pain of combing it.

Ah, times have changed. Her frizzy hair, though not in line with the aesthetics of this era, would be considered a coveted, high-crowned voluminous hairstyle in later generations.

Seeing that Ji Yongling did not accept her kindness, Hu Xirong turned around and went out to find Ji Manqing.

Ji Yongling took out a towel from the storage room, carefully washed her face, especially the eye boogers, dipped her finger in water, ran her fingers through her hair, and tied it up casually with a hair tie.

She really disliked combing her hair, especially the elaborate ancient hairstyles; she preferred to wear her hair in a bun, just like her father.

When Ji Yongling finished washing up and came out, she saw Ji Manqing standing by the apple tree with messy hair and a look of utter despair.