“How much is this fabric?” she asked, pointing to a black coarse cotton fabric next to it.

“That one should be cheaper, one hundred and ten wen per bolt. It’s warm enough to make trousers, and good for lining shoes too!”

After some thought, Yang Ruqing said, "How about this, I'll take half a piece of each color, and give me a little discount?"

The peddler laughed and said, “This is the price of this cloth, the shopkeeper said it can't be any lower. How about this, I have some leftover scraps here, let me give you some to take home and play with?”

Yang Ruqing glanced at the pile of scraps in the corner of the counter, "Alright!"

Thus, Yang Ruqing spent another one hundred and twenty wen to buy cloth and put it into the basket she carried.

Then she began to gather the rags, piling them into the basket and pressing them down.

The fellow was dumbfounded, thinking to himself, "This little girl is really greedy!"

Let her play with them for a while, then sweep them all away. It doesn't matter anyway, these things are worthless and can't be sold!

Yang Huaizhou was a taciturn man. No matter what Yang Ruoqing said or did, he stood quietly by, watching. She tugged at her cloth headwear, and while the shop assistant and those around her rolled their eyes, Yang Huaizhou stared back with his own eyes!

After leaving the cloth shop, Yang Ruqing sighed contentedly.

“Qing’er, what are you doing with so many scraps of cloth?” Yang Huazhou just asked.

"Line the shoes with cloth scraps, since there's no cotton, it will be warm inside!" Yang Ruqing said.

Yang Huazhou suddenly understood.

"What else do you want to buy?" Yang Huazhou asked.

"Go to the grocery store and pick up some oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar. Then we can go home!"

It's no use staying at home, and all I have left is seventy-five cash.

Oh, no. That's not right. After Zhao Xiue paid the five wen for the tile market rent with her ten wen gift, Yang Ruqing had 45 wen left. Adding that to what she already had, Yang Ruqing now has 120 wen in total.

In the grocery store, Yang Ruqing sold salt, vinegar, soy sauce, a bag of caramel, a jin of red dates with kernels, and a pack of wrapping paper!

I can't stand the outhouse at Lao Yang's house. The things they use to wipe are tiles and sharpened bamboo!

Rice paper, however, was something Yang Ruqing had always longed for!

In the village, it was said that only a few households could afford paper.

Yang Ruqing indulged herself again!

A trip to the general store cost almost fifty wen.

Coming out of the grocery store, the sun was already beginning to set in the west. The uncle and nephew hurried home.

Passing by the steamed bun shop at the town entrance, the aroma wafted over. The two of them suddenly realized that they hadn't eaten anything since their journey began!

"Fifth Uncle, I'm treating you to a meal!"

"How could I let you treat me, Uncle Five is an elder, Uncle Five please!"

“Giving money to elders is asking for trouble, let me have a chance to filial piety towards you!”

Yang Ruoqing didn't explain, she dragged Yang Huazhou into the shop.

We have buns, steamed buns, noodles, wonton... everything!

The uncle and nephew discussed together, ordering two bowls of plain noodles at three coins a bowl.

Before leaving, Yang Ruqing bought ten steamed buns with thin skins and lots of filling in one breath. She wrapped them in oil paper and stuffed them under her cloth headscarf.

After settling the bill, they had spent a total of sixteen coins. With that, Yang Ruqing's entire business trip left her with only forty-four copper coins!

Looking at Yang Huazhou's shoulders carrying rice and noodles on his pole, and the cloth in her own basket, she felt a sense of peace, as if life was simple and ordinary.

So happy and fulfilled, Yang Ruoqing's heart was filled with sweetness!

This is the first pot of gold, and also a wonderful beginning!

She believes that with her own intelligence and hard work, she can definitely make her family's life better!

At sunset, Yang Ruoqing and Yang Huazhou finally entered the village.

"Third brother, our Qing'er might have endured it!"

In Yang Huazhong's house, Yang Huazhou took the hot tea passed by Mrs. Sun and drank it in one gulp. He excitedly recounted everything that had happened that day at the town when Yang Ruoqing had been buying and selling things.

Yang Huazhong and Sun listened in astonishment.

“Oh, my daughter is really capable!”

Sun Shi lovingly stroked Yang Ruqing's head, and the anxiety she had carried for a day finally eased.

Let me know if you have any other text you'd like me to translate! ?

Yang Huazhou chatted with Yang Huzhong for a while longer, then got up and returned to the front yard.

Here, Yang Ruqing presented the things she had bought at the market earlier like precious treasures, one by one, to her parents.

>

Yang Huazhong and Sun shi had never seen so many things before, things to eat, use, and wear...

"Mother, I earned a total of 460 wen today. After buying all these things, there are still 44 wen left! Mother, you take it!"

Looking at the money her daughter held out to her, Mrs. Sun's eyes welled up with tears!

Yet tears of joy!

“Qinger, you take this, mother won't settle accounts!”

“But you're my mother, the mistress of this house!”

Yang Ruqing tilted her head and said seriously.

>

"Girl, you're stronger than your mother, you handle the accounts!" Mrs. Sun this time was unusually firm.

Yang Ruqing could only turn her gaze to Yang Huazhong. Yang Huazhong also looked at Yang Ruqing with a look of encouragement and comfort.

"My dear daughter, your father and mother are on the same page about this. From now on, you'll be in charge of the household!"

"Well then, I'll be grateful to Father and Mother for their trust!"

"Silly child!"

"Oh, I almost forgot, I also bought you some buns!"

Yang Ruqing bent down and took out the ten steamed buns from under the basket. They were still hot!

“I bought ten meat buns, the skin is thin and the filling is plentiful, father and mother, try some!”

Yang Ruqing took out two and gave one to Yang Huazhong and the other to Mrs. Sun.

Force them to eat!

The couple smiled at each other and took a bite out of their own packs.

>

The soft bun skin, with one bite, the meat broth inside spills out, filling your mouth with rich aroma.

"Father, Mother, how are you? Did I not tell you? This baozi tastes really good, right?"

Yang Ruqing walked over and asked, her eyes shining brightly.

Sun and Yang Huazhong nodded in unison.

Yang Huazhong said, "Delicious! I can't remember the last time I ate meat buns like this!"

Mrs. Sun also recalled, "When I was pregnant with Xiao An, I had severe morning sickness. You went to Qing'er's nanny and begged for a few coins to buy me two steamed buns in town."

"Hee hee, I remember too. You ate one then, and you split the remaining bun into three portions. You gave me one portion, Qing'er one portion, and Datian one portion." Yang Huazhong said.

Sun Shi smiled helplessly, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Yang Ruqing noticed something was amiss and asked Sun Shi, "Mother, did you really eat that steamed bun? I don't think it looks like something you would eat."

Sun smiled, glanced at Yang Huazhong, her expression a little unnatural.

Yang Ruqing was even more convinced of her guess.

"Mother, you always teach me and my two younger brothers to be honest people. How come you lied yourself? Come on, tell us, who ate that steamed bun?"

"Qinger's mother, really... you said so!" Yang Huazhong was also piqued by curiosity.

Mrs. Sun let out a light sigh, "What's the point of bringing up old things. It was just a steamed bun..."

(Editor in charge：novel definition)