Cui Hongyu began to ponder. According to the market rate, the labor of a normal strong worker was only five copper coins a day.
However, Chen Xiaobei would usually pay villagers twenty or even thirty, and fifty when going up the mountain.
Therefore, one meal, one copper coin per person, two copper coins, was feasible.
Since it was feasible, she decided to act immediately. Cui Hongyu hitched her horse-drawn carriage and headed for the county town; she needed to purchase some supplies.
Entering the county town and taking a tour of the market, Cui Hongyu was a bit perplexed.
It was already afternoon, and while other things were being sold in the market, there were no vegetables.
What to do without vegetables?
After walking around, Cui Hongyu finally thought of a solution. There were sheep for sale nearby, so she might as well buy two sheep and take them back.
But when she asked about the price, Cui Hongyu felt a pang of heartache. One sheep cost two taels of silver.
Not to mention anything else, if one meal was one copper coin per person, it would take two thousand person-times to recover the cost of the sheep. However, it was obvious that even if such a sheep was stewed into a large pot of soup, it would not be enough for two thousand people to drink; two hundred people would be considered good.
Therefore, drinking only mutton soup would not work; something else had to be added.
But there were no vegetables here, so what could be done?
As she was worrying, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in front of her. Seeing this figure, Cui Hongyu couldn't help but rejoice in her heart.
It was none other than Feng Xiaoyue from Xiao Family Town.
Seeing Cui Hongyu, Feng Xiaoyue was also slightly surprised.
"Sister Hongyu, why are you here?"
Cui Hongyu pointed to the two sheep tied tightly on the carriage, "Alas, so many mouths are waiting to be fed. I was thinking of buying some vegetables, but I could only get this."
"Isn't this good? Drinking some mutton soup on such a cold day is incredibly comforting."
"But," Cui Hongyu explained her situation. After listening, Feng Xiaoyue smiled, "Sister, this is simple. Just add vegetables. Don't use too much mutton, add more vegetables and stew a pot, won't that be good?"
"Yes, but I've walked around and haven't seen any vegetables!"
Feng Xiaoyue smiled slightly, "There are indeed few vegetables after autumn, but not none. There is an old man Sun here who sells some winter melons every morning. If you want to buy..."
Before she could finish, Cui Hongyu sighed, "Alas, I have to wait until tomorrow. I'm afraid if I buy them and rush back, the lunch time will be missed. You see, I've already promised those laborers that I will cook for them tomorrow."
Hearing Cui Hongyu's words, Feng Xiaoyue actually smiled, "Sister, don't worry. I happen to have bought over a dozen. I'll give you some first to tide you over. Also, don't feed them mutton, it's too expensive. Just add some lard and small pieces of fatty meat, and it will still be delicious when stewed."
Cui Hongyu smiled and nodded, "You're still clever. I was worried that one sheep wouldn't be enough to eat and I'd lose money. According to what you said, it would actually make quite a profit."
Feng Xiaoyue chuckled, "Sister, don't forget I work in a restaurant. By the way, how about this? Tomorrow, I'll come to your place and help you figure something out. Not only will they eat deliciously, but I guarantee you'll make money!"
"Alright, thank you so much." Cui Hongyu smiled and bid farewell to Feng Xiaoyue, then, following Feng Xiaoyue's suggestion, she bought lard and rice. With everything ready, she hitched her horse-drawn carriage and prepared to head back.
Just then, someone suddenly rushed out from the side and blocked her carriage.
Upon seeing this person, Cui Hongyu was stunned. She didn't know this person.
But this person seemed very familiar with her. He cupped his fists and said, "May I ask if you are Cui Hongyu, Miss Cui!"
Cui Hongyu nodded, "I am. May I ask who you are?"
"Who I am is not important. A friend of mine wants to see you. He is an acquaintance of yours. Please come with me."
Cui Hongyu looked at the person and shook her head, "Oh, then who is he? Since he wants to see me, he should come and see me openly."
The person cupped his fists again, "Miss Cui, some matters are not suitable for public display."
"Please rest assured, you will be happy to see him."
Seeing the mysterious visitor, Cui Hongyu's curiosity was piqued.
She had no choice but to drive her horse-drawn carriage into the nearby alley as the visitor led the way. However, as soon as they entered the alley, a puff of white smoke suddenly drifted over. Before Cui Hongyu could even utter a sound, she fell onto the carriage.
Chen Sanqiu, who was nearby, flashed out and gave the visitor a thumbs-up, "Brother Xiaobao, you're amazing! I knew you could accomplish such a great task."
Xiaobao chuckled, "She was too easy to fool. With just a few words, she fell into the trap."
"Alright, brother, let's quickly take her to Jizhou. This is a big fish. If we deliver her to Commander Zhu Meng, we'll surely get a lot of reward silver."
Xiaobao pointed to Cui Hongyu's carriage, "What about this? What do we do with it?"
"Alas, we can't take this. Her carriage doesn't have a canopy, so it can't hide people. We'll leave this carriage here. Whoever is lucky enough to find it can also make a fortune."
After saying that, Chen Sanqiu stepped forward and carried Cui Hongyu, "Alright, let's go quickly."
...
In Hetou Village, it was already dark, and Cui Hongyu had not returned. Huang Ying was getting a little anxious.
Coincidentally, the village guard captain, Chen Dachun, was also injured. She didn't know who to ask for help and had to return to the school to see Shen Ziyan.
"Sister Ziyan, something feels wrong. Sister Hongyu went to the county town this afternoon, and it's dark now and she hasn't returned. It shouldn't be like this."
Hearing this, Shen Ziyan also frowned, "Did she say what she was going to do?"
"She just told Du Juan that she was going to the city to buy vegetables and rice, but that shouldn't take so long."
"Yes, buying these things shouldn't take so long in the county town. By the way, go find their village guards and ask them to meet her on the way."
"But their captain Chen Dachun was injured today." Huang Ying sighed again as she spoke.
Hearing Huang Ying's words, Shen Ziyan immediately stood up, "In that case, let's all go together. By the way, you go and settle Qiao'er first, and then we'll leave the village immediately."
Soon, Huang Ying and Shen Ziyan, with Xiao Hua and Du Juan, rode four fast horses and quietly left Hetou Village.
The four of them held torches and walked, occasionally shouting out, and unknowingly reached the county town.
However, the county town had already closed its gates. They had no choice but to turn back.
"Alas, what should we do?" Huang Ying couldn't help but sigh.
Shen Ziyan quickly comforted her, "Perhaps Sister was delayed by something else. After all, she's from our hometown and has friends in the city."
Now, the two of them could only comfort each other with such reasons.
"We'll go to the county town to look for her first thing tomorrow morning."
Meanwhile, in the county yamen, He Dali rushed to see Hu Fan.
"County Magistrate Hu, something strange just happened. Someone brought a horse-drawn carriage to report it as an ownerless carriage, with two sheep on it, as well as rice, flour, pork, and other items!"